I'm back! I'm sorry I was so distracted by the World Cup recently, and had been writing short fanfics on it in my tumblr. If you want, you can see it yourself, if you are a Hetalian~!

So, going back, no, the timeframe will not get shorter. My new class schedule has been draining me since June, and I am seriously getting tired and spent with each passing day. I only have Sundays as my break. It is so unfair, and the conditions are worsening since my preliminary exams are in a few hours. I really have to study, but my head is not in it!

And now, let's return to the story. I'm not sure if this is up to my standards in writing, and seriously, I accidentally lost my muse at this, and I am still trying to get it back. But I promise I will update when I can, and when I have time.

Enjoy~!

Chapter 4 Private

Tsuna strolled down the hallway, head down and deep in thought. For the past two years that she has been in the espionage world, problem after problem arose, but none was too hard for her to handle. But right now, why is the Vongola giving her a hard time? Trouble like this had not made her this distraught before.

She somehow found her way to the South Wing rooftop where the garden was situated. It always gave her the peace she needed, and it was something that she loved more than anything. It had always been her own place where she could think clearly.

Cutting off Natsuki's new guardians and erasing their inner knowledge about Sentinella was her duty rather than her own choice. They had no more part in Sentinella other than being on-call informants, and she preferred it that way. It's not that she didn't want them to be with her anymore, they are still her friends, but the fact that Sentinella is detached from the mafia families, she had to do it according to their rules. Those who accept being in a mafia family will be demoted to Confidante rank, and will never be re-assigned to their previous post unless they leave the family. It was a rule that was followed for centuries, and all of them understood it. It had to be done one way or another. If she didn't, she will get an earful from her predecessor and Bermuda. It was inevitable anyways.

The door behind her clicked open, "You know, there are gentler ways of breaking the news to them," Giotto said in a lecturing voice.

Tsuna smiled sadly, "If I did, they would never understand the extent of what I really meant. And it was high time that I let them out of the circle anyway, after what I did during the Varia problem. Remember that we still have to follow our own rules," she replied.

"Stingy as usual…" Giotto mumbled.

Tsuna turned and smiled, "And I prefer it that way,"

"You should stop acting strong you know. There are people you can rely on when needed," Giotto reminded her.

Tsuna nodded. "Yes, one of them is now forbidden to know what troubles me specifically, my predecessor is away on a world escapade, my best spy is now in hiding from his own family, six are unconscious and one is right here in front of me," she answered. "Not a very good track record," she grumbled.

"They'll turn up soon, Tsuna, just wait,"

"I can't just wait, Giotto-nii. I have to at least do something to ease my head in all of this…" Tsuna reasoned.

Giotto had never seen Tsuna that troubled before, and it was making him worry a lot more. It has been like that the moment she found out that only he survived the unconscious epidemic that spread out of her top agents. Though he still didn't understand why he was the only one of the seven spared, he was scared to find out why, no matter how godsend his not being affected by the so-called epidemic may be. The only ones who may have the answer to these phenomenon are their parents, but as far as he was concerned, they were currently at the Middle East and Anna was somewhere in Germany sightseeing.

Tsuna then looked at her cousin remembering something, "Oh, and Spanner informed me that your parents are coming home soon,"

The blond's eyes widened at the information, "How soon?"

"Two days. They called base yesterday," Tsuna replied casually.

"Of all the days," Giotto said with a groan.

Tsuna laughed the first time that day, "But they do help a lot. It has been what? Six months since their Middle East mission? I doubt they don't miss their children right about now," she said as she looked at the front garden of the school, where the gardening club and Eco Society were doing their daily duties. "And I can only imagine their reactions once they find out that their sons are unconscious…" she said with a frown. "Even as we speak, I'm maintaining the real illusions of the others with Mukuro, Fran and Eliza-san until further notice,"

"What? But your reserves just returned to normal! Do you want a repeat of last month?" Giotto asked with a frantic voice. It was bad enough that she almost gave them a heart attack because of her desire to get the succession problem out of the way, but for it to have a chance of a repeat? He's still sore from Kyouya's hits, not to mention that she would get an earful from the Nineteenth Regina just like a few days after she confronted Natsuki at their base.

