"Where there is anger, there is always pain underneath." – Eckhart Tolle

Not even a minute passed before Tsuna turned around and headed for the bathroom. He winced when he heard the hinges squeak. Right, Fon had somehow pushed it open, even though it had been locked. Tsuna shook his head to get rid of the mental images from last night. Now there was another one in his kitchen who seemed even stranger, with his green hair and white coat. He vaguely wondered if he should be surprised by this anymore. Any normal person would have a heart attack when they see strangers popping out of nowhere in their homes, and Tsuna wanted to be normal.

"I'm hungry, Tsuna," Lal Mirch said. "Can you make something?"

Tsuna sighed. "Just wait."

He closed the bathroom door behind him, grimacing at the loose door knob, and splashed some cold water on his face before looking in the mirror. There were some dark circles forming underneath his eyes and his skin was a bit pale.

"Are you okay, Tsuna-nii?" a small voice said.

Tsuna tensed until he saw that it was just Lambo, who sat by the bathtub. He attempted to smile at the boy but it came out shaky. "I'm fine."

"They're scary," Lambo said, hugging his knees closer to his chest and sniffling. "The mean lady said that I couldn't see you or—or she'd send me away. I don't want to leave…"

Crouching, Tsuna hushed him gently. He patted Lambo's head and shivered from his cold form. "She's not going to send you away."

Lambo peered at him over his small knees. "She looked scared; she didn't leave you. I thought you were dead…"

"I'm not dead, see?" Tsuna placed a hand on Lambo's, warm against cold. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Lambo."

A knock came from the door, making them tense. "Hey." It was Lal Mirch. "You're taking a while. You okay? If you don't answer, I'm kicking down the door."

Tsuna sighed irritably. "Stop kicking the doors! Do you know how much repairs cost?" He looked back to see Lambo had vanished, probably terrified of meeting Lal Mirch again. Tsuna ran a hand through his hair. He preferably wanted to sleep again and never wake up. He yelped when the door slammed open, almost flinging off the hinges. "I answered!"

"What are you doing down there?" Lal Mirch said, quirking a brow.

Tsuna let out an aggravated groan before standing up. "Nothing! Why did you kick the door?"

"You didn't answer fast enough."

Tsuna deadpanned. "That's a terrible excuse and you know it."

Lal Mirch shrugged. "I'm hungry, too."

Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose. They were more like children than gods. Sighing, he pointed at the door. "If you fix it, I'll feed you."

Lal Mirch blinked. "Hah? Since when did you start pulling punches?"

Tsuna brushed past her, a bold move considering that she could probably kill him anytime. "No fixed door, no food." He glanced at Verde who was scribbling down notes in a thick, pocket-sized notebook. Fon gave Tsuna a smile that he didn't return. "Are you…a doctor, Verde-san?"

Verde didn't look up. "No."

"Oh…"

Scratching his head, Tsuna opened the fridge. He winced when he saw that he only had one egg carton left; and since there were more people he'd have to feed—oh God, the amount of groceries he had to buy in the future was already making his headache worse; wait, was he actually accepting this?—he had to make more servings. Silently thanking his mother's culinary skills, Tsuna decided to just make egg rice. There was some rice left to last another week or so…but that was when Tsuna lived alone.

"Don't you have your own place?" he said, washing the rice in the sink. "Like a house? You said that you're gods, right? You also mentioned something about different planes, too."

"We do," Fon said, "but it is impossible to return to."

Tsuna frowned. Impossible? Did that have to do with how they were now? They did mention that their current state was like a human's. Fon even said that he could only draw something about core essence through physical contact.

"What are you thinking of?" Verde suddenly said, snapping Tsuna out of his thoughts.

Blinking, Tsuna placed the rice bowl inside the cooker and pressed the heat button, setting off the timer. "I'm just trying to make sense of what you…are." He turned to face Verde, who had paused his writing. "I never got the chance to think about everything that's been happening. It's…a lot to take in, but I have the feeling I don't have a choice."

Fon smiled slightly. "There have been no choices for any of us. We did not choose to have our Sky leave nor did you choose to be a Sky. It is simply as it is."

Tsuna furrowed his brows. "That doesn't mean that we just sit there and let it all happen. You didn't choose to have your Sky leave, but all of you still chose to search for her anyways, right? I don't even know what a Sky is or how I am one, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to let you people barge into my life and expect me to go with the flow just like that." He crossed his arms over his chest. "So help me understand."

