A New Friend, a New Threat

'Jeez, what a winter!'

In the Tsukino residence, their Heaters are full-on.

It's snowing heavily outside, only stopping for four hours in the noon, and in the morning so people can go to work. But it's the going home part that's the problem and Nightshifters were complaining! School on the other hand, was debated on based on winter patterns. But since it doesn't snow at 3-9 am, students can still go to school and go home after school. Hanging out, was severely discouraged due to this change of weather as the going home part will be difficult. Traffic is understandably heavy due to low visibility as well. Grocery and Supermarkets must be open on non-snow hours and Cashiers and Bag Boys must work quick in shifts so everyone can go home, even them while avoiding the worst of it.

It's impossible to even commute as the train roads are snowed over too. Due to sheer inconvenience, people are forced to go home the hard way, unless you own a car.

'No kidding, we can't even go out and meet the girls.' Usagi sighed.

'It's impossible, we're cooped up in here for Winter Vacation.' Shingo snorted. 'What a boring vacation.'

'No kidding...'

The other girls were also dealing with home issues of being snowed in as well.

Winter was thus a period of quietness.

In the Sawada Residence in Tokyo...

'Alright, we got a decent score ladies.' said Reborn as that morning, they shopped a lot of food for the day. 'But I never thought meat here would be expensive.' he frowned. 1kg is like, almost 19 euros! And those were the cheap cuts! Then again, he bought A5 sincehe's using Vongola's money... 'Chikane what will you make today?'

'...a nice beef soup I found so I'm particular with today's beef parts.' said Chikane. 'I'm just annoyed they didn't sell beef bones...ah well.'

If they want fried dishes, Chikane insists reborn does it as she was terrified of crackling boiled oil she can't make fried things. She can prepare and season, but the act of frying, she rather leave to everyone else.

She does best in hotpots...and she delivered.

Rice, and her version of Chankonabe. More delicious than those in famous Sumo Stables. This kind, is good for solely women. Cabbage, Broccoli, Shungiku, Mizuna, Leeks, Shiitake, Tofu, Soba Noodles(boiled, taken out and transferred into the nabe pot) and Beef Slices. Cut in ways that made eating easy while noodles remained long.

'We're not sumo wrestlers.' Reborn quipped.

'You're a guy who can use extra muscle and Nagi-chan's so skinny! Besides after winter we'll work hard right?'

'Mm, I suppose...'

'Nagi-chan, eat a lot this winter OK?' Chikane told Nagi who just looked at her blankly. 'It's unhealthy to eat little in winter.'

'OK...'

xxx

Reborn's routine, was while school is covered by tutors and books, he would teach them Math and Computers as he has a doctorate in Math, and how to be a strong lady(his ideal strong lady) to survive the Mafia in years to come...not that he'd tell them that yet. Mukuro would visit as he was good against cold, being an ex-Vendicare Inmate and Vendicare is heinously cold. He visits because of the girls...and paranoid on what exactly was he teaching them due to his justified hatred of the mafia.

'Come on brat, I'll do right by the girls.' Reborn snorted at the glaring teenager and actually approved of his dutifulness. 'If I wasn't, Helios can easily kill me. What can I, a mere human do against a Dream Deity who's protective of Chikane?'

'...point. At least she has divine-class security.' so Mukuro finally relaxed around him, trusting Helios to kill him if anything happens.

Gee, wow, Reborn thought wryly with a twitch.

During the day, Math was first subject. ALL forms of Math needed in life, Logic, Operating Computers and knowing how to use Softwares, Lady Lessons, and Physical Training from hell came last. And he bullies Mukuro to do shopping as the girls are extremely occupied and he can't leave them alone. So every night, he gives Mukuro money for next day, and pays him weekly for his part-time job so his parents won't question what he does in winter.

Not only that, the Arcobaleno paid him a visit, meeting him in a hotel.

(Viper was spitting nails in HOW he got his body back...and he had to make Viper project his memories as to how the hell that happened)

Since Chikane's borrowed crystal powers were responsible for giving him his body back but he was still stuck to the curse, he had some semblance of normalcy while ahem, fathering two girls.

On the other hand, she met up with them too when Aria wanted to meet her. So on Skype Videochat as Winter made travel IMPOSSIBLE...

'...they don't have dream mirrors like you, ojisan.' Chikane shook her head. 'Makes me wonder where you people are from that you don't have dreams.' she told Reborn, upset. 'Had they gotten Dream Mirrors, I might be able to work with the little power I have access to, with my now-diminished connection with Elysion.' she said, seeing their true forms in her mind's eye, not the baby forms in front of her while Aria 'had death' behind her even through computers. 'You guys must dream again...a dream powerful enough to manifest a Dream Mirror.' she said, showing it. 'It is the crystallization of dreams and hopes for one's future, a strong wish to be...ah!' she gasped, looking at Mammon's window. 'That's quick!' she sputtered in disbelief.

