Summary

The Sky finally was shattered. Without the rightful heir, and the Vongola Gears back in their sealed forms along with the Ring of the Sky regressed to its crude stone state, unable to be restored or emit flames, the Vongola is on the brink of chaos. Amid the turmoil, with the Guardians scattered and their relationship strained, the Vongola is at the door of a daunting war involving the entire underworld, one that can lead to the complete destruction of the Famiglia. But there might be still hope with the appearance of a mysterious figure who strangely looks like a mixture of the deceased Tenth and Primo. TYL and AU

Ciao minna-san! I'm sorry for the delay in updating this story! I promise that I will reward them soon!

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Disclaimer: KHR belongs to Akira Amano-sensei, only the plot is mine!

Meeting Arc: Part 1

BROKEN TIES I

When the bonds are broken all that is left are shattered hearts. Faces moistened by tears. Voices tight with pain. And the dark and bitter loneliness.

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Gokudera Hayato looked out of the small window to his left. The plane had already begun the procedures for landing and had started to decline toward the runway. Below he could see the ocean of fallen stars that the lights of the city steadily formed. It was just as the sun was setting with twilight creeping at the border. Suddenly a wave of painful nostalgia clung to the Storm's chest. For a single moment Hayato allowed himself to digress, drowning himself once again in memories of a time that would not come back.

"Wow! It's so beautiful up here!" - A certain brunet from beside the small window appeared charmed at the scenery beyond the jet that Nono had to bring them from Japan to Palermo; brown orbs staring outside at the far away earth which appeared to reflect the night sky.

"Dame-Tsuna, stop acting impressed with something so unimportant. You are already eighteen years old, even the stupid cow isn't acting so childish."

"But, Reborn! This is the first time I've been on an airplane flight! Although I've flown with my X-Gloves, I've never been so high up!" - A hammer-Leon slammed into his head without mercy - "Oi, Reborn! Why is that?"

"Obviously you never fly at this height, you hardly would have any air if you did, Dame-Tsuna. Did you not learn anything from our lessons? Must I intensify your training as soon as the inheritance ceremony finishes?" - Scolded the Spartan tutor, who noticed with satisfaction the color draining from the face of his dame student.

"Jyuudaime! Are you okay?" - the Storm asked, green-gray eyes shining with concern; the three were the only ones awake in the jet.

"Ah, yes I am, Gokudera. To tell the truth, I'm glad that we're all together. Even having said that I wanted to come and live in Italy to keep the others safe, I was afraid of having to come alone." - the brunet said, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.

"Do not worry, Jyuudaime! Even if the other idiots leave you, as your right hand man, I will always be by your side!"

"Oh, I know that, Gokudera. Thank you."

With the disappearing memories, Hayato glanced at the ring on his finger, feeling as if his own words, spoken at that time, were being stabbed into his chest now - after all, he never kept his promise.

As the Storm already imagined, no one was at the airport waiting for him, despite it was obvious that he would be coming to town - at least he was sure he would be back, even if he had to be in a coffin, he would return on this date. With the little luggage he had summarized in a small single suitcase, where currently almost all his belongings were; the Boxes of his system C.A.I, some shirts, a shabby suit, as the others were destroyed or had become unusable - luckily he had ordered two suits, days before his return as the tailor already has his measures - Gokudera rented a simple car and started towards a direction so well and painfully known.

It took just over forty minutes to cover the distance between the airport and the large gates, where finally the car stopped in front of a gorgeous mansion. Although the lawn was mowed, the pruned trees and the flowers still bloomed in the flower beds. Nevertheless, the construction never looked so bleak and lifeless - at least in the eyes of the Storm.

Unlike his arrival and landing in the country, now there was someone waiting to receive him. But deep in his heart, he was not the person who he wanted to see the most, and certainly was no one whose smiles gave the mansion that feeling of home. No matter how many times Gokudera has returned from his missions, not once during these three long, damn years, had entering through these doors made his heart hurt less. Rather, the pain has just increased, as the guilt corroded him.

"Welcome back, Gokudera-sama. Hope you had a good trip." - greeted Lorenzi, the old butler of the mansion, his tone always polite; he received from the Storm a subtle nod in recognition.

"And the others?" - Hayato asked, entering the hall and trying not to face the staircase where he always received them, his voice low and emotionless; the trip was a pain, but now returning to the mansion seemed to be worse than any mission he had to comply.

"Yamamoto-sama arrived in the morning, I believe he is still in the dojo. Lambo-sama has been locked in his room since he returned from school. Reborn-san was called by Ninth-sama and left about an hour before your arrival." - informed the old man, stuck in his elegant penguin like clothing; his work uniform was completely black in contrast to the gray and black clothes that the maids wore - "Do you need something Gokudera-sama?" - he asked finally, experienced eyes never leaving the downcast face of the young master with silver hair; the younger man seemed to meditate for a few seconds while absorbing the information.

As someone who has served the Famiglia for almost forty years, Lorenzi has seen a lot, but certainly the worst of all were the past years where he closely followed the continuing decline of the Tenth generation. It was depressing to know that the most promising family to take over the Vongola since Primo, had lost themselves completely at the beginning of the walk. But it was understandable, since the sky was gone and the entire Famiglia had their structures shattered by the loss of their leader.

"Has Lambo eaten something?" - Gokudera asked releasing a sigh, already anticipating the unsatisfactory answer.

"No, Gokudera-sama. He refused the afternoon snack and did not come down for dinner."

"Tch! That Ahoushi." - he growled clenching his fist a bit, Hayato sincerely hoped not to have to go through this again, but it seems that was not the case.

"Should I try again?"

"No, I'll take care of that brat. Just ask Pizio to prepare some grape gelato. Also, I have not had dinner yet. I hate airline food." - answered the Guardian, already climbing the stairs to the top floor.

After all, the last thing that Gokudera wanted was to have to face Yamamoto. In addition, the brat really was in trouble. Truthfully, all of them have been these past three damn years.

After the Sky disappeared, things became strange. They became strangers. Earlier, as a last effort on behalf of their boss and a debased form of excuse for themselves for all damage done, they still tried to remain united, to lead the Famiglia. Even Mukuro stayed around most of the time, since Chrome seemed to share the same desire to save what was left of them. But without Jyuudaime their ties no longer existed and it did not take long for bitterness and self-repudiation to cause disagreements.

Before, Yamamoto would laugh carefree and as the rain would wash away all their troubles. However the swordsman did not take over the job of trying to calm them down, instead he began to be cold and face them with an aura that verges on hate - maybe of himself, others, or both; Gokudera did not know and nobody tried to find out, after all, each had their own torments to handle. And even though the relationship between the Storm and Rain were never the best, the two could still work in perfect sync, but this was while he was still alive and when they together fought with the same determination.

Although everyone knew the hours and days continued going, it was only after completing the first year that the idea of time truly register, and when it did, it was as if a bullet had opened a massive hole in their chests. Allowing the brutal truth to sink in. A year had passed. A year without their Sky, was when they realized that he definitely was not coming back and that they were bound to tolerate each other alone. Moreover, they no longer had a reason to stay together - it should have been clear when Hibari disappeared, but it was not.

It took about four months after that day for the errant Cloud to be sighted again. Where Kyoya was or what he was doing, nobody has discovered, nor did anyone dare to question him. However, the ferocity of pure contempt with which he faced them was a real surprise. It was a glow even more intense than that used initially by the Cloud toward his eternal rival, Rokudo Mukuro. And that was the first crack in the wall that they allowed to form around their hearts to dull the agonizing pain.

Although the former prefect always made it clear that he did not like groups and that there was no fellowship between them, he always appeared to help when the situation was very problematic, giving them the feeling that they were actually on the same side. Hibari always fulfilled his role of being the independent Cloud. But they should have realized that it was just while the Sky allowed him to live drifting that at the same time he was being, in a sense, arrested as well. In the end, Kyoya was the only one who never left the Sky, and maybe that's why his ring is the only one that remains in its original form, and not in the sealed form like the others. All they remember the day when they saw the bright purple stone of the original ring of the Cloud on Hibari's finger, was a pleased Reborn-san rubbing in their noses that Primo must be punishing them for not complying with their oaths as Guardians, and they should be grateful that the rings had not rejected them as with Xanxus years before.

But the last straw that put their failed relationships in checkmate came, ironically, through the Rain. Even with the truth before their eyes, they still persisted. They set about trying harder to resume the ties that were already nonexistent, or that was what Hayato believed. However, in the second year without the Sky their hopes of staying together crumbled completely. Everyone had changed, but a few showed more than others, and Ryohei was one of them. Though the one who really diverged shocked them at first.

It was after another one of so many unsuccessful missions, this time between the Sun and the Rain, which resulted in the deaths of several allies' subordinates in the hands of one of the many Famiglias who turned against the Vongola, that the discussion began. Gokudera, taking his position as leader of the Guardians, demanded that Ryohei take responsibility for his rebellious and thoughtless actions and stop acting like an idiot. Unlike the Sun, who refuted many of Gokudera's arguments, at first, Yamamoto merely observed in silence. Even while the Storm rebuked him, Takeshi just listened. But all it took was Hayato mentioning Jyuudaime - who ironically became the detonator of all major discussions among the Guardians - for the situation to get out of control.