Fon blinked before his eyes twinkled in amusement. "You are an interesting young man, Tsunayoshi. I had first assumed that you were just, ah, what was the saying? All bat but no balls?"

Lal Mirch burst out laughing in the background. On the floor, she had a screwdriver from God knows where and was almost done fixing the door, surprisingly. "I think you mean all bark but no bite."

She doubled over again in laughter while Tsuna just stared at Fon who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed. The man rubbed his chin in thought. "Oh, I see." He smiled. "Let me correct myself. I—"

Tsuna waved him off while massaging his nose. "No. All bark, no bite. Yeah. Got it." He pursed his lips. "I honestly don't care what you think of me. I just need to know why you're here and any information you left out."

Verde clicked his pen. "What do you know?"

Tsuna deadpanned. "All I got is that you're like gods, balance of the planes, angry spirits, and something about the weather. So if you can, please fill in the gaps so I can get a better picture."

Verde crossed his legs as Lal Mirch arrived at the table and plopped down next to Fon. "I don't understand why you didn't inform him of the more critical details. How did you expect to Harmonize? From what I gather, none of you even are Harmonized. You're aware of the consequences and yet you're just wasting more time."

Lal Mirch draped an arm over her chair. "We're getting there. Besides, I told you. We've been busy."

"That isn't a viable excuse."

Lal Mirch rolled her eyes. "If you saw the trouble Tsuna gets himself into, you wouldn't be complaining."

Shifting, Tsuna looked between them, absolutely lost. His hands tightened around his arms. Any moment now and a fight would probably break out. "I don't get myself into trouble," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "It's…always been like this."

Lal Mirch raised a brow. "So you had demons chase you your whole life?" She scoffed. "Stop lying. You didn't know anything about the remnants or how to access your true abilities, so you have no right to talk crap like that."

Tsuna's jaw momentarily clenched. "And you have no right to talk like you know anything about my life." Lal Mirch blinked. "I get that you're gods. I get that you might not know how humans work, but my life wasn't any easier before all of this happened. So don't even try to think that you know me, because you don't. I don't know anything about you but I'm not trying to pretend like I do. From what I gathered, you're just leeches. If you want to change that, go ahead; but that doesn't mean I'll accept anything you give me. I'm not an idiot so don't try to push me."

A moment of silence fell in the kitchen. Tsuna was briefly reminded of his school days, his bullies' jeers and laughter ringing in his ears. They had stuck with him for so long that they didn't move him anymore; they were just annoying echoes of the past. Tsuna had learned the hard way that no one was always there or willing to help; usually, it came with baggage he wasn't willing to carry. He admitted that he wasn't the toughest person out there but he refused to just take the punches. That was an idiot's way to live.

Clicking his pen, Verde scribbled something in his notes. "I see potential in this."

Tsuna blinked in confusion. Lal Mirch smirked at him, and her eyes gleamed with an unsavory look. "See? I told you."

Fon smiled. "It appears that you can bite, Tsunayoshi."

The rice cooker let out a cheerful trill before steam hissed into the air. For a moment, Tsuna stared at the three gods in disbelief before slowly rubbing his face with his hand. Why did he even expect them to listen? Still, he couldn't believe it. They were either ignorant or stupid. Probably both.

He brought out four bowls and just filled them up with rice. After seasoning them with soy sauce, Aji-no-moto, mirin, and Hondashi, he cracked an egg over each bowl, imagining them to be their heads. The thought didn't soothe his nerves. Grabbing some spoons, he balanced the bowls on his arms and distributed them to each Arcobaleno. "Eat," he said blandly, sitting next to Verde.

Lal Mirch grinned. "Thanks!"

"Thank you," Fon said, nodding.

Verde just stared at his food like it was a foreign substance. Tsuna forcefully mixed the egg with his rice, his spoon clinking against his bowl. "It's not poisoned," he said. "And it's edible."

Lal Mirch nodded. "Tsuna can cook."

Tsuna scowled at her, which went unnoticed as she happily munched on her food. Fon ate his quietly, not sparing anyone a glance. He looked pretty content, the bastard. Verde still didn't pick up his spoon. "I'm not hungry," he said, resuming to write in his notebook. The language was unlike anything Tsuna had ever seen. It looked like swirls and odd shapes.

Tsuna's brow twitched. "I don't care. Eat."

Verde didn't even look at him. "I'm not hungry."

