A/N: I put the CEDEF note and a note about Terasu/Harry's behavior on my profile, so there won't be a huge Author's Note here.
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Terasu knew that the man was dangerous, but she adored Lussuria. Whether they were knee-deep in fabrics and arguing about the proper cuts and stitch styles or lounging on the back porch watching Prince Bel 'training' Tsu-nii, Lussuria was a delightful companion.
It helped that Lussuria was her partner-in-crime.
"It's not that they don't believe you can fight." Lussuria had told her one afternoon when she had griped about her brother not wanting her to learn to fight properly. "It's that Bel is rather old-fashioned and believes that you shouldn't have to. It's a rather archaic way of thinking, but Bel was raised with the ideology that the man of the house was the first line of defense, and if the women were forced to take the fight into their hands, then the Protectors failed."
"That's stupid." Terasu had protested hotly. "Just because Otou-san isn't around doesn't mean that protecting all of us falls solely on Tsu-nii's shoulders."
"I agree~!" Lussuria had sang brightly, dropping the costume he'd had in his hand and spinning around quickly, hands on his lips and a devious grin on his lips. "Which is why I have decided to train you." Lussuria shifted and tapped a thoughtful finger to his lips. "Of course, we're going to have to be sneaky about things and we have to prepare for your performance so we'll be working harder than the boys."
Terasu gulped uneasily but she straightened with resolve and tipped her chin up in defiance. "Bring it." She retorted hotly. "I won't be left behind."
"That's my girl!" Lussuria cheered as he bounced forward and wrapped her into an exuberant hug.
Five days later, as Lussuria launched another 'surprise attack' and Mama only giggled indulgently Terasu felt a burst of affection curl through her as she considered how much her brother loved her and Mama to put up with this treatment for months at a time with a minimal of complaining.
Don't worry, Tsu-nii. She thought fiercely as she dodged one of Lussuria's massive punches and slipped out of her bedroom window, shimmying down the drain pipe and hitting the ground running. I'll do my absolute best and catch up. We'll face anyone who wants to hurt Mama together.
Then Lussuria was suddenly, somehow in front of her and she didn't have time to think anymore. Terasu pulled up all of Harry's memories of fighting and surviving and anything else that she thought would help as she dodged and weaved and tried to find a way to counter attack.
She wouldn't hold back, she'd use everything in her arsenal to keep Tsu-nii and Mama safe.
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Meanwhile in Italy, Byakuran was scheming.
My adorable Little Queen needs Guardians. He thought as he lay sprawled in the sunshine in the unforgiving summer sun, highly potent sunscreen protecting his rather sensitive skin. Byakuran flipped through the portfolio that his mother's people had compiled for him and he sipped at his sweet drink carefully as he considered the information. Tsuna has plenty of decent prospects, but my Little Queen needs Guardians who know better than to smother her because of her gender. Byakuran grinned rather sharply. They would do well to not underestimate lovely Tera-chan.
Byakuran snapped his fingers and one of the staff quickly moved to replace his now-empty drink. Byakuran gave his attendant a pleased smile when he realized that the man had caught on to the fact that Byakuran liked for his drink's flavor to match the color of the decorative umbrella. I need to ensure that that one receives a bonus. He mentally noted as he set aside the portfolio from his mother's people and picked up one of the ones from his father's informants. It was several disinterested pages later that he caught sight of something that caused him to sit up a bit straighter.
"Oho?" He murmured as the smirk on his face morphed into a fully-grown conspiratorial smile. "Now, this is interesting."
A week and a few lucrative business deals later, Byakuran let out a triumphant laugh as he hung up the phone, causing the nearby servants to either shudder in apprehension or quirk an inquisitive eyebrow.
Inside the office Byakuran leaned back in his chair and basked in the success of his newest scheme. This ought to be entertaining. He thought as he mentally prepared himself for Tsuna's not doubt entirely amusing reactions to the upcoming meetings. I can't wait for the performance!
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Terasu flounced offstage and threw herself into her brother's arms.
"A brilliant performance, Tera-chan!" Tsuna muttered into her hairspray-stiff hair, the smell irritating his nose and causing it to itch terribly, but he persevered. "You were absolutely breathtaking out there."
