Chapter Forty Two

Tsunahime stretched, getting off the plane and rubbing her eyes. She had mostly slept through the plane journey because she hadn't been able to sleep until Reborn came back from wandering off last night (he still refused to stay what exactly he was doing and shared a smirk with the others when asked. Tsuna finally decided it was a lost cause and she probably wouldn't have wanted to know in the first place if Reborn was getting so much amusement out of it). Except now, because of the nap she had taken, her neck was aching. Someone really needed to do something about those aeroplane seats. They weren't, at all, comfortable.

Tsuna sighed, admitting defeat and channelled sun flames to her neck, feeling slightly embarrassed that she even needed to do so outside of a fight or training. And for sleeping on a aeroplane, of all things…

Tsuna shook her head, bidding goodbye to Fon, Kyoya and Mukuro at the crossroad, having to go in a different direction to get to her home. Mukuro had said that Chrome had already moved her things back (though she didn't touch Reborn's items, probably a good thing really, he got cagey about that sort of thing). She was looking forward to finally seeing her mother again without the foul soul flames Iemitsu processed hanging around like dark cloud over her head (no offence to any clouds intended, of course, though they'd likely take offence regardless because they're clouds and she did just relate them to Iemitsu, of all people) as it had been just over two weeks since her had seen Nana. Tsuna didn't usually spend so long away but she supposed she'd have to get used to it, given her involvement in the mafia. Still, it wasn't like she was going to be leaving Nana unprotected, Namimori was her town (even if she preferred the hands off approach when it came down to it, more than happy to let the Hibari clan have free rein. Well, as long as they stayed reasonable...) and everyone who was even the slightest bit important knew Nana was her mother. She was to be protected, and Tsunahime didn't think anyone would forget that just because she wasn't there. No, no one would risk that.

Thinking about the soon-to-be reunion with her dear mother, Tsuna hummed happily, her flames echoing her subconsciously, much to Reborn's delight, as she nearly skipped down the street. Reborn looked upon in endless amusement, his smirk mocking her. Tsuna paid it no mind, she had been forced to be civil to that humiliation of a clan head due to politics and expected behaviour so she believed herself due a break.

Her phone buzzed, it was on vibrate from the plane (she knew there was a mode she could put it on but that stopped calls getting through and she couldn't risk that if there was an emergency and someone was trying to get it touch with her), and she brought it up to her ear, "Tsunahime speaking." she announced.

"Tsunahime, you've been busy." stated Bat instead of a greeting.

"Bat." the phoenix acknowledged with a nod of the head, an action completely pointless as they were talking over the phone, "So you've heard already."

"That dragon of yours did not do much to hide it." which was true. Fon merely uploaded the video of the battle between Kyoya and Lui Qiang to the correct hidden sites that the supernatural use. It was only accessible by those of an higher status in their society (if only because they would actually think about announcing something like that. Or at least some of them would, the head of the Rabbit clan, for example, was very… eccentric and preferred to act like a five year old despite the fact that she was nearly close to a thousand years old. At least Tsuna knew she could count on the Minotaur clan head to keep a level head. He was usually able to keep them all in line... Most of the time anyway... Their was such a thing as an impossible task.)

"That's true, but I doubt you've called to tell me that."

"Correct. The cervello family you asked me to look up. I have found them." Tsuna grinned, it held a little bit of sharp edge so Tsunahime toned it down. That didn't stop Reborn from peering at her curiously but she just turned her smile at him, offering no explanation. Reborn narrowed his eyes at her. "I will send you the location over email."

"Ah, my thanks. I will have the usual amount sent to you." Truly, it was a shame she wouldn't be able to track down the cervello just yet. She had just come back from China and she doubted her elements would be happy to see her off again so soon. Plus, she didn't really want to let them know she was still holding a grudge and was planning on threatening the cervello to make sure they knew who they were dealing with. Tsunahime didn't think her elements would think bad of her (they were quite over protective themselves) but it was a job she'd like to get done quietly and while she loved her family they didn't really have a quiet setting.

"Bambina?" Ah, Reborn wasn't going to let this go was he? A shame she didn't have any intention of sharing.

"Just something Bat was following up for me."

"About?"

