Danger Close to Home

Four days passed by since the Divine Design case.

That she got wind Ginji got into hospital for falling into a deep under-repair hole...

'Lightning Lord fell down a manhole?'

Gokudera asked as he was beginning his training...with 10 kg weights. He must make his body get used to the weights while moving as fast as he can while weighted down in doing 100 reps of basic punches and kicks, and flexibility training. That way, his body will get accustomed to fighting moves, raise his near-non-existent fighting skill that will improve and his weights will go level up. Granted, repetitive training can be annoying and boring but the pay offs are great.

'Yup.' said Tsunade while training with her own 200kg weights. 'Really, hasn't Mido learned by now that Ginji-san is very, VERY easy to maintain unlike mere mortals such as us? If Ginji-san is sick or injured, electricity-absorption fixes him. Even broken bones are fixed though if his joints are dislocated, he can't do shit. At least he's mostly healthy that way and resetting bones are easy.'

'That's convenient.' Gokudera drawled. 'And game-breaking unfair.'

'You think? Mido was bashing his head on something when I told him that and now they gotta pay 300k for hospital bills for inflamed deltoids, torn biceps, strained back and pectorals and internal bleeding. But the power needed to do so will blackout a part of a street or something...and if Ginji-san fell into a manhole on a bright sunny day like this, the idiot probably thought he still has Divine Design powers but we don't have it anymore, Maria-san burned the cards she lent us after freeing us from its influence.'

Gokudera sweatdropped.

Amano Ginji, the feared Mugenjou no Raitei, is a bubbly, cheerful, optimistic, naive, sweet, loyal and friendly person willing to do anything for his friends and the right thing but the downside to that, is his sheer stupidity.

Yet he got a lot of people loyal to him in his heyday...

'Well, I'll visit him tonight, visiting during the day will be a bad time...knowing those guys.' she chuckled. 'For all their smarts, talents and skills...they can be downright worse than a kid in a proper home in regards to childishness and immaturity. I'm giving you an option...visit during the day so you'd see what I mean or tonight when its peaceful?'

Gokudera grinned.

'We visit this morning!'

'Alrighty, let's take a shower and get a bento ready. We already fed the animals so nothing to worry about!'

xxx

And so, that morning...in West Shinjuku Hospital...

'Hi~!' Tsunade came to visit as Ban, Shido, Kazuki and Juubei are already arguing and bickering like kids. 'I can see that this room is pretty lively!'

'No kidding, those morons are at it in a hospital room of all things.' Himiko griped as Hevn sighed.

'Some things just don't change.' she said.

Gokudera took a good look at the two women.

Kudo Himiko, Lady Poison who's a year older than he is, and Hevn, a Job Mediator...who looked like she should be at the beach not in Tokyo's streets in her 'covering'.

'Ooh? Who is he, your boyfriend? He's pretty cute!' Hevn teased Tsunade as the two kids flushed. She and Himiko saw the good-looking teen who was dressed in an 'in-your-face-I-got-boy boy-attitude' fashion. In dark colors with accessories to match.

'N-no! He's my apprentice Dino-san asked me to take on!'

'Hime-sama is not my girlfriend!' Gokudera sputtered out.

'Awww...but who knows? With time it might be more...' Hevn grinned, eyebrows wagging. 'Teacher-student relationships happen a~ll the time! Fufufufu...'

'Hevn-san!'

'Naaa nice to see amiable visitors at least...' said Ginji weakly. 'I think from all the squabbling Himiko-chan and Hevn-san aren't gonna stay for long...'

'These guys give me a headache.' Himiko scoffed. 'They probably need more than a hospital stint to grow up.'

'Well, maturity don't come easy...' Tsunade giggled.

'That couldn't be any more truer.' Hevn rolled her eyes. 'Later Gin-chan. Sooner or later if these morons break something, the hospital might pin on me a bill I didn't even make.'

'Yeah, you should and come again tomorrow...'

'Here Ginji-san, bento~' Tsunade opened up a deluxe bento of goodies. Beautiful Temari Sushi.

