OpalescentGold: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Spirits
This is how they reconcile.
Hindsight
Looking back, it wasn't Noriko's best idea to disconnect from the Eclipse so quickly and so rapidly. When she awakes at last, her powers are near depleted, and she feels like an overcooked noodle.
On the other hand, by the time she is up and running, the fuss is mostly over so it's probably not all bad. Also, well, apparently, it's enough time for ghosts to get their ghostly lives together and settle things once and for all.
Manifestation
Upon being awakened by the call of their current successors, the spirits imprinted in the Vongola Rings have the ability to manifest themselves and move about of their own free will.
If Noriko forgot this, she is hastily reminded when she wakes up to the transparent phantom of Giotto hovering over a chair beside her bed, staring at a magazine on feminine fashion. One of Bianchi's probably, but -
"...you idiot," Cynthia says, coughing.
He glances up sharply and frowns when she makes a feeble attempt to sit up. "Easy there," Giotto fusses, drifting closer, arms extended like he wants to try and help but knows that it's no use. "You were out for three days."
"Giotto." She stares flatly at him until he stops scowling at the sheets and cringes back uncertainly. "You absolute idiot."
He has the grace to smile apologetically. "Sorry?"
"You're a moron," she informs him, eyes flashing. "A stupid, naive, altruistic, gullible, dumb, self-destructive - "
"I'm sorry!" he yelps, holding his hands up.
There's a heartbeat of silence while they just look at each other.
"I'm sorry," Giotto echoes earnestly. He peers at her, eyes soft with concern and affection both, regret lending a hard edge to his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Cynthia. I never meant to leave you alone for so long."
"You did," she says, and it's almost accusatory. No, it is denunciatory, because - "It's been centuries, Giotto. Centuries, and I woke up and - "
You weren't here. None of you were here.
"I know," he whispers helplessly. "I know, I'm so sorry..."
And that's all Giotto can repeat consolingly while Cynthia finally breaks down in tears.
Abstain
Tsuna knows that Reborn is all but dying to know what, who Noriko is.
He knows that he should probably be really concerned because these Eclipses and Judgments are definitely wearing on his best friend, and would someone - most likely Nori herself - please explain to him what the silver light is?
He knows all of these things, but -
"Good afternoon, Nori-chan," he greets quietly, the door swinging shut behind him. He's riding the assured wave of his Hyper-Intuition, but it still takes most of Tsuna's self-control to not flinch when Nori looks at him with bloodshot eyes.
She smiles, and to his relief, it seems genuine, if tired and sad. "Hey, Tsuna." Putting the book she was reading on the bedside table, Nori pats the edge of the bed in invitation. "How's it going? Has another megalomaniac popped up while I wasn't looking?"
Tsuna shudders. "No, thank God. I don't think I'll be able to take any more." It's said in part humor and part truth, and he thinks she's aware of that as he sits down. He hesitates, twisting his hands, and blurts out, "Are you okay?"
She blinks at him and smiles brightly after a long moment. "What? Did you change your mind about the tsunami surfing?"
"Nori-chan!" he yells, eyes growing alarmingly wide.
Noriko laughs, and Tsuna can almost believe that everything is alright.
Almost. But when he leaves half an hour later so she can take a nap, not a single word about her abilities has escaped his lips.
Magenta
"He's Giotto's descendant," is G.'s first comment.
Cynthia continues running the comb through her wet hair. "Yes."
He nods and doesn't pursue the topic further. It's not as if he was - is - Giotto's Right-Hand Man for nothing.
G. has always been the most devoted of all of them.
"Do they know?" he asks instead.
"No." She pauses and looks at him, gaze steady and unyielding. "And you won't tell them." It comes out as a statement rather than a question.
G. hums, thoughtful. "No, I guess I won't." He floats to his feet and pins her with a look that contains the weight of the world. "You'll make sure they're happy and safe," he states.
Like we weren't. Like we couldn't be.
Cynthia doesn't look away. "Of course."
Karma
"What did you to Byakuran?" The brim of Reborn's hat covers his eyes, but the whisper of menace is unmistakable, and Noriko nearly laughs.
"Does it matter?"
The corners of his lips turn down. "Noriko. What did you do?"
She smiles and leans back, closing her eyes. "I did exactly what he asked me to do."
Silence with Tsuna is comfortable. Silence with Kyoya is familiar. Silence with Reborn is agony.
"I gave him what he deserved."
Flute
"You've been straining yourself," Ugetsu scolds gently, tapping her on the head with a ghostly flute. She doesn't feel it, but apparently, it's the thought that counts. "We've talked about this, Cynthia."
The blonde sighs, moving through some easy stretches.
When she doesn't reply immediately, he tilts his head, reconsidering. "Or it is Reiki Noriko now?"
"Call me Cynthia," she says, because there isn't enough time in her life for identity complexes. "And you know how the Eclipses are." Much better than her current, alive family does, anyhow.
Ugetsu smiles serenely. "Maybe so," he concedes, "but you should still rest up afterwards. It's barely been two days and you're already preparing for more combat."
"It's the Mafia," she says simply.