Reborn couldn't do much besides staring after the sky and her element as they climbed the stairs back up to start a gaming marathon that was supposed to last the whole night.

"They have no clue, do they?"

Lal sighed "Not at all."

"They are practically dating at this point."

"They are."

"How do they not realize? This must have gone on for ages. You know when I called Colonnello for tutoring Yamamoto he reprimanded me over the time as Skull was still sleeping."

Lal just nodded "They're dense like that."

Fon chuckeld "I'm sure they won't take long anymore."

Verde shook his head "Statistically speaking and from what I have gathered about those two? We are talking years if even. They probably could sleep with each other and still think they aren't in love."

Viper shrugged their shoulders "The betting pool is still open. If you want to make a second bet I won't stop you."

Reborn groaned "You know I'm not even sure if it gets better if they're actually dating."

Fon laughed, "Only one way to find out."

"And that would be?"

"We need to get them together."

"You want to help them?"

"Naturally or do you think there is anyone else that we would allow to take Skull?"

Lal knocked on the table to interrupt them "Skull's not an object. You can't allow her to date anyone as you have no power over her."

Fon shrugged "Still. Colonnello is the one I would accept for her."

Lal groaned out "Do you hear yourself speak?"

"Loud and clearly."

"Then tell me in which century you are stuck in. Skull is no object, you can't hand her over or allow her to date. She's a grown… well an of age woman that can decide for herself."

"I'm just saying."

Reborn interrupted their quarreling "Doesn't matter as it's still a fact that they need a push to ever get anywhere."

Verde corrected his glasses, "I doubt the locking them in a room ruse would work with them."

"Do you have no sense of romance? Who would ever consider something like that besides an uncreative writer?"

Fon nodded "And I assume they would just spend the time cuddling and wouldn't even notice."

"Probably" Viper nodded.

Verde looked slightly disgruntled at the hitman "And you with your casanova ways have better ideas?"

"Naturally." The hitman smirked "Love and passion always has something accompanying it."

"And that would be?"

Reborn leaned back in his chair, his mug that still hadn't changed the lettering lifted to his lips "Jealousy, obviously."

Lal shook her head "I doubt that Skull would get jealous. She trusts Colonnello too much. Honestly she doesn't even see an issue with me. Never has and Nello still tried to win me back for years after they had already started their thing."

"I'm not talking about Skull. She's too naive in that way and too oblivious."

"You want to make Nello jealous?

"Yes."

"That is your master plan?"

"Yes."

"And where would you find someone stupid enough to try to flirt with Skull and actually achieve anything with it?"

"Not stupid, just unbelievingly charming."

Lal started to laugh "You want to try seducing Skull?"

"Indeed."

Fon shook his head "My friend I have to disagree with that. You would have no chance."

"I have always gotten anyone I want."

"Skull wouldn't ever consider you."

"She will. I'm more than just persuasive."

"But it's Skull. May I remind you of the mug you're holding? Skull lives for teasing you."

"That's a good basis. I can work with that."

"She called you ugly a few days ago."

The hitman shrugged his shoulders "She didn't mean that."

"She's into Americans, not italians. Puppy love not I get you into my bedroom after five minutes and never call again."

"I'm not planning to seduce her. Just make Colonnello jealous. He can do the rest work himself."

Fon shook his head "You're the worst candidate for this."

"And you're better?"

"Better than you? Definitely."

Lal groaned out "Boys, As you are definitely no men. How about you stop your pissing contest? You will both fail."

Vipers mouthcorners sneaked up "Want to bet on that?"

"You know what? Sure. I at least will have something to laugh about. 200.000 on both failing."

Verde nodded "300.000 on Reborn."

Fon smield dangerously "500.000 on me."

Reborn grinned "Only that little? 2 million on me."

Viper grinned, already writing it down and noting their own bet; 100.000 on Fon down as well.

Reborn had won the coin toss and he tickled his task at forenoon. The rest of the arcobalenos were lingering in the room as well.

Colonnello had just handed Skull a cup of tea before he went back to make himself a sandwich.

The tiny sky was sitting on the counter, her feet wiggling as she whistled a tune.

The hitman pulled the single rose out he had cut from the flowerbets outside, naturally having cut off the thorns as well and leaning casually on the counter next to Skull. "Skull?"

"Yeah?" she looked up, her big eyes sparking up in curiosity.

"You're missing something."

"Nellos over there."

"Something else."

"But I don't need something else."

He didn't let it stop him, just leaning over and gently placing the flower behind her ear. "Better."

She paused, mustering him for a few seconds "What did you do with it?"

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"I just wanted to make you smile."

"That would have been easier if you did a slapstick routine. I can help you with that. I always have glitter ready."

He still didn't falter "Skull. Aren't you bored?"

"Of life?" she perked up "are we doing something exciting? I always wanted to do bungee jumping."

"I'm not even going to comment on the fact that this was your first reaction but no. I was thinking we could have dinner later. Alone."

"Why would we do that?"

"You often spend time alone with Colonnello. I could make your time worthwhile."

"Are you planning to put anything in the food?"

"No."

She raised an eyebrow "No, can do though. Nello and I were planning to collect leaves and have a picnic."

He blinked "Leaves?"

"Yeah, the biggest one wins and I wanted to see if I could feed some squirrels."

"I could accompany you instead."

She paused, "Reborn?"

"Yes?"

"Are you lonely?"

"...what?"

"Why else would you try this… oh is this because you still haven't given up on the sky business?"

"No, no I just wanted to spend some quality time with you."

"...are you sick?"

"What? No."

She leaned forwards, her hand already finding his forehead "No higher temperature… wait… did you eat any of the snacks I hid in my bag?"

"No? But what is in those snacks?"

She shook her head "Nothing important." she jumped off the counter, grabbing Nello's hand who in the meantime had finished his sandwich and had just calmly watched the whole spectacle.

"Skull? What's in those snacks?" The hitman tried again.

She just whistled as she pulled Colonnello up the stairs.

Lal had stifled her laugh the whole time "Did you even try?"

Reborn had no real answer but was way too occupied with the other information "You think Skull takes drugs?"

Fon had taken a different approach, just placing himself behind her while she was sorting through a basket of small pebbles she apparently had collected with Colonnello this morning.

The martial artist smiled, leaning over her shoulder "They are pretty."

"Yeah, I have big plans with them."

"You have?"

"Yeah, they are perfect for it."

"For what?"

"I want to make them moan when someone steps on them and then scatter them around the Varias headquarters."

"The varias headquarters?"

"Yeah, as payback."

"For what?"

"Trying to kill Enma."

"...right."

She nodded, still focused on her task.

"Skull? You seem a bit tense."

"I do?"

"Yes. May I help you?"

"How?"

"A small massage."

"Can I keep working?"

"You can try."

She shrugged her shoulders "Alright."

The martial artist grinned slightly, throwing a wink at reborn and watching colonnello out of the corners of his eyes.

The soldier had just placed another cup of tea in front of his sky before sitting down on the chair across from them.

Fon slowly started to work her shoulders and he had been right as the sky immediately dropped her activity.

His usual smile slightly treding into a smirk as Skull almost seemed to melt under his hands.

Colonnello still didn't react though, just casually watching as he sipped from his own mug.

Skull stills seemed to be in a bit of a trance when he finished "Fon?"

"Yes?"

"I think I like you."

"Oh?"

"Yes." she turned round, a huge smile on her lips "You're like the brother I never wanted."

Lal started to laugh so hard, she actually fell from her seat.

The female rain stayed seated after dinner, still trying to suppress her grin at the new money she had in her bank account "Skull?"

The tiny sky was doing the dishes and hummed as an answer.

"I was wondering about something. What is your type?"

"My type of what?"

"Potential partners."

The sky stuttered, actually letting the cup slip from her hand and if Reborn, who had stood next to her, hadn't reacted in time it would have shattered on the floor.

She had a blush on her face "I- I don't have one."

Lal raised her eyebrow "You don't have one?"

"No?"

"Then tell me about your first love."

"Didn't have that." she was still bright red.

"Your first kiss?"

She blushed even harder, "Didn't have that either."

Reborn raised an eyebrow "You want to tell me no one had ever taken interest in you?"

"Tha-That's not it. I mean… like my best friend's little sister had a crush on me for years but well I joined the circus when I was 14 what do you expect?"

"You didn't meet anyone at the circus?"

"I never had time nor interest."

"You mean because you were constantly moving?"

She shrugged her shoulders "Maybe? I don't know, it just went by so quick. Everything else was just way more important."

Fon leaned back against the counter "And what would you wish from your future partner?"

The sky was still blushing "I don't know?"

"Not at all? Nothing you would like?"

"Kindness?"

"Nothing else?"

She bit on her lip, seemingly trying to think about it "Maybe someone that's loyal?"

"Maybe? That should be a given Skull."

She shrugged "I don't know.. just someone I could rely on? Like… when I tell them I'm going off to save the world I don't want them to reprimand me and tell me I can't do it but someone who asks when we're leaving."

Fon smiled, "That's kind of sweet."

She shrugged her shoulders "It's something I search for in friends too. You know if you missed the train because someone barricaded the entrance because they wanted to protect you... then I need someone to steal a car with me to fly with it to School together."

Fon blinked "That's oddly specific."

She shrugged, "Totally only hypothetical."

Reborn paused, before raising an eyebrow "You stole a car to not miss school?"

Her mouth opened as she helplessly looked at the group "The dishes need cleaning!"

Reborn just shook his head "Out of all the reasons to steal a car you used it to drive to school? Out of all possible ways to use that… you used it to get to school?"

She blushed a bit more but started to scrub the plates again, not answering anymore.