A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.

I sit alone in an empty classroom, glaring at the pager in front of me, as if to summon a new message. But alas, nada. I glance out the window - the sun dips below the horizon as the last few minutes of golden hour quickly disappear.

Okay, okay so there are three major events happening today of all days so it has to be related to one of them. Today is the day of the Namimori Prefectural Elections, the 22nd Annual Sumo Wrestling Championship, and the anniversary of the invention of mochi. All equally important… equally esteemed...

I chuckle to myself - I'm hilarious - of course, it's also The Cloud Ring Battle.

I would assume at this point that my secret employer was either the Vongola or the Varia, though I suppose in one way or another that would be the same. But on the other hand, no matter how secretive, I know Edoardo would never let me accept a mission that would put us so at stake with the most powerful mafia family. I mean, I am pretty good at my job, but no one mission is worth risking the fate of the entire family. Especially since the only real upside to the job is monetary gain.

My brows crease - but what other important task would I have today if not something related to the ring battles? And who could possibly be involved that doesn't have relations with the Vongola? Maybe Dino-san? No… he's too honest to try and maneuver around the system in any way. Well the Varia certainly were capable of manipulating Edoardo, though they didn't necessarily have funds as deep as this. Also, knowing them more than I'd like to admit, the Varia would have given me WAY clearer instructions than "TOMORROW". Their success rates were too important to them.

I mean, come on. It's as if they WANT me to fail the mission.

Wait…

Or it's as if there ISN'T a mission.

Ugh, I should have been focused on tracking down the signal from this pager instead. Maybe then I'd have more answers.

"Well, it's already too late for that wishful thinking." I stretch my arms out, then push myself out of the seat. Hopefully I get some clarity by the end of the day.

"Guess I'll scout out a good viewing spot."

I shimmy closer to the window, careful to stay out of view as I scan the premises.

Tons of barbed wire and gatling guns around one of the fields on the western campus. Subtle, as per usual. Definitely nothing suspicious happening over there. Seriously, who is in charge of setting up the arenas?

There are three surrounding buildings. One is only 1-story tall. There's a clear vantage point from the rooftop of an adjacent building, though it is a bit out of range to see all the gory details up close. The disadvantage to being on the ground floor though is I'm more likely to grab the attention of the Cervello. Even worse, one of the Varia might recognize me.

Better not risk it. Rooftop it is!

I slowly maneuver to my designated spot. The school is already inhabited by the Cervello, their illusionists and some of the Varia. So when I say maneuver, I mean like really really delicately, it takes me about one full hour to just move buildings. Though I'm also biding my time with nothing really else to do until everyone gets here.

I pull out a pack of every flavor of pocky and a warm mug of tea as I dial in on the perfect corner of the rooftop.

Because what's a good fight without snacks?

It's only an hour wait until everyone files in.

Kyoya stands across the battlefield from Gola Moska. What an ugly, cumbersome piece of machinery.

The fight begins with a quick approach from Kyoya, who easily evades the bullet's from Gola Moska. A swift jab with his tonfa and it's out of commission. "Oh boy, he's not going to like that." If he's been training for a week straight for this fight, a one-minute basically one-punch ending isn't going to be the end of this.

"Here, I don't need it." He throws the ring over to the Cervello.

He glances at the leftovers: three Varia by the other side of the fence.

"You there, in the chair. Get over here. I'm not going home until I beat the shit out of the king of the mountain."

I laugh to myself. "Ehhh well this will be more interesting."

I notice a slight twitch from Gola Moska. Is that thing still functional?

Another twitch.

My eyes narrow.

Kyoya is already deep into his attack. And to his credit, Xanxus, though not attacking himself, is obviously having trouble defending.

"Kyoya, please turn around." I say to myself.

Something's up. Please turn around Kyoya. THINK about why Xanxus could be so smug right now.

Kyoya keeps up his barrage of swings. Each faster and stronger than the next.

I don't want to get in the middle of Vongola business.

I certainly don't want to make my presence known to the Varia.

And to top it off, I really don't want to blow my cover at school yet.

But I smile and watch as Kyoya fiercely fights below.

"How troublesome."

Gola Moska's eyes light up and before I know it, I'm diving off the rooftop into the middle of the Vongola ring battle.

It happens in a blink of an eye. The particle beam from the center of the machine's body alights and then there's a girl. Long hair blows in the wind. Wearing our school's uniform.

She stands In the middle of the carnage, having apparently just kicked Gola Moska to the edge of the arena with ease, sending it's line of fire away from me.

I glare at her back - I didn't need any help. She turns toward me, slight worry on her face.

"Oh! It's the cute girl from the other day!" Yamamoto shouts.

"What the hell just happened?!" Gokudera yells ever louder.

"Tch. Don't get in the way." I say in her direction, before turning away back to my prey.

She scoffs. "Baka."

"HATSU-CHAN?! IT'S DANGEROUS GET BACK!" Ryohei screams at her, by far louder than the others.

I stop.

No…

"Shi shi shi~ is that little hatsu-chan come to play?"

I swiftly turn back around to stare at her again, eyeing her up and down.

"Yo, Bel. Been awhile." She scratches at the back of her head.

"Shi shi shi~ hatsu-chan you shouldn't interfere with the family or I'll have to kill you~"

She laughs loudly - "Yeah? Need I remind you what happened last mission? In the fountain? With the do -?

His smile quickly leaves his face as he throws a knife in her direction. She easily dodges, laughing even more now.

This girl is - well besides fucking beautiful - is put together, CLEAN, feminine. This can't be her…

We lock eyes.

And then of course I know.

Those grey-blues. Warm. Confident. Mine.

She smiles at me warmly. "BAKA." she repeats.

And before I know it, I'm beside her. Arms wrap around her, leaning into the scent of her hair.

And I try to say something - ANYTHING - really I have so much to tell her, so much to ask, but I just grip her even tighter, not saying a word.

"Took you long enough, Kyo." she whispers so only I can hear.

Her fingers tangle into my hair as she reciprocates my hug.

"If she isn't Vongola, then we have every right to kill her for interfering." Xanxus proclaims to the rest of the Varia.

I don't care about the fucking ring battles, but if he touches one strand of hair on her head I will kill every last person here.

She must feel my body tense because she pulls back barely and says -

"I'll be fine. I'd dare him to try" She winks at me.

I open my mouth to respond when missiles launch toward us and everyone else. I squeezed her one last time before we split, dodging.

"BAHAHAHAHA!" Xanxus shouts out as the missiles destroy all corners of the battlefield.

"Your plan was to use Gola Moska to wipe us all out from the start!" Gokudera yells back.

"Tch. I was being used…?" Yeah, Xanxus is on my shit list.

"I was going to retrieve it, but the Guardian of the Cloud stopped me and now Moska is malfunctioning." Xansus proclaims.

I should leave now right?

I should, I really should.

Those are my thoughts as I dodge missiles and Bel's knives all at once.

Right?

But then, Tsuna suddenly comes flying in - ACTUALLY FLYING - and makes a huge spectacle of defeating Gola Moska and it's like, wow this has been a wild day and it's actually still escalating.

I wish I brought my snacks from the rooftop, because ooooooh shiiiiiiiiiit, a human body literally just crashes out of Gola Moska's mechanical remains.

And believe it or not, that's Vongola IX!

Like, I thought I was going to be in trouble for getting involved in the Vongola business. But Tsuna literally just almost killed the head of the Vongola. So now I'm feeling kinda alright about my mistake? You know, like in relation to his fuck up, I'm going to be okay, I mean I only kicked it ONCE.

And seriously it's like watching a soap opera play out as we all find out about Xanxus' secret past almost destroying the Vongola and being asleep for eight years. I feel like I'm probably not meant to hear about this top secret information, buttttt it would be way more noticeable for me to try and sneak out now. And anyway, this is entertaining stuff.

I thought the Vecchio had some family drama, but damnnnnnnn. Next level out here.

"Exterminate the traitors." Xanxus orders.

"Wait." The Cervello intercedes. "We are declaring the match to decide the next Vongola boss - the Sky Ring match. The final battle in the seven ring tournament. Tomorrow night, you must all assemble in Namimori Middle."

Xanxus smirks, unfazed. "Tomorrow will be the last day in this comedy, struggle all you want."

They all disappear in a powerful bloom of flames.

No one has time to pause as Dino and his team assemble to clear the battlefield of mines and take Vongola IX to safety.

I'll get out of here at least before Dino recognizes me as well.

I noiselessly move behind one of the buildings, running til I reach the fence at the edge of the school.

I scale it and hop down.

"Where are you going?"

"I shouldn't get mixed up with them."

I continue walking down the street, and I hear Kyoya hop the fence behind me as well, catching up to my side.

"Where are you going?"

"My apartment."

We walk in silence. Now that the reverie of our meeting is over, we have so much more to say and nowhere to start. I'm sure he's wondering

"What have you been doing all these years?"

"How long have you been in Japan?"

"Why did you leave me?"

He follows me for the four blocks it takes to get to my tiny hole-in-the-wall apartment complex.

He even follows me as I walk up the stairs.

"Are you really going to follow me inside?"

He looks at the place with a frown. "You're not staying here."

"I am! It's not so bad, besides I don't need much."

I turn the key to my apartment. He watches with more disgust as I open the door, revealing the inside.

"You're not staying here." I chuckle. Still so bossy.

"Kyo…"

"Stay with me."

I blink up at him. "Kyo all my stuff is here."

"You have one suitcase, you've barely unpacked, even if you brought this entire apartment with you it could fit in your room."

YOUR room. He says it as if it always has been, always will be. And I have to admit, it moves me a bit.

"Pack. Now."

"If you're going to boss me around, I'm more inclined to say no -"

"I'll buy you a snack on the way home."

Damn. "...What snack?"

"Dango and takoyaki."

I gulp. "Give me five minutes and I'll be ready."

I hear the light footsteps of two people from the entryway.

"What are you doing here?" Hibari asks me - coldly, I might add. He wants some alone time with her and I'm in his way. I smirk at that. I knew he'd bring her.

"Yo, Fon, it's been awhile." Hatsu smiles at me.

I sip my team once more.

"Do you want to hear about your mission now?"

A/N: I wrote this one pretty quickly, but felt like it's better for me to just get it out then sit on it for it too long!