Mia Tempesta

Summary: Reborn never liked being a (secondary) Sky, but he can't deny his nature forever, so one day he starts collecting his Elements. Except now there was a tiny Storm that packs quite a punch that he doesn't know what to do with. Denial leads to trouble, trouble leads to possessiveness, possessiveness leads to ... something else much more tender. Throw in Checkerface and the Arcobaleno Sky into the mix and things get quite complicated.

Viper couldn't believe that their homecoming was going to be under these circumstances.

Here they were, standing with Xanxus and staring down at the little group Reborn's assembled for Sawada's kid, looking all intimidating and shit, when the Cervello and the External Adviser both appear and a Battle for the Rings is announced to be Timoteo Vongola's official decision. Sawada didn't like that, though whether that was because Xanxus had more of a chance or because his son had to fight was hard to tell.

Viper just wanted to drop the mantle and mask of 'Mammon' and go home. He still had to give Kyoya the birthday gift they'd gotten him. He hadn't seen the kid since New Years and the perfect bed that was within the Hibari Compound was just so close and yet also just so far away.

~I hate this~ They informed Reborn over their mental Mist-Flames-constructed link that's been in place for years now.

-Yes, well, suck it up. You at least don't have to deal with Bakamitsu's bullshit, unlike Lal and I.- Came the reply from Reborn's end and the Mist winced subtly in sympathy. Yeah, Reborn and Lal definitely had it worse. 'Any word from Fon yet?'

~He's actually finished and is just waiting to burn down any and all mention of the Hibari from Chen's file collection before he comes back.~ At least there was some good news in all of this bullshit. ~Are the others here, too? Except Lal. I'll fetch Lal later.~ Heavens only know that woman deserves a break, a medal and a good monetary reward. From Viper's brief experiences as 'Mammon' when dealing with CEDEF - thank money they'd only had to deal with them all of five times and that Lal had been there for two or else the Mist would have gone insane from the sheer idiocy - they'd found out that they prefer the loudness of Varia, as long as it meant they're at least surrounded by competent people.

-Colonello's training the Sun Guardian, Skull and Verde are back at the compound, pretending to be dead to the world. They might need some help with the deception, if you're up to it after you get the fuck away from those weirdos. Even Shamal's around and Kyoya's ... somewhere. He's apparently found an interesting 'half carnivore' to play with. Not sure what he means by that, but, hey, whatever's keeping him distracted while we take down the Cervello and take the Vongola Rings, right?-

~Yare yare, you still haven't told him the full story about the Trinisette and the origins of our name as Arcobaleno?~

-Do I need to pay you to keep your mouth shut? Would you like lead or special bullets?-

Viper rolled their eyes under their hood, so no one saw or suspected something. As if they haven't heard that threat before. Reborn would never actually harm one of his Guardians, except if they'd maybe killed Kyoya or one of the others. The Esper knew they had nothing to fear. ~Yare yare, there's no need for that. I was just asking so I know not to bring the subject up around him. And if those two want my assistance, I expect to see money in my bank account. They're the ones who were stupid enough to get themselves tangled up in a situation they can't cleanly break out of.~

-True enough. So, any tips on how to keep these brats alive against your 'team'? I kind of like them whole and hale.-

~I'll send you a file on them. You mind telling me who are the Cloud and Mist Guardian's?~

-If I find out, I'll gladly share.-

Viper paused at that. Reborn didn't know?

-Iemitsu picked them without consulting either me or dear ol' Timmy. He just sent the Vongola half-Rings, though Dino's supposedly training with the Cloud Guardian.- There was a minute grimace of displeasure on their Sky's features at that.

~Your former student Dino? Cavallone?~ That would explain the displeasure. Reborn was not the typical possessive Sky. He lets everyone do as they please, but he is the protective possessive type in the sense that he does not appreciate those he considers his precious people being thrust into dangerous situations especially if he believes they can't or shouldn't have to handle it. ~Is it really smart to send a young, potent Sky to train with an unbound Cloud? The potential for an accidental bond is well over 50%.~

Vongola liked their Elements 'untouched', so to say, by other Skies. Cavallone had some pretty impressive Sky Flames and was, on top of that, trained by Reborn, who, despite not liking his own secondary Flames, can train people to be some of the best at controlling their Flames. Kyoya, if no one else, was proof of that, unbound, aloof Cloud that he is. Of course, Kyoya has all that Hibari potential buried just underneath the skin and he's eager to use it. Reborn had needed to coax Cavallone into it and was now doing the same for Sawada's kid.

-Don't ask me what that idiot was thinking,- came the response. -Anyway, this is actually our best chance to both snatch the Vongola Rings and at least one Cervello and get the information out of them about the third part of the Trinisette so we can finally just be done with it. You ready for it?-

Viper scoffed. Which just so happened to coincide with something one of Sawada Tsunayoshi's Guardians said so it looked like they were mocking the kids, which worked just fine for their role as Mammon. ~Am I ready? We've all been waiting for something like this for years. Mu, I say it's about time we deal with it. You have a plan?~

-Nothing definite yet, but I suggest we let the Battles for the Rings play out. Let Vongola have their petty disputes and Cervello their entertainment. However, I think it would be for the best to let both sides have one half of the assembled Rings. Let the fights keep going, so we can gather more information and have more opportunities to snatch up more than one Cervello, in case one won't talk. I'm sure we can change their mind, but better safe than sorry. If they have ... initiative in front of them to talk, perhaps things will go easier.- Spoken like a true hitman. Reborn wouldn't be against torturing and murdering Cervello in front of each other so at least some of them would break and spill everything.

~So, in other words, if I need to, I have to pretend to lose? Yare yare.~

-It's the best way for you to ultimately ditch the Varia,- Reborn said in a tone that implied a shrug. -Everyone knows what happens to those who fail in Varia. They accept only Quality and Quality is undefeated.-

~I hate you. No, really, I do. You expect me to lose to some snot-nosed kid? I'm the strongest illusionist in the world, Reborn. Why don't you lose to Lussuria and then we can talk.~

-If you want, I'll fight Xanxus later, given I heard he uses guns. Fon can fight Lussuria.-

~That's cold.~ Fon would tear Lussuria apart. Don't get Viper wrong. Lussuria is good. He's Quality. But Fon is the best martial artist in the world. Lussuria wouldn't stand a chance. Fon would be through with him within the minute, if not less. And, well, Xanxus wouldn't fare much better, either, Sky Flames or no Sky Flames. Reborn's Sun is the strongest in the world, Reborn's aim is perfect and Reborn's aiming speed is unparalleled. Add to all of that the Sky intuition that he's been using more and more to literally read minds and his own hitman instincts that let him read killing intent while staying as calm and cool as a cucumber and Xanxus would be taken down the second Reborn bothers to take out a gun.

-Hey, just because it's a possibility, doesn't mean you'll actually have to lose a fight, you know. Really, for now, just don't give out too much information. Like the fact that Colonello's training Dame-Tsuna's Sun Guardian kind of thing. Or the fact that we have no idea who the Mist and Cloud Guardians are. And the fact that Lambo's a Bovino.-

~The time travelers? Does he have the Ten Year Bazooka?~

-I'll let everyone see it once this shit is over. For now, let's just try to manipulate this whole thing into the two of us collecting the Rings. I've still got Bermuda on speed dial, so he'll be here within seconds of calling him to pick up the Rings and probably with some bullshit law that we've all broken and therefore the Rings need to be confiscated or something.-

~You've managed to corrupt Vindice. That's chaos.~

-It's what I do best.-

Viper decides to ignore their Sky and instead leave with their fake Sky and fake fellow Elements. Days pass and the fights begin. First up is the Sun Ring Battle, which, surprisingly, Lussuria loses. Well, then again, as weak as Sawada's boxer Sun is, he had been trained by Colonello, an Arcobaleno, one of the strongest seven in the world. Kid has a long way to go before he wins based on something other than a lot of beginner's luck. Had someone like Reborn been his opponent, gun or no gun, he wouldn't have been the one to walk away.

Poor Lussuria, though, getting shot down like a dog even if he survived. Viper, as Mammon, tolerated him, kind of, because of the delicious food he makes. (You get used to years upon years of Reborn's and Fon's cooking and then go out into the world to find that nearly everyone else is shit at it. Hopefully, Lussuria survives and lives to make more good food again. And, if he makes Viper some of his famous cream puffs, Viper will even introduce him to his idol, Fon.)

(Now, whether Reborn shoots Lussuria dead before he manages to get a spar out of Fon is a whole different matter that doesn't concern Viper in the least, unless Lussuria gives them money to try and keep Reborn back. But, then again, Lussuria doesn't have that kind of cash. Reborn's Mist or not, Viper is not suicidal. Had Lussuria toned it down on his fetish while fighting Sasagawa, maybe Reborn would have allowed it but now ... Yeah, no Fon-time for Lussuria.)

Levi A Than wins his fight by default because Sawada Tsunayoshi interfered at the last moment to prevent him from killing his five year old opponent. Levi is strong, but the little Bovino packs quite a bit of potential under that silly afro and the cow print onesie. His fifteen year old self is stronger, but his twenty five year old self is a beast compared to Levi because the kid has surprisingly pure Lightning Flames. Viper wonders if Reborn will send the kid to Verde for some training. He has potential. (Which is kind of obvious, because the kid is bilingual and can follow Reborn unnoticed - except by his 'prey' - just about anywhere without losing the hitman unless Reborn really wanted to disappear. He also knew how to handle guns even if he's an idiot with them. And grenades. strange kid, that one.) Anyway, Lambo Bovino loses and so now both sides have a Ring each through fighting.

Except interfering with a battle is forbidden and so Sawada is punished by having to hand over his half of the Sky Ring.

So the actual status quo is 2:1 for the Varia.

The Storm battle is ... Half interesting and half boring. They're both typical Storms, Belphegor and Gokudera Hayato, although Smoking Bomb is the kind of Storm any famiglia Sky would want at their side, loyal as a puppy, while Bel is simply lethal and enjoys spilling blood and killing things. The result of the fight is Bel's victory, even if he's severely injured, and an entire floor of the school building is destroyed. Still, the fight is legitimate and the Cervello are about to announce the next match when Levi suddenly gets a report that there's someone taking down his Levi Lightning Squad, one by one, the school perimeter breached.

Viper is kind of surprised it had taken this long.

This is Namimori Middle School, after all.

00000

Reborn's not sure if he should be relieved that Kyoya's finally home - he hasn't seen hide nor hair of his son for almost a week now, since the Ring Conflict started, for which he had been thankful because the Cervello had decided that Kyoya's school, or all the goddamned places in the world, was the perfect place to hold the battles - or if he should be cursing his son's timing when Kyoya finally made it to the crossed hallways where the Varia were facing off against Tsuna's group for some smack talking. Kyoya looked perfectly fine, completely unruffled despite having just gone through an elite squad of the Varia, serving directly under one of their top officers. Viper, on the Varia's side, also looked unsure whether they should be happy or annoyed to see the younger Hibari.

After all, this was no time for a reunion.

"Eh!? Hibari-san?! What are you doing here?" Tsuna asked as soon as he caught sight of the demon prefect of Namimori.

"Unlawfully breaking into the school and, moreover, vandalizing the premises, by reason of joint responsibility," Hibari says, dead serious, as he takes everyone in. Reborn kind of sticks back and to the shadows, not sure he wants Kyoya in any way involved in all of this, especially if it's just because of him. Let things take their course and he'll do damage control later. "Everyone here will be bitten to death."

Tsuna squeals like a frightened piglet. Yamamoto laughs it off while Basil and Gokudera stare on in disbelief. Basil's confusion and surprise can be explained away by him never actually having met Hibari Kyoya, but Gokudera should have known better by now that Kyoya 'only cares' about Nami-chuu.

"Are you one of Sawada-san's Guardians?" One of the two Cervello asked, taking a step towards the tonfa-wielding teen, only to be shoved away by Levi.

"You!" The Varia Lightning thundered - and yes, that was an intentional pun - pointing a rude finger at the new arrival. "So you're the one who took down my subordinates."

"Please calm down," the remaining Cervello tried to dissolve the situation and Reborn kind of braced himself. Viper did, too, behind that strange robot-looking person the Varia likes hanging around with. "If he is Sawada Tsunayoshi's Guardian, then this kind of behavior-"

"Shut up," Levi growled, taking out one of his umbrellas and starting a charge towards Kyoya. It took everything in Reborn's not so small will power to simply not shoot the man right between the eyes, there and then, for even daring to direct an ounce of killing intent at his son.

~Control yourself!~ Viper shouted in his mind, just to be sure he doesn't do anything stupid.

"That bastard is just a common trespasser!"

Kyoya, though, was not impressed with Levi. Not with his speed nor his form, but that was coming from someone who's been trained by Fon since a very young age. The Cloud simply stepped out of the way of Levi's charge and then showed why he was Reborn's (adopted) son by tripping him up like one child would another, just to see the great and mighty Varia officer sprawled over the ground.

"Oh, how cool," Shamal commented gleefully, impressed despite knowing Kyoya was far from a normal boy and knowing just how fast the teen can move. The rest were definitely impressed and gawking as Kyoya raised a tonfa, staring down at Levi with sharp, silver-blue eyes, killing intent becoming obvious.

"I'll start with you, then."

"Why you-!"

"Wow, he's strong," commented Basil while Gokudera grumbled about Kyoya making a mess, Yamamoto admired his skill and Tsuna was just kind of in awe. Ryohei looked halfway between cheering Hibari on and asking him for a brawl. "Just who is he?"

"Nami-chuu's Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Hibari Kyoya," Reborn finally spoke up, bringing most of the attention to himself even as Squalo seemed to get fired up at whatever it is 'Mammon' had told him, swinging his sword around and challenging Kyoya to a fight. Which would just be all around bad because Reborn could see the Box Weapon hanging from Kyoya's belt, even if he had no idea if Verde had found a ring that can withstand Kyoya's intense Flame waves. And even if Verde hadn't, one ring was more than enough to bring Roll out. Reborn would not wish that cute little hedgehog on even his worst enemy. (Except maybe Kawahira.) It may be cute but it was as vicious in battle as its beloved master. "You could say we've trespassed on his territory by holding the matches here." He glances pointedly at the only Cervello remaining standing. "And it is his territory."

"Why should we care about some piece of trash's territory? This is neutral ground," Squalo challenged, which was both very brave and very stupid of him, but he's at least once had the honor of being tutored by Reborn in math, way back when he'd been Dino's tutor.

Kyoya's eyes narrowed and he actually turned his back completely on Reborn, focusing in on the kill, but Yamamoto was stupid enough to grab his shoulder and try to convince him to leave Squalo to him. The prefect tried to hit him with his tonfa but Yamamoto seems to have benefited from his training, which allowed him to step out of the way, holding onto the offending tonfa as he, once again, asked Hibari to leave Squalo to him. Kyoya eyed him for a moment, looked over to Reborn and then to Viper before his eyes fell on the pink haired female even as he kicked Yamamoto in the gut with a tonfa almost absentmindedly. "You will repair the damages done to the school?"

"Yes. Everything will be taken care of by the Cervello," she answered and Kyoya nodded before looking to the doubled over Rain.

"Don't be a herbivore and lose." Then he looked towards the Cervello again, hand reaching up into his button-up's breast pocket and taking out a card of some sorts. Reborn couldn't see what card, all he could see was the back of it, an ordinary checkered pattern of black and white squares. He threw it at the Cervello and the woman just barely dodged. The card wasn't so ordinary, it turned out, because it dug into the wall like a shuriken and the woman paled when she saw. Though, that might be because of Hibari's words, not that Reborn understood their message. "You are being intrusive and will face consequences for getting involved. He knows."

And with that, Kyoya turned to leave, disregarding the curious looks Reborn was practically glaring into the back of his head.

~Mu, what was that about?~ Viper asked over their link but Reborn could only subtly shake his head in answer, because he had no idea. He didn't understand anything of what just happened except that Kyoya had beaten up some Varia foot-soldiers, decked Yamamoto and threatened him to win, ignored the Varia officers after dealing with Levi and then threw a playing-card-looking shuriken at the Cervello. And then apparently threatened her because the pink haired woman was frantically looking around, as if expecting something to jump at her out of thin air. ~Wait, did he just give us away? Yare yare, what did you do to annoy your kid that much?~

'I didn't do anything.' He really hasn't seen or heard from Kyoya in a week! Just what could have gotten into Kyoya all of a sudden? Could it be that new sparring partner of his? How come Kyoya hadn't grown bored of him yet? Could whoever that is be telling him things? Kyoya was a Hibari through and through and the Hibari were good at three things like no one else in the world: fighting, information gathering and hiding and, lastly, protecting/hiding/saving Flame Active that have no desire to have anything to do with the mafia.

The question now is: who is Kyoya sparring with? What were they telling him? And had Kyoya known about a commotion in his school through his usual channels, or had someone else tipped him off?

It would seem Reborn has a bit of a parental mystery on his hands.