A deep sigh escaped my lips as soon as I sat down. Working in a sushi restaurant isn't as simple as it seemed.
"I feel sorry for Yamamoto."
I eyed Yamamoto's movements as he finished serving yet another customer. Business was going well. "Looks like the American hooligan did well, for once." I turned my head to see Gokudera-kun standing next to me.
His arms were crossed over his chest as he mumbled out those words. I guess he still needs to learn how to compliment Pierce-san properly. At least he made some progress...
"Yeah... People keep pouring in. She's done a great job." "Then why the sour face, Tenth?" I sighed at Gokudera-kun's words. Can't he see what's going on here?
"The restaurant is filled with people we know, Gokudera-kun." I pointed out, seeing my own Mother waving at me from her seat. Reborn, Bianchi, Lambo, I-Pin and Fuuta are all accompanying her around the table. Shamal-sensei is sitting at a table close by, gazing at a pissed off Bianchi as he blew her a kiss.
They’re gonna order the most expensive dishes on the menu, no doubt. Well, maybe Fuuta won't. "Can I have the Hirame dish?" Fuuta asked in a polite tone of voice. "Of course, Fuuta-kun. We got Dad's pay today, so you can all order whatever you like!" Mom smiled brightly while everyone else cheered.
"They’re all messed up! Especially Fuuta! He can get away with everything!" I yelled out as I held onto my head in sheer worry for the bill. "Now that you mention it, isn't that Hibari sitting over there in the corner?"
Hibari-san had his arms crossed over his chest, his feet placed on the table, giving the people that dare come close to him a deadly glare. "That is Hibari-san!! Out of all people, what's he doing here?!! Has Pierce-san gone crazy?!!" I complained loudly, throwing a fit.
"What's the matter with him?" Yamamoto asked Gokudera-kun as he walked by, holding onto an empty tray. "Just keep walkin' buddy." Gokudera-kun glared at Yamamoto. "Kay...Bye buddy." Yamamoto responded as he smiled ever so brightly.
"I'm not your buddy!" Gokudera hissed at Yamamoto, but he was long gone.
Suddenly, I felt an arm being placed on my shoulders as the person pulled me towards Gokudera-kun, knocking our heads together. "What are the two of you standing around here for?!" Yamamoto's Dad seemed angry.
Of course he's angry! We were slacking off!
"W-we're very sorry! We'll continue working now!" I panicked. "Huh? Work?" He began to say. "Forget about that! Just sit down and relax! I'm sure these three ladies will love your company!" He laughed as he dragged us towards a table, making us sit down.
"Tsuna-san! What a surprise-desu!" I stared into the heart-shaped eyes of Miura Haru. She flew by my side, attaching herself on my arm. "Good to see you, Tsuna-kun." Kyoko-chan greeted me with an angelic smile.
"K-kyoko-chan?! What are you doing here?" I'm a mess and I'm all sweaty! I can't let her see me like this! Hana shoved a flyer in my face, showing the family restaurant.
"Alice send us here. She also told us this place would be filled with handsome waiters." "She screwed up big time." Gokudera-kun grumbled under his breath.
"Tell me about it." Hana rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't talking about the handsome waiters!" Gokudera spat out, much to Hana's dismay. "I was talking about the American idiot!" "Speaking of Alice-chan. She looked really adorable in that Godzilla outfit. It fits her well!" Kyoko chuckled softly.
"Doesn't it!? I wonder where she got it! I want to design it for myself-desu!" It's a fish... But they wouldn't understand anyway. No'one does. The clatter of many dishes could be heard in the kitchen, making me jump up instantly.
"What the hell was that?!" Gokudera-kun got up on his feet as well, making his way into the kitchen. As soon as we got there, the culprit was simply standing there with a couple of plates in his hands. The rest of the plates found their way to the ground, reduced into big shards all across the floor.
"The owner is gonna have a field day." Gokudera-kun broke the silence. "Onii-san! What are you doing here?!" I scolded Kyoko-chan's older brother. "I EXTREMELY WANTED TO HELP!!" He replied, destroying my eardrums along the way.
"You want to help? YOU CAN'T EVEN LISTEN PROPERLY!" Gokudera-kun yelled out, completely outraged with Onii-san's excuse. "WHAT WAS THAT, SQUID-HEAD!?" "GO AND WASH OUT YOUR EARS, TURF-TOP!!"
"You guys! The customers might hear you!" I hissed out, wanting for them to stop fighting before all hell will break loose. "Tsuna!" Yamamoto barged into the kitchen, his eyes landing on me.
"Alice's back, and she's not alone." Once I walked out of the kitchen, my mouth fell open. Dino's subordinates practically filled the whole restaurant! And they're all holding onto their guns!!
"Yo, little brother. Thought I'd drop by for a bite." Dino-san emerged from the sea of black-suited men. "Just perfect." Gokudera-kun rolled his eyes. "Horse-man made his entrance. Fan-fricken-tastic."
Wait... Isn't that Moretti The Murdered, standing beside Dino-san?! Not him! Not now!
Soon enough, I set my sights on Pierce-san, sticking onto Dino-san like glue. "Isn't this great? Everyone is under one roof! This is awesome, right Darling?" She placed her head on Dino-san's upper arm, not letting go.
Dino-san didn't seem to mind much. He hardly noticed the loving gaze in Pierce-san's crystal blue eyes. "We're in trouble." A dark shadow was cast upon us, followed by a pair of heavy footsteps.
"Alice..." Yamamoto's old man growled under his breath. He's about to explode.
"L-listen, Chef. I know I've let you down, but I think I deser-""YOU’RE THE BEST MASCOT GIRL I'VE EVER HAD!!" He bursted out in tears, making the lot of us look bad as he engulfed her in a heartwarming embrace.
"She's the only mascot girl you've ever had, old man." Gokudera-kun rolled his eyes. "Soooo... Does this mean I can work in the kitchen?" "I would love to try Alessa's cooking." Romario piped in with a smile.
"Same here!" Bono raised his hand impatiently, resembling a child rather than an adult.