Terasu pulled back a bit and grinned happily up at Tsuna. "Thanks, Tsu-nii! But you were pretty amazing yourself!"
Tsuna's answer devolved into a surprised screech as Byakuran unexpectedly popped up. "Little Queen!"
"Byakuran!" Terasu yelled excitedly, throwing herself into Byakuran's arms.
Byakuran caught her easily and twirled her around expertly. "You were breathtaking, as Tsuna mentioned."
Terasu shifted backwards a little so she could tip her head back and look into Byakuran's lavender eyes. "It's mostly thanks to you guys though!" She told him happily. "Without you organizing the stage and the advertising, and Tsu-nii working on the set as well as playing his part, and then Shō-kun with the Orchestra-" Terasu's cheerful babbling was cut off as Nana arrived, escorted by one of the ushers.
"Tera-chan! Tsu-kun!" She called warmly. "Ara, and Bya-kun, and Shō-kun as well!" The Sawada Matriarch gave them all warm, motherly hugs. "I hope you all are planning to come to the house for a celebration dinner! I made all your favorites just in case!" The woman told them all brightly.
"We wouldn't dream of missing it, Mama." Byakuran answered smoothly. "Do you mind if I bring a few extras?"
Suddenly Shōichi clutched at his stomach while Tsuna whimpered in apprehension.
Nana, naturally, was oblivious. "Of course not, Bya-kun!" She assured him. "Well, I'm going to hurry home and get everything set up, I'll expect you all in about an hour, alright?"
"Of course, Mama." Byakuran told her cheerily. "We wouldn't dream of keeping you waiting."
Nana beamed at them and scurried off, presumably back to the house to ready herself for the imminent arrival of her guests.
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The boy known by most as 'Spanner' had always been fascinated by the country of Japan. At first it had been because it was an escape from the dreary reality that was his life, as his father was a mechanic and his mother a computer programmer, and both of them miserable together yet even more miserable when they were apart. The country was small, yet held some of the most advanced technology programs in the entire world. Little Spanner's goal had been to attend one of the Japanese universities.
It was a goal at least. One that didn't end with him in the same situation as his parents.
As shitty as it sounded, it had nearly been a relief when his father had finally had his meltdown and his mother had sent the young child from the family home in Britain to his maternal grandfather in Italy.
Grandfather was an engineer and worked for a not-entirely-legal shell company for the mafia. Spanner had not really cared as he suddenly had the freedom to be both mechanic and programmer, whereas at home whatever he tinkering he had performed had only evolved into another shouting match between his parents. It was Grandfather's work partner- who was a man who was a Japanese national, but was in Italy on a work visa through the 'company'- that had rekindled Spanner's passion for all things Japanese-related. Of course, Spanner did not discount the advances in the other countries; he just had a special sort of affection for Japan.
It was actually Mr. Takeda who had dubbed him 'Spanner' and the boy had demanded that everyone call him that ever since. Grandfather had even had Spanner's official records adjusted, mostly out of amusement. As time went by, Spanner's genius with machines became apparent and he was allowed to work on the more 'elite' projects.
That is to say, machines that were made to be used by Flame Actives or machines made to go against Flame Actives.
Spanner loved the work, and his insights had allowed Grandfather and Mr. Takeda to speed up the timeframe on several of their projects, which had then granted Spanner access to even more top-secrets projects. By the end, Spanner had been involved in most of the company's high-level projects to some degree.
So when Byakuran Gesso had shown up and offered Spanner a way into Japan, he had taken the opportunity gleefully. Of course, such an opportunity had not come without some strings attached.
"You." Byakuran Gesso, the Heir of the President who had just 'bought' the shell companies that Grandfather and Mr. Takeda worked for, said casually from his position against the doorjamb of the room spanner had been working inside of when Byakuran had shown up. "Are primarily a Lightning Flame user. However, I will warn you now- I am the Little Queen's Lightning Guardian." Something dark and dangerous had played behind the lavender-colored eyes for a moment, and Spanner knew instantly that the other teen would not hesitate to end him should Spanner tread on his self-proclaimed position.
"Alight. So, where do I come in?"
