"Pfiew, finally!", sighted Irie. "We are back in our era!"

"Hey, don't you think we should check it first?", Nagi said, always cautious.

"Yeah, you're right.". He activated his cell phone, connected to the Internet and checked the newspaper. Yes, they were in the right era. Irie nodded to confirm Nagi. "Erm, Nagi-chan?", said Irie. "We'd have left… Those guys in Kokuyo Land will spot us…".

Nagi nodded in agreement. She knew about the residents of Kokuyo Land. Joshima Ken, Kakimoto Chikusa and… her own parallel world counterpart. "Fulmine-san is waiting for us at the mountain… Soichi-san? Why didn't you get us there at the first place!?". Nagi never had a good stamina, and her illusionary organs just made matters worse. She doesn't want to walk all the way there!

"I can't.", said Irie. "There are only a few places in Namimori where we can land during time travelling. It's like train stations.", he exclaimed. He really didn't like the fact either.

"Whatever… Let's get going and hope that we won't get noticed.".

Suddenly, the phone rang. Irie quickly answered. "Yes? Silver Thorn! Eh? Where will it be?". One moment of silence. "WHAT!? At my department!?"

"Soichi-san, your volume!", Nagi whispered.

Irie ignored her. "OK. Understood.", he said and ended the call.

"What did Silver Thorn say?", asked Nagi.

"The meeting will be at my department.".

"At the very least that is closer…".

"That's what bothers you!?", Irie cried. My stomach… "I can't just put you into my house. You're still wearing the same clothes you were wearing when you were in the hospital! And how can I possibly bring Silver Thorn!? You know how she's dressing! What will Okaa-san and Onee-san say? My stomach…".

"Soichi-san… You know that Silver Thorn has probably broken into your bedroom through the window….".

"WHAT DO I DO NOW!?".

Facepalm. "Let's go to your house already.", she said in an irritated tone and summoned her spear (no trident) out of thin air. She tapped her weapon on the ground. Next second, both of them were invisible.

%%% time skip %%%

"Okaa-san, I'm home!".

A brunette woman came out of the kitchen along with a high-school girl who was apparently Irie's elder sister. "Sho-chan!", the mother said.

Nagi stared at him trying to hold her laughter. Sho-chan!?

"Ne, Soichi.", said his sister in a teasing tone. "You didn't tell us you have a girlfriend!".

Both of them blushed. "Na-Na-Nagi i-isn't m-my g-g-girlfriend! Sh-she is just a friend!".

"If you say so…". Still teasing.

"May I treat you something?", the mother asked Nagi.

"N-no… thank you…", she whispered. Irie sweat dropped. Speaking of switching modes!

Both of them headed to the bedroom. Someone shut the door behind them. Nagi and Irie turned around to stare at… Silver Thorn.

Silver Thorn is a tall, slim, black, sixteen-years-old girl with electric green eyes and snow white hair in a low ponytail that reached her waist. She was wearing a sleeveless black leather jacket with some electric green decorating stripes and high collar which left her belly fully exposed, black leather mini shorts with the same decoration as her jacket, black leather over-kne, high-heeled boots with silver buttons, black fingerless gloves, many silver bracelets and a lightning ring. Finally, she had a metallic whip and a small green box hanging on her belt. Her green – due to lipstick – lips were always in a straight line. Silver Thorn's poker face was never fading, no matter what.

"Do you have the Rings?", she asked in monotone.

"Here.", Irie said, his stomachache gone. Everybody who knew Silver Thorn, knew that she is a serious and responsible person they can count on. Irie gave her the jewel box with the Vongola Rings knowing they are in good hands.

"Alright.", Silver Thorn announced. "I have orders for you from Oshiou-sama. "Nagi, we will take the 10-years bazooka and you will come with me for your new mission.".

"What about me?", asked Irie.

"You will stay in this era. Weneed you to find as much information as you can on Arcobaleno Verde.".

Irie was surprised. "The mad scientist?".

"Yes. It appears that he's been doing quite an odd-looking research now lately in this era. The… new one was telling quite the interesting stories about how he got here.".

"Don't tell me it has something to do with that pet of his!", Irie panicked.

"Apparently it does.".

Irie fainted. The girls ignored him. Nagi spoke up. "Don't you have a pet like that as well, Silver Thorn?".

Silver Thorn looked at the box hanging on her belt. "You mean Zeuphs? Yes. But the truth is that in my parallel future world, box weapons were never invented. It was Byakuran who brought them in.". Good thing Soichi-san is asleep, Nagi thought. He snaps every time he hears Byakurans' name.

"We have no time.", said Silver Thorn. "We must leave.". Both girls jumped into the bazooka, leaving Irie unconscious on the flour.

%%%%%%

"Have you found anything, Iemitsu?". Nonos' expression was calm, but his eyes were full of anxiety.

"Unfortunately, nothing.", Iemitsu said in despair. "No traces, no suspects, nothing! It's almost like the Rings disappeared from the surface of the earth!".

"I see…".

They remained silent for a long time. The clock was ticking, and it was the only sound in the office.

The silence broke. "Should we tell Xanxus? Ninth.".

"No.". His voice was full of sadness. "Xanxus… has been acting… strangely. There is a different cold in his eyes. As if he knows something he didn't want to know…".

BANG! The door slammed open. "Ninth!", yelled the subordinate. "The Varia has attacked the headquarters!".

Later, this became known as the Crib incident.

%%%%%%

Author's note: Zeuphs is a Lightning Eagle.