The atmosphere around the table was...awkward. Both the Tsunas cheerfully strived to obnoxiously not notice it. Their mothers obliviousness was their secret weapon in the face of all madness.

"Are you feeling alright, now?" Tsuna asked his counterpart, a gentle smile on his face.

"Much better," Tsunayoshi smiled. "Thank you for the tea, Fon-san."

The ex-Arcobaleno nodded his head in acknowledgement before returning to the impromptu ex-Arcobaleno team-building activity of staring parallel Skull down. Skull promptly lifted his index finger and used it to calmly write the words 'FUCK OFF' in thin air, not even looking up from where he was reading the report on how the Arcobaleno cure was found.

"Can you tell us what happened now?" Nono asked the younger Guardians, his eyes as shrewd as ever. "If we know how you came in possession of the Mare ring, we'd be able to send you back."

The younger Sky visibly stiffened. "Forgive me, Vongola Nono, but I fear that neither I nor any of my Guardians would feel comfortable answering any questions put up by your generation," he said, his tone cold.

"And what about if I ask them?" Iemitsu said, leaning forward so that his elbows rested on the table.

Gokudera snarled. "Even worse," his explained curtly, eyes hardening like poison. "I assure you, Sawada-san, that unlike the case with Vongola Nono, should you ask us any questions, we won't even bother to put up any facade of politeness."

A ripple went through the alternate Guardians as all of their eyes snapped to Iemitsu, barring those of Hibari, who was still looking at Nono as if he were the scum of the Earth, Yamamato, who was focused on the figure sitting next to Iemtisu and Tsuna, who was looking blankly at his Storm.

"That stands for both the Sawada-sans," Yamamato added, giving Nana Sawada a smile that made her flinch from where she was sitting next to her husband.

"Yamamato, stop," Tsunayoshi spoke softly, his eyes still on Gokudera. "I could have sworn that there were no pictures of my father in the house, Gokudera-kun."(Both the skies had come to an agreement to call the younger counterparts by their last names, with the exception of Tsunayoshi, who insisted that he be called by his full name in place of "Sawada.")

"I hacked the hospital birth records."

"I dread to ask this: why?"

"Had to change your emergency contact information to Skull-san."

Tsunayoshi turns to look at the (definitely not blushing) Arcobaleno, who buried his face in the papers before him, and said in a very steady voice, "You should tell them everything, Tsunayoshi. If this cure works out in our world...the it's possible that they can help you."

The mood soured even more. "It's your decision, Tsunayoshi," Rokudo murmured softly, still staring at Iemitsu with a frankly terrifying intensity.

Tsunayoshi was silent for a long minute before he sighed. "...Gokudera-kun, I think you'll need to help me with this one."

"If you're sure, Tsunayoshi-sama."


"...what? Are you sure?"

"My student is. I haven't seen the boy."

"Reborn, if this information turns out to be false, I'll bankrupt you."

"Mammon, I called you out of common courtesy. If anything, you owe me too much to threaten me."

"...fuck you, Reborn. Do you have to keep reminding me about that?"

"Yes. Any sign of Skull?"

"No. That idiot's dropped completely off scene."

"Fuck. When you come here, we'll need to plan to find him."

"Mhmm."

"Mammon."

"Yes?"

"...just remember that this is a Sanctuary, alright? You can't do any serious damage to the boy if he's been allowed to live here."

"Have you seen the Sanctuary's handler yet?"

"No. It's very strange, you'd think that the handler would be the first person to greet us. Even if the handler isn't here, Mammon, the Vindice would have our heads if something happened to a resident of Sanctuary."

"...I can't speak for my boss, Reborn, but I'll try my best to control Belephegor."

"...I guess that's all I can ask from you at this point, huh?"

Click.

Mammon looked at the phone in their hand and clicked their tongue impatiently. "Bastard always needs to have the last word."

"What was that, trash?" Xanxus spoke, not bothering to look up from where he was swirling a glass of wine between two fingers.*

Mammon watched their boss for a minute, deciding the best way to say this to avoid replacing too many flight attendants on their way to Japan.

