Disclaimer: I own the OCs, the rest is Akira Amano's work.

Fratellanza

I stretched out next to my bed. The metal bar had grazed an artery, but overall I was fine. The mission was a success, I gave the information I got to Lal and slept a lot. Arro too, and his wrist would take time to heal, but his life was not in danger. He wasn't really allowed to get out of bed though. He complained about it but shut up when his meals were served in bed, that idiot.

"I talked to Iemitsu too, he told me he would contact my Boss about that woman who had my beautiful hair." I patted said hair, some curls defying gravity. "I know Lulu."

"Have you thought about the marbles?" He laid back in his pillow as my hand went to my thigh.

"You described it as dynamite and your Flame like the match?" I nodded and he crossed his valid hand behind his head. "Hum...it was your Sky Flame, so my guess would be you synchronized more with my Storm than Rain Flame and because the Flame of Wrath has Storm Flames in it...Boom!"

"It's possible?"

"No idea, I'm not an expert. The Vongolas kept Dying Will Flames for themselves for centuries, remember?" I sighed.

"It's so annoying!" He snickered.

"At least we know it's mainly because you're from the Secondo's bloodline that you were active that young and we synchronized. You synchronized with Alaric before though, right?" I nodded.

"I can't even tell you an age."

"Princess?" Bono called me through the door. I got up and opened it. "The External Advisor called, you are expected at the CEDEF as soon as possible. You will spend the night there."

"Got it." I turned to Arro. "If you need something..."

"...I just ask for it, I know. You're basically in my room Lulu. Bye bye!" I left him and packed.

Dino told me goodbye from a window and I waved.

People...were acting normal toward me. Lal gave me a scolding look and sighed, gesturing me to follow her.

"Iemitsu said it would be part of your punishment, but he just doesn't want to do it himself." I blinked in confusion as we stopped in front of the archives. She sighed. "Go on." I opened the door and dropped my bag on the floor, gaping.

The room was a mess. By mess, I meant papers were everywhere! On the floor, outside of their files, just...everywhere!

"What...what happened there?" It was never that messy, someone would always clean up! We were ordered to clean up after us!

"Iemitsu stormed in one day, looking for something and forbidding anyone to clean that mess because 'everything he needed was where it was supposed to be'. That moron hasn't been in here since you left jail and pretends it never happened, so he told us to make you do it." I sweat dropped. That stupid Boss of mine...he was a great Boss, but I wanted to strangle him sometimes. "You better start now." I sighed as the door closed behind me, turned on the light and started.

How...where did I start?

"Fuck you Iemitsu," I muttered hours later. The box I was supposed to grab was out of reach. I tiptoed, moving the box a little.

Next thing I knew, I failed to grab the box which fell on my head, almost knocking me out and making me fall on my ass. I rubbed my head with a growl and glared at the box. It was big and dusty. I opened it out of sheer curiosity and took the notebook written in what appeared to be French.

"'Alaude'...the first Cloud Guardian?" I muttered to myself, flipping through the pages. He was also the founder of CEDEF if I remembered well. My eyes caught a glimpse of something shining under the light and I took it.

It was an old silver pocket watch. I opened it. There was a sentence written in old Italian. 'To my honorary Guardian, who keeps us in line when no one else can. Giotto.'

How cute. I rummaged through the box and pulled a picture out of it.

The…

There was a blond girl, her long hair in heavy curls and electric blue eyes looking at the camera with a toothy grin, her arms crossed with one of a man looking like an older version of Kyoya, but with platinum blond hair and blue eyes.

The girl though? I wasn't blind, she looked like me. A lot.

"BOSSSSSS!" I screamed, watch and picture in hands as I sprinted out of the room. I was sure Turmeric yelled at me not to run in the hallways but whatever, I burst in his office. "Look what I fo...the hell? What are they doing here?"

"Well...the Ninth and I don't agree on something so..." He opened the small varnished black box, the Vongola crest in gold on the top now out of my sight. I wrinkled my nose at the sight of the halves Vongola Rings, my eyes staring harshly at the Cloud one.

"You don't agree on his successor?"

"Precisely. He suddenly wants Xanxus to succeed him." I frowned, doubtful the Ninth would want something like that out of sudden.

"There's something weird. Something's really wrong." He sighed deeply, closing the box.

"I know. It just came out of nowhere. The VARIA already has their halves of the rings, it's a matter of time before they come themselves to get these ones." I pursed my lips.

"Tsunayoshi reminded me of Primo and I really think he can carry Federico's will, as Federico's remaining Guardian, I don't know if it really counts, but I'll stand by him for that. Even if Xanxus is my brother." My Boss was tapping his fingers on the top of the box. "However, I don't think any of them is ready for that burden. I mean, the Mist Guardian I 'found' is in Vendicare and there's no Lightning Guardian. It's too soon."

"Do you have another solution? Because I'll take it." I gulped quietly at how cold he sounded. "I can't let the rings fall between their hands Luciana."

"I know. What's your plan then?"

"I'll make fake ones and get the VARIA on their tracks while the real ones are going to Tsuna."

"Xanxus will send Superbi." He raised a brow, like me at my quick response.

"How are you so sure?" I scratched the top of my head in confusion.

"I...I don't know, I have a feeling it will be him."

"You've been enough trouble recently, please don't become a seer."

"Got it." I showed him the picture and watch. "I found that by the way! If you wanted to see who my ancestor was, maybe that chick can help us."

"It's the First Cloud Guardian."

"Yeah, he's Kyoya but European style."

"He's not the only one." I blinked and he put a picture under my nose. "It's the First Generation. Do they remind you of any one?"

"It's creepy," I stated, staring at the doppelganger of the kids in Namimori on the picture. "Is it why you agreed for Mukuro? Because of the melon head?"

"He doesn't have a good reputation, but in a way yes." There was a pause. "Are you done cleaning?"

"No?" He pointed at his door. "But the rings!"

"Clean my mess like a good subordinate!" I rolled my eyes and obeyed.

He had enough on his plate as it was.

"He's going to die. Basil is going to die!" Arro repeated in the private plane we were on. "My cousin is after him, he'll turn poor Basil into sashimis!"

"Basil may not win, but it's not the goal. He has to deliver the rings," I interrupted him. "He won't die until he reached Tsunayoshi."

"Did anyone tell Reborn at least?"

"Are you panicking at the idea of seeing Squalo?" Dino asked him, the real rings safely tucked in the inside pocket of his coat.

"I'm not!" he replied angrily before pointing his thumb at me, who was sucking on a cherry lollipop. "Why aren't you asking her if she's panicking!?"

"She's not breaking everybody's eardrums Arro..." my brother whispered, averting his eyes to the side. Arro opened his mouth but stopped, realizing he would make Dino right.

"They're all gonna die, it's the fucking VARIA."

"You won't know until it happens," I drawled quietly.

"Why am I even going?"

"You're both under house arrest at my house, I had to leave so it's better to take you with me. You might be useful too." He grumbled something, crossed his arms and looked away. I wish I could have gone to see my mother, but it will be for another time I guess.

When we landed, I was jet-lagged. Alaric was waiting for us though and I ran at him.

"Rick!" I called him, throwing my arms around him. He looked down, then at Dino.

"Just...go with it..."

"I called Reborn, he told me they were going to the shopping district." I nodded.

"Well, you go stop Squalo, I'll take Arro home and introduce him to Nana!" Iemitsu threw his arm on Arro's shoulders and dragged him with him, against his will.

"I don't think Superbi would attack him, but taking him elsewhere is still the best thing to do because of his wrist."

"Let's go," Dino stated in his Boss voice.

"I can attack him but you can't right?" I asked my brother as we were going to the district, Alaric silently coming along.

"Exact. Because of Alaric's still weird position, I think it would be safer if he stays on the side too. You'll be okay?"

"It's Superbi. There's an eighty percent chance he pisses me off because he's not going at me seriously."

I almost jumped out of the car when I saw the black smoke. I covered myself in illusions and ran to the spot. Immediately, I saw Hayato down. Basil was down, Tsunayoshi was in his underwear and Superbi was staring down at him, lazily stopping Takeshi's sword behind him without sparing him a look.

However, Tsunayoshi looked at me. I ran at them and slipped between Superbi and Takeshi. The oldest felt me and jumped away, enough for me to grab Takeshi by his collar and throw him at his Sky.

"Vooiii who the fuck are you trash!?" I walked up to Basil and checked his pulse. It was there. He was also conscious and shot me a look.

"Good job Basil, I'll take it from there," I whispered. He nodded and fainted. I made a few step toward Superbi, who readied himself to fight back, even if his eyes kept looking around. He didn't know where I was, so I dissipated the mist.

I smirked at his wide eyes and astonished expression when I waved at him.

"VOOIIII THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE BRAT!?" I shrugged.

"Senpai, he's dangerous!" Tsunayoshi screamed at me, which made Superbi frown.

"'Senpai'?" he repeated quietly.

"I know Tsunayoshi." My smirked vanished. "Anyway, you're attacking my protegee and I can't let that happen."

"I'm from an allied Family, you'll have trouble if..."

"If what?" I pointed at Basil. "You've already attacked one of my own." He gaped slightly and slapped his forehead, grabbing his silver hair in frustration.

"Of course not Cavallone, she was a Guardian..." I heard him muttering.

Without a word, I attacked him. He stepped back, staying on the defensive, as I thought he would. It was annoying, but I kept going at him. When he realized I wasn't backing down, he fought back. I stopped his fist and used my foot to stop his fake hand.

"What are you gonna do now?" he hissed angrily at me. I blinked innocently at him.

"Beat you?" I leaned on his fake hand, propped myself in the air and kicked him hard in the stomach. He didn't see it coming, so I used his pain and surprise to put my free hand on his shoulder, grab it and go behind him, pulling his arms back while my foot was in his back. "Now, do you want me dislocate your shoulders?" He peeked at me above his shoulder.

"The fuck happened to you brat?" I snorted in disdain.

"I grew up, not that you'd know about it." I pushed harder in his back and he growled in pain. I was ready to really dislocate his shoulders but the side of his blade was opened. "Wh..."

I let go of Superbi and used my forearm to hide my nose and mouth when the small bombs exploded. I jumped out of the smoke, my right arm slightly burned, but nothing life-threatening. I stared at the slowly dissipating smoke.

Hum, maybe he did take me a little bit seriously after all.

I frowned when I saw Basil being thrown away.

"Tsunayoshi catch him or I'll kill you!" I roared, sprinting toward Superbi.

He spun around, probably reacting on instinct against my killing intent and not entirely realizing he would get in a lot of troubles if he were to kill me, but I grabbed his blade between my hands.

"Vooiii seriously let go brat!" I glared and with a little bit of flames, broke his sword clean. He widened his eyes and moved toward the building, behind me, before looking at his broken weapon.

Now, now I knew I hit where it hurt. I broke his sword and his pride as a swordsman was probably touched.

"You know, it's nice to fight against you. I've been against too many illusionists recently but I don't need to figure out what's real or not with you."

"Getting into troubles brat?" I smirked and threw the piece of blade on the ground.

"It's a long story I'm not sharing."

"Am I too late to have a great entrance?" Superbi turned his head to look at Dino and I chuckled.

"Kind of, he's as threatening as a puppy now." Dino shot the blade a look.

"I see. Don't you think attacking children is below you Squalo!?"

"Tch, if I get in a fight with you the higher-ups will be nagging at me for a while, Cavallone!" I was still here!

I slid my right foot back and raised my left hand in front of me, opened palm facing him. He shot me a brief calculating look before releasing a new wave of bombs, although smaller, against my brother. Of course, Dino made them go on each side of him and his men to avoid injuries, but I frowned at the spot where Superbi used to be when the smoke disappeared.

"I don't think a real fight would do any good to any party involved!" I looked up to see him and his smug grin on the building. He had the Vongola box in his hand. "For now I'll take this! See ya!" And he was gone. I made a step forward, ready to chase after him but Dino's voice stopped me.

"Stop Ana, Squalo has a lot more stamina than you, it would just end up in too much blood." Then, he went to Basil and scooped him in his arms. "He needs a hospital and fast."

"Go, I'll stay with Reborn and Tsunayoshi to brief them on the situation." He nodded as Hayato and Takeshi both woke up.

"Where's that guy!?" Hayato growled before seeing me. He glared hard. "You..."

"Stop it Gokudera, Luciana kept up with that Squalo longer than you and Yamamoto. Go home you two, you were useless today." They both had a conflicted look on their face. Before leaving, Takeshi smiled faintly at me.

"It's nice to see you again senpai." I nodded.

"The feeling's mutual." They both left and I turned to Tsunayoshi. "Anyway, let's go to the hospital to..." I didn't finish my sentence that Reborn's foot was in my face, sending me flying a few meters back. My head was spinning when I landed, the baby still on me. "Re..." He grabbed me by my collar and slapped me across the face.

My face was turned to the side. My cheek was burning and slowly, I raised a hand to my cheek before looking at Reborn in disbelief.

"I doubt your brother slapped you like you deserved to be for being so stupid." He jumped back on the ground and I sat up. "You would have been even more stupid if you had failed though."

"What?" He smirked.