'I have nursed 28 years of hatred, what do you think?' said Mammon bitterly. 'I tried many methods and never gave up.' Chikane vanished from Japan to appear in Mammon's room in Varia Castle and touched him by the chest to draw out his Dream Mirror...and used it as a catalyst to restore Mammon his body as an adult. 'My body...' he gasped out. The other Arcobaleno gaped in shock.

'Take note you're still cursed, OK? I just manipulated the curse using my magic to give you back your very-much-functional human body.' said Chikane. 'You must maintain that form as long as you dream.' she told him. 'If you stopped dreaming, your Dream Mirror will disappear and back to babyhood you go.' she warned to Mammon's horror. 'Reborn won't tell me why all of you are babies so I don't know the 'how' part...something about 'secrets or my ass is grass'.' she huffed with an armfold. 'He won't say anything!'

Well, he was bound by Omerta. Chikane who was Vongola Heiress with access to divine powers who has yet to get her Mafia Education classifies as Civilian still. He cannot say a thing or he has a suite in Vendicare with his name on it.

'As for ojisan, I had the Golden Crystal back then so even without a Mirror, I was powerful enough to give him his body back without a catch, but now...nope. Helios has it back to rebuild the Dream World Nehellenia destroyed out of cosmic cosmetic vain lust to maintain her looks.' she shook her head. 'I will sense if you manifested a Mirror, so I will see you personally to help tweak your curse through your dreams.'

That got the other five gloomy and Reborn felt he was glad he got his job, and met Chikane at her period of divinity.

Mammon must keep dreaming to keep his body intact. Reborn was far luckier he didn't need maintenance as Verde put it...

xxx

When Winter ended at the first week of March, it stopped snowing at last. Cloudy days were gone and the sun is out again, though northern cold winds still blew about which means it will still occasionally snow as long as northern winds blow.

'Blizzard's over just as how I designed it...for Japan at least.' Chikane grinned as the sun is out. 'Although other northern countries will have it longer. I did study seasons to make this work.'

'At least we can finally stop melting snow off our backyard.' Reborn snorted. They were using flames to melt snow off their backyards while hacking into CCTV Cameras to protect their flame secrets. They melt the snow and warm up the soil without killing their lawn and shrubs' roots somehow.

And so...

Gym...

Training was swimming. The water in the pools were warmed up. Wonderful and comfy. Swimming was excellent stamina training and builds up all their muscles, to prepare for combat training...and for them to meet a newcomer NOW that weather FINALLY let up.

He had to pay Colonello a fortune using Vongola's money to train a potential Storm Guardian for Chikane as Winter made travel by air and sea impossible. Travel by land, yes, assuming the government plowed the roads and Europe and Asia are landlocked. Travel by sea? Er, with all that ice floating around, hazardous to propellers...

By around April...he finally came.

'Ojamashimasu!' Gokudera Hayato, a part-foreign bishounen greeted. 'Reborn-san, I'm present!'

'Mm. Travel's easier now eh?' Reborn mused as he was in his casual wear. 'Come inside. Time for you to meet your future boss. She's not in the know yet so no Mafia Discussion or your ass is in Vendicare, OK?'

'Yes sir.' Gokudera came in. The day prior, he was given information and rules.

Vongola fucked up with their heiress but intel how was classified by the Arcobaleno. She lived in the streets and self-educated via Library but needed help in Math. Her state of mind was that of a compromised 7 years old kid who ran away from home due to idiot parents so now before Mafia Education can happen, she has to be civilized first and her mental age catch up to her 14 years old body. And she has two affiliates now, the orphan girl she took in, and a boy she rescued from a malicious organization as a street kid months back through sheer brass balls and trickery, so this boy was overprotective of his savior.

No mafia lingo, no mafia discussion, no weapons and no smoking in the house. Not only that, he must get to know Chikane, not Vongola Decimo-to-be and more importantly, be a normal person around two civilian girls. Damaged girls.

Well, he's a mess himself, but he built himself back up with ambition. Besides, how hard can this be?

Inside the house...

Purple is fucking creepy. She was blank like a doll. His boss-to-be? TRYING to teach her how to smile! Reborn looks like a rather amused, exasperated parent watching from afar.

Not even a minute later, someone came in.

'Hey, I got the groceries.' tall lanky pineapple came in. His eyes fell on him. 'Who is this?'

'The guy I told you about, so no going snappy on him.' said Reborn. 'He knows the rules.'

'Kufufufu...he better.' Gokudera knew a dangerous smile when he sees one...that one is usually out for murder. 'I'm Rokudo Tomoki but they call me Mukuro instead. Pleasure, Gokudera Hayato.' he introduced himself with a purr while setting down groceries.

'Er, why two names?'

'Code.'

'Ah, OK.'

Apparently, Mukuro was also teaching creepy doll emotions.

'OK, just what's going on with doll-girl?'

'Neglected beyond being fed and clothed.' Reborn quipped. 'Her living situation is best described as a gilded dollhouse because of uncaring parents, so Mukuro got her out of there and made their life hell as revenge. He framed some crime on her stepfather that got him fired, and pinned a scandal on her famous actress mother that'll take YEARS to weather down but by then, she can never be an actress ever again.' he grinned nastily with all teeth. Killer he may be but he has boundaries.

'Burn...now if only someone was just as nice to my family I'd be happy.' Gokudera scowled. Reborn bopped him on the head.

'I know you're just as screwed, rehab comes first before settling down.'

'Uhm, yes sir.'

xxx

'Sorry we didn't greet you Hayato, I was kinda trying to make Nagi-chan smile!' Chikane's smile was too bright and innocent while glomping Nagi from behind. 'We finally hammered down human rights, but feelings are the tough part.' her smile changed to a sad one.

'Hello.' Nagi greeted in an emotionless manner Gokudera sweatdropped.

'Uhm nice to meet you girls.' said Gokudera with a weak smile. 'Be staying with you guys under Reborn-san too.'

'Oh really? Yay! More people in the house!' Chikane lit up cheerily, dive-glomping him. Gokudera felt 'it' causing him to go stark red.

'Chikane, manners!' Reborn scolded. 'Young ladies do not casually glomp boys unless friend or family levels!'

'Ehhh~' Chikane whined.

'N-O no.'

'Boo!'

'Well, she has ways to go.' Mukuro chuckled fondly. 'Now then, time to go to the gym now after we shove the groceries in the pantry.' He too, joined the training bandwagon. He was super skinny from tough life on the road and Vendicare, his parents tried to fatten him up especially in winter he swore he'd get obese, so he worked out in a bid not to inflate! And every month they check his arms and only stopped when his parents deemed him healthy like a normal kid again, cursing the people who took him away from home.

He just managed to adjust to his new situation...and he missed out a lot.

Soon, he would start school, going to the same school the soldiers are going, the local public school and he ensured he's in their class. He's a high schooler after all...kufufufu...

But one day...during a fifteen minute training break, Chikane sensed danger coming and vanished, forcing Mukuro to cover her disappearance.

'Where'd she go?!' Gokudera yelped out.

'Something clearly happened...' Mukuro frowned before looking at Reborn. 'Reborn...'

'Aa. And I don't like this at all.' Reborn swore. 'We'll get her to talk!'

xxx

Elysion...

'That was a close call!' Chikane squeaked, shaking as in her hands as she was in her maiden form, was the Golden Crystal. 'Helios! Mamoru-san, he...!' she stammered shakily considering she got a close call and barely saved the priceless treasure in her hands.

'I know.' Helios growled as he too, saw the evil golden light. It was so evil. The crystal has vestiges of how Mamoru was killed while on an airplane to America for University Scholarship. 'Someone attacked the King...if his crystal was taken...'

'Why'd you give him the crystal before his time as King? It's loads safer here!'

'He needed to heal from what Nehellenia had done to Earth so I put it in his body temporarily...I never knew we'd have an enemy so soon!' the high priest is NOT happy about this. 'Prince...' he was worried. His counterpart was murdered. His body atomised for the Crystal. He was lucky so far but if the Crystal was truly stolen, he too, would die. For now, he's still around as long as dreams existed. But he was drastically weakened.

'He's gone...' Chikane choked, returning the crystal to him shakily. 'His body was...and all those people in the airplane are all killed!' Helios pursed his lips and hugged her tightly since she saw a murder this time, not death by natural causes. 'W-what are we gonna say to Princess?!' she cried, upset.

'...we not say a word for now...until we exhausted all methods to bring back Prince Endymion.' said Helios softly. 'Until then, I'll focus on this. Watch out for Princess.'

'OK...' Chikane deflated in his hold. It was all they got.

xxx

At the gym...lunch break, only the group can see Chikane return, her maiden form dissolving into golden sparkly dust and back in her school swimsuit. Gokudera and Nagi stared wide-eyed as Chikane was in a magical sleepwear form and floating, and like magical girl fashion, back to swimsuit she was.

'Chikane, did something happen?' Reborn demanded. 'We just barely recovered from last autumn.'

'Worse...Mamoru-san was murdered.' Chikane choked out as Gokudera wondered who this man was, that got the older males disturbed and worried. 'He was murdered for the Golden Crystal...I barely saved it but the airplane of people...dead.' she squeaked, pale-faced. 'They're after Celestial Crystals! Helios said he'll find a way to bring back Mamoru-san...until then, we can't say a word!'

'Alright...'

Training ended earlier that day...and he and Nagi are filled in using Illusions.

OK, so boss isn't just a future Donna, but also a former magical girl...