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

Fratellanza

They watched in silence the last people leaving the school ground, their eyes never leaving the Italian helping the official new Cloud Guardian.

"It's the Nishimura's bastard?" the woman asked quietly, the heavy mist around them vanishing in the air. Blue and brown eyes stayed on the two for a second longer before looking at his female companion.

"Yes."

"There are too many Arcobalenos in this town Nick." Including his own master.

"Yes." The woman sighed, a few black locks moving softly in front of her face.

"Alaric is not even in this stupid town." Nick pursed his lips.

"Yes." Frustrated, the woman jumped on her feet, black eyes glaring daggers at the illusionist.

"Can't you say anything else!?"

"What am I supposed to say when you're enumerating facts Rose?" Rose bit her full red lips. "With the mess Xanxus made, the brat most likely sent him in Italy to help out." Her eyes sparked with hope.

"So we can take him home before he makes it back here!" Nick clicked his tongue.

"Rick is a traitor. He chose to protect the brat instead of obeying the Boss and help Hide last year. The only reason the Boss accepted to let him in a few months ago is because the brat being in Vendicare was too troublesome for the Boss' plans." Rose looked down. "By the way, I'm impressed you didn't try to get back at the kid."

"Oh, Arroganza you mean? I'll get back at him when the time is right." The man raised a curious brow. "I told the Boss after the fight, they are synchronized. The moment we bring Esperanza home, he'll follow too. I'll traumatize him once he's in the Family." He smirked.

"So cruel." His smirk fell. "But Xanxus would do a much better job. He's a lot like the Boss."

"Enrique won't always be able to oppose the Boss' plans."

"Him and Alaric did a good job so far in keeping the brat out of our reach." They left the roof of the building, now walking in silence in the empty streets.

"Do you think the Boss will be happy his children reunited?"

"Who knows. The only thing in my mind right now is leaving Namimori and go to Tokyo to report to the Boss and Hide. The guy already told us how to enter town unnoticed with their defense low, I don't want to have comments on being late." Rose giggled.

"You're so cranky Nick." He sighed and scratched his cheek. There had been a scar for years, now his lower cheek, jaw and upper neck were burned because of the brat.

"I'm sick of the heiress."

The two illusionists left in the silent night, no one in Namimori aware of the two shadows who followed the whole conflict.

"My Flames were acting crazy?" I repeated in Kyoya's hospital room. Arro nodded.

"Yeah, I could feel it from where I was. Your Sky Flames completely overwhelmed your Cloud Flames."

"Well...Fon told me to calm down when Xanxus was entirely frozen." I turned to Kyoya, who was dead asleep. For someone who woke up at the slightest sound, he was so exhausted he was not even batting an eyelid. Sure, we were whispering but still.

Although, his wound got infected and he had fever.

"But, I mean...it's not as if I had any control over my Sky Flames except for the Flame of Wrath. They're here but..." I sighed. "Do you know anything about the VARIA?"

"Lussuria and Leviathan are resting, Mammon, Belphegor and Superbi are all locked up in a room in a deadly silence and Xanxus is still in being taken care of, but nothing life-threatening from what I understood." I nodded and sent a quick text to Alaric, telling him it was over and that Tsunayoshi had won.

"I'll go see them." I left the room, Arro falling in the armchair in the corner, and went two floors above. When I entered the room, the atmosphere was incredibly icy and tensed.

"Tch," Belpehgor hissed.

"I feel unwelcomed here," I noted idly. "Xanxus' life is not in danger. I can't say the same for your freedom though."

"What do you want?" Superbi rasped at me. I shrugged.

"Checking you're not causing ruckus." As if on cue, the door was opened behind me.

"Where's the Boss!?" There was no answer. "Squalo!?" Superbi, who now could move his arms, rested his cheek on his closed fist.

"You had to wake up now?"

"Ushishi, stupid Levi is gonna have a heart attack."

"What?" I turned around, bored ruby eyes looking at him. He looked down and widened his eyes, pointing a shaking finger at me before spluttering: "You...you...red eyes...the Boss..."

"Long story short, he was adopted by the Ninth and I was left behind. Funny how life works, I was adopted by the Cavallones years later but we never saw each other. To sum up, your dear Boss is my big brother." He fainted in shock. I kicked him lightly with my boot but he didn't move. "Wow, that's something." I turned back to the other three. Technically, Fon was the one in charge, but Basil and I too. I knew my dear colleague was with Dino trying to reach anyone in Italy to know what we should do next, thus the responsibility of dealing with them falling on me for the CEDEF side. "Until we get words of what the higher-ups want to do with you, you'll stay here. Once Xanxus is awake, you may be able to see him if you wish." They didn't seem to really want that.

I looked at Reborn when he jumped on my shoulder.

"Later is now." I nodded wordlessly and left the room, feeling Superbi's gaze on me.

He was looking at me funny.

"On the bright side of all of this, now you don't have to hide your relationship with Xanxus." I pondered over that once we reached the small break area, where there were two vending machines; one for hot drinks, the other for snacks and cold drinks. I paid Reborn a coffee and put it in front of him on the table.

"I guess but..." I took my hot chocolate and sat down in front of him. "It's..."

"He's the least complicated one of the family," Reborn finished for me. "Dino told me broadly what happened at the trial, and who Alaric called." I looked at the fuming drink.

"Yeah."

"They have been trying to kidnap you for years," he said sternly, his voice sounding like an accusation. "You should have said something."

"There were too many despicable scenarios in my mind when I thought about telling you. It's..." My right hand gripped my shirt on my stomach. "I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed of being related to someone like that. The Vindice said he should have been sent to their jail years ago Reborn, yet he..." I gritted my teeth.

"He's a clever man, there is no doubt about it. Xanxus and you are both smart above normal, it's only logical you got it from somewhere." I took a sip from my beverage. "Now, I understand why Alaric seemed so desperate that night." I blinked and raised my head to the baby sipping on his espresso. "Sure, he wanted you to have a family, but he asked me to protect you. I didn't understand at the time, neither did your father, but you were a child so you stayed."

"And you gave him updates about me in my back," I finished for him. I smiled faintly at his smirk. "He told me before I left for Namimori. I can't say I blame him though, if he knows my father and the kind of man he is..."

"I don't understand the link with Fon though." I raised a brow. "The Nishimuras. They were after you too, because of that." I pursed my lips. "You won't tell me?"

"It's not my story to tell Reborn." He lowered his head, the shadow of his hat hiding his eyes. "Do you have an idea of what's going to happen?"

"Well, Dino told me the Ninth is going to make it. First they all go back to Italy, and then the VARIA will be judged by him and Iemitsu." I propped my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my hand. "You will probably be called back for a little while, if not definitely." I blinked in surprise.

"What? Well, I'm still under house arrest I guess, but Iemitsu said I could stay in Namimori if everything went well."

"Sure, but technically, your mission is over. Tsuna has his Guardians, I am enough to handle the rest."

It was like someone dropped a bucket of icy water on me.

He was right, my mission...was over.

"And although you are important for guarding Namimori on behalf of the CEDEF, now it is known you are related to Xanxus, the Ninth might decide to use you as an intermediary between the Vongolas and the VARIA."

"But he hates me," I blurted without thinking. "I mean...I was against him, he lost, was humiliated, I don't think he wants anything to do with me."

Even if he wanted to just yesterday.

Did I ruin the possible relationship I could have had with Xanxus?

"You shouldn't be so quick to judge Luciana." I averted my eyes.

"Yeah sure, it doesn't change the fact he...he...he's a broken man already and I won't bring more pain in his life."

"Which means?"

"He might be better off not knowing about Mom and the sperm donor." It wasn't a good decision on my part to keep such things from him but...I couldn't throw that at him until he knew his worth, and anyway telling him would force me to tell him about the Estraneos and… "At least for now."

"You won't be able to keep it from him forever."

"Well he should focus on his relationship with the Ninth for now. I can handle our biological parents."

"I can't say not telling him now is a bad idea," he admitted in a sigh. "However, on the day of the Mist Battle, the dream you had."

"...she...I was told to make sure the men were ready to attack, that the spectators would be trapped anyway," I whispered almost inaudibly. Reborn heard me though. He always did.

My hands twitched around my cup.

"Reborn...Aria, from the Giglio Nero...she knew about the dreams and...on the roof, the Cervellos said my actions during the Sky Battle were needed to know the compatibility...Aria mentioned women who would..."

