Me: Since I haven't written in such a long time, I was worried that I was losing my touch with the last chapter. But I guess not since a lot of you have loved it. And that was what?... Three years ago? I can't believe I'm still getting alert emails about this story from all of you guys- I'll try to make the next update faster since I already have it half written! I'll write with my dying will!... Well, until Reborn kills me.

Reborn: That could be arranged—but since I want to see the rest of the story…

Me: Thank you so much for your mercy Reborn-sama. *drily said*

Reborn: Is that sarcasm I hear? *brings out Leon*

Me: N-No! Of course not!

Reborn: Hmp. Enjoy this dame-author's story.

Me: First you call me lazy and now you're calling me Dame?


4. The Tutor

It was a strangely bright morning, or so G thought. He had expected storm clouds to appear from the sky to match his darkening disposition when he would wake up from his bed but instead, he woke up to a surprising –and somewhat confusing– sight of the sun shining brightly in the partly clear sky. The sky is strangely exceptionally blue today, decorated with clouds in many shapes and sizes and nature itself seems to be in peace; if the musical, softly singing blue birds weren't any indication. He does admit that the morning seems sickeningly beautiful; but he couldn't help but think that the chirping birds and the blooming flowers are just an innocent cover to hide something even more horrendous.

But maybe that's just him. He's probably being a bit paranoid because of the suspicious 'guests' they that have living under the same roof as them.

Yeah, that's just it.

Sadly, he was proven wrong when he heard an explosion and Giotto's scream echoing from his office. And already being near his office, on his way to get his boss so that they could get some breakfast (forced his boss to get some breakfast), G was surprised to see that the explosion had forced the doors to Giotto's office open and nearly panicked when he saw the black smoke coming out from said office.

"Giotto!" G cried as he dash through the black smoke and into the study, surprised to find Reborn there standing several feet away to the right of the desk while his boss, who is sitting at his desk, have been smeared in ashes, his whole figure practically black except for his blinking blue eyes.

"A-Are you trying to kill me, Reborn!" "Are you trying to kill him, you bastard?!" Both G and Giotto exclaim at the same time, glaring at the man wearing the very bright yellow overalls, white t-shirt, black boots and a green helmet that has a face to the side… where in the world did he get those clothes? When did he get himself into those clothes? And why in the hell is he wearing them?

"Of course not. Killing you and harming you are two different things."

'He just admitted that he wanted to harm me…' Giotto mentally blanched, wondering how in the world this guy isn't locked up in Vindice yet.

"By the way: I'm the world greatest hitman. It makes sense that I wear these clothes."

"It makes no sense at all!" G retorted in disagreement but Reborn once again ignore the other's exclamation.

"Dame-Giotto-"

"D-Dame?" Giotto couldn't help but questioned. From all his Japanese lessons with Asari, he knows what dame means… is the hitman actually calling him useless? No-good? He's a very capable man leading a mafia organization that is the most influential family in the country! Why in the world would the helmet-wearing assassin add 'useless' to his name—

"—you are supposed to make the Vongola live up to being the most influential familgia in the world. Not only just the country."

Did he just read his mind?

"Are you out of your mind? That's impossible—" Giotto was immediately silenced due to the fact that Reborn had shot a bullet that was centimeters from his head. There was an evil glint in the hitman's shadowed eyes, his fedora tipped forward in a way that makes the sadistic man more enigmatic and dangerous than usual.

"I'm the world greatest hitman. Therefore nothing is impossible for me." A smirk worthy of the devil made its way to Reborn's face, and the Vongola boss have a distinct urge to cower for some reason. "You will accomplish this task, even if I have to drop you off a cliff to make it happen."

…He's serious. Reborn is definitely serious about it. Both G and Giotto know that the hitman would drop the blond-haired Italian down a cliff just for that purpose…

"Like hell I would let you!" G protested with a low growl as he brought out his gun, pointing the hazardous weapon towards the powerful hitman. But despite knowing that the Storm Guardian was one of the greatest marksmen in Vongola history with an accuracy that could rival Colonello's own sharpshooting skills (not that it would be difficult to be able to up-one the military idiot—the World Greatest Hitman inwardly snorted), Reborn just brush G off once again.

"If you dare sign that treaty, I will blow you up." And to follow up on that threat, Reborn pulled out a suspicious-looking shiny red button that gleamed at the Vongola boss very ominously, making Giotto gulp in anticipation to the pain he's definitely going to be feeling once that said button is pushed.

"W-Why should I listen to you?" Shit, he stuttered. But seriously, he has already been taking care of his family for over two years; he knows what he's doing at the very least! He doesn't need a judge or anyone else to tell him how to run his familgia!

Steeling himself with the knowledge of past experiences dodging assassination attempts and facing mafia bosses with families that are twice as old than the blond's –what was previously known as– vigilante group, Giotto went to boss mode; his eyes became narrowed and calculative while almost emotionless so not to give any hints to his thoughts. He's very well-aware that Reborn is masterfully manipulative and the fact that the hitman is exceedingly cocky shows how much confidence the other has of his abilities in defending himself (or anything else for that matter). His tactics are similar to those of his Mist Guardian –who, until Reborn appeared, reign king of all manipulators– but much more professionally implied and with less gore-induced illusions (which could either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the person). Reborn had also completely conquered the ability to influence other people where he could twisted their sub-consciousness for his own sadistic purposes. Hell, he could admit that even the devil has nothing compared to the so-called 'World Greatest Hitman,' but that's not going to stray Giotto from doing what he thought is best for his family. And though the Vongola boss –somewhatly, reluctantly– admits that the skilled assassin is from the future and could possibly be a great ally for Vongola, that does not excuse him to just barge in and tell him what to do—

"There isn't enough assurance in this contract. It's basically just giving the Duilio family a ticket to betray our familgia."

Both Giotto and G blinked at the unexpectedly intelligent (not to mention reasonable) motive. They anticipated something ridiculous like 'I'm the world greatest hitman so of course you should listen to me' or anything familiar to that sense (because that was all the sadistic bastard was saying just a few seconds ago). Reborn tries not to roll his eyes at their expressions of disbelief, putting away his fun button (as the hitman had named for himself with a mischievous gleam in his eyes) –created specifically for this amusement– to begin his wise lecture to his idiotic students in what they did wrong with their whole entire lives. Though Reborn does find the task rather tedious and a near waste of time.

"There are too many loop-holes and disadvantages that could be used against the familgia. It's basically giving the sender a ticket to betray Vongola for free." Reborn repeated once again with more details in a slow tone that is basically indicating his opinion on their intelligence. And as if to prove his analysis even more, Reborn walks over to them with a purposeful stride, watching them flinch in slight anticipation for pain as he came closer to their personal space. Grabbing the idiotic contract from Giotto's desk, Reborn practically thrust the paper in front of their faces, relishing in the yelp of surprising coming out of their mouths.

Now that they saw a new light to the treaty –though it was pretty much forced up their asses so they don't really have much of a choice in the first place– Giotto and G could easily make out the loopholes and disadvantage that the contract has against them. They couldn't help but be embarrassed (with a certain pink-haired guardian in a bit of denial) at how they just easily missed those mistakes. The family they were about to be allied with –which are the Duilio familgia– has been steadily growing stronger for the pass few months and at first, Vongola was preparing for an attack from that very same familgia due to the dark rumors circulating about the family's aggressive hunger for power. But to their surprised, they had sent a mailed message given to them by a messenger boy of their ranks that requested a treaty between the two familgias. Of course, despite how Giotto's intuition seem to whisper warnings in the back of his mind, the benevolent Vongola boss decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and complied to the request with his agreement relating the fact that he wanted to family to be allies with each other.

When they had finally obtained the documents needed to make the treaty official, they were baffled by the fact that the Duilio familgia had decided that no extra precaution is needed for the transaction and promptly drop the document into their waiting hands. And while that made the treaty seem less sincere than it was supposed to be, Giotto was too busy worrying about the possibly of initiating another mafia war. During the years that Vongola had reached the point of being the most powerful and influential familgia in the whole country, blood has been spilled and sacrifices had been made. Despite how fast they came to power, it wasn't an easy thing to obtain. Therefore, Giotto wasn't looking forward to another hardship of bloodshed (no matter how much of his more violent guardians would disagree).

Still –Giotto couldn't help but grimace– to make a rookie mistake like that, putting his familgia in possible endangerment…

G looks over at the treaty for the fourth time once again, a deep scowl marring his face before releasing an exhausted sigh from his lips.