Fuck it. Mammon was many things, but they were not subtle, despite being Mist.

"Boss, it's time to go frog hunting."

The glass shattered. That had less to do with Xanxus' loss of control than it had to do with the knife which someone had thrown on it.

Mammon took one look at the pissed expression on his boss' face, then looked at the crazed grin peeking out from behind the previously closed door and then let out a rare groan.

(Asking Belphagor to not eavesdrop on important conversation was like an invitation to his princely mind - #fact universally acknowledged)


"This is so frustrating," Tsuna groaned, throwing his hands up in the air.

Hayato winced, bringing up his hands to massage his boss' shoulders. "Tsuna-sama," he said, "why don't you let me and the baseball freak deal with this one? Rest for a while."

Tsuna let out a spectacular choking noise. "I'm not letting you and Takeshi take part in any stealing operations. Besides, he's busy with a thing anyway."

"What's he busy with?"...followed by..."Tsuna-sama, are you talking about the Ikebukuro Incident? That was not our fault!"

"Hayato, I sent you to pickpocket the blueprints of the building, not to raze it to the ground!"

"...ah..."

"What happened anyway? I never got the full story." Tsuna turned his head up, tilted slightly, to look into Hayato's eyes. The Storm gulped as he looked at his boss' (cute) weaponized features and he stuttered awkwardly.

"Uh...uhmm...Mukuro was there-"

"Of fucking course! Why the hell didn't I see it before."

"...Tsuna-sama, you shouldn't swear."

"Silence, hypocrite."

Hayato watched his stressed boss with sympathetic eyes. "Maybe we should get Mukuro in here to help."

"Kufufufu...help with what, darling Storm?"

Hayato jumped while Tsuna banged his head down on his table. "I swear to fucking god, saying your name is like issuing a summons," Hayato ranted, trying to slow his heart down. "Tsuna-sama, are you alright?" he panicked, fussing over his prone Sky.

Mukuro watched the scene in front of him with amused eyes before deadpanning, "Yes, you guessed my ultimate secret. I'm a demon. You can summon me by name."

Tsuna stopped trying to turn his head to marshmallow fluff/ and looked up at his Mist with an eyebrow raised. "Mukuro, we've literally met demons. You know that they can't be summoned by name."

In the side, Hayato snorted, quietly muttering, "Maybe not demons, Tsuna-sama, but we don't know anything about how to summon Lucifer."

Tsuna turned to his storm with a confused expression. "We literally know the King of Hell, Hayato. Lucifer is just a title anyway."

Hayato's eyes widened as he swayed on the spot. "Fran is...Satan?"

"Which makes me Satan's maker, I suppose," Mukuro spoke with a gleeful grin.

Tsuna abruptly slammed his head on the table again. "Fuck," he whined after a second. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, bad images, bad images, fuck, Hayato alcohol, I need alcohol!"

"You can't have that, Tsuna-sama, Kyoya threw all the alcohol out after the February Fiasco," the Storm replied, green at the thought of a world where a Mist was God (especially one like Mukuro,) but still standing steady for his Sky.

Mukuro, now outright snickering, managed to somehow control himself long enough to ask Tsuna what they were talking about earlier.

"How we're going to get the rings. Ryohei thinks we should steal them."

Mukuro raised his eyebrow. "And here I thought he was going to suggest just straight up choking them with the stupid fucking chains on which they hang the rings and running away into the sun."

"He suggested that too, but I told him that running into the sun wasn't really a good survival tactic," Hayato cut in, snorting.

"Ah, you mean you screamed it until his ears bled."

"Oh, shut up, like you could have done any better in getting through to that thickhead's brain."

Mukuro huffed a laugh before turning to his Sky, who looked like he'd given up all hope for anything good in the world. "You know, Tsunayoshi," he began, "you never told Hayato what Takeshi was busy with."

Tsuna froze, his eyes widening before he clutched his hair in despair. "Motherfuck," he whimpered, looking as if he were about to cry.

Hayato panicked, "Tsuna-sama, what's that idiot planning on doing?"

When Tsuna looks up (after some gentle soothing by his elements ("It can't be as bad as Bangkok," "Shut up, bastard, that isn't making anyone feel any better,")) his gaze was lifeless.

"He's going to have an honour duel with his brother for my sake, because his family thinks I'm leading a cult and find his "devotion" to me disturbing."

And that was when Tsuna realized: he'd fucked up.

"Mukuro, don't you fucking dare-"

"Sorry, Tsunayoshi, but this I have to see."


EARLIER ON-

Asari was a little disturbed to say the least.

"Dad, Takeshi is a Rain, right?"

The elder Yamamato looked up from where he was cutting the salmon he planned on using to make dinner for the Tenth Generation. "Yes, of course," he said, his brow furrowed with confusion. "Why do you ask?"

Giotto and Alaude watched as Asari picked his words carefully. "He got into a fight at school today."

"What?" Tsuyoshi said, frowning as he set his knife aside. "The school hasn't contacted me about anything like that."

Alaude coughed gently. "It's possible that that's because the person who came to break up the scene was Kyoya. From what I've gathered so far, he's the head of the Disciplinary Committee, so he's incharge of handing out the punishments to the students."

Tsuyoshi rolled his eyes, "Those kids at Namimori High are insane. It's like adults don't do anything there."

"Father?" Asari ventured, "What do you think of Tsunayoshi?"

Tsuyoshi froze. "Was Tsuna involved in this mess?" he demanded.

"No," Giotto said hurriedly. "Not directly anyway. But we think that Takeshi got into the fight because the people he was fighting with insulted Tsuna."

Tsuyoshi sighed. "That makes more sense," he said, picking up the knife again.

"Has this...has anything like this ever happened before?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you, Asari, because a majority of what happens at Namimori High stays in Namimori High. But judging from the way all your relatives," he nodded at Knuckle, Alaude and Asari, "guard the boy when they aren't at school, I assume it must have."

"It just seems like..." Asari hesitated. "It seems like he has a very high influence on the boys, if he can get someone as easy-going as Takeshi to voluntarily beat someone up. Are you okay with that?"

"He doesn't have to be," a new voice cut in, "because I am the one who chose to follow Tsuna and no one gets to judge that decision."

Asari spun around to find his little brother leaning against the doorframe, eyes closed and mouth drawn up in a tight smile. "Takeshi..."

"Asari-nii," the younger Rain replied, voice easy.

"Takeshi-san," Giotto attempted to cut in, "I think we should talk."

"No. I don't like talking about these kind of things," Takeshi said, voice hardening.

Tsuyoshi sighed, "Takeshi, we're just concerned, alright? I'm sure Tsuna is an amazing person, but considering you've never once let me talk to him on my own, considering how I have to find from your brother that you've been getting into fights defending him, I think that you should understand why I'm worried."

The younger Rain was quiet for a long minute before his mouth cracked into a devious grin. "Let me show you then," he purred. "Let me show you that I can handle myself perfectly well."

He turned to his elder brother, the grin widening, "Let me show you how well I can protect my Sky."

Giotto let out a sharp breath as Tsuyoshi's knife slipped, making a small cut on his wrist. Alaude's eyes narrowed. Asari turned bloodless.

"I, Yamamato Takeshi, hereby challenge you, Vongola Asari, to a duel of the sword. I do so in honour of our Skies and our flames, invoking the right of Blood," Takeshi recited smoothly, uncaring of how the people in the room were freaking out.

"Takeshi- what?" Asari choked out.

Giving him a shit-eating grin, the younger Rain started to leave the house again, pausing only to say "Meet me at Namimori High's auditorium, an hour after the school had ended. Bring whoever you want, I'll be having my own witnesses."


By the time evening arrived, it was safe to say that the Tenth Generation was freaking out just the slightest bit.

"Alright, listen up," Reborn spoke, "a duel of Rains invoked by Blood Right can end in many ways. But once which is raised because of their Skies only ever ends in one way. The winner will ask the defeated Rain for three things- three things which will not end in bodily harm to anyone involved and will help the winner's Sky in one way or another. These are not duels to satisfy their own ego, they are duels to make their Sky more comfortable."

"So what," Asari said, "I need to think up of three things which would make Giotto happier?"

Giotto raised an eyebrow, "I hardly think Takeshi can give my father some semblance of a brain."

Daemon made a frustrated sound. "Stop being so cocky," he curtly told Asari, "So far this town has been nothing but surprises upon surprises. The fact that your brother know about elements is in itself a shock. There's still a chance you won't win. That's a nice aim to have though, Giotto."

"He's a Vongola Guardian," Lampo cut in, laughing, "and his brother is a high-schooler. I think we know who will win."

"My brother was a ferocious child when he was younger," Alaude said, his eyes closed, "I doubt that any companion he has will be anything less than a predator in the making. I think," he paused for a moment, making an audible gulping sound, "I think the melon...might be right."

A shocking silence fell over the gathering.

"We're fucked either way, aren't we?" G said feebly.

"Amen," Knuckle agreed.

"Look on the bright side," Reborn interjected, "if a Right of Blood has been invoked, then we can be sure that the guardian of the Sanctuary will be there. Then I'll be able to approach them and ask for permission for the Varia to arrive!"

"Reborn," Giotto said slowly, "the Varia is coming here?" A pause. "How the fuck is that the bright side of any situation?!"

"Oh," Reborn said, frowning, "damn, you're right."

Giotto screeched and fell to the ground, sobbing dramatically. None of his elements moved to comfort him.

"You poor bastard," Lampo remarked, prodding the sobbing mess with his toe.

"Ah, you lot look lively," a cheerful voice remarked. The Tenth Generation turned to find Takeshi standing by the door of the auditorium, "I hope I'm not late."

"Not at all," Reborn said coolly, an eyebrow raising at the sight of the weapon-less Rain. "Takeshi," he said suddenly, "you must know that your brother is much more experienced than you in these matters. Please, if you wish to withdraw the duel, do not hesitate to do so."

Asari shot Reborn a grateful look.

Takeshi smiled coldly. "I do not remember giving you permission to speak my name in such a familiar manner, Reborn-san, but I'll let that go for now," he said, uncaring of the murder that flashed in the hitman's eyes. "But I hope that my brother," he looked Asari in the eye, "does not go into the duel harbouring any delusions of me giving up for anything less than the risk of lethal disfiguration."

Lampo squeaked, hiding behind G, at the sudden raise in killing intent.

"Very well," Reborn spoke through gritted teeth. "Where is your weapon, Yamamato Takeshi?" he demanded. "Let's get this over with."

Takeshi grinned. "My witness will be bringing my sword."

"Witness?" Giotto questioned.

"Witness, administrator, whatever you want to call it," Kyoya spoke from where he was entering the room. "Someone has to watch over the match and I refuse to let the Cervello into my territory."

"Kyoya," Alaude breathed, getting a sharp nod in return.

"He is the administrator of the Sanctuary?" Knuckle spoke in a rare whisper.

"It makes sense," Giotto replied, "considering that he was the one who picked us up from the airport."

"Here, Takeshi," the Cloud spoke, holding out a clothed sword, "if you destroy the auditorium, you'll be the one building it back."

"Before we start," Giotto interrupted, "can I ask how you two know of the existence of the Vongola and the elements?"

Kyoya smirked. "Perhaps, Decimo," he purred, "that knowledge should be one of the things which your Rain asks from us, should he win."

"Which I doubt," Takeshi continued, his mouth stretched in a toothy grin.

Kyoya snorted. "Get in the ring, Takeshi," he commanded, "and finish this quickly."

"Yes sir."

"Asari," Giotto breathed, "try to not do much harm to the boy. Or yourself. Anytime you feel uncomfortable, you can back out, alright?"

"Yes, boss," he replied shakily.

"Stop being so shaky bastard," G snorted. "You're the most promising swordsman of the decade. You've got this."

"I hope," Daemon murmured, unbothered by the glares shot at him^.

Both the Rains walked into the rectangle drawn by chalk lines in the middle of the auditorium. Takeshi unwrapped his blade.

"A wooden toy?" Asari asked, perturbed. "Little brother, this isn't a game-"

His protests got cut mid-way as Takeshi gently ran his fingers along the katana. "Shigure Kintoki," he spoke gently, smiling as the wood transformed into metal beneath his fingertips.

He swung the blade a few times, balancing it between both his hands, not caring about the shocked stares of everyone in the room.

"Takeshi," Tsuyoshi choked, entering room just in time to see this.

"And all the Rains of Vongola Blood have arrived," Kyoya muttered, voice echoing in the auditorium. "Let the duel begin!"


"Fuck," Tsuna moaned, holding his hair. "Mukuro, you fucking idiot-"

"To be fair, Tsuna-sama, it's not like anyone can harm the pineapple now, what with the Council's warning hanging over their heads."

"Ugh, I know," Tsuna kneaded his head with both hands. "Do you really think that'll stop me from worrying?!"

"No," Hayato admitted, "but it should help you worry less."

Tsuna closed his eyes, taking in deep breaths. "Alright," he concluded. "Let Mukuro do his own thing. If Takeshi challenged anyone, then Kyoya should be there too, he'll stop things from getting too bad. Now," he bit his bottom lip, "how are we going to introduce you and Lambo to our families?"

Hayato groaned falling ungracefully into his chair. "Do we have to?" he whined.

Tsuna gave him a look. "I'm letting Mukuro handle his own introduction to my brother," he said curtly, "do you really think there's a chance I'm not going to introduce you, dear Right-Hand Man?"

The Storm grimaced, looking away from his Sky, out the window. "Well, if we have to," he said. "I'll think of something, Tsuna-sama. You'll need to handle the cow."

"Try not to blow up an area more than three kilometres wide, alright?"

"No promises."


"Asari's panting. Fuck."

"The kid is pretty good, I'll admit it."

"Oh, shut up, pinky, Asari hasn't even started using his Flames yet. All Takeshi-san is doing is dodging."

"He's got pretty good stamina, though. His reflexes are good."

"Reflexes only take you so far. Does he even know about Flames?"

"Shigure Soen Ryuu."

"...well, that answers that."

"Motherfucker."


"How?" Asari panted, squinting through the blood gushing down his face. He had been forced to drop down on one knee. "How did you know about that style?"

"The answer to that is irrelevant," Takeshi spoke, his voice cold. "What matters is the fact that you have lost, Rain, and that means that you will now never speak, gesture, or breathe near my Sky, if that is what he wishes."

"And as you all must know, our Sky's wishes are our own. Our own wishes are our Sky's."

Giotto gulped. "Very well, Yamamato-san," he spoke, stepping forward, "tell us what you wish for."

Takeshi smiled a shark's smile. "First clause- until further defined, Asari Vongola is not speak a word in the presence of my Sky, until it is absolutely essential his health and security."

Reborn's eyes narrowed. That was...a smart move. It eliminated the Rain, who with their charm and easy-nature, were usually essential for information gathering, from collecting information from anyone who was around Tsuna that often, along with removing the Sky himself from the list.

"Clause 2- Asari Vongola is to keep all of his opinions and views regarding my Sky to himself, unless it is absolutely necessary for his health."

Giotto gritted his teeth.

"Clause 3, the final clause. Asari Vongola is to hand over the Vongola Rain ring which he possesses to me, as he has proven himself unworthy to keep it safe from other Rains."

Reborn let in a sharp breath. Asari turned a ghostly white.

"Takeshi-san, that's just a bit extreme, don't you think-" Knuckle began.

"Extreme or not, those are my final terms. Under the Oath of Blood, I now bid you to accept them, oh Vongola Decimo's Rain." Takeshi's eyes opened and narrowed, his fingers dropping to the hilt of his sword again.

"Herbivore," Kyoya spoke up, "hurry up and hand the ring over. Should Takeshi break out in a rampage upon this delay of agreement, I will not be the stopping him. I think I will aid him, in fact."

Giotto bowed his head. "Hand over the ring, Asari."

"But Giotto-"

"No buts. They have won the ring under Blood Oath, to deny him it would be a grievous crime indeed."

"Not to mention," Takeshi cut in, "that your generation has not inherited any of the Rings. They were handed over to you by the Ninth generation when they deemed you ready to become heirs of the Vongola Family. As such, one might say that the rings were never really yours anyway."

"How do you that?" Reborn demanded, voice low.

"He is under no obligation to tell you." Kyoya cut in smoothly. "Now, Rain-herbivore, hurry up. I have better places to be and I'm sure you do as well."

Asari looked at Giotto in despair, his hand going to touch necklaces on his neck. "Giotto," he spoke in a choked voice, "are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Very well," the Rain said, his eyes closed in acceptance. He slowly lifted the necklace from his neck, caressing the stone embedded in the ring. After looking at it reverently, he tossed it over to the younger Rain, who smoothly caught it and quickly took the ring off of the chain, slipping it on his finger.

"Don't worry, aniki," Takeshi said, smiling genuinely this time. "I'll take good care of it."

Asari Vongola looked at the his brother's hand, now drooping just the slightest bit under the weight of the ring and shivered. Somehow, those words sounded familiar to him. Somehow, they sounded like a prophecy.


Despite the Sun-flames which Reborn and Knuckles were liberally applying on Asari, his body still ached. What hurt the most, however, was still his head. "I don't understand anything," he whined.

G snorted. "For once, I agree with you." He turned to Giotto, "What the hell is your little brother into?"

The blonde looked surprised. "My brother? You guys are the one with the crazy violent people in the family!" he nodded his head at Asari and Alaude.

"Maybe so," Reborn spoke, bandaging Asari's arm, "but it's still easy to tell that your brother is presumably the lynch-pin in this entire scenario. He's the only one who I see having the Sky potential to be the leader of these elements."

"Whoever the Sky may be is a relevant question," the eldest Yamamato in the room murmured, "but the question, 'who the fuck taught Takeshi a secret family technique,' is just as important. I was going to teach it to you in the time that you are here," he added, looking at Asari.

"We'll find out all these answers," Giotto spoke, his voice firm, "but for now we all need to rest. We've experienced enough shocks for the day."

CRASH!

"VOIIII!"

"SHUT UP, TRASH."

"Or not," Alaude murmured, his face set in an expression of distaste. Giotto had turned extremely pale, his breathing becoming frantic.

"Oh, come on!" Takeshi whined, "We just finished fixing the place!"

Kyoya snorted. "Stop worrying so much. I'm sure that Tsuna will agree that this particular damage ought to be fixed by external sources."

"He'd better," the younger grumbled. "If I have to hold wooden planks one more time, I'm going to smack someone on the head with them."

The Vongola group watched the roof of the arena cave in, coughing as the dust rose around them. "Reborn," Giotto began, "can we make Mammon pay for the damages for once?"

"Not a chance, kid." The Tenth Generation shrieked as the figure of the illusionist suddenly appeared before them. "Talk it out with Xanxus or someone."

"Yeah, right," G muttered, quietly making a memo to contact someone in Vongola's accounting to take care of this.

(Asking Xanxus to own up and take responsibility for his actions was like asking Mammon to pay - #fact universally acknowledged)

"Where is he?" Xanxus growled, sounding way too much like his liger to comfort anyone.

"I don't know who it is you search for, Sky, but I hope you know that before you can search for him, you must get through me," Kyoya spoke, stepping past the rubble to stand in front of the Varia Sky. Xanxus growled, raising his guns, the elements behind him shifting into an attacking stance.

"Xanxus, stop!" Giotto's voice rang out, momentarily calming the bloodlust building up in the arena. "He's the guardian on the Sanctuary, you literally need to get past him if you want to be here."

Squalo swquaked in indignation. "This runt, the guardian?"

Bloodlust swept through the arena, causing Lampo to choke. Mammon raised an impressed eyebrow at the aura which surrounded the young Cloud, purple and pulsing.

"Yes, Superbi Squalo, this runt is the guardian of the Sanctuary. Right now, I'm telling you, I don't feel particularly hospitable to letting you people in." Kyoya snarled.

Mammon vanished in a whirl of Mist flames, appearing floating next to the Varia leader. "Xanxus," they spoke, tone low and urgent, "Put your weapons down. We do not want to be thrown out of the Sanctuary before we find Fran."

Gritting his teeth, Xanxus reluctantly put his guns down, still not putting them in their holsters. The rest of the Varia followed their bosses lead, postures still tense.

"I apologize on their behalf, Hibari-san," Giotto spoke up, well aware that his fellow Sky had no intention of apologizing for any of his actions, "and sincerely hope that this will not cause you to refuse them entry. The come for a sound cause."

"I will be the judge of that," Kyoya spoke curtly, reigning in his aura. "Speak, herbivores, and do so quickly. I can feel myself grow more impatient every second."

"We come in search of a Mist who we've been told hides in your Sanctuary. His name is Fran. Some years ago, he left the Varia without any notice and we, presume has been hiding here ever since," Squalo explained, voice tight.

Takeshi visibly shook, "Kyoya..."

The young Cloud shook his head, turning and giving his fellow element a single glance that told him to shut up. Turning back to his audience, he spoke again. "Your request is denied. You have 12 hours to leave the Sanctuary, after which you will be forcibly ejected from it."

Levi snarled. "Listen here you little brat! You've been harbouring a traitor! That little shit of a Mist rightfully belongs to us!"

Kyoya raised an eyebrow while Takeshi laughed beside him. "There are so many things wrong with that statement, I don't even know where to start. Kyoya, shall we...?"

"Go ahead, Takeshi," the Cloud spoke, amusement coloring his voice.

"Gladly." Takeshi smiled, his teeth glinting. "Firstly, Fran is not hiding here. He lives here, as a rightful member of this Sanctuary.

"Second," Kyoya spoke up, sending a warning glare at the snarling Lightning, "from what we've been told, you people fucking kidnapped him and forced him to serve in your little herd psychotic herbivores, so he never owed any allegiance to you in the first place."

Watching the now fuming Varia squad with gleaming eyes, Takeshi went in for the kill. "Third, on the matter of belonging."

"Fran is his own person."

"But if he did belong to someone-"

"-it wouldn't be you."

Reborn flared his killing intent to stop the Varia from advancing on the two young elements. "Who would he belong to, then?" he spoke, obviously humouring the two elements.

"That, little Arcobaleno, is for us to know, and for you to never find out." Mist converged next to where Kyoya stood, before dispersing, revealing the form of the Mist who had spoken.

Kyoya made an irritated noise. "Mist which hides, my ass. Never did know how to make a subtle entrance, did you?"

Rokudo Mukuro chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the now-pale form of his brother, being supported by his Sun. "Kufufu, apologies, Kyoya. Your impatience seems to have rubbed off on me."


"...I suppose we should start with Mafia Dumbledore over there, huh." Gokudera spoke, nodding his head toward Vongola Nono.

"Mafia Dumbledore?" Tsuna enquired, lifting an eyebrow.

"Oh, you know," Yamamato spoke, his voice dark, "old, senile, somehow powerful, never learned to mind his fucking business?"

From where he was going over the papers, Skull snorted. "You kids are too fucking much."


/he was going to stop soon anyway. Wouldn't want any...unnecessary attractions (read: crazed, white haired marshmallow freaks. Byakuran arrived at even the subconscious mention of those diabetes-causing pieces of fluff).

Perhaps "uncaring" was a slight lie. He did care enough to induce murderous rage, after all. He'd been hanging around too many Mists.

^ Or not. Fucking Mists.


Who's a piece of shit? That's right, this chick right here! Words cannot begin to express how sorry I am for the sudden, year-long hiatus, guys. I don't have any excuse which will stand in court apart from my own laziness and the motherfucking IB. Anyway, next chapter should explain a lot. Promise I won't spend a century writing it. Thanks a lot for sticking with me, despite my stupidity.

Umm...I really don't want to do anything about the footnotes, guys. Inserting them in the middle of the story is too fucking awkward. Normally, I just use a control+F to find the symbols, but if they're bothering you too much, then ignore them. They aren't that important anyway.

Read and review!

Until next time,

Love,

Arwana13