She almost freaked out when Checkerface appeared in her dreams. Even more so when she saw the other Arcobalenos around her.

She didn't say anything when he started to explain about the representative battles.

She still kept quiet when he offered the winner to be released from their curse.

She forced her mouth to stay shut when the tension and agreements played out.

But she didn't hold her tongue when Checkerface was about to release them "I refuse."

He froze "Pardon?"

"I refuse. I refused then and I refuse now."

"Don't you want your curse lifted? Think you have no chance? It's a free for all, maybe you get lucky."

"I don't trust you. Not even in the slightest. I don't know what you're planning this time but I know for certain that it isn't good and I refuse to be part of it."

"That's too bad."

"Oh you accept my refusal this time?"

"Sure, but such a pity…"

"As far as I know people with no souls don't have emotions." Leilani was already about to turn around, ignoring Colonnello who was trying to reach out for her.

Checkerface's next words let her freeze though "If you refuse the battle won't take place…. which means no one here gets to be free. Can you live with them holding you accountable for that?."

She twirled around "You're despicable."

"Call me what you want. So are you able to stand with the fact that you rob your bondmates? Your element from this chance?"

She could feel all their eyes on her, their pleas and she felt cold shivers run through her body. She didn't like this. Not at all.

Viper choked out "Skull... please. You can't do this to us."

She felt her magic rise in her. She didn't like this. She hated it even more when she saw how Colonnellos eyes were pleading with her. How everyone looked at her. She hated this, completely, wholly. This wasn't right.

She slowly stepped towards him, looking at the man. "I know that you're planning something. I know this is wrong."

"Don't you have hope?"

"You stole that from me. You and Luce. But you know what? Sure. If they want it, go ahead. If they are that certain and want to run in your little trap, who am I to stop them?"

She turned around, staring at all of their faces "Promises are a funny thing right? Have fun experiencing the same thing I did. But be aware that it's your own fault. If you want to believe him go ahead. I couldn't care less. But sure." She looked at Checkerface a last time, disgust in her face before stepping away "I agree then. Just be aware that this time I'm not going to sit idle and let you do as you please. I will come for you, better prepare yourself."

Her storm flames ripped whatever this was apart and she woke up in her bed.

She needed a moment to collect herself before punching her pillow.

Here they were again, happily strolling into Checkerface traps…

She narrowed her eyes as her phone signalled a new message. He could fuck off for now too. She had no interest in talking with him right now. Not when he wanted to fall for Checkerface tricks.

It hurt, it physically hurt to turn her phone around and ignore him but she couldn't deal with him. She couldn't deal with him being so obviously hopeful while she just knew he would regret it. She couldn't see him go through the same thing she had gone through. She couldn't.

She had warned them. That's all she could do.

When the man knocked on her door she just squinted her eyes at him.

"As you were missing from the actual information meeting I bring you the watches yourself. This one's for you." He squinted at the writing on his arms "You can temporarily remove the curse when you say 'Present please' " He looked at his other hand "Please get to Namimori as soon as possible."

She just raised an eyebrow at him, snatched the box from him before throwing a flipendo at him and slamming the door in his face.

She did find a letter in the box, explaining the general rules. She looked it once over before completely destroying it with storm flames. She was pissed and exhausted at the same time.

This was nuts. It was stupid and it would end in a disaster. She didn't know what could make this worse but she was certain that Checkerface had found a way to make fate turn against her once again.

She stayed on the outskirts of namimori. Not yet having gone out and ignoring the world when it knocked on her door. The person didn't give up after the first knock and at the seventh one she relented.

She slowly got up, opening the door only to see Reborn, Tsuna and Enma in front of her.

Leilani just narrowed her eyes at them "What do you want?"

Reborn stepped forward "Are you able to shield our talk from other ears and eyes?"

"Yeah."

"Would you?"

"If I have to. Will you fuck off afterwards?"

"Naturally. But I think you should hear me out."

"Quite sad that you're not spitting out anything productive then." She turned around, her magic already working "What do you want Reborn? I'm here. I participate in this funny little trap. What else do you want from me?"

The hitman looked at her "I think you're right."

She paused, "What?"

"I think you're correct about assuming that Checkerface is planning something worse."

"Then why did you agree?"

"To work against it. But for that I need you to cooperate."

"Sounds like manipulation to me."

"We are working on a way to get rid of the curse."

She raised an eyebrow "Now?"

"We are making progress but for that we need to play his game for a little while. I promise you Skull. I won't let it happen."

"And that should reassure me?"

"Yes."

"I don't know but sure… if I'm already stuck in this what is one more bad decision?"

He tilted his fedora "Do you have a representative?"

"No."

"Take Enma."

"Why would I?"

"Because we have to beat him at his own game. Play along. Enma is willing."

"So I'm supposed to trap another person in this scheme?"

"It's me who asks you to and it's Enma who is deciding to do it. It's my responsibility."

"I don't know."

"Just give him your Boss Watch. Let him stay with you. I will take care of the rest."

She sighed "Could this get any worse? Do you know what you demand of me?"

"That you trust me."

"Do what you want. It's not like I could stop you anyway."

"Thank you."

She pulled the box towards her and threw the Boss Watch at Enma "Welcome to Damnation."

Leilani still ignored every try of Colonnello to contact her. She couldn't do it. Not when he was willing to walk into this.

It was idiotic and stupid and foolish and…

She couldn't do it. She couldn't deal with him like this. Even more, she didn't want to argue. Ignoring him wasn't good but she prefered her last real memories of him before this to be their last meeting instead of an argument. She had done that one before and she was still regretting it.

She even had gone as far as shielding her airship from sight. Sure, Enma was with her and he had to suffer her bad mood but she couldn't help it. She did offer him entertainment and food and a few conversations but most of the time she just laid in her bed and waited for the battles to start.

She knew the teen had no role in this and he wasn't at fault but still… he had agreed to this.

He, same as the rest of the participants, had all agreed to take part in this madness. In this absolute foolishly insane madness.

She didn't know if she should pity them or not. They walked into it on their own. Completely freely and willing. Even with all the blaring sirens that were going off.

She wasn't even sure if Reborn actually believed what he told her either. Maybe he just wanted her to try and be involved. Maybe he had just said it to get her into it. It wasn't the first time after all.

It was ironic, wasn't it? The man that had kept on pulling her back until she was cursed was now the one pulling her and others into this again. Didn't he learn?

Was he really so willing to make the same mistakes again?

Apparently or maybe not. She wasn't sure. Not at all. She was certain of nothing besides that all of this was a ruse from Checkerface.

Maybe she would laugh when all of this blew up. Maybe not…. maybe she would weep. Maybe she would regret and maybe she would hate Colonnello for agreeing to this… or even all of the Arcobalenos because they were the sole reason why she was here too.

She wouldn't have agreed if her decision didn't overrule all of theirs… It was so oddly familiar to back then that she felt sick.

This would end badly… and all she would be able to say was that she had known it.

Last time all of them had known besides her… this time it was the other way around… She knew. But they decided to ignore the truth.