"In the end, you didn't sign it so don't worry Giotto." The storm guardian tries to reassure, knowing very well that Giotto is probably blaming himself for almost making the stupidest mistake of the century. "It might as well have been my fault too since I checked over it and didn't find any wrong with it."

G was looking forward for a peaceful agreement as much as his best friend did. He shares Giotto's morals upon matters like this and violence isn't something that he is particularly fond of… no matter how much his temperamental actions said so.

"Yes, it's both of your faults," Reborn retorted with a sneer, crossing his arms with the treaty in his hands. G couldn't help twitched at the blunt answer from the hitman and was about to snap a seething answer of his own until he was completely silenced by the glare he received from the fedora-wearing male. "You could have possibly ruined the Vongola's reputation, put the familgia into an unnecessary risk and lead us to war. Not only that, you have also endangered your subordinates, your guardians, your allies and practically the whole livelihood of the family."

Both the boss and the right-hand man couldn't help but flinch at the verbal lashing they were getting from the usually-playful hitman, slightly shrinking under the heated gaze of the dark assassin. It was surprising to see how serious he was about the subject to the point that the cunning man is actually reprimanding the two young adults. No jokes, no insults, no verbal or physical abuse— just a lecture and some scolding. At that, they couldn't help but feel even guiltier.

"That's why I took the liberty of inviting the Duilio familgia themselves to Vongola Mansion to discuss better terms."

The looks of guilt then turn into expressions of astonishment.

"W-What- are you–"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" G accuses as Giotto mimics what looks to be like a fish out of water. "You can't do that!"

"I just did." Cue the innocent smile from the fedora-wearing hitman that has G pulling out his gun, causing Giotto to restrain his Storm Guardian from shooting at their guest, more worried about his best friend's safety than the manipulative man's who is currently humming a merry tune that basically contradicts the strained situation…

"Bastard! You planned this, didn't you?!"

The smirk on Reborn's face just confirmed the accusation.

You mean that lecture about how they are endangering the family is just a pointless speech meant for Reborn's sadistic amusement?

"It's not pointless, what I said is true." Reborn stated, slightly making both of his newly acquired students (not that they know) cringe as they ponder whether the other had the ability to read their minds.

"I didn't read your mind." He's definitely reading their minds… "If you're going to sign a shitty contract like this one, at least meet the boss of the familgia first. You could learn a lot about your potential allies by arranging a conference with their bosses; such as overall leadership skills, the family's organization system and boss-to-subordinate relationship." Reborn factually informed as he puts his hands behind his back in a business-like manner. Both the Sky boss and the Strom Guardian, like good students, couldn't do anything nod at the sensible answer.

Well, what the fedora-wearing hitman said is true. And with the help of Giotto's infamous hyper intuition, the blond can easily determine whether the bosses of those potential familgias do have either good or bad intentions towards Vongola. But due to the fact that Giotto's hyper intuition is a well-known anomaly within the secretive circle of the mafia world, many bosses grew uncomfortable with the notion in meeting with the Vongola don face to face (though the majority didn't admit it). Some had even outright complained about how they felt that they are at a disadvantage compared to the Vongola boss. Giotto understood their feelings and concerns; therefore, he was content being introduced to the familgia's right-hand man or whatever subordinate they deemed significant enough to close deals, treaties and the likes.

Then, as if Reborn had somehow read his mind, Giotto's face was met harshly with Leon's two ton hammer with a loud thump, the sound echoing through the office and well outside into the hallways. It wasn't long until the Vongola Primo fell out of his seat due to the force of the attack, holding onto his face while trying not to curse in several languages— seeing that his Storm Guardian is already doing that part while holding onto the growing bump, courtesy of the sadistic hitman, that is forming through his red/pink-hair.

"Ow—What was that for—" Giotto closes his mouth once he saw the dark withering glare burning through him and his right-hand man, the assassin's obsidian eyes shadowed as they have been nearly narrowed to a slit.

"That just proves it: I'm going to be your tutor Dame-Giotto." Reborn brazingly declares; Primo's jaw slackens a bit in astonishment while G's jaw just almost literally drops on the floor at the proclamation.

