The one good thing about the Curse is the hilarity of watching people freak out. The Giglio-Nero staff had been told something was going to happen but had been left entirely unprepared for… them. Even in physical (and metaphysical) pain, watching the poor staff twitch and squirm as they desperately tried (and failed) not to react was great. Luce had them too well trained to make the mistake of treating the Arcobaleno like actual children, but it takes more than training to keep your poker face when the Strongest Seven are walking around as toddlers.
That said, it quickly got old when dealing with strangers. Usually, going back to the Wo Hop To at the end of his rotation was a simple matter of getting on a civilian plane with a good fake ID. No matter how much money they were getting for the contract with Checkerface, the Triad wasn't willing to expend unnecessary resources every time he needed transportation. This time, it was a little more complicated. Fon looks like a toddler and while he's got some ability to BS, he's always generally relied on other people's lack of imagination. Reincarnation from another universe in which your current life was a story isn't a conclusion most people would ever reach.
Viper and Verde had at least partially solved the problem. Verde knew of some medical conditions that could lead to fully matured adults having the appearance of children. With his directions, Viper was able to 'acquire' IDs and doctors' notes that would pass scrutiny. Reborn (who had melodramatically announced that Renato was dead and he now had a new name), as the most proficient liar among them, had coached them all through a script of how they should respond if they were stopped or questioned by well-meaning civilians. He also encouraged them to go along with the assumption if circumstances made it useful.
That said, actually following through with it was massively irritating. For every would-be Good Samaritan that wound up embarrassed by their assumptions, there were another five whispering in concern to each other. The last time he wandered around as a small child, Fon didn't remember attracting this much attention. Though, it could be because he'd been primarily restricted to the Triad-controlled areas and 'bad' parts of town. Now that Fon thinks about it, he also hadn't been allowed to wander 'alone' until he was seven. They hadn't left him completely unsupervised till he was ten. Wow, if even the Wo Hop To hadn't left a toddler unsupervised, those random bystanders might be reacting reasonably. Which would mean Fon's perspective has become so skewed he can't understand normal people anymore.
And that's another emotion for The Box.
Explaining the situation to the Triads was a mess. Kind of funny, but mostly a mess. Fon had to repeat himself so many times, he might as well have just made a recording. Everyone from the Mountain Master on down had wanted an explanation; and then they'd asked him questions.
No, he didn't know who did it. (Lie: it's not like they'd believe him if he said it was an alien older than human civilization as they knew it.)
No, he didn't know how it worked. (Truth: like any proper manga, KHR had been exceptionally light on the technicalities.)
No, he didn't know if it was fixable. (Lie: he didn't know how to fix it, so best not mention it.)
No, he didn't know of anyone who could fix it. (Truth: given Sawada Tsunayoshi wasn't even born yet.)
Yes, of course he could still fight. (Truth.)
No, he couldn't get rid of the monkey. (Truth: Lichi was bonded to his Flames now. It would practically be self-harm. Also, Fon likes Lichi.)
In the time the Arcobaleno had spent figuring themselves out, they had tested their current limitations. With practice Flames hurt less, but the pain didn't seem to be disappearing completely anytime soon. So, Flames were possible, but Fon would prefer to leave them for emergencies. Physically, muscle memory seemed to be easier to build and their bodies seemed to be more durable than that of normal children. So, Fon was technically better off than the last time he was this size.
Not that he shared these specifics with anyone in the Triad.
The leaders spent ages debating and talking in circles. Fon was still useful of course, but he wasn't nearly as intimidating as he used to be. Unfortunately, he would also draw attention should he try to go anywhere on his own so any solo missions would have to involve stealth. And his contract with the Man in the Iron Mask was up, now that the Curse had been placed. The Triad was partially annoyed at the loss of regular income, but they also like having their enforcer back under their primary control. Fon had the sinking suspicion he wouldn't be allowed out anytime soon.
He hates being proven right.
Most of his time is spent training future enforcers. The youngest children have the benefit of being adorable, but the teaching thing as a whole is… tiring. The adults always need to get thrown around the training mats a few times before they're willing to learn anything. And the people in charge always want him to push the children way farther than is healthy.
Fon is an anomaly and they should really stop comparing him with normal people (children or otherwise).
It takes a solid two months before boredom drives him to take drastic measure. Admittedly, the Triad shortens his fuse every time he remembers they exist. Without a regular escape – or any escape at all – Fon now has to acknowledge the petty squabbling and politics. Previously he wasn't around enough to participate or be considered a useful tool in other people's maneuvering. Balancing the conflicting motivations and goals of the people surrounding him is more exhausting than the actual assignments he's been given.
At least they stopped trying to set him up with various unattached and politically advantageous women.
A couple weeks of Disintegrating equipment, doors, random objects, and the sleeves of particularly handsy individuals while smiling serenely finally earns him his escape. (Lichi helped by stealing things and biting people when they tried to get them back. It was way more entertaining than it should have been.) Technically he's being exiled until he can "control himself and that damned primate." It amounts to being given a list of targets and told not to come back until he's done.
It probably makes him a terrible person, but he prefers it to being trapped inside the Triad compound.
Completely ignoring that emotional crisis, Fon makes his way to Mafia Land.