Byakuran's smile stretched into something far less sinister and the dark possessiveness that had been on display quickly hid itself behind a pleasant demeanor. "You are as much of a Sun Flame user as you are a Lightning Flame, and Tera-chan needs two Sun Guardians- for reasons that should become apparent to you if you are half as intelligent as I suspect that you are. Shōichi won't mind sharing the position, especially as he enjoys science and making new gadgets. Music is his passion, but science is a favored hobby." Byakuran had favored Spanner with a rather imperious look. "So, knowing the limits and that the Little Queen's safety is my first priority, what say you, Spanner?"
Spanner had grinned then, sharp and vicious and intensely interested as he pulled his ever-present lollipop out of his mouth to answer. "When do I leave and how often can I visit Grandfather?"
"I think, Spanner." Byakuran said as he gracefully detached from the doorjamb and crossed the space between them, extending his hand after he stopped just short of Spanner's position. "That we are going to get along very, very well."
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The jumpsuit-clad teen with blonde hair, light green eyes, and lollipop tucked in his cheek was introduced to them as Spanner, who would be starting school with Shōichi when school resumed. The man with the sharp, teal eyes that were made up with a similar shade of eye-shadow, and long, wavy, mint-colored hair that was tied half up, half down and was sporting golden cuff earrings was introduced as Kikyō, Byakuran's newly-hired personal assistant.
Fortunately, Tsuna had gotten used to Lussuria by this point so he had not made any comment about how effeminate the man appeared to be, despite his rather pronounced arm muscles and graceful gait.
Terasu made a mental note to keep Kikyō and Lussuria far apart- as they would either get along like gasoline and fire or they would hate each other at first sight. She was not entirely sure what would be worse, honestly.
Once they had been introduced, Mama had quickly ushered them into the kitchen and gotten them seated around the table, where the feast she had prepared was laid out in front of them. Mama was seated at the head of the table, with one of the Sawada siblings on either side of her. Terasu was seated next to Byakuran, who had Kikyō seated next to him. Tsuna was sitting next to the new guy, Spanner, and next to him was Shōichi.
Spanner was giving Mama rather disturbingly besotted glances, which made Tsuna squirm uncertainly, but Terasu thought that the blonde's obvious adoration of Mama was adorable.
She could live without Byakuran's knowing smirks, though.
Kikyō was rather well mannered, despite his vociferously colorful appearance, and Terasu was pleased by the steady stream of chatter she was able to include Kikyō in, with the occasional input with the others.
Of course, because nothing in Terasu's lives ever happened without a dash of Potter Luck thrown in, it was just as they reached the main course and were all settled into comfortable conversation that Prince Bel and Lussuria showed up.
"Ushishishi, the Prince has arrived!" The blonde royal proclaimed as he threw open the front door, Lussuria trailing behind him. They quickly switched their shoes and Mama ushered them into the kitchen.
The newcomers locked gazes with those who were seated at the table.
A tense moment passed.
Then Terasu stood and came around to greet the Varia members. "Prince bel! Lussuria-nee! I didn't realize that you were able to make it!" She told them cheerfully, bestowing both of them with hugs and gesturing for them to have a seat. "You can have the other end seat, Prince Bel. The table is backwards so that is actually the head of the table."
The Prince smirked proudly at her and smoothly seated himself, leveling the others with a cool stare.
Terasu looked at Lussuria. "Would you like to sit by Kikyō-san or Shō-kun, Lussuria-nee?"
Lussuria and Kikyō exchanged a long, hard stare. The only sounds were Nana's bustling as she made up two extra place settings and Shōichi's muted groaning.
Tsuna knew better than to flail in Prince Bel's presence.
Then Lussuria and Kikyō both smiled sharply and Lussuria patted Terasu on the head fondly. "I'll sit by Kikyō-chan, Tera-dear!" And then the man bounced over and seated himself next to the greenet.
"Nice to meet you, Lussuria-chan." Kikyō greeted politely.
Lussuria's grin widened into something darker, yet intensely satisfied. "You as well, Ki-chan!" He chirped brightly. "I think that we're going to be very good friends."
"Indeed." The greenet drawled with a disturbing grin of his own.
"Isn't this lovely!" Byakuran commented as he happily slurped his noodles.
"It is isn't it?" Nana gushed happily as she looked out over her full, lively dinner table.
"We should do this more often." Byakuran commented innocently.