Tsuna glared at him while Lal Mirch just looked on in interest, not helping at all. He reached over to snatch Verde's pen away but gasped when a green spark ignited from where his fingers brushed against his hand. He dropped the pen more out of surprise than pain; it clattered on the table. That strange feeling rose in his chest again, his heartbeat quickening its pace. Verde stared down at his hand for a moment before looking up at Tsuna with unreadable eyes. "I look forward to our future endeavors, Tsunayoshi," he said, picking up his pen and slipping it in his coat's breast pocket.

Tsuna stared at him, wide-eyed. What just happened? He slowly sat back in his seat while Verde closed his notebook and calmly stirred his rice and egg like Tsuna had done. Lal Mirch licked some rice off her spoon. "I still call first dibs," she said.

"It should happen sooner or later," Fon said. "However, I doubt that it will be you. You already missed your chance."

Lal Mirch scowled at him. "Hey, I'm going to be the first because I found him first. Finders keepers."

Tsuna just focused on eating as the two bickered in the background. Harmonizing—they kept mentioning that, but what did it actually mean? He glanced at Verde who didn't bother himself to join the others' squabble. Finally, Tsuna leaned a little closer to the man so he could whisper, "Um, Verde-san, can I ask you a question?"

Verde didn't look at him. "You already have."

Tsuna blinked. Was that supposed to be funny or…? He shook his head. Never mind that. "What's Harmonizing?"

Silence fell on the table; aside from Verde chewing on his food, no one spoke. Tsuna glanced at the others who just stared at him oddly. Even Fon didn't look composed like he usually was.

"Harmonizing is when our Flames integrate successfully with Sky Flames," Verde said. "It's the perfect, coexisting bond between us and our Sky. Essentially it creates a whole unity in each and every individual that is participating in the amalgamation."

Tsuna made a small face. Amalgamation? Coexisting bond? "Oh…"

Drawing his pen from his pocket, Verde opened his notebook to a fresh page. Tsuna widened his eyes when he caught a glimpse of all the notes and strange drawings that flipped by. Verde drew a perfect circle in the center before drawing eight more circles around it, connecting them back to the middle with straight lines. "The Sky is the heart of our bond," he said, writing down "Sky" in kanji in the central circle. His handwriting was inexplicably worse than Tsuna's. "Without it, each element is unable to sustain itself for long. That's why we're not at full capacity at the moment. Our powers and lifeforce deteriorated each year after our Sky disappeared. The bond disappears over time if our Sky is gone or cut from the union. We'll all cease to exist unless we find another Sky in time."

Tsuna watched quietly as Verde filled in the other circles with their respective elements that Fon had told him yesterday, except, there was one element he didn't recognize on the circle above "Sky": Cloudy Rain. He tilted his head. "What does that mean?"

"That's me," Lal Mirch said. "I have three elements because of my domain."

Verde nodded. "Because Lal Mirch handles the gateway between what you call Earth and Heaven, her Flames aren't as pure like ours. However, that doesn't mean that she's imbalanced. She's no different from the rest of us in terms of power." He glanced at Tsuna. "She's lucky to find you at all. We'd all be dead within a few weeks' time from my last estimate."

Tsuna paled. Lal Mirch didn't meet his eyes, lost in her own thoughts. So it was true. She was dying when they first met. They all were. He chewed on his lip. That…changed things. However, that didn't automatically mean that he would help them. Even if he considered himself a nice guy, there was an order to things and he didn't want to be forced to make decisions that considered his well-being. Call him selfish but he called it trying to survive. Or rather, he wanted to know more about what he was getting himself into.

Verde wrote Lal Mirch's name above "Cloudy Rain" before moving on to the next circle to the right: Rain. "Since we're distinguished by our element classification, we also each have specific abilities. Rain's particular aptitude is Tranquility, which can weaken anything. For example, robbing your body of strength or impairing movements. It's also useful in appeasing emotions when needed. Colonnello is our Rain who you haven't met yet. He's currently in Rome."

Tsuna tensed when he remembered Lal Mirch making him go limp before, and the cool sensation that caused it. When their eyes met, she gave him a lazy V-sign, making him look away. That was just…terrible. Not even rude, just terrible.

Verde scribbled down Colonnello's name next to "Rain" and moved on to the next circle: Storm. "You've been acquainted with this one already. Fon is our Storm, which has the special ability Disintegration. As the name suggests, it can inflict great destruction, break through strong barriers, and minimize damages when needed."

