A/N: Gosh, you guys are amazing. I can't thank you guys enough for the favorites and follows and the reviews. I'm sorry if I haven't been answering your reviews considering I've been swamped with so many papers lately (It's ridiculous, I have 4 research papers to do *screeches*) and tests to study for. I truly am grateful for them, and I will definitely reply whenever I have time and when I'm not stressing out about my loaded work.

Other than that, enjoy the newest chapter!

Those wristbands Claudio gave him? They're a pain in Lambo's non-existent ass.

They hurt. To the point Lambo was seriously contemplating on throwing himself off the nearest cliff and end it all. Again. As each time his wristband gave a beep, Lambo would always drop right after with a choked scream. Arches of lightning snapping into the air as he proceeded to spasm on the floor.

Alone the first couple of days.

It was torture as the electrocution seems to last forever to the young Bovino, but in reality, only a few seconds at most. Each time without fail leaving him a crying, sobbing mess on the floor, mentally begging for this torture to end.

He had wanted to keep this a secret from Nina, and especially from Aunt Ottavia that already has enough worries than to go through another episode of self-loathing. Disappearing each evening in fear of his wristbands activating in front of them both. The fact Claudio didn't give him a fixed time in the evening for the shocks left Lambo a nervous wreck— a feat that did nothing to curb his already distraught feelings over the whole ordeal.

On the other hand, the first couple of days passed on fine. The hospital-wing his new official haven whenever the episodes came. In fact, it made the check-ups go much faster as the doctors were close by to immediately assist in any medical needs. Rushing in to brush Sun flames across his skin that leaves Lambo startled the first time he saw them. It had been his first time, as in seeing real dying will flame as they healed the burns and new lightning bolts (—Lichtenberg scars, Oliver informs him, that's what those are called—) around his body and especially his wrists.

It should have relieved him, seeing the bright yellow flames and the medical professionals vanishing the hurt away.

But it didn't.

Not when their faces reflected the same cold countenance he sees in Claudio. The artificiality of their flames brushing against his skin causing shudders to wreck his body as he shied away from their touch. Curbing the immense need to punch their face in when they continued to force their touch on him when all he wanted to do was run away from it. They had felt slimy—fake, Lambo concludes as he gritted his teeth at the flames that touched the lightning marks on his back. Excluding a false ease that puts Lambo more on edge rather than soothing him.

On the other hand, this was the only way for Lambo to get any medical assistance, so he bore with it. No matter the headache it gives him whenever he exits the medical wing. Other than that, Lambo would consider that everything was going relatively well.

Until it wasn't.

He made a slip, one that caused Nina to gasp and shriek in horror as his wristband beeped and sent him convulsing to the floor, lighting hitting the air in a mocking display of light. Lambo didn't remember what happened after that, distracted by the buzzing agony coursing through his body and the fact that the shock was much stronger than the last couple of episodes he's had so far. What he did remember was waking up to a hand brushing through his hair with gentle fingers laced with yellow flames that were similar to the doctors. Yet, in comparison, these flames were softer, brighter and so very warm. Soothing him as Lambo leaned towards the pleasant heat as he watched hazily through lidded eyes.

It was his aunt who was touching his cheek with the shimmering Sun flames, brushing a thumb across skin to vanish the aches like a passing dream (—a nightmare, Oliver whispered, a terrible and horrible nightmare.)

Lambo opened his mouth weakly, "...Aunt-"

Ottavia shushed him, "Sleep, Lambo. Don't force yourself."

The flames grew brighter as Ottavia gazed warmly down at his tired eyes, "We'll talk about this tomorrow...when you're fully healed, and when you have fully rested. You've suffered enough for today."

"...Ok." Lambo could only say, relieved at the pain that receded as he let his eyelids fall shut.

And they did have their talk once he woke up, different from what Lambo expected as he let Aunt Ottavia's scolding voice hit him loudly, nodding whenever she shot him a fierce affirmatory look. Nina agreeing wholeheartedly at Ottavia's words with her own dutiful nods despite Lambo's pleading eyes to save him. The puppy dog eyes failed, earning only a disgruntled frown that cows him as he ducked his head. It was the first time Nina has ever looked at him with genuine disapproval, especially when she found out that he was the one who tried to hide this from them, and not Claudio.

"—and if this happens again, we'll help you!" Ottavia said. "So don't you dare try to hide from us ever again. Do you hear me? Trust us."

