Understanding Her

Honky Tonk...

'Before we go to Mugenjou...I'll warn you to be careful.' said Kazuki. 'Iemitsu-san, through Paul-san who heard your conversation and mailed it to us, you may have to prepare for Tsunade-chan's anger. Its not pretty when she gets mad...I'd show you how but I don't have illusion powers. Mido has it.'

'I do.' said Bouche. 'Please focus on that memory of Tsunade at her most scary. I will dive, copy and project those memories.'

'A-alright...'

'Wow, even foreigners have the weird stuff.' Natsumi marveled as the dark-skinned man's ring let out a purplish-white light and basked Kazuki in it...and soon, they were in illusions of events.

Kazuki's memories of Tsunade at her worst.

The days of gang wars between VOLTS and the worst crooks in Mugenjou.

They have no idea how old Tsunade was due to height, but what surrounded her were bodies and she was blood-splattered.

Her expression was cold.

'Tsunade-chan!'

'Ah, Kazuki! What is it?' Tsunade asked innocently.

'Things on your end seem OK...'

'Yeah...I'm close to mastering the stuff Shido taught me but my body sucks.' Tsunade huffed. 'Why can't kids be built like you anyway? You guys are strong and can kill more than I could.' she pouted childishly, poking petulantly at Kazuki's leg.

'Er, there's a reason kids are growing...' Kazuki giggled before frowning. 'Tsunade-chan...so far this is your first battle without relying on your flames for once...I need to know how you see and feel things.' he asked worriedly. 'You only supported us for over a year but has yet to kill until now.'

'Well...strangely I find it real easy to kill and take lives but its so hard to live.' said Tsunade with a cold look in her eyes yet wonder on her face. 'Why?'

'Because you fight to live. You also fight to protect.' Kazuki told her. 'You must never enjoy and take pleasure from killing, Tsunade...or you'll be no different from the Belt Liners.' he said with a dark look at the dead bodies around them

'...isn't killing normal? Everyone here does it.' she asked casually.

'I know but the difference lies in 'why'.' said Kazuki. 'Tsunade...right now you have the wrong sort of feelings so I will now teach you properly.' he said, kneeling before her in order to place a comforting hand on her cheeks, 'When we must soil our hands with blood...it should be because we protected those we love and held dear. We're fighting for our home and our friends so that we may live another day. What were you fighting for?'

Tsunade looked thoughtful.

'I'm fighting for Shido.'

'Why?'

'He's all I have. If I lose him, then what's the point of sticking around?' the audience can clearly feel Kazuki being horrified by her seemingly innocent, yet very dissonant words. 'He's my whole world. Losing him would mean I'll lose everything. I can just slit my own throat then.' she stated tonelessly.

Kazuki slapped her.

'There's more to the world than just Shido!' Kazuki burst out. 'Don't you give up on life for losing family!'

Tsunade looked at him as if he's an idiot.

'Shido's the only one who cares for me, nobody else does. He was the only one who was nice to me, smiled at me and never hurt me. Everyone else was horrible. They hurt me simply because they could and nobody did a thing for me until Shido came to my life. Everyone else is a bunch of garbage...like this one.' she said, stomping hard on the head of a dead man near her left foot, crushing his skull. 'I hate them all. They hurt people for fun. Just because they could...now that I have power, I'd like them to taste my pain for a change. See how they like what its like to be tormented and humiliated in turn...right...' she picked up the floppy head of the man whose skull she just crushed by the hair. 'Trash?'

The Ninth Generation, Iemitsu and Reborn were very reminded of a certain someone when she said that one last word.

End memory.

'That was the first time she spooked me.' said Kazuki as the memory vanished. 'She became a hateful creature because she was hurt by others and only her brother ever stood up for her. Shido told me she was hurt so much to the point she despised her own name, calling it a name of lies given by liars...' he could see how deeply it affected the man who claimed to be Tsunade's father. '...until he gave her a reason to love it again because he held her hand and made her his family. Tsunade-chan insisted she's a Mariudo like Shido so I thought she has a bad home life in their village before the massacre by the Kiryuudo Tribe...only for the truth to turn out so differently years later.' he mused with a frown. 'Rejection and Abandonment...huh?'