Tsuna didn't like hearing any of this. Seeing the dead was something he could handle to an extent, but this level of the supernatural was just…unreal. Gods, monsters, different realms. He wasn't a religious person but it would be a little easier if things were just simple. Then again, when had his life ever been simple?

"I would have instantly destroyed the demon yesterday if I was at full power," Fon said unhelpfully.

Verde twirled his pen in his hand. "Demon is too broad of a term. It's more direct to just call them Remnant."

"No one asked," Lal Mirch muttered under her breath.

Verde ignored her and simply moved on to the next circle after writing down Fon's name beside "Storm": Sun. "Sun's ability is Activation. It improves the efficiency of any type of activity, enhancing the person's speed, strength, and healing that can also extend to others. Reborn is our Sun and was last reported to be in Palermo."

Reborn? What a strange name. Verde put down Reborn's name and moved on to the next circle: Night. "Bermuda is the holder of the Night Flame, which special ability is Teleportation. It's the most overpowering Flame amongst us; he can decimate entire areas with high bursts of energy and increase his own base power level. His most potent skill is creating portals that can connect different areas. He is currently in Austria."

Writing down Bermuda's name, Verde lightly dragged his pen to the next element: Cloud. "Skull is our Cloud, which has the ability of Propagation. It's capable of absorbing other Flames and multiplying. It can also make his body extremely durable and exponentially grow in size. He is currently in Los Angeles."

Verde scribbled down Skull's name and moved on: Lightning. "As I've said before, I'm the Lightning Arcobaleno. My Flames have the special ability, Hardening. It's simply an enhancer for my shields and offensive attacks. I just came from Italy."

Tsuna tilted his head. "How?"

"I had built my own plane some time ago and flew here." Verde wrote down his name next to his element. "Finding you was simple because your trail is distinct. I didn't need your address. Each of us has a distinct trail according to the color of our Flames. It can't be seen by those without Flames and can't be hidden from Flame-wielders as well. Your trail is orange. Lal Mirch is dark blue, Colonello is light blue, Fon is red, Reborn is yellow, Bermuda is black, Skull is purple, mine is green, and Viper is indigo."

Tsuna widened his eyes. "Wait, you built your own plane?"

Verde glanced at him. "Yes. I find human science and technology primitive but impressive considering your inferior states. It's something to just pass the time."

Tsuna just blinked. Was that a compliment and an insult wrapped up in one sentence? Verde finally arrived at the last element: Mist. "Viper is our Mist, which has the ability of Construction. They can create illusions that can become real; the imaginative, the better. They're not anything like human so-called magic tricks."

Tsuna tilted his head. "They?"

"Viper does not identify as male or female. They're non-binary in human terms." Verde drew his pen back to the center on Sky. "As I've said before, Sky is the heart of our bond. Its special ability is Harmony, which allows it to synchronize with its surroundings and other Flames, hence Harmonizing. I have a theory that it can Harmonize with other Flames outside of their bond but haven't been able to test it yet. It's basic for all of us to see the essence of both the dead and living since we're the bridge from your reality to others, but there are some things that we can't do that only Skies can. Luce can see visions of the future and view the memories of the dead like you from what Lal Mirch had told me."

Tsuna furrowed his brows. "I can see the dead and their memories briefly but I can't see the future."

"That's to be expected. The only known Sky-Flame users have different abilities. Luce can see the future, Giotto can sense danger at an acute level, and Byakuran can travel to parallel universes." Verde tore out the page he had written on and handed it to Tsuna. "You can keep it for reference. I'm not keen on repeating what I just told you."

Tsuna accepted the piece of paper with both hands. "Who are the others?"

Lal Mirch let out a frustrated noise. "That's for another time. We're the ones dying."

Frowning, Tsuna read over the names written in Verde's messy handwriting. He guessed that the information he got was doable enough for now. He tried to commit the names to memory but knew it'd take some time. Then again, their names were all strange and sounded foreign. "How can you speak Japanese, Verde-san?" Tsuna said. "You mentioned that most people are coming from the west, and Fon came all the way from China…"

"We're older than the Earth itself," Verde said. "It'd be useless for us not knowing how to speak the human languages. Is there a reason why you refer to them by their names and attach '-san' to mine? Calling them by their names would indicate an intimate bond, but from what I've seen, you don't seem to like them."

"That's too stuffy," Lal Mirch said, waving her hand. "I don't really care."

Fon tapped his chin in thought. "While it is more respectful, I do not mind either." He smiled. "I can make an exception for Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna deadpanned. "It's because I only have respect for Verde-san out of the three of you. At least he seems to have everything together."

Silence reigned above the table. Tsuna didn't even twitch. He just stared at Verde's notebook and waited for the bomb to explode. On cue, Lal Mirch slammed her hand on the table. "What? Verde having everything together?" She scoffed. "He's the worst out of all of us. Nothing matters to him but his creepy experiments. I bet that's why Luce left, because she just couldn't stand him."

"I would not go that far," Fon said, "but Verde has never got along with any of us, not even Luce. We can only guess what he's thinking and still wouldn't understand."

Tsuna made a face. "You're both horrible." The two blinked. "This isn't making you look any better. I don't know what your issues are, but just because you're talking bad about Verde-san doesn't mean I'm going to hate him. You're supposed to be gods, except you have no respect for anything or anyone. I don't know any of you like you know each other but I think you're both sexually-harassing psychos. Verde-san is the only one who's normal so far. You know what? Maybe I'll just Harmonize with him first."

It was meant to be a joke, a bad one but still a joke, when a sudden chill coursed through the air. Tsuna tensed when Lal Mirch's cup cracked in her hand, the quiet fracture sounding loud in the silence. Fon's smile disappeared instantly.

"Hey," Lal Mirch said, her voice low, "watch what you say."

"It is not wise to speak about Harmonizing so carelessly," Fon said. "You are unaware of the implications but that is not something I—we will let go easily."

Verde smirked, his lips twitching just ever so slightly. "They're correct," he said, making Tsuna's breath hitch. "While I'm flattered, it's best to keep that to yourself, Tsunayoshi. Since we've been without a Sky for 10 years, we're not exactly in a sound state." Verde's glasses glinted under the light. "I advise caution, especially when the others arrive. It'll become like a powder keg when everyone's in the same room as you. A Sky is extremely rare, and it's only with luck that we found you, especially one that's most likely compatible with us."

Tsuna nearly dropped his spoon. He wasn't prepared for this, any of this. His heart thumped against his chest, almost painful, at the thought of more gods, and the strange feeling had surged again, warm and longing. It terrified him.

"You've been inactive until now," Verde said. "Your Flames must've awakened when you first met Lal Mirch, and now that more of us will arrive soon, they'll only grow more potent in response. It's inevitable to Harmonize, Tsunayoshi. It's our most basic instinct, similar to when animals have to mate." He closed his notebook. "For now, you still have a say on this. However, I doubt any of us will let you go that easily. The realms' balance rests on your decision. Since our bond isn't complete, the other planes are not in the greatest state either, which is why there's been an influx of Remnants lately. I advise that you make your decision soon or risk your world being destroyed in the near future."

Tsuna swallowed his rice thickly. That was overwhelming, too much. His mind just blanked out. But there was something that just didn't sit right with him, no matter how silly it seemed on the priorities' list. "Wait," he said, "how do you Harmonize? You said…animals and…"

"Harmonization can only be completed by the most intimate act," Verde said, not batting an eye. "Do you need a—"

"I know what you mean!" Tsuna said, waving his hands. "Just—Why that? I can't—"

"Do not worry, Tsunayoshi," Fon said. "It's quite pleasurable, really."

Lal Mirch smiled at him coyly. "It'll hurt just a little bit, but it'll be worth it, I promise."

Tsuna gaped. "Are you crazy? Why would I do that with any of you?"

"Because we're hot," Lal Mirch said. "That's one. Don't deny it."

Fon nodded. "I have been told countless times that I am very handsome."

Tsuna flushed. "That's not the point! I wouldn't do that with you just because!"

Verde looked at him blankly. "You're not concerned about your world being destroyed?"

Tsuna made a face. "You're supposed to be the smart one! Do you really think I'll just agree to go with all of this?" Sighing, he massaged his temples to assuage his headache. "Look, give me a little more time to think about it. I'm just—You caught me at a bad time. I need to get this case done before I can do anything. Then we can talk about it."

His phone then buzzed in his pocket with a text message from Kusakabe: Good morning, Sawada-san. Due to the urgency of the cases, we'll be picking you up in about an hour. Is that alright with you?

"Who is that?" Fon said.

"Kusakabe-san," Tsuna said, typing a response. "I need to go out."

Verde raised a brow. "You're in a relationship wi—"

"He's just my boss!" Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, let's get this straight first. Kusakabe-san is my boss, more like the messenger, and Hibari-san is his boss. He's in charge of the homicide unit. I've never been on a date in my life, still a virgin, no prior relationships, nothing! Got it? We all ask first before making assumptions."

