OpalescentGold: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Madness

This is how the past weeps.

Sketchy

Cynthia stares at her sister's lover. Behind him, a man, a not-so-skilled rat, whimpers piteously. "I hope you realize what a suspicious character you are," she says.

Daemon scoffs and brushes some nonexistent dust off of his clothes. "Don't be ridiculous," he says. "I would never use Mist on Elena."

"No, I'm with her," G. mutters, poking at the unfortunate, not-so sane-anymore man. "What did you do to him?"

"Nufufufu...I - "

Disclosure

" - suppose I should have known." Julie tilts his head and smirks. His eyes flash a painfully beautiful violet, and in a shiver of Flames, Katou Julie becomes Daemon Spade. "Cynthia, Cynthia, I never expected to meet you here."

Timoteo gasps. "No...! That's impossible!"

"Julie!?" Adelheid whirls around, drawing Enma back behind her. "What the - who are you!?" The Simon Famiglia seem to collectively take a step back, eyeing their so-called comrade warily.

"Daemon Spade?" Tsuna whispers, bewildered. "Who's that? And why is he calling Nori-chan 'Cynthia'?"

Reborn has a gun in his hands, an uncharacteristic frown curling his lips. "Daemon Spade," he says slowly, "was the first Guardian of the Mist. However, he should be long dead."

"Yes," Cynthia agrees, smiling coldly. "Should being the operative word. You've been clinging onto this world by possessing bodies, haven't you?"

"Nufufufu, don't sound so disgusted, Cynthia," Daemon purrs. "That's a tad hypercritical, considering you're back as well. Pray tell - "

Mystery

" - how did you do it?" Daemon asks curiously over a cup of tea.

"Do what?" Cynthia arches an eyebrow. Her long hair is messy, her pale nightgown is rumpled, and she covers a yawn with her hand. It's early morning, and sunlight is creeping across the floor.

"Our last battle," he says, bracing his chin on his palm. "You stopped it. How?"

She smiles and sips at her coffee. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Cynthia," he whines.

She laughs. "Why - "

Name

" - do you keep calling her that?" Hayato demands. "What's going on!?"

"Oh? You haven't told your beloved family?" Daemon sneers, a scythe appearing in his hands. He twirls it mockingly. "Keeping secrets now, are you? Do any of these children even know who you are?"

"I've never heard of a Cynthia," Reborn comments, and his mistrust is searing.

"...Nori-chan?" Tsuna asks uncertainly. He wants to trust her so much, but -

Cynthia sighs. Her grip on Sin tightens. Her heart hurts. "...Mukuro."

"Kufufufu...shall I enlighten you all?" Mukuro smirks, relaxed as can be. "Cynthia was the original founder of the Cervello and the Vongola Moon of Primo's time. She was - "

Optimism

" - his primary Adviser. Why don't you actually advise him against being an idealistic idiot?" Daemon scowls.

"You follow him because he's an idealistic idiot," Cynthia points out, wondering if he even knows how fond his eyes are while he rants about their leader. "And what's the problem now?"

"We have a breach." Daemon shakes his head, slamming his hand down on the files. "Giotto needs to improve his security. Immensely."

"I'll talk to G. later," she says, stretching her arms out. It's been a long night. "You know Giotto has a tendency to think the best of everyone."

He grumbles. "It's going to come back to bite him in the ass one day," he mutters and shakes his head. "He has impossible luck though. It just so happens - "

Reincarnation

" - that Cervello Cynthia was reincarnated as Reiki Noriko," Mukuro finishes smugly.

"The fuck?" Hayato gapes.

Tsuna simply looks...dazed.

"What are you saying?" Adelheid spits. She doesn't look like she know what to trust anymore.

"Enough," Cynthia says before anyone else can add their input. "None of that matters at the moment. What are you doing, Daemon? You're the one responsible for this entire mess, aren't you?"

"Of course," Daemon confirms. "While you've been off playing pretend with these weak children, I've been - "

Strength

" - keeping the Vongola strong." Daemon huffs out an exasperated breath even as he leads Cynthia through the hedge maze with one hand on her back. "I still don't like him though."

She laughs. "Really? With all of your taunting, I would have thought you adored Alaude." The most recent addition to their family is a bit volatile on the best of days and has gone after everyone with handcuffs once or twice by now.

His look is half-offended and half-horrified. "That barbarian?" he sniffs. "Absolutely not, although I will admit he is better than Lampo. That brat complains about everything." Said brat also receives candy twice a week from the Mist.

"Why don't you just admit you're a big softie at heart?" Cynthia teases, poking him in the chest. "Don't - "

Legacy

" - delude yourself," Cynthia says sharply. "This is because of her, isn't it?"

Daemon's face contorts cruelly. She is the only one who sees the pain behind the madness and malice. "Shut up," he hisses. "You don't have the right to speak of her!"

"She would have hated this," Cynthia snaps. "She's probably turning in her grave right now! Doing all of this in her name, do you think she would have approved!? She believed in protecting the weak and offering compassion to the hopeless!"

"What are they talking about?" Tsuna asks timidly, worried, but neither of them hear him.

"Don't talk like you know what she would have wanted!" Daemon yells, Flame flaring high and bright and tormented. "Don't you dare! This - everything that I've done - has all been for her! She wanted me to make Vongola the strongest, and I have for centuries!"

"Not like this," Cynthia says, silver light trembling beneath her skin. Her eyes flash. "Never like this."

Daemon's eyes are crazed, and he swings his scythe.