My Storm, My Cloud, My Sun, My Sky
Summary: Reborn met Fon, they became Arcobaleno and went separate ways, not seeing each other for years. Kyoya was born, Fon had to leave to protect his family and they didn't see each other for years. Tsuna met Reborn, the adventure starts. Hibari met Reborn, craziness starts. Dino met Kyoya, Fon returns and secrets are revealed. Better than it sounds, I promise! D18, RF, LalCol possible others.
"How did you know a phrase like that?" Kawahira asked right off the bat, not giving them a chance to even properly settle themselves in their seats. Dino tensed, as did Romario, expecting a confrontation, but Hibari remained perfectly chill, not reacting at all.
"My family is an old one," the Disciplinary Committee Chairman said easily in return. "I was young when they perished, but I have a good memory and some things stick longer in the human mind no matter how much time passes. Lullabies are one such thing. I remember my grandaunt singing a strange lullaby to me once. I remember only one or two verses, but ever since this whole Vongola business started, I've been pondering on it. Especially since I was given this, even if it had only been a half." Hibari brought his hand up to show his Cloud Vongola Ring, face thoughtful. "The Clam passes down its form from Generation to Generation; The Rainbow appears from time to time before it fades away. I don't know if there is more to it. I would guess at least one verse is missing, given that the Tri-ni-sette stands for 'three sets'. Tell me why the Pacifiers require live sacrifices when the Vongola Rings can be passed down without binding or cursing their wielders and protectors."
Kawahira stared at Kyoya for a long moment before he rakes a hand through his hair and sighs. "If I had a better way to ensure their safety, I would." When Kyoya arches an eyebrow at him, he sighs again before straightening up and going into what could be called business mode. "The Trinisette is what keeps the world in balance. I may not look like it, but I am not the same species as you and I am a lot older than my appearance would suggest. For millions of years, my species has protected seven stones of great power, supporting them so that the differing aspects of time-space will stay separated, so that alternate worlds will not collide and destroy themselves. Then, my people started dying off. When there were only five left, we had no choice but to carve the stones into three more manageable sets. The biggest are, of course, the Arcobaleno Pacifiers. And the most crucial. The second set is the Vongola Rings - the Clam from that little nursery rhyme. The third set is the Mare Rings. The founder and first boss of the Giglio Nero famiglia, my once last living companion, the only other survivor of my race - though that position now belongs to her descendants - used to have them. She took them when she decided she wants to live among the new race, humanity. I have not been in touch with her since."
"Wait, are you suggesting you're some ancient alien or something?" Dino asked skeptically, eyeing the very human-like features the man had.
Kawahira shrugged. "Never judge a book by its cover," he said as though knowing what the blond was thinking. "Anyway, I've been choosing Arcobaleno for generations now. The Pacifiers must be fed Dying Will Flames. And the strongest Dying Will Flames of each new generation, for the power needed to maintain them is immense. The Pacifiers are the only part of the Trinisette that must exist and function at all times, or else the world will start collapsing in on itself. As much as I hate sacrificing human lives to the Trinisette, it is necessary. The only way so far. I've been searching for a different solution for centuries and have not found another. I am truly sorry for the pain this has caused your family, young Kyoya, but I have no other choice."
"You said that the Pacifiers simply need to be fed Flames at all times," Hibari said, completely bypassing everything that had nothing to do with the current goal he had in mind of saving his last remaining family member from a horrible fate. "What if we created something like a Perpetuum Mobile for them? Then all you'd need would be guardians, like Vongola Rings get Guardians, and not sacrifices. You can still have Arcobaleno, but they won't die."
"Perpetuum Mobile is a dream humanity cannot achieve," the administrator of the Trinisette said bitterly. "Machines with infinite energy do not exist. It is an ideal theory that will never come true. Energy must always be added for something to continue working."
"Yes, but surely something could be created to greatly reduce the energy needed to power the Pacifiers," argued the middle schooler, face determined. "Perhaps with each passing of the Pacifiers from old to new Arcobaleno, both old and new holders feed a certain amount of Flames into them and this Perpetuum Mobile can cycle those Flames continuously until the next Arcobaleno can be chosen. Yes, the volume of Flames in the Pacifiers will decrease in time, but they will not need constant 'feeding' like before. The Arcobaleno will still be connected to them. They just won't be cursed to die of Flame deprivation."
"That's as ideal and as impossible as the Perpetuum Mobile," the oldest being in the room argued back, but you can't outstubborn Kyoya. It's something Dino has learned early on in their relationship, whatever it might be.
"Have you ever thought to actually find help? As I understand it, one of the Arcobaleno is an unrivaled genius and even Reborn-" Dino's eyes nearly boggled at the fact that Kyoya was actually calling Reborn 'Reborn' and not 'Baby' as he usually did. "-is a mathematician who can surely calculate a way for such a construct to be created. You have all this ancient knowledge and yet you never shared it. How do you expect to find a solution? Fresh eyes are always best when you get stuck. If nothing else, someone ignorant to your problem would ask questions and point out things that may seem obvious to you because you've been thinking about it for a long time, but when you actually think about it as you explain something, you're more likely to suddenly find a solution."
"I cannot randomly hand out such data, Hibari Kyoya," Kawahira said gravely. "If someone were to get their hands on all of this information, they would have all they need to take over the world, to change its very nature. Think world domination but across every dimension, every reality, across all time. The Trinisette has been kept a secret for a reason."
"The Arcobaleon are its main protectors," shot back the teen, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat, looking smug like he had just won the whole argument. "If you can't trust them with such crucial information, if you can't trust them to keep it safe, to protect it, then why did you make them Arcobaleno in the first place?"
There was dead silence in the shop for a long moment before Romario said a very quiet "Burn," with a snicker and Dino had to agree. Kyoya had just cornered Kawahira with a single argument. The Arcobaleno were meant to protect the Trinisette. Surely they can be trusted to have such information and use it to save their own lives instead of letting them die just because Kawahira couldn't be sure if they'd sell out such information.
"You don't even have to give them all of the data you have on the Trinisette, just what concerns the Pacifiers, since that is what the Curse of the Arcobaleno is centered around," Hibari continued when Kawahira remained doubtful and hesitant. "In fact, if you wish, you don't have to tell them that it is the data on the Pacifiers you are giving them. Give them the data anonymously, tell them to solve it and that they will be rewarded, that you will remove the curse. You wouldn't be lying. They just wouldn't realize they themselves were working on their own salvation. You get to keep your herbivorous secret and the Arcobaleno get to live semi-normal lives."
"You really only want to save Fon," Kawahira said in something like awe. Kyoya looked away, but nodded. "Very well. I'd ... like to give it a try. Anonymous information, pure data. To Reborn only, though. That genius scientist you mentioned? Yeah, I don't trust Verde as far as a butterfly can toss a whale."
"That's fine by me," the prefect said easily, clearly not really caring about Verde. Dino, though, grimaced at just hearing the name. Verde was infamous for his lack of morals as long as he gets to do his experiments. He definitely wouldn't want the scientist to have access to such important information, either.
"Also, you have to be the one to give Reborn this information," the Trinisette administrator insisted, making Kyoya blink in surprise and Dino frown in suspicion. "Reborn hates me and wouldn't trust anything I were to give him, even if it was his own salvation. I keep an eye on my Arcobaleno, though, so I know he trusts you and is very fond of you. Not unexpected, but a very big advantage none the less." Dino and Kyoya both frowned at Kawahira's little comment but before they could question it, the bespectacled ancient man was already moving on. "I will give you the basic data I have and you just need to get him to find a solution, if one exists. If another solution exists to keep the world in balance, one that does not sacrifice people, I will do all that is in my power to make it a reality. However, if one does not exist, then I am truly sorry but I cannot reverse the curse. The loss of life is tragic, but compared to the chaos that would be the result of an unmanaged Trinisette, I cannot quit this practice even if it's for the sake of salvaging a family."
"We understand," Dino said instead of Kyoya, because he had caught sight of how his student had clenched his hands into fists and knew that, should there be no other solution, Kyoya will fight Kawahira to the death if it might free the Arcobaleno from their curse. Or if that fails, it will be simply to avenge them. "We thank you for risking it all just to help us save Kyoya's uncle, Reborn and the rest."
Suddenly, surprisingly, Kawahira blinked in bewilderment. "... I thought you came here to argue Fon's fate ... ?" Dino and Romario were left echoing Kawahira's reaction while Kyoya perked up and stiffened at the same time, eyes narrowing but not in a glare, more as if in thought. "Ah, never mind. Let me just get the notes I've made over the years and we can extract the pure data that you can deliver to Reborn and then we can discuss this 'pink herbivore'? you mentioned earlier." He was gone before Dino could regain his composure.
By the time he could form full sentences again, Romario had finally taken a seat nearby and was just waiting for their business there to be over, clearly satisfied that Kawahira will not be a threat to his boss. Looking to the Cloud by his side revealed that Kyoya was seemingly very deep in thought, half troubled, half triumphant by some realization he'd just come to.
"Kyoya?" He asked tentatively.
"What is it, Bucking Horse?"
"What, uh, what was that about just now? I thought Fon was your uncle ... ?"
Silver blue eyes turned and blinked up at him. "Fon is my uncle ... Well, far as I know."
The blond frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
But the fighting enthusiast just waved him off. "Not something I wish to discuss right now, but it is a family secret that might actually have something to do with you. I need to consult the records I have remaining on Hibari Kumo, though."
"Hibari Kumo?"
"The outsider that married into our Clan nine generations ago. The man with the French name that came from Italy with that 'supposed founder' of Namimori."
"Alaudi, the First Generation Vongola Cloud Guardian?" Romario asked, because that was common mafia history and the name used to shake people to their core for he was rumored to be the strongest Guardian, a Cloud without par, a man capable of bringing down whole families to their knees by himself.
Hibari looked at him for a long moment before he snorted almost condescendingly, though it was not aimed at Romario. "But of course. How else could it be? I really hate you mafioso." Dino wilted at that, even if Kyoya didn't sound like he really meant it. "Anyway. I don't remember the story all that right, but I do know that he's the cause of a certain ... particularity that exists only within our bloodline. He was exposed to some experiment gone wrong or something like that. But like I said, I don't remember much of the details. I need to check on it again before I tell you anything."
"What does that have to do with Fon being or maybe not being your uncle?" Dino's right hand man asked since Dino himself was still too busy being depressed over Kyoya's comment.
"A lot of things. What Kawahira just said confirmed an old suspicion of mine. I've always been most like my uncle and I've always loved spending time with him the most. I trusted him and felt safe, safer than I ever have with my mother or father. Or the supposed parents I had, anyway."
"You think your relation might be ... closer?" The Cavallone boss asked, hesitant to actually name said relation as anything when they had no real information at hand. "Why would he say you're his nephew, if that's the case?"
"Well, he was turned into an Arcobaleno not long after my birth, so I'm guessing it was so I could have a normal family and a somewhat normal life," Hibari shrugged, as though it was nothing of great importance. "I know he cares about me, so I'm not at all surprised that he wanted to be a part of my life regardless how strange his new existence was. It's parenthood instincts, right? To wish to make sure your progeny is safe and healthy."
"Well, whatever the case, he ended up raising you anyway, right? So as far as things go, he really is your parent. Family isn't just blood, you know. It's the bonds you make."
"Say that to the Vongola," Kyoya said with a snort and Dino couldn't help but sweatdrop, mostly because Kyoya was absolutely right. "Regardless of what my relation with Fon is, I want to do this. I want him in my life for as long as I can keep him, even if we don't really see each other anymore. It's reassuring just knowing that he's out there somewhere, though obviously he's a lot closer to home than I've been led to believe, given he intercepted those lackeys that were coming to be backup for the Monkey King's herbivores."
"Yeah, Kyoya, I've actually been meaning to ask you something. It's regarding that big forest fire in Greece back in-"
"This is most of it," Kawahira said to announce his return and all three humans turned to look, only to realize they could not see the man from the waist up because there were numerous files stacked on top of each other in his arms, towering over his head by at least three feet. "There's more in the back, though."
Kyoya frowned and looked down at the little booklet he had brought with him, as though having expected that they might have to at the very least share notes about the curse. "We'll need a bigger notebook."
Well, this is going to take longer than Dino had thought.
00000
"Yo, Tsuna!" Dino greeted cheerily two days later, heavy bags under his eyes that almost looked like he'd gotten into a fistfight with a wall and lost. Behind him, Romario didn't look much better. They both shot envious looks to the prefect in their company, who looked much better than them, only slightly ruffled. Then again, Kyoya had managed to catch a nap on the way from 'Kawahira's Realtors' in the car, as well as just about any time there was a lull in activity while they had been sifting through the centuries of piled up notes Kawahira had represented them with. The first pile had only been the beginning. Kyoya had taken his naps while Romario, Kawahira and Dino brought out new files and took away the old ones, so he at least got some shuteye beyond blinking.
At least Kawahira had been kind enough to give them food and didn't curse them to hell and back when he looked no better than the two Italians when they were done.
"Dino-san?" A perplexed and worried Tsuna greeted uncertainly as he opened the door to let the three visitors in. "Eeeh!? Hibari-san? What are you doing here?"
"Hn."
"What happened to you? You guys look like you haven't seen a bed in days!"
"Not an all too inaccurate description," Romario grumbled to himself. "Do you have coffee? I could go for a cup of coffee."
"We live with Reborn." Which translated to having practically a lifetime supply of espresso and fresh coffee beans at all times in the house. The hitman was very touchy when he doesn't have his coffee. "Did you guys need anything? You really should get some rest. Especially you, Hibari-san. You were quite injured in the Ring Conflict." Tsuna suddenly seemed to flush as he realized something. "Ah! I never even thanked you for helping us and apologized for dragging you into this mess! Please forgive me, Hibari-san!"
"Whatever, small animal." Both Skies blinked at that. That was the first time they'd ever heard that epithet be given to anyone. "Is the Baby here? I have business with him."
"Ciaossu, Hibari," Reborn said from behind Tsuna before the new Vongola boss-to-be could say anything else, jumping onto his student's head so he can see the visitors eye to eye.
"Baby," Hibari acknowledged before handing a rather thick file to the hitman. "I need you to solve this."
Dino gawked. "Eh!? Kyoya, you can't just-"
"What is it?" Reborn asked, ignoring the lack of tact the skylark had exhibited in his request, already reaching for the folder.
"You have a degree in mathematics, correct? Well, I've just found in my family archives a problem that has never been solved even after millions of years. I figured you might be able to solve it. Bucking Horse's told me about your reputation at universities as the one capable of solving mathematical problems that had been thought of as having no solution or being impossible to solve. Do you think you're up to the challenge of history?" The black haired teenager asked with a confident smirk.
The fedora wearing infant returned it. "What do I get in return when I solve it?"
"Confident. I like that. What do you want, Baby? A favor from me is actually pretty expensive."
"A training session with Tsuna," the home tutor said easily. "You owing me a favor is tempting, but we respect each other enough to fulfill favors without worrying about the score."
"Wait, don't you already owe Hibari-san a favor for the Moretti incident?" Tsuna asked desperately, obviously terrified to have a training session with Kyoya. Not that Dino blames him. Tsuna doesn't like fighting. To go against someone like the 'demon prefect' of Namimori with such an attitude would be suicide.
"He never had to get rid of a dead body, so not really. Besides, this will be without his tonfa."
Now Hibari was the one to look at him strangely. But he didn't comment, which Dino regretted because he was curious. "Fine."
"We've got a deal. Are you going to give me a time limit?"
"How long do you think you're going to take?"
Reborn smirked. "Give me two days. One to study the data and the problem, the second to write it all up. What's this for, anyway? I'd never thought you'd be all that interested in some random mathematical problem enough that you'd consent to crowding."
"I have my reasons." Reborn waited for a moment before nodding, accepting the reply as the only answer he'd get. "I'll be seeing you in two days, then." Kyoya yawned behind a politely raised hand. "I need a nap. Come, Bucking Horse. You're taking me home."
"Can't we just go back to my hotel? I still have a room set up for you."
"My house has more room and I need to check on some things, or has your herbivore brain already forgotten that simply because you didn't sleep for a night or two?"
"Eeeh!? We're going to Kyoya's house!?" Dino had to turn to look at his honorary little brother, because he was sure his tired mind was playing tricks on him. But Tsuna seemed just as wide-eyed and stunned as him and ... Was that a glimmer of ... envy? No, that was definitely Dino's mind playing tricks on him.
"Can any of you even drive safely in your current condition?" Reborn asked with a hint of concern as he and Tsuna watched from the door as Kyoya led the way back to the black, unassuming car Dino, Romario and Kyoya had taken in their pursuit of the Man in the Iron Hat two days ago.
"I have a license."
"Like hell am I getting in a car with you behind the wheel! Your driving scares the crap out of me!" The blond Don yelled after his student, scrambling to get into the driver's seat lest Kyoya crash them somewhere with his speeding.
"That's because you're a herbivore. My driving is just fine."
Still, in the end, it was Romario who drove them to the huge compound that belonged to Hibari, though he nearly crashed the car when he saw it, busy as he had been gawking at the splendor of the big traditional Japanese house.
At the end of the day, Kyoya was far too smug at being proven right.
Dino let him have that victory. Just this once. Just because he looked so 'not cute' at the moment. And in his yukata later. And because his cooking very nearly rivaled Nana's.
And because, apparently, Dino was helplessly head over heels for him with Romario snickering at his predicament in the background.
It was going to be a long 'vacation' from home.