After Byakuran was defeated and all dangers passed, the Vongola decided that they would start a school to train students to use flames. This way, they hoped to have a strong fighting force that used flames if another attack ever occurred again. The school was founded by the Decimo Vongola and accepted only fourteen of each flame, or ninety eight students in total.
The school accepts the students when they are twelve and they all are able to wield their flames well. The students train together for one year before they split up into groups depending on their strength. After two years of training, the students are put into another class, and this time everyone has the same flame type. The last year is a "free year" where the students mostly train by themselves and each other. Few are even sent on small missions as practice. The students are allowed to attend any classes, from first year basics to fourth year technique. After graduating, most enter the ranks of the Vongola, becoming secretaries to important fighters. Two or three students are sent to other allied families as representatives and spies. Basically, they make sure that the family isn't up to anything troublesome.
The top wielder of each flame is selected and put into a group in which are called "Guardians". They resemble a student council all though they don't do much paper work, only ones regarding their own interest. They monitor the school for any trouble and often act as officers, role models, and even mentors. The "Guardians" consist of future trainees that could study under the Vongola Guardians. But because the trainees stay under their guardians for as long as the guardian wants spots barely open up. (In the five years this school was open, three assigned "Guardians" have already died. Two died on the field while the third died insane.
Standing alone in a large and well furnished room, Cielo leaned against the wall, her light indigo eyes flickering in anticipation. With a slim figure, many would mistake her as a boy. She dressed like one, too. The metallic chain that was attached to her black tight jeans clinked quietly as Cielo fingered her black leather wristband that was wrapped around her left wrist. On top of the plain white T-shirt she wore was a black dress vest that was paired with a fedora that had a dark indigo band. A calm and cool air surrounded Cielo and was emphasized with her platinum blonde hair that was tied in a neat and short pony tail that fell slightly past her shoulders. The Ice Lover, the Cool Prince, Cielo had heard herself being described as them all in the short amount of time she had attained her current look. She only chuckled and brushed the nicknames away, amused that her crazy fan girls at the academy didn't realize she was a girl. But the fact she had worn boy's clothes didn't help the situation either.
Lost in her own thoughts, Cielo failed to raise her head to acknowledge the opening door. A man with a red and blue eye stepped in, a slight smile dancing on his lips. Deliberately, Mukuro slammed the door shut to startle his new student. But all he got in response was a glance from Cielo. The two of them stood there, looking each other and trying to get a first impression. Mukuro laughed mentally to see his student, a female, dressing as a male. Cielo ran her observant eyes over Mukuro, waiting for something.
Finally, Mukuro broke the silence. "So, I assume you will be training under me?" Nodding in response, Cielo stood back up and faced Mukuro.
"Yes sir. My name is Cielo Viaggiare and I will be training under you," she replied bluntly. Sighing mentally, Cielo grimaced and wondered how she ended up in the same room with Vongola's legendary Mist Guardian. A mysterious air hung around Mukuro and a smile was on his face. It radiated of rising irritation as Mukuro watched his silent student.
Her indigo eyes were calm and Mukuro wasn't sure what he saw. Maybe it was boredom, fear, excitement, or even awe. There were too many emotions for him to decipher and Cielo's face remained mask-like. Her lips were pressed in straight line but they curved up slightly. It irritated Mukuro that he couldn't decide what the girl was thinking.
Wordlessly, Mukuro summoned his trident. He kept his eye on his student as he thumped it against the ground, making numerous columns of fire blast out of nowhere. Cielo didn't even blink as she sighed and allowed her Mist flames to dispel into the air. The flames spread out and hid Cielo from Mukuro's view. The columns of flames nearby dissolved slowly as the indigo flames slowly touched them.
Mukuro allowed himself to laugh playfully. His new student seemed somewhat talented. She managed took control of Mukuro's senses for a moment, thus making a few illusions disappear, before he forcefully take it back. Shrouded in the mist, Cielo's presence was erased and Mukuro had a difficult time finding her. Taking his trident and spinning it, Mukuro lunged into the thick mist, ignoring the small worry in the back of his mind.
Once in the mist, Mukuro felt his knees weaken immediately. His vision became blurry and his hearing dulled. In his hands, Mukuro couldn't feel his weapon or gloves. Approaching footsteps sounded dull and Mukuro failed to see his student approaching him. But he could hear her. Suddenly, Mukuro lashed out with his trident, taking his student by surprise and piercing her shoulder. With a muted gasp, Cielo leaped out of the edge of her mist and into the normal air where the last of Mukuro's illusions were fading. The mist quickly faded and revealed Mukuro standing with his trident in the illusion Cielo has made.
Looking sheepishly at her new teacher, Cielo watched her now useless illusion fall to the ground and melt away. Mukuro chuckled quietly before approaching the large door he had entered from.
"Come on now, little girl. You seem fairly talented. I want to show you off to him." Opening the doors, Mukuro strolled out the room as Cielo quickly walked to follow. She threw a quick glance at the room before closing the door. A burnt smell lingered as part of the ceiling was black and already falling apart. Cielo gulped as she imagined what could have happened if she waited too long and allowed those roaring red and orange flames touch her.
Running after her new mentor, Cielo dashed in the halls, following the lingering traces of Mist flames. The changing walls caught her interest as she realized she was entering a lower part of the building. The carpet covered floor slanted downwards and paper lanterns dimly lit the hall. The walls were made of simple smooth stone but oriental doorways decorated the hall as Cielo ran through them. Panting slightly, Cielo finally came to a stop. In front of her, a large metal door blocked her way. Frowning, Cielo tried to find a doorknob but couldn't. It soon dawned to her what she had to do. Muttering about inconveniences, Cielo glared at the door, willing door handles to form. Then yanking the simple silver doorknob open, Cielo quickly slipped into the brightly lit room, blinking quickly to adjust her eyes.
"Kufufu~" The low chuckle made Cielo turn her head. Making her way to the corner of the large room, where another person sat, Cielo saw Mukuro wielding his trident against Hibari. Her eyes widened in excitement as she watched the two run towards each other and attack fiercely. The two continuously lashed out at each other, a jab with a trident being swiftly being pushed away with a tonfa.
Not bothering to look at who was next to her, Cielo sat down against the wall, her pale indigo eyes trained on the fight. But she did turn her head when she felt an uncomfortable glare on her. Beside her, someone who seemed a year or two older stared at her with sharp metallic eyes that were framed with rectangular black glasses. He wore a seemingly expensive suit and sat with his legs folded neatly underneath him with his hands on his lap. Short midnight black hair shifted slightly as the man turned his eyes away from Cielo. Glancing up and down at the person next to her, Cielo's eyes wavered slightly. The man wore a suit and looked too serious and boring.
"My name is Yoru Kodokuna. You will address me as Kodokuna." Arching her eyebrow, Cielo decided how to present herself. Maybe she should act according to her "title" from the academy, smooth and pleasant. Or should she be a responsible person who was calm or an energetic person who had little control over herself? Debating thoughtfully, Cielo decided to choose the latter, knowing it would easily irritate the man next to her.
"Well then, Kodokuna-san, my name is Cielo. Nice to meet you~" Cielo said, emphasizing "-san". A sweet and playful tone filled Cielo's voice, sounding like the one Mukuro used when threatening others. The only difference was that it didn't give a dark mood off, instead having an honest and almost innocent feeling. Wordlessly, Yoru's gaze flickered toward Cielo when he realized she had addressed him with a suffix.
Stretching her legs out, Cielo tucked her hands behind her head. After a few moments of peering at Yoru's eyes, she sat up, a playful and curious smile curling her lips slightly. "Kodokuna-san, are of two ethnicities? Perhaps Italian and Japanese? Your name sounds Japanese." Proud that she could recognize the Japanese language, Cielo stared at Yoru, awaiting an answer.
Bluntly and in a flat tone, Yoru answer. "Yes." Well aware that the man's impatience was increasing, Cielo scooted over, closer to Yoru, and began bombing him with questions that he chose not to answer. For a few minutes, as Mukuro and Hibari fought, seemingly pointless questions poured from Cielo. The lack of attention Yoru was giving her fueled her effort to pry more words from his mouth.
"What's your favorite color?" Silence.
"Do you like seafood?" More silence.
Sighing, Cielo tugged the rim of her fedora. "Why are you here?" she finally questioned, unaware that the sound of clashing metal had stopped. His face calm and unreadable, Yoru turned his head towards Cielo.
"Is it not obvious? I train under Hibari."
Blinking her eyes, Cielo tilted slightly, pretending to think. "Well, you do have that cold personality…and you do seem like a loner. Perhaps you are his student. But…are you strong?" The playfulness was evident in her voice as Cielo smiled. But the warmth in her voice decreased greatly as her eyes watched Yoru for a reaction.
At first, Yoru said nothing but underneath Cielo's stare, irritation crept into his voice. "Stop staring," he demanded in a strong voice. But Cielo's grin widened as her eyes flickered to her mentor who was watching with interest. When Cielo's eyes shot back to Yoru, his hand shot out in her direction.
"Tsk-ing", Mukuro's foot appeared out of nowhere and slammed into the wall, missing Yoru's hand by mere centimeters.
"Now now, Kitsune-kun. If you want to play with Cielo, you should ask her mentor first. After all, we don't want her hurting you accidentally, do we?" The cheerful note in his voice did nothing to hide the underlying meaning.
Yoru's first reaction was to shoot back that Cielo looked too frail to do any damage. But then he realized that if "he" were to be training under Mukuro, "he" had to be very good at fighting. His second thought came when he ran Mukuro's words through his head. He had said "her", not "his". Without showing any surprise, Yoru turned his attention to studying Cielo. After a moment, it dawned to him that Cielo could be a female. Her slender fingers and long eye lashed convinced him slightly that it was possible.
"Aw, senpai. Why'd you tell him?" Cielo whined childishly as she stood up. Mukuro only chuckled in return and tapped his trident against the floor. Quickly, he was shrouded in mist and when it passed, there was no sign of Mukuro left. Shrugging, waved to Yoru before tucking her hands into her pocket. Then, she too became shrouded with a dense mist and disappeared.
As Cielo's presence was erased, Yoru watched his mentor retract his weapon in disappointment. Silently, he got up to follow Hibari as he left the large empty room, his steady steps echoing. Hibari mentally sighed in both irritation and curiosity. It seemed that now, there were two Mist illusionists to take care of. And the new one seemed weak but in the back of his head, Hibari felt that the frail looking girl could be a formable opponent.