"I don't want to burden the others all the time with illusions. I have to at least lend a hand. My Mist flames are not to be trifled with either, and you know that," Tsuna replied. "And besides, we have more pressing matters ahead…" she muttered.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the baby hitman release an eagle in the air. As she looked at it, her intuition started acting up, and in a moment, she took out her dagger that she hid by her hip and threw it to the eagle. Giotto was about to reprimand her when the letter on the eagle's strap came lose, and ultimately fell straight to the rooftop. Tsuna caught it just in time and unrolled the parchment that was on the strap. As Giotto observed her face, he began to be scared when Tsuna scowled at the innocent-looking letter.

"That good-for-nothing meddler…" she growled. "I told him very clearly that Sentinella's secrets are not for their eyes, but does he listen to my warnings? No."

At that, Giotto asked her to let him read the letter. She agreed with a scowl still on her face. When he read the letter, however, he began to understand her reaction.

Vongola Nono,

Since discovering the identity of the current Regina della Sentinella as Sawada Tsunarumi, it has come to my attention that one day, we will have to confront her about involving herself in the mafia affairs, even if she is not directly involved with the Vongola. The girl hides many secrets than we can all imagine, and from my innocent questionings, she seemed to have a vast knowledge concerning the Tri-Ni-Sette.

As you know, all of us Arcobaleno have been trying hard to locate the secrets behind our own curses, and I believe it may be the time to investigate further into the curse that we had borne with for decades now. I request to borrow Moretti for this spying assignment, as I cannot risk being found out by Tsunarumi researching things about the organization that she leads. I have already sent someone to investigate her predecessor, the Nineteenth, Anna the Beheader. I believe you might know her from your past experience, and if not, maybe you may have knowledge about Rayina the Fox, the Eighteenth.

I know that it is prying into matters that a normal mafia famiglia is supposed to be kept in the dark with, but with us who are more than involved with the Tri-Ni-Sette that Tsunarumi had claimed to be guarding, we have a guess that she knows more than she lets on. There is something that is happening to Sentinella as of late, and I am currently investigating it, starting with her main agents, who are studying in two different schools.

I will contact you for further information soon.

Reborn

Giotto pinched the bridge of his nose when he was done reading it. Why of all people, is the Arcobaleno of the Sun meddling into their affairs? "Is his desire to be free of his curse driving him to become a prying brat?" Giotto asked out loud.

"That meddling toddler…" Tsuna growled. "I will not have any of it. The secret of Sentinella stays within our circle. I have made that clear the moment I told them the origin of our involvement in their Succession conflict. No more Little Miss Nice Tsunarumi. If they want me to bear my fangs, then so be it," She said as she grabbed the letter from Giotto before storming inside the school while slamming the door loudly.

The blond man sighed. If the baby does not get it in his thick skull that she will not tolerate any prying, then the Arcobaleno might have to live with losing their Sun Arcobaleno. Though he wished it will not come to that at all.

Natsuki thought he was hallucinating the moment he found Gokudera and the others a little down in the dumps by the time they got out of the council room. He reckons that something went wrong, or something happened concerning his sister. It was the only reason for them to be down in the dumps all of a sudden when just this morning, Gokudera wanted to murder Yamamoto for his daily idiocy. He wondered what had transpired in the Council Room for them to be that upset.

Right now he has been confused with his guardians. One moment they were their cheery selves, and then after their encounter with Tsuna, they became gloomy. But at the back of his mind, he knew the reason. Learning from Reborn, he had told him that once an agent of the inner circle of Sentinella joins a mafia famiglia, they are demoted as mere assets and informers, losing direct contact to the Regina herself and the agents in the inner circle, and if they are close outside, they are to remain as such without being informed of the inner workings.

