Soul Fire or as more not-so-commonly known in this place[er, dimension? planet? universe?, Dying Will Flames are high-density spiritual energy that is able to be seen when manifested. It is a fail-safe only accessible at the height of our fear and desperation to live. What most people don't know, however, is that they can easily access it when they have prior access to their soul.
An example for this is Magicals. Wizards though, are sadly not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed and often dismiss these as 'another bout of accidental magic'. Magic and Soul Fire both come from and are accessed from our souls, but Soul Fire is the direct reflection of our souls. Of who we are.
Magic however, requires certain compatible gene codes. Hence, Squibs from too much inbreeding.
My Clan is 'gifted', so to speak, with Reincarnation. A book on Soul Fire written by an ancestor spoke of Imprints passed on by ancestors to where our souls are reincarnated into. Some examples are their personality traits or mannerisms and behaviour that are passed on to us by our parents and those before them. They leave traces of their Flames in our bodies that affect us.
A few years passed since my first trip to Japan, and Mamaì started teaching about poisons and venoms, as well as their cure. She started teaching me which points of the body to hit I took to it like a fish in water.
My Papa started taking me around the world to meet with the rest of our very extensive family and teaching me the history and duty in and of the Clan. Apparently, every single person with our trademark blood-red hair is a member of the Scairbhín Clan because of our ancestor, the goddess Morrigan. Whether they have reincarnated, depends if they have certain birthmarks or not. The Main Circle are all Reincarnates, while the Genesis, or people who are alive for the first time belong to Branch Circles. There are times when a person cycles into the BC. The child is integrated to the Main and their immediate family fostered.
Also, we have two sister clans. Children born of Babd, unfortunately now extinct, and the the children born of Nemain, the Scaol Clan, or the clan of Insane as I like to call it. [I met a very interesting cousin there, he had a very distinctive laugh.]
He also said something about individual aspects of the triple goddess Morrighan but it was all very confusing.
Papa spouted a lot about it, but that is basically the gist of it.
Months passed by and I started feeling lethargic up to the point where I would lie down for a day and refuse to move, my body feeling as if weighed down by stones while also feeling like I can run and jump around in mountains for miles.
Papa said something about a check-up, and Mamaí smacked him for not saying something sooner while poor Uncle Fon looked confused.
"Looks like the Seal cracked."
"Huh?"
"The Birthmark, dear. It's not just your Path indicator, it also seals our otherworldly power in."
Healer Mira, Reina's aunt, examined her right shoulder blade where an Encircled Triquetra Birthmark, the size of a coin, can be found. She poked it with a glowing finger and watched as it glowed in response.
"More power used to aid our duty is good, right? Why does it need to be held back?"
"Well, for one, you would die if it wasnt."
"What do you mean?"
"We are technically demigods. Though unlike other Pantheons, demigods for us means fledgling gods in a completely mortal body. As in a plain human body with a god inside. As a Rule, demigods dont live long lives."
"Even with our Seals, Auntie?"
"Even with. There's a reason the Main Circle is so crazy hyper and moody. Others get killed by their monsters, but with our growing power, we are technically killing ourselves."
"-and what will I tell your mother when she finds us gone and calls?"
"Just tell her you took me on a training trip. It is the best solution to my... situation after all. And tell her not to worry, I'm going to be under disguise and will be acting out as your apprentice"
"...I am sorry, but no. I have no wish to face your mother's wrath."
"B-but, please Uncle! I-I just, I just wanted to explore and s-spend more t-time with y-you..."
[Puppy-dog-eyes no Jutsu!]
"...Alright."
"Yes! You're the best Uncle in the world, Uncle Fon!"
Fon felt quite ridiculous that the simple statement made his chest bloom with warmth.
"Fon! Nice to see you, kora. What are you doing here, kora?"
"It is nice to see you as well, Colonello. I am here to cash in that favour you owe me."
"What is it, kora?"
Fon initially hesitated to ask Colonello for help. He didn't want anyone to know about his family, especially about the little ones. It was the reason why he made great efforts to be quite obscure in the Underworld. However, as much as he wanted to be the one to wholly train his niece, he couldn't be away for too long or people would get suspicious, heads would turn, and eyes would follow and that was something he couldn't afford. But then, Colonello was former military, he'd understand the need for such secrecy. He could trust Colonello to not blab about this to others.
"I am in need of your... assistance in training my niece. She has a unique condition where her soul and physical energy are highly unbalanced."
