The room had returned to a state of tension -at least for the foreigners-, the locals were calm and steadfast, assured of their safety, while they were prey in enemy territory, ripe for the picking, they were not sure they could escape without suffering from casualties, Reborn himself could deal with half of them, and the rest were unknown rivals, they were truly feeling the folly of their trip, it was naïve to think that it would go well, they should have dug deeper when they could find no information.

With a rueful grin, the young Don thought this is how empires fall.

Enrico tried to assess the situation, for starters they hadn't separated them from their guardians at any point in time, which could mean one of two things:

1. They did not know the relationship and power boost between Harmonized Elements (unlikely, what with Reborn on their side, and the multitude of foreign Active Flames suffusing the room)

Or

2. They did not recognize them as dangerous opponents, (which was more likely), and he would love to think it's because they're underestimating the Vongola, but Enrico has the feeling that the only ones who have underestimated their opponents are them (even if they were not aware that their target was an opponent)

And Enrico, standing in front of his people, his family, his famiglia, knows that this is just a taste, a small show of power, to test the waters between them.

He knows their actions will determine how this meeting ends.

(With words and diplomacy-or weapons, blood painting the walls)

He could feel their gazes on him, waiting for his move, his decision, his orders; could feel the strength of Reborns' gaze piercing through him, the lazy roving over his self, analyzing him, categorizing him, trying to break him apart, daring him to act, a King in his own right, serving under another Rulers' throne.

'Take a deep breath Enrico, relax your shoulders, stand straight and don't forget to look them in the eyes'

He locked eyes with Sawadas' kid -Tsunayoshi, his name is Tsunayoshi - and resisted a shiver, he was met with too bright eyes, flame coiled around himself, a show of restraint, of comfort, his posture spoke of assurance, like a lazy cat slouching on his throne, curious, but content to watch the proceedings (like playing with his food). He took it all into consideration and moved to bow.

"We apologize for our actions until now, we have been terribly rude in our behavior", his voice did not shake, "I am Enrico di Vongola, Tenth Generation of the Vongola Famiglia, I offer you my most sincerest greetings.

Accompanying me are my family and our guardians.

We pose no threat to you, and beseech your permission to stay in your territory until we gain the answers we seek", the hall was silent, his breath sounded too loud in the continued silence.

A purposeful stillness, they were standing on the edge of the precipice, all that's left was wait to see if they would fall or be lent a rope.

Enrico straightened and swallowed, resisting the urge to fidget, he had made his move, now the ball was in their court.

He truly hoped they could salvage the situation, oh dio mio, he would strangle Sawada later he swore he would, it was all his fucking faul-, a gravelly voice interrupted his inner musings.

"Vongola", everything came into sharp focus, his brothers standing beside him, a display of solidarity, his father behind him, close but out of the spotlight, this was his responsibility now after all, "welcome to Namimori," a small curl of the lips, less than a smile, but warmer than one.

Then like a punch to the gut, his next words registered.

"As reigning Matriarch of the Hibari Clan, I Hibari Tsunayoshi shall conduct your interview under Foundation Law to ascertain whether your presence shall be allowed on my Territory", he felt himself pale, a sick feeling growing in his stomach, the shock from their side of the room was palpable.

He was sure he heard his father curse, and that thrice-damned fucking Sawada almost choke on his own spit (how he wished he fucking had), he felt a headache coming, besides everything else. His brothers had tensed at his sides, they all knew the power of the Hibari Clan, and while they knew they were under their territory, at most they thought they'd meet a Foundation sub-leader.

To find that the person they were looking for was part of the Hibari Clan was already a fucking surprise but not really alarming, they could still negotiate his transfer to Vongola, a few talks, and explanations would see it done.

But of course nothing could be as simple as that, oh no, God forbid anything went smoothly when it came to that fucking blonde idiot.

His father had shown too much leeway when it came to Sawada, and now it was coming to bite them in the ass.

The fucking Matriarch.

It was just their luck.

They could forget about taking him back to Vongola with them now, that would prove impossible under the circumstances, and they would most likely not survive the consequences.

After all Tsunayoshi being Matriarch could only mean two things:

1) He was an Omega (thank you for the fucking warning Sawada)

And 2) He was mated to the Hibari's reigning leader (if he remembered correctly he was nearing 23 years of age, and examining the occupants of the room with more scrutiny this time, he could definitely see the protective Alpha posture of the glaring steel-eyed man of before, which meant that was both Tsunayoshis' mate and the current leader of the Hibari Clan).

Trying to remember all he has knows of the Hibaris' he vaguely remembers hearing some years ago about the new reigning pair, how the Alpha preferred the battle field and left all other matters to his Omega, remembers hearing, with a faint sense of alarm rising in him, how they all joked about how the Omega was the one who gave the commands, how he was the one they followed, the one they looked up to, how his own Alpha followed his lead, they uttered with barely discernible ridicule in their voice how the Clan must be reaching it's ruin.

'An Omega in power' he remembers hearing, and thinking, in the privacy of his own mind, how foolish it was, remembers thinking, that Omegas are not fit for power, for leadership, for violence.

He remembers it all in startling clarity, and yet here is proof, here is irrefutable evidence, that he was the foolish one.

And what he sees now, he knows will be branded onto his brain until the day he dies.

Tsunayoshi, an amused tilt to his lips, slouched contentedly over his throne (power)

Tsunayoshi, holding command over the beasts that roam by his side (leadership)

Tsunayoshi, flames coiled to attack, no hesitance in his eyes (violence)

(Tsunayoshi, holding their lives on his hands)

He sees, and thinks 'ah, so this is how empires fall'