DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN
Natsuki's POV
An Arcobaleno pacifier.

I tilted the box letting the pacifier roll out. Massive amounts of Mist flames poured out, surrounding me.

"MAXIMUM BURST!"

The flames settled down leaving me in a dark forest. Only flashes of light and moonlight lit the way. I didn't have to move as I saw the scenery shifting closer to flashes. "Oh-Ho, looks like the Non-Tri-Ni-Sette policy is starting to set in."

I followed the voice to a teal haired man floating with the support of Cloud flames. I easily recognized him as one of the Real Funeral Wreaths. The Cloud one most likely. I heard the cock of a rifle beside me followed by another shot. I felt faint once I saw Mammon and Colonello standing a short distance beside me.

No, they weren't standing, they were staggering. Above them was the same green powder that Verde used during his trial, showering down. 'Their movements are sealed...'

Mammon raised his arms as high as he could to conjure an illusion. His pacifier was starting to lose light which meant he was over exerted. Meanwhile Fantasma was already knocked unconscious to the side of a tree. Mammon's illusions wrapped the Real Funeral Wreath in a cocoon of air-sealed blue tentacles. Not a second later, Cloud thorns pierced his cocoon, one making its way to Mammon.

"VIPER!" Colonello abandoned his rifle to push Mammon out of the way, letting his side take the thorn. The thorn itself wouldn't have been bad, but they kept multiplying over his small Arcobaleno body. I ran up to Colonello's body. I tried to yank any vine off only to have my hand sink through. "An illusion..."

The vines wrapped tightly around every nook and cranny of him, the thorns continuing to sink further into him. The light left both Colonello's eyes and pacifier. His body went limp as the thorns moved around his body. Soon his body was buried in dead thorns that lost their flames, leaving Colonello's body in full view. 'Impossible.'

"Oh-Ho, what a noble death." The man's hand sprouted another weed that slithered towards Colonello's corpse. Falco dove in pulling the vine away from his master. "Don't interfere."

Another plant whipped Falco against a tree. He didn't hesitate and went back towards his master. This time he went for the pacifier. Falco picked it up with his beak taking off into the air. He didn't get far when a vine wrapped around his leg.

Falco pumped his wings as hard as he could to get away from the man. When it was in arms reach of the man, he disappeared. Mammon was on his knees with one hand raised. 'Mammon used his usual escape reserve power to save Falco?'

"You can still fight? I guess there's a reason why you are a part of the Arcobaleno." Mammon's fists balled up. "Byakuran-sama would be displeased when he figures out that the Rain pacifier escaped. I just have to make sure I get yours then."

The Real Funeral Wreath threw down a plain dagger in front of Mammon. "I am a man of honor, however. The Rain Arcobaleno gave his life to you and in return you saved his bird. I could never kill a man with such honor." 'Then restore time to save Colonello, you bastard!'

"Nonetheless, Byakuran-sama's orders are absolute. So please take yourself to save me the guilt." 'What? How someone be as so cocky to tell their opponent to take their own life? It was a disgrace on one's pride.'

"Cut your tongue." Mammon spitted out.

The man chuckled making me more intrigued to punch him in the face. "I would but if I can't talk my soldiers would assume the worse and move in. That just creates unnecessary bloodshed. Byakuran-sama isn't too pleased with big scale raids either." My eyes narrowed.

"Move in where?" Mammon asked.

"To Varia's main base in Italy, of course. If my 100 A rank soldiers don't receive an update on the dot, they are ordered to raid." '100 A-ranks! But I'm still an A rank? If they raid HQ how many of us could actually stand our ground?' Looking up to the sky I found the moon already past the half point. 'Little to no one is even awake at this time.'

"Mmm I'll be back in a few days. Verde is still rejecting my phone calls so I'll try another location I know. If he went off the grid then even I won't be able to find him." My eyes widen at that voice. Spinning around I saw Mammon in his room. He was talking on the phone with a woman that had an almost identical voice to mine.

"What is this?" I asked.

'This was what Master was thinking at the time.' A voice echoed around me. 'This feeling. That voice.'

"Fantasma! Is this your doing? Where are you?"

'Just watch. You'll understand everything if you remain quiet.' I wanted to ask more but listened. The conversation on the phone ended quickly with me wishing him luck on the mission he took with Colonello. The mirage rippled into a new scenery.