"I do." Lambo replied sincerely, earning satisfied looks from his two most important people in the world.

He had his doubts that everything would magically turn out for the better after that conversation, but to some degree, it did. Aunt Ottavia stayed by his side every evening without fail to check up on him. Going as far as following him to the hospital wing to make sure the doctors were doing their job correctly. And for a single moment, Lambo thought he caught the sight of Aunt Ottavia glowering like an angry mother cat towards Claudio that had walked into them that one time.

No.

They were glaring at each other like pissed off alley cats, ready to pounce and rip each other's throats out.

And he thought his anger was scary. His aunt's was terrifying.

Nina on the other hand, became his closest confidant whenever Aunt Ottavia wasn't there, her lady's phone number on speed dial in case of an emergency. She cooked his meals herself, wrapped his bruised fingers that were steadily disappearing from his hard-work of studying non-stop, and made sure to escort him to the hospital wing in his aunt's place.

She thinks he doesn't know, but he's aware of the defibrillator and advanced med kit hidden underneath his bed, and that she's taking lessons from the few nurses that were nice enough to teach her the proper techniques on how to handle them despite her status as a maid.

It made him smile.

Especially when he actually did have a cardiac arrest at one point and saved him like a knight in shining armour with what she had learned from the nurses. And Lambo's forever grateful for her existence and that she's standing side by side with him.

And then the year breezed by, painfully, but worthwhile as the electricity seemed to dull over time. The beep of the wristband no longer a threat to Lambo who shrugs off the electricity hitting the air as if only a pinch. He still twitched now and then, and whenever that happened, glances of concern made its way towards him as Ottavia's brown eyes looked over the rim of her teacup, fingers twitching like she's ready to ignite her Sun flames and shove it up his face.

Gods, he loved those two. And staring peacefully at his aunt's calm poise of drinking her morning tea and Nina's bright smile as she brought snacks to their table, Lambo couldn't help but beam behind the book he's currently reading.

It was the first time he started to believe that everything would turn out to be just fine.

Then he turned four, his father—Claudio, introduced him to the shooting range, the training room, and multiple lessons in assassination and espionage. It was also the first time he introduced him to his laboratory, where he strapped Lambo to a chair, smiled behind a plastic window, and leaned towards his mic with barely contained glee.

"Increase the voltage." The man spoke with cold, cold eyes.

And Lambo. Had. Screamed.

It was months afterwards that Ottavia finally spoke about her true feelings.

"I wish we hadn't met." She had said quietly while looking down that day, staring into the surface of her liquid green tea, shadows upon her face.

Lambo lowered his book at her admittance, swallowing hard as he lowered his bandaged arms—from the conditioning at the laboratory—against the white counter of the garden gazebo they visited so often. Heart heavy inside his chest.

"Can I… ask why?" He inquired, the part of him as Lambo panicking inside, while the part of him as Oliver demanded why?

Ottavia looked up at him, and he saw the familiar sadness, guilt, and shame upon her face.

"If you hadn't met me, none of this would have happened. You wouldn't be tortured this way, electrocuted this way." His aunt looked away. "I… I had been selfish the day I found out that my brother had a son, that I had a nephew out there, that I had you."

Ottavia breathed shakily, "It's not easy when you live in a famiglia that disagrees with you every step of the way. Hating you for the mere reason that I didn't like the way they handled their reign. Horrified at the lengths they would go to invent, what they called, the perfect weapons. It was terrible, frightening. I hated them for it, and chose to leave for a very long time."

"It gets lonely after a while, obviously. Roaming around on your own." She said. "I met people, spoke with them, but could never call them my own. At least, not the way I wanted. Then I heard about you, and I grew selfish, wishing to have some form of company and have a connection I could feel comfortable with. A...family."

"Claudio refused my desire to meet you at first," She confirmed. "Until we came to an agreement that I would report to him about your growth, as he called it. I didn't like it, but that was the only way I could meet you. And when I did, I couldn't help but see how precious you are."

Bright eyes started at Lambo and he nearly drowned under at the love and awe as she recalled that day, a soft smile on her lips.

"You were nothing like I expected. Gentle, sweet, and so very very intelligent. You spoke like a wizened adult." She looked at him, searchingly, before going a tad sheepish. "You even comforted both Nina and I when we were the ones who were supposed to appear strong for you."

"And now," Ottavia spoke with a bitter tone. "I've made you take up responsibilities I never wanted you to take. Pain your age should never feel. And, do you know what else I see in you?"

