Leilani wasn't surprised in the slightest when Checkerface opened up about what all of this was actually about

Still she didn't act yet, clearly holding back as Tsuna started to explain his plan.

She didn't look at Nello or any of the others when any of it was revealed but she listened to Reborns quiet question if she would comply.

She did. She stayed silent for the most part though. She was observing. She wouldn't act if it worked. She wouldn't want to get rid of the chance but still she was wary until the very last second when the curse broke.

She finally felt her full magic cursing through her again, unrestricted. Her cloudflames were as always lingering over her skin. She looked at her still tiny hands before looking at the other Arcobalenos. How astonished they were just by that fact alone.

She bit her lip. She had to repay Reborn for this again, didn't she?

"Viper? You probably know how tall everyone was and their age before the curse, right?"

"Yes?"

Leilani just gestured for the mist to spit it out.

She listened intently as the miser gave her the information.

"Alright. I have to say I never tried that on someone else so… no guarantee? Let's see I made me 1,90 or something like that, right? Sounds good to me."

She ignored the inquiring questions completely, instead closing her eyes to completely focus on her magic. She knew the spell, she even knew the incantations to it. She had seen the twins do it before. She had even managed to pull it off when she was new in this world. Her cloud flames were the most trained and only second in strength. She could do it. She knew it. She really could.

Leilani didn't open her eyes for the whole time, blending out any kind of noises as she let her magic roam, nudging it, pleading with it and gently letting it take grip of the Arcobalenos.

Her magic was responding flawlessly, euphoric at finally being able to flow unconstricted, almost begging to do as it's mistress pleased

She only opened her eyes again when she had finished herself up as well. Looking at her hands and checking "Huh… I think I was a little smaller last time I tried to change my body size… well… happens." she shrugged only to get tackled in the next second.

She literally froze when she realised that it was Reborn. The man she had called an emotionless fleshsack once was crushing her into a tight hug.

Her gaze wandered over to the other formerly cursed victims. How relieved they looked, how some of them were just staring at their hands and while they had tears in their eyes…. maybe she did a good thing.

"Skull.." the voice of the hitman seemed raw.

Leilani just looked away in slight awkwardness "I… had to repay you… like…yeah?"

His smile was way too wide, way too honest "No you didn't have to but… I thank you. I really do."

Leilani really hated how emotional she always was and especially how easily she cried but who could fault her? Under all these warm and way to thankful gazes she couldn't stop it when tears were rising to her eyes.

Reborn just smiled as he handed her a handkerchief. She only realised her mistake when she had already dragged it across her face. it was wet in the middle…

She paused, looked at the handkerchief and her smeared makeup on it "...I can't even be mad, can I?"

He shook his head "No, no you can't be. You would have done the same. You did the same."

She had to snort at that "I guess, yeah."

"Your makeup is smeared." and with a smirk he handed her a full package of make up wipes.

She sighed and couldn't stop her giggle as she accepted them and started to wipe off her makeup "You had this ready for a long time, right?"

"Absolutely."

She just laughed but finished up to remove her makeup. A half done face of makeup was way worse. And wasn't it kinda right? To actually start the ever after while not hiding her face? She could tackle it head on like this.

The hitman still smirked way too warmly at her while she burned off the used wipes.

"Way prettier. That I assure you."

She stuck her tongue out "Yeah, prettier than you. We all always knew I'm the best looking here."

He gently flicked her nose "Didn't you say you changed your body?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you still doing it?"

"You want me to turn back?"

"Yes?"

"But… like…"

"What?"

"I'm like… small."

"So?"

"There was a reason why I did this."

"And that would be?"

"Tiny little girl in a big, big world?"

"You don't have to exaggerate. Sure, you have a baby face but that doesn't change it."

"You have no idea and you're just jealous because I can see your wrinkles forming."

He snorted "Totally."

"It's true!"

"Sure but… Skull don't you want to start this now era as you?"

"But.."

"What is stopping you?"

"I mean… it wasn't safe?"

"You're not living on the streets. You are far from weak and you have us as backup. What are you still afraid of?"

"I dunno." she mumbled.

"So? Ready to be your true self?"

"Ready would be the wrong choice of words."

"So you're afraid?"

"I'm not."

"Prove it."

She pursed her lips, a clear pout on them but she once again closed her eyes.

Feeling Reborn stepping away a bit as she focused on her own flames.

Actually this was a bit more complicated but her magic was willing to follow her.

Reborns eyes were solely focused on the sky in front of him, carefully watching as her flames lit up, dancing over her hair first and the longer the wild curls got the less the purple was visible until it snapped suddenly and a deep red took over.

He had expected it to be her actual hair colour if he was honest, the freckles had been telling.

The flames quickly hushed over her eyes before starting to undo her physical changes. She was shrinking.

To Reborns actual confusion though she kept on shrinking. He blinked. She hadn't lied, not at all. She was tiny, even smaller than Yuni.

He understood, he honestly understood her whole reasoning at this point. She would have never gotten taken seriously like this and just that petitte figure? More than just dangerous to live on the streets like this.

She was cute, way cuter than he had even expected, her doll-like facial features, the wild hair that stood up in all directions and her figure? He could snatch her up and carry her away under his arm without even noticing the weight, he was certain.

But all of his thoughts stopped the moment she opened her eyes, the brightest green eyes he had ever seen before, huge and almost glowing, looked up at him.

He felt his heart flutter, almost like he got drenched in sugar as he speechlessly looked down at the tiny sky.

In all honesty? She wouldn't even have to stay hidden. He was certain that just the way she looked would have ensured her safety. Even he would have dropped anything back then to make sure she was safe and protected and he had never abandoned a mission in his life.

Still he was speechless as he stared down at her. Not that his fellow bonded were any better. All of them having abandoned being mesmerised by their own grown body as they looked at the sky.

Honestly? Reborn was certain that Colonnello especially wouldn't even want to leave her alone for a second anymore… and he himself probably would have to keep his students away from her. Tsuna had always been way too fond of her and his cloud guardian? He really had to watch out now.

She was way too dangerous like this. A pure angelic, doll-like babyface, a thin and petite figure and… yeah… Reborn was sure he couldn't leave the sky alone for any longer. She definitely wouldn't need to worry for anyone taking advantage of her for this. He would make sure of it.

Leilani blinked up. She really was tiny and she had to lift her head completely to even look at Reborn. Really? Why was she so tiny? It was unfair… maybe she would hit a growth spurt? Her physical body hadn't yet passed her 16 birthday so… there was a chance right?

Just a tiny little chance that she wouldn't stay a munchkin forever but with her luck she didn't bet on it.

She wrinkled her nose "Told you I'm tiny."

The hitman chuckled, almost breathless "Indeed. Indeed you are." The next moment he ruffled her hair.

She blamed Colonnello for the fact that she had grown to like it even while it always bore the danger that one got trapped in her curls, especially as they had gained her previous hair length. Maybe she would need to cut it. When they were short they were slightly more manageable after all.

But at the same time… wasn't it time for a new beginning? Maybe one with long hair that didn't get constantly cut off by her relatives?

Maybe but only maybe.