"You know that a Dying Will flame's size depends on how firm the user's resolve is." I knew this memory. It was after the Mist ring battle when I confronted him in the cave. "I couldn't save the Celeste Famiglia but with Varia... I have a new start." I looked at my hand burning with flames that I didn't even remember were that big. 'Mammon...'

An image flashed to me standing by the open Varia doors with a face of horror. The floor was littered with the new designed Varia jackets soaked with blood. No bodies were seen, only opened boxes and leftover rings. Towering over the bodies were Millefoire soldiers. I covered my mouth stopping the feeling of throwing up. The scene was too similar to the Celeste Famiglia's death. 'Breathe Natsuki-sama. You must keep watching.'

'Why are doing this Fantasma? I don't want to see anymore.'

Memories flashed of Mammon with the other members of Varia, some I did and did not recognize. Pranks with Bel. Missions with Squalo. Silent meetings with Xanxus. The time Bel and Mammon's got electrocuted after 'borrowing' on of Levi's umbrellas. When Lussuria tried to bribe Mammon with caramel in replacement of money. The first time Fantasma and Mammon met. The times we were training together. Most of memories were of everyone arguing with one another but Mammon was, more or less, happy.

'Fantasma, wake up.' Mammon's voice rang in my head. The illusion Fantasma shook himself awake from the tree trunk. 'This cursed object is their goal.' Mammon's small hands wrapped around the handle of the dagger. I remained still. I couldn't move. Even if I could, what good could I do?

'Don't let it fall into the Millefoire's hands.' I held back a scream as he pushed the blade into his body. Fantasma transformed into his snake form and dived for his pacifier. He tightly coiled himself around it, then disappeared taking the pacifier with him.

As the illusion world started to turn to dust I heard my voice once more. "One day I will become one of the greatest illusionists ever that you'll be forced to use that power on me." Mammon's voice added on words that I have no memory of him saying out loud. "I'll be waiting."

At this point I had returned to my room. One arm was still holding the box on a tilted angle while the other had the pacifier sit quietly. Tears kept streaming down my face but I didn't have the energy to wipe them. I gripped the taboo item. "Why did you bring this to me?"

I lowered my arms to get a full view of Fantasma resting on my jewelry box. 'This was the safest place I could think of. Even if someone broke into your jewelry box, I waited until I felt your Rose ring flames to open the box. You were the only one that could have opened it. Until this day I remained dormant.'

"No. No, the safest place was not with me. You should have brought it straight to Xanxus-sama. He would have avenged Mammon. Instead we've been playing with those fake Funeral Wreaths who have done nothing but waste our time! If Xanxus-sama knew we could have had a plan by now! Not betting on a bunch of children who had maybe half a year of training for a game developed by the enemy!"

I raised the pacifier above my head. "If it wasn't for this stupid thing!" I threw down my arm attempting to destroy the pacifier.

'Break it.' My arm stopped. Fantasma was never this straight nor blunt. They were too brash for him.

'Break one of the world's most precious treasures.' I thoughts of the Tri-ni- sette. How the pacifiers and the Arcobalenos were the protectors of the world's balance.

'Break one of the last things that Master left.' My grip loosened letting it fall onto my lap. My eyes drifted to Mammon's, now broken, present. The one I broke open.

'Break the item that Master wanted to use his last thought to protect.' My breath hitched as his voice resonated in my head. My body fell forward turning myself into a ball. My locket fell out of my shirt. I held my locket.

Opening it up I remembered that Varia was so close to dying like the Celeste Famiglia. Mammon was the one to prevent that sight. "That illusion... Just how much of that were his actual thoughts?"

'All of them. Those are all of the thoughts Master had. Master was always bad with his words but he valued Varia just as much as the others.' 'Of course he did.' To illusionists, emotions were dangerous. They could either power the user beyond measure or distract them. Mammon was considered to be a part of the latter. To him there was only money. Yet, he saved Falco. He saved Varia. It cost him his life but he didn't hesitate. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

I snapped the locket closed. "Mammon went soft." I weakly chuckled. A part of me wanted to slap Mammon. The other part wanted to hold him tight

I held my head high as I wiped at my, already, dried tears. "Now what?" I asked as I carefully placed the pieces of jewelry back into the box.

'I have furfilled Master's request and kept it safe. The rest is up to you. I shall follow whatever decision you make, Natsuki-sama. What do you plan to do?'