'Uwaaa temari sushi!' Ginji drooled delightfully. 'Itadakimasu~but I really wish they give it a rest.'

'Maa maa, let kids be kids.'

'Er, hime-sama, what if they start breaking things?' Gokudera was sweatdropping as things are getting really violent.

'Their problem, not ours, neh, Himiko-san~? They won't make us underage kids pay for what they broke and with Ginji-san vouching, yup, not our problem!'

'That's one good thing about it at least.' Himiko snorted. 'But if things get too rowdy I'll make monkeys out of them! But at any rate, that Temari Sushi looks good...' Himiko drooled. 'Really, only 12 and you outgunned any first-rate chef thanks to your intuition...' she said, picking one up and popping it in.

'Yup~!'

Gokudera was starting to have stray flyaway hairs at the sheer ridiculousness of where he is right now.

To him, these guys are utter freaks in regards to sheer immaturity and hime-sama thinks this is just a normal day!

'After the sushi can we play poker?' Ginji asked.

'Sure...by the way Hayato, hit the Nurse Call Button, its gonna get hairy in two minutes.'

Gokudera was GLAD to do so just to end this insanity...

And so, the adults got a loooong sermon from a matronly looking nurse that got them all cowed into submission and kicked them out.

'Finally, peace and quiet.' Himiko grunted as they went on to play while occasionally grabbing a sushi.

'Er, are there going to be more instances like this?' Gokudera asked Tsunade with a choke.

'Those shenanigans, Ban always starts, otherwise its peaceful most of the time.' Himiko snarked.

'Ain't that the truth!' Tsunade giggled. 'Sometimes, being a kid is convenient!'

However, Ginji has a very interesting visitor...

'Oh, hello Ginji-kun~' Akabane came to visit. 'I heard you're hospitalized...'

Ginji looked like he had a heart attack from terror.

'I could peel bunny apples as well, don't sick people usually like them?'

'Somehow, Jackal and Bunny Apples in one sentence is weird in all levels...' Himiko and Tsunade sweatdropped.

'No kidding, sis.'

'Well, see ya Ginji, one hour per visitor or group of visitors, its Jackal's turn this time.' said Himiko, pointing at the sign near the bed explaining the rule away.

Poor Ginji.

'Ohya? Where are the others though, Lady Poison, Lord of Flames?' Jackal inquired.

'Got booted out by the nurses for being rowdy and for fighting and stressing a patient out.' Tsunde quipped.

'Oh my, what a bad attitude...being a doctor, that rule is sacred, you know?'

xxx

'That Jackal guy gives me the heebie jeebies.' Gokudera shuddered. 'Cavallone told me all about him.'

'Well, we're safe around him as we're kids. He would never lay a hand on minors.' said Tsunade. 'That's why we could be calm around him but if we're legal, all bets are off.'

'That's not exactly reassuring.' Gokudera choked.

'That's why I'll be very strict on ourselves in training because we got a couple years left before we go legal and we gotta be formidable by then, OK? For now to him, you're anonymous but if you got his interest, you're on limited time like us.'

'That's Jackal alright.' Himiko sighed. 'We gotta get stronger.'

xxx

Come October...Tsunade's 13th birthday...but no party.

Its just another training day.

'Hime-sama, today's your birthday right? How come its just an ordinary day?' Gokudera asked in concern. No party, no big cookout, nothing.

'I no longer care about birthday celebrations, Hayato.' said Tsunade. 'Never celebrated it since I was six and in Mugenjou, no such thing. We were more worried about living the present until eventually, its only importance to me is that I'm a year older.'

'Heee...but that's pretty sad though.'

'I'm way over it.' he just got a sad smile from her. 'My only interest right now is living with my new family and since I saw multiple futures through my card. I'll fight tooth and nail not to be a mafioso. I've seen a future where I stayed Freelancer. I'm pursuing that future.' she said. 'Free to choose jobs and execute it in however you want. Not to mention you get to charge your client however you want but Hayato, I'll teach you how to read a client so you can charge fees they're willing to pay and do you know psychological attacks...?' she grinned. 'Desperation earns more.'

