Haru knew they'd probably get scolded for missing school, but their priorities lay elsewhere at the moment. Not being ruthlessly murdered was a pretty appealing option, especially in comparison to attending classes where they were hardly learning anything new anyway. Romario had told them to go home, that their 'tutor' would be there waiting for them. By the time they'd made it back home, it was almost 9am. Both of their parents had already left for work, and so at least they wouldn't be asked any troublesome questions.
Nobody seemed to be around. On a whim, Haru went to the training room to see if someone was waiting for her. It was empty. I guess they'll show up later? I'll just go to my room and read.
Haru turned the handle on her bedroom door and pushed it open. A moment later... "HAHI?!"
There was an infant standing on her desk. It wasn't Reborn, nor did it look like any of his 'personas'. No, it was someone different. He wore a red shirt that was long enough to reach his ankles without being baggy. He had black hair in a style that looked similar to Kyoya's, and there was a red pacifier hanging around his neck - which looked almost exactly like Reborn's orange pacifier.
"Ni hao, you must be Haru?" The 'infant' bowed his head politely.
"I am. A few months ago I would have been startled by a talking baby, but are you perhaps here to train me?" Haru asked as she recovered her composure.
"Yes, that is right. My name is Fon, and I look forward to overseeing your training." The infant replied, smiling softly.
"Laoshi hao, then. Wait... Fon? The name sounds familiar, where do I know it from?" Haru put a finger to her lip. She felt like she should know it - know him, but the knowledge escaped her. Perhaps it would come to her later, but for now she wanted to begin training. The prospect of not dying never dropped in value.
Haru grabbed the pouch containing her blades, and led the infant into the training room. He followed behind on his small feet, moving with such grace that it looked almost as though he was hovering above the ground. When they stepped into the training room, Haru made to procure her blades, but Fon stopped her with a tiny hand over her own.
"No, you will not need those blades yet. I wish to teach you something more important, without which you would be foolish to engage the Varia in battle," Fon declared, and then took his hand off of hers.
She stared at him in amazement - as used to all of the craziness as she thought she was, Haru was still somehow shocked by the sheer strength that Fon's small body has. With such a seemingly gentle placement of his hand over hers, she couldn't move at all. "Wha- how do we begin, then?"
Fon dashed forwards, faster than Haru could see with their own eyes. Instinctively, they dropped into a defensive stance. By the time she had completed her stance, Fon was back where he started again - except he was now holding a ring in his hands. Haru reached into her pocket, and the ring was gone. Fon twirled it in his tiny hands, looking over it with some sort of not-quite-curiosity.
"Hm, I haven't seen this ring in a long time. Well, it is indeed fitting for it to fall into your possession." He threw the ring towards Haru, who caught it deftly. "Please put the ring on, Haru. You will need it."
Haru obliged, even though she didn't understand what he meant. It was clear that there was something important about the ring, but Haru didn't know what... yet. "Okay, now what?"
"Now, you will learn to ignite the ring," Fon stated as though it was a well-known, simple truth.
"Hahi?! Ignite the ring?" Haru uttered in confusion.
"Yes. I understand that you are quite the inquisitive one - you pursue science with a great appetite for its knowledge. Alas, I shall not explain this to you until you have mastered it. Knowledge does not spawn Dying Will Flames; it is conviction that you need."
"Wait... Dying Will Flames? But..."
"I believe you are familiar with Reborn's Dying Will Bullets. Those are a more crude way of drawing upon the power, but it is not the most effective. Tell me, Haru, what is your driving motivation in life?"
"I, uh... science?" Haru offered. Fon gestured as though to say 'keep going'. "I guess I just love how everything in the universe is defined by a system of rules that can be studied and understood. Everything can be explained by science. And I'm sure that even the crazy shit that's been going on lately has an explanation of some kind - there's just more to know."
"Good, Haru. The look in your eyes when you spoke just then was good. Focus on that thought, and picture a flame. Put all of your passion for discovering the unknown into the image of a flame."
Haru blinked in a moment of confusion, but realised that the only real course of action was to give it a go. Fon was clearly expecting something to happen, even if Haru had no clue what that something was. They closed their eyes, and imagined a green flame - though they had no idea why they chose green, it just seemed… instinctive. Something came over her, and she had an idea that just felt... right. She pictured the flame growing with each new scientific discovery. She thought about the book on electrodynamics which had really captivated her interest lately, and then opened her eyes. And stared. After a few seconds of almost comical delay, Haru gasped.
Fon had talked about Dying Will flames, and so Haru really just expected a flame to form on her head. But that wasn't what happened at all. Haru wasn't even sure if she could call them flames. There was a green energy coming out of the ring on her left hand, dancing around like lightning. The centre was bright, and then spikes of what seemed like electricity danced in a small area around the ring. Some of it made contact with Haru's skin, but it didn't feel anything like they expected. It was hard, but warm. It didn't hurt at all.
"What... what is this?" Haru stammered in sheer amazement. "How does it... what?"
"That, Haru, is your Dying Will Flame. An impressive one, if I dare say so myself. A testament to how true your passion is," Fon smiled. "Now, to dismiss it, just visualise the flame going out. Then, ask your questions - after which, we will begin training."
Haru did as instructed, and sat down cross legged. "What is a Dying Will Flame? Why haven't scientists been researching it? Is it rare, is that why the world doesn't know about it? How long have people known about it? Has anyone studied it?"
"One question at a time, please," Fon responded calmly. "To answer your first question - a Dying Will Flame is the physical manifestation of one's life force. Every living thing contains the energy which is used to create such a flame, but not every living thing is capable of turning the energy into the flame. It has not been studied in great depth because the number of those who have both learned of the flames and how to create them is low. Perhaps someday you will meet someone named Verde, who studies the flames in great detail. If you wish to know more, they are the best person to ask."
"Okay, okay. Just one more question then?" Haru looked pleadingly at Fon, who nodded. "How will it help me right now?"
Fon smirked. "That is something which I will show you over the next ten days. To begin, why don't you take hold of your blades and reignite your flame?"
Haru was in the middle of her evening meal when an arrow smashed through the window and landed on the dining table in front of Fon. There was a note tied around the shaft of the arrow, which Fon quickly untied and read over.
"Haru, it's time. Grab your things now," Fon urged suddenly, looking forebodingly out of the window.
"Already? But it's only been a week!" Haru protested. She knew it meant nothing - her desire for more time to train didn't change the fact that they had arrived.
"Haru, dear, you can't afford to underestimate them. The Varia don't mess around," Mei stated harshly. "I'm coming with."
"Mom?! You know about the Varia?" Haru gasped.
"There are many things you don't know about my past, my child. I don't just know about the Varia, I used to be in the Varia. I retired because I wanted to raise a family away from all of that, but it looks like we can't always get what we want. Besides, when uncle Fon showed up again, I knew something like this might happen. Now go grab your things, we need to hurry!"
Haru ran at a fast jog through the streets with their mother and Fon. They stared at the pavement to avoid catastrophizing, immersing themself in pure awareness of the sunsent-painted orange concrete. It wasn't long before Haru heard the screams coming from somewhere to her right. Haru pivoted, turning a corner, and chasing the sound of screaming. That was definitely Futa. Their mother had seemingly vanished, but a quick glance around revealed that she had simply taken to running across the rooftops. Fon, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Haru upped her pace, moving as fast as she could until she saw Futa running with Lambo and I-Pin in his arms. Behind Futa was a man cloaked in black carrying an odd-looking fencing sabre. The man swung towards Futa, and Haru leapt off the ground, pushing with all her might. She soared through the air and landed a solid kick on the would-be assassin's cheek, knocking him into a nearby wall.
Having cleared the immediate source of danger, Haru quickly took in their surroundings. From one direction they could see Tsuna and reborn approaching, and from another direction came Kyoko's older brother Ryohei. What she didn't see, was the next assassin leap from nearby bushes to attack. Fortunately, the next attacker didn't make it very far before being caught midair by none other than Miura Mei, who promptly threw him into the ground.
"It's not over yet, stay on guard," Haru's mother announced, before stepping towards the three children in order to defend them. True to her words, a glint of light appeared from a nearby rooftop almost immediately after. But Haru didn't need to do anything, because it was quickly accompanied by a series of dynamite explosions.
The whole gang's here, huh? Haru smirked to themself, realising that perhaps there was a truth to Romario's faith in Haru and their friends. After all, Gokudera had just entered the scene and quickly dispatched a trained assassin, as she had herself just moments ago.
Gokudera and Yamamoto emerged from the clearing smoke, probably trying to look cool. While Haru could appreciate the sentiment, she mentally condemned them because it really wasn't the time for that.
Futa ran towards Tsuna, embracing his elder-brother-figure in relief. Yamamoto used his rudimentary first-aid knowledge from life as an athlete to help tend towards I-Pin's array of minor wounds from having tried to protect the other two kids. Meanwhile, Lambo rolled on the ground about not being able to walk anymore, when he was very clearly just overreacting. Tsuna noticed the Lightning Half-Ring stuck in the infant's mess of hair, and sighed. "You're really just treating it like trash, huh?"
"I don't get it," Gokudera grumbled as he walked up towards Tsuna, "why does this moron have a ring?"
"Well, he-" Haru began to speak up, but a hand on her shoulder made her pause. Haru turned to see her mother shake her head. Just how much does she really know? What the hell…?
"Come on, it's alright!" Yamamoto tried to placate the angry Gokudera. "At least everyone's safe!"
"Yeah," Tsuna agreed. "You guys are lifesavers!"
"Well, they were weaker than expected!" Ryohei exclaimed confidently.
"That's foolish thinking," Reborn chided, and was then followed up by Mei.
"Those were the lowest ranking Varia, barely out of their training," Mei added. "The ones you really have to watch out for are-"
Both Mei and Reborn turned to face the nearby treeline, which gave Haru reason to palm the blades hanging from her side and get ready for more fighting. She noticed the others still in shock processing both the presence and input from her mother, and knew that if something happened suddenly they would not be prepared. But trying to snap them to attention could be too costly, so Haru chose to just stay on guard.
A tall man with eight swords strapped to his back emerged from the treeline and stood to face the group. He made no move to attack, but Haru didn't drop her guard even slightly. The man looked around at his fallen comrades, and spoke. "Did you do this? Who has the Lightning Ring?"
After evaluating the situation further, the newcomer ascertained correctly that it was Lambo, 'the kid with the afro'.
"You're wrong, it's not what you think!" Tsuna pleaded, shaking his arms in an attempt to placate the assassin.
"Get in my way and I'll eliminate you," the assassin growled. He reached for two of his blades, and Haru instinctively drew their own.
"Hold on, Levi," a voice called out from behind the assassin. A group of five other figures dressed in similar black attire appeared. Among them was Squalo, who Haru remembered as their attacker from a week ago.
"The situation has changed," declared a childish voice coming from the smallest of the group, a hooded infant who seemed somehow similar to Reborn and Fon. "It appears that the other ring bearers are there."
A verbal scuffle ensued between Squalo, Gokudera and Yamamoto until yet another figure appeared.
"Here he is," Reborn announced seriously. "I never thought I'd see you again… Xanxus."
The latest arrival, Xanxus, stared intensely at Reborn, who fell back from the sheer pressure. Xanxus's hands began glowing, and he seemed ready to fight. Haru began focusing on her resolve, not only to unravel the mysteries of the universe but more importantly to protect her friends. But before her ring could ignite, yet another individual arrived.
A pickaxe embedded itself into the ground in front of Xanxus, and a voice called out. "Stop it, Xanxus, that's enough! I'll be running this show now."
Haru turned, and saw Tsuna's father, dressed in an obnoxiously orange worker's uniform. Hahi?! How is he involved in all this?
"Xanxus, will your men be able to fight against me, Vongola's outside advisor?"
"Don't butt in now, Iemitsu!" Squalo spat. "You're just a coward who only knows how to run!"
"I wasn't running away. I was waiting for an answer from the Ninth. I had my doubts about your recent actions, and the fact that the Ninth was allowing them. So, I informed him of my objections, and this was his response." Sawada Iemitsu produced a paper scroll. "It's a direct order from the Ninth."
As Tsuna expressed his highly recurring confusion - since nobody ever explained these things to Tsuna or his friends - Reborn outlined Iemitsu's position as an outsider advisor to the Vongola Family, one who is second only to the Boss in decision making power during any time of emergency.
"…And when it comes to choosing the next boss, the Advisor has as much authority as the Boss. In other words, the authority to present the two halves of the Vongola Rings fall equally upon the Ninth and your father. Though, it's rare for the Boss and Advisor to choose different candidates, which means…"
Reborn trailled off, and Basil, the boy who fell out of the sky onto Tsuna, handed Tsuna the paper scroll. "Here are the direct orders."
"Direct orders?" Tsuna unfurled the scroll. A small flame the same colour as Tsuna's own Dying Will Flame lit up the top of the paper, though didn't burn through it at all.
"That is the Ninth's Dying Will Seal," the Varia infant declared. "There can be no doubt, these orders are real.
"Wha- I can't read Italian!" Tsuna exclaimed. "What does it say?"
"In short, this is what it says," Iemitsu started. "Until now, I had always believed that Iemitsu's son, Tsunayoshi Sawada, would be the appropriate successor, and acted accordingly. But lately, perhaps because my death is near, my intuition has awoken and I have chosen a more suitable candidate - my son, Xanxus. He alone is worthy to be my successor. However, there will be those who disapprove of this change. Iemitsu has, in fact, refused to pass the rings on to Xanxus. But I have no wish to begin a pointless succession war within the Family. Therefore, I shall hold an officially sanctioned Vongola battle.
"There you have it. Vongola succession candidate, Tsunayoshi Sawada! Second succession candidate, Xanxus! The Vongola Rings necessary for you to become the legitimate heir… Their ownership shall be determined by a battle between Tsuna's Family and the Varia!"
AN: Yoooo - rewriting scenes from the show is kind of a drag, but it's pretty necessary to get the story rolling. In the next chapter I'll skip some of the fights since I don't see the point in rewriting a whole bunch of stuff that is the same as canon, and I'll mostly focus on how it diverges.