Tsuna didn't answer, just continued to hum happily as Reborn sighed long-suffering. He'd get it out of her eventually. Tsuna seemed to be quite the fan just 'forgetting' to mention information to watch people's reactions. He'd be more annoyed but that would probably be hypocritical of him.

Tsuna blinked, uncomprehendingly, at the throne-like chair before her. It was a golden orange colour that was on the edge of extravagant with a very comfortable looking silk cushion, "Mama? What is this?" And why was it here…?

Nana, her beautiful, obvious mother, beamed at her (not seeing anything wrong with the fact that she now had a throne in her bedroom), "Oh, isn't it just lovely, Tsu-chan?" she gushed, happily.

"Um... Yes, of course it is." She was forever a prisoner to those hopefully shining happy eyes. They beat puppy-dog eyes any day, "...Why is it here?"

"Takeshi-kun came over yesterday with Chrome-chan, they said it was for you. You have the best of friends, Tsu-chan!" Nana clapped her hands excitedly, still missing the elephant in the room that was a throne in her room.

Tsunahime's shoulders slumped in defeat, resigning herself to try and scold her rain (along with everyone else for good measure) when she saw him tomorrow.

She ignored Reborn's delighted cackling as he examined the new piece of furniture, Leon sliding off his fedora and lying down on the cushion, flicking his tongue.

Well, at least he'd get some use out of it...

Two weeks had passed since her trip to China and so far there hasn't been any retaliation from Lui Qiang so Tsunahime hoped that the dragon was going to be keeping his head down and on damage control for awhile, that or he was merely biding his time.

Which ever it was, Tsunahime was happy that school was breaking up for the summer and she'd be able to have some free time. Well, mostly. Because she had missed a week of work due to the whole Varia affair, she had to play catch up and with Reborn there she was unlikely to forget that but he was her tutor and didn't mind helping her out. Most of the time.

Still, she put that out of her thoughts for the moment and sat down on the blanket, placing the basket that had sandwiches and other such snacks on it. Hayato and Ryohei putting up some chairs, somehow making a competition out of it.

With everything that had been going on, Tsuna decided some down time was very much needed (plus she wanted to make sure her elements were okay, mentally. Though most of her elements wasn't what people would call mentally stable in the first place. Eh, it was the thought that counted) and after some discussion, a picnic was decided upon. They were sat out in the park, though they were sitting closer to the trees for some shade as it was getting humid.

Kyoya had even come along, though he looked like he was napping in a tree, currently. Hibird was doing the same on his head and Tsuna was pretty sure she saw Fon take a picture or two at the scene. Fon thought his nephew was adorable.

Tsuna couldn't deny that. All her elements were adorable in their own way. Though they tended to be dangerously adorable.

(Sometimes, Tsuna likes to think about what Timoteo's face would be like once he realised just how adorable her elements really were. She was pretty sure that old man had no idea just what he was doing getting her to be the next Don -or rather Donna. He should have just gone and fixed the rings (seriously, who even bothers with blood-locked rings now-a-days?) and gotten Xanxus to rule. At least then he knew what he was working with). Timoteo had to be a gambler to rely on complete unknowns -or civilians- to succeed his position over a man who he raised (abet poorly) and was elbow deep in the mafia since he was a kid.

Honestly, humans. Or perhaps it was just the mafia that lacked all common sense. Tsuna dearly hoped so. She worried for their continued survival as a species otherwise.

Fon and Reborn were sparring some distance away as Mukuro was flickering his flames in front of Chrome, no doubt teaching her something based on her fascinated expression. I-pin and Lambo were playing. Tsuna thought it might be tag but I-pin was throwing out martial art moves and Lambo was doing the same but with grenades. She's glad she managed to convince the cow-bull child to use the low grade ones,they were less damaging to the environment. Fuuta was smiling at them, wanting to join in but not quite willing to brave the heat for it. Takeshi was laughing, sword swinging in his grasp. Tsunahime as quite proud of Takeshi because how he could stand up do anything in this heat was pretty amazing. She didn't count the children, they had seemingly limitless energy. She was a phoenix so heat didn't really get to her but it was humid enough that even sitting down she could feel the sweat collecting on her back.

