Hi. It's uh, been awhile lmao. I don't know if anyone is still interested in reading this story despite characterization being all over the place, mainly because I'm not sure how to write Fora the way I used to, nor am I happy with how she was. But! If you've stuck around for this story, I hope you like the changes and improvements in my writing!

"Let's go to… Namimori." She was 15, the Ring Battles would start in about a year if Fora remembered correctly.

Bel had been 16 during them, after all.

"Nee-san, you said that super dramatically as if that explains where it is."

"Maybe because I was trying to be dramatic, Fran!" Her tone was slightly annoyed, but she calmed down enough to say more. "No matter, just know we're going to Japan. You can gush over the trees like a nerd while royalty like myself makes connections." Though she might give in and just kill the future Vongola leader!

Hasn't decided yet.

"Wow, look at how nerdy I am with the books you made me study that I learned to actually appreciate how good trees are for the planet. Did you know that the globe is warming due to the fact that humans stopped caring about other people? Or that even if trees help us breathe they'll still cut them down for unnecessary things?" Fran droned on and on, quoting specific passages from the books and even citing his stupid sources.

After a bit, Fora held up a hand to signal him to stop.

"...So what we've learned is that people suck, and my mission of killing them all is justified because one, I want to. Two, all the stuff you just mentioned."

He nodded. "Basically."

"Cool. Good to know."

Something she didn't expect is that the Vongola brat would be so cute. "It's not fair!" Fora pouted, stringing up her latest victim. Those bullies certainly wouldn't be messing with the little fish anymore.

The 'quiet' town wouldn't even acknowledge the incident either, which was mildly infuriating since she wanted recognition. Stupid mafia covering up crimes for the Young Lion.

Though it made getting away with it a lot easier.

"Carnivore."

Fora had a feeling this might happen, so she snapped her fingers as Fran covered her in an illusion. While a fight with him might be fun, her style wasn't really brute force. It was more a delicate procedure, albeit…

Well, let's just say it got messy.

"I don't know why you wanted me to do that nee-san, you could have just killed him." Fran's voice pulled her out of her musing, and she was delighted to hear actual confusion in his tone.

He was showing more emotion! Oh, she was so proud!

Fora grinned, showing all of her teeth while doing so whilst responding to his question. "Not yet! I have to wait for him to be smarter! His way of doing things right now is much less refined than they could be!"

"If you wanted to call him a bloodthirsty dumbass just say so."

She froze in place, smile stuck before bellowing out a laugh. "Ushshushushushu! That's not an inaccurate statement Fran! You practically destroyed the boy!"

He shrugged, but couldn't hide the flash of pride from making her happy. "I'm just calling how it is."

Fortunately, the little Hibari hadn't encountered such strong Mist flames before, and therefore was stuck with the conclusion that the murderer simply disappeared without a trace. He began reluctantly stalking off in search of her, unaware she was close nearby and making fun of him to his face.

Not that he knew that. Yet, at least.

"I suppose we should get a move on then."

Fran nodded in agreement, following her lead.

"Would you be up for taking advantage of a young woman's kindness?"

"You poor darlings, you're both orphans?" At the two silent nods in return, Nana teared up and started serving them some food prepared only hours earlier.

"If you need a place to stay, just know you're always welcome here. We may not always have much, but you'll be, you'll be loved and cared for…!" She began opening sobbing, and Fora did her absolute best of hiding her distaste. It wasn't proper for royalty to sneer, after all.

Fran evidently didn't get the message, and just ate everything on his plate quickly while popping in some earplugs to ignore the emotional woman.

"And you've been living on the streets for so long that all of your hair is in your eyes… I'll do my best to give you a haircut!" Nana glanced curiously at the girl vehemently shaking her head no. "No? If that's what you want…" The mother smiled unsurely, but was calmed by the girl speaking up.

"It's all I have left that reminds me of my family, before they…" She trailed off, and Nana mentally filled in the blanks, patting Fora's head comfortingly. "I understand sweetheart, you don't need to force yourself to continue."

Fora gave the woman a tense smile, resisting the urge to fiddle with her beloved scissors.

"Tsu-kun! Come meet your new siblings!"

Fora heard her new roommate's famous, "HIE!" before she saw him fall down the stairs from running too fast. Well, she supposed it would be best to make a good impression on the little fish.

"Are you alright?" She smiled patiently, holding a hand out.

Her face felt weird wearing a 'normal' grin.

The boy's eyes narrowed, glowing a soft gold. It almost could have been taken for a trick of the light, but she knew better. It was certainly interesting seeing how powerful his Sky flames were, considering they were still blocked by a seal. "Have we… met before?"

Before she could answer him, a mostly monotone voice interrupted. "Nee-san, you look weird smiling nicely and it's not like you, my stomach hurts just seeing it."

"Rude, but fine. Do you need to lay down and sleep the nausea off, Fran?" It was quite entertaining. She was supposed to be the one with secondary Cloud flames, yet her dear little brother was surprisingly protective of her.

How adorable.

"Don't worry, I'll watch over you while you sleep if need be."

"Creepy."

Tsuna couldn't relax.

There was something about the strange pair that set all of his nerves on edge, like his intuition was telling him to run.

Which didn't make sense since they seemed harmless, if a bit weird.

Still, it was disconcerting. His mom said something about needing to buy more groceries with all the mouths to feed, and left him alone with them.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that they were familiar somehow either.

The girl at least seemed to pick up on his unease, judging by her quietly conversing with her brother. The glances she shot him occasionally though were successfully freaking him out.

"How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself yet!" She stood up, and Tsuna couldn't help himself from taking a step back. The only outward sign that she noticed was the slight curve of her lips, and the likeness of a predator facing its prey was not lost on him.

"My name is Fora Defered, and I'm sure it's a pleasure to make my acquaintance. You are…?"

"Tsu, Tsunayoshi Sawada, um, it's nice to meet you too?"

"That one over there is Fran, my adorable little brother. He's a brat, so pay him no mind."

The 'brat' waved.

"Thank you for taking us in, dear Tsunayoshi."

"O-Oh, no problem? You can just call me Tsuna, if you want…"

At least these weirdos were polite...