"You did something that could have cost you your freedom. On the other hand, you caused a jailbreak in the Vindice prison and were sent there only when Mukuro was defeated. There's some good in there, you've improved." I rubbed my bruised cheek.

"And you had to slap me?" He pouted.

"But I was stuck here, it was very frustrating!" I sweat dropped. The cute act was more disturbing than anything by now.

"Senpai..." Once I was up I looked at Tsunayoshi. He smiled at me, despite what had just happened. "Welcome back." I was taken back and just stared.

I looked away and started leaving.

"We have to go to the hospital!"

"She's just being shy." I heard Reborn tell his student.

"Shy?"

"She doesn't look like it but Bakana doesn't know how to deal with people's concern." I glared at them above my shoulder.

"Hurry up!" I barked at them. As we were walking to the hospital, me with an arm on Tsunayoshi's shoulders to make an illusion of clothes on him, I started to explain the situation. "Basically, a few weeks ago the Ninth went crazy and decided to name Xanxus his heir." Reborn left to go get some clothes for Tsunayoshi.

"Xanxus?"

"The long-haired guy's Boss. They're the VARIA, the strongest assassination squad in the Vongola. However, Iemitsu didn't agree because Xanxus...is not the kindest soul on Earth, so we're divided in two and it's a mess." We reached the hospital and I let go of Tsunayoshi once Romario led us to Basil's room. I fell in a chair. "Anyway, Reborn will explain better than me."

"And him?"

"His life is not in danger," Dino told us and I nodded, my arms crossed on my chest. "He was trained well."

"Hell yeah, Iemitsu wasn't kind during training." Tsunayoshi widened his eyes in horror.

"Wait, my dad trained him!? Then his Master he told me about..." He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands. The angry feeling around him lasted a second before Reborn landed out of nowhere on his head with clothes.

"Shut up and put some clothes on Dame-Tsuna." He did and the conversation started again. "The rings are on the move then?"

"Yep."

"But that guy took them, so he won't come back, right!?"

"Yeah...if they were the real ones." It got me Tsunayoshi's and Reborn's gaze. Dino chuckled nervously and pulled the real ones out of his coat.

"Yeah...I have the real ones with me..."

"What...but..."

"Basil was a bait to get us some time," I explained calmly. "He wasn't told the rings he had were fake, but he got us some time to..." I didn't move when Tsunayoshi grabbed me by my collar in anger.

"What...How could you...how could he..." I took Tsunayoshi's hands and pried them off my sweater.

"The Vongolas are in a state of emergency Tsuna, they did what they could," Dino tried to calm him down. "Unfortunately, this situation would have happened at some point. Now you have some time to prepare."

"The rings are the symbol you are the official successor to the Ninth," I added. "They're a heavy burden to carry."

"Anyway, here Tsuna."

"Heh!? I don't want them!"

"But you're the Vongola Ten..."

"I have to study!" Tsunayoshi interrupted my brother. "Bye!" We heard him whine in fear in the hallway, running away.

"Does he still think he can run away from this?"

"Of course, he wasn't raised in that world," I told Dino sternly. "Even the day he'll realize there's no way out, he'll keep saying he doesn't want the job I bet." I got up on shaking legs and Dino helped me go next to Basil. I fell on the stool.

"I'll explain everything to him later. I'm guessing Iemitsu arrived too?"

"Yes, he took Arro with him." Reborn nodded and turned to me.

"I expect you to tell me what happened these past few months Luciana, but for today I'll go." He left too. I grabbed my apartment key and gave it to Dino, but he refused to take it.

"I have my own." I deadpanned at him.

"I feel violated." He laughed and patted my head.

"You're overdoing it! You're staying here?"

"At least until I can move without the risk of falling because I don't have any energy." Note to myself, do not try to help Tsunayoshi's keep his pride and leave him in his underwear.

Once I was alone with Basil, I sighed deeply. The VARIA...even if they had taken the real rings, they would have come to get Tsunayoshi's head to eliminate all possible threat to the succession. It was just a question of 'when'. At least...he would be prepared and would have official Guardians.

Hum...his Guardians were about to be made official…

I gritted my teeth.

We were supposed to have at least three more years and now...they were around my age when I had been a Guardian and damn was I too young for that.

"Luciana..." I turned to Basil.

"You're awake since when?" He smiled faintly.

"Enough to know they were fake..." he whispered in Italian. I looked down. "You asked to go in my place, didn't you?"

"I know Superbi and I knew they were fake, it would have been..." I replied in my mother tongue.