"Don't think about that for now." I blinked at him in confusion.

"The dreams are making me ill and using my Sky Flames Reborn, it's dan..."

"I know, but try not to focus on that for now. You can't control them and several months went by between the two."

"I knew my way inside the VARIA HQ as if I had lived there before, it's...Reborn, what's going on with me?" He remained silent.

Ultimately, we finished our drinks in silence. I checked Kyoya's room. The boys were both in a deep slumber. I put a hand on Kyoya's forehead. His fever went down but was still here.

I spent the rest of the night sitting at the foot of Kyoya's bed, my eyes glued to my phone.

"Thank God you're all okay," I sighed in relief in the hospital hallway, a hand on Basil's shoulder. A smile was gracing his features.

"It's a good thing you sent Alaric. If it wasn't for him, Iemitsu's injuries would have been worst and he's have whined a lot more," Lal said and I muffled a chuckle. "So everything is over in Japan too?"

"Yeah, Tsunayoshi won, I am waiting for orders concerning the VARIA. The Ninth woke up a few hours ago but fell back asleep quickly.

"It's good to hear. We'll call you or Basil later today."

"Understood, ciao." I hung up and smiled at Basil. "They're all fine and there were losses on both sides, but not much. Iemitsu is whining like a brat but his injuries are superficial."

"Thank God," he whispered, his smile still on his face and a hand on his heart. "By the way, there is a party in the afternoon at a place called Takesushi from what I heard. Do thou want me to make up an excuse for thee?" Oh, sweet little Basil who knew very well when I was not in the mood to be among people.

"No need, I think everyone present last night will understand. And your Japanese creeps me out a little."

Mind you, Basil was a great and nice guy. However, everyone had a dark side. Iemitsu always taught his subordinates an old Japanese. I escaped it thanks to Fon and Feng, and he never managed to taint me with his 'Master' shit. True, when Basil got here he believed Iemitsu's bullshit.

This phase was over though. He would never say it out loud, and even Tsunayoshi's Hyper Intuition wouldn't see it, but he enjoyed how people reacted to his strange speech.

He knew it was annoying to me but kept doing it. I swear, the day he would speak a modern Japanese, a Japanese I knew he knew by now, Tsunayoshi would have a heart attack.

"Go get some rest Basil." He nodded.

"And thou?" I stretched out my arms above my head.

"I feel like I haven't done anything when they were all fighting. I'll stay around here, call me if you need."

"Understood." I waved at his retreating back and went back to the VARIA.

Mammon was threatening Belphegor because the latter was playing with his chubby cheeks, Superbi seemed bored out of his mind and Leviathan was staring at me in shock.

"Lal called me," I told the Arcobalenos. Colonnello raised his head to me in a flash.

"Is she...I mean, are they okay?" Reborn snickered and the blond soldier blushed hard. "Reborn, shut up!"

"So?" Fon asked me calmly.

"Everything is over in Italy, Iemitsu was hurt but not too much. Lal assured me I would be called later in the day to know what measures will be taken concerning them."

"I see." I nodded and left them to go to Kyoya's room.

"And this is why I felt Lulu's anger, because we are synchronized!" I blinked in confusion at Arro's tone and Kyoya's...focus on what he was saying. Arro turned to me and grinned. "Speaking of the Devil, hey Lulu!"

"Talking about Flame synchronization aren't you?" I closed the door behind me. "Why?"

"Well, it's not to brag but when it comes to Flames I'm the one who knows the most about them, except for the magical babies. Might as well tell Hibari what's in store for him now he has that ring."

"So you know it will come in hand...hey!" I barely caught the ring.

"Show me," he ordered me coldly. I looked at the ring and gulped.

Slowly, almost as if it would burn my finger, I slipped it on. It felt bigger around my finger before, but it still felt...it felt wrong now. In the past, there was a slight discomfort, but now I knew it was wrong.

I wasn't its rightful owner, Kyoya was.

Yet, a small purple flame sparked on the ring.

"That's the Cloud Flame, it has the propagation ability and is purple. Mist is indigo." I lit up my usual ring and the purple flame disappeared. The indigo flame...felt a lot more comfortable. "Every illusionist has it. Its ability is construction, hence why it is needed for illusions. However, all Mist users can't do illusions. I mean, I can but only on myself." I joined them and gave Kyoya the ring. He took it without looking at me. "Anyway, if you feel well enough to walk a little, you can go home."

As he was changing in the bathroom, his phone rang and we heard him talking. I frowned and crossed my arms.

"Someone's gonna get wrinkles."

"Shut up, why is he in a bad mood?"

"Who knows, he's been like that since I explained to him you were pissed during the whole fight and how I knew it." I pondered over that. Weird.

"By the way, there's a party at Takeshi's to celebrate. I'm not going, but you can. There'll be food and kid drinks." He gave me a thumbs-up.

"I'm always there to eat free stuff!"

"Are you okay though? About Superbi?" His smile became smaller.

"Well, trying to kill him when he woke up felt good." I deadpanned at him. "I said my part anyway, but it doesn't seem like he wants anything to do with me." He ruffled my hair when he saw me looking down. "Now Lulu, before caring about my family take care of yours."

"...too complicated."

"Have you slept?"

"No." He sighed.

"Well you should." Once Kyoya ready, I walked with them for some time until I took another road. "Lulu, Hibari's not living this way!"

"I'm picking up some sushi before!"

It was a ten-minute walk to Takesushi. The sign read 'close for the day', but as it was me, would it be oka…

"Senpai!" I blinked at the open door and Takeshi grinning at me. "You're early! Come on in!"

"Actually, I came in hope of getting some sushi, I'm not going to the party. Sorry, but my mind is not..."

"Sure, I should have thought of this," he interrupted me, rubbing the back of his head. When he stopped, his eyes were more serious and concerned. "Are you okay?"

"...dunno..." In the blink of an eye, I was against a warm chest and arms were around me, holding me tight. Takeshi's chin was on my shoulder. "Huh...Takeshi?"

"Sorry, it's just I haven't really seen you since you came back and I really missed you and...you looked like you really needed a hug." It was...awkward… "And well...I'm your friend. I know I don't know a lot about the Mafia, but I like to think you think of me as friend too. With Tsuna, you were the first who really saw me so I...I can't say I will understand, but I'll be here to listen to what you can say and to give you hugs if you need any."

I was taken back and smiled faintly, resting my cheek against his shoulder but not returning his hug.

"I knew you looked dense in most situations on purpose Takeshi." He chuckled. "You shouldn't let Hayato talk to you the way he does."

"I can't let him have my spot!" I broke the hug and patted his shoulder.

"You're a good kid Takeshi, Tsunayoshi will need you." He blinked and I thought he was disappointed for a second, but brushed that off when Tsuyoshi appeared. "Ha, sorry to bother you, I know you're busy but do you think you could make me the usual time three please?" He looked at me in wonder.

"Aren't you coming later?"

"No, I was sick a few days ago and still don't feel that well." He grinned.

"I see! Well, wait here I'll make it quick!"

"Give me a hand for now senpai?" I nodded and helped Takeshi decorating the place.

Once my food was ready, I said goodbye and left.

Once I was here, there was no sound. I looked around and found Kyoya in his couch.

"Sushi Kyo-chan?" I asked him from the door. He grunted and I took that as a 'yes'. "Where's Arro?"

"Gone." I put one portion of sushi in the fridge and brought the other two. Takeshi's dad had been nice enough to give chopsticks and soy sauce, wasabi and gari. I sat next to him.

"Itadakimasu!" I said before digging in.

Hum...Kyoya didn't raise it whereas he always made remarks about me never saying it. We ate in silence, me way faster than him and I felt sweat running down my neck.

"So you really are mad at me for something..." I mumbled, turning my head to see him glaring daggers at me but still eating his food. "Kyo...Kyoya?" He finished in silence and just kept staring. "Kyoya? Are you going to tell me what's making you mad?" He put down his plate and I turned toward him, my legs crossed on the couch. "Kyo...the hell!?"

He grabbed my right hand, pulled it toward him and bit down my wrist. I blushed, but I couldn't say if it was because I was embarrassed or because I was mad, or horrified, or the three.

His lips were warm though. A shiver ran down my spine when he stopped biting and his tongue ran along the marks I probably had.

"You should keep the 'bite to death' part as an expression...full of imagery, not a literal one."

