While Everything Burns You're Still Here
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I couldn't really afford it on a college budget anyway. I'm just another person playing around in the sandbox the created.
It was just one small difference that day. Sometimes Colonello looked back and wondered what would have happened if hadn't heard it, hadn't been drawn to the strange cloud who laughed as the world came crashing down. That was the start of his fascination, and the beginning of the end of his love for Lal.
Skull was the reject of the Arcobaleno. Everyone knew this, everyone accepted this. He was a civilian before he was brought into the mafia by the curse after all. Someone who knew nothing of their bloody world. Someone who didn't know about flames until they were practically shoved in the poor cloud's face. The cloud who barely qualified as a cloud. Weak, loud, cowardly obnoxious, not even having a territory or a temper. Put simply it was just plain weird. Skull de Mort was the very antithesis of everything a proper mafia cloud should be. And yet, and yet. Skull was so much more. Kora.
Meeting the Strongest Seven
-The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed. -Albus Dumbledore
.
You are cordially invited to a gathering of the Strongest Seven in the world as,
The Cloud
.
The young couple stared down at the letter on the table, huddled together on the couch.
That was it. No name, no return address, nothing. It had just been left on her desk at the circus gig. Just an address was printed on the back, the assumed 'meeting' place. If nothing else, Eris was thankful that it hadn't been delivered to a heavily fortified Grimmauld Place.
That would have set her on a paranoid rampage.
Still though, cloud? What in Merlin's name was this guy on about?
She'd checked the letter three times for magical traps, spell, potions, compulsions, exc. Then once more just to be sure. And there was nothing nada, zip, zilch.
And as polite as the damn letter was worded, Eris was certain that is this wasn't a request. It was a demand. Come or else. I know where you are, I can do anything with that information.
Bwahahahah!
Honestly it was such a wanna-be Slytherin ploy. Draco Malfoy would have come up with something like this when he was eleven, only with the 'my father will hear of this!', part.
Now the question was, should she play the game?
A chill ran down her spine. And she knew.
Blaise presses a kiss to the side of her head. "I don't like this." He wouldn't. "This thing reeks of a set up. Why would this Checkerface person be remotely interested in Skull de Mort? It makes no sense. Unless for whatever reason he's aware of who you are."
She nodded. Part of the reason she'd created a civilian identity was to separate 'Skull' from Eris. Traveling under an alias was a lot more freeing than using her actual name. Not to mention she still didn't want to draw too much attention to the fact that 'Eris' was abroad. She'd made a lot of enemies across the world in that damn Tournament.
"Maybe, but in that case why not mention it?" Blaise was the schemer after all. He knew more than she did about these sorts of things. "Wouldn't it make for better blackmail if he just came out and said 'I know who you are, obey me!'?"
"No." Blaise paused for a moment puzzling over the letter. "That would be too heavy handed. You could just disappear back into England. No one important know who 'Skull' really is. And no one would believe that the Woman-Who-Won, was going around cross-dressing as a stunt biker." The Slytherin teased her and rubbed lazy circles on her hand.
"Oh hush you." She pouted. It was a great idea!
Blaise laughed huskily. "Either way, you could just deny everything. But with this . . ." Blaise flashed the letter in front of her eyes. "He has you interested, intrigued. And you my passerotto have never been able to resist a challenge."
"Hey!"
"It's the truth after all!" Blaise chided and Eris growled. Stupid Italians and their stupid charming accents. The Slytherin wrapped an arm around her stomach. "Say it with me passerotto, Non voglio agire sconsideratamente."
The witch huffed. "Non prometto nulla!"
Blaise squeezed her tighter. "That's not it. Non voglio agire sconsideratamente."
"I don't even recognize that last word."
"Scon-si-der-ah-me-te" He purred.
"Show off."
"What can I say passerotto? We Italians have talented tongues."
Eris pushed him slightly away in an exaggerated gesture. "Eww, gross! Keep that too yourself please!"
"So, you're not going then? We've agreed?" Blaise stares at her.
"I'll be careful."
He frowns. "That's not what I want to hear."
"I know." It's not an apology. But it's the best she can manage. Deep down, she wanted to go. She wanted to see what would happen, meet the person who organized this. It wasn't Skull de Mort that was drawn out, but Eris Potter.
The girl who loved challenges and mysteries. She'd spent all of her Hogwarts years chasing around one thing or the other, and she missed it. She longed for it, the mystery, the intrigue, the purpose that having an enemy granted her. And . . . .
"Eris . . . . you are walking into a trap! Get it through your thick Gryffindor skull!" Blaise's tone was low and dangerous.
But in spite of it, she snorted. "I am Skull."
"That's not what I meant and you know it! Have you given this ANY thought at all!? You go there alone, with the other 'seven strongest' and then what? For what purpose? I can imagine a few, and they all end with your death!"
"I'll-"
"You are not invincible!" Blaise roared. "It would be difficult to kill you, but not impossible! Have you ever given any thought to what would happen if you died? What about Teddy? What about me!?"
Ouch. She didn't expect that from him. It was a low blow to bring up Teddy, and they both knew it. Typical Slytherin maneuver. "Do you think I'm stupid?" She began lowly. "Of course I've thought about it! I did die once in case you've conveniently forgotten!"
"And you seem eager enough to run off and get yourself killed, again!" The Slytherin snapped jumping up to pace the room.
" . . . . I don't think I get a choice." She didn't look at her boyfriend. "I get the feeling that I have to go. I-I want to go. I haven't felt this pull since-"
Since she had died. It was there now. Thrumming in her chest. Pushing her forward. He wanted her to go. She could feel it.
She hated it, being compelled. But it was true. And she was curious. This invitation was for Skull de Mort, so she would go.
It was as simple as that.
"Yes?" Blaise asked sharply.
"Never mind." Eris shook her head.
Blaise got down on one knee in front of her. "Eris? Please don't do this!" He begged. "There are too many unknowns here. You aren't safe!"
"I know." She lowered and brushed his forehead. "But that's a risk I've always taken."
" . . . . . Alright. . . . .alright"
.
Eris arrives at the location a week ahead of the meeting.
Thank Merlin for international portkeys.
She sets up a tent half-way across Italy as a precaution. Then she examines the 'meeting place'. No wards, runes, spells or anything magical at all that she can detect. Blaise told her the region was fairly empty.
The 'meeting place' was actually a mansion out in the woods. Eris had no idea who had built or why, but they had certainly picked an isolated spot. She imagined that it must have been hard for any muggles that lived there to get groceries.
Not that she actually saw anyone in there during her first days of surveillance.
She'd setup plenty of proximity wards, so she was certain. Although she didn't dare set up anything in the house, just in case.
By her fourth day of surveillance, she was already thanking Moody for instilling the damn paranoia into her.
"Who's there!?" Came the rough demand as Eris froze in place. "Come on out now!" A low growl with teeth bared.
The witch didn't panic although she dearly wanted too. How could this guy know she was there? She was under her invisibility cloak, a presence concealer, muffilato, and a unnoticeable charm. There should have been no freakin way this guy could have known. She was draped in enough spell work to tap dance on his head without detection.
Supposedly.
Dammit this muggle was trouble.
'Click' Eris watches in mute horror as the man pulls back the hammer on a small handgun.
"I said reveal yourself . . . now." The man threatened and pointed the gun. Right. At. Her. Head.
Where she was invisible, and undetectable!?
What the fuck!?
The standoff lasts for at least an hour. And Eris decides that she doesn't like this guy whoever he is. Dark suit, hair and eyes to match. He was handsome in a dark sense, she supposed. A typical bad-boy appeal. But he was also a killer. A very experienced Trained killer. It was easy to tell.
It was all in the hand movements. Mr. Dark Suit didn't waver once when point the gun at her even though he was about to shoot. And kept it there for a good period. A steady hand, one that had killed before.
Damnit. Was this type of person that was supposed to be at the meeting?
She didn't like this one bit. Didn't like this guy one bit. She put him only several rungs above some of the death munchers she'd dealt with.
Only because those were mostly personnel. Eris got the feeling that this guy could run rings around Tom's lackeys.
Eris kept her eyes on the man as he prowled around the clearing, obviously looking for her.
This was going to be more troublesome than she thought. Now how to approach this?
Hmmm. How should 'Skull' act? How would a normal person react?
What would make them underestimate her?
.
"Hiya Everyone! The Great Skull-Sama has arrived!" Eris bursts through the wooden door, voice pitched to be especially high and annoying. Glamour covered every part of her body. She would appear taller, and have a heavy normal, male, build. She'd even plastered herself with make up, just in case.
She even tacked on a ridiculous accent and cringe, spoke in 3rd person.
A bullet is immediately fired at her head, but she doesn't mind. She'd predicted as much after following around Mr. Dark Suit for the past few days. From a distance of course. That had increased each day. Because she was not stupid or suicidal. By the time he's already pulled the trigger, she's already fake tripped and face planted on the floor.
Ha! They're bound to ignore her now!
" . . . . . . ."
"Oh, my are you alright?" A kind face and bright blue eyes is staring her down, so much for that. "I'm Luche." The woman introduced. She was wearing a white dress with embellishments, and was heavily pregnant.
Woah, she really shouldn't be leaning over like that.
Eris who was Skull, leapt to her knees and grinned broadly. "Of course! As if something like this could keep The Great Skull-Sama down!"
"I'm happy." The woman smiled warmly, but . . . . how to put it? Suspicion? Weariness? "I've baked some cookies. Why don't you take a seat? Everyone else has already arrived."
Of course they had. She'd stalked the place and waited until the other six were already inside before making her grand entrance. And safely confirmed that they were all muggles.
The witch gracefully stood and walked over to one of the open seats. Although she ignored Mr. Dark Suit's glare she did not take the seat next to him. Instead Eris found herself seated between a kind looking man in red (who was extremely pretty, it should be illegal to be that pretty), and another man in what appeared to be a muggle doctor's coat.
"Pathetic." Mr. Dark Suit snorted. Well duh.
"Hmm? And who exactly are you to question The Great Skull-Sama?" The curiosity was driving her insane. The few days she'd tailed, stalked, him she hadn't been able to figure it out.
Eris has no time to react. Suddenly a bullet whizzes past her face. She didn't see it. There was no possible way she could have dodged it. It was simply too fast.
Flailing about in surprise she falls off the chair onto the floor and out or range.
By Circe!
And as thankful as she was that the man had apparently decided NOT to kill her that time. She was also thankful to Blaise who'd gone absolutely nuts with protection charms on her gear.
She would still be upgrading it though.
"I'm Renato Sinclair, the world's greatest hitman. Never forget it." The man threatened darkly, eyes burning beneath the fedora. He turned to Luche. "Why is this . . . thing here?"
Eris peeked over the table. Hitman? Did that mean . . . . Some of them definitely seemed like killers, but others not so much. What was actually going on here?
"Ara, Skull was invited to be a member of the strongest seven and perform jobs for our client the same you were."
"I refuse to be put on the same level as this thing!" Renato snarled in rage. Aww that was so cute. Didn't she feel the love?
Luche smiled placatingly. "Be that as it may, we were all selected for a reason. This includes Skull. He's as much of a member of this team as you are."
"And what exactly do you mean by that? What exactly does this mysterious client want?" Eris's eyes are drawn to an older woman with blue hair. This one looked more like a member of the military than a hitman or an assassin with that uniform.
"Our client has decided to gather the strongest seven in the world for a special mission. However to make sure that you're all comfortable together as a team we'll be working together from now on. Trust isn't built overnight after all." Luche explained.
Various eyes shifted around the room. She was right. None of them trusted each other.
Eris couldn't help but wonder why no one voiced walking out or quitting. She was staying purely because she was curious. But why were the others putting up with this? Also . . .She stared at the heavily pregnant woman.
She was hiding something. That first 'special' mission . . . .
"So you're saying I, have to work with this pathetic buffoon?" Renato leaned back in his chair.
"Buffoon?" She stuttered from underneath the table, careful to keep in character.
"Hmm, form now on you're everyone's lackey. Got it lackey?"
"Hey! You can't jus-"
BANG!
Eris was silenced as another bullet flew over her head. This guy was seriously lucky she followed the Statute.
"Mufu, enough already. Time is money. I'm going to start charging you if you waste anymore of mine with this nonsense." The cloaked and hooded person spoke.
"Ah, the infamous information broker Viper. Rumors are that if paid the right price, you'll sell any sort of information." Renato stated arrogantly.
"Mufu." Eris got the impression that the guy/girl was frowning.
Renato's eyes roamed the room. Looking over each person in term. "Fon of the triads, thought to be one of the best martial artists in the world." Well that didn't sound so bad. But why did Mr. Hitman seem to know these guys? They didn't seem like friends or even personal acquaintances. "Verde, also known as the modern Da Vinci. I've heard that if it's for science you're willing to commit any atrocity."
Eris jerked her head up and stared at the man next to her. Was he really some sort of mad scientist? By Merlin she'd have to be careful around him.
She didn't want to be dissected for her magic.
"And" The hitman purred. "Luche boss of the Giglio Nero family." Family? Like a clan or something? "And the rest . . ." He smiled darkly. "I have no idea."
The military looking woman bristled. "Lal Mirch, special ops Commander and trainer COMSUBIN." Whaaaaat?
What was that? Some sort of military unit? Lal sounded Italian . . . .She would ask Blaise later.
All eyes turned to her. Ah, she was supposed to introduce herself wasn't she? "I am The Great Skull-Sama! The immortal stuntman! He who death itself hates!" Not really, but they didn't need to know that.
"Pfff . . . "
Eris starred. Really? Really?
"Ha! Haahaha!" The hitman could not stop laughing. "A mere civilian stuntman among the strongest seven!"
"Civilian, as opposed to what?" She asked lowly.
"We all have connections to the mafia." Fon the Chinese martial artist gave her a small smile. "Well, all of us excluding you and Ms. Mirch." He looked at her.
"Hrmf. I activated my flames while in the military. It was a bit of a special circumstance, but I was allowed to stay mostly independent while being aware of the mafia.
Eris retook her seat. She debated for a moment before schooling her face into wide-eyed curiosity. "Flames?"
The room went dead quiet.
"Oh, my." Fon covered his mouth in surprise.
Renato suddenly sat up, ramrod straight. "You're tellin me that this pathetic lackey is the team's cloud? I know that clouds are in short supply, but surely your client can do better."
Luche closed her eyes in acceptance. "No. Skull is a member of this team. That decision is final.
What had she gotten herself into this time?
.
In the end, Renato takes great pleasure in bullying her. He was like an older version of 11 year old Dudley, and it grated to have to bow to his whims for the sake of her cover.
The hitman was so arrogant Eris was surprised he hadn't yet imploded.
But it did make pissing him off easy. So she took that as a consolation prize.
"Now Skull there are seven types of Dying Will Flames. Sometimes you might hear someone call them Death penetration flames but they're talking about the same thing." Fon explained.
Fon had been Merlin sent. She was certain of it. The martial artist never outright opposed Renato, but would often try to defuse tense situations. The others really didn't care.
And there were plenty of tense situations.
Renato would repeatedly bully her or attempt to throw her out, only to be stopped by Luche who claimed she was a 'necessary' part of the team. It didn't help at all the hitman's very obvious attempts to woo the woman were getting nowhere. And Renato took that out on 'Skull', it was damn endless cycle.
She'd been outright trying to avoid Luche. She was a nice woman but, in the end. Luche was the only one who seemed to know their client the mysterious Checkerface. Luche was the only one who seemed to know what the purpose of having the 'strongest seven' gather was.
So no. She did not trust the pregnant woman. Not one little bit. No matter how good her cookies were.
The one private conversation they'd had together had just been bizarre.
"First there is Sun. Sun flames are yellow in color and have the trait of activation. They're primarily used for healing."
"Hmm, sounds nice." No, these flames were starting to sound far too much like magic for her to be comfortable with.
Fon added. "Renato is a sun."
Eris stopped dead. "Him? Mr. Trigger Happy Hitman? A healer?"
"Well-"
"Dear Merlin I feel bad for his patients." Fon nodded in agreement.
"Mist flames are indigo in color, and are associated with illusions and trickery. Viper is our mist."
"Yeah that fits." She muttered. Viper took waaaayy too much pleasure in creating horrific illusions and watching people's reactions.
"Lightning flames are green and have a hardening property."
"Verde?
"Verde" He agreed. "I personally posses red storm flames which have the property of disintegration."
The witch raised an eyebrow. "You're already a scarily good martial artist, did you really need to add something like that on top?"
"It is something I cannot help." He smiled serenely, the perfect picture of calm. "Luche possesses an orange sky flame, those flames are special and harmonize with other elements. People who posses sky flames are natural leaders. Lal Mirch is a rain, possessing the tranquil property."
"Lal? Lal Mirch? Tranquil!?" Eris exclaimed incuriously. "The same woman who'd bitch slapped both me and Verde for not meeting her ridiculous standards!? That Lal Mirch? Tranquil?
" . . . .Yes"
"Are you sure these flames are related to personalities?" Also, Luche's flame worried her. She would ask about it as soon as he was done explaining.
"Of course, although." Fon coughed politely into his fist. "You are this team's cloud. Purple colored flames with the special trait of propagation." Fon's serene mask broke and he looked slightly uncomfortable. "Clouds are . . .aloof, anti-social, prideful, and usually set in their own ways."
"Oh. . . ." She muttered. Yeah, that stuff didn't really apply to her much regularly let alone when she was acting as 'Skull'. Great. She was weird again.
She pointedly ignored the voice in the back of her head whispering 'freak'.
"So er, you mentioned harmonization?" She changed the subject. No she would not dwell on it.
Fon looked decidedly happier. "Well, Sky flames are prized above all others. Skies naturally draw in other elements and form flame bonds between them."
The witch froze. "Bonds?" Dear, Merlin please let her be wrong.
"Sky always seek to create harmony and balance between elements. A flame bond binds another flame user and a sky together."
"What?" She muted in horror. "So the other element . . .is subservient to the sky?" Dammit if that didn't sound suspiciously similar to what Voldemort had done back in the day.
"Of course." Fon continued. "Sky charisma is a natural side effect of these flames. As flame users we too seek a sky to have a home in."
Skies drew in other elements? Naturally? Like they didn't even have free will? And they were supposed to be happy to be bound to someone?
Dear Merlin, Luche was dangerous.
.
"Everyone. I'm so sorry." Luche whispered.
Alarms started going off in Eris's head. She reached for her magic to perform an emergency disapparation, because at this point screw the Statue, only to find herself glued in place.
"Luche . . ." Renato muttered in horror.
Then there she was blinded by light.
"LAL!"
And pain. Oh the pain.
Eris soundlessly shrieked to the sky, clenching and unclenching her muscles. It was worse than the cruciatus. Her bones were melting. She could feel every bit of her body twisting in on itself. But worst of all . . . .
Her magic.
It was screaming, shrieking, pleading, ripping, shredding.
Something gives way and tears off.
And then she felt something attach itself to her like a leech.
All her strength and magic falters, and she collapses on the mountain top.
"Luche, why?"
"Skull? Are you alright Skull?" Fon shakes her gently.
The witch's eyes snap open to a great blue and red blur. "Fon?" She asks.
She can't see, but the storm nods. Gently he grasps her torso and moves her to a sitting position. Eris stares down. Her hands.
Her hands!?
They were chubby, tiny baby hands.
"I-I . . " She stuttered out and touches her cheeks. Moving her hands up quickly she rubs her eyes trying to focus. Fon is standing in front of her. Only . . .
It was Fon. But at the same time it wasn't.
H-he he was a toddler. Complete with a red binky. And Eris didn't need a mirror to see that she was the same. The storm nods and moves closer to Luche.
Eris looks around. They were all babies.
It takes all of her strength, but she manages to stand. She feels the thing around her neck. Whatever it is she can feel it, draining her flames and her magic. It's like someone is pressing down on her chest, and its so tight she can barely breathe.
What in Merlin's name had Luche (because SHE was the leader here) done to them!?
It was . . .Some kind of curse?
Shit. She needed to get back to England. Maybe the Black Library would have something.
"Everyone. . . I understand this is a big change." Luche rubbed her stomach.
How exactly was the woman going to give birth now anyway!?
And woah, that was Kingsley/Wizigmont level of fuck up. Actually hadn't they pulled the exact same excuse all those years ago?
No? Close enough.
Eris stared at the woman in amazement.
"This is something beyond us, all of us!"
The greater fucking good and all that bs.
It had happened. AGAIN.
Eris watched the others scream in betrayal at Luche and turned towards the blue sky. But honestly what had they expected?
They had all known going into this operation that things were fishy. And Luche was a mafia boss, you didn't hold that position by being naïve and kind.
Not to mention Luche power of 'knowing' things freaked her out. It was waaaaay to close to being like that old bat Trealway.
Not to mention the biggest red flag, as in Eris had seen it he second Fon had actually sat her down and explained what the hell flames were .. . . Luche was Sky, but
She had NO guardians.
And really what did that say about her?
Early to mid-thirties, and not a single guardian to her name. No attachments, and yet she'd reached out almost instantly to them.
Eris'd been right about those damn sky flames.
Honestly it was pathetic the way some of the others had latched on to her and trailed around like ducklings after her.
Even Reborn, the shifty, non-trusting, bastard hitman had seemingly been charmed by the 'kind' woman.
All it had taken was some expresso.
Pathetic.
Well, Dumbledore had been 'kind' too. He'd pulled that 'for the greater good' crap. And to an extent, Eris did believe in it. But would she sacrifice any of her loved ones to save the world?
Never.
She would burn everything away before her family ever came to any harm.
It hadn't been there at first. But after Fon had helped her become more conscious about her flames, Luche had felt well. . .Slimy.
The woman had always been extending her sky flames in the mansion. Eris had hated the feeling of them brushing up against her. Despite what Fon had told her about harmonizing, it felt wrong. Waaaaay wrong.
Like being lured into a false sense of security. It faintly reminded her of the days she'd practiced throwing off the imperious curse.
Give in. Let me handle thing. Give in. Relax. Peace. Relinquish control. Give in. Peace.
She laughed openly. It was all horribly ironic.
"Hey!" Someone called out. How odd. She didn't recognize the voice.
"Are you okay, kora?" she turned and there was another, man? Baby? There.
Wrapped in a raggedy brown cloak, with bright blonde hair going everywhere. If they were babies was it appropriate to say that he looked like he possessed 'I just had great sex' hair? Icy blue eyes pierced her. They weren't quite the color of silver that both Sirius and Malfoy had as part of the black family, but they were striking in their own way.
She cast a glance around towards her teammates. "Well, I could be better. But I think that goes for all of us."
Understatement of the century.
Their attention was abruptly drawn away when the other newly made Arcobaleno began to shout at Luche for betraying their bond.
The blond baby formed in puzzlement. "Why aren't you upset and acting like the others? She was your sky too, right?"
"She was . . . " Eris looked away, knowing how highly the mafia prized skies. "Not my sky." Not that she ever wanted a sky anyway. They sounded creepy. The witch sighed. "I go by Skull. Skull de Mort. Ever heard of me?"
"Colonello, Lal's student kora." The new rain Arcobaleno extended his hand. "And nope."
Eris reached out and shook his hand. She liked this guy already. Reminded her of the Weasley twins when they were more serious.
"Lackey!" Mr. Dark Suit, stalked over.
Eris withdrew and shrunk into herself, as she had taken to doing. Better Renato saw her as a non-threat than actually focus to much on her. Especially right now. Her cover wasn't exactly the best, after all.
"Hieee!" Wow, her high voice had gone up at least several notches.
"Were you just smiling now lackey!?" The sun's rage was apocalyptic. The hitman awkwardly aimed a small caliber pistol at her. It was nothing new really. So she flailed about and screamed a bit. What a regular person would do.
Actually a regular person would have run for the hills after the first meeting. A civilian as cowardly as 'Skull' definitely should have at least attempted to escape. Did they realize that? Nah. She didn't think they did.
Frankly Eris was amazed that he'd had a spare gun that small. Personally she could feel her wand strapped to her back like a staff.
"Of course not Renato-senpai!" Using 'senpai' to complement her 'Samas' had been the best idea ever. No matter what Blaise said.
"Renato . . ." Colonello muttered. "Renato Sinclair!? As in one of the mafia's best hitmen?"
Renato growled at the newcomer like the massive pile of dragon dung he was. "Not one of the best, the best hitman in the world. And don't you ever forget it."
Because Merlin forbid he was anything but 'the best'!
Must not hang impertinent hitmen up by their ankles . . . .actually with the way her magic was acting right now Eris didn't think she could manage it. Probably for the best.
"That's a bit high and mighty, isn't it kora?"
.
Eris sat perched behind a bolder, undetectable as far as she knew. Although with guys around like Renato one could never really tell. Most of the others had already left after the whole 'Arcobaleno' explanation. Needing time and space to make their 'peace' as it were. And get away, far, far away from Luche. As for her?
Hell, no.
She was gunna try to track this Checkerface bastard. Plus she wanted to get a good scan of the area where they'd been cursed.
Even if her magic was acting wonky right now. She just needed the others to leave. The last thing she needed right now was the Italian ministry showing up.
. . . . . .hadn't she killed one of their duelists?
Dammit. Yeah she definitely could not risk anything here.
"Why did you do that you idiot!?" Lal exploded and Eris winced. She really shouldn't be eavesdropping but she really had no choice. She had to start her investigation now, or she was likely going to collapse. Or never make it off this infernal mountain.
"Because I could." Colonello stared directly at his teacher. "You're not getting cursed while I'm around." Oh, so they had that kind of relationship? Eris had to hand it to Colonello, Lal had seemed like the type far to invested in her work to ever take a relationship seriously. She must have really fallen for the blonde.
"Wha-"
"Protect your comrades . . . . You taught me that, remember?" The rain Arcobaleno grinned.
Lal for a moment was speechless, but she looked at her student with worry. "What do you plan to do now?" Now that you're like that. Now that we can't go back to COMSUBIN.
"Hmm. Mah, for now I'll just keep living one day at a time." Eris watched as Colonello reached out and gently cupped Lal's face. "Will you come with me?
"W-who'd want to do anything with you!?" Lal blushed and crossed her arms in denial. Eris frowned at the woman.
"Hehe, I'm just kidding." The man er, baby laughed off the very serious request. "We probably won't see each other again for awhile, kora. Take care of yourself, ya'hear? Oh, quit being a tomboy and cure yourself of that curse, kora." Colonello walked away as Lal stared after him.
Eris's green eyes widened. Tears . . . .?
He was crying?
Colonello put one foot after the other walking away from Lal with his head held up high.
The witch felt awful. This really wasn't something she should have seen, It should have just been the two of them.
She was faintly reminded of herself when she'd walked off to certain death for her friends. That was essentially what Colonello was doing here, only Lal was to embarrassed to even THANK him.
Pure fury towards Lal rose. Colonello was only looking out for her. He was probably her boyfriend! At the very LEAST they had a close personal relationship! And after just being cursed on her behalf, all the guy asks is 'please come with me'. And she refuses!?
Out of some misplaced sense of embarrassment!?
Woah. Eris might have been impressed if she wasn't so damn pissed.
Lal had just lost whatever respect Eris had for the military woman. Because that was a dick move.
So what if she was embarrassed!? They all, more specifically COLONELLO had just been cursed, and she throws out the one solid relationship that she could have kept, a person who obviously cared very deeply for her, for some sort of sense of pride.
Didn't Lal care about the other man at all!?
He'd just taken the Arcobaleno curse for her, and all she could say was 'I'm not going with you'!? Have fun dealing with that curse on your own!?
All because she was embarrassed!?
Fuck Lal.
She'd just jumped miles over Renato in Eris's list of least favorite people.
Don't abandon your comrades.
It was a good sentiment. One Eris would happily stand behind.
And for the woman who taught her student that principle, to pull a move like this?
Seriously, Fuck Lal.
But for now, she had someone else to catch. She would hex the woman later.
.
Passerotto-Little Sparrow
Non voglio agire sconsideratamente-I won't act recklessly
Non prometto nulla-I promise nothing
Fan fic net is pissing me off right now. It won't let me up upload new docs. I've gone around by replacing an old file, but it also screwed over all the font I had done.
Question: Does anyone have any good invasion ideas or suggestions? I'll try to work whatever I can in.
Lal pisses me off. When I was writing the ending the whole rant just sort of sprung up on me. Yes, Lal is a Tsundere but Colonello should have been more important to her than that. Canon Lal says that she 'regrets' not going with him in that moment. Well, Why the hell didn't she track him down later!? Pride!? So yeah Eris, is not pleased with Lal. I've had some people ask when the others find out she's a girl and the answer varies. Lal and Reborn? Long, loooong time. The others? Not so much, but remember I'm going to be jumping from year to year. I've got 30 years to play with before cannon starts. Sorry If my translations are off a bit. Again, I'm just going by what our overlord google translate dictates. It'll probably be worse next chapter.
People have also been confused as to why Eris would stay in England after everything. Firstly, its her home. All of her friends and family live there and she herself has some ties to the country rather than the wizarding government. Two, like she said Eris has come to expect everything going wrong and at this point sort of rolls with it. She stayed partially to reassure her friends that she was alright after such a traumatic event (even though she wasn't). Because really if you'd just been part of a death tournament do you think your friends would be okay with you running off and doing who know what? Of course they wouldn't. She's also been conditioned that Britain is her responsibility, She's the one who has to do something. Three, I'll elaborate more on this but one of the main purpose of the Dueling tournament was to give Eris enemies. Which she has now, pretty much everyone to the point where Eris can't leave 'magical England' and travel around. The muggle world as she learns is a completely different story. I hope this clears things up a bit.
Also to make things easier, Eris/Skull will now have green eyes instead of purple. I've fixed chapter 1 to reflect this. And yes, Eris is very much a firm believer in 'those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum', even though she's never seen Naruto.
Luche is a bitch. Rose the Wary Wolf and I have had many conversations on this and we are in agreement.
Thank you to everyone who read, favorited, followed, and reviewed!