Aria was building a house of cards when Bel stormed in and destroyed it in an instant. "Ushishishishis~ the Decimo wanted to see you."

Aria glared at the Prince of Ripper. For someone as proud as him, there's only one way to break his ego and sent it seven-feet underground.

"And you've become one of his loyal dogs now?" Aria smirked. She hardly do the insulting since there's so much of them in the Vria, but once she did, she didn't hold back.

It was effective. Belphegor had gottin his knives ready to bleed Aria to death. "Say your prayers cause I'm killing you."

"And you've gone soft too. How cute~" Aria gathered her cards and began shuffling it. "Too bad I have to kill you."

Belphegor charged at Aria with his knives while Aria defended herself with a wall of cards. Bel grinned maniacally as he strengthen his knives with storm flames and corroded Aria's defensive wall. Aria immediately jumped backwards to prevent further damage to herself. Without wasting a second, Aria dropped a white cloth on top of Bel's knives and the next thing Belphegor knew, his knives gone!

"Ushishishishihi~ Princess is really good with magic."

"I'd be better if I could just made you disappear like your knife, creep."

Bel retreated. His precious knives were just going to be engulfed by that weird magic of Aria if they continued any further. He might as well ran out of knife to stuck it on Fran's frog head.

That would be his priority more than killing Aria.

Tsuna watched Aria as she entered his room. She didn't display much emotion. Usually, one would break after being held by Vindice. But Aria showed no sign of that.

It did make Tsuna wondered what Aria actually had inside her mind.

"Aria-san."

"Sorry to make you worry." Aria cut to the chase. "Me and Vindice just had the small talk. You know how Vindice would lose face if there were rumours about them asking a girl out." Aria jokingly said.

Tsuna got up from his chair and walked towards Aria. He put his hand on Aria's shoulder and gave her a small smile. "Please don't hesitate to ask us of anything. After all, we are family."

Aria was taken aback by Tsuna's speech. He didn't force her to spill. Neither did he play some kind of mind games to make her felt she needed to spill. His speech was genuine and pure. For a second, Aria lost words on what to say.

The feelings that she thought she lost, apparently resurfaced back, though not for long.

"Sawada Tsunayoshi." This time, it's Tsuna's turn to be surprised. "Your kindness can kill you one day. You should really be careful with whom you're showing it too."

Tsuna had a frown on his face. It was not the first time he had been told that. And he's sure it wouldn't be the last he would hear of it. Nevertheless, to hear it from Aria, and in a tone he couldn't decipher what it meant, was a total shock.

It wasn't worry hinted in her tone. If he hand to go with his instinct, it sounded like a warning.

"Aria-san?"

Before Tsuna could ask any further, they could hear the sound of Squalo yelling about getting some jobs done.

"Sorry but I need to go chop off some heads." Aria nonchalantly said like she was reading ingredients to make cake. "See you around."

Just as Aria closed the door behind her, she noticed the Rain Guardian was standing outside the room. "Hey~" He greeted her with a smile. For once, Aria thought the Decimo family was broken when it came to emotions.

"Yamamoto Takeshi."

"Going to a job?"

"Jobs." Aria corrected him, signalling she's going to be busy playing death God. "Is there anything you wanted to say?"

"Hm..." Yamamoto scratched his head. "Tsuna really cares for you."

"I can see that."

"But, if you betray him, I won't hesitate to kill you." Aria spun around, only to meet the gaze of the Storm Guardian. The seriousness in his face dictated he didn't joke around. Even Yamamoto said no word at Gokudera's declaration on her.

Aria took a deep breath. "I got to run before that crazy shark began biting my ass." She left, ignoring both looks she got from the guardians.

The forest that had burned down. The ashes that the wind blew. Also the memories that came to mind.

"I should have known you're behind this."

The man chuckled. "I know my Aria isn't so dumb." He applauded. "I miss you."

"And I would appreciate if you stop killing using my signature and marks." Aria sternfully said. She got enough reputation without massive killing. She didn't need another copycat tainted her reputation even more.

"Really? But it was so fun that I didn't want to stop. Maybe next I should go to Cavallone family~"

A card went flying towards the man, cutting his cheek in the process. "There's a limit to how annoying you can be, Rogue."

Rogue was cynically smiling at her. "Don't tell me you've become chummy with those people? Varia aside, you're playing house with Vongola and Decimo now? You're funny, Aria-chan~"

Aria ignored his provocation. She remained composed enough not to throw another flame that would destroy this already-burning forest into nothingness.

"Oh, right. Speaking of playing house, you really should stop hanging out with them. After all, you destroy everything around you. You killed everyone who gets close to you. There's no meaning in family. You're bound to betray them, Aria-chan~"

That was it. Aria snapped. Her face didn't show it but a ball of flame answered the provocation in her stead. Rogue disappear out of the flame's path, making the flame burnt the ground instead. There's no longer burning trees or grass. Only that's left a hole marked by the vanishing flame.

"Since you're pissed now, I shall go now. See you later, Aria."

Aria knew he had left since she no longer felt his presence near her. Family. Betrayal. Those two words were etching into her mind unwillingly. She had something close to a family. She had something cruel than betrayal.

Because of that, she shut her world from anyone completely.

And now, Tsuna's and Rogue's words were bringing unpleasant memories back to surface.

Aria knelt on the ground. Her face was facing the ground that had turned into ashes. Her hands were grasping of whatever had remained left of the burning ground. A face came to her mind. And she lost it as only the ashes witnessed her tears.

"...Alvise..."

A/N : I'm stepping up the chapter's pace. RnR? Ty~