"He told me about Flames and synchronization."

"I know, and?" He turned an icy glare to me.

"If you're a Sky, why should I be Sawada Tsunayoshi's Cloud?" I blinked in confusion. Telling him he was that Alaude's doppelganger would not be convincing enough. "Why is that moron..."

"I...it happened a long time ago, like for Alaric, and I never did it intentionally. I don't know how to use my Sky Flames." His frown deepened. "And...and I don't want you to be my Cloud." He didn't like that because he pulled more on my arm and my head bumped in his shoulder. "It's not...there's a subordinate relationship between a Sky and their elements, even I felt it years ago with Federico. Arro's my best friend today, but the reason why is because our flames had synchronized long ago and they wanted us to stay in contact. I mean...I know it's here, but I don't want that kind of relationship with you. We're...equals, I...Tsunayoshi is not a weakling either, you know that so..." I sighed, steel-colored eyes still staring at me. "I...please see me as a Cloud, I don't think anyone but you can understand otherwise...I needed someone I could trust with this ring," I almost pleaded to him and something changed in his eyes.

The glare was gone.

"Hn."

"Can you...Kyoya?" I called him when his face was getting closer and closer to mine. His eyes were starting to close and mine did too, unconsciously.

I could feel his warm breath against my lips and I blushed, staring at his lips. I tilted my head on the side, also inching closer to him, but he smirked at the last second.

I blinked in confusion when I found myself laying down on the couch, Kyoya's arms around my waist as his head was on my chest.

"You smell like stale tobacco and fish, it's disgusting." I resisted the urge to smack him on the head but he raised it and looked down at my chest. I opened my mouth to say something, but he beat me to it. "Is it a padded bra carnivore?" I smacked him on the head.

"You're a jerk." He hummed and rested his head in my neck, his breath blowing softly my hair and tickling my chin.

But the fact he called me 'carnivore'...did it mean he agreed with me about being equals? I hardly pictured Kyoya submitting to anyone anyway, unless they were stronger than him. Tsunayoshi would grow a lot more, and I knew deep down I had the potential. Hell, Reborn chose me as his apprentice.

My body would stop following one day though, and I would be a burden. I didn't want to be one to Kyoya.

I sighed and wrapped like I could the arm Kyoya was crushing under his weight around his shoulders to be more comfortable. He was already sleeping and I closed my eyes to do the same, removing my regular glasses.

You would think having Kyoya using you as a body pillow would be weird but...I felt strangely at peace in spite of everything. I had a case of haphephobia when I was a kid, it was better today but I knew I still had it.

I didn't mind Kyoya in my personal space like that.

I flushed and closed my eyes.

Stupid Arro, it was his fault if I was blushing like that, him and his stupid question.

Kyoya huffed against my collarbone and turned his head to the other side, his face facing the back of the couch as I grabbed my ringing phone in my pocket. I picked up, frustrated to have my nap interrupted.

"Lal?"

"Aouch, that hurts." I rolled my eyes at Iemitsu. "Do you want to hear something nice? Dino won't be alone coming back in Italy, you are too!" I gulped and sat up, obviously waking up Kyoya.

"When?"

"Tomorrow should be best. Basil is already in the plane with Lancia as we speak." I raised a brow and got up, Kyoya growling in the couch. "Basically, your brother will take care of bringing back the Ninth safe and sound in Italy whereas you...are taking care of announcing the VARIA they're in a plane pretty soon. Ask Arroganza to write a report about the battles and email it to me, then the Ninth and I will take a decision concerning them. Hum...I think that's it for what you have to do in Namimori. Actually, we'll have to decide if you're going back to Namimori after. Just tell Arro his Boss is...well...he is to stay in Namimori for a few more weeks, maybe couple of months."

"I see, thank you. See you tomorrow." I hung up and spun around. Kyoya was sitting, glaring sleepily at me.

"I'm not done napping." I smiled a little. He was cute with his hair completely messy and pouting like a child. A threatening child, but a child nonetheless.

"I can't, work. I have to go back to the clinic." He seemed a lot more awake now. "And then I'm needed in Italy and...I don't know if I'll come back in Namimori."

"What?" he growled out lowly.

"Well...officially, now Tsunayoshi has Guardians, I am no longer needed here, so I don't know if I'll come back. I mean, I'll come back, obviously, but maybe not live here..."

"You've skipped enough of your duties as it is," he hissed as he got up. I rolled my eyes and went to take my glasses and dodged him expertly.

"I have to go! Keep resting!" I ran away to my place. After a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I put clean clothes on and left immediately. Something landed on my shoulder and the smell of a Chinese bun reached my nose. I shot it a look. "Fon?"

"Hello, I hope you have had a nice nap." I gaped at him. "I stopped by and saw you. Don't worry, I didn't take any pictures like Arro and Reborn did." I facepalmed and sprinted.

I had my inhalator in my mouth when I reached the place.

"Some of your brother's men are with the VARIA right now. Dino should be here soon."

"Are you trying to tell me to do something?"

"I think you should go inform your other brother of the situation." I stopped in the middle of the stairs. "He woke up a few hours ago and hasn't said a word, even when his men went to see him."

"He's moping," I summed up, skipping in front of the room the VARIA was in. Fon stopped at it though.

I didn't even knock when I entered his room. He was staring outside with empty eyes, still laying in bed and with bandages going up his chest to the start of his neck. I closed the door behind, ignoring the lump in my throat for watching and not doing something to keep that freezing hell from coming back. I tried to see any new scars on the visible skin, but there was none.

"Tomorrow at the crack of dawn you will all be in a plane for Italy. The Ninth is healing and awake. You'll be judged for your actions by him and Iemitsu, who's also fine." He kept looking through the window. My hands in my jeans pockets, I refrained myself from sighing and walked to the window. "I can ask for painkillers if you want." I thought I heard him exhaling louder for a second.

I didn't know what to do, he was really unresponsive. I ran a frustrated hair through my hair. It's not as if the end result was that surprising!

"It's not...it wasn't the blood the ring rejected you know. It..."

"What do you know about that?" he asked me in a rough voice, almost daring me to tell him something he didn't know.

"One could just be fate, but not two. Even Iemitsu thinks we are related to the Second, but...from an illegitimate line."

"It's obviously not enough," he stated sternly, his eyes now boring holes in my skull.

"Well, it isn't. I'm just glad I wasn't thrown in that inheritance shit." I turned my eyes to him. "I could have been, after all."

"Yeah, why weren't you showing off with your little group of high-schooler Guardians?" Now he was blatantly mocking me, maybe to make me leave. I smirked a little.

"I'll have you know I only have two and I sent my Mist in Italy right after the Storm Battle. But...Mammon trained him well. He's also far from being in high-school." His brow twitched. "The ring must have sensed something better in Tsunayoshi's will and..." I didn't budge when a pillow flew by my face and crashed in the wall. Instead, I calmly collected it and put it back at its place, Xanxus turning his head away from me when I was next to him.

He was...acting like a brat, but given the circumstances...I couldn't be angry for that.

But I hated it. His empty eyes...so similar to Mom's.

I moved away quickly. I took a pen on his nightstand and a paper. I didn't know why it was there, but anyway I wrote down my phone number. I hesitated writing where Mom was but didn't do it.

"My phone number," I whispered, looking at him from the corner of my eyes. He remained quiet, stubbornly looking away from me and I smiled sadly. "You don't seem to see it, do you?"

"See what?" he replied gruffly.

The way he seemed to be in a pain no one could understand and that he was now all alone…

He wasn't seeing it at all, and it was like looking in a mirror a few months ago.

"See you in Italy Xanxus," I said, leaving his room. I leaned against it once it was closed and raised a bored brow at the crew of morons in front of me, aka the VARIA minus the colorful one, still stuck in bed. My eyes found Superbi's and I frowned. "You, I need to have a word with you."

Mind you, he tried to go away, but he was still pretty weak and stuck in a wheel chair so I was quickly behind him, wheeling the chair away.

"Damn, are these stairs I see? Wanna play a game Superbi!?" He paled drastically when, at the top of the stairs, I lifted the chair. He gripped at the armrests desperately.

"Voooiii that's not funny brat! Put me down!"

"We're in a hospital, be more quiet!" I swore I heard someone in the VARIA laughing.

Fratellanza

Thanks for reading this chapter! Thanks to and AutumnBee124 and for their reviews!

Bye!