Tsuna and Shōichi both glared at him as the others went back to making conversation. Well, Prince Bel made cutting commentary and Lussuria and Kikyō interjected bland insults and outright catty observations, while Spanner lavished praise on Nana and Shōichi and Tsuna traded commiserating glances with each other. Terasu and Nana merely did their part in keeping the conversation flowing and being hostesses.
Terasu still had the unsettling feeling that she had somehow catalyzed the apocalypse.
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Terasu's eighth birthday sped by in a haze of performances, as they had collectively decided to celebrate Terasu's birthday after the run of Turandot, the First Act was completed. Of course, Nana and Tsuna had still wished her a happy birthday on her birthday and had given her heartfelt, snug hugs, but the reality was the Sawada family was far too busy to do much more than that and Terasu's favorite dinner.
With the dance recitals, music recitals, club activities, and the two semi-major productions, Sawada Nana had amassed quite the collection of pictures of Tsuna, Terasu, and their rather eclectic group of friends. So many, in fact, that the shoe box she originally kept them in was overflowing and there were stacks of photos strewn about her dresser as well. She had many pictures framed and hung on the walls, but there were just so many of them! And it wasn't as if the pictures in her shoebox of memories were not wall-worthy, rather if she hung them she would run out of wall space! With Tsuna now taking art classes and beginning to draw and paint, she had even more precious memories to hold onto and she didn't want to throw any of them away!
She could use picture albums, of course, but all of the pictures were varying sizes and Tsuna's art would not fit into something so…..premade.
In the end, it had been Lussuria who had suggested what would become Nana's favorite hobby.
"Oh my, that's quite the collection, Mama!" Lussuria had mentioned from his position against the doorjamb. Nana had an old dress that the man was going to update for her, and that was why he had followed her, as he was almost ready to leave. "Why don't you scrapbook all of this?"
"Scrapbook?" Nana had asked curiously as she slid the door to her walk-in closet closed and walked over to the cheerful man. "What are you talking about Lussuria-chan?"
Lussuria favored her with a warm smile and linked their arms together as she escorted him to the front door. "Scrapbooking, Mama-dear, is the art of compiling pictures or other keepsakes into meaningful collages using whatever strikes your fancy- decorative or novelty stamps with colored inks, construction paper, chalk, string, there are endless possibilities, really." Lussuria waved his free hand negligently and released Nana so that he could put on his shoes. Since she still seemed curious he elaborated. "The type of scrapbooking I am thinking of is where you take a book full of thick, acid-free paper- or parchment, depending on how fancy you wish to get- and you use all of those things and more to create cute little collages with your pictures or other mementos, with explanations as to what, when, and where was happening at the time it was taken or drawn or whatever."
"Oh!" Nana exclaimed brightly, reaching forward and giving Lussuria a warm hug. "That sounds like so much fun!" Nana stepped back and beamed at Lussuria. "I don't know why I never thought about that, but I think it would be a great way to preserve the memories and find a way to display them. You're a lifesaver, Lussuria-chan!"
"I live to please, Mama-dear!" Lussuria preened as the Sawada Matriarch began to babble excitedly.
"I'll have the supplies and start organizing the mess in my room, but I'll wait until you come back so that you can help me with my first collage, alright Lussuria-chan?"
Lussuria was Varia, tried, tested, and true, but Sawada Nana was a doll and he couldn't help but dote on the Little Queen's mother. "It sounds like a date, Mama-dear! Until then!"
Nana's bright, clear laugh could be heard all the way to the street.
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Nana was dithering over a selection of colored inks when a young girl collided into her.
"Oh! Haru is sorry, desu!" The dark haired girl apologized earnestly as she righted herself and reached out a hand to steady Nana. Once Nana was stable the girl released her and pointed sheepishly at a basket with a sale marker on it that was full of colorful spools of thread. "Haru was distracted by the sale on thread, desu!"
Nana smiled kindly down at the girl; she seemed to be about Terasu's age. "Ara, it's fine, Haru-chan!" She told the girl easily. "Do you enjoy sewing then?"
The girl's chocolate eyes seemed to brighten and she brought her fisted hands in excitement. "Haru does, desu!" She bounced a little and her grinn widened at the gentle smile Nana favored her with. "Haru is going to make a costume like Turandot-sama for her school club project!"
