Beginning

"Karen, why do you have to go?" Superbi's arms were crossed.

I sighed, "I'm the Misty Rain Guardian. Besides, Tsuna needs some help. And don't volunteer," I tacked on. I knew my brother would only get hurt if he came.

"Get going than," his voice turned gruff, "And don't come close. I'll tie you down and won't let you out of my sight for the rest of my life," he turned,

"…When I get back," I started slowly, "will you be up for sparring?" I grinned over my shoulder

"Only if you're not like Yamamoto," he winced,

"I won't be. Prometto," I smiled.

A swish of moist, saline air twined its way through my hair and nose. The fresh brine air carried the scent of land but there was none in sight. An illusion? Doubt it. None of the Earth flames struck me as similar to the Mist but I haven't seen anything of what they can do.

"Earth and Sky. Complementary opposites," I murmured to the waves.

"What was that Karen?" Tsuna walked over.

"Just thinking about the Shimon," I shrugged. Tsuna wasn't here to talk to me about that. His face was scrunched up slightly. I resisted demanding to know what was on his mind as I've found demanding information out of people just scares the bejeezus out of them.

"Um, at the meeting, when you said the Varia would just get in the way…did you mean that?" Tsuna asked slowly,

"Then let us go with you!" Superbi insisted when the Ninth choose Tsuna's path of the Tenth Generation being the only ones to fight Shimon. Fear lanced through me light lightning.

"NO!" my hands burned from their impact on the table, "No way,"

"Why not? They're short a couple members," Superbi was trying to reach my rational side which, at the moment, was out of commission.

"No," I repeated,

"Karen," my brother started,

"NO! You'll just get in the way!"

"Uh Karen?" Tsuna frowned, suppressed anxiety tensing him into concrete,

"What do you think?" I removed myself from my cousin. Things have really been awkward since Talbot dropped my newfound family relations on the table and not just with Tsuna. When Xanxus finds out I'm going to have to live in Japan and not set a foot out of it for the rest of my life that might not be very long. If Takeshi had asked me any of the questions Tsuna just did I would've answered directly. Keh, I'm such a closed-in-idiot. Turning around, I leaned against the railing, "Yes, I meant it. Some of it is fear the rest is they're annoying."

"Oh." Tsuna shifted uncomfortably.

"We're gonna win and you're gonna do what's right." I glanced over, "You always do."

"Uh, well" Tsuna was blushing slightly, "what about what Vongola has done?"

"I don't give a rat's ass about the past. Information can be twisted beyond recognition, especially with victors and losers. I wouldn't be surprised if Primo Vongola and Primo Shimon were banging their heads on a wall wondering 'what the fuck happened?' I'm more concerned about what happened my life time, which is very short and not looking very long,"

"WHAT?" Tsuna jumped, "I'm pretty sure you can…"

"It's not about the Shimon, "I rolled my eyes, "I'm talking about Xanxus,"

"Oh," Tsuna looked ready to wet his pants at the mention of the holder of my pay check. I really don't get how people can be so scared of Xanxus. I can blackmail him but let's not poke the dozing dragon in the eye.

"Anyways," I tried to spare Tsuna some embarrassment, "Am I the only who thinks something is off here? The Shimon had truly no murderous intents towards the Vongola when we first met them. Then something happened and….we're here," I finished lamely,

"I don't know," Tsuna shrugged.