Fon and Reborn were in a league of their own. Reborn was Reborn and Fon was a dragon who hoarded his martial arts knowledge. He had probably trained in this sort of heat enough that he couldn't even tell the difference.

Tsuna was just setting out the sandwiches when she heard little Lambo scream something about showing Reborn up before a bang followed it. Tsunahime was about to ignore it (it happened quite often and Reborn dodged anyway) before her hyper intuition screamed.

She startled, sandwich falling from her grasp as she spun around, an order to move out of the way on the edge of her tongue, when Reborn, who was staying in place and seemed mildly alarmed that he couldn't move, and Fon, facing the same problem, were replaced by pink smoke.

No one else replaced their forms.

Suddenly, despite the fact that birds were singing and the trees were rustering in the faint breeze, all Tsunahime could hear was white noise. The scene of Reborn (her sun) and Fon (her storm) meeting her eyes for a split second before they were consumed by smoke replaying in her mind as if on repeat.

"Tsu-nee?" Lambo's voice filtered through her ears, sounding so guilty because he could feel her desperation, the foreboding shadow that suddenly encased her as she stared at the spot where her dragon and Intended Mate where just standing.

Tsuna breathed in then out and repeated the motion, calming herself, pushing the feeling away, ignoring it because five minutes weren't over yet and maybe she was wrong. Yes, she was wrong. That empty space just meant that the bazooka malfunctioned. It did not mean that in ten years Reborn and Fon didn't exist (was dead-!) and everything would be fine in five minutes.

So Tsuna smiled at Lambo reassuringly, "Don't worry. I'm sure everything is fine." she squeezed his hand, not really sure who she was comforting, and then continued to stare at the space once more. She was not, under any circumstances, going to look too deeply at her dragon's and hitman's flame bond. She wasn't going to let herself feel just how distant it was because they'd be back soon.

Her elements exchanged worried glances behind her back but she paid that no mind.

Five minutes passed.

They still weren't back yet.

Tsunahime breathed in and out, her flame searching and finding nothing.

Right. So, they weren't back yet. They weren't dead, her bond, while distant (as if in a faraway, unreachable place), was still strong and alive. They weren't dead. They weren't-

Rain flames caressed her own, soothingly. "Tsuna," Takeshi's voice pierced through her mind like a sharp knife, "Calm down." It was a command, but one she could follow, if only because it was Takeshi and his flames were encasing her own in a warm embrace.

"They are carnivores." intoned Kyoya, having already jumped down from his branch, "They won't die so easily."

Sometimes, Tsuna worried how they could all read her mind so easily. Sometimes it unnerved her, after all it was difficult pulling one over them because of it. Today, though, she had never been so glad for it.

"Right. Yes, of course." She said, running a hand through her hand and trying to find her mellow again even though her sky soul flame wanted to rage against her missing elements, "Lambo, that was the time-traveling bazooka, yes?" She was pretty sure it was but she rather have it confirmed. And have a distraction.

Lambo looked like he was about to cry, I-Pin wasn't doing much better, Fuuta was now standing beside them, worriedly staring at the place were the two Arcobaleno once were, "Yes, did Lambo-" he stopped, then started again, "Is it Lambo's fault that Fon and Reborn-baka are missing?" he asked timidly, lacking his usual boisterous tone.

The sky knelt, laying a hand on both children's heads, "No, of course not. I am not sure what happened exactly but we'll find out, okay?" Quick nods answered her. She caught Fuuta's eyes and tried to smile reassuringly. She wasn't sure how successful she was to be honest.

Tsuna smiled and stood, glancing at that spot again before quickly turning and avoiding it, feeling her sky soul-flames stir once again. First things first though, a trip to Bat would be needed to find out what the hell was up with that time-travelling bazooka.

I'M ALIVE!

So, yeah... I haven't abandoned this story, don't worry guys, I am going to finish this. It's just when I sat down to actually write the next arc, I ended up just staring hopelessly at my computer. Still, like I said the strong is going to get finished, but the updates may not be as consistent as I'd like. Sorry, guys. I haven't really got a good reason apart from a serious case of writers block...

I wanna say a quick thanks to all those that are still around and haven't died of old age! Seriously, you guys are the best! And any new guys around... It wasn't always like this...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter!