The Girl who's Secretive

Sawada Toki was an odd child even by standards.

She got clumsy when she turned seven and then suddenly, she changed.

From the happy cheerful child she was, to a meek, timid girl who comes home with bruises and her school performance plunged with it.

She didn't have friends.

There was one time she went missing and never came home that Nana had it and called the Police out of anger because it's HER kid who went missing due to bullying at school that teachers never rectified, something might have happened to her daughter while running from bullies!

Evidence was found through CCTV, but while the issue was dealt with, there was still no sign of the missing girl to Nana's grief she poured her rage at her daughter's school and the parents of the bullies of her child, causing quite the scandal with karmic consequences Nana felt vindicated. Serves them right after making her daughter miserable for almost a year!

And a year later, she returned, unable to talk and turned mute, wearing a kimono and holding a bokken. But lost her clumsiness and upon transferring to a new school, her schoolwork improved. She didn't say where she's been, other than writing, 'Safe from that nasty place with nasty people.' and it was all she cared about.

And showed an unusual interest in sword practicing.

During school vacations, she would ask permission to go camping with friends and got a letter, so Nana obliged her daughter who only talks when she truly wants something. Otherwise, she was a good girl mothers wished they had but very quiet, having become a selective mute. Helping around the house, and doing things no girl her age would do.

Girls her age would rather go out, hang out and have fun with friends.

Toki would rather stay at home, learn how to cook, sew, embroider and play a flute she got from somewhere as Nana never remembered her buying it for her! It must have come with people she was staying with during school vacations as a gift. She was also very peculiar with food, regarding ingredients but is fine with what Nana does to serve it for meals as long as its those things for meals. She refuses all else. She didn't like hot dogs or chicken nuggets, even canned stuff anymore, looking at it as if it were garbage in the grocery when they shop together. At least, she still likes chocolates, but favors the dark flavored ones, and took to making her own wagashi at home...and Nana could eat expensive treats from her daughter's hands, without having to bust a big hole in her wallet.

Nana noted her daughter was happiest in these school vacations and is often seen practicing her bokken in the yard. So Nana thought to enroll her daughter in afterschool clubs that brought out her daughter's passion. She was a genius with the sword that her rise was phenomenal that in tournaments she was a known genius. Iaido. Battojutsu. She trained hard till she collapsed in the backyard after doing her homework, or disappear for who-knows-where for hours saying 'She went out to play.'

And come back sweating, red faced and breathing hard.

When shopping for new clothes, Nana noted that her daughter has muscles. Shoulder, arm and leg muscles. Her stomach and sides very flat. No sign of baby fat whatsoever. At least its not enough to ruin her beauty as a girl. She has an athletic feminine build, not an androgynous build. Her face was growing more feminine each year. Grew up a beautiful girl but still alone. She was aloof towards her peers, only showing joy in school vacations and what she chooses to do.

Until she met Hibari Kyoya who was enamored with her reputation, and picks fights with her but he always loses to her. Toki speaks a lot about her new friend who only feels alive and pleasure in fighting like she was, thus can actually feel like she has someone to be with and no longer be alone outside of home.

By the time she was twelve and he fifteen...they were...well...as long as Nana felt her daughter is no longer alone, she was satisfied. Her daughter finally has a friend and playmate, however unorthodox it was! He too, uses swords when before, he uses Tonfas.

That was what Reborn got from Nana when Toki left for school on that morning he arrived.

'Hey Toki, your mother told me about your hobbies.' said Reborn. 'Can I see your level after school?'

'...sure, I guess.' Toki nodded absent-mindedly. 'Kyoya will be happy you gave him a legal excuse to play with me today...he usually asks me out for this.'

Indeed, Hibari Kyoya was elated when SHE asked HIM out. Even if its because of Reborn.

'Hooo? One day it'll be you telling me to play with you.' Reborn likened Kyoya to a man who loves fighting and feels alive through fighting, and unable to comprehend all else.

'...its good manners that a boy asks a girl out according to those social book things.' Toki deadpanned. Kyoya nodded.

'Hn. True. Now then, shall we dance?'

'The usual rules.'

'...how many have we broken?'

'Too lazy to count. We can just buy new ones.'

Thus in the school yard...was a level of fighting that got Reborn impressed.

"These two...!" he stared as he got Leon recording everything. These two, were proficient swordsmen! A level too high for mere schoolkids! And skill enough to damage the surroundings of their 'playground'; the craggy areas outside town. They demonstrated superhuman prowess and that, was without using Flames! It's just sheer, muscular force that they can jump so high, sprint forward as if teleporting and their blows make sounds so loud...

Moments later, both their swords broke. That was the only time they stopped 'playing'.

'...'

'Where did you two learn this level of swordsmanship?'

Kyoya pointed at Toki who simply said, 'He's not in this world anymore. Sensei.' she said rather somberly. 'He lived long enough to see me master what he taught me and he passed on satisfied. And I am Kyoya's teacher in turn since I became a Master. Thus sensei never met Kyoya.'

Her teacher whom she was staying with died?

'And only Masters can teach, huh.' Reborn snorted. 'So that wasn't even your full power today.'

'Nope.' said Toki as Kyoya now looked disgruntled with an armfold. 'If I did, my only friend will die in one-tenth of a second.' what? 'Only sensei can withstand me at my full power. I'm training Kyoya to reach Master Class in technique mastery. Every time we play, I slowly increase difficulty when I feel he's ready for it.'

'And how long?'

'Next year. Not bad for someone who started three years ago, right?'

Yeah, not bad indeed. He's not even sure Squalo can jump insanely high without flames...and what the hell do they do with their feet? At least Squalo can do that too, but the twerps are faster!

Thus Reborn worked to get Toki's trust, because she doesn't trust easily, given her background of being a bully-victim ever since Summer Break Ended...when that was the first and last time Nono visited the Sawadas, and Iemitsu stopped his seven year long holiday just to see his daughter grow. He can't even employ his usual Spartan Training as one, Toki's an already competent fighter and survivalist and two, she's highly alert, even in her own home!

So it was the formal lecture in her bedroom sort of thing. But she was a fast learner, at least. She just didn't like what she's in for, but...

'...do I have competent enemies at least?' by that, she meant 'friends'. Friends who could make her feel alive.

That was her sole worry, instead of 'How to I be a competent leader?'

Psychology wasn't his forte. He reported home after his first month in.

/Is that so? That happened after we left those years ago?/

'Yes. Didn't Iemitsu install some plants to at least watch over his family? Worthless.' Reborn scoffed. 'You were THAT close to losing ALL your successors.' the old man looked pained at that. 'You're lucky Toki found some guy who took her in when she suffered too much breakdown from bullying she couldn't go home for a year Nana was frantic with worry and caused a scandal...while Toki gained a spine from her now-deceased teacher. She used to visit him until he died, thus Hibari never met him. Toki is his swordsmanship master. And the damn brats are better than Squalo now.' he said. 'She was attached to her master that she took unusual hobbies to remember him by...and showed me a sword he gifted her. Real live steel.' he said. 'It was even carved with the words 'akimesatsu'...or distruggere tutto il male. And she had seven of the darn things, she just hid the rest while keeping hers.'

Timoteo's eyebrows raised at that.

'She said that she'll keep up with her...school vacation activities.' said Reborn tersely. 'She quit when her Master died, but now that I told her she's your successor, she decided to start these trips again and this time, with Hibari and Gokudera as soon as I introduce him. Nana's not going to be happy with me...but at least I'll get to see where she's going. And she asked me to prepare stuff for this trip.'

/Very well, but I sense a but in there./

'Me being an Arcobaleno is the problem. She sensed I cannot go with them for long, and at most I can only be there for two weeks before problems arise with my disappearance. I'll find out come Summer Vacation.'

xxx

Gokudera Hayato was nervous and excited with his new gig.

He was a potential to enter the Vongola Family through its hidden heiress and the last, Sawada Toki. To western ears, it sounds like a pet name but being half-jap himself, her name meant 'princess of time'. Apparently because CEDEF Boss was late by a day due to plane issues, it was Maman who named their daughter.

Juudaime was a beautiful Japanese girl who was also one hell of a swordmaster.

When Reborn introduced them on the school rooftop, she touched his vital neck spot.

'...you have talent, but you need some purging to do even if your body adapted to it. Sure you won't get poisoned easily but it still damages you. Reborn, anything high-class detox you can get your hands on as he has high amounts of poison in his system as well as nicotine. Otherwise he will not survive training for Summer Vacation and heal him afterwards with your skills.' her words got them stunned and a second later, knowing, that he was in utter dismay and Reborn chuckling. 'His talent is hampered by poisoning and just charge it to my predecessor. Being heir means I get to spend Vongola's money, right?'

'You're learning, good.'

'J-Juudaime, am I worth that?!' Gokudera choked out, stunned as he got this 'smile' that made him melt into goo.

'You should be lucky Gokudera...she only ever smiled at one other like that outside her house.' Reborn chuckled as Skies always have the best smiles in the world. She effortlessly won Gokudera over. 'I'll make arrangements then.'

'Please do.' said Toki. 'Where we're going...you'll understand why Kyoya and I are good with swords. He doesn't know this yet. For now. I spent years getting him ready and he will love this, knowing him.'

'Juudaime is good with swords?' Gokudera asked, intrigued.

'Yes. Her house is full of awards. No second place stuff, all first place.' said Reborn. 'She joins competitions regardless of what people say about her age, and she shows them their place, which is beneath her foot.' he said with a smirk. 'But given laws, not even she can join adult competitions or College-Levels until she's at least, fifteen. She already traumatized the Junior Levels as it is and she has media exposure as a result. She has that kind of protection so she cannot disappear so easily by her enemies if the underworld gets wind of her existence. People WILL ask questions after all.'

