AGH. I'm sorry with the whole confusion in the last chapter. I hope everything is cleared up a bit as I replaced it with the correct version. I understand you can't unread what you've already read so I apologize :(

So here's just a quick overview. Basically, it's 8 years into the future. Melody is in CEDEF and Belphegor is in the Varia. This is about the time of the Battle of the Rings, so you can imagine that they are going to meet again. Melody was sent on a mission by Lemitsu to watch over Tsuna with Basil. To do this, she attends Namimori Middle (she's small for her age so she can pass off as a younger student). She doesn't really know that the Varia is involved in all of this, until she finds a cupcake in her locker. YEAH.


I am running as fast as I can. I just received a call from Basil saying that they were in trouble, being attacked by a man. He refused to tell me who exactly it was though.

I frowned. Why? Why are Lemitsu and Basil keeping so many secrets from me on this mission?

I shook my head and dashed around a corner. It doesn't matter, I told myself. What matters is that the 10th is safe.

I saw the shopping district ahead and began weaving through the crowd. Let's see... Basil said they were at a large building...

I heard a crash up ahead. Bingo.

I dashed past the crowd and found Basil and Tsuna hiding in a corner. What the heck, why was Tsuna wearing only underwear and gloves? , I thought. Anyways, Basil was handing Tsuna the rings, but something looked off. They looked like...half rings...?

I stopped. "Basil!" I yelled.

"Melody! He's over there!" He pointed off to the side.

I looked over and standing there, looking irritated, was a man with long, white hair. He was wielding a sword. His jacket beared the Varia symbol. I froze. That man...that man...he was the one that took Bel... And surrounding him were Yamamoto and Gokudera, lying unconscious on the ground.

I stumbled from shock, if he's in the Varia isn't he on our side? But there was no time to think. Noticing me, the man, and if I remember correctly his name was Squalo, charged at me. I barely dodged, and spun around to slash him on the back. But of course, he was in the Varia, and very skilled. He dodged my attack and kneed me in the stomach.

"Agh" I exclaimed, falling to the ground.

Ouch, is this really how powerful this man is?

I jumped up quickly and threw two knives at him, landing only to throw two more. I quickly dashed around randomly and threw more knives relentlessly, trying to make my moves less predictable. It seemed to be working, as Squalo didn't know where I was going to go next, but I knew it wouldn't last long. I whipped my head around to see Basil still in the corner.

"Hurry up and get out of here!" I yelled.

He said something but I couldn't hear it. Dangit.

Then suddenly, a "VOOOIIIII QUIT YOUR CHITCHAT!" and another kick to the stomache. I fell to the ground again. Squalo used the butt of his sword and hit me down when I tried to stand up again. This time I didn't get up.

I moaned. My eyes were closing, but I tried to stay awake.

Between the moments where I could see, I saw Dino, boss of the Cavallone Family, arrive. Then there was a big flash and Squalo was gone.

(3 hours later...)

I woke up in a bed and immediately shot up.

"Hey, hey calm down it's okay." I whipped my head around to see Basil and Lemitsu sitting there.

"Where..where did that man..Squalo..go? What happened I don't- how could you guys not have told me the Varia-"

"I'll explain. It was my fault for not telling you." Lemitsu said.

I nodded.

"Basically, usually the outside advisor and the boss both pick their boss candidate right? Well in this case I chose Tsuna and the 9th chose Xanxus, boss of the Varia. So now they've got to battle it out."

I stared. What.

"So uh...they've both gotten half rings and the goal is to get the full rings..." Basil said, scratching his head.

"And this is going to be an organized battle, so don't worry." Said Lemitsu.

Oh, I wasn't thinking about that.

Even though I had a hunch about the answer, I asked "So why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

I gulped. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to know or not.

Lemitsu said uncertainly, "I'm just going to ssay this simply."

Basil looked at Lemitsu.

"Belphegor is in the Varia. You and Belphegor were childhood friends, I wasn't sure whether you would feel biased about being on the opposing side against him."

I was frozen. It was strange to hear that name again, they rarely talked about him around me at CEDEF as they knew it was a touchy subject for me.

"Er...Melody...?"

I snapped out of it. "Oh..hehe..right..um no..no I don't think I'll feel biased or anything.."

But that was a downright lie of course. Of course I would be a little biased.

Lemitsu looked at me. "...right. Well anyways, the first battle is tomorrow at night on the rooftop of Namimori Middle...um...you don't have to go if you don't want to."

I smiled. Lemitsu knew I was uncertain about meeting Bel again.

"Okay...thanks."

"I guess we'll let you rest now." Basil said.

Basil and lemitsu got up and walked to the door.

Before they left, Lemistu said "By the way, good job going against Superbia Squalo. He's tough."

I smiled. Then they left and closed the door.

I fell back in bed again, hearing a loud creak. My mind was racing.

Tomorrow. Namimori Middle. I'm going to see Bel again.