A/N: Sorry about the hiatus on this story, I'll try to get this story past the Ring Battles. My writing motivation just returned recently and hopefully it sticks around until this is finished.
And this story has now reached a hundred reviews, thank you all for being patient with me. As always, I hope you all enjoy!
Growing Pains
The room was dark, the only light illuminating it was from a television. Inhuman growls and screams came from the speakers, Shizuka hovering over Daichi's shoulder watching the screen. "And this is part of a series?" Shizuka asks in fascination, watching as Daichi mercilessly shot a creature with scythe hands with a plasma burst from his gun. It was set in space and had an eerie enough setting to keep her attention. Daichi nodded.
Daichi had several gaming consoles scattered around his room, genres varying from adventure games to horror. Shizuka was familiar with video games but her brother was too skittish to play anything with grotesque creatures. The door creaked open and light hit the teens in the face. "This is where you were hiding, I knew it!" Natsumi declared, Shizuka covered her light sensitive eyes and hissed.
Natsumi placed a hand on her hips, scowling. "Shouldn't you be doing something?" The redhead asks. "I'm training." Shizuka stated, Natsumi raised an eyebrow. "You're watching Daichi play video games. How the hell is that training?" Shizuka rolled her eyes. "See those hellish creatures on the screen? And the creepy atmosphere? I plan on replicating all of it in my mind." She says, tapping her head.
Natsumi looked ready to protest and flinched when another creature appeared on the screen, this one resembling a deformed baby with flailing tentacles. "What are you playing anyways?" Natsumi asks. "Dead Space." Daichi and Shizuka say in unison.
Natsumi sighed. "Reborn wants Shizuka to warm Yamamoto up for his battle with Varia's Rain." Shizuka scowled. "I told that fake baby that my position was temporary. I have no reason to get attached to my brother's elements. His safety is my only concern." She says stubbornly. Shizuka might not be a traditional Sky but she still had the instincts of one mixed with the shrewd intellect of a Mist too jaded to accept just anyone. She still thought Yamamoto was a clueless idiot.
"And you wonder why you were mistaken as an animal spirit by my grandfather." Daichi muttered under his breath. Shizuka scowled and was going to use her flames to fling a pillow at his head when her body became solid once again, falling onto the mattress with a startled yelp. "This is really annoying." She grumbled.
"Does this happen often?" Natsumi asks curiously, Shizuka scowled. "Only when it's inconvenient, it's like my flames do this to spite me. At first I thought that it just happened when my brother activated his flames but Verde said that other flames were affecting me as well." She admits, her stomach growling.
Natsumi pinched Shizuka's arm and the spirit slapped her hand away. "Can we get something to eat already? My stomach hurts and I have the sudden urge to set something on fire." She says irritably. Natsumi and Daichi both had a silent exchange, concerned about her unprompted aggression. "How about we get something with chocolate." Natsumi suggests, Shizuka's eyes brightened. Daichi vaguely wondered if it was possible for ghosts to be effected by hormones and resolved to buy chocolate just in case. He had enough experience with his female cousins to navigate his way around a ticking time bomb.
XoXoXoXoXo
Chrome nervously approached Shizuka and her guardians, trying to rein in her nerves. "Let's just get this over with. Unlike the rest of the morons she seems to have a soft spot for you." Mukuro grumbles. He hated having to play nice with the younger Sawada sibling but he couldn't allow his subordinates to live in an abandoned amusement park. Meifeng had already taken in Chrome with open arms, hopefully the woman wouldn't mind taking in two more teens.
Shizuka looked up from her cake in surprise, giving Chrome a bright grin. "Hi Chrome, do you want to join us for dessert?" She asks cheerfully, Natsumi just stared at Shizuka. "She ate an entire cake. And she's still hungry. Where does it all go?" The Italian wonders aloud. Daichi just shrugged. "I've learned not to question anything involving the supernatural. Less headaches that way." He says, Natsumi didn't look convinced. "She's a ghost made of fire. I doubt you'll get a scientific explanation." He says bluntly.
Chrome fidgeted, a gesture not lost on Shizuka. Her expression sobered. "Is it your parents?" She asks darkly, Chrome shook her head vehemently. "No, nothing like that! I was just wondering if you could... well..." Mukuro lost his patience and temporarily took over the teen's body. "What she means to ask is for you to give my minions asylum." The masculine voice coming from Chrome set everyone on edge. "And why should I do that? You and your friends tried to capture my brother to use him as a puppet."
"Your darling brother would want you to do it." Mukuro says smugly, Chrome's expression unnaturally smug as her body smirked. "My brother also doesn't know that they're in the area. I could just as easily find a way to get those bandaged guys from before to throw them back in jail. I might feel sympathy for your situation but I owe you nothing." Shizuka says, crossing her arms. "But if I do this you'll owe me a favor that you have to fulfill, no questions asked."
Mukuro bristled. "I will not owe anything to mafia scum!" He exclaims, Shizuka just shrugged. "Either you owe me or you cut a deal with Vongola. You aren't the only one that dislikes the mafia."
XoXoXoXoXo
When Tsuna saw his sister, she had a scowl that made him pity whoever pissed her off. "I'm guessing you didn't want to spar with Yamamoto then?" He asks, Shizuka growled. "I hate when idiots think they can just manipulate me into doing their bidding by mentioning your name. Remind me next time Mukuro asks for a favor to tell him to shove it." Tsuna winced, Mukuro should consider himself lucky that his sister cared about Chrome and wouldn't lash out at the meek girl in his stead. "I'm still worried about this next battle. Ryohei at least practiced boxing and Gokudera was raised in the mafia. And teen Lambo had something to protect himself-" Tsuna's face fell and Shizuka felt her anger fade.
