Author's Note

I wrote this story a long time ago on a different laptop, so I can't even say how old this is, just that its old. Anyway, I was looking at some of my old stories recently and had the urge to take a look at this one. I remember when I was writing it, that it was inspired by the picture I used as the cover, but that's about all I remember and I didn't write any notes to go with it. Its set in an alternative universe where the Arcobaleno is just a famiglia and were never cursed. It was meant to be written in a first person point of view but having read it, it seems to jump between a sense of past and present tense to me, so I apologise for that but I'm also not going to fix it. All I have changed about this story is add less than 70 words to wrap it up and give it a sense of being finished. I'm sure there is more mistakes in it somewhere, but at this point I don't see me fixing that, and I just sort of thought that because this one of my rare one-shots, that I would post it as is.

Surreal World

Chaos. It was chaos. The world was dark. The sounds of battle bleared. Lights flashed in many colours. We were losing. The enemy imposed upon us. It's still not clear when it started. They came out of nowhere, quick and fast, and then suddenly it was over. A light so bright it lit up the night sky as if it was day. It was blinding and I had to shield my eyes. Then there was silence.

That was yesterday, or should I say last night? The morning? It's so hard to tell.

Now we are stuck with the clean-up. ….And the pain…the loss… She saved us… but at what price? She left us without a leader... a sky. It hurts so much… to feel so hollow. But I suppose there is one to lead us forward. But can she? Right now no. She's just a baby. But maybe she can keep us together. I don't know if she can lead us. But I swear I will protect her. I won't let Aria's sacrifice be wasted.

For Aria and the family - Arcobaleno, I will protect sweet little Yuni with my life.

-I'm-a-Line-

Who am I? My name is Skull DeMort. Sure it's not my real one, but here in the Arcobaleno famiglia – we don't go by our real names and that's all you need to know. To the others I am considered the weakest of our famiglia and they constantly belittle me for that. But the truth is that I am currently known as the strongest Cloud flame user alive. That's why last night – the battle... – it was such a shock… They came out of nowhere. Heh, but your probably still wondering what the heck is 'this' flame you speak of?

Flames are something everyone has. It's a part of our soul that can normally only be awakened when we feel we are in a life or death situation. But it's also more than that as it takes a 'Dying Will' to access these flames. There are seven different-colored flames in total that are named after the seven phenomena in the sky. The Sky itself, Storm, Rain, Sun, Lightning, Cloud, and Mist. The Sky makes a home for the other six flames and the other six - the Guardians - protect the Sky. But the truth of the matter is that, none of us, the strongest in the world have gone into discord because Aria wasn't our sky. She welcomed us, but she already had her own guardians. We who have been here since the Arcobaleno famiglia formed have never met a sky strong enough to harmonize with. We who were brought together by the one known as Checker Face, alongside Aria's mother Luce. His aim was to create the strongest ever 'Sky' - World's Strongest "I Prescelti Sette".

But it didn't work. Not the way he wanted it to, and now here we are years later. Still 'skyness', even if we followed Luce and then Aria and now sweet Uni. Honestly I'm not sure how we function as well as we do. But one thing is clear – we will protect sweet Uni. On this, I swear it.

-I'm-a-Line-

We've counted the dead and put them to rest and now we've spent our time rebuilding. But it's not easy and I'm not even sure it's worth it… The truth is that they are all gone. We the "I Prescelti Sette" are the only ones left of our familia and I can't even say we are whole. We lost half our rain. I don't even know how or when it happened…. Lal Mirch is gone. Colonnello's fiancé and other-half is gone.

I can feel it inside. I feel so broken. There is a missing link in our bond. We may not have a Sky, but even so with all the years we've been together, dysfunctional or not – we somehow formed a guardian bond with each other. And now there is a link missing in the circle. I feel like the sky has opened up and it poring inside my heart. There is a piece missing and I can't ever put it back. I can't begin to think what Colonnello is feeling when he is missing his other half….

Please someone. Will the rain ever go away? It hurts so much…

It hurts in more than one way. Now we are all hurting. But do they have to take it out on me? I almost want to die. If only I knew how… Then maybe at least my tears would stop.

But then I'd just be proving them right wouldn't I?

No. I can't. I promised that we would take care of Uni. It was Aria's dying wish. So I don't care what they do, but I won't give up! I swear it. Even if I have to take Uni away in the night.

-I'm-a-Line-

They haven't stopped and Uni is hurting. I can see it in her eyes. They may not be attacking her physically or verbally. But her watching us break apart is ripping her up inside. Fon is becoming more silent and distant. He doesn't try to stop Colonnello or Reborn from hurting me anymore. Verde is hiding himself in his lab more and more and I'm fairly sure he's not eating enough. Viper, well his name is currently suiting him quite well if his verbal barbs are anything to go by. Colonnello – well…. Both he and Reborn have become more violent in different ways. Reborn is the worse of the two though.