At that moment, he understood that it must be hard on them. Being with Tsuna and involved with the inner workings of Sentinella, being cut off was some sort of a shock, but Reborn assured him that he should give them some space for a while to recover from their initial shocks.

Taking that advice, he acted normally towards his guardians. He just didn't know how long that would last.

"You know, you can stop sulking now," he said one day to Yamamoto.

The taller boy's head shot up as he looked at Natsuki. "What?"

"You've been staring at your ramen for five minutes now. It's gone cold," he stated.

"Ah…" Yamamoto replied blankly.

Natsuki was at the edge of his patience, "Alright, what's wrong with all of you?" he demanded. The two looked away with shameful faces. Would they tell? But Natsuki beat them to it, "Look, I know that something happened between you guys and Nee-san, so I won't pry too much about it. But I don't want to see you guys all that gloomy. It makes me feel like…you guys don't really want me…" he trailed off.

It was then when the two suddenly looked at Natsuki with disbelief and guilt marring their faces. "I-It's not like that Tenth!" Gokudera immediately countered.

"Natsuki, it's not like that at all! We're just…uh…trying to get over things…" Yamamoto said.

Natsuki gently raised his brow, "And that is?"

"We've been demoted," Mukuro said as he sat down beside Natsuki with his own tray of food. "Well, at least that's putting it in a positive light,"

It was then when it all kicked in. Learning from Reborn, he knew the policies of Sentinella after the whole ordeal. Reborn told him that once a member of Sentinella accepts the offer of becoming a member of a famiglia, and they are in the higher echelon of the organization, then they will be stripped from the title and become a Confidante. It was a rank that completely cuts them off from ever being let in the inner workings of Sentinella unless something calls for it to be broken.

"That fast?" Natsuki wondered.

Mukuro smiled sadly, "It's not fast. She actually acted slowly about the aftereffects of our demotion. But considering that she has been on lockdown for a month, that was understandable," he stated. Even though we gave up our seals to her while she was asleep after your final trial,"

Natsuki was then reminded how his own sister got him whipped during the fight without batting an eyelash. Shaking his head to get rid of the memory, he looked at his other guardians in understanding. "I see…" he mumbled. "So you guys no longer have any inside connections to their private matters?"

"Correct," Mukuro replied.

Natsuki didn't know what came over him, but the words came out. "I'm sorry,"

As soon as he said that, he got curious looks from his guardians. "What are you saying Vongola?" Mukuro wondered. "It's not your fault we got demoted," he stated.

"We chose our fates ourselves, and let's face it, you're the man to follow when it comes to these things," Yamamoto stated. "So don't you for a second feel guilty about our demotion. We chose it ourselves," he assured.

Mukuro sighed, deeming the demotion topic now irrelevant, "What we are most worried about are our brothers, or in Yamamoto's case, his uncle." He said. "They have been unconscious since yesterday, and we are all getting worried sick,"

At that, Natsuki immediately jerked up, "What? You mean Giotto-nii as well?"

"Nope I'm perfectly conscious," at his voice, Natsuki stared behind him to see Giotto smiling. "Well, I really can't say the same for everyone. Mukuro, Fran and Eliza-san are doing all they can to maintain the Real Illusions, and Tsuna is helping out as well,"

Suddenly, Natsuki's 'Nee-san is Doing Something Reckless' sensors started tingling. "But she just got out from her confinement recently! Why is she straining herself?" he asked in a frantic voice.

Sighing, Giotto sat down beside him. "Well, I can't read her mind, but she has to do what she has to do. No one can overrule her position-wise, and authority-wise besides the Veterans,"

"Veterans?"

Giotto nodded. "So, just leave the things to us before someone gets hurt from being nosy, hmm?" Natsuki could feel the threat that he had insinuated after he pried about the veterans. Since he valued his life too much, he decided to just give a nod in reply. Not long after, Giotto excused himself and the rest of them got up and went to class.

Reborn, being a hitman for many years now, was now aware of the strange things that are happening around him. After all, he was an Arcobaleno, and that is saying something. But the fact that all of Tsuna's agents suddenly falling into a coma for no reason was a sign that something was up with them. No one normal would lose consciousness that sudden, and even though it was against his morals to pry on someone that is none of his concern, he feels like breaking his own rules. Tsuna was an enigma that brought about the change in his student in a positive way. But this time, he was willing to pry in everything he can get his hands on that had something to do with Sentinella in general.

Their existence had been all the while, silent, just like Vindice. The common knowledge was that Sentinella was simply under Vindice, and would only answer to them, but that was that. Now that the older twin of the idiot Iemitsu was the leader, and with what very general information she gave weeks ago, he knew that whatever Sentinella is for, it has something to do with the balance of the Tri-Ni-Sette. It always revolved around that system. It was not anything new, that's for sure.

"You know, prying into my affairs is something I do not appreciate, Arcobaleno," he was taken out of his reverie when he noticed that Tsuna was at the base of the tree that he was sitting at, while observing Natsuki fall asleep in his class. He made a mental note to hit him on the head later. Just because his grades were average, does not mean he should doze off like that.

Looking down, he observed the girl below him. "What do you mean?" he asked, acting innocent. Though he noticed the displeased face that the Regina was making.

"I meant this," she said as she took out a small note. Reborn was surprised that she had it, but hid it in case she noticed any shift in his features that shows that he was aware of what she was saying. "I caught a little bird a few hours ago while I was at the rooftop. For some reason, this letter tells something about…well, researching and sending a proper spy to observe all the movements of your known Sentinella agents." She said in a calm but eerie voice.

"A hitman has to do research for his own benefits. You know that yourself, Tsuna," Reborn replied coolly.

He didn't count on a bullet grazing the branch he was on. He looked at Tsuna with a hidden glare as she stood there, her gun held out. "An information that is forbidden to every Mafia Famiglia." Tsuna bit back as the letter on her other hand was engulfed in sky flames, incinerating it in three seconds.

"And what if I tell you that as an Arcobaleno, I have the right to know when it concerns the Tri-Ni-Sette?" Reborn asked.

A smug smirk went across her face. "And what kind of information are you looking for? A way for you to get rid of your personal curse?" when Tsuna sensed Reborn waver for a split second, she knew that she had hit the target. "I do not appreciate you prying into any affairs that Sentinella may have. I did not want to resort to another bothering method, but the Vongola Family's prying in Sentinella affairs cannot go on, lest I destroy them." Reborn's look sharpened at her threat. "And you, Arcobaleno, also have to learn your place. Sentinella is here to make sure that the Tri-Ni-Sette is not compromised. Even to the eight babies—no, make that seven babies plus one adult,"

Reborn twitched. How did she know that Luce was not the Sky Arcobaleno anymore? He knew that Luce's daughter, Aria, had replaced her years ago, while she was a teenager, but this…for Tsuna to know, she must have the same authority as that man.

"Fortunately for me, I already acted on it." That got his attention back. "As of today, the memories of Natsuki's guardians about Sentinella's secrets are erased. So do not bother to find out anything about us anymore than necessary, Arcobaleno." She said with a threatening glare. "If you so much step out of line, you will end up dead, just like the others who even dared venture into the unknown paths of Sentinella." She said as she left the Arcobaleno to his thoughts.

It made Reborn shiver at the intense glare of the girl that he knew to be the kind sister of the future Vongola Decimo. But the girl that he had come in contact was not Sawada Tsunarumi. The girl who had spoken to him was the Ventesima Regina della Sentinella. The Dark Sky General. "A dark sky indeed…" Reborn muttered to himself.

Sentinella German Base, Berlin, Germany

Anna Amati sat in the base office, reading the recent reports on her subordinates' mission in the Middle East. While they are now Veterans, they still do small jobs for their successors in their sweet time. It had been two years since the command was given to Tsuna, but they still felt like they were still in the prime of their lives to just sit down and retire like sixty year-old people. And now, here she is, in her world escapade, all the while assisting her friends in their missions that they receive straight from her cute successor.

It all seemed like it was yesterday when the young Tsunarumi was just a cute little toddler who had so much potential in her. Now she was a teenager who has done a major feat, and that is ensuring the smooth sailing of the succession of one of the Tri-Ni-Sette. The last time that happened was with her own predecessor, the Eighteenth, when the Vongola Nono was still in his early twenties. Back then, no one paid much attention to the Vongola succession since Timoteo was the only child of the Vongola Ottavo. She could vaguely recall that the Vongola Ottavo was friends with the Seventeenth, judging from the paintings in the main base of Sentinella in Milan, Italy, which is now under the care of one of her trusted people.

"And now, the inheritance of wills is about to begin…" she said with a sigh.

"Do you regret what path you have set out for them, Anna?" her sister, Mina Amati asked, who is across from her, typing in her laptop.

Anna sighed as she thought for a moment. "Back then, I had to do what I know would be best for everyone. What I regret is that I am not there to assist them personally in their time of great need," she explained.

Mina tore her eyes away from her laptop to look at her, "Anna, we have already done our part. It's time for them to do theirs. We can't just intervene when they are having a hard time." She lectured.

Anna somehow got her point, "I remember when we are still leading Sentinella…and the trouble we always get into in our undercover assignments. It's because of those hard times that we were able to grow…so I'll have to let them do the same,"

With that statement, Mina mused, "Spoken like a true Veteran,"

Anna could feel the teasing tone by his sister. "Now you're making me feel old," she said as her hand traveled to her forehead, making sure that wrinkles are not forming there already.

Her sister laughed good-naturedly. The phone started ringing, and almost immediately, Mina answered it. "Mina," she answered. "Oh, Gino…ready for what…? Tomorrow?! You idiot I told you I would be there the next day. I was supposed to take the next flight there in twenty-nine hours…no. I'll do it, go on without me. Alright." She hung up with frustration evident in her.

Tilting her head, she asked, "What is it?"

"Those idiots you call subordinates—including my right hand slash Gesso's wife, are heading to Namimori all at once in two days! And we had agreed three months ago that only Shigeru and Saki are to return in two days. Damn those idiots…" she growled as she glared at the phone as if it was the one causing her distress. Of course, she had the right to since she was the one who arranged that the Hibari couple were the ones to return to the Namimori base first.

Ah, her subordinates, Anna mused to herself. The most unconventional group that had her sister's head going into frenzy. For years now, Mina had been asking her why of all people, must she choose a group of people who would sometimes not get along, and would cause her the headache she didn't need. Though Anna had pointed out again and again, that they may act that way, but when sent to work, would produce amazing results. That was the only reason why Mina still kept them alive after all. There were eleven of them in total, but with one of them in the Main Base, the other in Namimori, and two of them had died years ago, only the six of them had been in the mission in the Middle East. A large group, compared to Tsuna, but she was still a teenager so it has a possibility to grow even more.

"Cut them some slack, they miss their kids. I know for a fact that they planned this the moment they found out what happened to their kids," Anna said.

Mina raised a brow, "And we don't?" she asked with a small glare. "Anna, I've been away from my own kid for seven months now, and I will not, for the life of me, take three more months in not seeing my kid. As for the case of the unmarried Yoh, his nephews are nothing to worry about much,"

Anna raised her hands in defeat, "Alright, I understand, but first, we must finish this. Tsu-chan is already having trouble with Cozart-kun missing as well, and we have his last leads in Bavaria," she said, mentioning Tsuna's best spy that had gone missing just yesterday. When Irie had sent her the distress call asking some help from her and her sources while she was in Germany, she was more than glad to help them. After all, Cozart was an indispensable person in the organization and within Tsuna's inner circle. He was the only one with information concerning a bloody history.

"Fine. But if I get a distress call from one of those idiots, I will throw everything out of the window and execute them myself," she grunted as she returned to her laptop. Anna could only smile.

TBC