Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 6 Inner Circle

"Alright Regulas, we're here what do you need us for." Kensuke Mochida asked somewhat uncharitably as he waltzed into Vongola Tenth Generation's Meeting Room.

In fairness to him he hadn't gotten much of any sleep during his work trip to America this last week; being told last minute to change his flight to Italy instead of back to his nice comfortable home in Japan wasn't helping his mood any.

"Sit down, not everyone is here yet." the silver headed bomber told him in a voice brooking no nonsense, which did not help Kensuke's mood.

Though to his asshole leader's credit he did nod his head to a gloriously filled coffee pot acknowledging Kensuke's tiredness and need for caffeine.

Stuffing down an irate retort, Kensuke merely nodded to his technical boss and went to pour himself a mug of sweet nectar.

Liquid gold hit his tongue, starting a chain reaction suffusing warmth, pleasure, and comfort down into his very bones. As the coffee hit his stomach, the steam rose from inside him, untensing previously stiff muscles. All negativity, ache, and exhaustion seeped together mixing with the air still in his lungs, waiting patiently to be exhaled when he finished his drink.

"Aaaaah" Kensuke sighed out in relief, that was what he definitely needed

Feeling just a little more awake already, Kensuke glanced around the room to see that his initial conclusion that everyone was present and accounted for was a little off.

Originally when he'd walked in he had absently noted that there were eight people in the room and had automatically assumed it was the eight members of the circle that actually lived in Vongola Castle; but further inspection showed a lack of Tsuna, Fuuta, Lambo, I-pin, and Reborn and in their place was Felicita, Benny, Dokuro, Shouichi, and Basil.

"We're having a full meeting?" Kensuke spoke up noting the presence of some of the more irregular meeting members, "And where's Decimo?"

"Not here" the Tenth Generation Manager answered looking up from the tablet she and Gokudera had been huddled over since before he'd walked in, "That's what the meetings about."

Kensuke narrowed his eyes, they never gathered behind Tsuna's back unless it was for something serious

"What's wrong" he asked standing up straight, ready for the worst

"You'll find out when the rest get here, I'm not saying it all twice so sit down already" Gokudera answered annoyed; Kensuke glared and Gokudera rolled his eyes, "Do you think I'd be wasting my time calling a meeting here if Tsuna was in danger?"

Despite the ass hole nature in which the assurance came, Kensuke found himself relaxing, especially at the use of Tsuna's birth name. Gokudera could be paranoid when it came to Tsuna's security and as a result, they'd all adopted his strict habit of only using each other's codenames unless they were absolutely sure a room or area was secure. Hence the reason he had referred to Gokudera as Regulas when he first walked in.

'Though I probably should have noted it wasn't at least 'life or death serious' considering the fact that we're using the usual meeting place instead of the situation room', Kensuke mused to himself as he took another sip of sweet nectar, allowing himself to drift back off in his thoughts now that there was no immediate danger.

Typically during a serious situation with the family business they were expected to meet the Ninth in some super corporate board rooms; or in life or death situations they might meet in the adequately named Situation Room filled with computers, and maps, and weapons, and other gadgets.

Then there were the situations that were exclusive to the Tenth Generation only

Unlike the other meeting spots the Inner Circle liked to meet in a big living room area full of big plushy couches, a coffee table, plants in vases, and most importantly a small kitchen to the side for easy refreshments access; Tsuna claimed it made everyone more relaxed, there'd yet to be a complaint on the subject.

'Considering the violent monsters Tsuna attracts, that's probably a smart move' Kensuke thought watching the long haired CEDEF member, Basil, miming some kind of stabbing motion to a far too interested eye patch wearing seventeen year old, Dokuro; both had pleasant polite smiles on their faces, 'Me, Hana, Shouichi, and Tsuna are pretty much the only sane members here, we can use all the relaxation we can get'

"Incredible!" a red head with glasses, Irie Shouichi, exclaimed going through a similar tablet as the couple standing at the front of the room, "And to think Byakuran never knew about this, just how have they kept themselves a secret for so long!"

"After the meeting Sho-kun" Haru called pleasantly, "We're only here for Tsuna right now."

"Where's he at again?" Kensuke spoke up, wanting to get this meeting going and hopefully get some well-deserved rest, coffee (Kami forgive him for thinking this) could only do so much.

"Japan, he left almost two weeks ago" Gokudera answered not taking his eyes off the tablet, "You weren't here Idiot Sword."

Kensuke just gave the man a hard glare, but otherwise didn't comment on the long time 'nickname', picking at it now wouldn't do anything to get the meeting started any sooner.

Gokudera and he had always had a strained relationship, not that either was immature enough to let it interfere with work, but they didn't exactly hide it either.

The bomber had vagrantly opposed Kensuke's addition to the Famiglia four years ago because old middle school grudges, then again opposed his addition to the Inner Circle two years ago because he didn't see Kensuke's worth.

Kensuke knew he wasn't particularly strong, at least not when compared to the Bosses and Underbosses of Vongola and their Guardian groups, much less Tsuna's. He wasn't a super genius like the dangerous abundance that Vongola seemed to have in its employ, nor did he even have some wealthy background, or monstrous prodigious skill.

What Kensuke Mochida did have was the somewhat dubious fortune of being born in Namimori, Japan, during the same time as one Tsunayoshi Sawada.

