A/N: I live! Poor jokes aside I've been getting longer breaks at work so I'll be writing during that time. Whether inspiration decides to show up while I have time to write is questionable but I'm determined to complete this story.

As always, feel free to leave a review and enjoy!

A Deal with the Devil

Tsuna looked at Shizuka in exasperation. "You're planning something again."

Shizuka looked up from Natsumi's laptop and grinned. "Guess who has unlimited access to CEDEF funds and can now send a blond idiot into debt? Technology is awesome!" Tsuna sweat dropped, maybe she was spending too much time with Verde.

"Didn't the letter from dad say he was in the hospital?" Tsuna asks, Shizuka deadpanned. "He also was more concerned with Mom than he was for you after fighting an assassin. Any affection I may have had for him has shriveled up and died." She states.

Tsuna sweat dropped; some things never changed. "Sooo, has Hibari-senpai asked you on a date yet?" He asks with an impish grin.

Shizuka choked. "Tsu-nii, not you too!" She wailed, her face turning a bright red.

Shizuka cleared her throat, glaring at her brother. "Meifeng-dono got some tea from Fon and wanted me over to try it. What is dating anyways?"

Tsuna was about to speak but stopped. "Actually, I haven't been on one either. You could ask one of the girls." He suggests, Shizuka deadpanned. "Do I look like I want to encourage them? I'll just ask Verde later."

"Or you could just ask Sha-"

"Even I know that asking a womanizer for dating advice would be a horrible idea." She says bluntly.

Natsumi looked over Shizuka's shoulder and sighed. "The fact that a novice like you can even hack CEDEF just speaks volumes for their internet security. And bleeding the bastard dry would include the money he sends to your family."

"Alright, fine. Just enough to go shopping with Aunt Meifeng."

XoXoXoXoXo

Meifeng could feel the excitement radiate off of her pupil. The girl had gone from having no parental figures in her life to having a protective makeshift family. Her fixation on her brother had lessened and she was free to lead her own life. In return Meifeng had a child that would let her spoil them rotten.

"At this rate you might as well be added to the family registry." Meifeng says in faint amusement. There was a faint hum, something that Meifeng noted the girl would do while deep in thought. "I... I don't know if that would be a good idea right now. I need to tell Mama who I am eventually, right?"

There was unease rolling off the girl in waves, Meifeng gripped her hand in reassurance. "I think that would be best for everyone. Although adoption isn't the only way to become family."

Flames fluctuated in confusion before Shizuka pieced together what Meifeng was inferring. There was a sharp spike in flames but not as aggressive as the reaction could have been. Curious. "It doesn't matter anyways. Not like the sentiment is returned." Shizuka says, her defeated tone a shock to Meifeng.

"Sweetheart, what makes you think that?" And when would be a good time to beat some sense into her dense son?

The unease was back with a tinge of melancholy. "He's all about keeping the peace and order. Don't know if you've noticed but I'm the opposite of that." Shizuka says bitterly.

Unknown to the humans, an ancient entity was observing Shizuka curiously. "Perhaps my kind haven't completely disappeared from Earth after all." He says thoughtfully. A shiver ran down Shizuka's spine as she looked around, wondering the ominous feeling was from the intuition Reborn kept talking about. She was only able to give a surprised squeak as her surroundings began to distort and she was transported off the street.

Meifeng could feel her blood begin to boil. "That Mist is pretty confident to abduct one of my family. Looks like I'm adding to my old trophy collection."

XoXoXoXoXo

Shizuka felt her stomach drop, not recognizing her surroundings at all. It looked like an antique shop with breakable vases, odd looking weapons and... was that a piano? How was there so much stuff in such a small space? "Relax, if I had wanted to hurt you I would have already."

A man dressed in a kimono gave her what was meant to be a reassuring smile. "You snatched me in broad daylight to make a point. Excuse me for thinking that this isn't a benign visit." Shizuka retorts, the man looked thoughtful. "I haven't had a guest in decades, my apologies for my poor manners. I am Kawahira and you're known as Shizuka LaGuardia. There's no need for hostility, just wanted to chat." He motioned to a small table with a pot of tea.

Shizuka hesitated. Whoever this man was likely had enough information on her to find her if she tried to escape. "Alright, fine. You have my undivided attention Kawahira-san." She tried gently probing his flames to see into the man's emotional state and felt... curiosity. Intrigue. And hope?

As Shizuka sat Kawahira poured her a cup of tea. "I'll cut to the chase then. I'm not a human and at the rate you're evolving, you'll be the same as myself."

Shizuka choked, coughing to get some control back to her breathing. "What?!"

Kawahira took a sip of his tea. "I am the last of my people, the original Earthlings. My people evolved from sentient flames, much like yourself. I only wish to extend a helping hand in return for a... favor."

Shizuka gave him a wary look. "What favor?"

"Sometime in the foreseeable future there will be a... game that I will be hosting. If you participate with one of my original candidates, you and your partner can have anything you wish. Gaining a permanent body, breaking a curse, such things are child's play with my power."

Every instinct Shizuka had was screaming at her not to take the deal with this... Earthling. But the curse the Arcobalenco were under was slowly killing them. There was no guarantee that Verde would find a cure.

"You can break the curse?" She asks quietly, Kawahira nodded in agreement. "And all you want me to do is participate in some game? What happens if we lose?"

There was an unnerving glint in Kawahira's eyes. "Then you will become my apprentice."

"I... fine. You have a deal." She says begrudgingly.

"Wonderful! Despite not remembering this meeting, your consent to this is still important." Before Shizuka had a chance to raise any mental defense, foreign Mist flames engulfed her once more.

XoXoXoXoXo

"Shizuka! Are you alright?" Shizuka looked up at Meifeng in confusion.

"I'm fine. I've been with you the whole time, haven't I?" The past few minutes were still fuzzy in Shizuka's mind and she couldn't concentrate on them. At. All.

"We just need to check something sweetheart." She says softly.

"Aunt Meifeng, you don't have to treat me like a child. I can piece together something happened that I can't remember. Can't it wait until later, I feel fine."

Meifeng took Shizuka's hand, her flames felt stable. "We are not sweeping this under the table. There's a Mist somewhere in this town that was able to steal you away without a struggle. We need to find them and get some answers."

Shizuka made no further protests, unable to shake the feeling of being watched. Whoever or whatever it was, it wasn't done with her yet.