Ottavia looked at him with deep woe, "I see a person that's seen too much. Endured too much. And never truly learned to live."

"And it's all my fault." She said tearfully and Lambo couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Lambo—No, Oliver snapped, because he needed to tell her this, as an adult, "We've been through this, Aunt Ottavia, it's not, and never will be, your fault."

"You don't know if it was your appearance that caused all of this to happen, and frankly, I don't believe that. Not because it's to ease your mind, but it's the truth. Have you ever heard about the butterfly effect? Then you know there's no way that Claudio wouldn't eventually discover my talents, in turn, become interested in me. There are so many possibilities out there, so many paths in our actions, and you honestly believe that your appearance was what caused all of this to happen?" Lambo shook his head.

"I don't believe that."

Aunt Ottavia, whose eyes were drastically becoming wider and surprised at his words, opened her mouth to speak.

"But—"

"No." Lambo cut in, already knowing she's going to repeat unnecessary things. "If you go on about stuff like regretting to meet me again, I'll ignore you!"

"Lambo, if we hadn't met, then all of this could have possibly been-"

"Meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me, Ottavia!" Lambo yelled, gripping the edges of his book tightly, because she is the best thing. She is! Why can't she get that? Why don't people understand? Why do they doubt themselves despite how wonderful they truly are?

"So don't you dare say that again!"

Silence met his outburst. The rustle of leaves echoing behind them in a lulling breeze, and Lambo blinked back the frustrated tears trying to escape his eyes. He rubbed them against the fabric of his bandages to stop himself from crying. To hold it in.

"I'm sorry, Lambo." Was his aunt's slow reply. "I never took your feelings into consideration. How terrible of me."

Annoyance sparked at her last words, and Lambo was about to say something again when his aunt's hand brushed against his. Looking up, shiny green eyes caught sight of Ottavia's ardent smile that shone like the bright sun itself, brown eyes twinkling with tears.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me too, Lambo."

If someone had asked Oliver one day if he liked his birthdays, then he would have just shrugged his shoulders and said that he didn't mind them. That they're a good way of gathering friends and family to celebrate for a day. And hey, gifts and money, free of charge.

If someone had asked Lambo now, the child would have frowned with a pained face and say that they're unpleasant and unnecessary, rubbing irritatedly at his wrist while at it. Having long gotten rid of the black wristbands when Claudio introduced him to the laboratory. Unnecessary, the man had deemed as he threw them away onto the floor.

(—They're not gone. The wristbands that had signed his fate and introduced the first start of the hellish road. Not when the scars that were left behind circled around his wrists like a mocking symbolism. More permanent, Lambo had mused bitterly, liking them to chains and a reminder of flashing electricity. They're never, ever gone—)

Before, birthdays used to represent a day of gratitude and best wishes for Oliver. Now, they represented a new start of a hell road that Lambo absolutely loathe with a passion.

His aunt had been upset when she first found out (—Oliver laughed dryly and commented that she's upset about a lot of things nowadays—) as she loved birthdays, and gave him three years' worth of presents just to make it up to him. But she understood where he came from when she heard that Claudio found a sick amusement at making his birthdays a living hell after the discussion they had two years ago.

And to make a better example to why this is the case is when Claudio blandly says on his 5th birthday:

"I have a hit for you."

Lambo said nothing other than to pause in front of the office doors, black curls falling over his face as green eyes narrowed. He should've known that this birthday wouldn't be any different from the last one.

Gripping the edge of the door, Lambo turned his head slowly to give him some time to think, to choose his words carefully. He refrained from taking an Oliver-esque approach of demanding why and instead only inquired, "Who?"

Claudio waved a careless hand in reply, twisting on his chair to face sideways. "It hardly matters," the man said, "All I know is that someone wants to get rid of the son of a prominent man, something about being a nuisance. A bastard's child."

Tightening his hold on the frame, Lambo bit his lips when he realised his first mission involved ending the life of a mere kid (—not an assassination, Oliver didn't have the heart to admit that yet). He knew this was forthcoming a long time ago, that as a child of the mafia, he'll have to make a kill someday. And now that the time has finally, Lambo couldn't help but feel queasy. After all, being an assassin was never who Oliver was. It was always who Lambo was, the original one.

A Bovino assassin.