Cerulean eyes glinted at the idea of being the first to learn more information about the elusive martial artist's life. He was surprisingly adept at evading and hiding things he didn't want to be known or found. Even Viper, or Mammon nowadays, hardly found anything asides from the things already common knowledge about him in the Underground.
"You have a niece, kora? Sure, I'll do it, kora!"
Fon turned around and called out.
"You can stop eavesdropping and come out now, Huòhua. And I thought I told you to keep the wig on."
A shocking red blur jumped down from the trees and settled in front of the two not-infants. Red curls flew without a care in the world as a 6-years old girl settled down. Because her colouring, he almost couldn't see the striking resemblance between the little girl and her uncle.
"Sorry Uncle, but it got caught in the branches and I had to leave it behind."
Her silver-teal eyes glinted mischievously as her lips twisted to an adorable vulpine grin, her expression clearly contradicting her statement. Fon sighed in fond exasperation as if this was a normal occurrence. He stood in slightly in front of her and looked at Colonello, eyes shining with ferocious protectiveness.
"You are a dear friend Colonello, but I highly recommend saying not even a single word about my niece's existence. The consequences would terrible and otherwise."
Fon's normally serene smile stretched to a predatory smirk reminiscent of his nephew as realization pooled in Colonello's wide blue eyes as he looked at the pair.
"She's your Sky?" He asked with traces of quiet disbelief and awe in his voice.
It was rare for a baby Sky to Harmonize with an adult, let alone with an Arcobaleno. He could see, somehow, what Fon's dilemma was.
A Sky has to have Flames as strong or stronger than the Flames of the potential Guardian. She's an untrained baby Sky with Flames strong enough to Harmonize with the strongest Storm their age. He still couldn't believe a KID Harmonized with Fon! Yet, at the same time, he understood how. Kids just accept people, they don't judge [unless of course influenced by their families] the world is simple to them. Kids are just like that.
"Hello, my name is Rioghan Scairbhín-Hibari. It's nice to meet you!"
The moment her eyes landed on Colonello, she saw a, well, a military guy who looked serious [and skilled] enough to stay on the job but then quit. [Don't ask, I happen to have accurate first impressions]. Looking closer, she was reminded of a big brother, the one who protects and someone you can go to when you need comfort but also the person least likely to coddle you [the fact his Flames was such a soothing warmth and itsokayyoureokayyourefinenow-...].
He looked strict, or maybe the word was disciplined, but at the same time had a lax and mischievous streak that made her think he plays pranks on people, the pranks being different from the conventional sense.
She saw his outline briefly light up in vibrant blue before seeing a string, very much like the glow around him, appear, coming from his left hand towards- oh. Oh my, the string connected to a thin ring on her pointer finger right next to the scarlet-hued ring connected to her Uncle. Was this what Papa meant by matching the Elements with their Sky? She looked more closely at the two strings. The Scarlet Ring was outlined in intricate Orange-Silver with the same coloured string entwined with the scarlet string connected to her Uncle, while the Cerulean Ring was just that, plain rippling cerulean.
"Hello, my name is Lianghai Scairbhín-Hibari. It's nice to meet you!"
Making a decision I held out an offering hand and let some of my hybrid Flames go, feeling it loosely curl around me, dancing along with Uncle's Storm and coaxing Colonello's Rain to join them.
He took it.
And once again, the World burst in Colour.
Colonello's form froze as he was accepted with the dancing offer of Warmth and Home of her Flames. Tension bled out of Fon like water as he felt Colonello's Rain join the dancing and twining of their Flames, eased and comforted now that his Sky would be absolutely protected. Rioghan practically purred at the soothing warmth that joined their little cocoon of warmth and Family, eyes locked on the Orange-Silver string that formed and entwined with Colonello's Cerulean.
"..Would you like to learn how to snipe?"
"Do I ever!"
Colonello's dazed grin turned mischievous as his new student's eyes glinted in eager anticipation.
"I think I'm gonna enjoy this."
"Tsuna-kun, someone's joining us today!"
"Sigh, did you ask them or just told them and gave them no other options?"
"Le gasp! Such little faith in your best friend, Tuna? I am sorely disappointed. Hahaha, I'm just kidding, it was just a feeling, y'know. Anyway, do you want sushi? Let's go eat sushi, I like sushi. I'm craving sushi. Ugh, I'm already hungry just sitting here, doing nothing, thinking of food. With that fat whale 'teaching' at the front. Makes me think of chopping him up and- hey, that's the bell! Let's go!"
Tsuna deadpanned at his dramatic and discursive best friend before indulging her antics.
"Class is finished. But can we please wait until the clubs went home?"
"Only on the condition you join me on patrol. You draw out them out of their hidey holes, and I dance. On second thought, I'm leaving some of the nastier ones behind for Kyo-nii to find."
"...You're a sadist, Ri-chan."
"Well, I have to bond with my cousin, somehow."
"Why do I even bother."
"Because I'm your best friend, duh! Aren't you glad to have such a wonderful friend like me? Hahahahaha!"
Tsuna rolled his eyes as his best friend laughed at her own antics, but he very much agreed with her.
"Welcome to Takesushi!"
"Ah, Yamamoto-kun! Fancy seeing you here. Do you work here?"
"Ahahaha, it's my Pop's restaurant, so I help out sometimes."
" That's great! We're just gonna look through the menu, I'm treating Tsuna for sushi today!"
"B-but, Why're you- It's my turn today!"
"Ah, you adorable Tuna~ I made you suffer through patrol with Kyo-nii and me today! The least I could do is treat you, y'know? Come on, let me indulge you once in a while."
"Still! You know how I feel about that.."
"Stop trying to use your eyes against me, Tsuna. I taught you that, remember? It's not gonna work on me."
"Dang it!"
Yamamoto Takeshi stared at the two bantering friends with something akin to envy and longing. He wanted to know how it feels like to have someone you can lean on, someone you know you can be yourself no matter where you were because you know that person accepts you.
And it was something unbearably obvious to see between the two friends. Takeshi wasn't blind, he could see how his classmates and teammates flocked to him whenever there's a game and how quick they were to leave when it was all over. But he played the oblivious fool so they'd still be there and so he wouldn't be lonely [Mom, why'd you leave? You said you'd always be there for me, right? Yousaidyouwouldneverleaveyourealiar].
Takeshi could remember how a couple of years ago, Tsuna was a timid and bullied boy. Then a foreign redhead came in their school and faced their classroom, and Takeshi saw.
He saw how Tsuna straightened up and glowed. He saw how the new girl [-Hibari Reina, desu. I hope we'll spend interesting years together!] beamed at the normally skittish boy and sat beside him, smiling mischievously at the gaping boy beside her. He noticed that Rianee barely looked at the other kids and stuck with Tsuna.
They were everywhere together, practically attached at the hip! They played together, joined the same clubs, ate together at places. He saw them drag each other to places. They wouldn't care what people would think as long as they're together. Takeshi tried ignoring them, he really did. He wanted to hold on to the reality his mind fabricated to cope with his grief.
But it was hard to ignore the two when they attracted people's attention without trying, both looking freer than anything he'd ever seen. And what would that feel like? To be as free as the birds flying above?
As if answering his hidden and unspoken plea, a familiar shy voice spoke out.
"Yamamoto-san? Would you like to join us? I-I mean if you want to?"
"Yeah, come on! You can tell us which sushi is the best!"
"Ahahaha, just call me Takeshi!"
He smiled as he walked over to the two welcoming friends, talking and boasting about the best sushi they could offer, for once, acting freely with no self-imposed boundaries of what should and shouldn't be.
This feels nice. Yeah, he could get used to this.
Happy birthday, you precious Tuna-fish!
Yay, here it is, guys! My promised update! Ironically, it's also my Dad's birthday, what a coincidence! Anyway, I wanted to ask you guys if I should let Tsuna know about Flames or not and whether Reina does something about his seal or not. Also! Thank you so much MonochromeJoker29 for the ideas, they gave me soo many ideas and scenes bouncing on and off my mind. Thanks love~ And thank you all so much for the supporting me. Unfortunately, my phone still hasn't been found [I got my brother's Ipad tho, so that's a win.].
*Wind Flame users in my AU are like THE Matchmakers. They hook Elements up with their True Sky cause they can see the bonds between them. However, they don't make the Elements Harmonize [that's ridiculous, Harmonization is a special bond that is only done between Sky and Element., they just gently nudge them together.
*Daithi Schairbhin is, you guessed it, Reina's Dad. Daithi is pronounced DAH-hee, it means swift in Irish Gaelic.
*Sooo.. I editted the whole thing, I've a lot of time to think and plot it and I finally have a pretty solid outline. The name change is pretty intentional for reasons, for now, think of it as a Clan thing. If you hadn't noticed yet, Reina's a bit scatterbrained, so stuff get all over the place cause she also has ADHD.