Prologue – To Protect

One in a Million

A fourteen year old Aria strode into her mother's office, mug of tea in hand. She glanced sternly at her mother around a stack of neatly typed papers awaiting the official stamp and signature, carefully lowering the steaming drink onto a coaster on the table.

"Ah, thank you dear," murmured Luche distractedly as her eyes slid from side to side scanning the document before her. With a flourish she signed in the allotted space before smacking the stamp onto the ink pad and pressing the insignia atop the top left corner in black.

"Mother, you should be resting," Aria chided gently, picking up the mug and insistently pressing the tea into her mom's hands. "Drink that and go lay down for a bit; you're due any day now, so work can wait."

"I know I should rest, Aria, but if I miss even a day of paperwork, we're going to fall much too behind our schedule. It's already hectic as it is." Luche sighed.

She looked down, patting her baby bump. "Besides, he doesn't mind." She giggled a bit.

"Mom, of course the baby doesn't mind, but that doesn't mean you should tire yourself out." Giglio Nero's teenage heiress gently pushed her mother out of the chair behind the crowded desk, sitting down in Luche's place.

"I'll take care of the paperwork," Aria declared firmly. Luche smiled at her daughter fondly. "If you say so, darling." She left the office, sipping at her drink, as Aria began to concentrate on the papers.

As soon as her slippered feet reached the smooth laminate floors of the hall, Luche's smile faded into a slight, absent curl of her lips. She finished her drink, placing the mug on the floor before her bedroom door and making for the base's exit.

She slipped into her white flats and grabbed her Giglio Nero coat and a packed bag from a rack on the side. Greeting the chauffeur with a smile, she slid into the sleek black car and instructed the driver to go to the Arcobaleno's meeting spot.

Luche watched the scenery outside, not noticing the worried glances her chauffeur sent her through the rear view window. Wind-swayed trees blended into harsh gray buildings and pleasant little houses as she watched, blurring rapidly until the car slid to a stop.

Thanking her driver who opened her door, she made her way into the abandoned warehouse. In the dimmed light exuded by a bare bulb swinging over a round wooden table, a group of figures were seen looking in Luche's direction.

"Luche. You're here," a fedora-wearing man stated, glancing blandly at her from beneath the shadow of his hat. Despite the apparent nonchalance, Luche could tell he was worried. What he had really meant was, 'Luche, why did you come?'

Luche smiled apologetically, seeing that same question in each pair of eyes. Wordlessly, she took her seat at the table, immediately unpacking the contents of her bag: Some cookies and a variety of drinks.

A thermos of espresso, a sports drink, oolong tea. Strawberry milk for Viper, water for Verde, and some juice for Skull. The milk tea for herself was put back into the bag. "Anyone want cookies?" She set the box of homemade cookies upon the table.

As the others picked up their respective drinks, a solemn conversation was picked up of the Man with the Iron Hat. "We should be wary of him," Reborn was concluding, when Luche doubled over in pain.

"Luche?" Lal rushed over to the woman, tough indifference and seemingly perpetual scowl gone. "Someone call an ambulance!" Reborn flipped open his cell phone, dialing the number quickly. He gave the address of the warehouse sharply, finishing the call and immediately contacting Aria.

"Damnit, Mother!" Aria was heard cursing through the phone. "Damn the ambulance, I'm sending people over right now!" Shouted commands were heard as Aria moved away from the phone, barking orders to some Family members.

Reborn whistled lowly as he listened in. "That's some girl you got there." He turned to the addressed woman being aided by Lal. "Hang in there, Luche."

As Luche was carried into a room, a small crowd of Giglio Nero's doctors hurrying in behind, Aria turned to Reborn. "Thank you, Signor...?" "Carnefice," Reborn informed in response. "Renato Carnefice."

"Renato? 'Reborn'? Ah, so you must be the Reborn my mother talked about." Reborn merely sighed. "Why your mother insists on calling me that, I shall never know." His tone turned serious. "Will she be okay?" Aria nodded. "My mother's strong. She'll make it."

They turned back to the direction of Luche's room, Aria crossing her arms and Reborn leaning against the wall. The others too were watching that closed door, straining to hear past its heavy wood barrier.

It seemed like an eternity had passed before a doctor rushed out of the room, crying out the news that Luche had given birth, and yes, she was well. They all immediately streamed into the room, gathering around Luche's bed.

Said woman was smiling tiredly, gently clutching a small bundle in her arms. "Hello, Aria, everyone." At this Aria immediately launched into what could be counted as a small speech about how worried she was and how it could have affected the baby and how she shouldn't ever do something like that again.

When Aria had finished, Reborn stepped forward a little. "What are you going to name him? Something Japanese, as you mentioned before?"

"Tsunayoshi," came the immediate answer. "His father and I decided on that if the baby were to be a boy." She looked down at the tiny baby. "He'll need all the luck and support he can get for the destiny he has set before him."

The people surrounding grew solemn. One of Luche's visions; if she said so, it must be true. They gazed down at the scrawny boy, some brown hair sticking up on his head. This little boy may have the fate of the world left on his shoulders.

All of them came to the same conclusion at the exact same moment: No matter what, they would try their best to protect the innocent little Tsunayoshi from the horrors that surely lay in his path.

I know it was short, but it's the prologue!

This is my first KHR fic... This idea had been floating around in my head for a while. The speed of my next update will depend on the responses, so...

I will write more for the first chapter, I promise! I'd like to know if I make any character OOC, because I'm not too familiar with this fandom... Comments? Questions? Critique?

Ciao ciao!

-Tsukai