Even if the Lambo the majority knew was only just a brat with an ego too big for his own good, he was still dangerous. Not the skilled assassins that's been on the field and understands the burden of taking a life or ones that thrives in it. The original Lambo had always been a brand of chaos that left havoc whenever he pleased and laugh naively to his own actions. When he was Oliver, he had always marvelled at how troublesome the boy was and always compared it to his 20 year-older counterpart that seemed to be for the better part, a calmer version of the original Lambo (—which begs the question, Oliver tilts his head, where is the bazooka?).

Yet, there's no mistaken that he's Lambo Bovino now and he had no choice other than to accept the mission, because…that's the only way he'll meet them. Right?

"I'll do it. But...what's my target's name?"

Claudio sighed indifferently, "I'll send you the folder when you get there. The commissioner was tight on secrecy, considering he didn't want the Famiglia his target hails from to know about this, less something gets leaked and gets traced back to him."

The Bovino Boss finally stared at him, "It should be easy for you. Infiltration is a specialty of yours, and from what I've heard from your tutors about your efficiency with firearms, then it's the perfect kill for your first time."

Lambo winched quietly at the careless way the man said 'kill'.

"Besides, no one would expect a child to do the deed." The man smiled darkly.

Claudio whirled his chair around, "You'll leave at noon."

Lambo hovered by the entrance, unsure on how to react as part of him as Oliver shook his head and refused the idea of killing someone, a child no less. He had died protecting one after all, standing before the gun and eventual shot to death because of it. It would be wrong to switch places and stand behind the very thing that had killed him in the first place.

He swallowed.

However, at the same time, he was no longer Oliver as he wasn't the original Lambo either. He's both, yet different, raised in different circumstances and seen different things. Oliver used to be a curious being, always asking and seeking to understand, wondering and trying to find out all kinds of truth no matter the circumstances. Lambo, despite not truly knowing him the way he lived as Oliver, used to be loud, eccentric and egoistic, always causing trouble whenever it wasn't necessary.

The Lambo he's now...was a modified version of them.

Different.

Lambo took a deep breath, nodding towards the Bovino Boss at his earlier demand, "Yes, sir."

Angling his body to leave, the boy looked at the man with stilted politeness, "May I leave now?"

Claudio nodded slowly, and Lambo breathed in relief as he practically threw the doors open, ready to escape when his boss spoke up again.

"Oh, and son."

Son.

Lambo's emerald eyes snapped back to Claudio whose own turned the darkest of nights, narrowing like a creature out for blood. "If you fail me, be ready for the consequences of your mistakes when you come back."

Lambo could only nod shakily at the man's words before disappearing behind closed doors, walking down a lengthy part of the hallway in absolute silence before he all but bolted down the foyer. Face painted with dread and fear as he rushed towards anywhere. Anywhere but there as his black locks danced around him in a hurry, panting as his heart raced. Head filled with thoughts of what consequences, what are they, I can't fail, what if it's bad, what if it'll hurt, he doesn't want to get punished, no more, not again, I don't want to be in the laboratory again!

His dilemma was cut short when he crashed into someone, sending him falling onto his rear with a hiss of pain. Looking up to see who it was, he was met with Nina's own mirrored surprise.

"Young Master?" Nina questioned before quickly glancing around quickly. Deeming it safe, she kneeled worriedly next to him. "Are you alright, Lambo?"

Lambo looked away with a shuddering breath, "I-I'm fine, Nina."

The frown etched on his maidservant's face was a clear sign that she didn't believe him as she looped a delicate hand under his arms, helping him up as she brushed non-existent dust from his clothing. "Lambo," She began earnestly with furrowed brows, blue-grey eyes looking straight into his shaken ones. "What did the man say? What did he do this time?"

He looked down to the floor, worrying his lips before he recalled the talk he had with his aunt and Nina a year ago, where they gazed at him with such fierce eyes, and promised to be there for him. That he should trust them.

Lambo breathed, "I've received my first ki-"

He slumped his shoulders, biting the inside of his cheek before repeating weakly, "I've received my first...mission."

Nina gasped quietly to herself, a sharp intake of breath, before her expression settled to a grave one. Her pale fingers caught his in a comforting hold, scoping his hands into her own big warm ones and enveloped them, bringing them up to her forehead. And she prayed.

Prayed for his safety.

Prayed for his return.

Prayed for him.

She looked more beautiful than ever with her golden hair seemingly shining under the sun.