She patted his shoulder and tried to give him a reassuring smile. "He'll be fine, and if things get out of control then he can forfeit. I doubt anyone will beat Kyo-kun and I don't think I'll die a second time." She says jovially. "Hieee! That doesn't make me feel any better about this!" Tsuna exclaims, Shizuka sighed. "I'm more worried about you and this Xanxus guy. He seems to be what you'd expect from someone in the mafia. Why didn't Vongola go with him as the heir if he's willing to take over?" She wondered aloud.
There was a loud thwack! as Shizuka cradled her head, glaring at Reborn. He held a green mallet in his hands. "Are you questioning the judgement of your own father Tanuki?" Reborn asks, Shizuka groaned. "Come on, couldn't I have a less embarrassing nickname? Like Kitsune? Or the Phantom?" Reborn deadpanned. "That would require you to actually be impressive." He says bluntly.
"I'm still not sparring with Yamamoto, I'm not currently skilled enough to give him a challenge." Shizuka admits, the actions in her body unable to compare with a natural born hitman that had years of physical conditioning. Then there was the glaring weakness that she could admit to: having no pain tolerance. Pain hated her and she hated it back. Thankfully Mists tended to stick with illusions and her match hopefully wouldn't involve actual combat.
"Do you still want to be human after seeing the downsides to being in a physical body?" Tsuna asks, Shizuka nodded. "It's nice being able to hug people and move stuff around without it completely draining my energy. And with the people we've met, our world doesn't consist of just our small family anymore. I just want a chance to live my own life, you know?" Tsuna hugged his sister, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If wielding supernatural flames is possible in the mafia, maybe there's a way to making you a human permanently."
Shizuka clutched at her brother's shirt. "But where would we even start?" She asks, Tsuna scratched the back of his neck. "Maybe we can ask Reborn or Verde when these ring battles are over. After all, something changed them into babies."
Shizuka looked thoughtful. "Or Verde could make me an android." Tsuna deadpanned. "Every sci-fi movie in existence says that would be a horrible idea."
XoXoXoXoXo
The Rain ring battle was to take place in school building B, the floors of the building slowly being filled with water. All the windows and exits were all sealed off. Since this would be the match Squalo was in Xanxus showed up as well.
Shizuka yawned, leaning against Tsuna. "Why can't we have these fights in the morning?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Keeping up a physical form was tiring, all she wanted was to go to the Hibari house and rest. Kyoya was perched on top of a nearby water tower. Tsuna looked between his sister and his aloof Cloud guardian. "You can go over to Kyoya-senpai if you want Shizuka."
His sister froze, giving Tsuna a betrayed look. "You too?!"
"You're the one that keeps flirting with a fighting maniac, not me." Tsuna says.
Shizuka's face turned a bright red as Tsuna's guardians laughed, cutting through the usual tense atmosphere the ring battles created. Ryohei ruffled her hair, not noticing her cringing at the physical contact. "Don't worry little sis, he has a soft spot for small animals."
"Haha, you two do kinda argue like a married couple." Yamamoto teased. "All he does is call me Tanuki before trying to cave my head in!" Shizuka exclaims.
The match between Takeshi and Squalo was more evenly matched than the Storm match. And there was a bit of irony in a man whose name in Italian translated to shark being eaten by one.
Shizuka let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Alright, we've gone through Sun, Lightning, Storm and Rain. Which element is next?" She asks Violet. The teen looked startled to be addressed and looked nervously to the judges.
"The next ring battle will be for the Mist ring. As discussed, the damage will be cleared before tomorrow." One of the Cervello states, their usual bland voice having a noticeable quiver of fear. Shizuka couldn't blame them.
"It's already three to one. That takes a bit of pressure off." Tsuna says, Shizuka deadpanned. "I pissed off an Arcobalenco. They're going to do their best to kill me during the match, that's not encouraging in the least."
Bonus: Ranking for Fun
"Come on Tsuna, it's just for fun. Please?" Shizuka begs, behind her Lambo and I-Pin were giving Tsuna puppy eyes. Tsuna sighed. "As long as it's alright with Fuuta." They all cheered, Shizuka sneaking the kids some candy as payment for their help.
Fuuta already had his book of rankings out. "Tsuna-nii, what should I rank first?" He asks, Tsuna tried to think of something that wouldn't be invasive. "How about who feels the most dead inside?" He jokes.
Fuuta's eyes glowed and the objects around him began to float in the air. "The top three people that feel the most dead inside are: Natsumi Nougat, Tsunayoshi Sawada, and Daichi Miyamoto."
"All people that have to babysit Shizuka. Not surprising." Reborn says bluntly as Shizuka sulked in a corner.
"Am I that bad?" She mutters, illusionary mushrooms surrounding her.
"Shizuka, stop cultivating mushrooms in the corner!" Tsuna says with exasperation. Shizuka just pouted before a light bulb appeared above her head.
XoXoXoXoXo
A week later Tsuna, Natsumi, Masahiro and Kyoya were all noticeably paranoid. There were no pranks and no one had seen her around other than Daichi and occasionally Verde.
"She's never been away from the house for this long before. What if something happened?" Tsuna frets, glaring at Reborn. The hitman refused to be guilt tripped into locating her.
Later that day Shizuka reappeared, giving Daichi a concerned look. "I thought that disappearing for a while would give them some time to relax."
Daichi just shrugged. He had a great week, it wasn't every day that someone volunteered to take over his duties at the shrine just so he could play video games and relax. "Maybe they miss the mischief you cause on a daily basis." He suggests.
"Eh, they can squirm a little while longer. Now, you were talking about some game called Dead Space?"