"Ara?" Nana echoed bemusedly. "Have you done to watch the play then, Haru-chan?"
"Haru has attended seven performances." The girl confessed with a light blush.
Nana's smiled widened and she shook her head firmly. "Well, then, I'll tell you what, Haru-chan." Nana leaned forward a bit and explained her plan in a conspiratorial ton of voice. "If you help me in picking out only three ink colors for my new scrapbooking project, I'll invite you over for dinner." Nana's grin widened a bit at the rather confused look on Haru's face. "My daughter is the one who plays Turandot-sama." She imparted proudly. "And I think that you two would get along quite well." She finished cheerfully.
Haru's eyes went wide and her blush deepened. "Ah, Haru does not think that she would have anything in common with Sawada-sama." She told the mother of two rather uncertainly. "Haru is often told that she is, ah, annoying, desu."
"I am certain that you and Tera-chan would get along quite well." Nana told her firmly, feeling a kinship to this bright girl. Sawada Nana had often been told to mind her own business and to stop being such an annoyance more than once, once upon a time. Besides, Haru was sweet and Tera-chan did need some actual girl friends. "So help me pick out these ink colors so I can get dinner started."
"If you're sure, Sawada-sama." The girl told her doubtfully.
"None of that now!" Nana told her cheerfully as she went back to considering the ink colors. "You should call me Mama!"
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I can't believe it has been almost two months since I met Tera-chan! Haru thought excitedly as she closed her school shoe locked and grabbed her school bag.
Despite Haru's nervousness, she and Sawada Terasu had gotten a long quite well. Though, through the benefit of hindsight, Haru was fairly certain that it was more to do with Haru's treatment of Tsuna that had endeared her to the younger girl at first. Sawada Tsunayoshi was clumsy, awkward, and a bit of a worrywart but Haru thought he was cute and had said so upon their first face-to-face meeting. Terasu had been slightly cool, but cordial and it had not taken long after that for the two girls to bond over fabrics and costumes and other things that made Tsuna's eyes go all swirly.
Figuratively, of course.
Haru also really liked Lussuria-nee, who came by every once in a while and always had tips and pointers for their costumes designs. Lussuria-nee would comment that a commoners fabric during such-and-such time period would need to be much coarser and the stiches more haphazard, or he would gently correct a color they wanted to use, citing a historical, class-oriented, or societal reason; he even showed them how to 'age' their materials so they looked more authentic!
Lussuria-nee was the best!
Haru fairly skipped as she made her way to the elementary school the Sawada siblings attended. She and Terasu were going to be going over the designs for next summer's play- well, one of them. They would be performing Turandot: the Second Act, but in the evenings between July seventh and August seventh they would be performing a rather romanticized, theatrical version of the legend behind Tanabata, or the Star Festival.
Both plays were costume-intensive, so there was no shortage of work to be done, but Haru was enjoying every minute of it!
"Haru-chan!" Terasu called out to her. Apparently the Sawada siblings had gotten out of the club activities a little early. Haru was usually just in time for the end of their day because her club let out fifteen minutes earlier than theirs did due to her day starting a half-hour earlier.
"Tera-chan!" Haru called back, bouncing over and linking her arm with her friend. "How was your day?" She asked excitedly, tossing a greeting to the bemused Tsuna on Terasu's other side.
"Not bad, I hate math, though!" She cried out in frustration. "I mean, numbers I am okay with, but then the alphabet barges in and I get lost!"
"Amen." Tsuna muttered dejectedly.
Haru laughed and Terasu poked her in the ribs none-too-gently. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want Miss I-want-to-go-to-Midori-Middle, I still hate alphabet-flavored math." Terasu made a disgusted face. "And whoever came up with it. I hope that they run into Prince Bel in a bad mood."
Tsuna nearly tripped, he started laughing so hard.
"It's not that bad." Haru placated her friend, grinning wider at the scowl Terasu sent her way. "Besides, you could try for Midori, too."
Terasu rolled her eyes and poked her friend again. "First off, I have way too much to do to pull my grades up to the very top like Midori needs. Secondly what do you think would happen to Tsu-nii without his brilliant, wonderful sister to nudge him when sensei calls on him in history?"