I don't think I can stay here anymore. Guardian bond or not. Without a real Sky there is nothing holding us together at the centre. The famiglia that attacked may be wiped from the surface of the world, but their goal was still completed. The Arcobaleno famiglia is broken.

-I'm-a-Line-

I tried… I've really tried. But I can't take it anymore. I packed a bag with my essentials and one for Uni. It was hard to set it all up and not be caught but we leave tonight.

I had hidden the bags in the bushes just outside the perimeter of the house the morning and I had also hidden my bike there too by going for a ride the day before. Now it is late and I carried a tired Uni as I crept though the house to the entrance. It was nerve-racking. Unlike the others I wasn't born into the life style or had previous fighting experience before I met them. And being silent – well that's not a skill you need when you're a stuntman. But somehow I got out and made it to the bike.

I strapped Uni into the sidecar and made sure she was wrapped in enough layers and put the bags in where the feet would be. And off we went.

I have to say I'm kind of afraid of when the others realise I'm gone and that I've taken baby Uni with me. I did leave them a note. But I can't say that it will be enough.

-I'm-a-Line-

Somehow, someway – they haven't found us yet. Or they've chosen not to come. The truth is that it hurts to think about. Even when they were hurtful, they were still my family. But I guess they don't feel the same way about me. It really shouldn't surprise me. But for some reason it does. I thought I was more than just their punching bag. And Uni – sweet little Uni, she was only just one and half when it happened. When it all fell apart. She's four now. She's so sweet, and very perspective for her age. If I'm not carful she knows when I'm upset or troubled by something.

I haven't put her in a day care. I've been to afraid too. I need to protect her. It's the same reason that I've been dying my naturally purple hair brown and stopped wearing my make-up – well side from the tape on my cheeks. Anything for sweet Uni. So far we've been pretty safe but I try my best to use what I picked up from the others and stay alert. We also haven't stayed in one place for too long yet. Better to keep moving and not give any potential enemy a pattern. I'm not sure what I'll do when she gets older though and starts wanting friends and asking questions. It kind of make me feel bad just thinking about it. There is also another reason for moving, but I don't feel like thinking about that right now. Let alone explaining it.

-I'm-a-Line-

Something is wrong. I just know it. I don't know what it is though, and that's what is bothering me more. It's like an itch at the back of my mind. I've moved us five times in the last month. But the feeling just keeps following me. It's really bothering me. I've barely had a good sleep because I am trying to be alert for what this feeling is. An immortal stuntman I may have been, but I can't keep doing this. I don't want to risk Uni. Little Uni who is now five. I really wish they were here right now. Reborn would know what to do. He would know exactly where the feeling was coming from and then Colonnello would sniper them from here if he had too. Verde would have an arsenal of weapons and gadgets at his ready, and Viper and Fon would get any information from them. Though Reborn could do all of that too.

-I'm-a-Line-

I jumped up in shock. I had fallen asleep. Oh god I had fallen sleep! I spun around in a rush. 'Where is Uni? Where is Uni?!' I was screaming in my head.

I felt my breath rush out of me. She was safe. She was right there. Sleeping on her bed in our current hotel room. But then I saw it. On the table on the corner there was a pink bunny rabbit with a yellow ribbon around its neck and a small little white card.

Almost afraid it would burn me if I touched it, I slowly picked up the card and opened it.

"Get more sleep and eat proper food. If you keep going as you are, how do you expect to protect her?"

It didn't say who it was from. But if the colour of the ribbon was anything to go by, it didn't have to.

I admit I completely freaked out. Within seconds I was packing up what little we had unpacked and chucking them over my shoulder. Leaving the room key on the table, I wrapped Uni up in her blanket and gently carried her to the car. I would have loved to keep my bike but I felt a car was better for Uni and for the weather as we travelled.

Simply put, if it was even one of them. I am not ready to see them. And if it's not them… Well that's a frightening thought.

-I'm-a-Line-

After 'that incident' the 'feeling' went away. But even so, I could never forget it when Uni took that same pink bunny with her everywhere she went. She hated being parted from it for long and I didn't have the heart to hide it away from her and throw it. As much as I sometimes wished to at the reminder of what it symbolised me.

But well, even with that feeling being gone. After 'that time' I started finding little notes or 'gifts' every other month. It didn't seem to matter where I moved us. It really shouldn't surprise me but it doesn't really comfort me either. They didn't always seem to be from the same sender either, though it wasn't always easy to tell.

Not to mention that that gifts often made me long for the past and I half contemplate trying to go back. But I'm too much of a cowed…. Even if I feel so incomplete without them.

I ended up setting Uni up as home schooled so that we can still move around but I think I really need to find a place I feel safe enough to stay. At least for a time. It's just not right to stop her from having close friends.

-I'm-a-Line-

We were travelling to our last place in this country before we moved when it happened. That feeling returned and it didn't go away.