But come last week of November...

Shido sent Tsunade a distress call.

'Nani?! Madoka-nee got kidnapped?!' came the thunderous furious roar in the house that startled Gokudera into nearly a bad form of uppercut. Half an hour ago, Tsunade stopped training to cook their lunch. 'I'll burn all of Tokyo if I have to! Tell Shido I'm mobilizing with Hayato and I'm not gonna show mercy to anyone, even an actual insect!'

She's angry and who's dumb enough to kidnap Otowa Madoka, a girl who has the protection of two Beastmasters, one of whom, the infamous Lord of Flames?!

"I better get ready." he thought. 'Hime-sama, let's get ready to leave.' he said.

'No kidding so we're sharing a bathroom today! No arguments!'

Gokudera went pink.

Share a bathroom...? He understands they're pressed for time but...really, how did this girl grow up if she's fine and dandy with sharing a bathroom with a boy?!

Needless to say, he's embarrassed even though he appreciated her figure, especially her waist-down which was more impressive than her waist-up. Hey, he's a boy but also a boy who respects women...

It was something he did and decided for himself after learning who his piano teacher actually was.

xxx

Ura-Shinjuku...Chinatown...

'There's actually a Chinatown here?' he sweatdropped as the place is decorated like, well, Chinatown. People are in qipaos and changshans, though some dressed casual.

'Yeah, Chinatown in Ura-Shinjuku is slang for Human Trafficking District. Its not the tourist attraction you have in mind.' said Tsunade to his horror. 'Brothels, Slave Auctions, Bars, Nude Night Clubs, Orgy Host Clubs, Human Organ Supermarket, Peeping Rooms, Black Fantasy Arcade...' Gokudera choked at all those. That, and how blase she was at all this.

Then again, this was her world for years to her its normal.

'And Makubex allows these?' he asked weakly.

'No. Mugenjou is paradise to all outcasts remember? People have to make a living somehow. Besides, rich folks come here with their money assuming nobody's slitted their pants first. Mugenjou is Outcast Paradise except for drugs and human trafficking. Makubex draws the line on those. He really will rain down VOLTS on anyone dumb enough to break those two rules.'

'By the way, what's the Black Fantasy Arcade?'

'Its a place that caters to all sexual desires of people. And anything goes in there...for 1 million at the lowest price since clean-up can get difficult. That, and the people who run the arcade record all that goes on in their rooms and sell it as porn or snuff videos in the Black Market.' she said as he went green. 'Regret asking eh?'

'Well, I had to know even if I wouldn't like it.'

'That's true...you must know absolutely everything about what you're getting into as the most basic rule in our kinda lifestyle.' Tsunade told him kindly. 'We Freelancers have to know everything we could, even have the misfortune to know how humanity can reach various levels of depravity. Being surprised and startled is a no-no during our jobs. There is only the end goal of your client's wishes. You even have to obey their orders just to get paid even if we won't like it. However, if a job involved a threat to millions of people that a shady client wants, that's when you put your foot down.'

'Like that drug deal in Battleship Island?'

'Yup. At any rate, we have people to rescue, so show no mercy alright? Even to a woman or a kid as long as they use bugs. This area is under Kiryuudo control. My gut instincts feel it even if I don't know it.'

'R-right...'

They went into a street where two young women are mercilessly toying with Ginji. 'Yikes!' Gokudera gasped as Tsunade merely shook her head, and created many fire beams that stabbed the women in many places. Non-fatally of course

'F-fire beams?' Ginji gasped out as the women shrieked before falling, and bleeding heavily. 'Tsunade-chan!'

'Really Ginji-san, we're in Kiryuudo territory. Everyone's an enemy here, even cute girls and little kids.' Tsunade sighed. 'If you keep this up you're gonna die young.'

'E-eh but I just can't...'

'No means no.' said Tsunade firmly. 'I think most of your common sense went to your Raitei personality.' Ginji pouted at that. 'Any others in a pinch?'

'Well, Ban-chan and Himiko-chan should be here somewhere...is Madoka-chan here?'