"She can't even make a nice batch of rice balls. What chance does she have with preparing fish?" I muttered under my breath. "So, can I?" "My dear mascot girl. Of course not. You’re a disaster in the kitchen." He said matter of factly.
I caught a glimpse of Onii-san, hiding the broken plates he held in his hands behind his back in shame. "Are you sure about that? The way I see it, you really need her help. After all, the restaurant is filled with waiting customers. Can't keep them waiting." Dino-san placed his hands on Pierce-san's shoulders, making her look up in bewilderment.
"Well... You do have a point there." That's Dino-san for you. He knows how to turn situations like this in his favor. "Fine. But you have to listen to whatever I say, got it?"
"WE GOT IT TO THE EXTREME!!"
Onii-san ditched the broken plates over his shoulder, letting it crash down near a shocked looking customer.
"LET'S GO AND SERVE THE CUSTOMERS TO THE EXTREME, ALICE!!" Onii-san dragged poor Pierce-san away from Dino-san before she could thank him properly. "Good luck, Tsuna." Dino-san messed up my hair. Yamamoto ended up guiding Dino-san, his subordinates and Moretti to their tables.
"We'll be needing it..."
Third POV:
"What can I get you, you little bastard." Alice eyed Hibari up and down, holding onto a simple note block and pen. Hibari averted his eyes from the menu to her, simply staring at the blonde, holding a dull expression on his face.
A smirk graced his lips once he realized who was standing before him. The only girl that dared to defy him. Make that the only living being in the world...
"Could you repeat that?" He mocked her slowly. Alice caught the bait, about to freak out on him. "Are you deaf? What do you want, you sonuva-" "Would you look at the time!! You should check up on the fish, Pierce-san!"
Tsuna pulled her on the arm, wanting to separate Miss Flame from Mister Oil. "W-what do you think you're doing Tsunami!! I need to get back at him for dumping me in a trash container!" She hissed at Tsuna, resembling a nasty snake.
"Gokudera-kun! Can you take over for Pierce-san please?" He ignored the American hoodlum. "Hell no." Came Gokudera's dull reply from behind the counter, making Tsuna sweat-drop.
"No worries. I got it." Yamamoto smiled as he made his way to Hibari. "Thanks, Yamamoto." Tsuna sighed. "Pierce-san... You should stay away from Hiba-where'd she go?!" Tsuna looked around, spotting Alice at Dino's table, taking his time to order. She winked in Tsuna's direction, combined with a goofy smile.
"Good... She'll stay out of trouble for now."
"What would you recommend, Alice?" Dino questioned the blonde while stroking his chin. "Fish." She replied blankly. "Fish it is then. Surprise me, kay?" Dino replied sweetly, flashing a dazzling smile in Alice's direction.
"Okay!" She squealed as she ran off, crashing into a clueless Ryohei as he dropped his tray, making a huge mess.
"You can make her do anything with that smile of yours." Moretti commented while gazing at the clumsy duo. "Come on. It's not that bad, is it?" Moretti was caught off guard by Dino's blinding smile.
"I don't blame her for not being able to see straight." He muttered out, causing for the others to break into laughter.
"I'm so sorry, Ryo. You okay?" Alice asked, wanting to help out. "THIS IS NOTHING!!" The boxer roared loudly. "Are the two of you slacking off again!?" Gokudera's shadow was cast upon them.
"NO SIR!!" They got back on their feet, ready for war. "Jeez... What a slave driver." Alice whispered out to Ryohei as soon as Gokudera's back was turned on them. "He's an extreme party-pooper."
Gokudera was about to jump on the two of them, whispering to each other when Tsuna saved the day once again. "It's okay Gokudera-kun!! Just let them be!! I need your help on something! It's something that only my right-hand man can help out with!!" Tsuna pulled on his arm.
"I'm at your service, Tenth!!" Gokudera beamed happily, ignoring the two troublemakers. "Yes-man." "SHUT UP!!" Gokudera exploded on Alice. "That's not a way to talk to a lady. You have to treat them with extreme care." Ryohei explained.
Gokudera took out his dynamites, his right eye twitching like crazy. "Pierce-san... Would it hurt if you apologized for once?!" Tsuna spat out, trying his best to hold Gokudera back. "I'm sorry." She smirked, not feeling sorry at all.
"Buh-bye."
She skipped off, stopping in front of a large fish tank, containing all the fishy goodness. Alice rolled up her sleeve while eyeing the biggest fish she could find. "You'll do just fine." She grinned maniacally with her face plastered against the glass.
A beautiful tuna fish seemed to catch her murderous gaze, realizing that he's about to be sacrificed. "What do you think you're doing?!" Came the chef's booming voice, holding onto Alice's collar as she held onto a squirming tuna fish.
"N-nothing..." She looked away with a pout to follow. A loud crash filled the kitchen, creating an opening for Alice as soon as the chef averted his eyes from the fish-snatcher, loosening his grip on her. Ryohei's head popped out from the kitchen, shifting his eyes like a maniac.
"I think no'one heard my extreme commotion." He muttered out with a sigh, until the chef towered high above him. "You're gonna pay an extreme price for those broken materials, buddy." He spoke, a vein popping up on his forehead as he glared Ryohei down.
In the meantime, Alice managed to present a beautiful dish before the ever so shocked Tenth generation Boss of the Cavallone Family. "Enjoy your meal!" Alice grinned while she placed her hands on Dino's shoulders, patting him ever so softly. Dino poked the fish with his fork, gazing at Alice afterwards.
"It's still alive."
"Which is another word for fresh!"
Alice proclaimed, her eyes litting up as she did so. "So go ahead and take a bite, big guy!" She nudged the mafia boss, making him inch closer to his dish. "Besides, I prepared it with my love for you." She clapped her hands together in a childish gesture, resembling a five year old, experiencing her first crush.
"Where have I heard that before?" Moretti laughed as he took a sip from his sake. Bono tapped Romario on his shoulder, pointing across from their table. Bianchi glanced over in their direction, smirking as she took in their shocked faces.