"You would have been in the hospital longer than me, and you were resting not so long ago. I...am honored Master chose me." I scoffed, knowing he would keep thinking like that. "It's...a bad situation after all."

"Yeah, it is." I closed my eyes. "Iemitsu is here too."

"I see." He looked at me. "What about Sawada-dono's Guardians?"

"Don't worry about it Basil, focus on resting. You'll probably help Tsunayoshi training at some point."

"Oh."

I stayed with him until I could walk, yet something was on my mind.

Kyoya would to kill me the moment he saw me.

I just...stared at the screen above the intercom of my apartment.

"Luciana, open the door!"

"Yeah Lulu...open the door!" a sleepy Arro said behind me. "It's five in the morning..."

"Yeah, that's why I'm shocked to see him," I muttered, opening the building to Iemitsu. It wasn't long before he was in my apartment. Arro already arrived late yesterday because he was the center of attraction at the Sawadas until Tsunayoshi came back. "What now?" I stepped back when Iemitsu put something in my face.

"From what I read, the Cloud Guardian is quite hard to reach. But you get along, and he's your successor so go give him the ring!"

"Why don't you just drop it in his mail box or at school?" I asked him nervously. Kyoya did not know I was here.

"Are you scared of him or something?" he asked with a big grin before looking at me with something I didn't like in his eyes. "Or maybe...you're having young love issues?" I twitched.

"You bet, they kissed already." I glared at Arro.

"Wow, you young people are quick nowadays! I mean, yesterday there were two pretty girls here for Tsuna after all!"

"I'll go give him the ring but leave my place, now!" I accepted the half ring and almost threw my slipper at him when he waved with a stupid grin on his face.

"Damn, it's too early for..." Arro tensed when I turned around, a very, very dangerous glint in my eyes.

"If you're still in front of me in five seconds I'll make sure you never reproduce De Luca." He ran away.

With a deep sigh, I got ready and left in the cold October morning. I really wasn't in the mood to fight with Kyoya but well...I couldn't avoid him forever.

Ironically, I was turning in his street when I found myself face to face with him. We both widened our eyes, and I made a step back when his narrowed dangerously when his brain registered it was me. His tonfas just magically appeared.

"H...hey..."

"You," he hissed in anger.

I chuckled nervously and ran away as fast as I could, the Demon of Namimori after me.

"I'm only sorry for not calling to say I was free, so please calm down!" He ran faster.

I made a turn and almost screamed in frustration when I saw it was a dead-end. I turned around and was pinned to the ground, a tonfa on my throat and Kyoya's furious gaze in mine, his legs on each side of my hips. I put my hands on his weapon to push it away, but he pressed harder and I almost choked.

"That man made a mess," Kyoya hissed angrily. I gulped and nodded. "You helped him escape his cell and then you were taken hostage? Did you even try to escape?" I blinked and let go of his tonfa. There was less pressure, enough for me to speak but not enough to move freely.

"I didn't think I would be welcomed as Mukuro is a mass murderer and was making a mess in Namimori to find Tsunayoshi. Sorry." We stared at each other for a few seconds and I sighed in relief when the tonfa was removed. I blinked several times in panic though when Kyoya just grabbed the front of my hoodie. "Wait Kyo..." He moved me closer to him and...headbutted me hard enough to send me back on the ground, not seeing straight. "Everything's...spinning..."

"Nobody will bite you to death before I do carnivore, you better remember it." Still, his eyes remained preoccupied and his fingers creased the fabric of my hoodie.

"Kyoya?" I called him in a whisper. His eyes…

"Nobody will touch what's mine anymore, nobody." My eyes softened and I took his hand, removing it from my top and I sat up, him now pretty much sitting on my lap.

"Sorry for worrying you Kyoya." He averted his eyes to the side. "But if you give that speech to every member of the Committee it's going to get weird." He looked at me as if I was stupid and I blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You're...stupid." I was about to shot back something, offended, but he got up. I did too and remembered what I was supposed to give him.

"Right, I have something for you." He raised a brow at the half ring. "Don't get any ideas, I'm not proposing to you. It's the Half Vongola Cloud Ring, you were chosen as Sawada Tsunayoshi's, potential Tenth Vongola's Cloud Guardian." Slowly, he took the ring to inspect it.

"And who thought I would just crowd with herbivores?" I grinned.

"Yours truly!"

Of course I ran away. However, it was weird of him to imply I was his because I was a part of the Committee.

Whatever.

Fratellanza

Thanks for reading this chapter!