The two exchanged a few punches and the swordsman even reached the extreme of pressing his blade against Gokudera's throat. The fight only stopped when Reborn decided they exceeded the limit of his patience. A single shot, which completely destroyed half of the room, silenced them outright. As they all knew that the only thing hindering the Arcobaleno was his respect for the Tenth, but even his respect would not stop him from killing them if it meant keeping what remained of the Famiglia, functioning. 'Guardians can be replaced' was the Hitman's dry argument.

After the incident everyone dispersed. Yamamoto went to the base in Japan, only travelling away for high-risk missions. Ryohei continued to avoid facing his sister and opted to stay in Italy, discounting his anger, which was not at all contained, in training the Famiglia's subordinates. Lambo was sent to live in Namimori with Nana, Fuuta and I-pin, but could not bear to live in the childhood house of his nii-chan; seeing and hearing the mother of the Tenth talk about her son's absent without the power to tell the truth to her, and eventually he returned to Palermo. Mukuro and Chrome disappeared, the only proof that they were still alive were the mission reports that reach the Vongola - ironically the illusionists seem to prefer to answer to Shoichi than any other. Even Fran, who remains in the Varia - since Mammon tends to be absent quite frequently for long periods of time - knew little about his master.

And since then, the meetings between the Guardians became limited to meetings about once a month - which many only attended by video conference, excluding Hibari completely. Kyoya cut almost all ties with the Famiglia three years ago, refusing to 'agglomeration with weak herbivores'. Reborn-san was one of the few who still communicates with the wandering Cloud, after all, the Foundation still has its headquarters near the Vongola base in Namimori. Even if nobody was allowed to cross the thick steel reinforced doors that separated them - with the certainty of losing their life in doing so. But this date was an exception that everyone was willing to follow - again, excluding Kyoya who never appears.

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Crossing the long hall, Gokudera's ears capture a sound that has become quite familiar - crying. Before Hayato could realize what he was doing, his feet carried him to the door of the now fifteen year old, Guardian of Thunder. The brat was nothing like the Ahoushi who appeared when five year old Lambo shot himself with the infamous Jyuunen Bazooka. When asked about this, Irie said that the Bovino's gun must have been invoking a version of one of the other parallel worlds; one where the Jyuudaime was alive and the Famiglia still together, which explained the quiet and lazy attitude of the young Guardian whenever they met. Saying that the Storm felt jealous of the Thunder's luck of living in a better world than theirs, where the Sky still smiled warmly at them, a world where things went right - since they did not screw up and so were never separated, was a big understatement. However, this wonderful luck of enjoyment did not pertain to the teenager sobbing inside the room.

Since he disappeared, the hyperactive twelve year old Lambo disappeared too. The brat forced himself into a serious facade, which at the first failed miserably with all the mucus starting to drain from his nose, continuous teary eyes, and sobs that eventually escaped from his lips. But now the teenager has become an expert at hiding his broken heart behind a mask of indifference. The only signs that the cow child was still in there show up on special times such as birthdays and Christmas when Lambo cries for hours at night, refusing to go to school for a day or so. But without a doubt the worst of all was the approaching date - the day when the Sky was gone.

In the first year Ahoushi locked himself in his room, he refused to come out for an entire week. Not even the usual death threats from Reborn-san were working. The brat just cried nonstop, refusing any kind of food. Finally the patience of both, Hayato and the Arcobaleno, expired, and Gokudera blasted the door. They then dragged Lambo out of the bedroom and forced him to eat in the sight a gun with no special bullets. After this, it took a month of lamentations and promises for him to win a door for his bedroom again. However, the following year he once again locked himself and the painful process lasted three long days.

"Oi, Ahoushi." - At the sound of Gokudera's voice, there was silence inside the room - "You better not be locked up or I'll expl-"

"It's open, Gokudera-shi." - His voice shrilled by constant sniffles and cries stopped the Storm.

A little skeptical, Hayato pushed the doorknob and, as he said, the door opened without any hindrance revealing a dark room. The weak light leaking cracks through the thick green curtains in the windows only allowed the Storm to see an outline of the body of the teenager, huddled in a ball in the middle of the bed, seeming to be tightly holding something in his hand. Gokudera was sure that if he went to the desk in the office, the portrait of the Jyuudaime with all of them would no longer be there. Ironically that last picture they took before everything collapsed, the last memory they have of their beloved Sky alive, was taken on his last birthday.

"Oi, Ahoushi, I still have not had dinner, and Pizio made your stupid favorite dessert. If by the time I go down to the dining room and you're not there, I'll throw that grape crap in the trash." - Gokudera warned, approaching the corridor - "It is better to leave this door unlocked," - he added, disappearing as he headed towards his own room, leaving behind the Bovino who was muttering something incoherent.

Back in the hallways, Gokudera felt his stomach squirm and his chest sink further. For his requirement, a whim of a fresh out adolescent, his room was exactly to the right side of Jyuudaime's bedroom. A room in which no one is allowed to enter, even the employees, and not even the Guardians. It was a condition from Reborn-san, and if the visible murderous aura emanating from his body meant anything, whoever dares to disobey him will discover why he is the greatest Hitman in the world and feared Arcobaleno of the Sun.

The same way that no one in these three long years entered the double doors of the room, nobody risked getting shot by questioning the reasons for such a strange demand – this was Reborn after all, his word lost in power just to the orders of the Jyuudaime. And anyway, none of the Guardians really cared about the decision. It was hard enough for them to continue living in the house where their boss lived, the place he called home, and as a result, had also become a home for all of them for the simple fact that he lived in the mansion - and they stupidly relinquished it.

Likewise, his room was his refuge especially during the months when the Guardians started to ignore him, to neglect their duties and finally abandon him. According to the whispers they heard from the employees, in the past when he was not in his office, locked away for hours and hours stuck at his desk looking over the damn paperwork, the Jyuudaime disappeared into his room. The Vongola Don did not even step a foot out of the mansion estate if it was not strictly necessary, as in meetings with other bosses. The young Tenth nor kept going to the garden that he loved so much, though it only served to further deteriorate his health.

Hayato could still clearly remember hearing Shamal growl at him, with palpable disapproval and disappointment in his voice, that hours before Jyuudaime had to go to the meeting that took his life, the perverted doctor was hastily called for the third time in a short duration by Lorenzi because the Tenth had collapsed from exhaustion again.

No. The Guardians definitely did not have the right to step into the refuge that was their boss, same as the Sky would never again be able to enter him.

Gokudera, deviating his eyes from the double doors, entered his room. Due to the walls' neutral colors, everything else stood out from the heavy red curtains to the bedding in the same crimson tone. They were all the same as color of his flames, which had long since lost its intensity and vibrancy, after all the reason for his determination disappeared was his own damn fault.

The Storm opened the bag and dumped its contents onto the bed before walking over to one of the two large windows and opening it, letting the cool night breeze penetrate his bedroom that most likely had been closed since the day he left for France a week earlier. In the past this mission would have been directed to Yamamoto, as the lover of baseball had always been the most diplomatic among the Guardians. He effortlessly persuaded numerous of mobsters with his easy smile. But emphasizing the humor that the Rain was in currently, and with the alliances of the Vongola every day becoming more and more strained, they cannot afford to offend someone because their feelings and emotions are running rampant without proper control. And yet, the mission was a complete failure to his frustration.

It's ironic how he, who was known for his stormy temperament, was currently the one who seems to have the most perfect self-control. But of course, this was only because like the Ahoushi, Hayato had his emotions, his feelings, all locked. Sealed like the ring on his finger. His guilt made him resigned to lead what his beloved Sky started and, because his stupidity, what the Jyuudaime could never finish.

Under the dim light of the moon, shrouded by clouds, Hayato slide his fingertips over the symbol of the Storm that was imprinted on the cold surface. His eyes straying once again to his ring. A small sigh leaked from his lips. He could still remember that day three years ago as if it had happened yesterday.

The right arm was in a meeting representing his Boss. It was the only meeting about the progress of the annoying Salvestro Famiglia - at the time it was only one, of many small headaches for the large and powerful Vongola. That was when Gokudera felt a chill go through his entire spine making his eyes almost pop in shock. Seconds later his Vongola Gear of the Storm began to shine. Excusing himself, he left the meeting room and went to the bathroom down the hall in order to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

When Gokudera arrived at the bathroom, the Gear exploded into bright flames, completely out of his control. His attempts at suppressing it were ignored as the Shinu Ki no Honoo continued to emanate from his body in great proportions. A new red glare left him temporarily without sight, and then as suddenly as it began, the flames disappeared. Stunned, Hayato realized that his fingers were curled into a fist and tightly pressing something in his right hand. Forcing the fingers open, his eyes met two very familiar objects despite the long time since last seeing them - the Vongola Ring of Storm in its sealed version, the same way it had been when they won the battle against Xanxus; and the Uri ring that the Arcobalenos gave him with his Box weapon on the day they returned from the future after defeating Byakuran.

That same day, at the same time that his Gear disappeared, his Sky also vanished.

Shaking his head to get rid of the vivid and more painful memories, Hayato marched to the bathroom. This date had the power of always dragging him into such depressing memories that if he did not impose any control over himself, it would not only be Ahoushi crying his eyes out throughout the night. The Storm had taken an oath, one that he would risk his life to fulfill - no matter what happens, he will not cave in, he will not succumb to his pain to escape his guilt. He will live and protect the Famiglia as Jyuudaime always did. That is his duty. The even duty that neglected had led them to their current dismal state.

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With green eyes swollen from crying, Lambo observed the big glass of his favorite dessert.

Although his nii-chan was always busy, he always found time to spend with him. There were moments during very late at night the two would assault the fridge of the mansion in search of something to eat, while praying that the Hitman did not discover them and thus fill the kitchen with bullet holes, which would create more paperwork for his Boss and confine him further in his office. The Don also always asked the cook to make candy when the young Thunder was discouraged or when his grades at school were high. It was his way of rewarding him, but to the Bovino the real reward was to know that his older brother figure cared for him, and that he even valued his small victories. And yet he was afraid of the only person who would never hurt him, and he left him alone as well as others. And now they are alone.

The more Lambo thought, the less tasty the dessert in front of him was and bitterer his heart became. He just dragged himself out of his room because even though Gokudera-shi arrived tired from a long trip, he went to the trouble of trying to keep him company. The Thunder was not so dense that he did not notice that Hayato cared about him, despite the hostility and lack of delicacy with which it comes. Actually it somehow comforting a bit, giving him a false sense of the normalcy he had before everything went wrong. That was why the days when the Storm stayed far away were so tiring and also emptier.

Although Reborn was still in the mansion most of the time, and his nii-chan's father also visited the Vongola headquarters with some frequency, both were always busy. Of course, the Arcobaleno still treated him the same way as before, in other words, ignoring his existence for most of the day. But now he also pulled him out of bed in the morning, the same way he used to do for the Tenth when he was his age, not counting training. Both the Arcobaleno and Gokudera-shi train him. Though unlike before, now Lambo did not bother much with the Spartan methods or formulas and equations that were presented to him- actually, the Bovino went through almost everything without complaint, after all, had he been stronger, perhaps none of this would have happened and today his nii-chan would be having dinner with him. Maybe they would all still be a family, strange and noisy, but still his family.

"Ahoushi, stop thinking a little and start eating." - Gokudera's voice dragged the Bovino back to reality - "You have lost weight again, at this rate you will not be able to keep up during training. Reborn-san will shoot and punish you again." - warned the Storm, without taking his eyes off his pasta; the silver haired man was sitting in his usual place for the past six years, although the head of table was now completely empty.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Lambo picked up the spoon and dipped it into the glass before lifting it again to sink the dessert into his mouth. He was right; the taste was not the same as three years ago. Nothing was the same since three years ago.

Like during most dinner meals it was silent, with eventual questions from Hayato about Lambo's performance at school, to which the teenager replied without much effort. Once having finished dinner, the Thunder took his leave and returned to his room with the promise of not to lock himself again - or Gokudera will explode the door and the young Guardian will have to stay with his room exposed for a long time.

With the mansion falling in silence due to the advancing hour, the Storm grabbed a bottle of wine from the cellar and headed to the piano room. He did not want to have passing again so early for the Jyuudaime's room - it was already difficult enough that this date has come again. Or run the risk of bumping into Yamamoto as the swordsman's room was in the same corridor, to the left of the Tenth. Despite his temper fading over the years, today Hayato really was not willing to put up with the presence of others, in fact, he was quite relieved that just the Rain returned to the mansion for now. It would be a pain to have to deal with the others, especially with the emotional state of Lambo.

In the once-warm room, the large black instrument, which for a long time had not been strummed, was covered by a white sheet. Actually this room used to be occupiedonce or twice per month for piano concerts over the first two and a half years when they came to Sicily, though now it was no longer used. Only the employees responsible for cleaning still stepped into these parts.

Gokudera, sinking into one of the reddish tissue armchairs, served himself a cup that he brought along with the bottle and started drinking. He was never a big fan of liquor, but since the Jyuudaime had a legendary tolerance to alcohol, sometimes after a few exhausting meetings, especially those involving bribery or attempted murder, the two sat in this very room and drank one, or even two bottles depending on the situation. They typically indulged on the stronger wine that Pizio always kept in a separate part of the cellar especially for the Tenth. To the amusement of his tutor, the Don had developed a very keen taste for drinks, mainly Italian ones.