I got Uni to safety but not before I took a bullet to the shoulder and leg. When I woke up again I was on the bed in my current hotel with my wound healed and wrapped.

"What did you think you were doing Lankey?!"

I had Reborn leaning over me. Glaring at me with those cold, endless eyes. I wanted to scream but I was in too much shock.

"You idiot." He ranted. "….You fool" his voice was softer now. Then he did something that complexly threw me. He leaned forward and kissed me! It was short, barely a brush of our lips. But I felt like I had been run over by a tank. I was too shocked to make a sound let alone move.

As much as I wanted him to and secretly was glad that he didn't, Reborn didn't leave after that.

He also didn't kiss me again. But neither did he act entirely as I remember.

Frankly... it scares me.

-I'm-a-Line-

After the first time he kissed me, I flipped out. I started running around like a madman packing of our things. Or I tried too, he wouldn't let me. It also wasn't made any easier, by the fact that I kept running away anytime he got to close me. I eventually exhausted myself trying and just gave up. The image of his smug expression seems to be imprinted into my mind from that day.

After that, I couldn't get rid of him. A specially after Uni latched onto him. She calls him Uncle Reborn. I still won't let him close to me though. I tend to try and always keep either something between us or keep some physical distance. The car is the worst though. There is no way to stay away from him! Did I mention that we haven't really spoken to each other either?

It's been some months now and while we are still moving around. We haven't moved nearly as often as Uni and I did before. I find myself becoming gradually more comfortable around him. And it feels good that I don't feel the need to worry as much with him here. But we still haven't spoken much, no more than we need to. Also, the gifts and messages are still appearing. Just without any of the yellow in them, and they're are appearing more frequently now. A specially the blue ones. Not that I understand why.

-I'm-a-Line-

I… oh god… I- Where do I even begin?

I'm so freaked out right now. I left Uni with him and ran. It started really slowly. I don't even remember when it began. I didn't notice. Him making my favourite meals, we have a silent agreement that we seemed to just take turns cooking. How did he even know? No one but Luce and Aria seemed to have noticed before. Then little things like letting me have the last slice if cake or something. Like I said, it was so subtle at first that I didn't even notice. He sat closer to me and I didn't run away. We began to talk more. He gave me little smiles or smirks. Then more yellow gifts began to appear. Slowly at first, but this time they were all for me. I know there is more I'm forgetting or that I didn't notice.

But… but then he apologised for the way he treated me after the big battle and he began sitting even closer to me. Then today I finally noticed how his gestures and tone have become more…. Suggestive towards me. I- It almost makes me think of his 'secondary title'. But- but I'm not a woman!

Yet here I am sitting on the roof of a building on the other side of the city from where we are currently staying… What does that say about me?

Of cause that was when HE appeared. I really should stop referring to them as 'He' now. You know, since this is a completely different 'He'.

"What are you doing, Kora?"

The voice sounded suddenly from behind me. Making me jump around in fright and nearly fall off the roof. It was Colonnello! I would have fallen too, if he hadn't grabbed me. Only, I think I almost wished that he had let me fall. Then I wouldn't have found myself being held in his arms, half falling backwards, with his face far too close to mine for comfort. It made me freeze in shock. Then of cause, he did exactly what I didn't want him to do. Well, one of a few things he could have done.

He seemed to momentarily freeze as he took in took in the position we were in and then- and then he glanced up at something, grinned, looked down at me, and kissed me!

Suddenly I could move again and pushed Colonnello away. Sadly, this was also the same time that I felt a sudden spike of energy in the air from some distance away behind me. Yeah, I hightailed it out of there.

-I'm-a-Line-

When I got back to our current residence Reborn wasn't there, so I grabbed our items and Uni and ran, again. To be honest I was surprised that I was even able to get away at all. Of cause, I was beginning to realise that it really didn't matter where I run or how far I run. They always seemed to find me. The next one I ran into was Fon. I was sitting having a break at a café when he came in, brought his own drink and calmly sat down in front of me that the table I was at. Didn't say a word as he finished his tea, then got up and left, as if he had never been there. I saw Verde when I went to the library for something to read. He was standing in the science section, looking for all the world like was meant to be there. And Viper was there when I was being chased by another men from another famiglia. No idea who it was this time, but they recognised me and thought they could force me to join them. But then strange creatures and other imagines appeared and scared the shit out of them. I knew instantly that it had to be Viper.

Right now, none of that seems to have mattered. I was unprepared for so many, and tired from constantly running. I faut them off as much as I could, while Oodako protected sweet Uni. It was when I was beginning to lose hope of getting out of it alive that they appeared. Five burning infernos of colour shinning brighter than any sun. I must have passed out shortly after, but when I came to, they were all there surrounding Uni and I. Finally, after so long, I felt like I was home again. Whole, with sweet little Uni at the center.