Lal Mirch fanned her face. "Might as well air the rest of your dirty laundry while you're at it. Not even a kiss?"

Tsuna flushed. He looked down at his hands. "You…were my first kiss."

"Ha!" Lal Mirch grinned at the other men. "First kiss, first dibs!" She crossed her arms over her chest. "See? I told you our Sky would be in Japan and what did you idiots say? Europe? Please."

Tsuna furrowed his brows. "I thought you were looking for Lu—your Sky."

Verde fixed his glasses. "Yes, but there's no point in trying to find someone who doesn't want to be found."

Lal Mirch narrowed her eyes. "Like you ever cared about her."

Tsuna gave her a warning look before standing up and taking everyone's empty bowls. He placed them in the sink. Best not to linger on touchy topics. "Moving on," he said. "You said there were five more." He turned around and leaned against the counter, picking up the name chart Verde had given him. "I don't want to be caught off guard again so tell me what they're like. Let's just…make this as normal as possible, please."

Fon smiled. "We can do that."

"So"—Tsuna looked down at the page—"Reborn. Sun. What's he like?"

Lal Mirch huffed. "A know-it-all asshole with an ego." She inclined on her chair. "But it's justified."

"He is not that terrible," Fon said. "He is a good sparring partner and a very powerful fighter in his own right."

"Arrogant fool," was Verde's lackluster response.

Tsuna winced. Why did he think that he'd get anything useful out of them?

"Oh," Lal Mirch said, "you should get a coffee machine. He's obsessed with espresso for some reason. Just a heads up in case you don't want to get shot."

Tsuna paled. "S—Shot?" Did these people know how much a coffee machine even cost? Anything above 500 yen was too much for his meager salary. Plus, he had his rent and bills to pay. "I'll…try. Um, what about Colonnello?"

Lal Mirch scoffed. "Idiot with an even worse ego."

"He can be quite loud but is a capable fighter," Fon said. "It's best not to get between him and Reborn for your own safety, Tsunayoshi. They can get quite intense."

"An unfortunate accident," Verde said blandly.

Lal Mirch snorted. "You're not wrong there."

Tsuna wasn't sure if that was a joke or not. He had a feeling that Verde was just that kind of person. Still, it was a little mean…

"Okay," he said in hopes of steering away from dark territory. "Bermuda?"

Lal Mirch scrunched her nose. "Think Reborn but more…gloomy."

"It is not wise to incur his wrath," Fon said. "He cannot be tamed easily once he does."

"Volatile and insatiable," Verde said.

How could they just get worse?

"Oh, okay," Tsuna said. "How about…Skull?"

"Huge pushover," Lal Mirch said. "And spineless."

Fon sipped his cup of tea. "He is mostly used as target practice for Reborn and Colonnello. He is weak in both mind and heart."

Verde flipped his notebook to a page, already bored with the conversation. "Bottom of the food chain."

Tsuna couldn't help but feel bad for this Skull person. He kind of reminded him of, well, himself. "I see. Well, what about Viper?"

Lal Mirch clicked her tongue. "Greedy bastard."

Fon slightly pursed his lips. "They value money above anything else. It is quite sad."

Verde started writing things down in his notebook. "Avaricious but cunning."

"Ah..." Tsuna checked the time before gasping. "I have 15 minutes!"

He dashed inside his bedroom to throw on some random jeans and a white hoodie. Slipping on some socks, he ran to the bathroom, slipping a couple of times, to brush his teeth. The door was fine (hopefully it stayed that way). Before he could grab his jacket, Lal Mirch blocked his path. "Where are you going?" she said.

Tsuna frowned. "I told you. I have my priorities and you have yours. I need to solve the case."

"We're coming with you."

Tsuna widened his eyes. "You can't come with me!"

Lal Mirch raised a brow. "Why not?"

"Because—Because you're not—"

"Are you doubting our skills?" Fon said. "We are more than capable of protecting you and keeping you safe."

"That's not the problem," Tsuna said, trying to walk past Lal Mirch. "If I bring all three of you, people will talk. You're all very…different. People will notice."

Lal Mirch smirked. "There's nothing to worry about. We went over some things while you were asleep."

