Fate of Blood: Part I-The Marauder Family

Claremont McKenna...

Timoteo weighed his options.

Reborn told him that Lily did not have a shred of the family trait which Reines has in spades, and awakened Tsuna's. Lily would be very skeptical and make things DIFFICULT, while Reines would believe him while detecting omitted information and such. She is also within a community that has similar security with the Omerta only Shamal knows due to Chrome's medical procedures she would normally not survive from due to low chances(and organs too old for her and damaged with both smoking and drinking) even with her mother's organs if not for her other abilities and resources that she was able to cleanse the organs into perfect health, and make it 'age appropriate' for the girl.

The only thing Shamal revealed, is that the procedures requiring certain resources 'cost one hell of a sum'.

So she's not likely to talk anytime soon but regarding Vongola, she's already neck-deep in because she's his niece.

So in the College, at Auen Hall, Reines has a visitor in her room.

'Yes?'

'Can we talk a bit young lady? I am Tsunayoshi's grandfather.' he called out as he flared his Sky Flames for her to feel.

'Er Timoteo, you sure about this?' Coyote asked, referring to his Sky's stunt.

'Its the only way for her to feel safely while behind a door Coyote.' said Timoteo as Reines opened the door.

'...you're legit.' she declared as Timoteo flashed his guardians a victorious smile. 'Your flames however, feel like matured wine in contrast to Tsuna-chan's pure water.'

That got the old man sputtering as his Guardians either snickered or snorted before coming inside her bedroom.

'So what does Vongola's Head want with me?' Reines asked Timoteo. 'Last I checked, you should still be in hospital after being a living fuel tank.'

'I have recovered quite fast due to your transfusion actually.' Timoteo told her. 'Your power has all doctors baffled and both Shamal and Reborn are at a loss as Flame Transfusions take a while to settle down and heal, but my recovery was too fast for disbelief when normally I'd be under for months due to near organ failure.'

'Ah, that has something to do with my other familial ties, but due to Statute of Secrecy, can't talk about it.' Reines shook her head. 'I'll get in trouble now that I'm a legal adult by law. The age there is seventeen and I'm nineteen now. Had I been sixteen below I'd get leniency but as an adult I'll be properly sanctioned. I had to go through proper channels just to tell Shamal but he too, has to be silenced.'

'I see...'

'So why have you come to see me other than ties relating to Tsuna-chan as his mentor?'

'Well, since you exhibited a trait only the Vongola Bloodline should have...it was imperative we had to do a blood check on your family.' said Timoteo to Reines' disbelief regarding the blood check.

'Blood check? Family trait?' she asked, bamboozled.

'Vongola has what we call 'Hyper Intuition'.' Schnitten elaborated. 'A powerful near-psychic instinct that's never wrong and very few powers can deceive. And your instincts are highly accurate and very powerful and so far, until we found out about you, we thought Tsunayoshi was the most powerful Vongola Descendant since the founder Vongola Primo, Giotto.'

'...I'm not a believer of fate but I guess it has a tendency of working to ensure destiny.' Reines sighed. 'What did you find out that not even we know about?'

'Your grandmother's mother Leonora was a fake name given to her lover before leaving Rosette to him. Leonora was in fact, my mother, Daniela di Vongola.' said Timoteo softly. 'Rosette is my older half-sister whose father is from the Spade Family who were Archdukes since Giotto's time. That makes Lily my niece and you my grand-niece.' that bomb caused a pair of green eyes to widen. 'Both of you having Vongola blood through my mother.'

'Really? That means...Tsuna-chan and I are cousins?' Reines croaked out incredulously. Sure she's shocked but at the same time, also happy as she is very fond of him.

'Distant cousins, yes.' said Timoteo. 'According to Reborn, he was really happy that you really are his 'big sis'.' he chuckled fondly. 'That boy is very fond of you.'

'Well, I did raise him for three years.' said Reines sheepishly before sighing. 'That mother of his...apparently if I never came to Namimori she herself would have emotionally and psychologically destroyed him. And its not even his fault.'

'So far, what did you follow regarding your instincts?' Timoteo asked her as its drifting to a topic that would make her hostile to him if she ever finds out the truth behind Tsuna's condition.

'Well, it drove my family and cousin Neville up the wall in my younger days in the farm.' Reines giggled. 'It started when we learned how to help out in the farm by being shepherds...and for some reason the animals like me a lot that I got that job permanently until I moved out. They also liked my cousin since somehow, the grass grows faster and that means more fresh grass. Somehow I'd know which cow is pregnant or sick or injured and where exactly...and when I was taught baking, mine always turns out better than what was said in recipe books since I did my own thing.'

'Then in school...since its an international school, there's loads of foreigners there. I ended up with an unofficial-but-approved FL Club because I felt a strong need to be multi-lingual...and learn combat. Why that came to mind I never knew until Iemitsu-san told me of the Mafia years later in my life.' she said, shaking her head. 'Eleven years old...I met my cousin's parents who are mentally-ill and traumatized after cruel torture in the hands of terrorists they were mental wrecks. I was able to use my flames to restore their sanities and personalities flawlessly. My cousin and his grandmother was so happy in tears their whole clan owed me a Life Debt. I did it because I felt I can do it.'

'What?!'

'B-but that's...normally impossible!' Bouche sputtered out.

'My instincts agree with you. Normally for normal Sky Flames, Harmonization to such level is impossible.' said Reines seriously as the ninth generation did a double-take. 'Its my paternal side, through my father's blood and supernatural side that made my flames different and capable of such absurd feats. What you'd call impossible and ridiculous, is possible through me and possibly mother if she trained her flames enough because she awakened a trait at a young age that made her a part of 'the community' by our laws. Probably a mutation of Harmony unique to only me for now as mother hasn't fully-trained hers yet so we don't know until then.' the men exchanged looks at this. If such power is to stay in the Vongola, the descendants will become more powerful.

'Ten years old, in a field trip in Milan...I met a boy who told me all about Sky Flames...this was after I met him while he's on the run from two gunmen and since they saw me with him, I was mistaken for an associate and he took me with him to safety. He got hurt protecting me. Blood loss dulled his senses he didn't sense a sniper on the roof so I turned him to stone since until the hospital incident, I thought turning things to stone was all I can do until the hospital incident...and then he told me that for my safety, never step foot in Italy ever again because Skies are rare anything can happen to me against my will just for the sake of having me, an unprotected Sky.'

'Then when I talked to that boy on what languages he knows since its in his job requirement...I got interested in Japanese and for middle school, I decided to go to Japan after getting basic courses done upon graduating elementary. I looked up the Homestay Program and I found plenty of families willing to host me in Namimori...but my feelings led me to choose the Sawada Family. How would I know that my feelings led to a cousin I never knew existed?' she shook her head.

'Well, that's fate at work alright.' said Brow Nie Jr. wryly. 'By the way, who is this boy you met in Milan?'

'Squally.' Reines chirped cheerfully.

'Squally?'

'You know him as Squalo.'

'Squalo?!' the old men sputtered, as in their minds, the current Sword Emperor flashed in their minds.

'I call him Squally all the time!' Reines giggled with a fond look on her face. 'He promised to never tell anyone I'm a Sky for years but...considering recent events, his promise is now moot is it?' she said with a somber smile. 'Who in Vongola knows? Mother and I work just as hard to keep our flames secret to protect us from the Mafia who wants a Sky by hook and crook and now this.'

'Well, just us, Tsunayoshi's generation, Iemitsu, Shamal and Reborn who knows. That's very few and good enough for your safeties.' Timoteo promised her.

'I see. That's a relief then. I worry for my cute little brothers but...'

'We know dear.' Timoteo smiled. 'You made it clear you wish to remain a civilian. We will do our best to keep you out.'

'That would be wonderful.' Reines smiled. 'My family and I live in an isolated place due to our farm we're like sitting ducks if the wrong people find out about us. Other than being happy, what else did he say about us being cousins?'

'Well...Hibari-kun made it clear he wants to pursue you and asked him for his approval.' Reines choked. 'Tsunayoshi gives him and one other his blessing as he approves of only two men he feels would take good care of you in marriage.'

'Marriage?! Kyo-chan is my pupil and my younger brother figure!' Reines sputtered out. 'I-I know he confessed his feelings to me but I just can't see him as anything but a brother...' she stammered out in a flustered panic. 'I-its like incest!'

'You're not even blood related you know.' Coyote snorted.

'I know but I raised those boys for three years! What the hell is this, the Hikaru Genji plan?!' Reines squawked in horror.

'The reference is lost on us.' Timoteo blinked owlishly.

'Reverse Wife Husbandry, only, I didn't kidnap him!' NOW they choked. 'Jeez, now what am I gonna do?' the blonde moped. 'I thought being away would make him give up but apparently not?!'

'Well, he clearly didn't.' Timoteo chuckled. 'Two men your cousin approves for you but Dino met you only twice and he barely got to know you in person and Kyoya-kun knew you for years so let's just see what happens.'

'You've GOT to be joking.' Reines whimpered gloomily. 'Moreover I have no intentions of marrying some guy I don't even know to preserve the bloodline! I believe in marrying out of love not out of convenience so I appreciate not to pull one over me or Vongola will have a lot of tacky statues in the near future, Vindice be damned.' she warned them with a steely gaze. 'I know Kyo-chan but seriously, no, just no.' she choked out. 'And I barely know Dino even if Tsuna-chan approves!'

'Well, we came to see you first so you can vouch for us for both your mother and grandmother.' said Timoteo. 'I hope her family has no bad history of cardiac arrest shocks?'

'Well no but they'll certainly faint.' Reines sighed. 'I'll have to vouch for you personally.' she said as she blasted fire off her hands and made an oval out of it. When the center vanished, it showed the front of the family home. Reines stood up and went through. 'Fastest way to Switzerland without jet lag! Are you coming?'

'Er, Tim, we really should keep this one in the family through the breeding plan we have in mind...her abilities cannot be passed down to the wrong family.' said Bouche in concern.

'I know but it'll be a difficult road but we'll damn get there for sure before I kick the bucket.' Timoteo swore as they entered the ring of fire to be in the alps.

xxx

The house...

'Mom's probably at the Butchery Shop.' said Reines, noting that the house is empty. 'Every three or four years, or even six we butcher the adult cows and bulls after they made some calves. And when we have too many chickens, we cull them too. So many and just two of them with no employees make this work real rough.'

'Then why don't you hire any?' Timoteo asked her, perplexed.

'Hey, we're raising A5 beef here. And its easy for an employee to steal a cow behind our back without paying a fortune so we really don't hire out of paranoia. That, and its easy to steal a chicken or two and hundreds of eggs. Not only that, we might fall victim to an inside job we don't trust easily even if it meant one hell of a job.'

That made sense, as the family earns one hell of a fortune with the business.

'Er by the way...why do the pictures move?' Brow Nie asked nervously as the pictures DO move.

'Well we made them move with a little help.' Reines chuckled. 'Much better than normal photos no? Just leave them be.' she said as the mafioso marveled at the photos in interest.

'Horrible fashion sense though.' he remarked wryly.

'Shaddap before they hear you. They're still sentient in there and you'll find it creepy if all photos in the house glare at you if you're not one of my kind.' Reines smirked mischievously. 'Want to test that?'

'No thank you!' the Sun Guardian said quickly with a gulp, stiffening in his seat nervously. That would be creepy indeed!

After a long wait with Reines even making dinner for a large number of people, the adults finally got back from work, fresh from the showers.

'Reines?!' the family adults squawked before their eyes fell on the middle and old men present.

'And who are all these old geezers?!' Sirius squawked out, causing his wife to dope-slap him.

'Mom, Siri, I have confirmed legitimacy over about what they're about to tell everyone, otherwise they'd be stone ages ago.' said Reines grimly. 'I will also call grandma and grandpa about this matter.' she said, opening yet another rift to a living room where apparently, a couple was watching TV until the fire rift.

'Oh! Visiting from school dear?' Jefferson Evans spoke.

'Er grandpa, grandma, our guests have quite a tale that will change our lives forever.' Reines spoke. 'But I ask of you to keep an open mind as I confirmed everything myself and despite their occupation, they are a legitimate organization specializing in protection, NOT criminals. If they were they'd be statues by now.' the Evanses and the magicals stared at the youngest in the family.

'Er, must your solution to everything be 'turn to stone'?' Coyote croaked out in an annoyed, deadpan voice.

'That's normally what I do to anyone who crosses us or anyone who pisses me off.' Reines said wryly. 'Like I said, be open-minded and understanding. Reaction time can wait AFTER Mr. Vongola explains everything. OK?'

'When you put it that way, it must be something big.' Lily frowned worriedly.

'But first, have dinner because hearing all this on an empty stomach can lead to irrationality.' Reines snorted. 'Be back for the Vongolas in four hours, I have a project to be submitted in two days!' and she left by rift.

'...I guess we start with dinner first.' said Timoteo numbly as his eyes fell on his young-looking older sister(she looks younger by twenty years somehow) while he himself, looked age-appropriate for someone in his. At least she still has gray hair and her back is slightly hunched.

'I'm dying of curiosity though but if Reines vouched for them and they're still alive, I guess we really ought to listen until they're done talking.' said Sirius.

They soon found out what Reines found out.

Timoteo dropped the family blood check first and relations. With documents about the DNA Test to match.

'S-seriously?' Rosette croaked out. 'Mother lied to father on who she is?'

'Its for both your safety as Vongola has a lot of enemies, most likely.' said Timoteo. 'I would know since I had to deal with them on a daily basis with my Guardians. And even before that, our mother put up with them too. Then she never told me I had a sister. I just found out several decades later when Reborn, Tsunayoshi's tutor began suspecting Reines that led to a DNA Test. The poor dear is just as stunned...and her former-pupil-revealed cousin is extremely happy as he loved her like an older sibling he wished he had and Reines was happy that the boy she loved like a brother...well, in a way he is one to her.' he took out a photo of a photo in a frame showing Reines in her middle school years with two japanese boys happily hugging her torso while she has an arm around each boy. 'The boy with spiky hair is Tsunayoshi. But what worries her is the family occupation that Tsunayoshi inherited from me.'

'As you know, we are a Mafia Organization specializing in Protection and Anti-Mafia that the Underworld pretty much hates our guts for obvious reasons.' Timoteo continued. 'As a result, this family is bathed in blood. Which is why that after revealing our existence to you, we will protect you from afar.'

'But still, why a little boy?' Lily choked out. 'This smiling child, inherit an organization...?' she croaked as she looked at the photo of the little boy. He'd be 14 by now!

'Well, all of my sons were murdered in a bid to destroy Vongola by destroying the known heirs.' said Timoteo gloomily and this revelation stunned them. 'We had no choice in the matter. We will protect the Potters and Evanses by keeping your existence secret, and protect Tsunayoshi until he and his guardians are powerful enough on their own. But still Lily, while Rosette is safe being an unawakened Sky, you only have one guardian and Reines is worse, having no guardian which really worries me.'

'Well, I'm in hiding from the remnants of the terrorist cult that led to my husband's death I fear the risk of exposure and discovery while looking for Guardians. I'm not a fighter like my daughter.' said Lily softly. 'Reines accidentally killed his killer as a baby by accident but at least she avenged James that way but they're still around. As for Reines, she laments she hasn't found anyone and she's feeling resigned to being a lone Sky,' Timoteo sputtered at that. 'So she resorts to becoming stronger to protect herself until she meets her Guardian matches. Until then she'd stay away from Italy where the hotbed of flame users are.'

'That's...rather disheartening.'

'For her it is as being a lonely Sky is uncomfortable for her while I'm alright with Remus alone.' said Lily. 'At least I'm not alone but still...'

'I see. But Lily, any plans on remarrying soon for further protection? You're still a young lady.' Timoteo pointed out as Jefferson twitched.

'Unless Reines has their seal of approval, no!' Lily scoffed. 'Let's face it uncle, if a man shows an interest in me, it would be for my big bank account and an instant cushy life where he can happily mooch off me.' she said curtly. 'That's the future I see if a man ever shows interest in me!' she said airily. 'So far with Remus with me, we appear to be a married couple to deter suitors away!'

'Sorry Mr. Timoteo but without Reines, we put our foot down.' said Remus firmly. 'Her instincts never led us astray for years and it never failed us not even once. And most people marry only for convenience these days, rarely out of genuine affection. We'd sooner kill them ourselves to protect Lily and Reines. If she approves, then we're amenable to trying things out. Lily is my Sky so her happiness and safety is my priority. Moreover her husband was once a very good friend of mine, he showed me a lot of kindness and I owe him so much that I will not do anything less.'

'Is that so?'

'Ahem! Why are you suggesting that my daughter remarry? While I can see where this is going, there's still Petunia and that delinquent son of hers, Dudley!' said Jefferson gruffly.

'Er...about them...' Timoteo looked like he swallowed a bug. 'According to investigations, they died 7 years ago in a horrible gas accident.'

'WHAT?!'

'How?!' Jefferson sputtered out. 'How did it happen?!' he cried in horror. While he cared nothing for his daughter's husband and son, he was still deeply affected by his daughter's death.

'Their electric stove. They found a damaged wire apparently chewed by a rat most likely...and the gas valves are opened...and while the family were having dinner in the kitchen, the gas that was leaking lit up, the fire spread and then things blew up along with half the house according to the coroner since firefighters had to come to put the fire out.' said Timoteo softly. 'At the very least...its a quick death. They didn't suffer.' he reassured them. 'It took me a while to accept that I lost one of my nieces and a grand-nephew whom I never even had the chance to meet.' Rosette and Lily broke down at this while Jefferson was utterly pale and in dismay.

'A-and the last thing I did was argue with Petunia about that delinquent son of hers...' he choked out, burying his face in his hands.