Dinner time, Marcell went to Raul's room to inform his master its dinner time. Raul smirked on the announcement, knowing in this time his father already home from his company and mafia work. He stood up and offers his hand to Nueve. She smiled as she took his hand and stood up. Both went to their ways together, holding hands as never letting each other go.

Upon arriving on the dinning room, Nueve finally met Raul's father, eye to eye with Felise on his side, smirking evilly without him knowing. If normal person would see him, those who're weak will get scared because of his scary expression but she's different. She used to these kind of expression, so for counter she must think highly than anyone else. That's the way of the boss of the Vongola Famiglia.

"Raul I heard from Felise about this. What the heck are you trying to do this time son?" His father, Leonardo asked to his son, Raul.

Raul answered, "If ever she said that she will be my lover then that's the end of the explanation father."

"True but I want to hear the whole explanation from both of you." Leonardo said. He studied Nueve and questioned, "Your name child?"

"Teresa Nueve, please to meet you." Nueve said, very confident and calm.

Leonardo found it amusing for a child to have a good manner and calm expression. It's like she's not scared.

"Please to meet you then Teresa, I'm Leonardo de Fiore, Raul's father. Here on my side is my wife, Felise de Fiore." Leonardo introduced his wife on his side. Felise gave a sweet smile which totally obvious its fake, "Please to meet you Teresa."

"Same here." Nueve said in very composing tone. Raul was proud she had not lost the quality of the boss.

"Join us Teresa and I'd like to hear both of your stories." Leonardo offered and both nod, accepting it.

Everyone had sat on their sit. Felise was on Leonardo's left side as he sit on the master sit. On his right side were Raul and Nueve. The food were served and began to eat. Everyone was eating peacefully when Leonardo start to speak.

"Mind telling me about your life Teresa?"

Nueve knowing that gave a small smile. "I may do but I don't think you won't like my life story for I am poor and honestly have no home to live for." She said very politely and more like… a noble.

Leonardo narrowed his eyes, "Explain."

"I'm born July 27 20XX. I live in a poor family back when I was young. We were happy but changed. Both of my parents became addicted to gambling, leading us to have depth and lose our home. My parents decide to sell me without me knowing, just to have money and gamble again. I run away after that and for my six years living I had live on the street alone and abandoned."

Felise smirked, "I told you dear, she just want to get the family's wealth by seducing our son and marry him. She's using him just to have a home and money."

"Aren't you pertaining yourself." Raul questioned but more like stated as he took a bite of his food, making Felise glare the child in front of him.

"Raul where is your manners?" Leonardo scolded but no effect. He return back to Nueve and asked, "Then how did you meet my child and when did you fall in love?"

"I'll answer that." Raul said and began making the fake story for they will never believe the real one. "I met her when I was ten in time of my isolation. We talked a lot as she kept cheering me up and so I recovered thanks to her. After our encounter she just disappeared. I kept thinking about her until I realize I had fallen to her until we met again yesterday. At first I didn't recognize her but soon I did and this time, I'll make sure this girl over here will never run away from me again. She told me she too had fallen to me so I propose to her that I will marry her once we became old enough to do so. For now, we wait."

Nueve can tell that fake story also had the real story of his life. She saw his painting of Tsuna when she's staying with him in his room. It was beautiful painting she must say.

"Is that true?" Leonardo asked seriously Nueve.

Nueve nod as her answer, the story he had made really made her blush, especially the last part.

Leonardo studied to see their lies but found nothing, he sigh. "Are you sure about your choice Raul? Really, you're too young to know such relationship and even declare having a lover."

Raul smirked his victory, "I'm not like many other people father. I'm more smarter and straighter than anyone else."

"Just tell me, where did you get that attitude of yours? I'm sure it wasn't from me or your mother… I guess..." Leonardo began to doubt to his past beloved wife.

Raul knew himself well, maybe he got it from his sadistic Sensei and of course, his past life self.

Leonardo turn to Nueve and asked, "Teresa, do you not object the idea of my son?" Nueve shook her head, "No, I love being with him. My love for Raul is more than my life." Raul took her hand and kissed it, "I'm glad you're announcing your love to everyone Nueve."

Nueve blushed and looked away. Raul laugh, teasing her would be very fun.

"This is absurd!" A slam of a table was heard and it was Felise. She turned to her husband and shouted, "Honey she's just faking it. She after the wealth of the family, why won't you see it!?"

"If that's how you think then do so but if ever you harm my girl, I will make your life miserable." Raul said in teased but murdering intent shows in his eyes.

"Calm down now my wife. We can't judge people so easily, let her stay to Raul's side and see if she was truly meant." Leonardo calm his wife.

'I like to do something on your stupid brain. You can say something nice but never had one.' Raul thought mentally. Nueve felt the same as she could only sigh for the man's blindness.

Leonardo glance on the two teen, "Since Teresa had decided to stay here, you need your own room."

"My room is enough," Raul said.

"Sorry son but that is not a good solution. Until you two are married, both of you can't sleep together. You may stay on the visitor's bedroom." Raul groan, "I protest. Until she don't have a room she will stay with me. That's my decision and that's final."

"Son, you don't know what is in stake here."

"If you're talking about having sex then I must tell you I will do that when I married her so rest assured." Raul said straightly as he went back eating, not noticing the widen eyes of the people around the room and a twitching eyes of his father.

Everyone except Nueve was asking one thing. 'WHERE THE HECK DID THIS CHILD KNOW SUCH WORD!?'

"On the encyclopedia if ever ask." Raul answered the entire running question of people's mind.

Nueve face palm, she knew how his mind running. He's enjoying their expression and surely he's laughing too loud. He really loved teasing people around him. True to Nuevel's accusation, Raul indeed enjoy it and mentally laughing. It's just his little payback for doubting him.

After dinner, both couple immediately went back to Raul's room and began laughing for the joy of their success.

"How was it Nueve? I won as I had told you." Raul said with a smirk on his lips. Nueve smiled, "Okay lover boy, just let's get some sleep and tomorrow is a new day for us."

Raul nod in agreement. He became serious as he asked, "Nueve have you ever train yourself before you met me?"

Nueve looked away, "I... never done any training. I can run faster than adult, other than that I'm nothing. I'm not like myself back then Raul."

Raul nod on the information he receive, "Your flame? Hyper intuition?"

"I can no longer produce sky flame and for my hyper intuition… it became weaker. It must be because I don't have a Vongola blood within me. The only reason I still have my intuition was because of Mysteria-san created a barrier for me."

"But we can't slack training. I know you already know the dark secret of this household." Nueve nod, "One of the mafia. Did he inform you about it?"

"No, no one knows except to some servant here and Goffo Marcell. They been told they should never let anyone knows about mafia and protect us from any harm. He doesn't know I already know about his dirty work from the very beginning."

"Well your father seems overprotective to his family and if ever he knows you know, he'll freak out."

"Like I care to that old man."

Nueve smirk and lean closer, "Are you sure about that?" Raul smirk back, "Of course I am. Now, how about we sleep and meet another day. We'll fix your body first before starting your training with me."

Nueve laugh, still not denying it. "So who's training you?"

"No one, I followed Sensei's regime."

Nueve became silence.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you killing yourself on your training?"

"Sometimes but everything is a piece of cake."

"I feel like dying now."

"Then sleep."

"Good night Raul, I love you… Reborn."

"Sweet dream Nueve, I love you too… Tsuna."

The lights fade.

Two years had passed and the two kept spending their time with each other. He even quit school just to stay with her. Nueve tried to protest his sudden decision but never listened. His father hearing the news quickly went to his son and scolded him. Raul wasn't affected and offered a home tutor instead of going to school. It's indeed boring when the lesson they were teaching was already learned and kept repeating every day, nothing new.

His father surrendered and soon hired his tutor and this time, with Nueve. They all thought Nueve has no knowledge as she doesn't know how to read and write but they were all deadly wrong. Like Raul, she's smart and can answer every question they had given.

She on the other hand remembering the time of Reborn's tutoring which in her vocabulary was torture, she can't help but memorize more than a million pages of books. In this moment, she was thankful on his death tutoring.

Both were over powering their tutors to the point those tutors were crying as they quit on the job. These really surprise everyone on the household. Who would ever knew two 14 years old could overpower the adult's knowledge. Ever since then no one took the job again, leaving the two to have more free time they could ever had. Leonardo in his mind now regret on making his son attend school after learning he always ignore the teacher, skip class or sleep in the middle of the class. Even if he does that, he still got the highest among the class with perfect score in every test subject.

Felise on the other hand wasn't happy. She doesn't like the street girl to enter her life especially on her step son. He never let her talk to that snowy girl or even leave to her side which angered her. She wanted the girl to be out, so she decided to make a demand to her husband with her seductive voice and action.

Next day, Leonardo announced to Raul to travel to France to continue his studies, telling him they have high education that could increase his knowledge which he immediately decline.

"Sorry son but I had made up my mind. Your flight will be on three days. Prepare everything and be sure you won't forget anything."

Raul glares his father, "And Nueve?"

"She will stay here. Don't worry, she will be safe and I'm sure she can wait for your return."

"If I'm going at least you made her come with me."

"That I cannot do. You may never focus on your study and I want you to return with high grades like you usually do. I have done all the registration for your upcoming transfer. Marcell will be coming with you as well so you won't be alone. Our conversation is over."

Leonardo stood up and was about to leave when Raul spoke in serious tone.

"I'll give you high grades as you wish but I'll tell you now, I won't be staying there far too long than you imagine I'll be."

Leonardo smirked and glanced to his son, "Show me son."

Leonardo left. Felise who finally got her wish drink wine for her victory.

Raul soon informs it to Nueve. She smiled.

"Don't worry Raul, I may become lonely without you but I'll be waiting for your return. I promise." Nueve assurance that she will wait for him.

"Don't worry Nueve, I won't be gone too long, I'll come back to you as soon as possible." Raul promised as he hug Nueve.

Nueve return the gesture, knowing he will absolutely come back.

The day came and Leonardo, Felise and Nueve came to see him off. Raul gave her a kiss before leaving. Leonardo blushed on sight while Felise glared the girl. Nueve wave her farewell as Raul with Marcell completely disappeared on the crowed.

Next day was no longer pleasant for Nueve. When Leonardo gone to work, Felise was free to do whatever she wants as she forced Nueve to be her servant to her guess, if ever she disobeyed they will hurt her as they slap her, humiliate her in front of the guess and so forth. Even without disobeying them, they will hurt her every time they like, making her feel how low she was and telling her street girl a person who doesn't belong in this mansion.

Nueve endured everything. She had trained again with Raul after gaining her lose weight and knew how to fight back but never did. She knew better than them, if ever she tried hurting the step mother of Raul, surely that will give Felise a chance to reason why she must be thrown away and the worst case scenario, she will never see Raul again. She doesn't want to cause any more trouble to Raul, so she choose to endure everything.

It was like that every single day. It soon became harsh physical contact as she endured the pain and blood coming all over to her body. Leonardo every time she came home dinner saw her bruises and cuts. He wants to ask what happened but just ended up being cut by Felise as she take his attention and kept it that way until he forgot.

Nueve knew but didn't mind. She just released all her frustration and pain every time she's alone on her now new room. She cried every night, murmuring for Raul to return back home.

"Shitty bitch, why don't you just get out of this house!" Felise growled as she slapped her far too strong as she fall down on the side. Nueve's cheek was turning red due to the strong force. She stayed silence as she let her say many terrible things.

"Your nothing here bitch! I don't know what kind of courtesy you have done to make Raul fall for your stupid lies but I'll tell you, you can never fool me. You bitch should just disappear! Your just a street girl right? You belong there, you belong with the trash! You don't love Raul, you are just using him for his wealth and you are a dirty. Lying. Trash. Bitch!"

Nueve gripped her hand in every word she throw. She kept enduring, for the promise she had made for Raul.

A month had past and things were getting worst as Nueve's bruises were increasing and her old wounds were bleeding once again. They continue like she's an entertainment by Felise with her close friend, Maria. Both were holding metal bat as they enjoy beating her. Nueve kept enduring them, protecting her head from being hit.

The two was enjoying her suffering and finally, both stop, giving her a little time to breath or cough. Neuve's eyes were slowly closing, her consciousness was fading. Felise sat down as she grabbed her hair and pull it up, making Nueve face her.

"Bitch why don't you just get out on this house already, do you want to make yourself suffer even more? You can never won anything here lowly life. You are nothing, Raul will surely replace you and you will definitely be left and die. Why can't you understand that? I'm telling you now, everything here belongs to me, not to my husband or his little son, everything belong to ME!"

Felise pull her white hair even more, making her feel pain as Felise continue to speak, enjoying her painful suffering.

"Why don't you just beg to me huh? I'm giving you a chance now to be accepted, only for you to become my own personal slave. That way I'm sure Raul will be more happy for you."

Those words made Nueve chuckle for a bit and answered back.

"Like telling me to submit to you? Never... Do as you please, hurt me or even stab me and I'll accept them… but…" She gave a deadly serious look, "Whoever bad mouth Raul is unforgivable."

Felise and Marie got terrified as Felise throw her on the wall where she was hit too strong as her head began to bleed.

"You wicked witch, I'll show you who's more terrifying and more superior here!" Felise growl as she took her bat and was about to hit her when a loud bang was heard.

Both women looked on the new comer but too late. Someone gave a strong punch with no evidence of holding back to Felise cheek as she was immediately fall down and felt the pain like she was hit by a car from the strong impact. Marie immediately went to Felise while Felise looked up on the person who had done this to her. Both were shock as it was none other than Raul himself. Raul was deadly staring at them, a sight where he was about to torture and murder with no hesitation. Those who ever saw it would be very terrified and wish to survive from the coming demon.

From the entrance, Marcell was just standing there, carrying both his luggage and his master's luggage. They actually arrived just a second ago when they heard a loud sound coming from this room. Raul took a peek and immediately dash in and punched Felise like she was nothing to him. Marcell was not really surprise on his master's action but what really surprise him was the state his master's lover was in. She's bleeding, bruises getting worst and pain like she was going to die any minute.

Raul slowly went forward on the two, gripping his fist even more as how angry he is for making her, his lover, his Nueve to be treated like an animal. Both Felise and Maria were crawling back in fear but they have no courage to run due to his murdering aura. That aura disappeared when she spoke.

"R-Raul… Y-your back..." Nueve beyond whispered, trying to carry her voice even more but that was already her limit.

Raul immediately turn around and went beside her. Raul checked every single part of her body, calculating the pain and damage that those bitches had given to his beloved lover. He's angry as how worst had it is.

"Goffo Marcell ready the car, NOW!" Raul growled, making Marcell immediately put down their luggage and run off, getting a car for them.

Raul slowly took Nueve in the bridal way, making sure he won't touch something that would pain her. Raul turned around and gave his last murdering glare then went ahead. Raul choose to take Nueve first, before them. He swore to himself that he will give her a hell she will never expect.

Arriving the hospital, Nueve was immediately taken care off as she was treated by the doctors. Raul was silent, waiting for his lover. Marcell wanting to encourage his master that she will be fine but can't. Looking back, it can already tell it was worst. He can't do anything for his master.

After a long wait, the doctor finally came and told them her condition.

"She's stable but it will take time for her to heal all those wounds. Her condition was too worst than we had expected but somehow we able to escape the worst scenario. I suggest she stay here for a while for more observation then when she became better, she can finally go home."

Raul nodded and asked, "Can I see her?"

"Sure, her bed was over there. You're Sir. Raul right? She's actually asking for your presence." The doctor told him.

Raul nodded and the doctor walked away. Raul turned to Marcell and order, "Get a private room for her, I want a place that she could be comfortable as she stay here. Pay the hospital bill and come back understood."

Marcell bowed down to his master, "Yes Master Raul."

Marcell quickly went away as for Raul went to the bed where his beloved was staying. Upon arriving, he's shock on how much bandages all over her body and how pitiful her state. She trying her hardest to open her eyes, just to see him.

"Raul" she called and Raul immediately went beside her.

Raul slowly and carefully kissed her cheek, "Dame Nueve why the heck did you let that bitch done this to you? You can fight back like she's nothing but why did you let her beat you? This isn't how I taught you, do you pity that low life or you don't want to hurt others?"

Nueve slowly shook her head then smiled, spoke in low tone. "I just don't want to give you trouble... I'm very sure that if ever I hurt her... she will tell some lies to your father... leaving me to be thrown out... I don't want to give you trouble when you return so I endured it... her harsh words, beating, everything."

Raul was surprised. Just for that? She endured them just for that? For him?

"Dame Nueve that wasn't troublesome at all. If ever they done that to you, I'll search for you no matter what they say I'll still search for you and return you to my side."

"But still I'll give you trouble and… I don't want to lose you again Raul… Reborn..."

Nueve's tears came out. Raul lean his forehead to and whispered, "Tsuna..."

It took whole two weeks of recovery and finally, Nueve can finally return home with Raul. During their stay on the hospital, Raul not even ones came back home. He stay to her side, not leaving a single minute just to tend her. His father went to visit after knowing his son came back from France. Instead of nice welcoming back words, he was greeted by a punch. Raul burst his rage to his father about how fool he is for not noticing her lover's condition. It was like a son lecturing his own father.

Leonardo understood his son and reflects his inattention to Nueve as he was the one who pay the whole payment for the hospital. Neuve never gave him a grudge or hatred, instead she thank him for his help which surprised him. Leonardo on that day knew how pure her heart to other people.

When Raul, Nueve and Marcell came back home, Felise was there waiting for them. Marcell was the one who greeted but not the other two. Raul carefully pushed Nueve to move forward, like telling her to neglect her. Of course she won't let that happened.

"Raul if I remember correctly, you should have learn how to greet or excuse yourself to your own family. Where is your manner?" Felise lectured but Raul wasn't affected.

Both kept walking away until he finally spoke, "Are you sure you should mind that? Because for me you should mind something more important than me."

The two disappeared and finally, Marcell walked away as he excuses himself and followed his master. Felise huff and left to her place but soon was greeted by her husband who's furious for some reason.

"Ho-honey, you startled me." Felise said.

Leonardo don't care for that as he immediately went to her and showed the files of paper in front of her.

"Felise explain this amount of money that you keep withdrawing without my permission?" Leonardo demand an explanation and looks very serious and angry.

Felise was shocked, how did her husband figure that out? No one should have known it, NO ONE!

She never knew someone does. The one who kept eyeing on her, Raul who secretly put some of the evidence to his father's bag and let him figure that out.

On Nueve's room, they can clearly hear the outburst of Raul's father to his wife. Raul was chuckling in amusement, imagining the terrified expression of Felise. Both were alone on her room.

"Did you let your father know it?" Nueve asked in curiosity.

Raul smirked, "Just some, I can't show all my evidence at once. That will teach her a lesson and it will give her some hell for a time being. If ever she done this again, I'll make sure she's out of this house. No one will ever harm you Nueve, no one."

Nueve smiled, "Your too overprotective Raul, but I'm happy you do. Thank you." Nueve rest to his shoulder and Raul smiled as he lean back.

"Rest well… Tsuna..."

I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn