Hello, everyone :D I finally managed to write, or rather finish the first chapter to my 3rd story: Lost Before Light! I hope you enjoy reading it :D*nervous* Feedback is always welcome, I'll answer questions as well ;D Anyway, English is not my born language, so I beg for mercy XD If I notice grammar mistakes, I'll fix them.

The first few chapters will be pre-timeline, but will follow the manga later on, maybe include some things from the anime, or novels, and Drama CDs (which I'd translate on my own). And I'll start with a T-rating. I'm thinking about changing it to M later on, but I'll give a warning if/when the time comes.

I'll give you more information below the actual first chapter. Also, the link for my OC's picture can be found in my profile.

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR, I only own all of my OCs

Lost Before Light

~~~ Prologue ~~~

Sometimes we find that fate is playing with us.

We may find something important, but lose it again because we don't hold onto it, or take it for granted.

And so, some things from the past never make it into the future, only the regret of letting that something go.

Like this, even an eternity can pass… Fleeting dreams fade into the distance…

And all that is left is you and your memories… memories of happier days.

So, how do you go on, when you begin to understand… there is no going back?

Will you lock your heart away, and forget who you really are?

To find an answer to these questions…

This is where our story begins…

. . .

"How did it end up like this?" the 16 year old soldier Nike asked herself in disbelief, while she stared at the Cavallone mansion with an annoyed twitching eyelid, rather than being awed by the mansion's size. Then she turned to her 'trainer from hell', like she always called Rika, who now stood beside her.

Both woman were elite-soldiers and part of the elite-fighting-force, Genesis, which used its soldiers for special missions that required the greatest use of strength and abilities.

They were known to be most efficient, skilled, and best trained, but also known for their mercilessness.

However, Genesis' founder, Chaos, had been a friend of Vongola Primo, and Genesis known to be Vongola's most trusted and strongest ally since then. But just like the Vongola, Genesis had changed since its founder had died.

"Complaining won't help you," Nike's tall mentor answered coldly and lit a cigarette. Then the 35 year old woman eyed her apprentice, who let out a heavy, defiant sigh.

"But I don't get why I have to stay here…" Nike frowned and bumped her head against the high fence that was build around the mansion.

"I already told you everything you need to know," Rika said after a minute of silence, blowing the smoke out of her nose.

"Yeah, you told me almost nothing.. like always," Nike mumbled annoyed under her breath.

~~~2 Days ago~~~

"Damn, what is it?" Nike asked Rika irritated. She had failed -once again- to get away from her master.

"We have an appointment with an acquaintance of mine and his student. In 2 days," Rika told her while she leaned back in her office chair. Her office was as messy as always. Nike couldn't even tell where the commode Rika liked was. Probably hiding beneath all the papers and documents…

"Like always, you're so precise…" Nike said with a sarcastic undertone, only to get hit with a book that Rika threw. "That's the wrong way to use them," Nike mumbled and rubbed her nose.

"It's for discipline, stupid." Rika shot her a glare, which Nike ignored, turning her head to the side.

After they were silent for a few seconds, Nike asked sarcastically:

"May I ask Your Magnificent at least who that acquittance of yours is?"

Rika turned her head around and blew the smoke out of her nose, looking at Nike with an raised eyebrow.

"Nike, are you trying to pick a fight with me, again? I don't like your tone."

Nike huffed and crossed her arms behind her head, staring annoyed into midair.

"I never like your tone, either, but that doesn't hinder you to be an irresponsible, stupid, deceiving, arrogant, mean, half-assed-"

*SMACK*

Nike was hit with a book again, while flames of rage surrounded her master.

"Dare to finish your sentence?" she asked with a demonic expression. Nike stared at Rika for a few seconds, then poked her tongue out.

"Sure."

*SMACK*

"I forgot to add 'violent'…" Nike grumbled and rubbed her painfully throbbing head.

"Brat!" Rika yelled, and Nike only shut her ear that was close to Rika with one of her hands, while having a bored expression.

"Why do old people have to shout like that? I can hear you just fine." Nike said calm, but mockingly. When she looked at Rika, who now made an expression like an angry boar, she began to sweat nervously and waved her hands in surrender.

"I got it. I'll be quiet…"

Then Rika sighed and said, while lighting another cigarette:

"Have you ever heard of the Cavallone family?"

"Err.. Isn't that an ally of the Vongola?" Nike asked a bit puzzled.

"To be exact, the 3rd most strongest. Bucking Horse Dino is the 10th Cavallone Boss, and was the one who raised the position and power of his family single-handily, and also fixed their finances."

"What about him?" Nike yawned. It ways still rather early in the morning, and she wasn't exactly a morning person.

"I told you about the Arcobaleno before, right?"

"Yeah, the 'Strongest Seven'. Cursed Babies, whatever. And?" Nike waved her hand, wanting to skip things she already knew.

"Well, my acquaintance is an Arcobaleno, and the Bucking Horse his student," Rika said and looked at Nike rather seriously.

Nike scratched her cheek indifferently. "No wonder that he raised the Cavallone's reputation"

"...Is he a client?"

"The 10th Cavallone Boss? Well, not really. You could probably call it whatever you want."

"And why are we meeting them then?" Nike was getting impatient.

"I asked a favour of the Arcobaleno, and I owe him one. So I have made an agreement with him," Rika added and seemed a bit too cheerful all of a raised an eyebrow.

'Oh well' pretty much described what she thought that very second the best. It was usually like this. Rika planned something dangerous and Nike was the one who had to carry her plans out, without being told anything in the first place. So she knew that Rika wouldn't say anything further until she decided to do so on her own. It was no use to nag, and Nike didn't want to talk much more with her anyway.

The last time Rika told her one of her plans was when she kicked her right in a gunfight with Genesis members and a killer robot. It ended with Nike breaking 4 ribs, inner bleedings, and a torn open stomach while her mentor laughed at her.

However, then, much to Nike's surprise, Rika told her more about what she wanted to know, though what she heard wasn't much to her liking.

"You'll stay with the Bucking Horse and the Arcobaleno."

Nike bumped her hands on Rika's office table, knocking down all stacked documents. "What was that?"

"You heard me, stupid," Rika said coldly.

"Why staying with Bucking Zebra.. Whatever? I don't get what you're up to now!" Nike facepalmed. She just wanted to start ripping her hair out.

"Bucking Horse," Rika corrected her. "And I asked Reborn to have an eye on you, while he asked me if you could have an eye on his student."

Nike stood there dumb-founded, looking at Rika in disbelief. Then she breathed in and said as calmly as possible:

"First, if he's 'oh so strong', then he can watch out for himself, and second… since when do I need someone to watch out for me!"

"Because I can't take you along on my next mission. It would be to dangerous for you to tag along, and you'd be in the way. So be quiet and accept it," Rika told her calmly with something threatening in her voice.

Her student's facial expression distorted.

"Dangerous? You kicked me in front of a killer-robot, kicked me off a cliff, threw me in a bunch of out-of-control zombies or whatever they were, and made fun of me every time!"

Rika shot her a glare and a strange glow appeared in her eyes. She was serious, while Nike simply irritated.

"Che! Fine! At least I don't have to see your visage for a while."

She turned her head at Rika again, and ducked herself in a split of a second to avoid the book that came flying.

"I'm getting pelted a lot today…"

~~~Current time~~~

"I still think that's the stupidest idea you ever had. And here I thought you couldn't surpass yourself anymore…" Nike said dully while crouching in front of the gateway.

*SMACK*

"If you want to stay alive, you better shut up and go in!" Rika yelled and kicked Nike through the gateway.

Before landing flat on her face, she reached out her hands and pushed herself up again. Brushing her hands up, Nike raised her head after noticing that someone stood in front of her.

The man seemed to be in his 30's, wore glassed, a suit and seemed to be friendly.

Nike stood up and Rika appeared next to her.

"You must be Ms. Bia and Miss Nike, right? Mr. Reborn is waiting for you!" he said with a smile.

"Good then. Please show us the way!" Rika responded and sounded way too friendly as far as Nike could see.

"Okay, then please come this way," he said while leading the way, and told them his name was Romario, Dino's right-hand man.

~~~Meanwhile~~~~

The small Hitman sipped on his espresso, and somehow seemed a bit too cheerful, which gave his student a bad feeling.

"I wonder what you're up to now, Reborn," the blond-haired young mafia boss, Dino, who was sitting behind his office table, said with a somehow wary and nervous expression.

"You'll seen soon enough," Reborn responded and his sly grin didn't fade.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Dino thought and suppressed a sigh.

"But I was surprised that you have contact with someone from Genesis. Especially since the 9th doesn't really like its boss, Hades…" Dino then said.

"It can't be helped. Genesis is an important ally for the Vongola, and even though Hades is a wicked person, the 9th trusts Bia, Genesis' 7th squad leader. Also, he doesn't want to risk a war with them," Reborn answered calmly, while his hat shadowed his face.

Dino didn't know what to think of having Genesis people near his family, even less that one of them was supposed to stay with them for a while, but since Reborn seemed to trust her, he let it go.

Not a second later, it knocked on the door and Romario entered the room.

"Boss, Mr. Reborn's guests have arrived," he said friendly, but still respectful.

"Really, then please ask them in," Dino responded friendly as well and stood up.

Romario opened the door more and the first woman that appeared in the room was only a few inches smaller than he was.

She wore her fiery red hair in a short bob, some of her hair behind her right ear, while the left side of her face was covered by it.

"Ciaossu, Rika," Reborn greeted her and she grinned.

"Hey there, it's been a while. So that's the student you mentioned in your letter?"

"Yes, though I would call him 'No-good-Student'," Reborn answered smirking.

"Oi, Reborn!" Dino suddenly tossed in, half resentful, half embarrassed. She 'Hmpf'ed in an amused way and leaned forward.

"You're the 10th Cavallone boss, aren't you? Hmm~ Reborn did quite a good job training you, Bucking Horse Dino."

Dino looked quite confused at her words, and didn't really feel comfortable around her, but he stayed friendly like he mostly did.

"Then you are Reborn's acquaintance he was talking about. Nice to meet you."

"Oh yes, I am. And since you're Reborn's student you can call me Rika. Bia is just some stupid codename." Now Rika looked at Reborn with a somewhat satisfied expression, then said quite happily, which send shivers down Dino's spine, and made Romario look rather uncomfortable as well:

"Well, it seems like I agree on our arrangement." Then she grabbed something that seemed to wait outside the room.

What she pulled in was a rather small girl that seemed everything but pleased with the situation.

"Nike, I told you that I wouldn't let you escape!" Rika hissed.

"Doesn't hinder me to try it anyway," Nike mumbled annoyed.

"Ah, yeah, I forgot. This is my apprentice, Nike," Rika said creepily smiling, while hitting Nike in the back of her head.

"Ciaossu, Nike," Reborn said with a sly grin and jumped on Rika's shoulder.

"You're an Arcobaleno?" Nike ignored his greeting, asking her question boldly while staring at his chameleon that sat on top of his hat.

Reborn just grinned, while Rika ruffled Nike's hair to mock her, which resulted in Nike slapping her hand away.

"And this is his student." Rika pointed at Dino.

"Yo, nice to meet you. I'm Dino," Dino introduced himself with a suave smile and held out his hand to shake Nike's. While he did that, he studied the petite girl, who wasn't taller than 4'10" .

"Woah, she's pretty…" he thought fascinated, but was a bit surprised with his own reaction. The thing that caught his attention the most were her eyes, which colour were hard to define. Maybe something between grey, blue and purple. While looking -or rather staring- at her, he thought about all the rumours that were going around about the Genesis Soldiers. And while Rika did seem like one of them, since she gave off a somehow weird vibe, Nike... just didn't.

Meanwhile Nike looked in his amber eyes, that seemed to shimmer golden somehow, and for a split second, his eyes hinted a lot of warmth in them. Even his gaze felt warm.

It somehow hooked her and interested her.

However, when she noticed that he still held out his hand, she immediately crossed her arms behind her head and simply said:

"Yeah, nice to meet you. You can call me Nike."

While Dino seemed a bit puzzled at her actions, and maybe a bit disappointed as well, she couldn't even describe for herself how uncomfortable she felt, though she never really showed it.

Nike hated touching people. For various reasons.

Suddenly, Nike felt that Rika hit her on her shoulder, pretty strong at that.

"Sorry sweetie. She doesn't have any manners," she told Dino, obviously trying to mock Nike again.

"Neither do you." Nike clicked her tongue. Then suddenly, she finally noticed that something on Dino's shoulder.

Her eyes widened and Dino noticed it, looking at his right shoulder, where his turtle Enzio was sitting on.

He chuckled and lifted the turtle up, showing it to Nike.

"His name's Enzio," he said with a friendly grin. Before Dino could think about anything further, he was already kicked by Reborn, who now jumped on his shoulder.

"You know this guy here is a useless klutz and screws up a lot, so I wanted to ask you to take care of him."

"Again with that… Don't put weird ideas into her head," Dino contradicted, but knew Reborn would ignore him anyway.

"So you were serious when you said you wanted me to stay here…" Nike sighed distressed.

"I guess it would be a change if a girl stays with us! Also, maybe we wouldn't have to worry about the boss so much anymore!" Romario laughed.

"Romario!" Dino rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, then turned to Nike. "But anyway, I hope you'll make yourself at home."

She looked at him in silence and had yet to find a way to deal with him. Nike wasn't used to people as friendly as him, even less that someone welcomed her anywhere, so she suddenly blurted out with a snort:

"You're weird."

"Huh?" Dino looked surprised and a bit shocked. Then she added:

"But thanks… I guess," Nike finally responded, surrendering, yet annoyed, then said with a slight smirk: "Anyway, I'll have to tell you that you'd still have to worry. I'm kinda difficult to deal with, you know?"

While Romario laughed at his dumbfounded boss, Dino wondered of he wanted to know the real meaning behind her words or not. But before he could respond, Rika furrowed her brows and said:

"Don't worry. Nike's only lazy, indifferent, and has no respect for authority whatsover."

Nike's eyes send Rika a rather annoyed and doubting gaze. "No respect for authority? I just don't like you." But then she shrugged and added, more to herself than anyone else, twisting her mouth while doing so:

"But at least I don't have to see this old hag's face for a while."

As soon as she finished her sentence, she ducked herself, avoiding Rika's fist.

"Ha! I knew you'd try that!" Nike flicked her fingers cockily, but right after that…

*SMACK*

… Rika had already managed to punch her.

"Okay then. You'll learn a lot of things from Reborn I can't teach you, or simply don't wanna. So work hard," she told her, then her face darkened. Cracking her knuckles, she grabbed Nike by her collar.

"If you don't I'm gonna beat you up."

"How nice.. And here I thought I could laze around…" Nike said calmly with a somehow nervous-dejecting grimace. No sense for authority was maybe not understated, but even Nike found that Rika was just scary when she was mad.

"Where have I seen this scenario before?" Dino thought and shot Reborn a slightly nervous glance, who just smirked devious. Dino's face fell in shock immediately as he saw his tutor's expression, and thought:

"He's definitely is planning something..."

"All right, all right, I got it," Nike meanwhile tried to stop Rika with a somehow nervous wave of her hand, then faced Dino. "I'll be in your care for a while then."

Dino smiled and nodded.

"Good. Let's go eat now~" Reborn said suddenly alarmingly cheerful, and started walking to the dining hall. Rika followed closely behind him, so that nobody could hear what she had to say.

"Thanks Reborn. I owe you one."

"Don't worry, I can extract advantages from her stay," the small Hitman responded and his expression showed that he already plotted things that neither Nike or Dino would have liked to hear.

"Yeah, but it's still…" Rika hesitated. "That brat… I wouldn't have to take these measurements if it wasn't for those special issues concerning Nike," she facepalmed.

"I told you you'd have to be careful. But we can't change it now. We'll have to make the best out of it," Reborn said calmly, then started smirking again and added:

"Nike is interesting."

"She's my student after all," Rika responded and almost lit a cigarette, until she remembered that she shouldn't smoke in someone else's home.

Meanwhile Nike eyed her surroundings, until Reborn turned around with a smirk that reminded her of Rika's.

Hence, it couldn't mean anything positive.

Dino and Nike looked at him kind of nervously, though Nike still tried to hide it, as Reborn said, talking to Rika while facing their students:

"Don't worry, she'll be very useful for my purposes. But Dino shouldn't worry. I'll still work him to the bones." Nike and Dino sighed while Rika and Reborn seemed to have lots of fun scaring their students and Nike thought:

"This can't get any worse… or can it?"

Okay, here are some information I was talking about. I wanted to say a few things about Genesis.

I have an obsession with Final Fantasy, and played FF 7 a while ago again and wanted to base Genesis (at least a tiny little bit) on SOLDIER. Oh well but here are a few basic information's anyway:

Genesis consists of 7 units. All of them have a leader, but Genesis' overall leader is Hades. Genesis' founder was a woman I named Chaos, cuz I thought it sounded cool XD

Hades: Leader of Genesis and 1st squad leader

Ares: 2nd squad leader.

Nemesis: 3rd squad leader

Eris: 4th squad leader

Thanatos: 5th squad leader

Phobos: 6th squad leader

Bia (Rika): 7th squad leader

I gave them "codenames" cuz I was to lazy to think of real names xD Nike btw. means victory.

Ah, and also, I won't use any Japanese honorifics for the time being, that's why I used "Mr. Reborn" here, for example. I'll probably just use the honorifics that are actually being used by the characters, or think of something else^^

I described Dino's eyes as amber, cuz I think every time Amano colours him, they're either gold, or amber, so I'll go with that instead with his brown eyes from the anime. And when it comes to the spelling, I'll either use the Reborn wiki as reference, or the manga translation.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and I will update as soon as I can :D *bows, waves* See ya! :D