Verde pulled out a small, metallic-looking cube from his coat pocket. Now that he was standing, Tsuna couldn't believe his how tall he was. He seemed taller than Fon. Placing the cube on the table, Verde pressed his thumb on a small indentation on the top. It glowed green, revealing several jagged lines, and immediately started unfolding itself with several small clinks. Tsuna gawked as the small cube morphed into a bulky, silver suitcase with two compartments. "How did you…"

Verde unlocked the clasps on top, revealing piles of immaculate black suits inside. "I stopped looking for Luce after the second year," he said, placing three neatly-folded suits on the table. "Instead of wasting my time for a trivial pursuit, I placed my efforts in something more useful before I lost my abilities. These clothes are laced with my Flames so they're impenetrable by normal human means. The inside is coated with Rain Flames that I had taken from Colonnello to keep your emotions at bay since humans can be quite sensitive with emotional ticks."

Tsuna could barely believe what he was hearing. "That's…amazing, Verde-san."

"This is nothing," Verde said, meeting his gaze. "They're just serving their purpose."

Tsuna tensed when Lal Mirch slung an arm over his shoulder. She grinned. "Don't worry, Tsuna. We have it all covered. Just sit back and relax."

He wasn't sure if he would.

Thankfully, Hibari wasn't with Kusakabe when the man came to pick them up; though Kusakabe stared at Verde for a while. Tsuna quickly took the shotgun seat before anyone could say a word. Although, he did have to admit that the three Arcobaleno looked really nice in their suits. He mentally thumped his head against the ground. Did he just seriously think that?

He didn't know what they were planning. Gods or not, they should be kept on a leash, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to be the one holding it. No one spoke in the car, not even when they arrived at the police station. There were some reporters lingering outside the gates, but they were blocked by some patrol officers from entering. After Kusakabe parked the car, he didn't hesitate on exiting. Tsuna followed suit, feeling out of place and a little terrified of his casual clothes. He really needed to do the laundry but didn't get the time. Hibari was going to kill him.

I'm not even getting paid for this, Tsuna thought bitterly, following Kusakabe inside. So why bother with a dress code? People will know that I'm not a detective anyways.

He did ask Hibari about money but was quickly "bitten to death" and lectured to about community service, which was just bullshit. Community service wasn't going to bring food to the table or pay his rent. It sure as hell wasn't going to give him, what was it, "satisfaction of the city's protection". He wasn't a Namimori fanatic like Hibari was. The police couldn't even solve some of their cases without him playing messenger. Still, Tsuna didn't ask again because he liked living, even if it sucked most of the time. And Hibari was ruthless. Tsuna had to stay in the hospital for a week.

"Come this way," Kusakabe said, leading them to the elevator. "Kyo-san is waiting for you."

Heads turned when they walked past desks and offices. Cops and detectives stared wide-eyed at the three Arcobaleno. Tsuna couldn't help but sneak a peek at them. Neither of them spared anyone a glance, just taking in their surroundings with calm and calculating eyes. Verde seemed to be writing things down in his small notebook, mumbling a foreign language under his breath. Oddly, they seemed more like the gods they called themselves in their pristine black suits. Looking away, Tsuna followed Kusakabe inside the elevator. The man pressed the button for the fifth floor.

Finally, Tsuna said, "How is Umeki-san?"

"She's fine," Kusakabe said. "We had her stay overnight and nothing unusual happened. She's still here in case you needed to speak with her. She was agreeable with the arrangements."

Tsuna nodded. "Okay, thank you, Kusakabe-san."

Lal Mirch crossed her arms over her chest. "Your base isn't bad."

Kusakabe blinked before quickly composing himself. "Ah, thank you…"

"You have a few blind spots with your security cameras," Verde said, scribbling things down in his notebook. "I'd like to see the building's blueprint to check for adding extra security measures."

Kusakabe glanced at Tsuna who just hopelessly shrugged. "I see… Well, first we should discuss your business here before going any further."

The elevator doors dinged open. Verde pushed his glasses up slightly as he stepped out first, scanning the area. "Reasonable."

They followed Kusakabe down the long, empty hallways that were decked with scroll paintings and quaint calligraphy. Potted bamboo plants adorned the offices with sturdy tables and standard business chairs. Finally, they arrived at the office, which was at the end of the hall. Kusakabe knocked on the mahogany doors twice before turning the handle. The fragrance of green tea permeated in the air along with some incense. Hibari sat at one of his black couches, sipping his tea, looking without a care in the world.

Tsuna glanced at Fon who didn't seem to react to his strange look-alike. Verde's suits were really amazing.

"Kyo-san," Kuskabe said, "Sawada-san and…the others are here."