"P-Poison Scorpion?!!" Dino exclaimed, fearing for the worst. "I would like the live fish." Romario ordered his dish with a serious tone resonating in his voice. "Coming right up!!" Alice smiled in Romario's direction, patting the pale looking Bucking Bronco on the back.
"M-me too!!" Bono raised his hand eagerly.
"You guys..." Dino muttered under his breath, feeling the urge to ditch the fish before him. "If you don't mind, I'll take over for now." Moretti grinned from ear to ear, inching the plate in his direction.
Dino arched his brow, but thanked him anyway. "No problem! I'm dead anyway, remember?!" Moretti laughed loudly as Dino's men joined in.
----------------
Alice had her face plastered against the aquarium glass again. Her eyes followed a bright red octopus in the tank. "How I wish I had eight arms like you, Bob..."
She sighed against the glass. "I would have beaten the crap out of Kyoya, that's for sure." She grumbled under her breath, feeling her blood boil from under her skin as she gazed at Hibari from the corner of her eye. He was holding a stare contest with a still pissed off Gokudera.
"You're the only one that understands me Bob, you know that? I can tell you everything." Alice tapped her fingernail against the glass, frightening Bob a little. "Sorry..." She laughed. "Having fun?" A chair was pulled near Alice, making her look sideways.
"Sup Takeshi."
Yamamoto laughed at her words, as he always has whenever she said something. He never laughs at her. He truly finds Alice amusing. Her words, her body language, her tough attitude... He could go on. He was charmed by her childish gestures. She probably didn't intend to be charming, so Yamamoto keeps it to himself.
"Looks like you've overcome your fear for squids." Yamamo chuckled out, his smile radiating the happiness he felt whenever he talks to Alice face to face. "I never feared them... I just didn't like to see their heads cut off, is all." Alice rolled her eyes, taking Yamamoto's words as an insult.
"This comes from the girl that laughs in the face of danger." Yamamoto commented, remembering her many battles against Hibari. "H-hey! We're just... Misunderstood... Bob and I are misunderstood creatures." "Sure." Yamamoto grinned, his chocolate orbs scanning the blonde American before him.
"Sure, Bob has eight arms, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a heart. He could have eight hearts for all I care!" Alice laughed, catching Yamamoto's gaze on her. "Why Bob?" He asked her, amused to no end.
"I used to have a dog named Bob, back in the United States. Back in California. A golden retriever... She was a good dog, until she got run over that it." She said all that with a smile on her face. Yamamoto could tell she was hiding her true emotions, but he said nothing about it.
"Last time I checked, Bob was a boys' name." He said. "It suited her..." Alice turned her gaze to Bob, the octopus, following his every move."Do you still miss... America? Your home?" Yamamoto asked, a nervous tone resonating in his voice.
Alice's eyes softened at his words. She bit her lower lip, fighting herself to answer his question. Yamamoto was patiently waiting for her reply.
"After that... There was Bob, the Siamese cat. Bob, the white rabbit, and Bob, the squid." She tapped the glass again, causing for Bob to leak a cloud of ink instantly. "What about you? Had any pets?" Alice changed the subject. Yamamoto sighed, but again, he said nothing about it.
"Does Gokudera count as a pet?" Yamamoto laughed, and Alice soon joined in on the laughter. Yamamoto cast one last glance at Alice. It became clear to him that someday soon, she'll have to go home.
"I think he heard us." Alice's voice broke Yamamoto's thoughts as he looked up to see an angry grey-haired Italian stomping in their direction. "What did you just say, baseball retard?" He hissed, holding onto Yamamoto's collar.
"Take it easy, Hayato. He didn't mean what he said. He was just joking." Gokudera averted his eyes from Yamamoto to Alice, frowning at her words. "Come on. Is this the way a right-hand man should behave?"
"Since when do you know how a right-hand man should behave?!" Gokudera spat out in disbelief. "Well... Since I... Uh..." Alice put on her thinking face. "Looks like your lonely brain cell needs to work overtime to find the answer." "H-hey!! I'm not stupid! I don't have one brain cell! You take that back Hayato!"
Alice pushed Gokudera ever so harshly while Yamamoto arched his brow. This isn't gonna end well. "Your English test result proves your stupidity, Babyface!" Gokudera shoved her aside.
"You're the idiot! I thought you'd be able to figure out why my score was so low! I switched mine with Tsunami's to make him look good!! It was all for your precious Tenth generation Boss, moron!!" Alice barked while Gokudera's cheeks turned a light pink in his embarrassment.
"Keep the Tenth out of this!!" He waved his fist in Alice's direction. By now, the customers noticed their loud quarrel, keeping their eyes locked onto the two of them.
"Takeshi's right and you know it! You're Tsunami's personal pet! You're a Yes-man! You're nothing but a nasty cat, begging for attention! One who's willing to do anything for his precious-" "You're dead meat!!" Gokudera jumped on Alice instantly, the two of them exchanging blows to one another.
Tsuna and Ryohei came running to see what the commotion was all about. "You guys!! Stop fighting!! You'll chase off the customers!!" Tsuna complained, seeing his two family members scratching each other’s eyes out and what not.
Alice managed to sit on top of Gokudera, her hands clenched around the Italian's neck as she choked the life out of him. Gokudera managed to retaliate, holding onto a random object, followed by a harsh blow to Alice's head.
Tsuna and Yamamoto winched in pain while Ryohei's mouth was agape at the damage they were causing.
"Stupidera's back in the fight!!" Lambo jumped up and down, getting all exited as he threw his fists in the air, copying the moves they made. Gokudera and Alice got up on their feet, glaring at each other like no tomorrow.
"You hit like a girl!!" Gokudera commented, spitting out some of the blood in his mouth as Tsuna squealed, fearing for the worst. "They’re preparing themselves for round two! We have to do something!" He warned Ryohei and Yamamoto while they just stood there.
"I'm on it! Just wait for my extreme sign, Yamamoto! I'll take down Squid-head, and you take down Alice!" Yamamoto nodded, agreeing with his senpai. "I am a girl, Yes-man!!" "When it comes to you, it's hard to tell!!" Gokudera took out his dynamite sticks, litting them up instantly.
"I'll blow you to smithereens, Babyface!!" He grinned widely. "NOW TO THE EXTREME!!" Ryohei and Yamamoto were about to get involved, when Bianchi made her move. "You should stop trying to harm her, Hayato." She placed her hands on Alice's shoulders, in which she looked up at her.
"Just tell her how you feel. Love will-" "I DON'T LIKE HER!! I DESPISE HER!!I'M SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING ME OTHERWISE!!" Gokudera exploded. "G-Gokudera-kun... You're okay!" Tsuna pat him on the back.
"Well... Yeah... Why wouldn't I be?"
His eyes fell upon his older sister, his stomach cramping up on him instantly. With a pale expression gracing his face, he passed out, losing his grip on the dynamite sticks as they rolled on the floor.
One of the hissing sticks made its way under Haru's and Kyoko's table. Hibari was also in the danger zone, but he barely noticed. A few others rolled under Reborn's table, in which Tsuna's Mother arched her brow, completely oblivious of the danger they were in.
"Put it out!!" Tsuna panicked.
"Don't worry Tsuna! I got this!" Dino took out his bullwhip, ready for action. Alice clapped her hands in a childish gesture, her eyes plastered onto the Tenth Boss of the Cavallone Family.
Dino lashed out with repeated strokes, gathering the dynamite sticks from under the tables with swift precision. As soon as he held them in his hands, Bono and Ivan doused the flames with a bucket of water, drenching the Bucking Bronco from head to toe with the refreshing liquid.
"Thanks guys..." Dino piped in, a blank expression gracing his moist face. Bono and Ivan merely congratulated each other for a job well done. "You were great, Dino!! That was just breathtakingly beautiful." Alice clasped her hands together, her eyes glued to the ever so clueless mafia boss.
Tsuna sighed in his relieved state. But it didn't last long... A deafening explosion occurred, blasting away a part of the sushi restaurant. A cloud of dust emerged from the rubble as Tsuna and the others stood there, staring at the damage in disbelief. Reborn made his way to Tsuna in a casual and laid-back manner.
"You've done it now Tsuna." He mocked the boy. "I didn't do anything!!" Tsuna spat out. "I thought you got them all, Dino-san!!" He turned to the Italian blonde. "I-I'm sorry. I really thought I had them all! Guess I missed a few." He scratched the back of his head as he chuckled softly, causing for Tsuna to glare in his direction.
"This isn't a laughing matter!"
"Tsuna... Someone's still in there." Yamamoto pointed out. A dark silhouette emerged from the rubble, accompanied with a faint ringing sound. "A ringtone?" Dino questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.
Tsuna turned pale instantly as he pulled on his hair. "I-it's Hibari-san!!" He backed up, bumping into Romario. Hibari dusted off his Namimori jacket. He was a mess, but his usual scary aura didn't diminish one bit. A strand of his raven-black hair caught fire, but he hardly noticed.
"Kyoya! You look... Different." Dino grinned. Gokudera managed to get up on his feet, holding onto his stomach in pain. Hibari bared his tonfa, ready to beat up whoever was responsible for this mess.
"Which one of you herbivores caused for this to happen..." He hissed out, a dangerous tone resonating in his voice. "Tsuna..." Reborn pointed at the shocked teen. "It wasn't me!! I swear!!" He panicked. "It was me, Lambo-san!!" The cowboy announced proudly, not knowing what he's getting himself into.
"L-lambo?! He must think this is all a game!" The small child stood before Hibari, grinning like a maniac. Five seconds later, Lambo was plastered against the aquarium glass, the force behind Hibari's blow causing for the glass to crack.
Lambo sniffed loudly, his eyes getting all teary. "L-Lambo-san d-doesn't l-l-like this!!" He cried out. The glass couldn't hold it anymore as it broke down, causing for the water to flow out of the fish tank.
Tsuna squealed as the water reached his feet, along with a few sea creatures, trying their best to survive the dry environment. The few customers who didn't leave because of the explosion, chose to leave now.
"Bob!!" Alice had a shocked expression on her face as she shoved the clueless Tsuna aside, getting down on one knee as she tried to nurture her pet squid back to health. "Bob?" Dino arched his brow in utter confusion. "Don't ask." Yamamoto retorted, causing for Dino to grow even more confused.
"Look what you did! You're lucky Bob didn't get hurt!" Alice spat out, her hatred for Hibari growing even more. "So it was you, Babyface... I should have known." Hibari glared Alice down, his shadow was casted upon her as he towered above her kneeling position.
"Hey... I wasn't the cause of the explosion. It was Hayato!" She's shifting her eyes like crazy! Of course she's to blame for the explosion, not Gokudera-kun! She's the one that started the fight in the first place! Tsuna panicked in his thoughts.
"Enough... You will die by my hands, and I will savor every second of seeing you grovel before me in pure misery." "Your hair is on fire." Her voice is light, entirely friendly.
Hibari was caught by surprise upon hearing her words. He managed to hide his surprise quite nicely, so no' one noticed. Reborn smirked, finding Hibari's flaw ever so amusing. "You're tough, aren't you, Babyface? I've always liked tough." Came his cool reply.
Alice shrugged. Dino arched his brow at Hibari's tactics. "Did he just compliment her?" Tsuna whispered in Yamamoto's direction, in which the baseball boy shrugged, keeping his eyes on the two of them.
"I couldn't ask for a better rival. One that doesn't break easily." He smirked. Alice watches him. She knows he's toying with her, simply messing with her mind. She knows he'll grow violent as soon as she says something stupid again. How could he not?
"Man... You must have been reeeeeeeally lonely as a kid." Be that as it may, it still didn't stop her from saying what she wanted to say. Hibari stopped smirking altogether.
"Oh yes... I was very lonely. But that changed as soon as I set my eyes on you, herbivore." Without a single warning, Hibari released countless jabs from his tonfa in a swift motion, but Alice dodged them without even breaking a sweat.
Upon seeing the destruction that was made in his sushi restaurant, Yamamoto's old man sighed. "That's it... I'm done for." He muttered out under his breath.
"Keep your eyes on her, although I doubt it'll be easy." Reborn sat on Dino's shoulder, smirking for the hell of it. "Reborn. Are they like this all the time? It's hard to tell whether the two of them are enemies or allies." Dino commented.
"They're enemies." Tsuna piped in, sighing deeply as Hibari smashed a table and some chairs to mere rubble. Yamamoto made his way to the girls, smiling apologetically to his Dad as he rubbed his temples in cheer worry.
"It's not safe here. You guys should head home." "Why-desu?! We were having so much fun-desuuuu!!" Haru fought back. "But Alice-chan isn't done with her performance. I would like to see the end of it." Kyoko pouted.
"Kyoko-chan's even worse than Yamamoto." Tsuna eyed the girls, mainly Kyoko. "We didn't even pay." Hana grunted, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's on the house!" Yamamoto could hear his old man grumbling in displeasure, but he ignored him.
"My My... It's getting a little too rowdy here." Nana made her way over to the girls, I-pin and Fuuta never leaving her side. Lambo wobbled over to them, holding his head in pain. He jumped up, petrified at the sound of yet another piece of furniture being destroyed by the hands of Hibari Kyoya.
"Mama! Lambo-san's scared!!" He ran to Nana's side, holding onto her legs as he cried a waterfall of tears, accompanied with a running nose.
"We should let the boys handle this. We girls and children have no business in a fight like this one." "B-but Alice is a girl." Hana blurted out, stating the obvious.
"Boys and they're silly games. I'm glad my Tsu-kun isn't so rough. Just like his Father." Nana ignored Hana, her facial expression softening upon mentioning her loyal husband as she slipped into dreamland.
"Just great..." Hana muttered out as Kyoko and Haru exchanged apologetic smiles to one another.
"She's right. We should go. They'll be fine."
"Alice-chan's so lucky-desu!" Haru punched the air, her lips forming into a pout.
"She's a fast one." Romario grinned amusingly, seeing Alice dodge every blow Hibari threw at her with grace. Dino was surprised, to say the least. All of his doubts of her being misplaced in the Vongola Family ebbed from his mind. He felt, at ease, somehow...
"So this is what you meant, Reborn."
"I'm glad you're catching on."
The baby hitman retorted as he glanced over at his ex pupil.
"I'm just worried about what the future holds for her." Dino sighed, feeling genuinely worried for the girl. He felt like a Father, fretting over every little thing, as long as it's about his little girl.
"She's improved, both in mind and body." "How so?" The baby hitman questioned. "I noticed something while on the way here." Dino smiled sincerely, letting the memory engulf his mind.
Flashback:
"So you're helping out your dear classmate, huh? Is that what all this is about?" The Bucking Bronco laughed as he walked alongside Alice, the fish mascot. Romario, Moretti and the others followed a little ways ahead of them.
It was an odd parade indeed. A young girl dressed as the American version of Godzilla, a mafia Boss and his subordinates holding onto their guns as they shifted their eyes, staying on guard for any danger, completely unaware of the fact that they're the danger themselves.
The streets they walked upon was empty. Not a sign of life could be detected. "You guys... I think it's okay to put away the guns for now." Dino glanced over his shoulder, eyeing his black-suited men carefully. His men did as they were asked while Moretti chuckled, unable to hold it in.
"Be careful... They might toss you into another container close by." Romario was the one who chuckled softly this time. Moretti kept quiet as he pulled down his black plain bonnet, looking down.
"So, Takeshi's in trouble, huh? It's a good thing you're helping out your Family members." Dino spoke, patting her on the head. "It's not easy, you know..." Alice retorted, a serious tone resonating in her voice. Dino grew surprised at her calm composure.
"How come?" "B-because..." "Is it because they don't treat you well? Are the customers being hard on you?" Dino summed up all the possibilities he could think of. "Just tell me, and I'll fix the problem." Dino glanced over his shoulder again.
"Without the help of my subordinates, of course." He smiled that gorgeous smile of his, his face lighting up like the end of a burning cigarette.
"Takeshi forgot to mention what their rivals served!!" Alice turned to the shocked Dino as she cried a waterfall of tears. The Bucking Bronco inched away from her a little bit, but Alice held onto his arm, crying like a little baby.
"Sounds like a siren..." Bono whispered to Ivan as he eyed Alice from afar. "W-what do they serve?" Dino hesitated to ask. She was already upset enough. No need to make her cry even more.
Alice stopped walking abruptly, pointing towards a fast-food restaurant. Across from the fast-food restaurant was Yamamoto's sushi restaurant. Alice sobbed softly, lowering her hand. Dino sweat dropped as his subordinates caught up to them.
"What is it, Boss?" Romario asked, eyeing the restaurant carefully. "Hamburgers..." The blonde Italian muttered under his breath, immediately knowing why Alice is struggling with the task at hand. She's a hamburger-loving American, and proud of it!
"I guess it's hard for you to eat it, huh? You would be stabbing poor Takeshi in the back..." "It's okay for me to eat there. He said so himself." Alice retorted, not letting go of Dino's arm. Dino arched his brow in confusion. Then, what's the problem? He fails to understand.
"Hayato's being a pain in the ass!! He threatened me!! He threatened me!!" She began to cry again, flapping her fins in a fast motion.
"Figures he'd be against it. Typical Hayato." Dino laughed, imagining Gokudera, pointing his index-finger accusingly at Alice as her hamburger obsession was put to a halt, much to Alice's dismay.
"It's a good thing you didn't eat any hamburgers. Can't say I'd be able to hold myself in if this restaurant served Italian dishes..." Dino sweat-dropped.
"Ravioli di Portobello..." Bono sighed, sniffing the air as if the dish was being made this very moment.
"Give me a chicken pizza!" Ivan exclaimed. "Spaghetti with meat sauce, just like my Mother makes it." Moretti joined in. Soon enough, everyone was talking about their favorite Italian dish while laughing, making Dino's stomach growl without him realizing it.
Their laugher faded into the background as Dino gazed at Alice. "I won't betray my Family, if that's what you're wondering, Dino." She said ever so softly. "I'll never revert back to the person I used to be. I was a lousy brat, but you changed all that."
She took off her headgear as she walked towards the sushi restaurant. "So..." And stops three feet away. She turns partway around and flashes a smile towards the clueless Bucking Bronco.
"Just trust me. Otherwise, you'd just be distrusting yourself, and that would look silly, right?" Dino thought for a while, letting her words sink in. When they did, he flashed her a smile back, one so dazzling enough to blind her.
Temporarily, of course.
She turned away from Dino, attempting to hide her burning cheeks as she squealed softly in delight, making Dino laugh.
"Okay... I trust you, Alice Pierce."
End Flashback:
"Alice surprised me with her words. She's so mature, despite her age." "And the fact that she has a crush on you has nothing to do with it." Reborn muttered under his breath.
"Did you say something, Reborn?"
"Nothing much. Don't mind me." He grinned while Dino sighed, knowing Reborn was up to something again. Alice was still dodging Hibari's powerful jabs when an extremely loud voice broke her concentration.
"ALICE!! HIT BACK TO THE EXTREME!!"
Dino's subordinates let the hot-headed boxer through. "H-hit back? Are you crazy?!!" Tsuna held onto Ryohei, shaking some sense into him. "WHY NOT?!! SHE CAN DO IT TO THE EXTREME!!" The boxer retorted, his extreme passion burning up to a new level.
"She's more interested in dodging Kyoya's blows, rather than striking him." Dino spoke, his eyes following Alice's every move.
Hibari was slowing down a bit. He was breathing with difficulty, which pissed him off for some reason. Seeing Alice smirk at him while dodging his blows only worsened his mood.
"I will bite you to death, and I'll enjoy it, Babyface. Take my word for it..." He growled in a threatening manner, resembling a nasty predator, craving for Alice's blood. As the girls got ready to leave, much to Haru's dismay, I-Pin was left behind, standing before the entrance.
"Lambo-san's first out the door! Lambo-san never loses!! Bwahahahaha!! I-pin is a loser!"
"Check it out, guys! I'm winning!" Alice turned to Tsuna and the others with a grin from ear to ear. "Kyoya has nothing on me!" She laughed. Tsuna couldn't believe how stupid she was! Hibari-san can hear her every word!! Tsuna jumped up at the sight of yet another hole in the wall, caused by Hibari's violent actions.
As Alice skidded to a stop, Hibari stood near the hole in the wall, turning his head to face Alice with a murderous glaze in his velvet eyes. Alice was filled with fear just by looking into his eyes, but she refused to show it. Not in front of Dino anyway.
Hibari launched himself towards Alice, aiming for a blow to the head. Hibari didn't slow down. He sped up his pace and kept getting in her face, determined to tire her out before he does. Alice still managed to dodge his attacks, but barely. Without a warning, she felt his tonfa grazing her cheek, leaving a nasty cut behind. Her eyes widened in shock as she noticed Hibari changing his movements.
Before, she could read his moves before he made them, but now, she can barely see him clearly! Let alone see his movements! "REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING TO THE EXTREME!!" Ryohei broke Alice's concentration. She jumped aside, making a good distance between herself and Hibari.
"I can't dodge and hit him at the same time, Ryo!! That's crazy talk!!" She argued back. "What are you... Her coach?" Tsuna sweat-dropped at the sight of Ryohei, acting like his career is on the line.
"This might as well be a real boxing match. It's like that to senpai." Yamamoto grinned. "It doesn't mean he needs to treat it like one!" Tsuna complained.
In a split second, Alice received a powerful uppercut caused by the tip of Hibari's tonfa. "O-oi! Kyoya... He's really serious." Dino frowned as his eyes averted from the damaged Alice to the smirking Hibari. Reborn smirked also.
"Reborn! This has gone long enough! We have to stop them!" Tsuna glared at the baby hitman. "Go ahead and jump in, Tsuna." "C-can't you do anything, Reborn? I mean... You're so amazing. You're the best baby hitman ever!" Tsuna practically begged Reborn to help out.
"And you're their boss. Act like one, Tsuna."
"You actually want me to jump in there?!! You're being unreasonable!!"
Reborn merely smirked even more. Tsuna slapped himself in the face after knowing he couldn't win. Alice stumbled a little ways back, breathing heavily. Sweat was pouring down the side of her face, stinging her freshly made cuts and bruises.
"What's the matter, Alice Pierce?" Hibari turned to the panting Alice. His smirk grew upon seeing Alice's pathetic form. She was drained. She could barely move. She didn't understand...
It was just one blow. He managed to beat me with just one blow?
Alice backed up against a wall. She slid down to the cold floor, feeling her knees give way from under her. "O-OI!! IT'S NO BIG DEAL, ALICE! JUST GET UP ON YOUR FEET-" "Something's not right..." Yamamoto turned serious, his chocolate brown eyes hardening in a flash as he held Ryohei back. Ryohei merely glanced over at Yamamoto, not getting him one bit.
"What are you talking about? She can still win this." He mumbled under his breath. "What's wrong? Is she seriously hurt?" Tsuna questioned, eyeing the weak looking Alice carefully. This really wasn't like her. She was always bursting with energy.
"She's hurt alright." Reborn piped in, catching Tsuna, Yamamoto and Ryohei's worried expressions.
"Her pride has taken a serious blow, and she doubts her abilities because of it."The baby hitman explained.
Hibari walked up to Alice in a slow pace, his eyes never leaving her broken self. "You disappoint me, Babyface." Hibari grunted. With his words, Alice felt an unpleasant sensation in her left hand.
Hibari casually applied more pressure on the back of her hand, causing for Alice to growl dangerously, even though she had no energy left to retaliate.