"I actually don't know..." I couldn't wear the pacifier as my own. Not only was it disrespectful to Mammon, it was unthinkable that I would ever reach the standards of the Arcobaleno title. Even I was a little scared of the curse that comes with it. To be trapped in a body of a child with no reason but fate. I couldn't think of anyone that could accept it.

"Good morning, Tsunayoshi-kun." I shocked a sleepy Tsunayoshi awake when he entered the kitchen.

"N-Natsuki-san! You're up early."

"I could say the same to you. I didn't think you would want to get up after last night's party. I just had to make a call to Varia now." I dumped the scrambled eggs that I made onto a plate with pancakes on the side. I set the plate on the table. "Here. I'll make some more."

"Thank you." Before he sat down he moved over to the counter and handed me my Shadows mask with a small bag with my jewelry inside. "You dropped this last night."

I took both from his hands examining the mask for any damages, ignoring his stares at Fantasma on my shoulder. "Thanks. Verde would kill me if this broke. Or at least try. Lussuria would probably scold me for letting gems get tainted too."

"About that... Verde..." I sighed as I cracked an egg into the pan.

"Verde, too?"

Tsunayoshi nodded. "How are you feeling? About last night? Varia told me that you might not take Mammon's news well." I noticed that he was purposeful ignoring using the direct words of death.

"This is the line we work in. People pass away." I finished my eggs and sat across from him.

"You're taking this surprisingly well." He said hesitantly as he took his seat. 'If by well you mean I'm trying my hardest not to storm Byakuran's fort in order to kill the Cloud bearer with a cursed object, that was left as a dying present, burning in my pocket, then yes I'm just doing fine.'

I took a deep breathe in. "Tsunayoshi-kun, do you realize what today is?"

"Wednesday?" He took a piece of pancake into his mouth.

"Yes but..." I slide my staff out under the table knocking his chair leg out. I stood to the side of the table looking at his dumbfound face. "Today is the start of training. Yesterday it was clear that you have no idea how a box weapon works. We have 7 days to whip you into proper fighting stance for Choice. So finish eating, wake up your guardians and stop lollygagging." He quickly scarfed down the rest of his food and jogged out of the room.

Once all of the guardians' assembled in the main training room Dino assigned tutors. Basil and I were placed as observers over everyone's progress. Tsunayoshi was placed in independent studies. Gokudera was in charge of rookies, Lambo and Sasagawa. Hibari was to train privately with Dino.

Though I wanted to try and train Chrome, I knew that her illusions were on a much higher level than mine. Instead Fantasma pointed out a system that Mammon left behind. Yamamoto was put on standby until Squalo could get in Japan. I offered to transport him when I called Varia but he was too busy complaining about Yamamoto's lost, to listen. After Dino he finished, he dismissed everyone to start.

I clapped my hands together to get all of their attention. "I call this room first. Everyone else, get out." Gokudera grumbled under his breath before yelling at his students to come to the library. I-pin and Bianchi lead Chrome to their training grounds. Everyone else shuffled their way out talking a bit more about what they planned on doing.

Once the door shut, I turned over to the air bikes. "When I said everyone that includes you two as well. Kyoko-chan. Haru-chan."

Behind the air bikes, a small section of the wall peeled away, revealing, clothed tied strangely, Kyoko and Haru. I bend my arm above my head using my other arm to pull on it. "You do realize that if I didn't recognize Haru's shampoo I would have shot you for eavesdropping, right?"

They both were a bit shocked at my statement. "What were you guys doing? Tsunayoshi-kun would not approve of you listening in and you know that."

Kyoko put her hands together. "Please don't tell him Natsuki-chan."

I switched arms. "If I wanted to tell I would have done so already. Did you get the information you wanted?"

They looked at each other in confusion. "What were those 'boxes' and 'Millefoire'? Sounds like the Mille Feuille pastry. Vongola is a type of clam, right? Maybe it's a kind of spaghetti."

"Hahi. In this case, Vongola probably refers to the Mafia Tsuna-san and everyone else belong to." My eyebrow raised at Haru. 'Haru-chan seems to know more than I thought.'

"Mafia?" 'Kyoko-chan on the other hand has no knowledge. But now that I think about it, she was the reason why Sasagawa-san won against Lussuria in the Sun match. She may even be the future Vongola don bride.'

I dropped both of my arms. "Listen, girls. I understand the feeling of the ones that you care about keeping secrets from you. It's especially infuriating when they claim it to protect you." I said thinking back to the Cloud match and last night. "But, though I hate to say this, while I'm here, I'm under Tsunayoshi-kun's rules. One of them being to keep your involvement to a minimum."

They both looked discouraged that I couldn't tell them. "I can tell you this though. I'm constantly surrounded by boys so I can tell you that they can be complete idiots sometimes. Us, girls, have to stand our ground though. One day you will understand our situation but only if you actually work for it rather than wait for Tsunayoshi-kun and the others to decide."

Kyoko and Haru made a face of determination, bowed to me and rushed out of the room. It took me a second to process what happen. "I think I just killed Tsunayoshi-kun."

'That boy is getting what he needs.' Fantasma jumped off my shoulder to the floor. 'Are you sure you rather not train with Master's illusion seminar? It was made for you after all.'

I nodded. "I can't train with that thing knowing that it isn't him. You're not up to Mammon's level but you still have more knowledge than me. I'll be in your care for now."

Kyoko and Haru took my advice to heart by starting a Boycott against the boys. Though that didn't stop Reborn, Giannini and Fuuta from dressing up as girls in order to avoid starving. I, obviously, took their side in full support.

Three days past. The boycott was still in effect with the boy side failing to hold themselves up. Last I saw, ramen cups overfilled the trash can, a report of a broken washing machine and burn marks on the kitchen walls. It was clear which side was going to give in soon.

'Your illusions are still too concentrated in one area. You need to learn to spread of the power more evenly without exhausting yourself that way you can create larger images.' I sighed as I rubbed the sweat off my neck with a towel.

"I know." My training was similar to Chrome's, focusing on physical training and illusions. However, Chrome was physically weak with me being mystically weak. Almost anyone could make illusions and magic, only certain few could actually perform it to the point of calling themselves espers. Though Mammon tried to bring out my powers, they were extremely draining. At most I could conjure up an illusion strong enough to fool the majority of people. Excluding other illusionists. I was still had a lot to learn though.

"We can't! What if something happens to Kyoko?!" I plugged my ears when I entered the dining hall that was basically boy territory at this time.

"T-that's right. We can't put Kyoko-chan and Haru in danger... No matter what." I grabbed Tsunayoshi's ear dragging him off the bench.

"I'm sick of listening to this useless rambling. If you have time to complain, you have time to train. I'm taking Tsunayoshi-kun." I pulled him into a training room with him yelping for me to let go.

I threw him into the training room. "Show me how much you improved in 3 days." Tsunayoshi rubbed his ear in pain.

"Honestly, my training hasn't been improving." He lit his ring causing his box to shake in his hand. "It did this last time as well when that... thing came out. I can't figure out why it's doing that."

'He's pathetic.' "Open it." I demanded.

His forehead started to sweat. "I can't! What if that thing appears again?"

"By the way the box is reacting to your flames, there is no way its stable. But you are not like Gokudera-san. Your instincts are what drive your learning." I opened Fangs' box with a Rain ring.

Fangs instantly took a liking to Tsunayoshi by rubbing his leg with his head. Tsunayoshi bent down to lightly pet his head. Fangs tilted his head and playfully nudged Tsunayoshi's hand with his nose.

"Fangs, this is for training." Fangs hopped back into my arms where I stroked his head. "The Harmony in Sky flames can be very captivating, especially when in such a pure form." That was probably half true. The other part would be that Tsunayoshi and I's flames closely resembled each other. Tsunayoshi's feelings were too panicky and the pureness of his Vongola ring was over powering his box but attracting Fangs.

"That's nice. That you can get along with your box." Tsunayoshi smiled gently. At the same time his box started to soothe itself. It still shook but less violently. 'Tsunayoshi-kun is warming up to the idea of being friends with his box.'

"My box is calm now..." He clutched his fist and inserted the flame into his box. A stream of Sky flames flowed out towards the ceiling. I roughly pulled back on Tsunayoshi's collar avoiding him from hit by the returning mass. I crossed my arms over my chest as the creature slammed me into the wall.

"Natsuki-san!" He ran up to me. I shook my head.

"I'm fine." Tsunayoshi grabbed his Hyper pills and his gloves. I held his shoulder. "You're not the target so let's keep it like that."

I took a better look at the creature that stood before us. Since Tsunayoshi's feeling were calmer than the first time it was able to take on more of a shape. It was able to gain 4 legs but had no distinguishing features. It reminded me of rare animal study cases with blurred pictures.

"Tsunayoshi-kun, watch how a real box weapon fights." I made a circular motion with my index finger to signal Fangs to circle around it. Without any sudden movement we separated into two directions. The creature took a few steps back to be able to see the both of us, ignoring Tsunayoshi. 'It became intelligent.'

I made eye contact with Fangs and nodded. We both stopped walking. The creature crouched into pouncing position, eyes darting between us. "Recon!"

My shout was enough to startle the creature into charging at me. It tackled me with enough force to knock me down with only my staff in between us. Fangs acted fast and rammed the side of the creature into the wall. 'It's fast and light. Heavy breathing means its low on stamina, whether because of the low amount of flames or the actual box make-up, undetermined. Has the body of flames yet can maintain a physical form. Sharp claws and teeth like a Bester. I could only imagine the threat it's going to be when it's perfected.'

"I gathered enough information. Let's not prolong this more than needed." Fangs barked as the creature stood back on its feet. The creature gave a low growl that Fangs returned. "We better be careful though."

It jumped in an arc towards us. We both dove forward, low enough to just avoid its claws. It skidded to a stop and quickly turned around, lunging once more. We flipped backwards over it. Fangs landed on the creatures back, sinking his claws and teeth into it. At the same time I landed, I stabbed my blade into its tail. "Now!"

Blue flames surged down Fangs' back causing the creature to roar out. The creature tried to shake Fangs off. I used my telepathy to push its four legs together, restraining most of its movements. The Rain tranquility factors worked its magic and rendered the creature weak to the point of returning to its box.

Fangs yawned, rubbed his eyes and stretched out on the floor. I went over to pick up the Vongola box returning it to Tsunayoshi who gratefully took it. "Thank you Natsuki-san. I'm sorry too. I just thought that my box had settled down a bit. I wasn't thinking ahead."

"Did you learn anything from this experience Tsunayoshi-kun?"

His head sunk. "No. I don't understand. I was able to open Hibari-san's box weapon before. What's the difference between now and then? Natsuki-san?"

"I only wanted to see your progress. You want me to teach you a lesson?" I said in disbelief. He nodded. "Tsunayoshi-kun. Reborn can hold your hand all you want but at some point you will need to stand on your own. As the future Vongola Don you must learn to adapt to any new circumstances, including box weapons or else you will die. Just look at Squalo-sama. He did not study other sword forms but instead learned it while fighting. Because of this he is able to match any other swordsman out there. Meaning, I will not be telling you how to work your box."

"I guess I understand your reasoning. Even though I have no intention of being a Mafioso." He mumbled the second part nervously, under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

He gave out a timid chuckle, avoiding eye contact. "Well I really have no intention of inheriting the Vongola name. The Mafia is too scary and I'm not cut out to take on such a high position."

My mind went back to his interference during the Lightning ring match. I took one step closer to him. "Are you still like that? I thought after everything that you went through you would realize the weight of the Vongola name. The amount of blood shed for that tiny trinket around your finger." My fists balled at the memory of why and what Xanxus did to me. The murder of the Celeste Famiglia was all for the title that this boy standing before me owns.

"That's exactly why I can't become Vongola Juudaime. There's too much blood that was wasted on useless fighting. I don't believe in what the Vongola stand for!"

I grabbed his collar, lifting him up and pinned him against the wall. "H-Hie!"

"No good Tsuna. Always last in anything. Highest mark ever was a 57% in Grade 6. Has a tendency to skip school whenever there was, coincidentally, a needle on the same day. Can trip over anything. Runs away from the neighborhood Chihuahua. Was said to be a coward from merely anyone that met him. And despite being the only son of CEDEF adviser, Sawada Iemitsu, had no training whatsoever. Can you imagine the level of disgust I felt when I read your file and knew that you were the only candidate against Xanxus-sama?" I released my grip on him causing him to fall on his butt.

"You won't accept Vongola? Don't give me that bull. Since birth I was tied to Vongola whether I wanted to or not. You cannot hide nor run from it. Blood will be spilled. Either yours or your enemies is all up to you. I'm going to kill Byakuran and the Real Funeral Wreaths if it's the last thing I do and you of all people are not going to be the one to stop me. If you fail to master your box by Choice then I will take your ring and place. By force if I have to." I huffed out staring at the shaking Tsunayoshi. I ran my hand through my hair. "Training over. Go take a shower, find a decent meal, or something. Just get out of my sight."

I held out my box calling Fangs back in. I started to walk out as Tsunayoshi stood back on his feet. "Wait Natsuki-san! I just have one question. Please."

I looked at him from the side view with my back still facing him. "If Varia told you about Mammon's death beforehand. Would... Would you have handled the situation better?"

"You're referring to the girls' boycott? If you should tell them?" He meekly nodded.

"Everyone keeps telling me that I shouldn't because it would drag them in too deep. But I can't help but feel bad that they are the only ones that don't know what is going on. I know you're on their side but what do you think of the situation?" I let out a sigh and turned back to him.

"Kyoko-chan and Haru-chan are a prime example of what a stereotypical female should be. They clean the clothes, cook the meals and watch over the children without a care in the world. To me they would die in a second if thrown into our world." His head sunk a little. "But... I have no doubt in my mind that if I were to put a ring on their hands that they would able to light a flame as big as you and your guardians."

His head shot back up with wide eyes. "What makes you say that?"

"You." He made a sound of confusion "Tsunayoshi-kun you threw them into a world where everyone they love has either fled in fear or died. You've trapped them in this base without any natural sunlight or fresh air for days on end. And the people that are supposed to be their protectors, are also the people that are keeping the most secrets from them. How would you act to this situation?"

Tsunayoshi still didn't understand. "Those girls didn't crack. I saw them wake up every morning before anyone to cook breakfast. Same with cleaning up at night. Constantly restocking the infirmary. Looking up the healthiest recipes. Sewing up your damaged clothes. Kyoko-chan and Haru-chan did not crack. I nearly did when I knew Varia was keeping something from me. I have a feeling that we kept quiet for the same reason. That finding out would have meant nothing if it wasn't told from the people themselves. When they confronted me on our Mafia business, I saw a flame in them. They have great determination to help all of you. I can't deny them of that."

Tsunayoshi started to smile. "Remember what I said. Sky flames means Harmony. People are attracted to you like a moth to flame. You have good subordinates, Tsunayoshi-kun. You have to listen."

I left Tsunayoshi in the training room while I headed back to my room. I rotated my neck a little to get rid of the stiffness. 'You and he are very similar if you think about it.' Fantasma stated through telepathy.

'Huh? Me and Tsunayoshi-kun? In what way?'

'Personality. The way you switched from threatening him to helping him is similar to his Hyper mode. As if Shadows is your outlet for your mafia side. You cannot oppose that fact that you and he are bona fide relatives. It would not be surprising if you had comparable traits. Fangs seems to have taken a liking towards him as well.'

'Discarding that we're related, I hated the way Tsunayoshi-kun was talking, that's all. I've trained my whole life for his position and he can't even accept it. If Vongola was anything other than Mafia he would have been the best choice. The harsh reality is that he is just not ready.'

'Maybe so but I've seen that boy do amazing things. His fight with Boss-sama was nothing less than spectacular.'

'That's true... You know sometimes I wonder what would have been like if I became Vongola Decimo. Would I still get along with Varia? Would Reborn come to tutor me? Would I have guardians of my own? There's the theory of parallel worlds. Maybe I'm Vongola Decimo in one of them. Amusing isn't?'

'The theory of parallel worlds is only a theory. Anything of the sort is impossible.'

'I don't want to consider the possibility of the impossible while talking to a frog through telepathy.'

'Undeniable. And the girls? Did you truly mean to help them? Or did you have another motive?'

'Half half. I do believe that there is something special about them. Tsunayoshi-kun is only dense. His training is independent but he seems to have forgotten that that doesn't mean he can't talk to people. His health has been getting worse since the boycott started too. I need all those brats to be ready for Choice. None of them are going to get in the way of my goal.'

'And that would be?'

'Isn't it obvious?' I scooped Fantasma off my shoulder holding him at eye level. 'I'm going to avenge Mammon.' I caught Fantasma smirk for the first time.

'I approve.' I chuckled at him.

That night, the boycott was called to an end. Squalo had taken Yamamoto away for training. Sasagawa had punched his anger into Tsunayoshi after learning that about the girls. Kyoko and Haru seemed a bit tense around me but slowly reassured themselves that I was safe to be around. Everyone's training was proceeding as plan. There was no more time to waste after all. Tomorrow was the day of Choice.