"Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely."
― Edna St. Vincent Millay

Chapter 7

"So he decided to make you join us?"

I stared at the red head blankly and nodded.

After a whole while of interrogation, finally, the man named Sen decided that I just need to join this little group of his that is made up of children. Well, at least he let me choose, die or join. Wonderful! Wonderful indeed!

But seriously, what the fuck.

Finding out that my family is not a bad thing, but finding out that I was eleven years too late was. What the heck happened to me that I slept inside that forest for a decade without anyone noticing me? Surely I expected that there may be anomalies in time and space between this world and my previous one. But eleven years?! I don't know what to say to that.

Without my body aging, I am now currently a 13-year-old girl inside a two-year old's body. Well that is if you disregard my age from my previous world, but if you did not, I am now 30 years old. What can Shinichi Kudo say about that?

"So if that's the case," the red head started to say, "I guess we'll need to introduce ourselves," she said coolly and smiled.

"Hi I'm Eris, 9 years old." She held out her hand which I'm not sure if I should take or not. I'm not a touchy person. And I prefer if they are not touchy people also. Although this girl seems fun to hang out with, I'm not really comfortable.

Whenever I meet new people, my mind goes to its negative side automatically. So every time I tried to make a friend, negative thought continues to pop up. Like they will try to use me and not treat me as a friend, then dump me as soon as possible. And I always thought that maybe, I should stop making a fool out of myself trying to befriend people who (most probably) don't give a damn about me and my life. So I should probably fuck off and stay in a corner and go emo.

The blond guy stood up and presented himself in front of me, he switched places with Eris whose hand is still held out. "Hello there, I'm the one who dragged you in here, sorry," he apologized as he bowed his head then smiled apologetically. "Well, I'm Yuan by the way." He tilted his head from the right and grinned. He appears to be a person who can crack a few jokes then everyone will start laughing non-stop. He's the kind of person I admire because first of all, it's hard to make people laugh. Secondly, it's hard to make people laugh.

"And that guy," he pointed at the moss green haired boy. "You see that guy?"

I nodded unsure, he laughed loudly and said, "Listen to me," he raised the sleeve of his top and grinned crazily. "That guy is named Hael, he's 8, though he likes being a real—what do you call an annoying guy again, Eris?"

"Douche," the red head simply answered, staring at Yuan.

"Yeah, he can be a real douche sometimes, and a little… snarky too." He abruptly leaned near my ear and whispered, "Be soft on him, he's like that but he's a good one."

"What crap are you trying to telling a two-year-old Yuan?" The Hael guy said, irritated. He ran his finger through his hair. Oh, is he upset? I guess he's the type.

"Just guy stuff Hael," Yuan told Hael as he continued to grin. "You know, maybe she understands more of it than you?"

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

"What? I'm not,"

"SO this is Ryu by the way?" Eris said as he intervened an argument between those two. "Say hi, Ryu."

"Haryuu," Ryu said as he waved his hand, at the same time, his jet black hair that hangs in front of his face was suddenly swept off his hand to the back of his head. That happened incredibly fast I didn't even notice the changes except he lost his bangs.

"He's 7, and that girl you see lying freely on the floor?" I glanced at the violet haired girl as she sleeps, her body curled trying to be comfortable. "She's Nyx, she loves to sleep more obviously and can sleep in between bombings. She's 7 years old too, two years younger than Yuan and I."

I watched Eris as she sat beside the bed I slept in. She crossed her legs and leaned back and used her arms as support. Then I transferred my gaze at Hael which is now looking intently at me, he avoided his eyes as soon as I saw him. The room is now a mess, or is it a mess to begin with. I don't know but I'm back inside the room I slept in a little earlier. From what I can recall, this 'Sen' guy told me that I might as well stay because I don't have anywhere to return to. So charitable, huh? No. Apart from that, he orders me to be a part of this group of children which, I don't know what the hell do they do.

I don't know if he took in the information I just discovered earlier quite well, I don't even know if he even believed it. Like what the hell, If I discovered a two-year-old girl sprouted from somewhere, then knowing she's just like, jumped through time or something, I would probably have kicked her out then tell her she's dreaming. Quite a weird dream at that. But hey, he even let me stay and made me join this little group of his.

"What is this group?" I asked rather amused of what happened.

The red head looks as if she chokes on something. "You mean to tell me; you don't even know what we are? God, it even took me long enough to find how to join this group and it took me even longer to reach the right aptitude," she exclaimed unbelievably.

Hael looked unimpressed. "We are the Incognito, not the The Incognito, please remember."

"That Incognito? The one who operates like the Cervello?" I unbelievably asked.

"Bro Rebooooorn!"

"What is it brat?"

"I know something~" I singsong-ed..

I stared at Reborn as he faintly raises his eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Your true name is Renato, "I told him while I grimace.
"Is your mother the one who told you?" he asked coldly.
I smirked. "A secret," I answered which made him more silent.
"Anyway Mister Renato," I said making my voice deeper and more professional. But inside, hell, I was laughing damn hard. I don't know Reborn will react quite amusingly.

"Kidding, I'll stop, you're looking like a Cervello right now."

His turned serious suddenly. "Where did you hear that?"

"Maids?" I suggested.

"Idiots, gossiping in front of a child," he muttered. Which made me surprise, to think that Reborn doesn't want me to hear such things? I wonder what he'll think if I told him what he'll do to Tsuna decades from now.
"What exactly is Cervello, anyway?" I asked. Playing the part of a baby that doesn't know anything.

"The Cervello is an all-female organization that currently works for the Vongola Famiglia, but accepts works from the Vongola's allied families. They appear to consist of only women, Cervello's 'specialty' is to judge fairly, and that they are never biased, even if they support one team over another," he disinterestedly answered, seems like he thought that 'She already knew, might as well inform her'.
"Oooh," I answered, with fake interest in my voice.
"There is also another group."
"Oooh."
"Interested or not?"
"Oooh," I answered not knowing what the hell is he saying. I'm busy reading a hard bound book that is certainly too big and too heavy for me.

"Reborn, what the hell are you going to tell me anyway?" I asked, my attention focuses on our conversation again.
Reborn sighed, he seemed to be tired with my sudden changes of interest-disinterest. "Another group like Cervello," he answered.
"What do they do," I asked, my attention back in my book.
Reborn did not reply.

I was taken aback by my sudden flashback. I shook my head slowly don't know whether to be happy or to cry and wreck things.

Yuan ignored or did not notice what I'm doing and said, "We also take assassination jobs as well," Yuan said smiling, as if killing people is not much of a problem.

I think I'm in a deeper shit that I thought. Correction, I'm always in a deeper shit.

Incognito is a group that operates like the Cervello and assassinates like the Varia.

Imagine how stunned am I.

Incognito may might ass well be an assassination group. They are hired by every famiglia except the Vongola. Well it makes sense, Vongola has their own assassination squad (and the Cervello) that have built up their own name underground. But what piques my interest is Incognito is much like Varia, they assassinate, but much much much more silently than Varia. But their main job is dealing underground transactions and assisting Mafia Families. They can be compared to Varia as well. Comparing Cervello to Incognito, I don't know much. (Eris said Cervello is crap so don't bother, she said)

The Incognito is probably way stricter, because this group is older that the Varia and their anonymity is well protected. Probably because the Incognito's main priority is not assassination. Meanwhile, Varia was made at the end of the reign of the Eight Vongola Boss, Daniela. The first leader is Tyr, and the future leader is Xanxus. Varia's members are usually emotionally unstable people so it makes sense why they go on killing spree just because they want to, that makes them well known in the mafia. Well I can't figure why the Vongola needs an independent assassination squad, but one thing is for sure, they sure need to kill fairly amount of people.

I studied the room where I'll be staying from now on, white walls and everything. White study table, white bed and bed sheet, white carpet, white ceiling, white everything. Now that I think about it, why do they have a spare room like this? Maybe I need to ask Eris later. She seemed to be a rather interesting girl who loves to blabber.

This kids are literally kids. Brawling happens everywhere and any time. To think these children is part of a group that operates like Cervello? I really doubt it. But if you look at them and study them more carefully, you'll see it. They are not ordinary; they are the types who can kill people and brush it off. Maybe go play with a few untainted children playing in the park after. They can get away with it easily.

Asking the blond boy earlier, they are not really the Incognito. But they are training to be one. They are the next in line, the heirs. And now I'm one of them. Sometimes, I can't believe how lucky I am.

The children are (surprisingly) guardians too, take note. Hael is the Sun. Although it's not really obvious, but he can be perceptive too sometimes. Yuan is the Mist, surprisingly I thought Ryu was. But Ryu was the Rain, and Eris was the Lightning. Nyx was the Storm and I right now, am the Sky. It was a shock to know I'll be leading these guys.

You'll get them killed, the voice whispered.

I felt cold, I will not.

You sure? May be the reason why your whole family got burned is because of you, it darkly stated. There's evil in its voice, too potent to ignore.

I tried to disregard the voice's statement. Also ignoring the blinding pain that comes with it.

I stared at my white room. My senses telling me nothing changed, the place is still as normal as it looks. But it felt like the room was now ten times larger. The air turning stale it's getting hard to breathe. It's like there's a pressure, trying to choke me. Wanting me dead.

My eyes are darting side to side, my body releasing cold sweat.

I want to hide somewhere. Somewhere small, somewhere I can feel that I am the only person because I'm the only one fits the little place.

You're hoping for too much, the voice said.

I smirked as I struggled to breath because of the invisible pressure that only I can feel. Maybe I do, maybe I don't, I replied.

I remembered what Maris said.

"Okay, Grandma Maris—"

"I told you to just call me Maris!"

I grimaced as the other white haired women snickered behind me. "Well Grandma, you're certainly too old."

"Damn you," she cursed.

I smiled. "Is there anything you haven't said, because you told me I'm about to wake up soon."

Her face turned serious, a crease on her forehead appeared. "There's one thing."

Her young body appearing old suddenly, decades of living in world where she is pressured to save the world (quite literally) may have contributed to her unexpected change in appearance. She appeared old, or at least what I felt she was. Her physical appearance did not change, but there is some certain feeling that tells you that this woman has lived into countless wars, had seen too many deaths, and lived through many lives.

"What is it?" I asked.

She looked at me sternly, a gaze of a grandma fearing her only granddaughter might get into trouble. "You can hear a voice right?"

"How did you know?" I looked at her surprised. I remembered the voice whispering things that was definitely not nonsense. Sometimes it helped coped through things, sometimes it's the one that is causing me pain.

"That voice is— "she hesitated. "That voice is a part of you, it informs and explains you the other side of things. Telling you the positive side when you're contemplating on the negative side. Helping you to be more reasonable at times. Reminding you that there are two sides of a thing. When you're thinking of giving up, it'll tell you to not, then it will start giving reasons why you should not give up. It helps you, but every time it whispers to you, pain comes with it."

"Well, it's okay. You can never be too lucky, and I can deal with physical pain," I answered nonchalantly.

She bit her lip and shook her head. "That's not the main reason why I informed you."

"Then what is?"

"This voice, it can corrupt you," she stated seriously.

"Cor-rupt me?" I slowly repeated. Like this is the first time I've heard the word.

She nodded. Her violet eyes staring into mine. "There'll be some event where you'll need to console yourself, or someone will. This voice will whisper negative thoughts. Trying to affect you, trying to change the path you chose to walk. It will murmur words that will guide you into something dark, it will turn you mad."

"Surely it will be easy to deal with right?" I said unsure.

"I know you know the consequences," she replied. "When you go back there, you are human. You are vulnerable emotionally. You'll break. And I'm damn sure. that will be a piece of cake. Don't forget your role in the Vongola Tenth's life. Since he is involved in your so-called-mission, one small mistake and you'll be astray. You'll endanger lives Minerva."

I bit my lip, don't know what to reply. "What is this voice? Surely you know right?" I asked when finally decided being nervous can do no-good.

"We don't know," she said as she shook her head. "But many failed their mission because of the voice. Instead, these women in here— "she told me as she gestures the women behind her. The women's faces turned grim. Some turned serious, not able to look at me, "—they are the one who caused the world to fall."

The evil may turn into madness, and it will happen slowly, I thought.

Then it will come to my front door telling me it'll consume me someday. Swallow me until not an ounce of my sanity is left.

It's creeping to me, waiting for me to open my door.

And it's not wrong.

I will open the door sooner or later and be consumed.

Then I'll be the cancer that will destroy my loved ones.

I can see it.

Their heart in my hands.

The taste of their blood in my mouth.

"Min?"

"Hm?"

"Do you trust us?" Nyx asked after sitting up right after she woke up.
I remained my blank expression and replied, "Why?"
"Just answer, honestly," she replied. Truthfully, being in this place for quite some time made me familiar with them. It's fun, because I'm never getting tired of their antics.
"I suppose," I answered truthfully. Technically, my life is in their hands. They can end me using one swift move, but they did not. I have no other choice but to entrust my whole well-being to them.
She nodded and returned sprawling on the floor. She fell fast asleep in seconds.
I shrugged and continued to what I'm doing, "Yuan! I found your wrist band!"
"Really?" he asked as his head appeared beside me. "Thank you! I thought I'm never going to find it!"

I asked them once why did they not get a cloud and a sky, and why are they only getting it now, the one who answered was Hael.

"Sky is the one leading us so the sky's requirement is much higher than ours. That means higher aptitude. That's why it's a surprise why Master Sen agreed to make you his disciple. Currently, all of us have masters and they also fall under the same category as us. If we are a Rain, then they are also a Rain and such. Our masters, the same as your new master, Master Sen, is now the current Incognito members. Other than high aptitudes, Master Sen is quite strict on choosing his disciple.

About the Cloud, Incognito have no Cloud Guardian for 200 years already. And that is included on our rules."

Curious. I'm curious. Though I can't do anything.

I am currently lying on my bed and staring at the white ceiling. After finding Yuan's wrist band, I decided to copy Nyx' life style. Surely, there is something better to do than this. But what can I do, I don't know where specifically I am and I don't know where will I go once (if possibly) I escape here. However, maybe I can adjust in here. Everything happened rapidly I can no longer follow.

"Minerva," As the same time the voice called Eris' head popped out from my white door.

Earlier, I told them my name. But I'm not clear where I came from as well as my origin. I also found out, the names that they told me was all their code names. I asked them their real names, only to know that once you stepped foot in this house, you need to abandon who you were, your past and family, and literally restart. You need to choose a name for yourself as well.

I turned my head to look at Eris. "What is it?" I replied coldly.

I sat at the edge of my bed and face her. My feet hanging because the bed is too high for me. It was for adults after all. And I don't know why the heck did they let me stay in stay in this room, everything in here doesn't suit a child. Well, my child body that is.

"Sen is calling for you," she told me, I nodded and sighed.

I need to think of something. An excuse on why the hell did I say that. Crap, why did I slip anyway. In the first place, I don't even have an idea that it was already eleven whole years after the fire burned. What should I tell that man? Since he has no way to find information about me, might as well lie for a little. For example, I don't remember the events that day.

"RYU STOP SWINGING THE CHANDELIER! AND FOR FUCK'S SAKE GET DOWN HERE! STOP HANGING THERE LIKE A MONKEY!"

I'm not even finished sighing in relief when Eris screamed again. "YUAN! YOU FUCKER! HOW MANY TIMES DID I TELL YOU TO DON'T GO AND STEAL YOUR MASTER'S FUCKING LIQUOR SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HAVING A GODDAMN MONKEY THRASHING THE LIVING ROOM!"

I eyed the guilty blonde. He squirmed under Eris' gaze and mine. Apparently, he occasionally steals his masters stock of liquor, and it always end up on Ryu accidentally drinking it thinking it was some kind of a juice. I face palmed, juice is a sweet crappy drink, while alcohol is so bitter I want to choke. There's a really wide gap in tastes their ladies and gentlemen.

"-AND NYX LIVE YOUR LIFE. FUCKING STAND UP AND WASTE YOUR SHITTY ENERGY!"

I winced.

Living here for a week surely helped me find out what kind of people I'll be living with. Let's start with the red head, Eris may seem to be on the posh-y side of the world, but once she's pissed off, you've got a goddamn amazon right there. Nyx is... just like Eris, but more brutal. On the good side, she's hard to piss off, she also like oranges. Like really really like. There's one time when she threatened to kill Hael for accidentally squashing her orange.

Hael is the sanest I guess. But he is still on guard when I'm around. Yuan, is a troublemaker and an idiot, really. He sometimes (everyday) goof around and create problems that wasn't there in the first place. Makes me want to strangle him.

Ryu is a typical 7-year-old boy who helps Yuan create trouble in the place (even if involuntarily), but Eris can handle them.

And their masters? They are always wearing a weird look on their face whenever they see me. I still can't figure out their names and they're out of the house most of the time. Sen is the only adult in here, there are no maids which made me wonder. Nyx said it is a headquarters so they just can't trust anyone to clean the place. It also prevents traitors, spies or assassins to do no good.

So that's left with me and Eris cleaning the house. Nyx can't help because most of the time, she's lying somewhere in the house sleeping. Eris does the cooking, I for the dish washing and getting house clean (except for the rooms, your room, you clean).

It took an hour for Ryu to finally get down and for the others to exit the living room. It's my time to clean the mess. I sighed mentally. Lately, I was just talking to myself and figuring out what the hell will I do here. Training is postponed because of some emergency. And Sen is too busy to care. I've been helping him with some matters you should not trust a child to handle. So I don't get why Sen lets me take care of this matter.

I was figuring out how can I reach the chandelier without using the ladder (I don't know how Ryu did it) when Hael entered the living room. I continued with thinking pretending I did not felt his presence.

"Can talk to you?" I turned to look at him. His face full of seriousness, as if I just did something nasty to him.

I smiled. "You sure? Can a two-year-old can help you?"

"I just want to-" he stammered as he scratched the back of his head, "-to say sorry. I have nothing against you, I doubted you."

"Of course you would," I smirked. Thinking of Alice, my best friend, when I first met her when I was Alliona. She really thought people are for using each other. "I'm a random child from nowhere after all," I continued.

He silently stared at me for a moment when I started again, "This is mafia, and you can't just trust anyone."

"Are you sure you're just two?" He asked.

I raised my eyebrows. "Are you saying I'm much older than I let on? You can't get a girlfriend if that's how you think," I answered. After all, I'm really much older than my physical appearance.

He laughed at my statement which made me tilt my head to the side. This is the first time I saw this moss green haired boy laugh since I started to stay here.

"If I can't have a girlfriend," he started. "Can you be my sister?" he asked. Which made me look at him in surprise.

"That was fast," I told him. "Are you sure you don't want to have a girlfriend? Are you gay?" I asked. A fake disbelief evident in my voice.

He frowned. "Just be my sister okay?"

I silently laughed inside. Hey, this guy is a funny one.

"I'm not sure," I told him. It takes plenty of self-restraint to stop myself from laughing out loud right now.

He raised his eyebrow, still frowning. "You don't want?"

Then I thought, maybe it's not bad creating a family once again right? Though I wish I can see Mother, Grandpa and Bro Reborn again.

"Sure," I answered, smiling. "Pfft- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Then I started to laugh out loud.

"Why are you laughing?"

"N-nothing! Hahahahahaha!"

That's when a question popped in my mind.

Surely, these children have lived before this.

What kind of life do they have before this?

"Reborn, I called you to officially task you to aid the Cavallone Family, since they are one of our allied famiglie," a man in his fifties said as he stared at the baby before him.

Wearing a black and white suit and a fedora, the baby called Reborn responded, "Consider it done." The baby raised his head and continued, "Is it because their current boss is now dead?"

The man nodded, hands holding his staff while he continued sitting, "You are to train his son to be a proper Cavallone boss in the near future."

"I understand," he nonchalantly said. He turned to exit the room.

Walking halfway, he stopped. "I want to ask something Nono."

"Go ahead," the man answered.

"Can you give me the files about the investigation of the attacked Phalanx Mansion?"

The man smiled. "If it's you, of course."

Reborn stiffened as a familiar feeling that coursed through him. It's been years, 11 years to exact.

But here he is, in front of a burnt manor years ago, and he is still mourning. Mourning the death of multiple people, he ignored when passing by a silent hallway through familiar room. It's been years since he heard the dreading news. He was far away, on the other side of the world, doing some adrenaline pumping mission he never experienced before.

He, with the other six people, tried to cooperate for the said task. Yet, at the top of the mountain where the last mission lies, he was reduced to a mere baby.

And the news that set him on a whole new level of rage and other emotions piling up each other.

He suddenly forgot the first rule on becoming a hitman.

A hitman must be level headed at all times.

Although he doesn't care about the idiots in the mafia that created that rule, he is a hitman nonetheless, and he is part of the mafia.

The hitman set his lips into a grim line. His baby features darkening. He raised his head and in a swift move, a gun is already into the baby's chubby hand, firing behind him as the smoke dissipate from his gun's tip.

"Reborn, still as sharp as ever." A man appeared opposite of him. His hands inside his side pockets, the man seemed to use the moonlight as his spotlight.

The man's face wearing grin that can make anyone irritated. Although standing with great posture, the man's younger self is just a silhouette of him, but not his achievements that convinced the people around him that he is a genius that the world can attain once every hundred years.

But the hitman does not care.

After all, he's also a genius.

But the world can only see a greatness like his once every thousand years.

The baby hitman smirked.

"Of course," he said.

Reviews are appreciated.

I am thanking Guest, chibianimefan26 for reviewing last time.

This is edited. Crap, I forgot to edit things. CRAP.