"I'm a grown man! I don't need a tutor—" Judging by the green gun that is pointing threateningly towards the Vongola boss, he obviously didn't have a say in the matter of his so-called tuition.

"Pop Quiz." A heartless smirk curves Reborn's lips. "If you don't immediately respond after five seconds: I'll shoot you."

Giotto has no doubt in his mind that the hitman would (paired along with his intuition, he might as well dig his own grave)—which prompts him to shiver in fear. Usually, if his life was actually threatened by another person as dangerous as Reborn (though apparently, handling the so-called 'World Greatest Hitman' is the most hazardous thing he had done in his whole life), he would release his famed sky flames onto the offender and placate them if needed. But this is Reborn we're talking about; the Vongola boss has a feeling that he'll be killed before he could do such a thing.

"Attack me or move at all and you have just forfeited your boss' life." Reborn had obviously directed the comment towards the red-haired guardian though the hitman hadn't shifted his eyes away from the blond Vongola don. G expresses his displeasure of the situation by cussing under his breath, his pose indicating that he was on the verge to pounce the merciless fedora-wearing man.

He knew it was a bad idea that let that damn sadistic bastard stay here— no matter what Giotto's intuition says! He should've been outright and argue with the decision that his best friend had made. Now look at the situation they are in!

Both visibly tense up as they heard a click from the green gun, indicating that the safety has been switched off.

"Tell me Dame-Giotto: Why do you think it's essential for the bosses meet when conducting a treaty?" Reborn questioned, his smirk becoming more devious (if that's possible).

Giotto slightly gulps, his mouth semi-dry, trying to ignore the gun (which proves to be difficult) as he made an attempt to answer the question as calmly as possible. "S-So that you can gather information and see what the boss is like...?" Reborn had told them the answer to that question just a few minutes ago, right?

But despite so, his shaky response had earned him a bullet just a few centimeter away from his head.

"That is correct."

"Then there is no reason for you to shoot him dammit!" G barked, growling as he witness the dismissal hand gracefully waved towards him.

Giotto on the other hand couldn't help but let out a breath of fresh air, happy to find himself alive as he tries to steady his fast-beating heart. He seriously thought that the other was actually going to kill him…

But sadly, he couldn't rest now since Reborn is still pointing his gun at him and it doesn't make the Vongola boss feel any better when he saw the sadistic hitman taking off the safety once again.

"While correct, it's not entirely the answer I was looking for." Reborn admitted as his forefinger curved around the trigger, purposely making his movements exaggerated so that both G and Giotto would look at his gun with weariness and slightly concealed dread. Well, Reborn is a person who lives on fear; there is almost never a day where someone doesn't fear him (with the exception on the days where he is visiting the Sawada household— he could never get Iemitsu, Nana or Tsuna to be scared of him even if he flashes out his gun and shoots them in the head).

"For someone like you, Dame-Giotto, gathering information and knowing whether the boss can be trustworthy or not might as well has been a walk in the park for you. But that does not go entirely for every bosses here in Italy since they don't have that oh-so wonderful intuition such as yours." They can practically feel the sarcasm when Reborn articulated the last part of his lecture. "There is a limit to how much your intuition can help you in the mafia world—as convenient as it is; other than reconnaissance and investigative purposes, there is another reason as to why it is necessary for bosses of opposing mafia familgia to meet."

At this, both the right-hand man and the Vongola boss perk up in attention. Most of the time whenever Giotto arranged a conference with a boss from another family, he would try to analyze their potential in being future allies with Vongola. Giotto understands that he has it a bit easier because of his hyper intuition (which, after several unfortunate incidents that would not be recalled for the sake of the blond's sanity, the mafia don had learn to always trust) so it was never particular hard for him to find the difference between friend or foe. But learning the fact that there is actually more to confronting other familgias' bosses than what he previously thought, the Vongola Primo wonders very briefly what those reasons could be…

"If the bosses from the two opposing families had meet each other face-to-face, that means both party had acknowledge each other's strength and reputation. Some mafia dons tend to look down on others to the point that they didn't think they are worthy to 'grace their presence with'."