Haru raised an amused eyebrow. "You're still falling asleep in history?"
"It's not my fault, I tried to stay awake, honest!" Tsuna protested, spinning around to walk backwards in front of them and waving his hands around to emphasize his point. "But Prince Bel showed up really early this morning- by morning, I mean that in the technical sense, it was midnight-dawn basically- and then we have PE in the first half of the day. I was exhausted."
The girls gave Tsuna suspicious looks.
His shoulders drooped in defeat. "You have no hearts." He muttered petulantly.
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It was the beginning of December when Prince Bel and Lussuria showed up in the middle of the night, carefully shaking their respective students awake and informing them that it would likely be months, if not upwards of a year before they could make it back.
"There's weird shit going down at work." Lussuria told them seriously. "And even though you've never really seen him around, Mammon has always covered for us so that no one follows us back to you two. Unfortunately, our company is even smaller than Iemitsu's and we can't afford to possibly have Mammon tied up covering us if something happens."
They both- even Tsuna had dared to hug the crazy blonde- have given the two tight, fierce hugs and had all but demanded that the two be as safe as possible.
"You guys are awesome." Tsuna told them in a semi-wobbly voice. "I won't demand that you not get hurt, but-" Tsuna's breath hitched and Terasu stepped in.
"-but promise us that you'll do your absolute best to come back." Terasu had finished strongly.
The two had smirked at the Sawada siblings fiercely, more teeth than lips, but that was fine. Tsuna and Terasu didn't want assurances from their friends; they wanted assurances from the warriors that lurked behind Lussuria's easy gait and Prince Bel's arrogant bearing.
The moment held for a long moment, and more was said in that echoing silence than any words could have hoped to convey. Then the moment shattered and Lussuria pulled out a small, thin brightly-wrapped rectangular-shaped box from nowhere and he presented it to Terasu.
Beside him, Prince Bel presented Tsuna with a similarly-wrapped, but square box.
"We know that you don't usually open presents in front of people, but these require some explanations, so go ahead." Lussuria told them.
Tsuna and Terasu muttered their thanks and obeyed. The wrapping paper fell away to reveal dark, sturdy wooden boxes. Tsuna gave Terasu a smile and gestured for her to go first. She made a face at him, but huffed in defeat and complied with his silent demand.
Her breath caught when she opened the box and gazed at the two small, dark sticks lying on the velvet interior. For a moment, Terasu was Harry, that day in Ollivander's receiving his Holly and Phoenix feather wand-
She reached out and ran a gentle finger along one of them. "They're beautiful." She breathed reverently. "Thank you."
"They're all yours." Lussuria told her warmly, snapping her out of her memories and back into the present, but her awe of her gift remained. "Pick them up."
Terasu, rather shakily, complied. The dark brown, nearly black sticks were decorated with beautifully etched designs, inlaid with silver and capped at the end with what appeared to be jade. They were tapered slightly, from the jade cap at the end, but Terasu guessed that they were about an inch and a half at the largest end and a half to quarter-inch at the smaller end. The transition was so fluid that you have to look at them really closely to notice that, though.
"They're beautiful." She breathed again, just as besotted as before as she carefully examined them.
"They're not only beautiful, Little Queen, they're deadly." Prince Bel told her, smug and excited all at once. "You are a Sky, but much like Lussuria and I's Boss you have another predominate Flame- Sun Flames, to be exact."
"Yep!" Lussuria interjected brightly, lightly clapping his hands together as he all but bounced with excitement. "And what are Sun Flames known for?" He prompted expectantly.
"Activation." Both Tsuna and Terasu answered obediently.
"Precisely." Prince Bel answered, haughtily pleased.
"We had some help from Bya-chan, Shōi-chan, and Lollipop-boy, but our Boss allowed us to use our company's weapon's smith to help forge these." He waved at Terasu's opened present and Tsuna's as-of-yet unopened one. "As a way for you two to stay safe while we're unable to be here."
"Hold them with the jade ends pointed towards you, with your hand nearly touching the jade ends and will them to change."