Hibari looked up then, but his gaze instantly focused on Tsuna's attire just like expected. Unconsciously, Tsuna stepped back, gritting his teeth.

"Herbivore," Hibari said, placing his tea on the table in front of him, "what are you wearing?"

Tsuna tensed. "I—I couldn't—"

His breath hitched when Hibari brandished his tonfas from his sleeves. It happened all too fast. Tsuna covered his face with his arms out of instinct, his heart hammering against his chest. A small whoosh of air brushed against him and the sound of impact made him look up. His eyes widened. Fon had stepped in front of him in an instant and easily blocked Hibari's attack, pushing the other's right arm up and winding it behind his back. Hibari tried to strike Fon with his other tonfa but Fon was faster, sweeping his legs and pinning him to the ground.

Kusakabe widened his eyes. "Kyo-san!"

Tsuna could barely breathe. Fon smiled slightly. "I am not someone you should challenge, child." Hibari grunted when Fon pressed his knee against his spine. "The human body is more fragile than you think. You are a second away from losing your legs." He smiled with a slight edge. "You can live without them, yes? Humans are fairly impressive creatures."

When Kusakabe's hand went to his gun, Tsuna gasped. "Fon, let him go!"

Fon looked up at him, his face eerily calm. "Why? He tried to hurt you."

Tsuna clenched his hands into fists by his side. His body shook from the suffocating tension in the room. "If you hurt him, you'll only get in more trouble." He stared straight into Fon's eyes, not backing down. "Let him go."

A few minutes passed before Fon finally let Hibari go. However, he disarmed the tonfa from Hibari's hand with his foot and balanced it on the tip of his dress shoe. Fon smiled down at Hibari. "Do refrain from harming Tsunayoshi in the near future," he said. "I will not hold back the next time."

Hibari glared at him. Tsuna had never seen him so worked up before. The other man swung his other tonfa towards Fon's ribs but Fon blocked it with his forearm and disarmed it by twisting Hibari's arm upward in an almost painful angle, forcing him to drop the weapon. Tsuna opened his mouth to tell them to stop when Lal Mirch placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him in place.

Fon's smile didn't disappear. "Again, it is not wise challenging me, child. You have a long way before you can fight me."

"Kyo-san," Kusakabe said, his hand on his gun.

Hibari and Fon stared at each other, one angry the other calm, before Hibari clicked his tongue. "Unhand me, carnivore."

Fon let him go, tossing the balancing tonfa lightly in the air and kicking it towards the wall. A deafening thud sounded through the air. Tsuna and Kusakabe gaped. The tonfa was embedded deeply in the wall with cracks all around it. Some debris trickled onto the floor. Fon smiled at Hibari. "A very long way," he said.

Hibari glowered at him, and if looks could kill, Fon would be dead. Tsuna released a small breath he didn't know he was holding. Lal Mirch led him to the couch and sat him down next to her before Verde took his other side, scribbling something in his notebook like usual. When Fon passed by, Tsuna thoughtlessly grabbed his hand. "Are you okay?" he said quietly.

Fon smiled gently at him. "I am. Thank you."

He caressed Tsuna's cheek so tenderly that it made him blush. A scorching heat surged in his body, but it disappeared so quickly he thought he had imagined it. After Fon sat down beside Verde, Hibari picked up his tonfa and managed to impressively wrench the other one from the wall. He ignored Kusakabe and sat down across from the rest of them, his sharp eyes on only Fon.

Kusakabe awkwardly cleared his throat, standing behind Hibari. "May we…commence?"

Tsuna glanced at Verde who finally looked up from his notebook. "I'm Verde. This is Fon and Lal Mirch. We're part of an exorcist community from Italy called the Arcobaleno and came here upon Tsunayoshi's request to assist in your recent cases."

What? Lal Mirch's hand quickly rested on Tsuna's lower back, releasing a bit of Rain Flames to keep him calm. He didn't—couldn't flinch when Hibari looked at him.

"Explain, herbivore," he said.

"We don't have time for the pleasantries," Verde said. "Regarding the Butcher case, it isn't a human being like you think. Rather, it's a Remnant."

Kusakabe blinked. "I—I'm sorry?"

"Your world's in danger," Lal Mirch said, grabbing his attention. "And we're here to clean up the mess."

A/N More of the Arcobaleno lore, some things are cleared up, and the case still moves forward. :^D

Thank you for reading! I hope to see you again in the next chapter.

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny