Reigen sorted through his clothes, putting them into a pile that would eventually go into his suitcase. He tossed in a couple of suits - his nicer ones, though he doubted they'd look all that good went put up against the ones his uncle and friends would be wearing.

Ganache used to absolutely dote on Reigen when he was younger. Ganache's only living family was his younger sister - Reigen's mom - and since the man had never gotten married, Reigen was as close as Ganache would ever get to having a son. Reigen had even spent a couple months at the Vongola Mansion. Of course, that was because somebody was threatening Ganache and they were worried the threat would decide to attack Reigen and his mom.

He wasn't entirely sure how long he was going to be in Italy, so it would be best to plan ahead. He'd made sure to tell Mob to do so too. And Ritsu, who had insisted on coming along as well while glaring at Reigen as he said so. Reigen had just shrugged and said sure, telling him to be ready in time to leave tomorrow morning.

He rooted through his drawers, checking for anything else he needed, and found a small dark brown box that he'd almost forgotten he had. He pulled it out and sat down on his bed with a thump, opening it with a flick of his wrist.

The ring sitting in the deep indigo velvet was just as shiny and perfect as they day he first got it. He carefully pulled it out, turning it around and admiring it like he hadn't done in years. The gem in the center was green, a lightning bolt carved very carefully and deliberately into the middle. The silver band it sat on had, in a curly and dramatic font, the name Vongola written across it. He slipped it onto one of his fingers, feeling the cool metal. He clenched his hand into a loose fist, ring facing him, and let out a breath.

He went through the motions that Ganache had walked him through all those years ago. Keep calm. Focus. Think about what you care about, what you would die for. Kindle the dying will within yourself first, and then push it out to your ring. It was something he'd hadn't done in a while, and it took Reigen a while to get into the right frame of mind. But, when he got there and he opened his eyes to see the sparking green flames resting on top of his ring, it was much bigger than it had been in his memories. He smiled proudly and dropped his concentration, allowing the flame to vanish.

Yeah, he was ready.

oOo

Reigen checked the heads of the kids following behind him as they walked up to the airport. Apparently one of Mob's friends - the esper with the blond hair he remembered from the whole Claw thing - has decided to come along too, saying something about not missing an opportunity to go to Italy. Reigen asked if he had permission from his parents, and Teruki had claimed he didn't need it. Which was fine by Reigen.

"The doors to the airport are this way." Ritsu said when it became obvious they weren't going towards them.

"Did you think I was joking when I said we were taking a private jet?" Reigen asked, walking towards the airfield.

"Yes." Ritsu replied without any hesitation. "It wouldn't be the first lie you've told."

"You hurt me, Ritsu!" Reigen put his hand to his chest in mock hurt. "But no, it really is a private jet. My uncle and his friends are really extra like that, and I'm not going to turn in down. Now c'mon, they're huge on punctuality."

12:00 pm was creeping up on them as they briskly walked to the closest landing spot. There were a couple men in black suits standing around the jet, and they watched the group approach while saying something into their ear pieces that couldn't be heard from the distance between them.

"What kind of client pays for a jet?" Teruki wondered aloud.

"My uncle's boss." Reigen said with a shrug of his shoulders and the. Lifting his hand as they got closer to the black suited men. "Yo, we're here for a lift!"

"We're going to need some proof of your identity." One if them said in heavily accented Japanese.

"Right, of course." Reigen flapped his hand and then pulled out his wallet, letting them examine it. They both passed it between then, scrutinizing it, before finally nodding.

"Arataka Reigen, I am Ernesto and this is Matthias. We will be acting as the pilots and bodyguards for you and you company during the duration of your time with the Ninth. You may leave your bags here, we'll load them for you. Please, climb aboard. We will be departing shortly." The shorter of the two men, Ernesto, said and nodded towards the jet.

"Thanks." Reigen said and climbed onto it and quickly situated himself in one of the seats. The three kids climbed on with a bit more caution, looking around curiously.

"This isn't going to be another Mogami incident, is it?"

Reigen jumped, nearly falling out of his seat, and spun around to glare at Dimple.

"Maybe give a guy some warning before sneaking up on them!" He said, though Dimple didn't seem to care.

"It isn't, right?"

Mob had spoke this time, seeming to have chosen the seat across from Reigen to sit in, leaving Teruki and Ritsu to sit at the other table in the jet.

"No, of course not. And even if it was, I wouldn't make you go through that again." Reigen assured the kid. "I'm sure whatever they want us to do can't be too bad, considering they clearly went out of their way to hire me for it instead of someone who actually lives in Italy."

"What kind of company does your uncle work for that they can afford this?" Ritsu asked, gesturing to the jet.

"He's a high ranking member of the Vongola." Reigen replied. Mob didn't show any recognition, but Ritsu blinked in surprise and Teruki looked absolutely aghast at this news. Before anything could be said on the matter, however, Ernesto and Matthias walked on.

"We'll be departing now. Please remain seated until you have been given permission to move around the cabin. There's food under the tables in front of you." Matthias said and then the two went to the cockpit.

"Did you say Vongola?" Teruki hissed as soon as the two men were gone.

"Isn't that some big investing company?" Ritsu asked.

"Yeah, to both." Reigen leaned back, putting his hands behind his head as the plane began to roll forward down the runway.

"No, it's not." Teruki corrected. "Listen, after Claw tried to kidnap me, I did some digging to try and find out if there were any other organizations I needed to look out for. Reigen, your uncle works for the biggest and most powerful mafia there is."

"What?!" Ritsu shouted, starting to get up.

"We're not supposed to get up until the captain says we can." Mob reminded Ritsu, who angrily sat back down.

"Looks like you got into a mess now. I'll bet he's not even your real uncle." Dimple smirked, hovering above Mob and Reigen's table. Reigen waved off the remarks with his hand.

"No, he's definitely my uncle. I've always known he was in a mafia. At least now I won't have to try and find a way to tell you guys during the flight." Reigen shrugged, unconcerned.

"You mean you've gotten us wrapped up in the mafia and didn't even bother to tell us?!" Ritsu fumed, looking like if it wasn't for Mob he'd be strangling Reigen right now.

"I was planning to tell you during the flight." Reigen repeated. "Relax, it's not like you're going to have to join them or anything. I'm not even a part of the mafia. We're just going to go, live the good life for a few days, exorcise a spirit, and come back here."

"Wait… you said that your uncle was high ranking." Teruki said, wheels so clearly turning in his head, chin held in his hand. "Don't tell me… he wouldn't be one of the guardians, would he?"

"Yup. Ganache III, Lightning Guardian of the Timoteo, the Ninth leader of the Vongola." Reigen rattled off, his hand doing a rolling motion as he spoke. He was a bit impressed; the kid had obviously done his homework. "What else do you know about the Vongola?"

"Nothing else." Teruki said, but Reigen didn't miss how the kid's eyes had caught on to the ring Reigen hadn't taken off. Reigen didn't press him on it, though.

"Well, at any rate it's too late to get off, so you're all in this at least until we land." Reigen reached under the table and pulled out the first thing he saw. "Anybody want oreos?"

oOo

The flight was long, and if there was one good thing that came from it, it was that it gave Ritsu plenty of time to cool off. As soon as they'd settled on their cruising altitude, the kid was out of his chair and seemed moments away from killin Reigen.

There were plenty of things to eat during the trip, as well as a TV that had a large variety of shows, movies, and videogames. There was even a bed in the back that they took vague turns napping in. Even in a jet, owned and built by the Vongola and thus faster than most jets, it took hours to get from Japan to Italy. It reminded Reigen of one of the main reasons he didn't go and see his uncle more often - being in a cramped place like this was already rough, and usually he'd have to take a commercial flight which was leagues worse.

When the jet finally touched down, all four of them were ready to get out and stretch their legs. Dimple, of course, didn't really care and was just here for the ride.

There were more men in black suits when they got out of the jet, and Reigen noticed Teruki and Ritsu stiffening. Reigen looked over the men until his eyes finally caught those of a very familiar and aged face.

"Uncle Ganache!" Reigen shouted, waving for his uncle. Ganache grinned and ran over, nearly knocking the conman over in a hug.

"Look at how tall you've gotten!" Ganache pulled out of the hug and held Reigen out at arms length. "It's been far too long since either of us have visited. You know how busy my job can be - full-time, never a day off." He looked over Reigen's shoulder and his expression shifted to surprise. "I've got to say, when I said you could bring someone, I was thinking more along the lines of a girl or boyfriend. Are… all of them yours?"

"What?! No! Ganache, look at how old they are, I'd have to have been thirteen!" Reigen spluttered, taken aback.

"Adoption is always an option." Ganache shrugged.

"Still no." Reigen looked back at the three kids and waved them over. "Ganache, this is Mob, my disciple, his brother Ritsu, and his friend Teruki."

"Nice to meet you all." Ganache smiled at them. "Now, enough standing around. There'll be plenty of time to talk back at the mansion."