'I didn't know what my wife did...my uncle allowed me six years of vacation so I could raise Tsunade alongside my wife and see her childhood. We had a happy six years together.' Iemitsu told him sadly. 'After that, I have to go back to work doing my part in the family business...we learned the truth when Reborn went home to teach her as she's the eligible successor and we ended up discovering what my wife has done...six years too late. It was lucky my in-laws knew a lot or we'd never know she's in Shinjuku.' he swore in frustration.

'What happened at home?'

Iemitsu told him just what they discovered from his in-laws.

Kazuki can only shake his head in dismay and he was pretty sure that his fellow eavesdroppers feel the same as he wore a transmitter hidden by his hair.

'...next memory please.' he said.

In another memory...was an even younger Tsunade.

In yet another Blood Massacre...they were too late in trying to save her when there's an explosion of flames around her...and they saw that she took on her other form. Her dark brown hair went a couple shades paler to a tawny color. And she was firing massive beams of flames and went berserk in rage despite the brutal injuries she sported that the mere sight horrified them.

All turned to ashes in her wake she basically created a vast vacant lot, and those who near-damn killed her?

Soot on the floor.

'Er Shido? Do you know about this?' a blonde, older man asked the young teenager with a bandana.

'I didn't know!' Shido choked, worried. 'Tsunade!' he cried, trying to go to her but he was stopped by the others, be it physical or by strings and whip. 'Let me go! Tsunadeeee!' he cried desperately.

'Shido...don't.' said a younger, blonde boy. 'I know how it feels but she was just like me when I first awakened. It will be alright.' he reassured him.

'Shido-han I think you would NOT want to be history's first human barbecue...let's wait it out, OK?' another boy wearing shades stated nervously.

When it was over, Tsunade collapsed. The others let Shido go as they ran to Tsunade who was tired.

'Tsunade! Are you alright?! Say something!' Shido cried, picking up the young girl.

'I'm OK...I felt like I got back what I lost, Shido...my world is clearer to me now.' said Tsunade tiredly. 'So...tired...' and she fell asleep.

'...she's tired but we should get treated...they sent out a lot this time.' said Kazuki fretfully.

'No kidding...why do they keep doing this?' shades-boy sighed. 'What will they gain from hunting us down like its a game...? We tried going elsewhere but the law's cracking down on us that Mugenjou's the only place we can call home...'

'With them for neighbors?' Kazuki griped before sighing. 'If only we could live elsewhere other than here...the police are so nosy but this is one place they won't harass us in...'

End Memory

Next Memory was a stairway.

'Where is this?' Natsumi piped up as the guys were there.

'The Insect Palace of Hell Valley where Madoka-chan was taken to.' said Kazuki. 'Shido and Tsunade hired a lot of us to help rescue her.'

First was the Saicho incident...

Vongola and Reborn can definitely recognize Sky Oppression. They met many Skies in their lives but none caused this level of Oppression to the point others are forced to kneel. Intimidation and fear yes, but...this?

They saw the fight. Rather, only two ever fought. Tsunade and Gokudera...before Tsunade awakened Ginji because she'd be possessed next and cue horror of what she can do had she become evil. They could hear Kazuki's thoughts here.

"I'm so glad I managed to convince Shido to take her to Sakura..." Kazuki thought with a shudder, recalling all his memories of a jaded girl who cared nothing but survival and Shido with an utterly bleak and dark view of the world that she was turning 'dark with hate'. Convincing Sakura and Shido to have Sakura a part in Tsunade's upbringing as he suspected that Tsunade was really not Shido's sister. They don't even look alike in even a single thing!

'I adopted her.' he said. 'She needed somebody who'd give a damn and do right by her.'

'Did you teach her how to be a good girl at least?'

'I wouldn't know what her life was like before I adopted her other than being rejected by her parents, I got no clue.' he said. 'I was teaching her survival skills and fighting skills incase we got separated. You know what this place is like. I want her to live past ten years old at least, the rest can wait.' he said helplessly.

Kazuki face-palmed. That said it ALL despite lacking full details.

However, there IS a damn good reason why kids are taught proper manners, good conduct and morals at home!

'Sigh...we're having her learn from Sakura before she turns out like most people in Lower Town.' he said in exasperation. 'This place is a serious bad influence on children and we'd rather not it start corrupting your sister.' he said gravely. 'She's showing signs we better nip the problem in the bud.'

'Who's Sakura?'

They approached a beautiful young woman in kimono who was called Sakura who was willing to help raise Shido's sister into a proper good girl before Mugenjou totally corrupted the girl...and it paid off big time as she was much brighter and more cheerful. She even learned feminine skills even if they were traditional ones and got hooked on cooking that she spent more time on support than actively fighting, hence she now has a high moral compass and optimism levels that overpowered how jaded and cynical she was about the world.

She was also learning computers and hacking with an older boy, having access to impressive hardware and software. Stolen of course. Shido also brings her books with Kazuki and Juubei's help for her to read as a form of self-study. Junior High and High School books, History, Art, Music, Fields of Science, Business, Law, Weapons, Cars, Handyman Skills in Electronics, Appliances and Water Supply, etc. She also learned Martial Arts(by formal lecture, not training) just so incase she encountered one, she'd know what to do.

Upon mastering the books, Tsunade was VOLTS' Pillar of Support, creating many comfortable base of operations in Lower Town. She led them to create comfortable living quarters as the adults organized massive heists in stealing what they needed, operating at the blackness of night, and two kids literally disable security in shopping malls and streets the gang used...having taken over buildings, renovated, and now live in them. Tsunade, Kazuki and Sakura handled the decorating.

This really made them wonder what kind of world Mugenjou was, that they all know every crime in the book and know how to hack. And their fighting abilities are indeed, way better than anyone they know...but still it was weird. Strings? Light? Whistles for animals? Electricity? Needles? Fabric? And both Shido and Tsunade are fond of carrion birds just to clean up...

Now she was having fun and only joins fights when all hands on deck are really needed, showing a positive change in her personality and grew her hair long...and was experimenting in kitchens from what he was hearing thus doesn't see her much active nowadays...but six months into age ten...she began becoming active again and this time, she was fighting for the gang instead of just herself and began caring more for others.

Kazuki and Shido pushes her on Sakura when she lapses into her darker side when they see it, and they see how everyone worked hard to properly raise the Lord of Flames as they called her because she was ridiculously powerful and that, she was untrained. If anything were to happen to Ginji, she would succeed him next as the Leader of VOLTS when she matures. Everyone who was older than her by more than six years was in agreement on that.

Thing was, she goes where Shido goes...

For despite her dark personality that they were whittling away little by little, she was fiercely loyal to the man. Not surprising because he adopted her and was kind to her...

There were things Vongola noted in the last heir.

She lost faith in humanity at a very young age...until she met Shido.

Her faithlessness took a plunge further upon living in Mugenjou...and was cured by teamwork of proper upbringing. She was raised by a bunch of misfits with ideals.

She has hacking abilities that surpassed everyone they knew in Italy alongside her friend.

Her flames were...powerful. Very powerful. If she could cause THAT much trouble!

She also has an unusual ability that she used on Ginji.

'Seen enough?' Kazuki asked them.

'Yeah...I would like to thank all of you for raising my daughter well.' Iemitsu thanked him in sheer gratefulness. 'But I never thought my daughter would become a pyro.' he feigned astonishment because this IS to be expected of his bloodline...

'To be fair one of us became a human electric eel because of how Mugenjou is.' Kazuki said wryly. 'But really...while Mugenjou is home to outcasts, runaways and the worst sort of criminals...its also dangerous in another way.'

'Those Belt Liners you spoke of...who are they?' Reborn frowned.

'I've been to the Belt Line...but I was merely at the doorstep yet barely escaped with my life.' said Kazuki glumly. 'Everything, everyone...are all monsters.'

'Mugenjou is divided into three:' Paul spoke up. 'Lower Town where people can come and go but its no place for a clueless naive idiot...Belt Line where the worst of the worst live in...and Babylon City, the topmost part that nobody knows about. But the difficulty scale goes up as well. If Kazuki, one of the strongest people in Japan can barely survive Belt Line...what more about us?' he shuddered. 'Sometimes, things are just better off left alone. Kazuki...'

'Hai?'

'Was something taken from you when you ran from there?'

'Not that I know of...'

'Good...because some others are not-so-lucky.' Paul chuckled bitterly. 'Be glad you're not among those 'others'.'

'...boss?' Rena frowned. 'What will be taken?'

'I don't know what mine was but I certainly felt I lost something.' said Paul softly. 'A friend of mine lost something worse because it ended up in me being the only one to leave while he's stuck there forever in that den of monsters...don't tempt fate anymore, Kazuki. You might end up like he did.'

'...'

'Well, Tsunade-chan took Hayato-kun and Amon-san to Mugenjou for training...Hayato-kun got curious about the world his hime-sama lived in.' Kazuki chuckled. 'Oh if only he knew...'

'...er...they're not onto her, are they?' Iemitsu growled as Kazuki snorted.

'Heavens, no...Hayato-kun is clearly very loyal to her and the Rescue Mission got him more clingier than ever...as if afraid if he looked away she'd do something stupid again...as for Amon-san, the blonde in the tiger-stripe shirt...he got very attached as well. They've gotten overprotective. To Tsunade-chan, she just got two more 'brothers'.' he said. 'I'll take you to Mugenjou but you may want to meet Shido first.' he said. 'Since Tsunade turned thirteen which was Age of Independence for Mariudo, he's living with his fiancee while she stayed at home.'

'Right...I want to meet the man who adopted her.'

xxx

A mansion...

'A mansion?' they stopped in front of a fairly small mansion. Then again, Japanese are into minimal spaces...

'Yes. Madoka-chan is rich but still underage so by her parents' arrangements, she's living off a stipend from the bank. She was born blind so her parents made plenty of precautions but last year, Shido paid for her eye surgery so she can see now and their relationship got stronger.'

'Is that poor kid aware of what happened?' one of the men shuddered.

'She was. Kidnapped, her body stolen, set on fire to be exorcised and give her her body back...she wasn't scared though. She was still curious about her world since she finally got to see but she's not happy about being stolen from and forced to hurt her sister-in-law...not that Kabuto could anyway...as Hayato-kun put it, his power was something he stole, not rightfully his so he's weak. Well...to those two he's weak but to the rest of us, he's a monster only Ginji-san could beat when she was...compromised.' Kazuki cringed. 'Power-wise, she and Ginji-san are the strongest but in combat, understandably...reflects her age. She's been training a lot to compensate...'

Reborn thought he had a rather good deal IF she accepts her fate...all he needed to do now is teach her how to be a good boss.

The problem was she hates her family for abandonment of her. If she gets wind they're here to make her a mafia boss...all hell will break loose.

Her mother and her school...and Mugenjou caused her to lose faith in humanity.

Should she see her father whom she believed abandoned her too...its NOT going to be a pretty sight.

But suddenly, he got a Eureka moment. Its because he recalled a certain conversation.

'Kazuki...'

'Hai?'

'Did you guys come into contact with a foreigner as of last year?'

'What's with the question out of the blue?' Iemitsu asked him with a curious expression on his face.

'My ex-student mentioned meeting a 12 years old girl here in Japan that impressed him so much he revolutionized his group and threw all he knew into the trash can, and it worked.' said Reborn wryly. 'And I can see how well. His new employees loved him to bits, singing praises about him.'

'Well, there's only three foreigners we met.' said Kazuki. 'A SISMI squad who was on the same case as Shido, Tsunade and Emishi on bringing down Liu Mengyan...an Italian Man who owned Tokyo's most prestigious Cram School that closed recently and a Spanish woman who helped us out against said Italian.'

'That SISMI Squad, who is it?'

'Ah, led by one Dino Cavallone.' his clients did a double-take which Kazuki noted. Must be a rising young star in SISMI, he thought. 'He was very horrified that Tsunade-chan was a Freelancer willing to fight dangerous bodyguards even though her intuition made it clear who's bad to worse, who they can and can't fight, and since Dino-san and his crew don't have the fighting skill level of the enemy, it was agreed that they flee with our target that's sculpted out of ultra-refined Aphrodite. When they returned from Okinawa...er, another imagery please?' he asked as Bouche did so.

Kazuki recalled a memory of Ban, Ginji, Shido, Emishi and Tsunade coming back quite nonchalant despite having heinous injuries on their person...after seeing her in horrible injuries in Mugenjou this was no different but how can a young girl withstand what most men would howl about? Her long hair was also unevenly hacked up.

Another memory was the getaway boat...Dino's conversation with Kazuki about his worries...very accurate worries at that about Tsunade.

They can see that Dino and his men were horrified that Dino yelled for his Suns to prioritize Tsunade's healing.

After she was healed, she went for the showers first which was the last of the memory.

xxx

Inside the Mansion...Living Room...

'So...you're her family, is it?' Shido growled as in the living room, his mood, the animals reflected and its certainly NOT comfortable having a literal zoo growl at you. Especially when there's a literal LION in the house!

'Let us explain before you judge!' Iemitsu exclaimed as he explained what went on while he was at work overseas under his uncle's company. He really had no idea what happened at home since he left. How was he supposed to know his daughter was compromised, then abandoned by his wife who has severe psychological and mental issues that revolved in 'her world'? He hadn't known until his in-laws told him.

He was planning to reconcile with his daughter first, before divorcing his wife. Tsunade was his top priority even fully-aware she WILL roast him.

'...he seems to be OK, Shido-san.' said Madoka. 'His heartbeat is steady and determined.'

'The animals are OK so its fine I guess.' said Shido gruffly. 'Kazuki, Tsunade's in Mugenjou with those two?' he asked his friend.

'Yes.' said Kazuki. 'Hayato-kun wanted to see what Mugenjou's like and Amon-san was all for er...comedy stints with Emishi...I just hope Juubei doesn't join in.' he shuddered as Shido looked rather disturbed himself.

'R-riiiight...if we want to make a baby CRY, have Juubei tell the poor kid a joke.' he grimaced after making a grouchy statement.

'Shido-san!' Madoka admonished. 'You shouldn't talk bad about people.'

'Sorry Madoka but Juubei plain sucks at jokes...I hear they recorded his training attempts to get better at making jokes and using it as a torture tool played in an endless loop in an interrogation room and its enough to drive some idiot to tears begging to stop and start talking.' cue numerous sweatdrops. 'Its highly effective...er, Juubei hasn't found that out yet hasn't he?' Shido looked at Kazuki.

'No. Toshiki makes sure of that. He's in charge of interrogation now while Juubei's put on Patrol.' said Kazuki flatly. 'Well, time to guide them to Mugenjou next...and while I don't have Tsunade-chan's intuition, I will go for cover as soon as I deliver...' he said nervously. 'Will you guys be alright?' his clients are old and middle-aged businessmen...

'Well, with you as bodyguard, we should be but...how strong is Tsunade now?' Timoteo asked them.

'Well...last when I checked since I check on her every month as well as sparring...she's physically strong enough to punch the Isunoki, Japan's hardest tree and leave a good fist-shaped dent enough to cover her entire fist. She wanted to punch it in half eventually...but it'd take one heck of a training to do so but she's determined to see it to the end. As for combat skills...well, she's catching up to us.' Shido said proudly.

'Well, we're also re-training since she used the Fuyuki Clan power on all of us last year save for Sakura who wasn't there...so Juubei asked her for that favor.'

'Well, as long as its those who deserve it gets it.' Shido crossed his arms. 'There's a reason why our tribal technique is strictly regulated.'

'What's it about?' Reborn asked.

'Its strictly regulated with a damn good reason...for if we did it for the wrong person, all hell will break loose if he or she got too arrogant with the boons it brings. Physical and Intellectual Awakening means 'instant perfect human' in terms of physical prowess and intelligence.' said Shido.

'In my tribe, my clan only awakens eldest sons of families from the other three clans as a law. But we Fuyuki are exempt from that rule as we must know the technique since its our family heirloom. We are awakened upon birth in order to learn it as its very difficult without the help of being awakened. Its the toughest technique I had to tackle despite mastering Mariudo Techniques all by age ten.' he sighed. 'Tsunade too, mastered it at age nine because of her Intuition that helped her figure it out fast. She knows full well to only give the privilege to those who deserve the power or we'll have megalomaniacs by now. Society's got too many of those in human history which is why we tribal folk want nothing to do with countries.'

'Of course, you cannot cast it on the same person twice. No such thing as 200% y'know.' he added. 'The Elders say nothing will happen.'

'Hummm...you cast it on Tsunade?'

