...hello? Um. Yeah. I honestly didn't think I'd take so long to update but a lot of shit happened irl so...yeah...

I'm married, yay! -throws clumps of paper) After my wedding, I got to spend a week with my husband before he was shipped off for Army stuff~ haven't seen him in almost 100 days and haven't talked to him in over a month via letters (no cell phones allowed where he is)

I kinda fell into a mild depression (lost like 25 or so pounds from stress) and had major writers block. I barely even touched my laptop (any online activity you saw from me was from my phone). But anyways, enough about my bullshit.

Gonna be honest. This chapter was hard to write. Like? I knew what I wanted to get out of this chapter but...not how to get it out? Hence the long wait and writer's block. I just - idk. I won't make any promises but hopefully next update with be faster?


"I'll hide you in my walls
Your body will never be found
I'll wear your skin as a suit,
Pretend to be you
Your friends will like you
More than they used to"

- Ride the Wings of Pestilence by From First to Last


Nadia tackled Carina, Isa and Alessia cradling the other children to their chests as Emilio pressed them behind his heavier build. The long dining table cracked in half under the sudden pressure of Sky Flames as Tsuna just sat there, swallowed up by the sunset inferno.

Nero stood with a wide smile, a steak knife in hand while Santino tried to usher the wives and children out of the room.

"Go get one of your sedatives," Santino instructed Alessia as the painting near the door burst into flames. "Now. And take the children to the safe room. Go." Alessia glanced at her husband, who looked more than happy with watching the room burn, and nodded. She hauled Dante up over her shoulder and sprinted out of the room, her sisters not far behind her with the other children. Emilio pulled his gun, a Arsenal Firearms "Strike One", out of his breast pocket, clicking the safety off.

"This is rude manners, Vongola," the man called out as a flare of flames licked past his cheek. "We were being courteous and you attack us."

"Look at his flames," Nero cooed as he reached a hand out for the heat. "So beautiful. So strong."

"Yes but," Santino spoke out. "Is this kid even conscious? Look at him." Emilio and Nero glanced at the teen's eyes, seeing the blank stare.

Black flickered in the flames, Tsuna's hands twitching as he tilted his head to the side. He slowly stood up, his body weightless as the air seemed to disappear from the room. Tsuna took a step forward, little wisps of flames licking at the carpet under his heels.

Santino threw himself to the side, tucking into a roll as he found shelter behind a flipped over metal serving cart. He tossed one of their expensive rugs up, revealing worn looking floorboards. Santino's fist coated in Lightning flames and he smashed his fist into the wooden flooring, revealing a blood-coated sledge hammer under the shambled material. The man grabbed at the weapon, heaving it out of the floorboards with a grunt. He casted a glance at his brothers.

Emilio was standing where he had been, gun still pointed at the teenager. Nero was bouncing from foot to foot, tossing his steak knife back and forth between his hands with a wide grin.

Tsuna took another step forward. A bullet embedded itself into his thigh. Emilio frowned deeply. Tsuna froze, his head slowly lowering to stare at the blood beginning to blossom from the hole in his leg.

A flare of black flames burst in the corner of the dining room, Emilio and Nero jumping back as the flames engulfed the area. A crater was left in its place, chunks of molding and plaster falling in clumps as the three brothers just stared.

"Wh-what kind of flames are those? I've-I've never heard of black flames," Santino stuttered as he stared at the large hole in the room. Oh, his wife was going to kill him.

"How beautiful," Nero cooed as his smile turned sharp. "I want them."

"No," both Emilio and Santino deadpanned but Nero was lunging, his steak knife bursting with purple flames. Tsuna rose a hand up, casting his flames in front of himself like a protective blanket as Nero slashed at him.

Another bullet ripped through Tsuna's shoulder, near his collarbone. Tsuna stumbled backwards, sucking in a sharp intake of breath as Nero came at him again.

Tsuna ducked, whirling as he coated his leg in flames. His heel buried itself into Nero's stomach, sending the man crashing into the opposite wall. Santino slammed his hammer down in front of Tsuna, sparks of electricity flying out into the air as Emilio shot another bullet.

A red hole opened up along Tsuna's left side, near his hip-bone.

"This kid's not even conscious!" Santino called as he swung his hammer at Tsuna. "How the hell is he attacking?"

"His tutor is The Reborn, for christ's sakes! The man probably had the kid shooting guns in his sleep! Nero, duck!" Emilio roared and Nero tucked forward. Emilio shot another bullet, only to grimace as Tsuna caught the bullet. His flames licked at the metal and the teen dropped the melted round by his feet.

Tsuna surged forward, throwing himself into the air. He propelled himself mid-air, his fists and feet blistering as he slammed his leg down on top of Nero's head. Blood splattered on the carpet as Nero bit through his tongue. Nero's eyes rolled back and he slumped forward. Tsuna used his crumpled body as a springboard, crashing into Santino. The two went tumbling, Tsuna hand alit as he grabbed at Santino's neck.

Black-tinged orange clashed with green as Santino's eyes burned. Santino clawed at Tsuna's clenched fist, his nails cutting into swollen muscle as he tore his fingers right to Tsuna's bones. Tsuna pulled back, Santino's throat a mess of blood and pulsing muscles as he threw a punch. Tsuna was thrown off of Santino, giving the man enough time to scoot away with a trembling hand to his neck. He wheezed, sweat glistening as his breath came out in wet gurgles.

Black flames burst to life by Santino's leg, taking a chunk of the flooring as it flickered in and out of existence like a real flame. Santino screamed, the sound like a drowning cat as he bent over his leg. His knee down was gone, taken by the black flames.

"Motherfucker!" Emilio snarled as he grabbed at Santino's hammer, hurling it at Tsuna. Tsuna easily deflected the projectile and blinked as he saw he was alone in the dining hall.

A trail of blood was all that was left.


Every person had a mindscape - something Chrome learned when Mukuro first taught her about Mist Flames. Illusions were used to trick the mind, tapping into the hidden potential each person carried. Mindscapes could be shaped, destroyed, or created with Mist Flames. Mukuro always stressed this.

Mindscapes could always be shaped, destroyed, or created with Mist Flames.

Chrome's mindscape remained unchanged, even throughout the years. Her mindscape was a neighborhood street, cement fences lining flickering lighting poles during a sunset. Weeds poked from the cracks on the ground, paint chipping off the fences. A small kitten always rested at the end of one of the pathways, narrowed eyes always watching her.

When Mukuro had seen Chrome's mindscape, he'd been surprised that she'd shaped her mind to be of her accident. Chrome took it as a reminder of what pain she'd suffered.

Contrary to popular belief, the illusionary mindscape that Chrome and Mukuro shared was all Mukuro's doing. Those gorgeous blooming flowers? Mukuro. That luscious tree? Mukuro. That pond that glistened against the perfect sun along the horizon? Mukuro.

Chrome loved it. She loved the peace of Mukuro's mind, the warmth that mixed in the air with the rare scent of tree sap. She loved how, contradictory to his personality and actions, his mind was so innocent, so serene, so safe.

Besides herself and Mukuro, Chrome had only ever seen three others' mindscapes. Hibari Kyouya, Sawada Tsunayoshi, and the young Sawada Tsuna.

Kyouya's mindscape was a single room, styled after a traditional Japanese tea room. Tatami mats lined the floor, the walls decorated with katanas and fans. Flower arrangements (all of the ironically using sakura branches as centerpieces) littered the room without any order. The sun would always be peaking through the slits in bamboo sliding doors, the sounds of Hibird chirping being the only noise in his calm mindscape.

Sawada Tsunayoshi's mindscape had been a one-time thing, back when Tsuna got really drunk and had somehow pulled Mukuro and Chrome into his head without thinking. It had been a chaotic experience, his mindscape a blur of rainbow flashes, bouncing kitten inflatables, and loud sirens blaring. Mukuro had explained how certain things, such as drugs or alcohol, could affect how a mindscape is perceived/showed. After experiencing Tsunayoshi's drunken head, Chrome had honestly not wanted to see it sober.

Tsuna's mindscape was startling, to say the least. Tsuna's mindscape was fashioned like a library, bookshelves stretching out like a maze. Each book was labeled with a memory, the conditions of the books varying depending on how positive or negative the memory was for Tsuna. Deeper into the maze of memories was a tiny entrance way that led to a black room. This room was where Tsuna was usually found, if he was stuck in his own mind. Mukuro had explained that due to Tsunayoshi's influence, this room was created to form a connection between the two Tsunayoshi's. Basically, the black room had been what would have become Tsunayoshi's new mindscape, if he had succeeded in taking over.

Chrome rushed through the maze of bookshelves, her Mist Flames twisting around her as she grabbed books off the shelves, throwing them into her illusionary bag. She blindly grabbed books, not caring to read the memories, as the mindscape trembled and twisted like a rubber eraser.

"No, no, no, no," Chrome wheezed as she grabbed a armful of books and threw them into more bags. "This can't be happening! Mukuro-sama! MUKURO-SAMA!" Around her, the books flared in sparks of black-tinged flames, the silence of the library broken by the crackling of wood and paper sparking with embers. Chrome felt a wisp of Mist Flames and Mukuro was suddenly beside her, his eyes narrowed.

"What happened?" Mukuro asked as he waved a hand, his Mist Flames putting the flames out.

"He-something-triggered - I feel him. I don't - I can't explain it but - and his memories are burning and-" Chrome trembled, her eyes wide as she hugged a tiny blue book to her chest.

"Calm down," Mukuro spoke as he glanced around the shuddering mindscape. "Protect as much of his memories as you can, alright? I'll go see if I can help him." Chrome hugged the book tighter to her chest with a fierce nod and the two split up, Chrome grabbing more books and Mukuro strutting down the maze towards the black room.

"You just can't leave us alone, can you?" Mukuro mumbled to himself as he waved a hand, Mist Flames calming the twisting down a bit. Mukuro reached the entrance to the black room. He stopped just outside of it. He could feel Sky Flames from inside. Faint but there. Mukuro steeled himself and took a step into the black room.

"Mukuro."


"Nana!" Iemitsu greeted, his tone tight, his arms stiff at his side. "You look love-"

A sharp slap across the face shut Iemitsu up real fast.

"I-" Nana's cheeks were a dark red, almost purple, "I-I do not know you!" Nana's cry was shrill, a white hot anger drowning out any hurt she may have held at that moment.

She'd sat silent the ride to them, simmering in her thoughts and connecting the pieces. She'd treated it like one of the Go games she'd used to entertain herself with when visiting her grandparents. She'd set up her board, working her mind with different ways to conquer the territory - or in this case, solve the dizzying puzzle that was her current life.

She'd worked through the facts and the speculations fast and - well.

"Mafia!" Nana spat the word like it was the Devil's own blood on her tongue. "The Mafia and you lied to me! Lied to us!" Iemitsu was shrinking back as Nana advanced, his eyebrows knitted in alarm as Nana towered over him.

In the background, Lal Mirch and Oregano discreetly fist-bumped.

"You bring this into my home - into my life! Endanger my child - my children - and you have the nerve to act as if you are doing me a favor by letting me stay ignorant! Iemitsu, Tsunayoshi is my baby. How - how dare you." Nana's tone quieted down, her anger coiling like a sharp knife of disgust and disappointment. A tiredness overtook her twisted expression and her gaze flickered to Ettore and the Guardians, all of whom were staring at her with wide eyes.

Nana exhaled through her nose, settling down onto the chair Reborn pulled out for her. She covered her eyes with her hands, biting her lips.

"I - I do not want to be kept in the dark, Iemitsu." Nana's voice was a feeble whisper. "I want my child back to me safe and sound and I want to know who you are. Are you even the man I fell in love with or was that a lie too?"

"Nana-" Iemitsu casted a glance around them before he frowned. "Not now. Later. First, we have more important things to worry about."

"Like the Varia finding out Tsuna was kidnapped?" Takeshi asked as he glanced up from his cell-phone, Hayato reading the tiny screen over his shoulder.

"You EXTREMELY beat me to tell them," Ryohei spoke while Colonello and Skull just blinked. Lal Mirch saddled over to them, bumping shoulders with Colonello. Colonello burst into a ball of red and steam, stuttering out a greeting while Skull glanced at their matching rings. He gave a gasp as Lal Mirch turned her attention to the Guardians.

"You have their numbers?" Lal Mirch asked, eyebrows pinched together.

"We bonded," Takeshi laughed, thinking back to how he traded torture techniques with Squalo. Ah, yes, bonded. "Squalo says that they're going to come meet up with us!"

"The Varia? In public?" Iemitsu bit out, face hardening. "The Ninth will need to be informed of this and what did I tell you about acting independently?"

"Like we'd listen to you," Hayato grumbled as he looked at Mukuro and Chrome, who were staring blankly into thin air.

Until Chrome was lurching forward, a bit-off scream catching everyone's attention. Chrome doubled forward, hands covering her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the ground.

"Chrome?" Ettore questioned, wary.

Chrome shook her head, tears streaking down her cheeks in hot trails.

"He-" Chrome bit out as Mukuro's body shook, his hand falling heavily on Chrome's shoulder as he came back to the world of consciousness. "He-he-he-"

"Who? Tsuna-sama?" Hayato asked, alert and reaching for the Mist user.

"No-no, I-I'm sorry. I don't know how - but we -" Chrome cut herself with a gasp and she wiped at her face.

"Things just got more complicated," Mukuro breathed out, blood trickling from his nose. He wiped at it, smearing it across his cheek as he frowned down at Chrome.


He was sinking.

Down the abyss of black, air bubbles trailing after him like past regrets on his heels. Ice chips flaked his skin, slowly crawling above him like a layer of ice. Banging echoed above him, like fists hitting against glass walls. Muffled, loud voices sounded overhead, joining the tune of the banging.

Tsuna sunk deeper, his body limp like a ragdoll. The ice particles stretched along the darkness like cobwebs, creating a chilling path for his to fall.

His feet touched solid ground, Tsuna's lips letting out a tiny stream of bubbles as his murky brown eyes stared unblinkingly ahead.

Heated black eyes burned into Tsuna's blank ones.

"Well, well," Tsunayoshi drawled, propped up on a broken throne of ice and mist flames. His prison, or what was left of it, was broken into chunks, black flames slowly eating it away. "This is awkward."

"...Tsunayoshi…?" Tsuna asked, his eyes regaining some of their luster as he blinked. "Wh-what-why-you-you were sealed." Tsuna took a step back, giving a tiny inhale when ice shot up and encased his ankles.

"I was," Tsunayoshi admitted as he checked his nails. If this were any other situation and they were any other people, this would be funny. But as it was with Tsuna staring at a parallel universe self of him from the future who was trying to overtake him and had almost succeeded in doing so already, it as not funny. Not at all.

"But," Tsunayoshi's gaze flickered burning orange for a second, "I dealt with it. Like I told you, we share the same flames. Did you really think your pathetic flames could hold me off? Even with that extra help, my flames are stronger. Always have been, always will. But, that's trivial. The real question is why are you here?" Tsunayoshi jumped off his broken chunks of ice, stepping slowly towards Tsuna.

He prowled around his younger self, black flames flickering against his fingertips as he poked at Tsuna's forehead. Tsuna scrunched his face up, reeling back away from Tsunayoshi.

"I-I don't know?" Tsuna honestly didn't.

"Hm. I don't recall myself being this Dame at this age," Tsunayoshi mumbled lowly to himself. Tsuna bit down on his tongue, lest he yell out 'fight me!'. He was not going to fight with his older self. He was not going to fight with his older self.

"I'm currently controlling your body right now," Tsunayoshi spoke up as he flicked Tsuna on the forehead. Tsuna snapped at the man, dainty fingers drawing back with an amused smirk. "Those pieces of trash can't hide for long."

"...pieces...of...trash?" Tsuna's face twisted into one of clouded confusion. "The-the people who kidnapped me? W-why?"

Tsunayoshi's amused expression fell like a flick of a light switch, a dark glare replacing his previous light mood.

"They are scum," Tsunayoshi snarled as he got right in Tsuna's face, black flames flaring up around them. "They murdered my Guardians."

Tsuna threw his head forward, smashing their foreheads together. Tsunayoshi stumbled back with a hiss and the ice holding Tsuna broke.

"You murdered your Guardians! You did! You killed them! You and your stupid plan with the stupid holes in it and the stupid reasoning that was just stupid! You're stupid! These people didn't do anything! They are children! If anything, they're the victims!"

"VICTIMS?!" Tsunayoshi exploded, grabbing Tsuna by the collar of his shirt. Tsuna grabbed at Tsunayoshi's own shirt collar, baring his teeth. "THEY ARE NOT VICTIMS!"

"Maybe not in your timeline!" Tsuna spat and kicked Tsunayoshi in the shin. Tsunayoshi winced and Tsuna shoved at the man. "But in this timeline - my timeline - these people are harmless! They're victims of a crime they haven't even committed yet and being blamed for something they may not even do! And if they do do something now, I think they have the fucking right to after everything that has happened to them! Hibari-san destroyed their Family! To them, this was like being punched in the face for no reason! You don't expect them to fight back? Are you stupid?"

"This is a waste of time! Stay here! I'm taking full control of your body!" Tsunayoshi growled, shoving Tsuna away.

"Wait, what? No! HEY!" Tsuna lunged forward, grabbing Tsunayoshi by the arm. "You are not taking control of my body! You-"

Blood leaked past his lips, speckling across Tsunayoshi's face as he blinked his black eyes at Tsuna's suddenly pale complexion.

"Wha-?" Tsuna hunched over, cupping his mouth as more blood spilled past his fingers.

"See," Tsunayoshi spoke as he flicked a hand, black flames devouring the ice particles that were slowly creeping towards them. "It'd be better if I take full control. Your body is going on auto-pilot right now, kid. Which means you aren't protecting yourself as you should be." Tsunayoshi bent down to catch Tsuna's eyes.

"I'll deal with them," Tsunayoshi spoke and turned. "And then I'll deal with you."

"No," Tsuna wheezed, reaching a blood-covered hand out. He clamped down on Tsunayoshi's arm with a steel-like grip and glared. "You aren't going anywhere."


"Hey Squalo!" Takeshi chirped as the group awkwardly bustled into one of the Vongola's countless safe houses.

The safe house, which was really a hidden cabin in the woods on the outskirt of some small village, was almost bare of furniture. Save Xanxus's "needed" furniture, the safe house was a skeleton.

Squalo, who held a wine bottle over his head, slowly lowered it away from Xanxus's head and nodded in greeting.

"Fucking trashes," Xanxus greeted, his eyes flashing to Nana. He narrowed his eyes, pursing his lips out. Wasn't she…?

"Oh, don't mind me," Nana spoke, waving her hands as she stood between Lal Mirch and Oregano. "Pretend I'm not here. I'm just a clueless outsider after all." Nana's words were like metal poles, stabbing into Iemitsu who physically doubled over.

"...what the fuck," Xanxus whispered to himself. He turned to Squalo, who just shrugged. "Get her the fuck outta here! No civilians allowed!" Xanxus slammed a fist down on his throne arm, glaring at Oregano. Oregano raised an eyebrow at the man's hostility before she looked at Reborn, who gently touched her arm.

"Take Nana to another room. It's rude to discuss business in front of a lady," Reborn explained with a sharp look to Iemitsu. Nana opened her mouth, no doubt ready to protest, but clamped it shut when Reborn shook his head.

"Come, Nana-san, we shall leave these brutes to talk," Oregano spoke, looking less than pleased at being sent away. Nana frowned, pursing her lips. Oregano ushered the mother out and the men turned back to Xanxus.

"What's the situation?" Xanxus asked, leaning back in his throne. Squalo inched closer to the man, setting the wine bottle down on the arm of his throne.

"Tsuna-sama is safe, for the most part," Hayato reported as he stepped up, Takeshi flanking him. "Drugged-"

"Drugged?!" Squalo actually sounded almost concerned.

"-and missing a tooth, but besides that, we believe that he is unharmed. The...mental connection he holds with our two Mist users was destroyed, however." Hayato glanced at the two, who were looking down at the ground.

"Is that supposed to fucking mean shit?" Xanxus asked as his eyes trickled towards Takeshi, who was flicking his switch-blade open and closed.

"Too much is happening right now," Chrome spoke up. "Let's just focus on getting Boss back."

"If it's even still the little one," Mukuro responded. Xanxus stared, processing the words.

"OH FUCK NO!" Xanxus roared, throwing the wine bottle at the Guardians. "Fuck that! Fuck this! I am not dealing with that psycho shit again!"

"Right now, let's focus on retrieving Tsuna," Ettore stepped in, holding his hands up in a placating manner. "The Avvoltoio Family is behind this. We're currently trying to find where they're hiding, since they aren't at any of the known safe houses."

"Ushishisishi," Bel laughed as he walked into the large entrance hall, Fran following behind him. Between the two of them were three tied up men, their faces swollen messes. "Maybe these peasants will know where they are."

"Took you trash long enough," Xanxus snarled. Levi materialized from the shadows, starting those who never saw the man interact as he inhaled Xanxus's hair loudly.

"Boss, these men were seen around the ruins of the Avvoltoio Mansion. We can torture them for informations," Levi explained as Lussuria leaned against Mammon, humming. Mammon, themselves, was having an awkward stare-down (not that you could tell from their hooded face) with Reborn, Colonello, and Skull. Skull was the most obvious in his gawking while Colonello shifted awkwardly besides Lal Mirch.

"Ooooh," Takeshi spoke up, his eyes glistening. "That sounds like fun! I wanna play!"

"...play?" Squalo looked ready to explode, until he saw the other Guardians shift warily away from the Rain user.

"Uhuh! Hahah hey, let's play a game!" Takeshi crouched down in front of the three tied up men, his smile stretching wide as he saw them nervously shift in their binds. "Wanna play Duck, Duck, Goose? Or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes?"

The three tied up men exchanged glances with each other. Was this teenager for real?

"Fuck off, brat!" One of the men spat, saliva and blood hitting Takeshi on the cheek. Takeshi wiped the spit off him, smiling.

"Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes it is then!" Takeshi laughed.

"What the hell does he think he's doing?" Iemitsu snarled, stepping forward.

"Iemitsu," Reborn started, "Remember that video tape?"

Ettore and Iemitsu froze, exchanging glances.

"Yamamoto is a natural hitman," Reborn explained. "So let him do what he wants. He has a reason."

"While Baseball dumbass does that," Hayato spoke up, turning to Chrome and Mukuro, "try and connect with Tsuna-sama again."

"I'll EXTREMELY be here to keep these guys alive until we get all the info we need," Ryohei spoke as he walked up beside Takeshi.

"Great! Let's begin!" Takeshi laughed.

"Should we let them do what they want?" Squalo asked Xaxus as the Varia watched, intrigued.

"Why not," Xanxus huffed. "Fuck it."

"Head, Shoulders, Knees or Toes?" Takeshi sung out. Ettore frowned.

"I thought it was 'and Toes'," the Italian mentioned.

"Shush," Hayato waved a hand. "Watch."

"Die!" One of the other men growled.

"Head-"

"I hope Vongola dies a slow and painful-"

Blood splattered against the wood panels as Takeshi slid his pocket knife out of the man's throat. The man pitched backwards, gurgling as his blood bubbled past his mouth.

"He picked Head," Takeshi hummed, his icy eyes sliding to the two remaining men. The two stared at their fallen comrade.

"Head, Shoulders, Knees, or Toes?" Takeshi laughed, his smile all teeth.


"Jesus christ!" Emilio wheezed as he brushed some of Santino's bangs back from his sweaty, clammy forehead. Santino was gasping for breath, tears freely streaming down his temples as Isa bowed over him, her grim face illuminated against her yellow flames.

"What caused that outburst? A side effect of the drugs?" Emilio asked Alessia, who was wrapping up his newly-healed nub of a leg. Isa, thanks to her flames, was able to stop the bleeding and Nero had caused the cells in his skin to multiple, allowing the skin to regrow over his missing flesh. Now it was just a swollen, throbbing nub.

"I've never seen an outburst like that before," Alessia mused as Nero hummed pleasantly to himself, tracing his finger down his knife. "That was something different. Almost animalistic."

"Is-," Santino croaked out, saliva and blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. Isa shushed him. "Is-children-safe?"

"Nadia is watching them, keeping them safe. Now hush, love. Let me take care of you," Isa explained as she pressed a kiss to his bloody, cracked lips. Her yellow flames seemed to grow as she focused on his burnt throat, watching with visible relief as the wound started to slowly close.

"Nero, dear, please help me again," Isa called. Nero, humming louder, stopped.

"Whaaaat~? But I wanna save my flames for that kid," Nero whined like a child. In a flash, Alessia had his collar in her grip and her snarling face was centimeters from his wide expression.

"Get the fuck over there and help heal your brother, Nero. Now." Nero stumbled back when his wife let him go and he ambled over, adding his own flames to the mix to close any flesh that the Sun flames could not.

"Whatever the kid is, he wasn't conscious and still kicked our asses," Emilio sighed. A faint crash sounded from above them. Emilio sighed, rubbing at his face. God, why had this happened?

How did this happen?

All because some stupid Japanese Family had a one-sided bone to pick with them?

"Get Santino out of here, meet up with Nadia and the children, and then go to on of our other houses. I'm taking this little shit down. Nero."

Nero looked up, backing away from Isa as his flames grew faint and his hands fell to his side. Emilio met his gaze and his face tugged into a grim frown.

"You have permission to go all out."

The change was instantaneous.

Nero's beady eyes burst with life, the bruises and shadows under his sunken in sockets seeming to dim against the radiance he was suddenly emitting. His teeth bared, bloody and chipped, his body trembling in anticipation as Cloud Flames flickered up around his body.

Alessia purred softly as Nero pressed a kiss to her neck, right above the dip of her collarbone.

"Bye bye," Nero cooed as he pressed a kiss to Isa's cheek. Nero laughed, the sound shrill and grating. He shoved past Emilio, pausing at the doorway.

"Please don't make me regret this," Emilio groaned and Nero was gone, Alessia fanning her face.

"He's so hot," the woman moaned. Isa shot her a look.

"Stop being gross and help me," Isa snapped out. Santino wheezed out a laugh. Emilio, not for the first time in his life, wondered if he should have just sat back and done nothing.


"LET. GO. OF. ME!" Tsunayoshi roared, kicking repeatedly at Tsuna's face as Tsuna continued to stubbornly cling to the ghost's legs.

"You wish!" Tsuna spat out, sinking his teeth into Tsunayoshi's shin. Tsunayoshi howled, smashing his heel straight into Tsuna's nose. Tsuna let go with a wet gurgled, rolling away as he cupped his bleeding face.

"You pathetic little ant!" Tsunayoshi seethed, flames burst alive along his arms as he seemed to breathe fire. "I'll end you!"

"Fight me!" Tsuna screamed as he tackled Tsunayoshi's legs again. Tsunayoshi's knees buckled and he face-planted, Tsuna scrambling to crawl onto his back. He grabbed Tsunayoshi's hair, repeatedly lifting him up and smashing his face back onto the solid ground.

"I'm not letting you kill those people! I'm not letting you hurt my family, my friends! You don't belong here!" Tsuna cried out, tears falling. "You should just disappear!"

"ENOUGH!" Tsunayoshi twisted his body, kicking Tsuna off him. "What do you think will happen once you gain consciousness? You'll be able to laugh it off? You've attacked them, you stupid child! You can no longer act innocent!"

"I didn't attack them!" Tsuna screamed as he hunched forward, curling into himself. "You did!"

"Doesn't matter, we're the same person!" Tsunayoshi spat back.

"SHUT UP! No we're not! WE'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!" Tsuna clamped his hands over his ears to block out the lies. Tsunayoshi exhaled through his broken nose, his expression blank.

"I've grown tired of dealing with your childish emotions," Tsunayoshi explained. He stepped forward. "There is no room for you anymore, child. You are the outsider here." Tsuna flinched at the words.

"N-no, my-my friends-"

"Are mine. They are just - confused. You carry my face, after all. They are my Guardians, my Family. They carry memories only I'd share with them. You are the outsider - you are the one not needed. You are the one who needs to disappear."

He stopped in front of Tsuna's curled up position.

"I'm sorry," Tsunayoshi whispered. "I never wanted this."

He grabbed Tsuna by the head, jerking his head up. Black flames erupted from his palm.

Tsuna screamed.


"Feel like talking now?" Takeshi asked as he leaned in close to the panting man's face, the man's eyes glazed with pain.

"Fuck-fuck you," the man spat, spitting blood in Takeshi's face. Takeshi leaned back, wiping the blood away with a empty expression.

"Toes," Takeshi spoke and sunk his knife into the man's shoe, cutting clean through the man's skin and bone. The blade poked out innocently from the rubber sole of the man's shoe. The man howled, throwing his head back as Ryohei held him up.

Com'on now," Takeshi sighed, sounding disappointed. "Your two buddies are already dead. You should probably start talking unless you wanna end up like them."

Takeshi gestured to the two slumped over men, one with his throat cut open and the other with both legs missing from the knee down. The last man shuddered, grimacing against the pain that caused his foot.

"The-the," the man began, flinching when Takeshi gave a low coo of satisfaction. "They have-have been staying in one of the Lady's house. They-they don't let everyone know they're location - only the higher ranking members are allowed to go to their bases."

"So you are useless then?" Takeshi spoke, yanking his knife out of the man's shoe.

"No-NO! I-I know that-that one of the higher ups, Kiz, has knowledge of where they are hiding! Kiz is Don Santino's right hand man!" The man blubbered, eyes wide as he stared at the knife raised over his head.

"Wouldn't he be with them then, if he is a right hand man?" Hayato asked as he came over, leaning against Takeshi's shoulder.

"The-the Dons don't like to bring their subordinates into their wives houses," the man stammered. "They-they don't have any guards, nothing. No-no one ever knows where the wives live so-so they never are needed. But-but Kiz knows. He's a distant relative to the wives. So-so he knows. Kiz - Kiz is currently in Russia, trying to get a alliance going with some families interested in buying."

"Buying?" It was Xanxus that spoke, an eyebrow raised as he sipped from his wine glass.

"Lady Alessia's currently project is almost ready to be put on the market. Kiz was in charge of spreading the word and seeing if anyone would be interesting in purchasing." The man slumped forward. "Kiz. Kiz Baleno. He's Don Santino's right hand man and Lightning user."

"Do you know which part of Russia?" Reborn asked. The man shook his head slowly, looking even more defeated.

"Hm…" Takeshi stepped back, tapping his bloody knife against his chin. "I guess that's better than nothing. They aren't hiding in Bolzano?"

"No," the man sighed. "The wives let the public think they do but they've move from there. It was public knowledge that they were born and raised there. Not safe."

"I'll try to contact our allies in Russia and see if they've heard anything," Iemitsu spoke up and turned, already putting the phone to his ear.

"Well look at you," Takeshi beamed at the shivering man. "You are useful after all! You may live yet!"

"We just got word that a house located on the outskirts of Val Pusteria exploded into flames," Oregano spoke, bursting into the room.

"Nevermind," Takeshi spoke and the man slumped forward, dead.

"Get a car ready. Oregano, stay with Nana," Iemitsu spoke, getting off the phone. Oregano gave him a stare for a second before she nodded, clapping Ettore on the shoulder as she departed once more.

"Alright guys," Hayato spoke. "Let's go save Tsuna-sama!"


"I didn't expect Russia to be so cold," the blonde haired man laughed merrily, leaning back on the wooden stool of the small bar he was dining in.

"Many people don't, for some reason. I don't know why," the gruff, older looking man sitting opposite from him shrugged. "So, about this business deal you mentioned…"

"Of course," the man spoke and pulled out a single pill from his jacket, the pill bouncing off the glass of the vial it was contained in. "It is still a prototype but Lady Alessia is very confident in its abilities."

"Well..Kiz, was it? What's the use of it?"

Kiz laughed, his green eyes crinkling up as he smiled.

"I'm so glad you asked."

One of his pupils morphed into a Suit of Spade.


Nero burst into the hallway, his footfalls light as he dashed down the destroyed carpet. The walls, where portraits of their family hung, were scorched, the windows shattered and the carpet but tattered pieces.

"Come out little Vongola! Let's play!" Nero shrieked, his eyes bouncing off the walls and broken wood panels of the flooring as he heard a clatter from the library. Nero kicked the door open, purple flames licking at his heels as he grinned widely at the teenger standing before him.

"Don Nero," the teenager spoke, looking up from the book he'd been leafing through.

Black eyes, encased with a ring of burning orange, met narrowing beady eyes.

"It's nice to meet you." Tsunayoshi dropped the book.


...tuh-duh?

Idk. Again. Bleh. But, um, more plotpoints?

IDK. whatever. I'm going to go hide now.