Subject to rate higher, and possible warnings come later.
If someone says that I am basing this story off something, I'll say no because I am not. Not this time.
Pairings are the usual; 2795 and 1869. I almost planned on 8069 but changed my mind. Though I might consider it.
As always, lovely disclaimers: Katekyo Hitman REBORN! and its characters do not belong to me, it belongs to Akira Amano. The idea and setting do though.
Project Veneridae;
"The Sky was the one who held of them together in a warm embrace.
Generally the strongest and due to it's trait of harmony, it is the one that is valued as the highest.
The Sky is the one who holds the bright Sun, the sailing Cloud, letting the Rain fall, creating a further Storm, tagged along with the Lightning, and finally, be shrouded by Mist.
There was no.. incorrect. There was a preferred flame that everyone would want to be born as, the Sky. Sky holds all privilege and is looked as the core to success.
The Sky is everything."
What consistitutes the Sky?
It has said that the Storm is the one that clings the tightest. It stands by the Sky no matter what happens, whether they like the decision or not. They destroy all their opponents to the bare ashes upon contact.
They are the disintegrators, the destroyers.
Decaying with inevitable when dealt with a Storm.
It is as they say, there is no calm once the Storm comes. It is the calm before the storm, not before.. not after.
This is where the Lightning strikes.
The massive shield of power generated by the pressure of the Storm.
Partners in crime..
What are the Storm and Lightning to the Sky?
-x-
Chapter 2: Lightning
Gokudera Hayato.
First and utmost member of the team governed by Sawada Tsunayoshi, under the supervision of Reborn.
A storm guardian.
It was a pure coincidence to Sawada that he had received such a skilled bombsmith to be his first comrade in arms. He was surprised to be honest, he looked like a dumb weakling, how the hell did he attract the attention of the cool and scary silverette?
He wasn't sure where to begin a thing once he found Gokudera as someone he called his companion.
Alright alright.. he knew one thing for sure; sleep. After releasing so much flames that came for the first time in his whole life, he felt exhausted, as if he had a huge mental breakdown and now it was caving down.
Reborn felt like something was accomplished, so he allowed his student to just flop asleep. He let Gokudera in the manor as well as the place was enormous. Gokudera was allowed to have a separate room as well, with clothing and food provided. It was a nice offer for a soldier in arms.
Considering they are not too close as of right now, it was a nice offer. Kind of their leader.
Well.. you do need healthy soldiers in order to fight.
As Sawada was put to sleep in his room by the servants, and Gokudera led to his own, Reborn stayed outside, simply looking at some file.
Seeming to be his schedule that he planned to set out in order to execute his plans. Being meticulous, you would need to have concrete and careful plans, but it is as they say, there is going to be something that backfires.
Something Reborn can never forget, and chooses not to.
he knew there was a catch to executing his plans, but yet, he finds it more than necessarily to conduct them.
And the only help he could get was from the team he was to create. He already planned who the next two he would be contacting, but once again, the question of.. how.
This kid who he was going to call next, was known for being a clan taht weren't too fond of Reborn, or rather just a self-claim by the heir. He wasn't a really high standard as Sawada was, but because of the power of being the ultimate shield, he was on the higher parts of the hierarchy, the one who shields all of the guardians.
The Lightning Guardian.
Unfortunately for Reborn, the only Lightning guardian that could be considered capable of being with a group to be formed with the leader Sawada was a silly one who always prioritized family.
Lambo, of the Bovino family.
The Bovino family itself were a bit of the minority compared to the other Lightning guardian famiglia that one can hear about, but it was a similar case as Gokudera.
They had an arsenal of weapons.
That was one of the only reasons that motivated Reborn into contacting the young Lambo, because he knew the most how to control them despite being a crybaby child as one would claim him to be.
He was only nine years of age, but compared to the past experiences that Reborn had with that boy, he was definitely a bit more, if anything, more controlled than he once was.
Not the best because he was still a lot incapable and needed a lot of training, but the Arcobaleno didn't have the time to deal with travels as no one was allowed to come out of the country and hire foreigners for their work.
It was, after all, a coincidence how Reborn was brought into the country even though he stood out as an outsider. Everyone was too scared to take him out and considered him a good asset to have if they needed him in the long future. The only reason why he was still there.
He couldn't find his other friends that he used to team up with because they were lost within the government, or they had to flee.
Reborn, other than taking his revenge by taking down the government, wanted to have his friends saved from the dangers of the world, and he needed a good team for this.
He mentally smacked his head for choosing such low classed people.
But the only thing that once again motivated him was that they had what others may not; potential.
-o-
The young Bovino was a bit of a coward, but someone who boasted a lot about himself at the same time.
That was the difficult life to live.
He wasn't necessarily a pampered child per say, but he was young. That was the deal with it. The stereotypes always ran that when children are young, they can absorb anything like a sponge and live like that.
He must've watched a lot of things or heard a lot of people talk about their absolute power that he adopted that as part of his language.
Ironically a Lightning Guardian, he's as careless as his self-defense; lacking.
Though he did have a few trump cards that he himself was not aware of even though he used them on a normal basis. His horns of Lightning, and the ten year bazooka.
The ten year bazooka allows him to shift into his self from the ten years ahead of him and switch. That would mean if he was nine right now, his nineteen year old self would take his place and he would go ten years into the future.
The only problem was with this transformation was that it only lasted five minutes. That would mean that if the Bovino child did need to fight with his older self taking his place, it would need to end in about five minutes maximum.
If he used it efficiently as they said he could, it would be very beneficial.
He just needed a push and there he would be.
That was where Reborn stepped in. The family were well aware of him, and knew what he was, and thus a bit intimidated on what he wanted to do related to them, until he said it in the most normal way possible.
"Your son could really help us if you allow us to take him on a mission"
And the father was shocked. Their son? That cute, but sometimes helpless child, helpful to the mighty Reborn?
He cried tears of joy. Not because he wanted to rid of him, but it was an honour if he was able to help someone. To come home with the title of "hero" for saving Reborn, a powerful Arcobaleno.
It was too much to refuse such a good offer, so without the poor boy's consent, they had agreed to the terms and signed whatever deal they needed to.
Only to have the child come right in..
-oo-
"What?" the boy shrieked. He was in state to be out on a war of all things!
Reborn, who was currently talking to Lambo's father, smiled at him then pointed his gun at him "You choose, be quiet or die" which made the kid angered in fear.
"Dad! You can't let Lambo-san join that boy who's younger than me!" he shouted, taking a bomb out of his pocket and accidently took off the lid, he was about to throw it but it exploded on himself.
Lambo screamed as it blasted, covering him in the remnants of gunpowder, which made the small Arcobaleno snicker. It wasn't confirmed on what Reborn's age was as of right now, but Lambo was taller than him by an inch or two.
The boy began to cry, throwing more and more bombs which his father than panicked and ran out of the room, Reborn, still a bit incredulous, did what he had to do with the earlier bomber; sidestep all of them. He dashed effortlessly and appeared behind Lambo, kicking him into the bomb frenzy ahead.
Surprisingly he didn't die, of course.
Not because the author was being cruel and wanting to kill the Bovino, oh no no.
It was showing the hardening skill of Lightning. The reason as to why he surprised was a last minute priority that his body generated, Lightning flames detonated the bombs but it also created a shield around the boy that protected him from any damages save for humourous ones.
The place could've exploded, but because of Lambo's shielding powers, it was guarded and unharmed.
This was the strength of Lightning guardians; to harden and withstand any damages that occur, like a human shield, to protect all those around them.
"Darn you Reborn, I'll kill you right now!" Lambo seemed to have some kind of pocket somewhere, but he managed to pull out the ten year bazooka and throw it on himself, shooting himself into the ten year timeframe.
It wasn't a damaging explosion, but there was dust as the bazooka fired, not showing the one who came out of it until it was blown after.
A rather jagged but tall person appeared.
He had a long brown coat, not very long but it was in the phase of growing. It was a messy looking one but clean, his hair curled down his face as he donned a white shirt and dress pants.
This was Lambo from ten years later. Nineteen year old Lambo.
Reborn wondered what kind of world did he live in that he looked like that. Either a world of tragedy, or just him enlisting in war.
Was it a good world or a bad one.
"my goodness.." he scratched his head "I was just in between a nice lunch" he then looked down at where he was.
"Huh?" he glanced at the small boy in front of him, smiling a bit casually. "Aren't you that Reborn boy from a few years ago..?" he bent lower to him and then smiled.
"Hey it really is! You know who I am right..?" his voice was a lot gruffier than it once was. Reborn simply nodded then punched him on the head with a smile.
"Yeah, and you almost thought of killing me, did you?" his voice replied, dripping with a murderous intent as his eyes glowed if only little
"I could show you a real assassin's power if you want me to.."
Lambo stepped back and then exclaimed "I did? Even though I would never want you to leave us again? That's so much like me" he laughed afterwards. Reborn thought, maybe that hit to the head wasn't enough to knock some sense into him.
"Mr. Reborn, could you do me a request?" Reborn looked at him a bit seriously then "Could you tell my younger self to please join your team?"
The Arcobaleno looked slightly in question, as if he wanted him to continue. He might find out something important about the future they are soon to be living in, if he did nothing or something about it.
"Man, I wished I could join so badly.. You guys thought of overtaking that government, but then the guards had half your team captured. Brother Tsuna was killed, Mr. Gokudera went missing.. that scary guy was exiled, the siblings were captured, the sun set forever, and it would never stop raining.." there was a tear drop falling from his eye when he was mentioning all of it.
"And I just.. had to watch"
if he wasn't crying before, he was definitely crying now. "There was this.. big guy who shot brother Tsuna. Big scary hat folks said something about breaking the rules"
Reborn had to piece it together in order to understand what he was saying "How long ago was this, Lambo?" his voice was hardened. It couldn't have been in a week's time, not a month either. It was not all that easy.
"Hm?" he sniffled before wiping his eyes "Sorry, that was.. so long ago, but I still regret not joining your team"
For the older Lambo, it probably was ten years ago, considering it was the present time for Reborn. How long did this man live in regret?
"Please let my younger self join your team, and erase this time.." his voice seemed to lose volume as he continued speaking. "The man you are looking for is not no..."
Whatever he was about to say, he couldn't continue because as soon as he said the last part about joining, the five minutes passed and he was once again replaced by the present time Lambo.
"Goodness.. Lambo-san's hungry" the little one then said. Reborn chose to ignore him as he continued to think.
Were the people he was assigning these roles really worth it?
"Hey Lambo, you seen the future right?" he pointed at the bazooka that was standing a few feet away.
"Yeah, what of it?"
Reborn clicked his tongue. "What did you see in it?" then it seemed that Lambo understood what he meant
"It was scary.. Lambo-san didn't know what to do but run all day." Reborn's eyes widened slightly. He was right in the exact time and situation that the other Lambo described, wasn't he?
"Lambo, do you understand why we need you now?"
Lambo then looked at him. He really was being recruited as something big and important. It was troublesome, but he needed to save the world!
Just like how his father said, it was an honour to be called the saviour after doing it, why not join him?
"Reborn! Let me join"
Reborn then smiled. That was easier than what the older Lambo said it to be. He seemed to have figured it out himself.
"Welcome to Project Veneridae; Lambo"
-ooo-
The only reason as to why Sawada was awake after falling asleep with the flame explosion was that he slipped out of the bed, comically.
As he fell, he hit his head and he woke up. At least no amnesia with that hit, but he sure woke up "Huh?"
he had to wipe his eyes a bit before registering where he was. "Am I in my.. room?" he remembered that he was outside, training hard, but why was he in his room then?
Then he remembered. Gokudera. Reborn came after a few days of leaving, bringing a Storm guardian to him saying that this will be the first member to join his team. Right.. that's what happened.
After Gokudera was confirmed to being recruited, Sawada then fell asleep out of exhaustion.
Now that he was awake, he needed to ask Reborn about that flame that came out of him as soon as possible. He needed to know how to control it under a battle he would inevitably face, even though he didn't want to fight it.
He needed to see this through.
Wriggling himself out of the blanket, he looked around his room for any sign of the Arcobaleno, unfortunately nothing. Not like Reborn did come to his room often, but sometimes he would think that he might appear in case of an emergency.
He stepped out of his room in search for him. As he searched, he accidently ran into a servant who was carrying clothes for Gokudera. Or so he assumed. He quickly apologized before continuing on his search for Reborn.
He wasn't in trouble, was he? Sawada was worried about him now. That Arcobaleno really told him nothing.
Sawada was not ready to see Reborn in a near death situation, or somewhere away from him because he was more of a family member to him than his father would ever be.
This was why he was totally worried about him, and wasn't able to think straight. He wanted to cry if he didn't see him safe, he wanted to hug him and tell him to never leave his side because he is worried if something happens to the small and what he thinks young, Arcobaleno.
It was unacceptable.
Something he would never allow himself to let happen.
To interrupt his pessimistic mind, he was kicked in the head. He fell a few meters away, and it took him a while to register what happened.
"Ow ow ow.." he rubbed his head before looking up to the suited child. "Reborn! There you are" he lightened up when he saw the small Arcobaleno in the fedora.
He waved back at him "Didn't they say 'watch where you're going?' to you before?" he teased as Sawada stood up.
"Reborn.. where were you? First you were gone for a few days, then brought Gokudera-kun as you came back, now you left again? Stop leaving so much..!" he continued to shout at the little one who turned around saying "Is supper ready yet?"
"Don't ignore meeeeeee.." he then began to whine, Reborn turned to look at him. He was practically sobbing. Reborn sighed. Why does he have to deal with so much teens crying all today.
"Tsuna, what happened?" he asked casually, as he stopped upon being looked at. Sawada then threw his arms around the small kid
"I said don't leave me all the time. Darn it.. I get worried, you're so young, and you do radical things!"
Reborn clicked his tongue and ripped himself off of Sawada. "I'm fine, Tsuna. You're the one to worry about." making the other frown again
"But thanks for worrying about me" he lowered his face, and his hat hid the expression that was held on his face. Then he looked up again, rather comically and asked again "So what's for supper today?"
Sawada shrugged "What it may be, it smells amazing.." Reborn nodded in agreement. "Mama's cooking is always energizing" he said as he began to walk like a child he appeared to be.
This time Sawada didn't stop him, but instead watched him go with a smile on his face. Thank goodness Reborn was unharmed.
Though his train of thought bursted when he saw a kid who looked as small as him come inside, and blankly stared.
"Reborn.. brought him in.."
The kid who was walking in, then saw Sawada and started laughing "You look funny, you could be Lambo-san's lackey!"
Sawada had a comical angry tick on his head. "Lambo.. you called yourself, right?" Lambo nodded at him "I'm your leader."
Although he would never say something like that so boldly, he thought maybe to Lambo, he really should, just because he had a gut feeling this kid really would act like a child.
"Lambo-san doesn't have a leader." he shook his head when Sawada pointed at himself. Of course, upon denying Sawada's command, Lambo was almost bombed again.
By no other than Gokudera.
"Hey you loud brat. If you don't listen to our boss.. you'll die"
Lambo yawned at the threat given by the bold silverette. He was getting too used to people telling that he might die if such and such didn't happen or so and so listen.
Gokudera's anger only rose at the sight of his uncaring behaviour, lunging at him with dynamites with the intent to kill, and Lambo just provoking him..
Sawada panicked and tried to stop the both as this happened. Reborn of course, didn't involve himself as he was 'waiting for Mama's dinner'
-ooo-
So he said "tell me all about it" as he leant over the near dead people.
Panicked, banned, tortured. These people belonged no where. The sky rejected them, and they rejected the sky in return for the cruel and unusual punishment.
One of the newer rejects, the youngest among the group, was forced to be put in harsher conditions because of his possibility of being a threat to society. Even though all of them were.
This one. This young child, in a week's span of time, had already launched a solo attack on all the guards and ones who were keeping them in a place like this.
These were the people he was leaning over. Poking them with the blunt end of a blade, he didn't let them die easily and kindly. Oh no no.. he had something to take his anger out upon.
These were the people who saw it coming. Who deserved death over all things.
Because of this, all the older prisoners of this society bowed to the young boy, looking no lesser than seventeen years of age.
He was dressed as if he was meant to impress someone, but with eyes of a murderer.
This was the new leader of this society. Quiet, mysterious, but charismatic, he stood over the head of the corpses and began to speak, for almost one of the first times prisoners heard him speak.
"This world was tainted from the very beginning you set your foot." looking in awe, the voice of the child strung with such a gentleness, one wouldn't believe he just murdered so many people.
Not to mention the hair that cascaded so long, and clothes that didn't suit his gender, it was almost just a covering, and the frills of dark colour didn't help either.
"If you think that you are the one who is wrong.. you are incorrect. As it is you, who did nothing to be condemned"
"And I am going to be the one who rids of this dirty world, what would any of you say, would you like to accompany me?" he smiled kindly to them, pulling off a tourniquet off himself and removing a prisoner's cloak, who was hiding himself through most of the time.
As a sign of respect shown to the hidden prisoner, he removed the cloak and threw it on himself, but leaving the hood off.
"Does that sound like a plan?"
The cheers of the broken, the cries of the feared. It was almost something happy for a broken part of society.
Where was the sky if they are able to cry in joy without it's presence?
As always, any sort of feedback is greatly appreciated