'I did. That was after she awakened her Flames and that wonder-gut of hers. When I awakened her for our training, the stuff she says is vaguely precognitive since what she feels when she runs her mouth actually happens and she swears time and again she's no psychic. She runs her mouth without control, sometimes saying things she doesn't know about, only to turn out right in the end. It took a while to get used to.'

'Right...may we use the room next door so we can talk how to approach our situation?'

'Eh? Sure, the music room is next door to the left, its big enough for all of you.' said Madoka as she looked at her maid. 'Tsukuda-san, please show them there.'

'Hai, ojousama.' the maid bowed as she escorted the men out...

Kazuki tossed a string at one of the men...

xxx

'That was...educational about my future student if she agrees to be your successor Nono.' said Reborn as they left the mansion. 'Given sour memories and access to her full potential...we won't walk out in one piece.' he said. 'I do hope you realize that. Plus Gokudera Hayato...'

'What about him?' Coyote asked him.

'When I heard Tsunade will be my student, I scoped out Italy's youths as guardian potentials and he came on my list but he wasn't anywhere in Italy. Turns out he was here already getting training from her and I bet Dino has a hand in this.' said Reborn. 'His full name is Hayato Gokudera de la Torre, the illegitimate son of that Famiglia. When I worked with Bianchi his older sister, she admitted to me that he was illegitimate and not eligible to be the famiglia heir despite his genius, but he ran away from home at age ten...he found out a nasty truth Bianchi won't tell me about and their father was upset. But when he began debuting as 'Smoking Bomb', a sabotage specialist at 12...he used it as a means to have Bianchi track him down but he's highly elusive...he's a young Storm I wished to introduce but Dino did it ahead. He's quarter-Japanese because his mother Lavinia Gokudera is half-Japanese, the opposite of Tsunade who is quarter-Italian as Iemitsu is half.'

'If he is being trained by her since they say they're training together, its safe to say Gokudera is 'privileged' as well. But that's if he registered in her senses as a 'good guy'. Dino is also probably the one who enlightened them about Sky Flames if Tsunade could use Sky Oppression. The technique she used on Saicho. But I never heard of anyone capable of forcing people to kneel when normally, Sky Oppression only induces a degree of being intimidated, a technique that's a favorite of Skies.'

'But still, he taught a civilian?' Timoteo frowned. 'He broke Omerta I'm surprised the Vindice let him off.'

'There's one way to evade that...as you know, our laws protect Skies unless its an Internal Family Issue.' Reborn quipped. 'He must have asked the Vindice if he could or he'd be in prison by now.' he said. 'Well, he'd have the sense to ask permission to break Omerta if its to protect a Sky.'

'I see...so Dino did some things for us unwittingly.' Iemitsu mused. 'He liked her enough that he's inspired to throw all he knew into the trash but what did he mean by that?'

'Yeah, I visited his mansion...its full of new hires from all races and genders. His employees had a tagline that said 'its more fun in the Cavallones' because he was a very nice boss who lets them do their own thing as long as they've finished their jobs excellently. Hobbies, dress code, etc are all very lax as long as its nothing illegal and criminal to the point one guy was walking around in pajamas and a beanie.' he said wryly as the Arcobaleno earned raised eyebrows.

'But they did say if there's guests over they'd be all-professional. His famiglia must be the only famiglia with the most females on employ because Tsunade showed him girls can be strong too. Sooo naturally, the Cavallone Famiglia is the second richest and biggest in the Vongola Alliance as he welcomed everybody from races and walks of life.'

'Did he even do a background check? We normally do background checks on individuals we want to recruit!' Coyote exclaimed.

'He probably did. Then again, when the Cavallone Famiglia declared bankruptcy, a lot of people left.' said Reborn. 'I checked who left. Dino clearly wasn't interested in deserters ever again now that he's second-richest. He's also redoing security as these deserters know how things are done so he changed routines. Very thorough and smooth progress. He's gotten his famiglia recovering but last I checked his grandfather is still alive.'

'Ah, Constantino I? Ugh, I lost respect for that man when he abandoned his son and grandson with the famiglia on bankruptcy.' Timoteo scowled. 'What about him?'

'Well, I got wind that when Dino's made great progress, he sent letters to Dino, only for Dino to banish him by reply but when he tried to visit personally, he had a Mist mind wipe him clean and chucked him to a Mental Home. He never forgave the man for abandoning his father and left him to overwork to death when they could have tackled the family issue together...two heads are better than one but he abandoned his family and famiglia. And now he comes back when they're rich again...?'

