*Not mine*

So I've been dealing with final exams and attended a wedding over the weekend so I haven't had much time to write. I feel like this chapter is just a little awkward, but it does what I need it to. I have some of what I plan for Chapter 8 written out already, so I may have another update by Friday.

Thanks for reviews and all the favorites! Lily will be innocent, and selected journal entries are included in an upcoming chapter. As for the Dursleys, I would hate to anger some of you... the ideas were extremely vicious.

Chapter 7

The conference room was stunned. Everything they knew had been twisted and thrown out with one declaration. Mammon of the Varia, the Arcebaleno Viper, was a father to a fifteen year old and had somehow traveled in time. Not to mention that said teenager was now harmonized with the head of the Varia.

Squalo flipped open a folder that the new Cloud- Jade- he reminded himself, had left behind. Despite his own misgivings about the sudden appearance of the girl, it was clear she had been prepared to argue her case.

"Voi! Look at this shit. She's got a birth certificate and the DNA testing proving the relationship from three different labs plus the magical records." Squalo flipped through the pile and his composure broke. "How the fuck is she alive? How is she even sane?"

Tsuna took the folder and immediately wanted to puke. The medical file of Jade was extremely detailed... he doubted that the Cloud had actually viewed it all herself. Photograph after photograph of scars and injuries, accompanied with a note of what Jade said caused the injury and how well it had healed.

"She was just a toddler when this started," Bianchi murmured in horror. "How could someone do this?"

Mukuro said nothing, but inside he wondered how this new girl would react when everything sunk in.

Squalo, still irritated at how rapidly Xanxus had accepted Jade, finished the file. "Decimo, the Varia will be placing priority on the destruction of these people"- he almost spat the word- "as we will not let this stand."

Over at the Varia Castle, Regulus had put Jade down in his own room so she could get some sleep. Turning to look at Xanxus, the duo debated what suite Jade should be placed in.

"There is always the Cloud Officer's suite," Xanxus said after a long pause. "Ottibio is dead, the room is empty."

Regulus walked over to the door and threw it open. Thanks to the Varia Housekeeping, the sitting room was clean, no dust on the provided furniture or stains on the rug. "If I use magic I can get the room decorated rather quickly. It will not be elaborate, but better than what it is now."

"She said she liked green and purple."

"So a light purple on the wall in the bedroom, some green accents here and there," Regulus mumbled as his wand flicked and waved, transforming the room. "This should do for now, until I take her shopping."

"Looks good," Xanxus said as they left the suite. "Shark trash, why did you take so long?"

"Sorry Boss, but Jade left a folder behind. It seems she was prepared for a long interrogation and had several different labs prove DNA, and three different healers documented her health records. Mukuro actually vanished... I think he went to torture those monsters already."

"How bad?" Xanxus asked.

"If she didn't have a secondary sun, I doubt she would have made it to age ten. There is also now a standing order to kill anyone bearing the Dark Mark."

"How is she?" Luss asked as she joined the others in the hall. "The medical file was in an expanded folder, it has everything in it. They put her through an exorcism twice. Once when she was three, again at age eight."

Xanxus swore. As Jade's Sky, he felt it was his responsibility to keep her safe, and he wanted to go back in time. He wished that he hadn't been frozen, that he had known of Jade before his faux-coup. If he had known, Xanxus knew that nothing would have prevented him from protecting his Cloud.

"Mou, this bears investigation. It seems there is another layer to the bond between Jade and Boss." Regulus curiously studied Xanxus' aura, "I don't know what it is though."

"Mammy, does Magic play into their bond?" Bel asked, "because if Boss and Jade are compatible in other ways the flame bond might have influenced another one."

"I'll have to look it up," Mammon answered, "but it's a good idea Bel."

The Varia officers scattered to attend to their duties, Lussuria to the infirmary, Squalo to his office to adjust the mission orders, and Bel to hunt down a few of his Storms to assist in his revenge. Regulus was in his suite, reading through the medical file. Xanxus was heading towards his studio to work off some off his anger when he felt the pure rage flow from his bond with Mammon. Following his instincts, he searched out the Mist. Standing at the edge of the field, Xanxus observed as his Mist raged. When Regulus finally calmed down, he didn't say anything. Xanxus moved to stand beside Regulus and support him.

"We will keep her safe Mammon. I will protect her." Xanxus vowed, "she is my Cloud, and I am her Sky. Jade will never be alone again."

Originally Posted: 12 December 2017