Although the Jyuudaime always stayed sober, even if he completely emptied five of these bottles alone, Gokudera began to lose sense after the third or fourth cup. At that time usually his boss dragged him into his bedroom, as he was almost asleep, before returning to his piles of damn paperwork that always waited for him in his office. It was during one of those occasions that Hayato vaguely remembered confessing his first love interest for a girl that now certainly despised him. That day his Sky gave him the look of one who knew the truth - the fruit of the Hyper Intuition of the Vongola bosses. Moreover, the Jyuudaime was not as dense as he used to be in the topic of love during their school days. He had become a man who attracted glances and sighs from women wherever he went. And the only thing that prevented the young Don from confessing to Kyoko was his desire to not involve her in this dark world -nonetheless it was obvious that the youngest Sasagawa would not think twice about dropping everything to be beside the Jyuudaime. Perhaps the same Hyper Intuition led him to not bring her into the mafia, or now she would be as bitter and broken as them all.

Different from Ryohei, Gokudera had told the truth to Haru. It was about seven months after the death of the Sky, when the Storm went to Japan on a mission, that he took courage and spoke. Hayato still remembered the expression of pure despair that replaced the easy smile and the energetic sparkle of the girl, who unwittingly conquered his heart. She lost strength and he had to catch her from falling to the ground. She cried and cried into his chest to the point where his shirt was completely wet with her tears.

After that day they never spoke again. Haru told him to get away, forget she existed. That one day they met. She did not want to get involved with the Mafia or anything related to the underworld. She did not want to suffer anymore. Still Haru promised never to say a word to Kyoko or even Nana because she was not up to be the bearer of such terrible news, and if she had a choice, she would prefer to live in ignorance than discover the truth. It made Hayato understand the reason why Ryohei was silent. At that time the Sun was wiser than he, but keeping this secret was too painful and cruel. But this was still the mafia and there was no limit to the cruelty in the underworld.

"I saw the light on. I figured that meant you're back, Gokudera." - the words spoken in an almost rough tone penetrated the ears of the Storm, plucking him from his reverie, Hayato still did not bother to look at the newcomer.

Standing by the doorway was Yamamoto. The cold stare that was previously only seen in his eyes when the swordsman was focused on enemy attacks during a mission or training, now seemed to have become a permanent part of his expression. It was plastered on his face. And although the carefree, and sometimes inopportune, smiles were annoying, this empty and indifferent look was even worse to bear. Gokudera never imagined that there would be a day when he really wanted to hear the carefree laughter of the Yakyū baka, but now the Storm would not mind feeling a bit of normalcy to break these days so dark and lifeless. Of course, judging by the unfriendly aura constantly emanating from the Rain, the old days were not coming back for them.

"Ah." - was the hollow answer of Hayato, while pouring himself another glass of wine and thinking that maybe he should have taken two bottles instead of one.

"Do you know what the kid wants? He arranged a meeting for three days later with all us. Guess he expects even Hibari will appear. As if that guy really cared about something. In three years he never came here, not even one time." - Takeshi said, with something between contempt and disgust seeping into his voice.

"Unlike us Hibari was the one who was always there, in case you forgot. And no, I do not know what Reborn-san wants. Nor have I been informed of this meeting."

"I thought you were the leader of the Guardians, Hayato."

"Do not use my name, you bastard! Unlike you I was not hiding in a damn underground base drowning in self-pity and training like a lunatic! I was trying to prevent the Famiglia from losing another ally and win over an enemy!" - Gokudera growled, staring daggers at the Rain, who further narrowed his caramel orbs in the Storm's direction.

"Howsoever, leader. But do not forget that it's my lunatic training that guarantees 100% success on Vongola's S rank missions. And you cannot speak about self-pity when you're also drowning in it. All of us are!" - replied Takeshi, raising his voice and taking more one step further into the room, his face was slowly darkening as rage lurked in his look.

"Tch! Only you would call to stack mountains of corpses a 100% success! I wonder what Jyuudaime would say if he knew that!"

"Leave Tsuna out of this! We both know that we have our hands dirty with blood," - Yamamoto's voice became sharp and cold; as cutting as his own Shigure Kintoki, now firmly under his right fist, ready to be grabbed to rip flesh and bone apart.

"Yes! Of course I know! But who out of us has his hands stained the most?" - Hayato growled, rising to his feet, the glass of wine in his hand about to shatter because of the pressure exerted by the Guardian.

"Can't you guys just stop?!"

The squeaky voice coming from a Lambo with wet bright green eyes, and barely able to contain the tears in his throat, silenced the duo. The teen trembled as he stood in the doorway with a water bottle in one hand, the familiar cow-print pajamas had long been replaced by a neutral color - 'everyone must grow' was the excuse when the Bovino threw the clothes at the bottom of a drawer that was never to open again. That was just one of the many cracks in the wall that protected them from the cruel truth.

"I thought you were asleep." - Though still a bit cold, the hostility of seconds before from the Rain's voice had regressed, his face only lightly shaded menacingly as the long time rage got pushed away.

"As if anyone could sleep with you two screaming! I could hear your voices in the kitchen when I came to fetch water!" - replied the young Thunder, turning his gaze from the rigid back of Yamamoto to Hayato, who was still standing in front of his chair staring the floor - "At least... At least on this date... I wanted to have my family together. Even if they are forced. Even if they all hate themselves. Even if it was a lie... I just wanted to..." - The Bovino continued, shaking even more, his voice wavering - "I want nii-chan here!" - He burst out, letting his retained back cries get the better of him; the despairing teen threw the bottle on floor, the liquid slowly soaking the carpet, before running out to the hallway and back to his room, his sobs being heard loudly for much of the way.

A heavy silence involved the two. Gokudera resisted the urge to throw the cup at the nearest wall. Of all of them, Lambo was the most emotionally shaken, he was still a kid after all. If Jyuudaime was here he would have given them an earful on tormenting the brat. Though if he really was here, none of this would be happening. They would not be fighting. Yamamoto would not be ready to impale someone just because they looked at him. He, the turbulent Storm by nature, would not be forcing himself to remain calm. Ahoushi would be the annoying brat that he should be, and not a tearful ball wearing a mask of indifference to hide his aching heart. They would still be a family... But he was not. And they have completely lost who they were - and should be.

"Tsuna... He would kill us if he knew about this." - Yamamoto's voice was the first to break the long silence, all hostility drained, instead, only sorrow was drowning his words and a rueful look shadowed his handsome features.

"I would not mind dying if it brought Jyuudaime back." - Gokudera retorted, letting himself sink into the chair again.

"You're not the only one, Gokudera. Absolutely not."

The Storm looked up in time to see the Rain leave the room, shoulders slumped. It was the same posture and expression that he had three years ago when Yamamoto exploded in the hallway that Hayato was already. He had a wet, messy suit, no tie, disheveled hair and was soaked by rain. The lover of baseball was in the queue for boarding in the airport for a mission in Spain when he received the phone call that destroyed him and their future. He dropped everything, even the bags that had already been shipped and was the second to arrive at the mansion. His frantic gaze soon found the silver haired right-arm sitting on the floor with his backs against the wall facing the door of the ward.

The glimmer of hope in the eyes of Takeshi disappeared the instant his caramel orbs met with green-gray. The knot in his stomach only intensified more as he took in the sight. There was nothing there. It was as if everything that made Gokudera, be Gokudera, had been torn from within his body and only the empty shell had fallen behind. And for the first time Yamamoto sensed real fear. The real feeling that began to run under his skin, freezing his blood. Afraid to turn around and look inside the only white room in the mansion. Fear of losing himself as well as his fellow Guardian sitting on the floor, legs straight with arms hanging at his sides - the Storm seemed barely breathing, his eyes glazed and empty. Takeshi was afraid to see the same thing that tore the once loyal right hand man. But above all, he was afraid to find out what his stupid actions caused.

With a trembling body, fists pressed to the point of fingers losing their color; Yamamoto turned his eyes and allowed himself to take the same view that Gokudera saw. And then his world fell apart too - in his front was the infirmary with an empty bed and linens dyed with red. The blood red.

Just as Hayato, Takeshi felt himself slipping toward the ground, his body seemed leaden and his legs no longer supported him. Fallen on his knees in the hallway, the Rain was still struggling to grasp the simple truth - the Sky really had left them and things would never be like before.

On that day, fate and stupidity made them prisoners destined to live in solitude.

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Reborn looked at the moon settled in the vastness that was the black night sky. Despite his meeting with Nono not being very extensive, it was not as enjoyable as the others the two have had in the long years in which the Hitman and former Don have known each other. In fact, much of the meetings have become strained, especially since they always revolved around the same subject. Soon he would tend to that. But he preferred to wander a bit through the Sicilian night than head back to the stuffy mansion. It was already annoying enough having to contact all accessible Guardians and arrange a meeting - the only exception being the right arm, who by now should have returned to the mansion. He simply did not have the spirit to deal with the idiots again this early.

In addition, the cursed date was coming up once more and added to it was the Ninth's long term precarious health, which had worsened further since last month. Now urgent measures are needed - which led to the decisive meeting of moments ago, something that undoubtedly will generate a lot of headaches.

Though once the man was also retired since that Dame-Tsuna became the Tenth and no longer wanted his mother alone at home, Iemitsu was forced to take control of the Famiglia collectively with Timoteo and the Tenth Generation Guardians. Still, even with his efforts, the things were only getting worse day after day. The problems just pile up like an unstable snowball that has been growing for three problematic years and was very close to burying them permanently. A situation that was always expected but never desired.

The former head of the CEDEF, and current leader of the Vongola, visibly no longer had the strength, love nor commitment to protect and fight for the Famiglia, something that once earned him the title of 'Lion of the Vongola'. Even if his reaction was completely understandable and acceptable - after all it was his son who died by enemy hands - for the countless number of subordinates and allied Famiglias that depended on strong leadership to keep their lives safe and making sense, this meant absolutely nothing.

The truth was that since the death of Tsuna, the underworld had changed abruptly. During the three years that his dame student led the Famiglia, many significant transformations had occurred. The previous constant and bloody disputes had decreased, and the young Don's legendary diplomacy brought countless of valuable alliances. The Famiglias who had not formed an alliance with pleasure signed peace agreements or simply assumed a neutral stance – after all, the young Boss was known, admired, and, above all, respected by everyone. There were few Famiglias who insisted on wielding a banner against the Vongola. Though now, the hostile groups slowly increased as the fall of the Sky was also the hallmark of the decay of the Mafia's largest and most powerful organization. Even then, the worst of all was the break that came from within the family.

Now, three years later, there were few alliances and agreements that are still kept. The ghost of a war involving everyone seemed to acquire increasing shape and strength as it approached. Even small Famiglias, previously not presenting any danger, were uniting against the Vongola, and without a Sky even the greatest power of the underworld may crumble.

But the most irritant of all about this was the fact that even today the Famiglia who really orchestrated everything and took the life of the Tenth, had not yet been revealed. The matter continued haunting them, moving in darkness. Reborn knew that regardless of the frustrated attempts to find the culprits by the Vongola forces, they had not found a single clue. Hibari, himself, also hunted them to every corner of the globe, the damned who took his prey - the only person who the Cloud really got to consensus, who he could accept as an omnivore and his boss. However, no signal was detected from the real culprits. Though Kyoya has the largest network of information within the Vongola, even he was not able to give a face to the person moving the pieces on the board. Whoever was responsible, chose to remain incognito; just watching, waiting for the right moment to attack them, and this time permanently. And so the mystery surrounding the death of the young Don continued. What was he doing at the time? What had his dame-student discovered? What really happened that day? Why was Tsuna there, in that place? The questions just pile in heaps and frustratingly remain unanswered, even after three years.

All of this was kept a secret internally, something known only by the Ninth, Iemitsu, Basil - Current leader of the External Council - Reborn and the Cloud. Even the Guardians were unaware of this. It's just one of the many punishments that the Arcobaleno gladly imposed on those who had the power to at least prevent the Boss's life from being taken. But the idiotic brats chose to remain with their stupid tantrums, and act like naive teenagers, which they were no longer - and never were in the case of Hayato and especially Mukuro - while their boss confronted the full horror that the underworld imposed, struggling to protect them so that his family could live more peacefully, more secure. And just because they were not able to understand, to question the actions taken by their Sky, everyone was now paying the damn price.

With a deep breath, the Arcobaleno swept the problems to the background of his consciousness, just for tonight. After all, things are going to get worse from now, and many preparations required his full attention and nothing could go wrong, or not just the Vongola, but everyone will be ruined.

Lifting his gaze upward, eyes peering from under his fedora hat, Reborn looked at the sky for the last time before he withdrew - the moon was completely covered by dark clouds, and even the stars disappeared, leaving only a black void. In the eyes of the world's greatest Hitman, this same sky seemed to reflect their situation.

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Minna-san, I hope you enjoyed!

Ah, I'm riding a 'album' to illustrate this story, who wants to look:
ht*tp*s:/*/*picas*aweb.*go*ogle*.c*om/*10054*3233*615904714584*/Vongola*Sky?*authuser*=*0&feat*=*direc*tlink [take the * of the link]

I hope for your comments! Your opinions are very important to me!
Ciao, ciao