Terasu, a thousand memories of Harry tumbling through her mind, took a deep eager breath, exchanged a quick, excited glance with her brother and then positioned her hands just so before she closed her eyes. It took a few minutes, but eventually she could feel the pleasant hum of her Flame uncoiling from deep within her and spiraling out in accordance to her will. It was a bit difficult, to call out just the Sun part and not the Sky one, but she had been practicing for the better part of six months on this exact thing during her daily meditation exercises, so she managed it.
When her Flames reached her hands, the silver etching glowed brightly for a quick moment. In the next moment she was holding two beautifully crafted, silver-bladed daggers. The blades were about a foot or so long, but the curve made it difficult to tell. The etching that was present on the sticks was displayed on the blade, and the hilt was a leather wrapped, jade inlaid thing of beauty. There was a guard on the underside, but the top was open so she was going to need some lessons on how not to cut herself, even though Lussuria had taught her the basics of using short blades! The end was jade cylinder that held a sharp, silver spike.
Terasu was fairly certain that she was in love.
"If I felt more awake." She told them seriously. "I would run through my stances."
The other three chuckled, but Terasu's renewed thanks were cut off by Lussuria instructing her how to return her daggers to their original form. She pouted at him, but he assured her that they held another surprise, so she rather grumpily complied. Once they were merely beautiful stick once more, Lussuria told her to call up her Sky Flame's Harmony factor while holding both sticks in the same hand.
Terasu did, and once more the silver etching glowed brightly for a moment before something new was in her hand.
"The design is based off of the ko-naginata, though those are usually over six feet tall." Lussuria explained to the awed Terasu. Tsuna had scooted over and was running gentle fingers over the etching along the weapon's wooden middle. "We guesstimated your adult height and made this one to scale, so it is a bit too big for you right now."
"That beauty is four-and-a-half feet of reinforced wood, topped by thirteen inches of steel, and capped with two inches of titanium at the base." Prince Bel informed her succinctly. "So, it is about one hundred and seventy-six centimeters as opposed to the usual two-hundred and ten centimeters or somewhat higher."
Lussuria pouted at Prince Bel. "You know I like to use standard measurements instead of metric!"
"Because you're an annoying peasant." Prince Bel replied acerbically.
"Uh, guys?" Tsuna broke in, eying his sister worriedly. "I think you broke Tera-nee."
Terasu smacker her brother with her free hand, but did not disagree. The weapon in her hands was topped by what looked to be one of her daggers, but the blade was straight. This time the jade was a small section between the end of the blade and the beginning of the trunk. The trunk of the weapon held the intricate silver etching, which was a stark contrast to the dark wood.
Really, really pretty though.
The bottom of the weapon, much like Prince Bel had mentioned was capped with a shining whitish-silver metal with a rather wicked-looking sharp barb at the very bottom.
Terasu was sort of in love with it already, even if it was too cumbersome for her at the moment.
It was with no little regret that she returned the gorgeous weapon to its stick form. "They're hair sticks-" Lussuria told her brightly, showing her how to remove the end and secure the things in her hair. "-most people- even Flame wielding Mafioso- would overlook them, so you're likely to never be disarmed.
"Thank you." She told them once more, hugging them both, then Tsuna, and then both of them again. "They're amazing."
"Tera-chan is going to sleep with those things in her hair now." Tsuna moaned playfully. "And then when she sneaks in to cuddle with me she'll poke me with them!"
Terasu smacked her brother and rolled her eyes dramatically, but she gestured for Tsuna to open his present.
Tsuna opened his box and saw two sturdy, thick leather bracers inside. They were handsome, maybe two inches thick with twisted stands of dyed pieces woven into their intricate design. Curious, he slipped both of them on and began to channel his Flame without being told. It took him a bit longer than it took Terasu, but soon enough his Flames rose and were directed to the bracers, which flashed obediently and morphed into some awesome-looking dark-colored gloves.
"Wow." Tsuna breathed quietly, tightening and loosening his hands into fists and feeling how the gloves' material flowed with the movements. "They're so awesome."
"You prefer to get up close and personal with your fights, Fluffy Dragon." Prince Bel explained. "The founder of the parents company that we work for was known for his preference for fighting with his fists so that he could use his famed Intuition to the fullest. Your gloves were modeled after his, only better. Since our technology and understanding of the mechanics behind the Flames has grown, your version is far superior."