Giotto and G both find themselves nodding dumbly to what the hitman had said like a couple of well-behaved pupils listening to their respectable teacher (G tries not to gag at the thought considering that 'Reborn' and 'teacher' does not go together unless 'in Hell' is included into the sentence). Now thinking about it, the explanation had kind of cleared a few things that has happened the past couple of years. While Giotto and his guardians are very well aware of how arrogant some of these Mafia bosses could be, they couldn't be bothered in actually acting out against it; in the end, the mafia bosses' opinions are well of their own and they can't always change that (though Daemon and G had vehemently tried when someone was unfortunate enough to anger them). Arrogance would just lead them to their downfall sooner or later anyway.

"I frankly don't care if their opinion is their own," was Reborn's sudden response to Giotto's thoughts, releasing a dark aura could be seen in the background with a deep frown marring in his features. "They are deliberately insulting Vongola by saying that we are not worthy of their time—if you have any pride in your own familgia, that would be a low blow to you."

Giotto wanted to protest saying that he does, in fact, have a lot of pride in his precious family –which he had shed tears and blood for– but the malevolent glint shining in those obsidian eyes stops the words coming out from his mouth. If he cares to live for another day, he should shut up now.

"And to make it even much worse—" The Sky and the Storm Guardian watches as Reborn lifts up the treaty in his hand aiming his green gun towards the poor manuscript. In that instant, Reborn shot a barrage of bullets to the defenseless sheet of paper, successfully creating holes to the contract to the point that you couldn't even read the fine print anymore. "-they decided to send a shitty piece of paper to close the deal."

Reborn let the remains of the contract drop to the floor before stomping his expensive Italian leather shoes on it, crushing it in between lush, red carpet with a sense of cruel satisfaction and finality. Faintly, Giotto notices that Reborn is back wearing his ever suave and expensive looking black suit, the fedora shadowing the hitman's eyes making creating a more terrifying image to the assassin if that's possible, but the Vongola boss decided it wasn't the time to care what the sadistic man is wearing at the moment.

"It's one thing to send their subordinates to secure a treaty. It's another thing to send a damn piece of paper and expects us to sign as if it's the privilege of the century. They're basically insinuating that our truce is as important as shit to them— just an afterthought that could be left in the dust when it's done."

"I don't care what they think of our familgia: as long as they follow the pact and didn't hurt anyone in my family, I have nothing against them." Giotto slapped his hands over his mouth as the impulsive words pass his lips, looking up at the hitman in slight wariness of the other's reaction. The Vongola boss was surprise to see Reborn's lips twitching upwards in a refrained gesture of a smile.

"Point taken: Vongola was never one to care whether they actually look like mafia familgia or not." Reborn admitted as he lifts his gun towards his fedora, the green weapon by the name of Leon transforming back to being a chameleon before walking back to his place on his partner's hat. Giotto blinks several times as he could've sworn that the suave hitman was actually complimenting him. He didn't think that the other could compliment anything without some kind of sarcasm involved.

"But remember: just because you had honored your part of the agreement doesn't mean that the other party will. You have a less likely chance of endangering your family by meeting face to face with the actual familgia boss and determining their worth by your own eyes."

Once again, both G and Giotto nodded in understanding, peering at the hitman with intuitive eyes. While they hate to admit it (mostly on G's part), Reborn is right. Though avoiding an actual confrontation between mafia bosses would be simpler and less stressful, it doesn't necessarily make it okay.

Giotto scrunches his nose as he remembers the few times he would send G or some of his other guardians to secure treaties and allies from other families instead of actually showing up himself. He just hopes that their allies didn't think he was trying to be arrogant or so—it's just that there are days when he's too busy to go himself.

"Then again—" Reborn walks back to his original place just a few feet away to the right of the desk and position himself into a business-like pose once again. "—there is never an actual boss in history that essentially did all of his agreements in a personal confrontation, so it's mostly an optional way to seal deals."

The Sky boss and the Storm Guardian try not to comical fall back at the statement.

"Optional my ass!" G was quick to his feet, attempting to choke the hitman if Giotto didn't decided to save his best friend from trying to get himself kill… though he was very tempted to choke the other himself. All that terrifying and near-death experiences (specifically named Reborn's gun)— all for an alternative way to deal with treaties that he doesn't even need to use?

"Oh, by optional, I mean that from now on, all treaties between Vongola and potential candidates for allies are to be made by personal confrontations: boss to boss, familgia to familgia."

'Of course we have no choice in this…' They both have a feeling that once Reborn has taken reign, they didn't have a choice in anything anymore.