'Oh, come on, that's just thick of that man.' Timoteo fumed. 'First he ditches in a time of crisis and now when all's well again he intends to smooth sail on Dino's work? That's just shameless. It makes sense that that young man insists on changing his name. He was Constantino II wasn't he?'

'Yes, Constantino II to just Dino. He had his name changed legally when he became Boss.'

'I want to talk to that young man if we survive Tsunade.' said Timoteo. 'He'll be a great ally for her someday.'

'How about we call him now?'

xxx

Italy...

'Huh, hello?' Dino answered his call.

/SISMI Agent. Really Dino? We know you met Tsunade...she was the 12 years old kid you highly spoke of./

'Huh? Why did you mention Tsunade all of a sudden?' Dino blinked, feigning ignorance. 'Aren't you there to teach your newest er...victim?'

/SHE'S my new student./

'Hey?! Hang on a mo', she's a civilian!' Dino was doing great acting job, Romario thought.

/Its complicated, but tell us what you personally think of her./

'Well, for a kiddie she's very professional which we've seen in that nasty-ass graduation exam you gave me.' said Dino. 'Normally, young Freelancers like her will go head on just to prove themselves but she was different. When she listed down enemies, she stated who can fight who and who to run away from since they're there to steal that druggie statue for the police. I had to ask Kazuki how strong they are because he knew people in the Japanese Underworld...and I understood why she made such judgments I'm impressed. You don't see junior freelancers like that most days and most Freelancers her age uh...don't live long for being idiots. But their world is crazy because anything goes and anything can happen in a job she once invited me along to do a job with her team just to experience their world...let's just say my world is pathetically small I should expand my horizons or my ass is grass.' he griped. 'We succeeded in that job of course and then I went to get plastered. Truth is stranger than fiction, let me tell you!' he rambled.

'By the way, why ask?'

/Well, she's the hidden heir of my newest client. If all goes smoothly, I was hoping you'd be a good friend to the kid. But apparently its long done. Or is it?/

'Aww we're good friends!' Dino laughed. 'Besides, I gave her a sweet deal of a birthday present she promised me that she'd do jobs for me free of charge as long as its in Japan sooo yeah, I'm giving her jobs since I was opening branch offices in all major islands of Japan. Her work is excellent she and her Guardians make a great team. She told me about the newest addition too.'

/Hooo? That must be one heck of a birthday present. Free Vacation in Mafia Land or something?/

'Its uhhh personal...its a secret between us but it means a lot to her in terms of sentimental. Mafia Land is too cheap for her to promise me she's a free hire as long as I'm the client you know!'

/Right. Over and out./

xxx

'...that was educational.' said Visconti. 'Young Dino did the principessa a favor she valued highly by sentimental value she gave him a big promise but what could be worth free service for a permanent setting?' he asked, puzzled. 'At least we know that if Tsunade agrees to inherit Vongola, they'd be good allies at least.'

'That would require great sacrifice.' said Iemitsu with a sad smile. 'If killing me will make her agree...so be it. This is also my fault too. I thought things are going well at home since I came back to work. I never doubted nor suspected Nana of anything when in reality our daughter is suffering. I'll gladly pay the price so you better find yourself a new External Advisor, Nono.' he said in resignation. 'Oh, and I better get the Divorce papers ready just incase...'

'Iemitsu...' Timoteo croaked out, dismayed that just to have one thing they must lose another.

'Looks like this is Vongola's darkest hour.' Reborn tipped his hat down as the Ninth Generation looked grim. 'For Tsunade to agree to become Vongola Decimo, you must accept her pain and anger. Let's move out and call Kazuki.'

xxx

'Well? Its over.' said Kazuki as Madoka finished writing on the small notepad.

'I will translate them later.' said Madoka. 'I learned Italian from Visconti-sensei but uh...' she looked awkward. 'Its not something we can send by mail...if Kazuki-san wants to know, you be here later yes?'

'Of course.' Kazuki nodded as he pulled back his string.

Kazuki then left the room.

'...that bad?' Shido asked his fiancee.

'Worse...will Tsunade-chan really...kill her father?'