'I doubt other Mafia Bosses are just as famous.' said Gokudera wryly.

It was one week of aggressive treatment that he was absent right after coming to school, and Reborn made a call stating, 'He has a developing intestinal tumor and waiting for a doctor for months so we'd like to take home schoolwork once he gets over anesthesia and is forbidden from PE until his stitches heal. We have the appropriate paperwork sent.'

That was how the Homeroom Teacher explained to Toki and Gokudera's class. So that got the class saying,

'His hair must have turned white from pain in his stomach! And he still went to school yesterday?!'

'How is he?' in Namimori Hospital, Reborn and one Dr. Shamal bullshitted their way to avoid controversy and he was his doctor in charge.

'Well, treating Poison Cooking that spanned years has thankfully advanced.' said Shamal. 'His addiction to cigarettes is easy to deal with. He smokes to kill his appetite as he has trouble eating because of Poison Cooking.'

'Poison Cooking?'

'Er...they are chefs who can never be chefs.' Shamal coughed. 'Anything they cook turns into this,' he said, showing Toki a photo of...melted sludge something with bugs, '-yet in their eyes alone, it would look like this.' he showed her a gorgeous cake.

'Wha...?' Toki-dot-exe went BSOD when she connected the dots. 'Is that some kind of Kekkijutsu?'

'A what?'

'Demon Blood Art?' Toki repeated in English that got the men laughing.

'That's a good one!'

Reborn later learned that she wasn't joking about that word when June began.

She asked him to prepare certain clothing for boys as yukata are expensive, as well as genuine tatami sandals for their foot sizes. The rest of the stuff, they can bring on their own, and to meet her in a specific spot outside of town. Early in the morning...that, and a tough request that got Reborn irked?

'I want you to reproduce this en masse for me.'

She gave him old Japanese Money.

'...you're asking me to forge this money?' Reborn deadpanned, holding samples of money in his hands.

'Yup. Yen back in Taisho Era is pretty strong that 100 yen can buy you 200kg of rice. Just saying. We need a lot of spending money in loose change in where we're going. I'd say about 50000 which is enough for our summer vacation.'

'...'

Yeah, Reborn's really itching to know now.

Yamamoto joined their group while Gokudera was ill, and Toki talked him out of his depression, earning her his loyalty.

Reborn documented everything she's done with Gokudera and Yamamoto.

Breathing Exercises and Training From Hell. She set Hibari on Yamamoto while she personally handled Gokudera much to the latter's delight.

'Well, I'm a kinder teacher than Kyoya is and a lot more patient.' she would say. 'At least I understand Gokudera's condition and Kyoya's solution to everything is Spartan...'

Gokudera choked at that.

However, the training slowly made the other two Superhumans as well.

'It's the breathing isn't it?' Reborn asked her in her room after dinner.

'Bing-bong!'

'How? That goes against the laws of physics!' Reborn cannot imagine that breathing techniques enabled the brats to go superhuman on him somehow!

'Doesn't it~' Toki chuckled. 'Well, I figure I should tell you the next step now about our kind.' she said, placing a hand on her chest. 'The Sword Style I'm using is called 'Breath of the Moon' since I'm not suited to sensei's 'Breath of the Sun'. His twin brother's Breath suited me more.'

'What?' that got Reborn momentarily blank. What is that foreign language she's using?

'There are other styles of Swordsmanship. Moon. Wind. Fire. Water. Rock. Thunder. I taught Kyoya the Breath of Wind. Perfect for a wild guy like him. I'll teach Gokudera the Breath of Water soon, perfect for beginners while Yamamoto who wielded a baseball bat for years, I can teach the Breath of Thunder. You'll understand when we go there tomorrow.'

Yeah, he really can't wait now, dammit.

And so...

At 5 am...

'Everyone here now?' Toki told everyone as they were all outside town, in the woods before an old wooden well.

'Yeah but why are we in cosplay?' Yamamoto asked her, perplexed because they're wearing kimonos!

'So where we're going, we'll blend in well.' Toki told them. 'Now then...hang onto me really tight, I don't care if you hurt me because inside will be a little turbulent. So do NOT let go and only talk when we're out. Reborn is OK given his unique situation I cannot speak of.' so they all did and it got her wincing. 'And now 1! 2! 3! Jump!' and they jumped in on her signal...

The boys expected to just end up at the bottom, but it turned into pitch-black nothingness before it got so windy as they kept falling and falling...until they saw a light that later blinded them until they felt their feet touch the bottom. They were now at a well bottom!

'W-wow...' Yamamoto croaked out as they jumped back out.

'I don't see Namimori!' Kyoya shook as from the high place they were, they should STILL be able to see Namimori! Yet, none!

'Welcome...to Taisho Era Japan.' Toki introduced them. 'When I was a child, it was Sengoku Jidai, you know? Sensei was alive back then.' she earned incredulous looks at this. 'This well is a Magic Well that takes you to the past where you'll meet with a destined meeting. In my case, I met with sensei. Tsugikuni Yoriichi.'