"I can feel the gloves encouraging my Flames." Tsuna told them, attention still focused intently on his new gloves. "It's like they're encouraging my Flames to rise to the surface." Tsuna concentrated for a moment and then his hands- or his gloves perhaps- were wreathed in bright orange Flames. "Neat." He said cheerfully.
Terasu rolled her eyes, Lussuria preened and Prince Bel whacked Tsuna over the head, just hard enough for him to startled the kid and cause the mini-bonfire around his hands to flicker out.
"Alright." Lussuria chirped brightly. "Rules and then His Highness and I need to be off, we're running behind as is."
Both Sawada siblings drooped a little.
"Now, now none of that!" Lussuria informed them sternly, waiting for the twins to perk back up and little and focus on him. "First things first, no using your new weapons without being somewhere where you can hide what you're doing. Iemitsu occasionally has people in the area to check up on you, and it is only thanks to Mammon's interference that he has not realized that Bel and I know about you. Our branches have a bit of a rivalry, so him finding out about us knowing about you would be….highly inconvenient."
Terasu and Tsuna's Intuition told them that that was an understatement.
"Likewise, if he finds out that you both are Flame Active he's likely to freak and do something incredibly moronic- like have your Flames sealed." Lussuria's eye roll was readily apparent, even though he was still wearing his trademark sunglasses. "Not because he wants to be cruel, but I think he has an idealized version of what his family is and should be and that causes him to react….rashly." The man's lips twisted into a sneer, but he did an admirable job of keeping his feelings out of his voice. "Therefore, unless it is an emergency, don't be careless. Understood?"
The siblings nodded.
"The last rule is to always, always have them on your person somewhere." Lussuria told them as he and Bel got to their feet. "Obviously you will have to take them out to shower or take a bath, but even then keep them within reach. Intruders are more likely to attack when you're vulnerable, understood?"
Terasu and Tsuna nodded and stepped forward to give their mentors another round of hugs- Prince Bel was being rather agreeable, but both were grateful for his longsuffering, and Lussuria just gave nice hugs- and then they sat back down on Tsuna's bed and watched them leave.
"Tera-chan?" Tsuna said after a short period of silence after Lussuria and Prince Bel had long since disappeared.
"Yeah, Tsu-nii?" Terasu answered, tone thick with unspent emotions.
"Is it-" Tsuna hesitated for a long moment, but apparently decided to press forward. "-is it wrong of me that I miss them more than I miss Otou-san?"
Terasu was silent for a long moment. "No, I don't think so." She admitted reluctantly. "Otou-san- well, he's more of an ideal, really. We know he exists, and that it's his money that pays for our home and our schooling and our other stuff, but he's never really been here, you know?" Terasu wriggled around and gently bullied Tsuna back under the covers, settling in beside him once she was satisfied that her hair sticks were within easy reach on the night stand. "It's like, we love him but it's different from how we love Mama and Lussuria-nee and Prince Bel because they're the ones who are here for us when we fall down, and they know us- not some deluded, convoluted version of us."
Terasu combed gentle fingers through Tsuna's soft hair and curled around her brother. "So I don't think it's wrong of you to feel that way. Sad, maybe, but not wrong."
When Nana came in to wake them up the next morning, she smiled tenderly and snapped a few pictures before she roused them.
They were growing up so fast.
Are you ever going to come see me and our babies, anata? It's been so very long. She thought forlornly as she made breakfast. But before she could slide too far into the familiar heartache that the absence of her husband always left within her, Tsuna came tumbling into the kitchen with a laughing Terasu at his back and her world brightened and lightened and started moving forward once more.
"I win!" Terasu called brightly as Tsuna rolled his eyes and accepted his sister's hand up with a very brotherly sense of long-suffering.
"You cheated!"
"I'm adorable, therefore I can't cheat!"
Tsuna spluttered indignantly. "That's not even a thing!" He spun to face Nana. "Mama! Tell Tera-chan that's that's not a thing!"
Nana tipped her head back and laughed.
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Also, Byakuran is a Sky, but he wants to be Terasu's Lightning Guardian so he will. I think that Byakuran needs to feel important, needed and have a focus to build his schemes and goals around to really be happy and keep himself balanced.
His decision to use Terasu as his focus will of course create ripples!