'Nope. This place is a bust. We vamoose as soon as we...' Tsunade stated as she burned all bugs that jumped on them. '...rendezvous.'

'Wow...' Gokudera choked out. "Her reaction is fast..."

'Who are you?' one of the downed women demanded weakly, smarting from pain and blood loss.

'I am the Lord of Flames...Tsunade.' said Tsunade coolly. 'Let's move out. I feel one of our own is in trouble though they'll win.'

'Wait Tsunade-chan, I want to ask something.' said Ginji. 'Shido told me that they're in war for centuries until one side is wiped out...why?'

'Because that's how its always been...its a story passed on for years by the elders so for the next generation who inherit their will, its how it works and for tribes, disobeying elders is out of the question. Its the same for tribal folk everywhere in the world.' Tsunade explained. 'It must be an ancestral grudge but kids like us who know nothing just do what we're told to do while leaving crucial details out. Shido grew up indoctrinated that the Kiryuudo are enemies and its the same for the Kiryuudo who're indoctrinated that the Mariudo are enemies. The big fat question...is why and what for? Do these girls have the balls to ask that question?' she pointed out, looking at the fallen women. 'Not like Shido can ask anyone, since his tribe was killed years ago. All he knows is a grudge for the massacre of his tribe and family so at least he has a reason to hate and hunt Kiryuudo down.'

"Hime-sama was out for murder not long ago too and now she went rational and her murderous intent gone...is this the power of Hyper Intuition flowing down Vongola Blood?" Gokudera wondered to himself in awe.

'But why kidnap Madoka-chan...she's not a Mariudo...' Ginji blurted helplessly.

'Hostage for ransom obviously! They want something we have...but not even I know what it is. I'm not told anything too exclusive myself.' said Tsunade. 'I'm not strong enough for information like that just yet. The higher you are in hierarchy, the more stuff you're privy to. That's like Political Basics and common sense.'

'...well, she's right about that at least...' the short-haired girl wheezed out. 'Aren't you going to kill us or are you going to let us live with the shame of defeat?'

'I'm going to let you live, if only for knowing the truth if you ask around. Otherwise, your dying for not knowing anything would just be a useless death as your deaths aren't even justified. Then its up to you if you wanna slit your neck or something, I'm not stopping you.' she said as Gokudera picked up Ginji and they walked away.

'Where do we go now, hime-sama?' Gokudera asked her.

'We first treat Ginji-san, then we go where my gut tells me to go.'

'Hai hai!'

'...'

xxx

Elsewhere in another street...Ban just finished a fight as well.

'Ara, its the guy I knocked out...' Tsunade commented as she saw glasses man and a really funky guy. 'Small world.'

'Ah, met this guy?'

'Sometime after our job in Mugenjou a couple days later...he was roaming around with some flunkies so I baited said flunkies and roasted them...then called on Himiko after I knocked him out.' said Tsunade. 'For all Shido told me in how the Mariudo and Kiryuudo works, I can't bring myself to kill the guy. My gut says 'absolutely not'. So knockout and amnesia is the best option.'

'Izzat right?'

'Well, I was protecting Madoka-nee's concert day and it was Shido's first time in a concert wearing an expensive tux...he's a dope at dressing up.' Ban snorted at that.

'I see...you didn't kill Junior even though you had the chance...all because your gut says so?' funky man asked her incredulously. The younger girl shrugged.

'Yup. What my instincts and intuition tells me is my gospel. Never failed me in my whole life by listening to it though I never get any reason why out of it. The answers come eventually as events play out anyway so its a 'just-do-it-and-don't-ask' sort of thing.'

'...then I'm most grateful.' said funky-man in relief. 'I owe Mido and you a debt. Go to Web Tower. The answers you seek are there.' he said. 'Its the least I could do.'

'You two go.' Tsunade told Ban and Himiko. 'Ginji-san needed patching up first. We'll meet in the cafe.'

'Roger that!' and they split-up.

'Is telling them that OK?' Gokudera asked worriedly.

'Yup. It'll pay off eventually.'

'Haha...good thing we got you on our side...' said Ginji weakly. 'Where's Shido?'

'Ah, he told me to get cheques ready for people he's hired to help get Madoka-nee back, while he goes to find more survivors from Branch Clans to help us out...in order to form the Shiki.' said Tsunade grimly. 'Alone we are helpless but if we unite, nobody stands a chance was the motto if an individual from each four clans assemble. The Mariudo having four branch clans together is also called the Shikizoku.'

'Heee...'

'If four members are assembled...we win, hands down.'

xxx

Honky Tonk...

'There, all done.' said Natsumi as she patched up Ginji with Rena who didn't reconcile with her mother and chose being a waitress for the rest of her life than go home to a miserable home life where her mother cared more for men she misjudged on than her daughter.

Her tutor and stepfather are freed from Divine Design, but their experience made them insane and had to be in an asylum. Apparently she destroyed their minds permanently as insurance with a permanent fear of the dark and confinement and to society, being in a coma for long messed with their heads for some reason there wasn't much hope for recovery. Such is the revenge of a traumatized girl who was given magic if only for a short time. She now lives with Natsumi in her house and works for Paul together.

Though her cooking skills leave much to be desired...she does well in cleaning though.

'Owwie...'

'That's what you get for being nice in combat, and against the frigging Kiryuudo.' Tsunade deadpanned. 'They're a tribe of bugs wherein they eat what they kill. But in this case, they devour the vitality of their victims to stay young and powerful. Those two cute girls who trashed your ass are probably as old as Paul-san or something.'

'WHAT?!' Ginji and Gokudera choked.

'That's a rather disturbing thought.' Paul chuckled. 'Teenage-looking girls as old as me? What a scary power.'

'So Ginji-san, don't be a moron next time.' Tsunade quipped as she fired a fire beam that engulfed the whole cafe.

'Eek!'

'Relax, it doesn't burn.' Paul told the freaking out girls. 'We have bugs in here?' he asked Tsunade.

'Yup. DUCK!' they all did as something tried to slash their heads.

'Heh, that's a surprise!' said a man in a suit carrying a basket on his back and a moon-shaped blade. 'That's the first time I've seen someone see Saicho-sama's invisible butterflies! Not that it'd help you! DIE!' and he jumped up but Tsunade merely smiled as Gokudera moved to throw something but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

'My thanks...Dr. Jackal.' she called out as their attacker died mid-air as she said so.

'Your instincts are immensely sharp, Tsunade-jousan.' Akabane greeted. 'Its good of me to choose to go with you instead.'

'W-why is Akabane-san here?' Ginji squeaked nervously.

'Ah, Shido said he'll hire all he knows to help get Madoka-nee back so I guess Akabane-san's roped in too...then again, I had to write down a lot of cheques this morning at the bank...'

'Cheques?' Paul blinked.

'Yeah. Because this will be a very dangerous job...its 50 million per head.' several jaws dropped while Akabane just snorted.

'F-FIFTY MILLION?!'

'Hey, I know you're the Gambling Lord but just exactly how rich are you guys and why are you still working?!' Paul squawked out.

'We work to stay in shape you know. As for how much our net worth is, by paying everybody fifty million each, we're down to exactly one trillion in our bank account...'

Ginji and the Cafe workers went rock hard from the idea.

"How much did these guys gamble?!"

'W-wait a minute...if they all get paid fifty million and considering I get 30% from each of them...' Hevn croaked out, wide-eyed. She gets 15 million each. Multiply that by several heads, she could inwardly squee in delight.

'Saa, shall we go, minna-san?' said Akabane. 'Where is our next destination, Tsunade-jousan?' he asked as she took to her other form. Its still interesting to see that beautiful flame on her forehead and her eyes becoming beautiful as well, like burning coal or lava as his morbid mind sees it.

'We're going to Hell Valley, the Ancestral Kiryuudo Grounds.' said Tsunade. 'Madoka-nee should be there. She's not in Tokyo.' she said. 'With you with us, going there will be somewhat comfortable. I can deal with pests, but not anyone stronger than me.'

'Very well. Shall we go then?' and they left Tokyo in a hurry.