Namimori had been the unofficial retiring home of powerful Flame Active people for several centuries, attracted there by the Sawada family and its legacy of powerful Sky's; its residents were known (at least to those who were in the know) for having a high probability for Flame Activation. Hell Sasagawa had been born with constantly active Sun Flames.

Part of the reason for Kensuke's and Gokudera's irritation with each other came down to simple chemistry. Kensuke like Gokudera was a Storm; however, he was an uncommonly calm Storm, only falling to his Flames natural tendency for chaos during battle or when his rather slow temper was provoked beyond reason. The exact opposite of Gokudera, who was only ever calm in the middle of a fight.

However the larger main reason for their mutual dislike came from some of Kensuke's actions as a child, something Kensuke found ridiculous, even as he himself was ashamed of said actions.

Even though he was a grade higher, Kensuke Mochida had never been able to ignore the shy wimpy boy at school, nor his innocent doe like eyes. Though Kensuke didn't know it at the time, he was being drawn to the little Sky, but was otherwise unable to Harmonize because of a seal on Tsuna's Flames.

Now being drawn to a boy who was outwardly a cowardly, clumsy recluse reigned havoc on Mochida's own senses; his Flames raged at not being able to Bond, while his usually calm rational mind couldn't find a logical reason as to why the wimpy kid was always on his mind.

Kensuke had, unfortunately, lashed out in frustration and had taken to mildly bullying, if only verbally, the small boy; something he had regretted and would likely regret for the rest of his life. Especially now as he held his tongue and exchanged glares with the silverette at the center of the room.

'It should have been me' the bitter thought floated in his head insidiously for just a moment before he could stop it, 'Maybe not his right hand, I don't have the strength for that, but it should be me standing up there'

If Tsuna's flames hadn't been sealed as a child, Kensuke would have undoubtedly been the first to Harmonize and Bond with him; he alone of all the other potential Guardians had been drawn to the younger boy even with that seal on his Flames.

When Reborn came, blasting away the seal with Dying Will Bullets, Kensuke had damaged their possible relationship with his usual behavior; unknowingly rejecting Tsuna's newly freed reaching Sky Flames. It wasn't until Kensuke got away from Tsuna and into high school (he was a year older) where his head could be clearer, that he'd swallowed his pride and went to apologize for the little brat he'd been in middle school.

Tsuna had accepted him without as much as a single rebuke.

"It's fine Mochida-Sempai, you never did anything like beat me up or take my money like the others" Tsuna said waving away his apology, as if just stopping from outright mugging someone made his behavior acceptable.

When he learned the kind of danger Tsuna typically faced, getting shaken down for a middle schoolers worth of some pocket money really wasn't much in the grand schemed of things.

"But the Kyoko duel thing-" he protested, it couldn't be this easy, he couldn't just…just forgive him like it was nothing

"You were being a middle school boy with a crush Sempai" Tsuna the angel in a human's body smiled, "Believe me, I've done far stupider things than challenge a rival to a slightly rigged kendo match; besides from your point of few, I was a weirdo who just pushed himself on his crush in his underwear…ugh that was embarrassing… trust me, we're cool Sempai."

Then with that simple acceptance, Kensuke's partially active Storm Flames reached out to Tsuna's just one more time; there hadn't even been a token resistance before they were harmonized and Mochida was drunk on the beauty of his new boss's Flames.

Nonetheless, Kensuke had missed an opportunity to be Tsuna's Storm Guardian; to stay by his side, to be the raging unrelenting Storm at his every battle, to be an extension of his being and not just the guy who gets called into a meeting two weeks after Tsuna's already left to be told he was in their home nation the whole time.

Kensuke released a breath, it didn't matter, Tsuna was home on his (and Hibari's) turf. He could take this chance to be useful to his boss and friend.

*POKE*

"Gah!" Kensuke jumped out of his skin as he felt something poke his ears

"Hahaha-ow, Dammit Felly that hurt!" came an annoying voice form beside him

"Good, stop being such an idiot" a brisk feminine voice scolded

Looking to his left he wasn't surprised to see two Italian teenagers bickering; one a male with a terrible perm and the scraggly beginnings of a mustache, the other a quite attractive blonde girl wearing quite an ugly frown and piercing green eyes.

Benito "Benny" Salusbury (who he hadn't seen come in) and Felicita Markone, both friends of Tsuna's from the fancy rich people school Tsuna went to for high school; they'd been brought into Tsuna's Inner Circle around the same time Kensuke had been.

Despite the slapstick nature of their exchange Kensuke knew the two of them were a lot more capable than they let on.

Felicita was an almost painfully stereotypical example of a hot blooded young Italian woman with a quick temper and an overbearing personality, but she was the daughter of a very powerful shipping magnate and practically ran her parent's business on her own.

Benny was the opposite, laid back, mischievous, with sticky fingers; he was actually terrifyingly smart and through a series of trickery and thievery had earned his own way into Tsuna's school with the goal of scamming a bunch of rich brats out of their daddy's cash.

The two tended to bicker like cats and dogs and had fit into the rest of the group's dynamic without trouble, sticking to Tsuna with the same almost fanatic loyalty that came with Harmonizing with your one true Sky.

"I was just trying to wake him up" Benny said cheerfully, "If he glares at his coffee any longer, he's going to miss the meeting."

Rather than saying something scathing to the odd breach of personal space, Kensuke chose to remain unnaturally silent allowing Felicita to retort for him (he really was far too exhausted for this crap), while he scanned the rest of the room.

While he was drowning in his thoughts they'd been joined by Akashi Seijūrō, the red head keeping to himself without his fellow "Emperor" present to challenge him, and a video link had been set up with a clearly getting ready for bed Kyoya Hibari, and a probably just waking up Takeshi Yamamato.

Takeshi was training with his baseball team in the states and couldn't just leave, Hibari rarely left Japan if he didn't have to. Dokuro was on the couch messing with a phone most likely calling Rokudo, who never stepped foot in the Vongola castle.

Kensuke tried not to shiver at his boss's choice in family friends, especially Rokudo who he'd only met on a handful of occasions and never for any prolonged length of time; he'd long learned to simply trust in Tsuna's judgment when it came to picking loyal followers.

Even if he feared his Boss's ability to forgive just about anybody no matter how much blood was on their hands.

Rokudo's connection to the Vongola as the second half of the Mist Guardian or the unofficial "7th Guardian" was kept a closely guarded secret amongst the upper echelon, which Kensuke as part of Tsuna's Inner Circle was technically a part of.

Rokudo hated the mafia and actively went around destroying the more sickening and corrupt Famiglias; by hiding his connection to Vongola, the Vongola were able to ignore when he went after someone that was technically under Vongola's protection from pacts made long ago during darker times.

"What about the rest?" Kensuke asked the pair standing next to him, so far he only counted a little more than half of the Inner Circle present.

It was Benny who answered him, smoothly walking around Felicita's scolding finger she'd been poking him with to get back at him for annoying Kensuke.

"See, this proves right there he wasn't paying attention" Benny exclaimed more towards Felicita in an 'I-told-you-so' way before turning back to Kensuke, "Spanner's already got the debrief so he's not here, Demon Child is doing something important in Britain (obviously he already knows everything too), Pedo's with him (also obvious), Hana's with him too (surprisingly), Black's undercover somewhere and can't come, no one knows where Doc is (probably lost in some ancient ruins somewhere), Regulus said this was Vongola business only (for right now anyway) so Bizarro Tsuna, Dino, Fon, and the Tomaso boy weren't invited, and Ryohei just went to Varia to get one of them down here as a representative."

Kensuke blinked absorbing all that information silently translating Benny's multiple nicknames in his head; Demon Child was Reborn (who was physically a teenager the last time Kensuke saw him), Pedo was Gokudera's sister, Doc was Dr. Tenant- the archeologist Tsuna had met when he somehow ended up searching for Atlantis in Cleveland of all places (seriously how did his Boss get into these situations), Bizzaro Tsuna was his nickname for Enma Kozato (who Kensuke could admit was probably his long lost soul twin).

*WACK*

"Ow, dammit stop hitting me woman!" Benny yelled clutching his head

"Stop disrespecting your seniors with those horrible nicknames" Felicitia scolded, "Honestly I don't know how you're still alive, Signore Reborn especially would kill you for that."

"Blackmail" Benny grinned, it was his typical shameless response to whenever he was allowed special privilages.

"Bull/Bull shit" Kensuke and Felicita deadpanned simultaneously, with Kensuke following up, "If you had blackmail on him, he would have killed you out of principle."

Reborn was the World's Greatest Hitman (capitals necessary) for a reason

"Unless the info was so good even the great Reborn was stalled" Benny countered with a cheesy grin

"So you wouldn't mind if I told him you said that?" Felicita drawled with a raised brow

Benny paled instantly

"Uh"

"Yeah, that's what I thought" she finished with a nod, Benny deflated, but before either one could continue the door burst open with a bang.

"VOOOOOOOOI, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING ME DOWN HERE FOR!"

"EXTREME!"

Kensuke, along with the rest of the room's occupants jumped at the sudden intrusion of noise; the sound made Kensuke spill his coffee

"Dammit! Can you two shut the hell up; it's too early for this crap!" Kensuke snapped at the intruders

"It's almost 3:00 in the afternoon Kenny" Benny 'helpfully' pointed out, "I think you're just tired from your flight."

Kensuke grumbled lowly to himself even as the two men waltzed into the room unbothered by his cursing them.

"Alright what fuck is the meeting for, where's Decimo!" groused one Squalo Superbi, Rain Guardian for Xanxus Vongole' and second in command of Varia; midway into the room the two men made eye contact and Squalo changed directions to come lean on the wall beside Kensuke, giving him an acknowledging nod.

There were few people in the world outside of his boss and his men that Squalo respected; the Arcobaleno were one, very select members of the Vongola upper echelon were two, Nono, Tsuna, and about half of his Guardians were three with Takeshi being the chief among them.

Kensuke and Squalo shared almost nothing in common between the two of them, yet he was given that little bit more respect than Takeshi for one reason; they both shared a love and devotion to the blade.

"Haha, you guys seem energetic" Takeshi spoke up from where his computerized face was looking in on the table.

"Voi, people who aren't even here can't talk shit, you trash!" Squalo snapped at the computer, he always got snappier when his rival was in the states.

Kensuke just thought he missed the his fellow Rain Guardian, other than Sasagawa who fit in surprisingly well with the group of bloodthirsty over the top assassins, Takeshi was the only one who could hold a reasonable conversation with the Varia without a fight breaking out.

"Hahaha, you just proved my point" Takeshi laughed off the insult teasingly

"Shut up!" Squalo roared

Takeshi only laughed harder and Kensuke gave Squalo a pitying look for having Takeshi Yamamato as a rival; Kensuke had given up on that road back in middle school, getting mad at him was an exercise in futility.

A sharp whistle interrupted the group, and Kensuke once more looked to the front of the room where Haru was lowering her fingers.

"Good, now that Haru has everybody's attention, we can get to the point of this meet-"

"Wait" Sasagawa interrupted, the Sun Guardian's voice was uncharacteristically low and serious and everyone turned to him concerned, "We can't start yet."

"What is it Mr. Sun?" Dokuro asked sounding as innocent as a three year old girl

'Except not really because she could literally kill you with her mind' Kensuke thought

"We can't start the meeting without Tsuna." Sasagawa continued in his serious low voice

There was a brief beat of silence, before an irritated Gokudera gritted his teeth hard enough to be audible

"That's who were here to talk about remember" Gokudera got out in what sounded like a painfully level voice

"Oh right" Sasagawa said with a surprised look on his face, "in that case, I EXTREMELY FORGOT!"

"THEN WRITE IT DOWN LIKE YOUR SUPPOSED TO YOU-" Gokudera started to roar, but paused when Haru put her hand on his arm and whispered something that sounded like Tsuna; taking a deep breath he started again in that painfully level tone, "Turf top, please remember to check your notes before the meeting starts, okay?"

Sasagawa nodded happily, and Kensuke resisted the urge to clap (he wasn't sure if it would be mocking or not) for Gokudera's control of his temper without Tsuna there to rear him in with his mere presence.

"Now then, I'm sure you all heard that Tsuna got an assignment from the Ninth-" Gokudera began again only to be interrupted a second time.

"Wait where are the kids!?" Sasagawa exclaimed only slightly less loudly, beating a nail into Kensuke's already aching head. Though considering the man's usual volume he probably should have been grateful.

He wasn't

"I think Lambie is sulking somewhere right?" Benny questioned looking around the room as if expecting the small boy to appear sulkily crouched in some corner

"Why would the kid be sulking?" Kensuke couldn't help ask exasperatedly; yes, he was tired of the constant interruptions, though in this case his exasperation had unintentionally encouraged them.

"The little guy seemed pretty upset when Tsuna first left" Takeshi piped up from the computer, "I don't think he's taking his big brother's separation well."

"He just being a brat like usual" Gokudera grumbled unsympathetically

"Pot N' Kettle" Benny murmured beside him in reference to Gokudera's own freak outs from when they were younger and Tsuna disappeared from his sight for longer than ten seconds.

Kensuke and Squalo snorted

The youngest of the circle at ten ("almost eleven, guys!") Lambo Bovino-Sawada was one of three of Tsuna's adopted siblings. As for his importance to the circle (and by definition the importance of his lack of attendance to the current meeting); he was also the acting Lightning Guardian, and like all the Guardians was more akin to an extension of a single organism. That organism being the Greater Sky Tsunayoshi Sawada

"I needed him out of HQ before he made me strangle him, so I gave him an errand to run" Gokudera continued as if he didn't hear Salisbury's comment, "He should be reporting back today, Fuuta's with him, now-."

"Where's Dumpling!?" Benny piped up, and Kensuke could tell by his grin that he was deliberately trying to annoy the more volatile members in the room.

"I-pin chan is with her master" Haru piped up before Gokudera or Squalo (who had used up the last of his good will from the previous joke) could tear into him; though it didn't stop Felicita from slapping him upside his head, "They're doing some special training in the wilderness before her next tournament."

Little I-pin Sawada, the second adopted sibling and member of the Inner Circle under the age of thirteen. Unlike her brothers, I-pin lived a relatively mafia free life despite almost everyone she knew and cared about being firmly enwrapped in the dark underworld.

Tsuna had no other younger female sibling figures in his life and thus had the tendency to spoil her in comparison to their brothers; I-pin herself didn't have a father or any other constant male authority figures in her life other than Tsuna and responded to the affection reminiscent of a daddy's girl. Hence the obvious surprise at her absence at anything Tsuna related.

"Now that everybody knows where everybody is" Gokudera ground out with exaggerated patience, "Nearly two weeks ago Nono sent Tsuna-sama on a job; a diplomatic exploration with a previously unknown power group."

At his words the room straightened up and put on their "game" faces

"Project: Bedford Moon, the details will be sent to those of you who don't already have them. In a few months we'll be bringing in some other Famiglias from the Alliance, after our initial findings." Gokudera continued his demeanor relaxing as it fell into his 'debriefing stance'.

"Bedford Moon?" Seijūrō asked speaking up for the first time since entering the room, his cool tone and slit blood red eyes sending unconscious shivers down Kensuke's spine, "I take it we're preparing for a possible hostile action from this group?"

"Not so much from the people that Tsuna-sama's with" Gokudera quickly assured as the rest of the room stiffened, Seijūrō's predictions tended to be almost as alarmingly accurate as Tsuna's, "We'd never have sent him otherwise, but it is a caution. Right now this is a chance to explore opportunities; Bedford was a businessman after all."

Seijuro nodded conceding some hidden point that went over Kensuke's head

"I have no idea what you two are talking about." Benny piped up breaking into the meaningful silence created by the two intimidating genii.

"Hahaha, I'm glad you said something cause I was lost" Takeshi laughed on the computer

"EXTREMELY LOST!"

"Idiots" Felicita mumbled

"Oh, do you know what they're talking about?" Benny said turning on her immediately; the girl blushed but didn't answer, "Ha, ha"

"It's a reference to a H.G. Wells book" Squalo answered, missing the startled looks of those around him, "It has to do with a scientist (fuck if I can remember his name) and a businessman (Bedford) who build a rocket to the moon like 50 years before others did. They find some advanced alien life up there, but then shit gets real, Bedford high tails it back to Earth. A few months later the aliens use the scientist's knowledge about Earth and decide we're a threat so they try to kill us, but Bedford nukes the fuckers and wipes them all out by the time the moon landing happens in 69."

'…'

'…'

'…'

"Oh yeah, I forgot you Varia guys are like super smart" Benny spoke up, voicing the thoughts of half the room.

It was easy to forget what with their borderline psychopathic behavior, but Varia was known for its quality in all areas. Hell the academic requirements for joining as a grunt alone was to be able to speak some seven languages, and understand University level mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

"VOOI, THE FUCK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN TRASH!" Squalo snapped

"Sorry, sorry," Benny said raising his hands with an unrepentant grin, but Felicita stepped in before the master crook could start a fight he couldn't finish.

"What a morbid name for an exploration mission, is that what Nono thinks is going to happen?"

"Not really no" Haru easily assured, "The name was a warning yeah, but it's mostly just the person who named it sense of humor."

"Who finds naming a mission about the possibility of nuking another culture funny?" Kensuke groused in his head, just as Felicita asked the same thing aloud

"Reborn" Haru chirped

'…'

'…'

'...'

'Of Course it was' Kensuke deadpanned along with the rest of the room

"Either way, the finer details of the mission can be discussed later", Gokudera pressed on and Kensuke was reminded that this was supposed to be about Tsuna somehow, did he need help, "I'm sure we've all noticed how… challenging the last year has been on Tsuna-sama."

Kensuke frowned

When he'd first been admitted to the Inner Circle during his last year of high school, Tsuna's schedule had already been monstrous, the younger teen not having a moment of time for himself. Kensuke had been amazed that Tsuna was able to complete so many tasks so efficiently in any given day, while still having time to make sure those around him were happy.

It was that Reborn enforced work ethic, that inspired all of them to put two hundred percent effort in everything they did; how could they do any less when their boss gave so much?

However there was never any doubt that Tsuna enjoyed the… content of some of his work; some of which weighed heavily on the young man's conscience. He'd always gotten through it, but with several large changes in his personal life… well it was understandable how that weight may have gotten a little heavier to carry recently.

"This project will keep Tsuna-sama away for some time." Gokudera continued, "I want Tsuna-sama to be able to use this time to take a break from his regular duties. He deserves it."

Nobody argued

"Right, I'm sure you guys" Kensuke spoke up referring to the contigent of the room that operated at HQ, "will do everything you can to keep business as usual here, is there anything you need from me since he's on me and Hibari's home turf, how long is this project anyway?"

"The project is forever" Gokudera answered, though notably ignoring Kensuke's request to help were he couldn't, "but Tsuna-sama's direct involvement should last for up to a year."

'A year!?' Kensuke thought his eyes widening, 'A whole freaking year! What kind of mission did Tsuna get himself wrapped up into!?'

Glancing around the room he saw other bits of surprise on Seijūrō, Felicita, and Benny's face; Shouichi, Squalo and the Guardians seemed already aware of this.

Kensuke glanced at Shouichi remembering his earlier comment

"And to think Byakuran never knew about this, just how have they kept themselves a secret for so long!"

'Just how big is this project', cause though Kensuke hadn't been a part of the 'Evil-Byakuran-Time-Travel-Adventure' that everybody swore up and down was true, he knew that it involved some serious end of the world type shit, 'And if this group somehow escaped the sight of the Sky Mare's omniscience, not to mention the Sky Arcobaleno's clairvoyance, and Vongola Sky's Hyper Intuition, and at least one Armageddon from an alternate timeline, then this probably deserves even more than the year of work Tsuna signed himself up for.'

"Yes a year" Gokudera nodded like it was no big thing, and Kensuke forced himself to calm down, if Tsuna's biggest fanatic possible swingers partner could handle the possibility of separation then the rest of them had no excuse, "Even still, I think we can all except that Tsuna-sama, though amazing… won't survive that long on his own."

There was a brief moment's pause as everyone considered that

"Serafino does tend to attract the weirdest situations" Benny mused aloud, using his Italian name as he and Felicita knew him by, "Remember finding Atlantis in Cleveland?"

"Or the time he found an actual Yeti at the beach" Felicita inserted

"Oh Hayato, remember that time we got stranded in Death Valley?" Takeshi exclaimed

"Which time?" Gokudera grumbled, "The time with squid or the time with giant iguana?"

"Haru remembers that, weren't you guys running for the border police and ended up falling out of the getaway plane?"

"That was an EXTREME!"

Kensuke just stared, 'Tsuna… what the hell?'

"More than the physical, what about his mental and emotional state?" Seijūrō spoke from where he lounged, "A Sky too long without its elements, especially one used to having a full set, can be… volatile."

A silence entered the room as the others frowned in thought

"He'll still see us for Sunday dinner though right?" "And he's obviously gone longer than a month seeing some of us" said gesturing to the two computers with Hibari and Takeshi's faces

"A few hours visit once a month isn't the same" Seijiuro interjected, probably more to play devil's advocate then actual worry over his fellow 'Emperor's' feelings, "Tsunayoshi is too pure a sky with too strong flame bonds to fall to the depression of being empty… that being said surviving and being healthy are two different things. Tsunayoshi is also usually surrounded by enough flame types and general distracting craziness in Vongola Castle to fill the temporary voids left by the Guardian's absence."

"Hold up, hold up, hoooold up!" Kensuke waved his hands stopping that line of thought before it could get too far; Kensuke may occasionally envy the Guardians for how closely they bonded to Tsuna, but there was no denying that they could be codependent stalkers with little to no respect for Tsuna's privacy.

"Wasn't the point of this mission for Tsuna to get away from all the crazy?" he continued when he'd finally gotten their attentions.

"Well yeah, but-" Haru started to say, but Kensuke was having none of it, she was almost as bad as the Guardians; sans him, Squalo, and Seijuro they all were.

"And this is Tsuna we're talking about", he continued as if he didn't hear her, "the guy who convinces sociopaths out to kill him to want to follow him forever. I doubt he'll go a whole year without finding people to help 'fill the void' in between Guardian breaks."

"What about the lack of chaos?" Benny asked smartly

"Boss does get sulky and whiny when there isn't enough chaos" Dokuro said softly, in her usual sweet yet unrepentantly blunt manner

True enough, as much as Tsuna complained about the headaches his insane Famiglia caused him, he started to worry and get moody when there wasn't some kind of mess for him to clean up.

"It's Tsuna", Kensuke shot back as if it explained it all

Really it kind of did

"I'm calling Fuuta right now to get his first impressions on how he's doing" Gokudera announced pulling out his phone

The final and the oldest sibling of the three was Fuuta Sawada who was fourteen, pushing fifteen, years old. He was the only one of the three siblings recognized as an adult (over thirteen) in the Mafia World and was also an oh so preciously rare Sky. At his age he would most likely begin striking out on his own and gathering his own elements to bond with him, but he wasn't and sadly most likely never would.

*Ring*

*Ring*

*Ri-

"This is the cell phone of Fuuta Sawada" came an obnoxious voice on the other end of the phone, "If your hearing this recording it means that you don't have enough intelligence for Fuuta to want to pick up and talk to you."

"Lambo that's not what I said!" Fuuta's panicked voice was heard from a distance

"Didn't you say you didn't have time to talk to that dumb retarded stupid monkey faced Stupidera?" Lambo drawled loudly into the phone

"No, I didn't!" Fuuta shrieked, "I said, my hands were full can you-"

"Yo, Whaddaya want Stupidera?" Lambo said cutting off his brother before he could finish his explanation

Several people in the room snickered and smirked as they watched Gokudera's eyebrow twitched in tune with every time the kid mentioned the immature nickname.

"Lambo, what did you find out about the situation?" Gokudera asked in that exaggerated patience he always used when dealing with… well everyone who wasn't Tsuna or Haru… or really just Tsuna.

"It sucks, Tsuna-nii is helpless without maids or Maman to take care of him."Lambo responded immediately without reserve, unknowingly confirming their fears.

"In what way?" Gokudera asked trepidatious and they all leaned in; Lambo didn't even hesitate before he immediately start going down what was obviously a prepared list

"There's a crap load of frozen TV dinners and takeout bags in the trash, everywhere but his bedroom needs a cleaning, his laundry is beginning to pile up partly because he forgot to buy a lot of the basic toiletries, I don't think he's been sleeping well if the early morning/late night calls are anything to go off of" Lambo listed to the steadily growing worried room, "There's a lot of books here, like stacks bigger than me a lot; he's got that crazy person conspiracy wall thing… Baka Tsuna-nii."

There was a general sigh around the room

"He's overworking himself" Shouichi groaned, he spoke with experience, "He's already trying to find ways to distract himself."

"Isn't this supposed to be a working vacation?" Takeshi spoke up from the computer, where he was technically on his own working vacation

"It doesn't sound like he's eating right" Haru frowned worried

"Kufufufu, Tsunayoshi is a mother hen used to taking care of others, he doesn't usually remember to take care of himself." Rokudo said speaking up again from the phone in Dokuro's lap, "Kufufufu I must send a reminder to him that he takes care of that body, before I get my turn to use it."

"Is he trying to sound gay on purpose or is that a Freudian slip kinda thing?" Benny 'whispered' to Felicita

"Stupid cubs, acting like a herbivore is unacceptable for a pride leader" Hibari's own voice rang out from the computer screen on the opposite side of the room; even with neither of them present, they refused to be metaphorically near each other.

"Kufufufu, don't you do the same thing Mr. Skylark?" Rokudo's voice rang, "How many times has Tsunayoshi had to drag you back to some hospital bed, because you were too stupid not to try and flap broken wings?"

"A little less than the amount of times the cub's stopped you from falling to the dark side of the fruitiness Pineapple" Hibari growled back

"Kufufufu, someone's bold when I'm not in the room in front of them, then again your agoraphobia would stop you from entering a room with people wouldn't it?" Rokudo hissed back darkly

"Gender confused fruit who live in abandoned motels have no right to talk." Hibari snapped back acidly

"We should look into getting him a maid, at least part time" Gokudera continued as if he wasn't aware of the two men sniping and glaring (Dokuro, on Rokudo's orders, went to video, so they could see each other as they bickered) at each other from across the room and continents, "He won't like the help, so we'll have to say whoever he or she is, is only there so that he can focus more on the project."

"Haru will talk to the head maid and see if she can spare anyone; the night crew has more advanced combat training for security reasons." Haru assured tapping something on the electronic pad, "Fuuta sweetie, how did your side mission go?"

"I got a whole list of rankings for the class and the staff Haru-nee" Fuuta said having apparently gotten the phone from Lambo

Fuuta had incredibly Mutated Sky Flames, which if passed down to any of his children, had the potential to be a bloodline trait as coveted and dangerous as even the Vongola's famed Hyper Intuition.

Fuuta's flames automatically and without reserve Harmonized with any and every one and living thing the boy came into contact with, at a level that most humans couldn't even Harmonize with their closest friends. Using this Fuuta was able to draw information from complete strangers and essentially "Rank" them by their strengths, weaknesses, talents, emotions, and even their very potential, earning him the distinguished nickname Ranking Prince Fuuta.

However it was exactly the sheer potency of his Flames that prevented Fuuta from gathering his own family. A Famiglia was based off of precious bonds of love and blood and flames between varied individuals all interconnected and held together by a Sky; how could someone who Harmonized with everyone (friends, family, enemies, rivals, strangers off the street) every truly feel personal bonds with anyone?

Answer: he couldn't, his flames changed to match any and every one having no true stable form that could draw others to him; it was only because of Tsuna being such a pure Sky of one of the Three Great Skies, that Fuuta was able to Bond with him at all, and through him Bond with his Guardians.

Kensuke shivered at the thought of never being able to form a Bond; true ninety nine percent of the world didn't have flames to experience it, nor did Fuuta himself feel any exceptional loss from not getting the full experience of something he never had, but still.

Harmonizing and Bonding could be a life changing experience, once you did it was impossible to go back.

"There's a bit of a problem" the young teen's voice came in interrupting the group's musings

"Problem" Gokudera growled almost threateningly, but anyone who knew him knew that it was just the man's main way of showing concern.

The entire room silenced, now razor focused on Fuuta's next words; Kensuke's hand drifted to his side, reflexively gripping his blade in preparation to defend his boss from harm.

"Well not so much of a problem as a concern" Fuuta's voice hedged sounding somewhat uncomfortable

Kensuke frowned at the kid's vague response, but nonetheless felt his tension (as well as the rest of the room's) ease slightly. If it were truly serious, Fuuta would have sounded far more grave not… embarrassed?

"Stop beating around the bush Fuuta and just spit it out" Gokudera growled, the teen's silence obviously working his stressed nerves.

"He's not beating around the bush Stupidera, you just won't let anyone finish speaking as usual" a childish voice drawled from the other side of the line, apparently Lambo had gotten back control of the phone for a brief moment

"It's an all-girl school!" Fuuta hurried and rushed out before the kid and Gokudera could start up an infamous Storm/Lightning argument, not that Kensuke didn't agree with the brat about Gokudera's ridiculously… short… wait, what?!

"…Fuuta" Gokudera answered slowly, obviously giving the teen time to reevaluate his statement "Tsuna is clearly a male."

"No duh, Stupidera" the higher pitched voice interrupted for a second time, "Not the University, the super special class of specialness that he's supposed to be networking with- the class is in an all-girls middle school."

Immediately a strained silence entered the room; Kensuke noted that the Guardians and all the members of the circle who'd gone to high school with Tsuna (Spanner, Shouichi, Felicita, Basil, Haru,) exchanged worried glances, while those who hadn't (himself, Squalo, Akashi) merely looked mystified.

"Vooi, the fuck does it being a chick school have to do with anything?" Squalo interrupted from his side obviously annoyed at being left out of the loop, "He doesn't freeze up around chicks or something does he?"

"No" Kensuke answered, remembering that his boss had dated their middle school crush Kyoko last year, "he's had girlfriends before."

Across the room Sasagawa twitched slightly and Kensuke held in his own wince; he hadn't been present when it all 'went down' but he'd been told that Tsuna and Sasagawa's younger sister had been breaking up for a long time.

According to I-pin and Lambo, who'd gossiped to him like all kids with zero respect for their older siblings privacy, it had been like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Everyone knew it was over, but the two in question had refused for the longest time to severe the final cords of their relationship, hence the strain in their friendship even months later.

"An inability to talk to women isn't the problem" Felicita grumbled, then blushed and looked to the corner of the room when the others looked at her.

Benny snickered and got a slap to the back of the head from the embarrassed girl and Kensuke found himself trading a confused glance with the other Storm in the room. Good, he wasn't the only one lost on that.

"Boss has a history with women", Dokuro stated for the benefit of those who were out of the loop; her soft voice sounded almost unconcerned, even as the others looked severely uncomfortable.

Kensuke for his part was having a difficult time processing what Dokuro was implying; he knew what she was implying, but Tsuna? Sure he was a lot more comfortable in his own skin than he'd ever been before, but she couldn't be implying what it sounded like right?

Any doubt he had was erased a moment later as the speaker in Dokuro's hand spoke up

"A history that begins and ends in one night kufufufu" Rokudo's voice echoed darkly in the silent room

'No. Way' Kensuke thought even as his draw dropped when none of the other Guardians said anything to contradict him; somehow even with the knowledge that Tsuna had had a girlfriend in Kyoko for several months, the idea that Tsuna was capable of… carnal acts, had never computed, 'Does that mean the golden couple was dirtier than anyone thou- nope, nope, don't think about it. That's your boss and your superior's sister, don't think, don't think, don't think.'

"Tsuna-nii is still the number one ranked in the Mafia unable to turn down a request." Fuuta said over the phone sounding sheepish; Kensuke didn't blame him, even as Benny snorted

"Voi, so you worried he's going to get some chick pregnant?" Squalo questioned obviously not seeing the problem; Kensuke doubted he would, he was a grown man not some immature little teenager after all, "If he's got such a woman fixation, I think he's learned to rubber up by now."

"Squalo!" Haru hissed, her cheeks flushed, scandalized, "There are children listening!"

Squalo merely rolled his eyes

"It was the kid who brought it up in the first place wasn't it?" Squalo countered

"Still!" the girl hissed

"It's not like that" Gokudera intervened bringing the conversation back before it could derail, "it's not just women, he- OH F#CK YOU GUYS, NOT LIKE THAT! I meant he it's not just sex related things he can't say no to!"

Midway through his sentence everyone had given him looks, clearly questioning just how he knew if Tsuna didn't just give into women only; they'd all heard the rumors

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much" Haru hummed happily, and Kensuke shook his head; it's like she wanted the rumors to be true.

"BUT" Gokudera said loudly obviously trying to drown out his perverted girlfriend's voice, "It's not like Tsuna-sama sleeps with every woman who comes on to him, otherwise all the people who come to him with marriage proposals would probably get it. He can use his Intuition to tell their intentions and most only want him for shallow if not superficial reasons."

Kensuke felt his shoulders relaxing a bit, well he wasn't quite sure if he wanted short innocent Tsuna to be-

"So he sleeps with the ones who have a reason to sleep with him that isn't superficial?" Rokudo spoke up again with a teasing lit to his voice that said he was deliberately trying to stir the pot.

Gokudera managed to keep a straight face

"Tsuna-sama told me that most girls that really need help just want someone to talk to, someone to hold them, or make them feel special for a little while." Gokudera reasoned, "A kiss at most will satisfy, especially if he uses his flames to help soothe."

"Most" Rokudo immediately centered on that all important factor, "So there are some who aren't satisfied with just that."

Gokudera looked irritated

"Yes, but like I said it's pretty rare he gets approached by someone with a proposition that isn't superficial that has to be satisfied through… sexual means." and Kensuke wondered why the man always seemed so surprised why people questioned the nature of their relationship.

Kensuke certainly didn't know the details of his friends' sex lives the way Gokudera and Tsuna clearly shared, he bet if asked Gokudera could probably list their names and how long Tsuna spent with them.

'Hadn't Tsuna dated Haru before in their last year in Japan or something' Kensuke thought glancing at the eccentric Inner Circle's general manager, who seemed to be blushing up a storm, 'I know that was a long time ago and they probably never did anything… then again I didn't think Tsuna and Kyoko had done anything, damn that must get awkward sometimes.'

"Again, why are we talking about it then?" Squalo asked clearly impatient to get this show on the road though in his defense, that did seem like a very specific and difficult set of conditions to meet.

"It's just something I'd thought I'd bring up Signore Squalo" Fuuta piped up from the speaker, "Like I said it's not a problem per say, but I did to a Ranking for woman Tsuna-nii was most likely to be attracted to…"

"Yeah and…?" Gokudera questioned at Fuuta's unusual pause

"Well his number one and number three haven't changed since I first Ranked him years ago when Felicita asked me to."Fuuta answered, he continued on oblivious of the incredulous and smug looks given to Tsuna's blond friend or her own burning blush, "but the second, and fourth through eighth as well, have changed… three of those names are girls in Tsuna-nii's class and Kyoko-nee has been moved down to tenth."

"…"

"…"

"…What was that about him not sleeping with every girl that comes on to him?" Rokudo piped up

"… We'll send people to check on him" Gokudera answered, "Fuuta; you got his schedule for the next few weeks."

"I'll email you his schedule"Fuuta answeredquickly, "There's a class trip to Kyoto coming up soon"

"Sword Idiot?" Gokudera turned to him

"I'll be there" Kensuke instantly assured

With that the meeting continued as various members of the circle hashed out just exactly how they intended to secretly intrude on their boss's life; and really, was it really meddling when it was the person's own good?