"With that out of the way—"

"We didn't agree to anything you bastard!"

"—Primo."

Giotto stiffens as he heard the hitman suddenly call out to him.

"Why is it that you created this family?"

Both the blond and the red-headed man blinked simultaneously at the rather sensible and personal inquiry. Is this a trick question?

"To protect everyone." Primo answered without even a second of hesitation, not needing to even answer the question as the words automatically comes out of his mouth. Though he never expected for his former vigilante group –Vongola– to turn into a mafia familgia (nor did he predicted, even with his hyper intuition, the chaos that comes with it), it still has the morals he hopes to be upheld with the highest regard. Creating Vongola was never for the money, the power or the fame; he just wanted to have the ability to be able to protect everyone he cares about.

To their surprise (along with gaping faces of disbelief), a very small, almost unnoticeable, smile appears on the hitman's face. "Good answer." Reborn admitted. "That is why boss-to-boss meetings are the best for your intentions. While there is a probability that you would be bringing your future enemies into your territory, there is one very important thing you can obtain while doing so."

G and Giotto unconsciously lean forward in anticipation, making Reborn smirk. It looks like they're getting into student roles pretty smoothly.

"Trust." The word seems to echo around the room and Giotto eyes immediately widen at the single word as if he understood what the other had meant. And he probably does. "Trust is a very fragile and delicate thing in the mafia world. Just one wrong move, one wrong word, one wrong look— that trust could easily be ripped apart."

Both nodded unconsciously at the lecture, taking everything in for they understand the concept of trust all too well. In the mafia world, trust is a rare thing to give and a rare thing to earn. There are too many possibilities of being betrayed and there are too many possibilities of being deceived.

"Since they are coming into your territory, they have to start trusting that you won't attack them and you also have to start trusting that they won't attack you as well. Of course, the likelihood of them placing their trust in you at the beginning is thin, but it gives a good starting point to a better relationship between familgias." Reborn eyes darken. "That is: if they wanted to make an alliance in the first place."

G grimace at the thought while Giotto's eyes dull a bit as he remembers a few alliances that have gone… bad. They were able to overcome it but in the end… the casualties are never forgotten.

"Many don't like the idea due to the fact that they're afraid of accidently giving their enemy or ally a walking tour of your strengths and weaknesses. To prevent that, many preparations have to be done ahead of time. Some rather skip the hard work of having to prepare for an alliance and just take the easy way out like just sending their subordinates or just giving them a contract to sign." They have a feeling he was referring to them at that last sentence… "Therefore, this meeting with the Duilio don is essential for future all Vongola transaction. They'll be here this afternoon."

The two Mafioso, one with blond hair and the other pinkish-red, blinks repeatedly as they absorb the information given to them by their so-called 'tutor'. When it finally clicks what the hitman had said, they sputtered.

"S-So soon?!" Giotto stammered in astonishment as he shot up from the floor in a fit of panic. Didn't Reborn just said that preparations have to be done when another mafia family is visiting?! How in the hell are they going to able to get everything ready in time?!

"Of course." Reborn stated in a factual tone, looking upon his stumped newly-acquired student as if the blond was stupid (with Iemitsu's genes, he wouldn't be surprised). "The sooner the better. We can't just leave transactions like this to simmer, they have to be taken care of the minute they became a… problem."

G and Giotto could not prevent the shiver that is wracking their bodies from head to toe once they witness the evil glint shining through those vortex-like orbs. Obviously, the fedora-wearing hitman was implying something when he emphasize the word 'problem', in a way that made the Storm Guardian and the Vongola boss almost pity the Duilio Familgia. Well, better them than Giotto and his guardians.

It was then that the blond-haired mafia don had realized something. "Wait, obviously the Duilio family shouldn't even be considered as a potential ally if their attitude and conduct is suggesting anything." He's pretty sure that their so-called tutor from hell wouldn't stand being in the same room –much less, the same building– with someone as arrogant (not to mention idiotic) as the Duilio boss makes himself out to be. The hitman would shoot him on sight (because all forms of idiocy reminds him of a certain CEDEF leader) and then proceed to bury the man ten feet under while the poor guy is still living. "Why invite them then? It's obvious you didn't approve them as a possible ally."

G and Giotto suddenly have a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach once they recognize the hitman's attempt to look innocent—the obsidian eyes slightly growing bigger with a sparkle of purity while fedora-wearing man tilts his head in an inconspicuous-like manner. Though Reborn appears to be as harmless as an adorable newborn baby, it wasn't difficult to spot that mischievous air radiating off the older man's form.

"To make a statement, of course." The hitman (though Giotto is warming up to the idea that the raven-haired man is actually Satan's reincarnation) cooed in a cutesy voice that sounds more disturbing rather than guiltless. It wasn't hard to figure out that Reborn has plans for the Duilio Familgia (and G could only pray for those poor bastards' life). "Not to mention that it would amuse me so to see how you idiots would handle this."

It took a while for the two of them to completely absorb the declaration made by the their so-called Spartan tutor and once it did, both the Vongola boss and the Storm Guardian fell backwards at the ridiculous –not to mention sadistic– statement.

Honestly, that was his reason for inviting a previously-rumored aggressive mafia family to their home base?! Was there any point to that long –but deadly– lecture other than to justify the hitman's reasons for inviting the Duilio Familgia?! Wait a minute, that lecture—

"You—?! We are not here for your fucking amusement you bastard!" Reborn just looks to the side and performs an exaggerated shrug as if G's opinion could matter less to him. As far as Vongola's right-hand man would know, it probably does. "That whole spiel about the importance in boss meetings and all that crap—you were making fun of us, weren't you?! It has nothing to do with the fact that you had invited Duilio Familgia to our home base!"

Reborn just adopted that innocent look once again, the one that gives G the urge to gag. "Whatever are you talking about? I only wanted for you to have the chance to imply the knowledge you have learned to a real-world setting. It's only for your education of course."

'Lies! He's definitely doing this for his own amusement!' The Sky Boss and the Storm guardian inwardly cried as Reborn whistle an innocent tune to the side as if he wasn't distorting the situation around his long, graceful fingers. The hitman is obviously enjoying their distress over the situation—the bastard.

"Do you have to go that far in actually inviting them?" Giotto carefully questions with an incredulous expression, mentally listing out assignments for his guardians and the other employees of the mansion to perform in preparation for the arrival of the Duilio boss and whoever else he's bringing. Seeing that no matter how unbelievable the situation is or how much they complain about their so-called tutor's questionable actions, the Duilio representatives are going to come anyway. It's much too late –not to mention rude– to ask them to come back in a later date.

"Nothing is too far—" Reborn stated factually. "—when it comes to my own amusement—I mean, for your proper education."

'He was actually going to admit that this whole thing is for his own amusement…' Giotto reflected with a paling face. And judging by how smoothly the hitman had transition from his true purpose to his cover-up, it seems that their so-called tutor had intentionally made that so-called blunder if only to play around with what is left of their sanity.

G obviously didn't appreciate the hitman's merciless teasing, fingering the gun in his holster tied around his waist with the temptation to wipe their tormentor's smirk with a well-placed bullet—damned the consequences. "Stop playing with us you bastard! Can you take anything seriously?!"

"I am being serious."

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE!" All that the Vongola boss could do to insure the life of his Storm Guardian is to restrain his best friend from lunging towards the hitman once again, letting out a depressing sigh due to the fact that he knows very well that Reborn is just baiting the red/pink-haired man for his own entertainment.

The recently titled 'Spartan tutor from hell' (which both G and Giotto had sub-consciously dubbed the hitman, not realizing the fact that they had involuntarily accepted the sadistic man as their tutor) could only snort at the pathetic display of indignation. He really needs to train the Storm Guardian how to reign his anger in. But in order to do so successfully—

Reborn was tempted to let out an evil chuckle from his seductive lips.

—he needs to perform a few experiments to test the other's limits.

"TAKE US SERIOUSLY DAMMIT!"

The hitman's response to the other's proclamation is a careless shrug and a few shakes of the head, his dark eyes taking on a mischievous glint in a way that causes Giotto to mentally gulp. He has a bad feeling about this… "Maybe I should take you more seriously considering that you are full-grown adults—" Though Reborn looks as if he's actually contemplating on the subject, no one –not even G, who is clearly blinded by anger– can miss the sadistic expression plastered on the assassin's face. "—if your hair wasn't so pink."

The temperature in the room drops several degrees below freezing, contradicting the steadily reddening Storm Guardian boiling up in that very same room, and all Giotto could do is gape in disbelief as he quickly realize what the hitman had done. Someone—please tell him that Reborn hadn't just said that. Hadn't the fedora-wearing man realize that he had just taken a step onto a landmine?!

The blond's face then completely falters.

Wait, Reborn did this on purpose. Of course that Spartan tutor of theirs know the consequences of his blunt words. In fact, the Vongola boss bets that this is another one of the hitman's schemes (or what Reborn would like to call them 'educational plans'), judging by the smug smirk curving the assassin's lips in an arrogance that only seems to piss G even further.

Suffice to say, the temperamental marksman exploded. "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Oooh—two cuss words in the same sentence. Well aware of his best friend's short-tempered character, Giotto knows that nothing good will come to that. Add along with a sadistic hitman who proclaims to be from the future is just a perfect recipe for disaster.

Just as Reborn was preparing himself to make the necessary movements to dodge a bullet shot from one of the best marksman in history, observing the Storm Guardian's angry actions with disappointment seeing that the volatile man had decided to aim for his heart (it's obvious that Reborn is much stronger than him in comparison—G should've aimed somewhere that would hinder the hitman's movement in order to give the volatile man the chance to get a hit in), the door to Giotto's office suddenly makes a knocking sound, stopping the imminent –blood-filled– war from happening in that very same room.

The Vongola boss wasn't sure whether to be grateful or to curse the life he had spent as a mafia boss (considering that he's getting gray hair just by being in the same room as the futuristic hitman and his right-hand man). The mafia don honestly hopes to god that the person behind the door isn't one of his guardians just coming to get him and G for breakfast. To add another one of his destructive friends into the already catastrophic situation is not what he wants to deal with first thing in the morning (nor getting blown up, threaten, etc. was something he had in mind when he came to his office hoping to finish up paper work for the rest of the day—at least to redeem himself in his best friend's good graces for hiding the last batch of paperwork he had tried to get rid of…).

Looking upon the frozen state of his best friend –who was in mid-attack just on the verge of actually pulling his gun out– and the sadistic hitman who suddenly proclaimed to be their new tutor –the raven-haired man peering at the entrance to the office with a childish curiosity that seems rather predatory as if he's just waiting for his next prey to come through that door– Giotto was reluctant to give his authorization to permit whoever is on the other side of the door to come in. In fact, he should've just spare the unknown person the terror that is named 'Reborn' and tell them to save themselves if they wanted to live.

But before he could make a decision in that matter, the soon-to-be victim brazenly opens the door anyway without the need for Giotto's consent. The Vongola boss tries his best not to gape when he saw a young woman with familiar blond hair entering the room (and then prays for her safety because if anything happens to her, he'll be at the sharp end of Daemon's scythe).

"E-Elena?"


Me: Yes, I'm putting a freakin' cliffhanger there, but don't worry, I already have the fifth chapter half-done and I don't think it won't be too long until I updated it. I think.

Reborn: Yes, because he didn't have this chapter already written and finished from the last two years because you're too lazy to upload it yourself. *sarcasm*

Me: R-Reborn, shhhhh!

Reborn: *takes out his Leon gun* Are you hushing me?

Me: N-No, of course n-not! I would never dream of doing something like that to you Reborn-sama! *bows down on her knees in hopes to pacify the hitman's sadistic mood*

Anyway, I did have this on file for... the last two years *looks away while whistle in fear as she can feel the dark aura from Reborn's angry figure* but I was pretty busy by then due to some family issue that somehow escalated in the past few years. It was a pain and I quickly lost interest in my fanfiction writing in favor in trying to do damage control with my family.

Then there's college. And that's a whole other war I'm trying to battle with. So please forgive me for being a stupid and careless author.

Reborn: I don't forgive you.

Me: I'm talking to my readers Reborn—

Reborn: *lifts Leon in a menacing manner*

Me: …. I'm sorry, I know you don't forgive me. There's also a fact that I rarely have anyone to beta my stories anymore. My schedule is completely irregular and unpredictable in terms of updates and it's difficult to find someone that could check over my grammar on the go. So I hope you won't mind some of the grammar mistakes on my stories.