AN: So, this is a sort-of sequel to Paradox since this is certainly not really its sequel. I already have it half-done in my PC and am currently trying to finish and fix it in light of my busy schedule. But, this is the Prequel to Conundrum. I want to share this first with the readers. Since I am still not ready to make this into a proper story yet (not even sure if I can handle it), I am going to try my hand in doing some random one-shots. As you've already seen. This is an AU since I am not really sure of the circumstances before the Fated Day or after it had just happened. So the facts may be a little hinted here and there only.

Please enjoy this chapter one-shot.

OooOoOooO

Precarious Situations

"So, what do you think?"

Harriet smiled brightly at him, holding the dark clothing in her hands. Reborn twitched, though his outward gait remained calm and composed. For someone who had been angry at the unfairness of his curse those months ago, his fiancée was sure taking too much entertainment in his stead. After the unnecessary drama and dispute that had followed the revelation of his curse as one of the Arcobaleno, the stupid woman had vowed in her wizardry lineage that she would do everything in her knowledge to break said curse.

Of course, that was after she had tracked him down from his self-induced isolation after he had seethed and raged about the unexpected outcome of being an Arcobaleno.

Damn it, the world's greatest hitman had been reduced to a two-year old kid. A two-year old kid. Even after he had blackmailed Shamal into erasing his adult self from the records (and shooting the said doctor for even daring to flirt with his fiancée), Reborn had still not accepted this cursed life unlike some of his fellows. He had a life, something he now looked forward to, and this predicament had almost put an end to it if it weren't for the woman's supreme stubbornness to stay by his side.

Reborn had allowed it simply for the reason that he was a selfish bastard. And Harriet wouldn't let him get away until she had found a cure to his curse anyway.

So now, he didn't know if he wanted to shoot the woman or the clothing in her hands.

"It's… acceptable," He stated dryly, a barely hidden sarcasm in his cool words. But the woman just smiled at him as she pushed the clothing to his small hands, her green eyes staring at him expectantly.

His round, beady black eyes blankly stared at the black suit in his hands. Somehow, the woman managed to make it according to his now small size. He twitched again as he continued to eye it impassively, inwardly questioning his fiancée's sanity where normal people would be grateful at the thoughtfulness. If only he didn't know that Harriet was enjoying this too much in his expense, even after she had made the same favour to his fellow Arcobaleno.

Skull had been the first to demand it and had boasted to Colonello and Lal. The two then had tracked down the witch and grudgingly requested while Fon had been nice enough to give Harriet a China Tea Set in exchange. Mammon had paid her, no matter how much his fiancée had refused, and Verde had tried to commence some experiments about her magic until Reborn managed to threaten him with a dreadful future if the Lightning Arcobaleno dared to pursue it. Luce had been the exception since the Sky Arcobaleno was able to transform back into her adult form. And Harriet had only been too happy to make baby clothes appropriate for their current stature.

It still didn't mean that he was fine with this. Even after he had calmed down from his initial fury, Reborn was still annoyed from time to time. Though, he had become more proficient at masking his ugly emotions.

"Good," Harriet nodded with exasperation, as if she knew his current line of thoughts. "That's the least I can do for now for my greatest hitman," Her smile was light-hearted with extreme fondness.

"Stop mocking me," He retorted calmly, though there was no heat or malice behind his words.

"Reborn, you know I wouldn't," She sighed as she stood up from her chair. "I already have Hermione looking at different Curse Tombs back in England and I'm not idle either," Harriet reminded him, a certain sharpness in her words.

He eyed the woman he had proposed to just exactly two months before the Fated Day happened. And as he observed the quiet promise in her eyes, the passion in her words, and the affection in her voice, he was reminded once again of the reason why he had done so in the first place. Where most people would have either left him or be intimidated, she had stayed. And for someone as simplistic as Reborn, that had been enough.

"Besides, I have an appointment in Germany this afternoon," She suddenly stated as she moved around the dining table of their house in Italy – something Nono had been too happy to acquire for him after Reborn had revealed their engagement. "I'll be gone for a week so I need you to watch over Teddy. You can have Iemitsu or Dino to help you but no hiring bloody babysitters, Reborn." Harriet warned him with narrowed eyes.

Reborn just gazed back at her calmly but somehow still managing to express his irritation by his stare alone.

"You're asking me to babysit a five year old?" He questioned just to be sure and had to keep a tight lid on his emotions to keep them from leaking on his expressions. "I may not be a kid but I am physically a child too, if you've forgotten, Harriet." For some reason, he felt the need to remind her no matter how aggravating the thought was.

And there's also the fact that Theodore Lupin was a little hellion that Reborn would rather leave with Iemitsu to deal with.

But the blonde was sometimes too stupid to fall for the devious brat's schemes and Reborn was usually left to handle the consequences. Which was both bothersome and a pain when Harriet chose to get on his case. Not to mention, Hermione frequently gave him a headache with her lectures when Teddy decided that 'Papa' (or something he had called the hitman when Reborn was still an adult, something he still implemented even in his infant form) was too mean. He couldn't even threaten the brunette woman because she wasn't aware of Harriet's affiliation to the Mafia and his fiancée could be a conniving woman when given enough provocation.

"You're the one who insisted that Teddy should treat you as his father after we adopted him two years ago." Harriet reminded him too, something he regretted. "So take responsibility and I don't care if you have to do it in your infant body." The woman insisted with a slight frown, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And you think he'll take me seriously in this form?" Reborn raised an eyebrow as he retorted coolly.

Harriet only smiled serenely with an odd glint in her emerald green eyes and for some reason, it made him uncomfortable.

"Don't underestimate him, you git, Teddy's a lot smarter than anyone gives him credit for," She stated with a dramatic enigmatic tone, as if conspiring a world secret with him.

"Oh, I know enough, believe me." Reborn merely responded darkly.

That actually stopped the woman short, making her blink at him with confusion. Before she smiled again as she lifted him up into her arms, something he still had to get used to as he momentarily tensed in her hold. He was more sensitive in this form and he could practically feel the warmth she radiated from her very being as he gradually relaxed.

But he was resolute in his response and the hitman had to remind himself that it would do no good to lower himself into competing against a five year old boy for his fiancée's affections.

Reborn tilted up his fedora hat (something he refused to part with) and glanced at his fiancée with his wide dark eyes. But the woman just grabbed her purse and coat by the coat hanger and put them on, before approaching him from the high table by the living room. She gently removed his fedora hat and combed a soothing hand through his dark tuff of spiky hair before tenderly kissing his forehead. The way she always did it never made him feel as if he was a child getting a kiss from a mother. Harriet's kisses were always enclosed with love, a silent promise, and a silent apology – something Reborn was hesitant to delve in.

"There's some ice cream in the fridge in case Teddy wakes up," Harriet informed him with a soft smile. "And don't hold back when dealing with him. I may spoil that little monster but I know him too." This time, her eyes sparkled humorously.

"I may go overboard," The hitman tested curiously.

"Sometimes," She admitted with a slight roll of her eyes. "But not too much, alright?"

"If the brat behaves," Reborn simply answered.

"I mean it." Harriet emphasized with narrowed eyes though her eyes were still twinkling with amusement.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her his usual patronizing look, which would have worked better if he was still in adult form. But the woman still recognized it for what it was if the slight quirk of her lips said otherwise.

Something suddenly flashed in her eyes that was too instant for him to identify. But she immediately covered it up with another smile.

"Alright, alright," Harriet conceded good-naturedly. "Remember Reborn, no hiring babysitters."

"Fine, now get going," He urged her seriously this time. "And be sure to be back or else the brat would whine my ears off." Though his words came out in a steady drawl, he managed to convey what he really meant judging from Harriet's widening smile.

Take care and come back.

"Duly noted," Harriet smiled before she exited through the door with one last wave to his direction.

Reborn watched as the door closed.

Now, he had to plan on how to endure the entire week with the little sneaky brat.

O.o.O

Reborn sighed as he watched his blonde student stumble.

He had managed to convince his fiancée in attaining permission from the Italian Magical Bureau to perform a widespread Obliviation Charm. Now, he had managed to completely erase himself from the records and now, people (except for certain selected individuals) only remembered the world's greatest hitman that went with the name of Reborn and nothing else. Sometimes, he was glad that he had a witch for a fiancée.

Unfortunately, Dino hadn't been among those 'certain selected individuals' due to personal reasons that Reborn would keep to his own.

"Ara," A soft childish voice stated. "You tripped on air again, Dino." Teddy commented rather unnecessarily as he blinked his wide amber eyes at the sheepish blonde.

"E-Eh? I thought my foot hit something," The blonde laughed nervously, his brown eyes straying to Reborn's sharp ones anxiously.

Reborn looked away and fought the urge to shake his head. He had only been gone for a year and a half and Dino was back to his clumsy ways. Really, it was as if he hadn't taught the brat anything at all. He would have to rectify that at the upcoming months (preferably, with much effective, though painful, ways to make the skill permanent) no matter how Harriet deemed his methods.

Even though Dino now somehow thought that the Reborn before and now were all and the same, it was kind of annoying to see that his student hadn't lost his jumpy tendencies in his presence.

"Do you need glasses?" Teddy questioned bluntly and fairly seriously with a pensive frown.

"No! No! My eyesight is fine! Though, that's thoughtful of you, Ted!" Dino smiled as he ruffled the five year old's dark tresses which promptly turned into golden blonde as soon as his hand left it, the hair not so unlike Dino's own.

"Are you sure?" The younger boy pushed persistently. "You might need those if you keep tripping on air," Teddy nodded decisively as he turned to the silent Reborn.

"Let it go because Dino's just a clumsy brat." Reborn remarked offhandedly, making said blonde smile a little guiltily.

"But Papa, he keeps doing it," Teddy argued petulantly with a pout.

For a reason Reborn refused to divulge, his son (something he still forced himself to get used to) had developed quite the possessive and soft spot for Dino. And the hitman would choose his own student to watch over Teddy on a fine day than Iemitsu. Though, there were downsides to that choice since Dino couldn't say no to the little rascal which served as the main problem in letting the fourteen year old blonde babysit Teddy by himself.

Not mentioning how it looked to others when Teddy called someone who looked younger than him 'Papa'. Even though the hitman was pleased with that development, it still irked him every time they received incredulous stares for it.

"We'll train it out of him then," Reborn found himself remarking rather sinisterly and Dino hadn't missed the inflection if his pale countenance was to go by.

"Is it painful?" Teddy was quick to ask as he rounded on the Sun Arcobaleno with wide eyes.

"It could be, depending on his progress," He answered since there was no use in lying, knowing that the boy would understand. But he was beginning to suspect some signs of sadism on the five year old, something Harriet blamed him for after leaving the brat with him for months before.

"H-Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Dino yelped as he stood up from his seat.

They were currently in his kitchen with him and Teddy comfortably seated on the counter while Dino chose to situate himself on a stool beside it. True to Harriet's words, a chocolate fudge ice cream had been patiently waiting by the fridge. This was certainly a different setup (a definitely homey feel) than what he was used to (though, maybe it had to do with this house being his) and Reborn found himself relaxing.

"Who said that anyone can get a word in aside from your tutor?" Reborn tilted his hat down and gave the brat the foreboding vibe – really, Dino should have at least known by now that Reborn wouldn't take another answer other than his own.

"Can I watch?" Teddy cut in with round amber eyes. "Please!" He pouted again.

Reborn twitched and refrained himself from pointing a gun at the boy for even wearing such a silly and immature expression. But he did frown at Teddy.

"Close your eyes, brat, they're so annoying," The hitman merely commented and Teddy happily did so without protests.

"Why would you even want to watch him torture me?" Dino groaned and had no qualms about admitting the truth in the open.

"Because that's when Papa is so cool," Teddy countered with a grin.

Dino gained that familiar expression when he inwardly questioned himself about why someone so 'impressionable' as Teddy would call a sadistic baby like Reborn his father. And the hitman just calmly threw a spoon at the blonde's head.

"Just because I look like a baby doesn't mean I'm any less of a father," Reborn reprimanded coolly with a rather laidback stance, effectively contradicting his seemingly annoyed words.

"H-How do you do that!" Dino demanded with an anxious look, no doubt, nervously wondering how Reborn could 'read' his mind again. He was only good at reading people through their eyes, body language, facial expression, or subtle movements. Reborn already had Harriet to read minds for him, given a 'valid' reason for her to do so.

Reborn snorted to himself as he watched Dino's inane babblings.

Really, there were only five days left and why couldn't Harriet be back sooner?

O.o.O

Harriet looked at Luna with wide eyes as they sat in an old-style restaurant by the outskirts of Hamburg, Germany.

"Have you ever heard of the Tri-Ni-Set, Harriet?" Those usually dreamy silver eyes were now staring back at her seriously and the dark haired woman wondered what she had gotten herself into since Luna rarely got serious over anything.

Then again, this was for Reborn.

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