OpalescentGold: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Spectors
This is how they reunite.
Truth
The others no doubt find it odd how, after all this time, Byakuran has never made a move to attack Noriko, only smiling away when she appears erratically and leaving her be instead of trying to hit her like that mole game.
He's shown no mercy, not for Tsuna, not for his Guardians, not for the Arcobaleno, not even for Shoichi and Spanner, so why spare Reiki Noriko?
No one says anything to her, but it's not necessary. Reborn's sharp glances are enough. Mukuro's eerie half-smirks speak for themselves. Tsuna's brown eyes are worried when they land on her, like he thinks Byakuran is holding back now so as to spring a major ambush in the future.
Noriko herself is frustrated and upset, but not concerned. Because, the truth is, Byakuran doesn't need to raise a finger to keep her from hindering the battles.
The Arbiter interferes if, and when, the battle is over. The identity and circumstances of the scenario do not matter. The outcome and consequences of the conflict do not register.
All that exists is the Judgment.
Even if it's Tsuna, even if it's Byakuran, even if this is sure to turn into a duel to the death, Noriko can do nothing but watch and wait.
Reinforcements
When the Varia arrive, Noriko is perhaps the only one completely unharmed out of her family, mostly because the Funeral Wreaths have stayed away from her.
Perhaps the punishment for harming a Judge is harsh, too harsh for even them to chance.
That doesn't mean she isn't gritting her teeth and fighting not to jump into Hayato's fight. Two on one again!?
Xanxus frowns when he sees her, but grunts and turns away, teeth bared in a savage grin and guns held firmly in his hands.
"VOOIII! DON'T GET IN OUR WAY!" Squalo shouts in her face before whirling around to point his blade at Bluebell and Zakuro.
The rest of the Varia either ignore her, sneer at her, or nod to her.
(Strangely, none of them make any mention of her lack of participation. Ten years is a long time, and the future Kyoya knew of her true status. Maybe the Varia do as well.)
Freeze
Noriko is fine throughout the battles with the Real Six Funeral Wreaths.
She is. Memories of explosions and near-saves and almost-deaths whisper to her, keeping her calm and watchful even as the Funeral Wreaths are defeated one after one.
It's nearing the end that she begins to panic.
Yuni has been pulled into the fight. Byakuran has erected a barrier with the Tri-ni-set. Tsuna is going to suffocate very, very soon.
Noriko is ready to pull out her hair when the Vongola Rings start glowing.
And then she all but turns to stone.
Impressions
A long, long time ago, Cynthia watched her family engrave their Wills and Flames into the Vongola Rings.
Why? she asked.
Giotto laughed, warm and knowing. For the generations to come, he said, so that we might guide them in times of strife.
You're an incorrigible idealist, Daemon scowled but his eyes were warm. It was why they all followed Giotto, of course. This is only so we can tell whomever our descendants may be that they're making terrible mistakes.
Ugetsu laughed. Don't be so pessimistic, he urged brightly. I'm sure the Vongola will be fine.
Who came up with that ridiculous name again? Alaude grumbled.
G. promptly pointed at Giotto, who grinned nervously. It sounded like a good idea at the time.
Lampo just cowered on the floor at the reminder of that particular adventure.
I think 'Vongola' is a very ultimate name! Knuckle exclaimed loyally.
Cynthia heaved a sigh but smiled indulgently. Well, don't let me stop you.
Noriko should have known it would come back to bite her.
Nightmares
She doesn't ever mention it to her friends, and after the first few years, she has grown more than adept enough to hide it from her parents, and so no one truly knows the nightmares that plague Noriko in the dark.
It's not unexpected. Though Cynthia died with peace in her heart, it was a bloody, painful death. The only reason the Moon accepted it was because her Sky and his Elements had left for the other world already and she wished to join them.
The First Generation of Vongola died young.
It hadn't been Daemon Spade's doing, surprisingly enough. The wave of assassins and hitmen sent after them had been the combined efforts of every single enemy Vongola had ever made during its short tenure under Giotto.
Cynthia never knew whether or not the Mist would have attempted to aid them. There hadn't been enough time, hadn't been enough warning. He might never have known, not before it was too late.
They were powerful, yes. But even their power had limits, and without the Vongola Rings...
Well.
As the Judge, she died last, excluding Daemon. And by that point, Cynthia was ready to die.
Noriko dreams of blood and tears, fear and despair, vendetta and vengeance.
There is running and hiding and fighting, word of deaths all over the world reaching her slowly but surely, draining away a little of her will to live each and every time.
Giotto was the one who was murdered before her. He stashed his wife and son away first before purposefully drawing out the men sent to kill him and dying alone on a plain of ice and red.
Noriko privately believes that this is the reason her future self was so, so very useless after the future Vongola Decimo was "killed."
Orange
Noriko looks up, through the transparent barrier, past Tsuna and Byakuran, and meets Giotto's eyes for the first time in several centuries.