It wasn't that hard to catch up with Reborn and the rest of the group. The hitman even stopped for a moment to look disgruntled at her mismatching overknees. Lal cut him off though before he could say anything "A fashion statement?"
Leilani grinned up at her "It's cool, right?"
The former soldier couldn't stop her smile from forming "if you like it, definitely. It fits you."
Leilani just grinned more, completely ignoring the hitman who was shaking his head but not commenting on the matter.
They entered the dining hall of the Vongola headquarters where the meeting had been organised. They didn't come far though as Mukuro almost immediately appeared in front of Leilani, cutting her off.
"Skull." he addressed the sky who just tilted her head in curiosity.
"You're at fault for Hibari constantly spurting quibs at me that my illusions aren't real."
Skull shrugged her shoulders, not really bothered by his presence "I mean they aren't for the most part. He's correct, you're pretty bad at that aspect, not as bad as others but still."
The mist just laughed his signature creepy laugh as his eye flashed the number three and out of his shadow crawled an Inland Taipan.
The movement of the group froze on the spot, everyone knowing how deadly the snake was.
Mukuro just laughed more at that reaction "Kufufufu. Want to say that again?"
In a fraction of a second the mist had a gun aimed at his head and Leilani was pushed behind the group, out of sight but with the object of protecting her.
Leilani in all honesty ignored the heated argument that broke out, blending out the yells and insults as she crouched down, her eyes focusing on the snake that was lingering in the room. "Hello."
The Snake tilted her head, already zeroing in on her "You speak?"
Leilani laughed quietly "I do. What's your name?"
"I have no use for such a thing."
"I'm Leilani. Can I give you a name?"
The snake slithered slowly closer "If you wish to."
Leilani nodded "Do you like the name Nirvana?"
"It's passable."
Leilani smiled a bit more "You're a beauty."
The snake almost seemed to lighten up at the compliment, slithering straight in front of the sky, manoeuvring around the feet undetected as everyone was still busy arguing with the mist who was supposed to have control over the beast.
"So… did Mukuro kidnap you from somewhere or how did you get here?"
"I was just laying on the perfect stone. It took me hours to find the perfect one and suddenly I was here. The floor is even cold."
Leilani tilted her head "That sounds terrible. Mukuro was very rude."
"Indeed Speaker, Indeed. Carry me to protect me from the cold."
"As you wish." Leilani spoke amused and extended her arm to make it easier for the Taipan to slither onto her.
The snake actually had to wrap herself several times around Leilani's body, the head in the air and staring straight into the skies face to keep up the conversation "I've never met a speaker before."
"They would be quite rare here I assume."
"How fitting that I was able to meet you. Even if the occasion is more than just undesirable. You should have met me in my territory. I know the best nap spots."
"I can imagine. Murkuro was really rude to just pull you away from your home."
"True. he should be punished."
"Would an apology suffice?"
"It… would be acceptable."
Leilani smiled, "You're really beautiful."
The Taipan lifted her head up a bit more "And my scales are perfect. You should touch them. They are the shiniest out of all of my nestmates."
Mukuro honestly hadn't noticed that he had lost all control of his snake until the moment when he actually wanted to send it away. His gaze flickering searching through the room only for him to pale at the sight in front of him. He hadn't wanted to truly endanger the sky, he really hadn't. He just wanted to scare her, nothing more. Especially with her stature now, she reminded him a lot of his dear Chrome.
Fon followed his eyes, paling as well as panic arose in him "Skull. Skull stay calm. Stay calm!"
All attention snapped to the tiny sky. Horror creeping up in all of them.
Skull tilted her head as soon as she heard it "It's fine. Nirvana is a perfectly good Snake." she had to giggle though at their expression, before finally lifting her hand to gently trail down the snake's scales.
Nirvana almost let out a relaxed sigh "under the head. there is the spot."
Leilani followed the instruction, a mixture of scratching and caressing which Nirvana seemed to like particularly.
Fon was stepping closer carefully his eyes completely focused on the odd display but the threat too imminent to pay it any mind"I can get rid of it. Don't move!"
Leilani furrowed her brows before it clicked. She always had problems switching between the languages after all "Nirvana? Could you look away? The others are panicking."
The snake grumbled but wrapped herself a bit tighter around her while placing her head on Leilani's nape.
The sky immediately focused her attention on her rain, who seemed more than just panicked, his fingers trembling as he tried to figure out what to do.
"This… This… english. This.. This is English. English, right? English?" She was struggling but in the end she seemed to have succeeded.
"Skull. Just stay calm and we will get it off." The hitman had stepped closer, carefully eyeing the snake, an unfamiliar expression in his eyes.
She just shook her head "Chill. Nirvana is super nice."
She slowly got up, carefully trying not to drop the snake as she stepped towards Mukuro "Yeah, you have a skill that summons actual animals but that's it. Even your real illusions are still just illusions, nothing more. Anyways; apologise."
The mist stared at her completely flabbergasted "To you?"
"No, to Nirvana."
"What?"
The snake lifted her head up again, eyeing the mist and coming closer, ready to strike.
Leilani just petted her a bit to get her to calm down.
Mukuro panicked though "Get back." He tried to force a command on the Taipan.
The snake ignored it though, poison already building in her fangs, while complaining about the rudeness of the mist.
Leilani sighed "You know a snake will always favour a speaker, no matter who summoned her. I'm a speaker so you have no chance. Apologise."
"To a snake?"
"Yes, you interrupted her from her nap."
His jaw dropped completely. "What even?"
Leilani sighed again "Apologise. I want to help her get back to her spot but she thinks you need punishment. So apologise to finish this up."
"You want me to apologise to a snake?"
"Yes."
"You're insane."
Nirvana opened her jaw, ready to strike at him.
The mist stumbled back in horror at having the prospect that the beast he should have been able to control was about to bite him.
Leilani tilted her head "How often do I have to repeat this? Apologise and I send her on her way."
The final reason why Mukuro gave in was that the Taipan actually snapped after him, he hurriedly scrambled back, completely aware that the Taipan had the world's most toxic poison. "I— I'm sorry."
"That's good enough." Leilani nodded before focusing on her new friend again "You want to get home again?"
"Yes."
Leilani nodded, before kneeling down again to let the snake slither down from her, even going as far as giving her a kiss on the head to wish her a good sleep before she used her magic to send the Taipan back to where she came from.
The next moment she was already pulled into Colonnellos arms, his heartbeat going rapidly, his flames lingering over him as he tried to calm himself down.
Leilani just patted his back, nudging him with her own flames to signal him that she was okay.
She only locked up for a second when she saw Hibari attacking Mukuro with his Tonfas. She didn't pay it any mind though as the hitman had pulled his Fedora off, to openly stare at her with an again unfamiliar expression "Since when can you talk to Snakes?"
She tilted her head, still patting her rain "I think always? When I was eleven I accidentally set a boa loose on my cousin. Didn't even notice back then. It just sounds like English to me."
"You're impossible."
She shrugged, "It's possible though, I did it."
He groaned before pulling his Fedora on again, sending one last glance at the fighting teens before heading towards the table and letting himself fall on one to get a cup of espresso. He needed his coffee right now.
Leilani nudged Colonnello in the same direction, not even bothering to address the rest of the arcobalenos who didn't look much calmer either.
Lal uttered "Can we take you nowhere without some kind of danger or disaster?"
"That's not my fault. I never plan for it, it just happens and Nirvana was never a danger. She was a perfectly good snake."
"A snake that could have killed you."
"She would never have."
Lal just sighed, her fingers pinching the bridge on her nose before she settled on a chair herself.
This whole day just seemed like a gigantic mistake and she could only hope that Skull was finally done with her chaos. The rain really questioned her life choices right now.
