Summary:
Fran's not dumb; she can tell she's only a replacement. She's Yuni's elder sister, but it was official that Yuni would be Boss after Aria died; it's clear everyone liked her kind, gracious and cheery attitude over Fran's indifferent, cold and cynical one. Yuni was the trusting, benevolent "Aria's daughter". Fran was the suspicious, bitter "spitting image of Aria's husband". She's even born with the "wrong" Flame; a strong primary Mist and a weak secondary Sky. But now that Yuni's vanished, Fran's the (grudging) Giglio Nero Boss, and will be the one meeting with Gesso. She's got a bad feeling about their Boss, though; Byakuran's intrigued by a Fran who differs from her parallel selves. Meanwhile, Yuni being gone has a greater significance than any of them realize. TYL!Fran, Fem!Fran, Very AU.
Disclaimer:
KHR! rights go to Akira Amano.
The cover picture is not mine. It belonged to an insanely talented deviantart artist who I have no way of contacting, so please don't sue me.
Reviews:
Thank you, 'Frances', for your review. Coincidental names, eh? :] 'Frances Amarante Brume' = Free Woman Everlasting Flower Mist = Fran. Just Fran. Of, well, the Giglio Nero (Black Lily).
Thank you, 'SayaNightshade', for your review. That was mostly because I didn't want to change canon too much for the conversations, but yes, Ignored!Snarky!Commentator!Fran is a must-read. ;]
Thank you, 'turtlehoffmann2251', for your review. Alas, 'tis the fate of the all of the realistic and down-to-earth WTF?ing characters because of 'anime physics'.
Thank you, 'Kat', for your review. I'm glad you liked it. Just don't break a leg while dancing, m'kay? That probably won't help you heal faster...
Quotes:
"It was about what you would expect from some accelerated genius elementary school students. Not very unique or innovative, but unique and innovative enough to suit our means and to not infringe on copyright." - Byakuran
. . .
"I mean, a giant fortress? So cliche. At least do it properly and add killer robots with laser beams of death." - Fran
. . .
"And just so you know, killing all those civilians will be terribly inefficient for our PR, as well as amount to a huge stack of paperwork that will inevitably end up as my responsibility…" - Fran
"Yes, yes, Francy-chan, it'll just be an evacuation. An excuse about some radiation leakage, send some Gray Spell escorts for persuasion, and bam! we're up 5 points in likeability and 'Good Samaritan' rankings. Happy?" - Byakuran
"You know me, Byakuran; I'm never happy." - Fran
. . .
"Aww, now don't be a sore loser, Francy-chan, just because this is the 2412th win in my favor. Out of, you know, 2412 total spars." - Byakuran
. . .
"I can also assure you that both my parents were most happily conjoined in matrimony when they conceived me, so no, I am not a bastard." - Byakuran
. . .
"But didn't you hear? Mafioso shouldn't need things like 'luck' backing them up; that just reeks of inexperience." - Fran
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The doors to the Gray Spell Training Room #16 slid open mechanically with a minor hiss.
"You called, Francy-chan~?" Byakuran poked his spiky white head of hair around the doorway, eyes open in curiosity.
Fran paused in the middle of a kata with her bo staff (the 'scepter extension' sphere-cap having been twisted off and set to the side, just as her hat and cloak had been in order to make way for a more suitable training outfit) to gesture him closer.
"Yes," she replied, fluidly moving into a high-kick and vicious downwards slice.
"It's been a day since the transmissions, where you mentioned the 'Choice' match, right? I called you over to ask about the game and to request a spar; ten days, or rather, nine days as of now, isn't very much to train. Plus, I remember you vaguely describing 'Choice' in passing mention a few times over the past years, but you've never really gone in-depth. Something about two bases and two targets?"
He sauntered over and reclined on the cold bleacher seats, resting his chin on his knuckles and leaning forward to smile down on the tealette, close-eyed.
"Ah, that. See, 'Choice' is a fun little wargame Sho-chan and I came up when we were students; something to pass the time with, when we first met in… elementary, was it? You fight by making multiple choices."
"Hence the name," Fran concluded, threading Hard Mist Flames up and down the twirling staff.
Byakuran nodded. "The players are divided into two armies with their pick of the battlefield. Each player composes a team of soldiers for their 'army'. They also select a home base position and personnel. A battle is engaged to determine the victorious side. The victor has their choice of the loser's possessions as a reward. One reward."
"That's how the game goes?" she clarified tonelessly, with no indicator of what she was thinking.
"That's how the game goes," he confirmed, opening a new bag of marshmallows.
"That was a lot simpler than i was expecting. It sounds just like a game version of a real-life skirmish. What about the targets? I vividly remember you mentioning something about targets, because I caught you trying to stick marshmallow fluff all over the inside lining of my hat while using your rambling as a distraction."
"Well, it was originally a board game we created when we were bored. Give us some credit, would you, Francy-chan~? It was about what you would expect from some accelerated genius elementary school students. Not very unique or innovative, but unique and innovative enough to suit our means and to not infringe on copyright.
"But yes, that's not it. That's just the basics. You see, Sho-chan got so absorbed into the game, that he started adding a lot more elaborate events and conditions, until it ended up more complicated than our games of Monopoly: Special High-Tech Millefiore Version.
"Huh, it's been awhile since our last game, actually, what with that unpleasant business with the Varia invasion and the messy Meron base affairs and all… oh, oops, sorry Francy-chan, off-topic again. Yikes, alright, alright, I'll get on with the explanation, no need to glare at me while pointing your bo staff.
"So, after Sho-chan added all the extras, it ended up morphing into a computer game. Then he added more freedom, with a lot of other updates… And by the end of the game there was a giant fortress running around the display."
"I see," she intoned with mock graveness.
For about five milliseconds.
"Wow, Shoichi's got bad taste. I mean, a giant fortress? So cliche. At least do it properly and add killer robots with laser beams of death. Oh, wait, no, Spanner could probably help with that now, right?"
"Well, we were both young and inexperienced," Byakuran shrugged diplomatically. "It seemed cool at the time, and Sho-chan certainly was enamored with the graphics."
"And when it translates to real life…?" Fran trailed off.
Byakuran smiled, with a curl of sharpness leaking over.
"Oh, that's simple. We'll just have the Millefiore clear out a few cities as the battlefield choices."
She didn't glance up, and her voice remained level.
"I'm assuming you mean to twist the scenario into a show of power and ruthlessness to lower their morale? Psychological warfare? And just so you know, killing all those civilians will be terribly inefficient for our PR, as well as amount to a huge stack of paperwork that will inevitably end up as my responsibility…"
Pouting, he performed an exaggerated eye roll in her direction.
"Yes, yes, Francy-chan, it'll just be an evacuation. An excuse about some radiation leakage, send some Gray Spell escorts for persuasion, and bam! we're up 5 points in likeability and 'Good Samaritan' rankings. Happy?"
"You know me, Byakuran; I'm never happy," Fran retorted with dry sarcasm.
(At least, he interpreted it as sarcasm to his ears.
Meanwhile, Fran probably didn't intend for it to be taken that way.)
"Anyway," he coughed fakely, "there are subtle differences between various versions, since a lot of improvisation is worked out during the game itself. The number of soldiers allowed is chosen before the battle starts. if one side fails to assemble the required number…
"... they lose."
He mimed tears and put on another pout, complete with thumbs-down on both hands.
Fran appeared dubious.
"Isn't that a little… too much? Then it's basically an one-hit loss. Not much of a game; at least, not the kind of drawn-out dramatic high-stakes games that you seem to prefer."
A careless shrug, and Byakuran returned to his former position, chin on knuckles and smiling.
"I suppose you could put it that way. The battlefield is also chosen before the battle, but in this case we won't have to worry about that. The required size of the battlefield, which is a diameter of 10 kilometers, fits perfectly for Sector J29's City #51. Our home bases have to be smaller than 50 square meters.
"I've taken the liberty to have one specially commissioned by the White Spell; it should be done in around 4 days, leaving 5 days for the Gray Spell to bulk up and add extra defenses. If that's alright with you? Marie-Anne and the rest of the Gray Spell captains were quite adamant about having all of my orders verified by their Spell Commander first."
"I'll talk to them later today," she affirmed. "What are the rest of the rules?"
. . .
"Ah, the base can be freely programmed and designed within your given funds"
"Programmed…? I'll probably recharge on a few 'Mist Batteries', and rig the entire places with Vi's dormant drones.. My last few days before 'Choice' starts will most likely be spent with some physical conditioning and a Flame ban, in order to fill up my reserves naturally and have all of the 'Mist Batteries' ready. Personally stored Flames always seem to be purer, and my Mist Flames are the purest in the Millefiore, anyway," she muttered, seemingly drifting off into her own faraway planning haze.
"Ahem…" he fake-coughed for the second time.
Fran lazily waved her bo staff in his general direction, incorporating it into a series of heavy strikes.
Taking it as a 'go-ahead, Byakuran continued.
"In this real-life 'Choice' game, the young Decimo and his Guardians will be one side, with their Rings and Boxes. The Funeral Wreaths will obviously be on the other side, representing Millefiore. Think of it as recreating a limited war.
"It'll be interesting to see what Sho-chan and the others attempt to whip up as their offense fortress; it'll have to double as lodging, naturally. Preparing an actual base in the real world will be challenge if all they have are their limited supplies. After all, they don't have much time and manpower."
"And of course you've been planning this for… how long?"
"Long enough, Francy-chan, long enough. To be fair, though, I didn't authorize a start to the building of the base until yesterday, after I announced the 10 day countdown."
"But you probably had all the parts manufactured on the production lines and ready to be shipped off for assembly, right? I can remember a few strange custom-order parts being included in past reports from the factories."
"All the better to be prepared with. Didn't you like efficiency?"
"I just asked a question and gave an observation. No accusations here."
"Then my answer to that question would be 'yes'. Anyway, can I ask a favor of you?"
The skin around Fran's eyes tightened, minuscule, a nearly imperceptible sign of suspicion.
"As if you'd actually give me a say in the matter. What is it?"
"Oh, nothing much," Byakuran replied in a reassuring tone.
She stopped her katas and stared at him, most definitely not reassured in the slightest.
He sighed with faux sadness, clutching his hands to his chest theatrically.
"In a few days I'll be hacking into the Vongola's communication center to tell them the details. It'd be best if the Millefiore stands united, with both bosses. Come with?"
A beat of silence.
Then, a simultaneously resigned and monotone, "Fine."
"Now about that spar?" she reminded.
Grinning, Byakuran jumped down with a flourish-accented bow.
"Conditions?"
"No Flames or Box Weapons; anything goes otherwise."
Clang!
The titanium of Fran's bo staff reflected the blow of Byakuran's punch.
Undeterred, he leapt back and she similarly disengaged.
…
…
…
They dragged themselves out the doors three hours later, headed to the Infirmary, equally covered in scorch marks (because the 'no Flames' rule was bound to be broken), and equally satisfied, even if they showed it differently.
"Up for another spar tomorrow?"
"Hells no."
"Aww, now don't be a sore loser, Francy-chan, just because this is the 2412th win in my favor. Out of, you know, 2412 total spars."
Yup.
Totally two respectable and feared Mafia Bosses.
Yuuuuuuuup.
(I know, I know; how did the world fall to them?
Answer: Combined insanity is better than one.)
"This is what you've had the White Spell technicians work on for the last two days?"
Fran managed to insert an inflection of derision in her flat words.
Pouting, Byakuran took a spoonful of his ice cream sundae.
"You don't like it? I thought the animation and theme music was cute. Don't I look adorable in a chibi circus outfit?"
"Yes, because that's where you should belong," she deadpanned, pouring a large helping of guava preserves over her slice of frozen cheesecake.
"Ah, so mean~, Francy-chan. And after I paid for your dessert and everything… isn't this a date, then?"
"All the meals in the Millefiore base are free, so you didn't pay for anything other than perhaps labor, in which case we went Dutch, since I'm a co-Boss and therefore paid for the labor as much as you did. Plus, this is just us eating lunch alone on the Balcony. Which we do almost everyday. So how would this count as a date?"
She paused.
"Don't answer that."
He nodded absently, making a 'shush'-ing gesture with his hand that wasn't holding the spoon.
"Oh, wait, the video's starting."
The flat-screen monitor in front of them blinked into color, revealing the shocked faces of the younger Vongola X Generation.
And, you know, Reborn in a fairy outfit holding a lit-up wand.
('Cuz he's a troll like that.)
. . .
"Well? Was that amusing?" Byakuran asked cheerfully, a spoon sticking out of his mouth.
Fran gave a little half-hearted fingers-waggle from where she sat, across the table from her white-haired counterpart.
"Byakuran…" was the general murmur in the Vongola base.
"And Fran…" she complained with an eerily blanked face.
"I was bored, so I came to play," he explained.
Holding out a spoonful of marshmallow-flavored ice cream, he offered, "Want some?"
Gokudera snarled and clenched his fist.
"Bastard… you playing with us!?"
"Just kidding," Byakuran informed the silver-haired teen, happily eating the spoonful. "I can also assure you that both my parents were most happily conjoined in matrimony when they conceived me, so no, I am not a bastard.
"I'm actually making a courtesy call about 'Choice'. I said that I'd give you the details later, right?"
"As if you had any courtesy," Fran sighed boredly, lacing her fingers together and resting her head on them.
"Be at Namimori Shrine at noon in six days," he instructed.
"In six days…" Takeshi whispered.
"Namimori Shrine…" Gokudera repeated.
"We're fighting in Namimori!?" Tsunayoshi shrieked.
Byakuran laid the flat of a palm against his left cheek, still smiling that close-eyed smile.
"Hmm… I wonder…"
His eyes opened and he pulled away his hand.
"For now, make the necessary preparations and bring everybody with you."
Lavender irises narrowed.
"You'll at least need to bring all of your friends who came from the past."
An immediate outrage was incited.
"What!?"
"All of them!?"
"Even Kyoko-chan and Haru?"
"What do you mean!?"
The constant smile turned down, into a rare frown.
"It's more meaningful this way."
"Gives you something to protect, you know?" Fran interjected.
She moved her fork tines in a leisurely circle, tracing it in the air for emphasis.
"You'll be disqualified if anyone's missing."
"Hold on a second!" Gokudera leapt forward, clearly furious.
Byakuran ignored him and glossed over the interruption, his eyes closing and the smile back on his face.
"Well, good luck with training then."
"But didn't you hear? Mafioso shouldn't need things like 'luck' backing them up; that just reeks of inexperience," Fran couldn't resist adding.
They waved mockingly, in unison.
The screen blacked out.
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Yup, things are picking up.
Argh, stupid PARCC testing tomorrow, and for the rest of the week.
As well as the track team starting up on Tuesday.
… Be prepared for sluggish or short updates, you guys. :[
And yes, I know that the chapter title's not a perfect fit, but hey, what else could I name it?
(I'm open to suggestions, actually.)
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~Please Review.~
~I love reviews more than Fuuta likes ranking random and strangely useful topics!~