"Don't bark if you can't bite." Hibari commented with a nasty tone in his voice, practically crushing her hand under his finely polished shoe.
He really took malicious pleasure in watching her suffer like this.
"That's enough, Kyoya."
Dino draped his coat over Alice, keeping her safe from harm. Hibari arched his brow at Dino, silently standing on the side. Dino brushed away a strand of her blond hair, checking out her wounds while he was at it.
She was avoiding Dino's sorrowful eyes. She felt so ashamed. The last thing she ever wanted was for him to see her lose, let alone see her in this state. Hibari glanced over at Tsuna and the others, making them freeze in their tracks as he send them a deathglare.
"S-scary." Tsuna whispered as Hibari walked away, leaving a dazed looking Dino in his wake. "He actually listened to me for once."
Tsuna, Yamamoto and Ryohei walked over to join Alice and Dino. "Is she gonna be okay?" Yamamoto asked, his concern for Alice growing with each passing second. Alice hid her face under Dino's coat out of shame.
"Come on Pierce-san. It's not that bad. So what if you lost. It doesn’t really matter." Tsuna tried to comfort her. She said nothing. "Of course it matters!" The hot-headed boxer piped in. Dino scooped Alice in his arms, lifting her up from the cold floor into a warmer environment.
She stayed still. She didn’t make a sound. Dino expected for her to cling onto him like she always does, but no such luck. She leaned her head against Dino’s shoulder, but that was all she did. The Bucking Bronco averted his attention to Yamamoto’s old man, sulking behind the counter.
"Romario…"
Dino’s right-hand man nodded his head, knowing what he meant. The man walked over to the counter, slamming a black suitcase that he seemed to get out of nowhere onto the surface of the counter. A faint clicking sound could be heard in the utterly destroyed sushi restaurant.
Romario opened it, revealing a suitcase filled with money.
The old man had the shock of a lifetime.
"The boss wants you to have this. Use it to rebuild the restaurant." Romario smiled, acting like handing over this amount of money was just as easy as taking candy from a baby. "Dino-san… This is too much." "Don’t be like that, little bro. It's the least I could do for all the trouble he's been through."
"Giving him mafia-related money doesn't solve the problem! It only makes things worse!" Tsuna scolded Dino. "That might be true, but oyaji doesn't really seem to mind, Tsuna." Yamamoto backed Dino up as Tsuna placed his eyes on the old man, eyeing the money suspiciously.
"Just great... Where'd you get that amount of money anyway?" Tsuna asked out of curiosity.
"Gambling, blackmail, protection... Stuff like that." Dino replied, backing up his words with a dazzling smile. "That's blood money!!" Tsuna grew upset, once again thinking that he would never take over after the Ninth resigns his position as the Vongola Boss.
"Well then. I guess I should take her home." Dino readjusted his hold on Alice, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. Her soft breathing alerted everyone to be quiet.
"Do you even know where she lives?" Moretti piped in, scaring the crap out of Tsuna as he emerged from the shadows, it seemed. "Yeah... Reborn is to blame for that." He recalled the night he had to spend in a cold cell, his face turning as pale as a sheet.
"Don't blame me. You're just an easy target." Reborn blurred out with no regret whatsoever. Instead of denying it ever happened, he was telling the truth.
"We'll be leaving now... Unless you want to take over for me, Takeshi." Dino grinned upon seeing Yamamoto's flustered reaction to his words. All this time, he simply couldn't keep his eyes off of Alice. Dino noticed this, thus decided to catch him off guard.
"N-no, that's okay. She's in good hands." "I wouldn't go too far, kiddo." Moretti joked, keeping a serious tone in his voice at the same time. "That again? you're too much." Dino laughed, catching on to the little 'pedophile' joke. Not like it's anything to joke about...
"I don't get it." Ryohei muttered out in his defeat. "I don't want to get it." Tsuna finished off with a sweat-drop to follow. "Alright then. I'm off." Dino smirked in Takeshi's direction before he made his way out. His subordinates were about to follow, but Romario held them at bay.
"The Boss will be fine." He reassured them. They simply groaned with their hands in their pockets, not wanting to leave Dino's side.
"Help out with the mess while you’re at it, Tsuna. Ciao ciao!" Reborn waved at the clueless Tsuna, making himself comfortable on Dino's shoulder. "Sure, no problem, just make sure Pierce-san gets home safely." Tsuna waved back, until his brain caught up with Reborn's witty small talk.
"W-wait a minute... Why are you leaving in the first place!! I can't possibly help out by myself!!" "Don't worry to the extreme, Sawada! I'll pitch in!"
"You'll just wreck the place even more!!" Tsuna complained as Ryohei turned his back on Tsuna, feeling offended.
"It's okay, Tenth... I'll help out." A now conscious Gokudera placed his hands on Tsuna's small shoulders, all the while looking like he's dealing with a heavy hangover. Poor Tsuna jumped up in utter shock.
"G-Gokudera-kun!!" "It's okay Tenth. I'm fine." The young Italian lied through his teeth. He was still suffering from the after effects of his childhood trauma.
"YOU'LL BE OKAY SQUIDHEAD!! SUCK IT UP TO THE EXTREME!!" Ryohei slapped Gokudera on his back with much force. "Turftop!! You're an idiot-" Poor Gokudera couldn't even finish his sentence as he ran to the closest bathroom, tripping as he missed a step, almost falling while he was at it.
"What's his problem?" Ryohei questioned Tsuna with a raised eyebrow. "Won't this day ever end?" Tsuna complained in a childish fashion.
The boy ceased his whining as quickly as it came, averting his attention to Yamamoto. The baseball fanatic was gazing outside, looking up at the grey clouds that seemed to gather out of nowhere.
"Yamamoto..." Tsuna mustered up his strength to walk over to Yamamoto's side, but he found that he couldn't. Yamamoto walked out the door with his hands in his pockets.
Rain began to pour from the heavens above. A soft drizzle was all it was, not a heavy kind of rain for that matter.
He leaned his back against a random wall in a casual way, acting as if it wasn't a big deal to stand in the rain like this, however fine and gentle the rain may be. His thoughts were elsewhere, tuning out the people that pass by. He was in his own world.
He was suddenly tossed back into reality, the feel of someone's hand on his shoulder breaking his little spell, much to his dismay. "Yamamoto!" Tsuna shook him into reality.
"Tsuna." The boy replied, looking around in a daze. The rain was pouring by now, beating down on the two boys. Yamamoto was already soaked to the bone.
"Geez, what were you thinking Yamamoto. It's pouring outside." Tsuna walked into the sushi restaurant with Yamamoto following right behind him. "At this rate, you'll catch a cold." Tsuna complained like a worried mother to her child.
"In my defense, I wasn't really thinking of anything." Yamamoto grinned, showing off his pearly-white teeth. "You're acting weird." Tsuna arched his brow while eyeing Yamamoto up and down.
"Well, I'd better go and change." Yamamoto saluted Tsuna before he walked up the stairs in a slow pace. "What's his problem to the extreme?" "I don't know... It's nothing to worry about, I hope." Tsuna answered Ryohei's question. It better be nothing to worry about.
Dino's POV:
Alice gingerly pulls off the wet, bloodstained bandage wrapped around her hand to reveal her torn and bleeding knuckles. Her left eye is half shut and a smattering of minor nicks and lacerations covers the left side of her face.
"Does it hurt?" I inquired, curious as to what she'll say. "I've been through worse." Came her answer as she clenched her hand into a fist, making her wounds sting painfully. Despite the fact of hiding her pain, she was shivering in her bed.
I said nothing about it.
I figured that I would just put more pressure and stress upon Alice if I asked. I got on my feet and tucked her in, thinking Alice wouldn't mind. She looked at me, her eyes hardening under my friendly gaze. I sat back down, at the foot of her bed.
Wanting to pass the time, I looked around the room. I noticed that Alice's room was anything but ordinary. For a girl, at least. Posters of her favorite rock bands and artists covered the walls. Her clothes were scattered all over the wooden floor, along with a few flashy CD's.
A stereo was placed in the corner of the room; a green pinprick light indicated that the stereo had been left on. "And I thought I had it bad." I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"What are you talking about?" So much for lighting the mood...
"You want to talk about what happened today?" I didn't give up. "It was just a stupid fight, Dino. No need to get all Dr. Phil on me." "Dr. Phil?" I asked, amused by her words. Alice rolled her eyes at this. "Google it." She replied. "Right..." I scratched the back of my head.
"But, surely you must feel something. It'll do you good if you talk about it." "You shouldn't have been there. You shouldn't have seen me lose like that." Alice says glumly, looking away.
I looked at her, bruised and battered. It was clear to see that her pride was shattered, just like Reborn said before. It hurts to see her like this. She's such a lively and cheerful young girl. And the fact that she never even says a word about her situation at home doesn't help at all.
She never talks about how things were back in America.
She's such a selfish little girl when it comes to that.
"Hey..." Her uninjured eye is wide, red and earnest. I instantly feared the outcome of the question that was burning on the tip of my tongue. "How's... The family situation at home?" Alice shot a deathglare in my direction, making me inch away from her, fearing for her wrath.
I knew she would act like this, but it's still hard to believe, since she practically sticks onto me like superglue. The clock was ticking away as she sighed, dropping her impenetrable barrier.
"My Father neglected his family, spending most of his time working." She began to say. I was surprised she was willing to answer my question.
"My Mother abandoned child-caring and devoted herself to her music related hobbies." Alice studied her wounded hand closer, unclenching it in the process.
"I was raised in a family that only pretended to get along. Afterwards, my parents got divorced, of course. Not like I didn't see it happening, you know." I nodded faintly, taking it all in.
"I was on bad terms with my older brother. Well, I still am, I guess. I practically grew up alone because of it." Alice closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaling in order to calm down.
"No one understood how I felt." "So that's why you were acting like a delinquent. But in truth... You were very lonely." I finished off for her. The soft ticking of the rain against the windows could be heard. "Why do you try so hard?" I broke the silence.
"Because I don't want to make the same mistake I did before. I don't want to wreck the family I have now."
"You sound like you're blaming yourself for everything that happened in the past."
"Maybe I am." She grunted, feeling angry and upset, I bet.
The door creaked open, revealing Ami, Alice's guardian walking in the room. She held onto a tray of food, along with some ice in a zip-locked plastic bag for Alice's eye. I nodded in her direction, acknowledging her presence.
"I've made you something to eat, darling." She averted her eyes from me, paying close attention to Alice as she placed the tray on her nightstand. "I'm terribly sorry, but she needs to rest. I'm afraid you have to leave." The woman bowed politely. I got up on my feet, agreeing with her.
"Try not to get yourself into trouble, will you?" I smiled.
"No problem, Dr. Phil. It was just an accident. I walked into Kyoya's swing."
"You were supposed to dodge his blows, remember?"
"I was handling it. You don't know how I roll, man."
"You're welcome." A grin tugged on her lips. She found our little quarrel quite amusing.
"Okay. Thanks for pissing off Kyoya even more than I did. And thanks for watching me lose the fight, and for giving me something to think about." She ranted in a sarcastic tone of voice, even though she meant it. It was just a way for her to sound tough. I can see that much.
"And for saving you. You'd still be lying there, at the mercy of Kyoya to begin with." I grinned, playing along. Alice sighed through her bag of ice.
"And for saving my ass."
"You're welcome."
I messed up her hair, finding a messy look quite suitable for her. God forbid if she changed into a proper young lady. "I'll be on my way." I waved goodbye, feeling pleased to see Alice wave back. She cheered up. Just when I thought she would carry her cuts and bruises forever, she changes into her normal cheerful self.
I put my hands in my pockets, leaving the room in a quiet matter. Ami followed close behind and shut the door to Alice's bedroom. She saw me off and apologized for kicking me out on such a rainy afternoon, but I didn't mind. There was only one thing on my mind.
Mental note. Gotta look up this Dr. Phil person.