"When you come back," Nina began softly. "Me and Miss Ottavia will take care of you. After all, as a maid, your safety and happiness is my first priority. But in the end, I understand that this will be a grievous process. From what I've seen, it's never easy, and perhaps it never will. All that matters to me is that I can stand by your side and take care of you. That certainly hasn't changed since the time I laid my eyes on you when you were but a babe."

Lambo ducked his head with a flushed face, earlier heaviness in his chest dying to a warmer tone.

"Nina, you're not just a maid, your family too." Lambo said softly, hugging her, and she returned it just as fiercely.

"I know." She replied brightly, cuddling her young master.

The boy pulled away, chest light as he cracked a wide beam at Nina, "Thank you. I really needed that."

Nina smiled, "I'm glad I could make you happy."

Straightening her legs to a stand, she reached for his hand that he gladly gave, walking down the hall together.

"Let's get you ready for your departure. When is it exactly?"

Lambo looked up at her, "Noon."

Nina frowned, "Miss Ottavia was looking forwards to have her evening tea with you today, to at least celebrate something. I was looking forward to it too."

Lambo didn't like birthdays anymore, not after Claudio, but spending it together with his two most important people was enough for the tired soul inside him. Lambo tightened his hold on Nina's hand with a tilt of his head, cheeks flushed with happiness.

"We'll do it tomorrow. When I come back." Lambo said with bright green eyes. "We can hang out in the garden. We'll drink tea like usual, I'll even bring my new book I found recently!"

Nina's face melted at the sight of her adorable charge, nodding with fond agreement.

"Together."

It was six p.m, and the sun was starting to die as Lambo climbed higher with his small limbs on the side of what he had first thought was a building, but turned out to be a castle that screamed grand, grey, and glorious. He sweated as he latched onto a platform, and from what he read on the few files he received, this position was the best place to snipe the target that always came out to the balcony to watch the skies. And like Claudio said, nobody would suspect a child at the age of five to be the one to end the target's life, so it would be easy to slip away after he completes his mission. It wasn't difficult to get in either, it was much easier than he expected, and he wonders if this is what it's like for the Arcobaleno too.

Hauling the sniper rifle strapped behind his back over the edge, Lambo tumbled to the flat surface with a omph. Breathing out, Lambo took a moment to collect himself and when he did, he nodded. He set up his station and waited patiently for his target to come outside, lying flat on his stomach. His form obscured by the ivy vines growing around him and down the side of the building.

Lambo felt his throat constrict as his finger hovered the trigger of his weapon, a silenced sniper rifle, and couldn't believe he was really doing this. Killing a boy whose only 12 years-old from what the files Claudio gave him said, only seven years older than Lambo himself. He wonders if he can do this? If he'll make the shot.

As Oliver, he used to recall how kids used to boast about holding a gun. At how it was amazing, and how cool they felt at shooting the target papers you usually found in the shooting range, bragging that they made a headshot or two. At how innocent their actions were back then. Now, he couldn't help but feel a swell of emptiness and apprehension at their words. At how switching one object for a real, living and breathing target could change their attitudes in a heartbeat if they were ever forced into his position.

It was scary.

Sickening, really. And he really hated his life as Lambo.

On the other hand, he can't afford to fail either.

There will be consequences if he did. And remembering the cold and ominous gaze of Claudio's eyes, Lambo knew it was a bad one.

A very, very bad punishment.

The files also stated that his target was the only child staying at this area and was advised to kill on sight. Lambo swallowed, feeling how dry his throat is.

He can't fail. He can't.

A distant click of a door reached Lambo's ears, and he tensed, feeling his head hurt from how hard he grinded his jaw. He tried to remember everything he was taught, to relax, slow his breathing and calm himself. Never panic and always remain steady. The boy breathed deeply. Once. Twice. And feeling his heart settling, Lambo hollowed himself.

Lowering his head, Lambo looked through the scope, seeking the boy he was ordered to eliminate. It took a while before he managed to find the boy who was leaning against the railing, chin on his arms with a contemplating face. Like they were in a moment of deep concentration of deciding something of utmost importance.

Emerald eyes blinked once, then twice, before all colour left his face.

Lambo drew back shakily, a hand covering his mouth as the grip on the trigger slacked, horror and shock growing on his face. He felt light headed as he forced himself to breath, difficult with the way his throat refused to relax, before taking another look through the scope to confirm what he saw.

He pulled back with the same reaction of dread.

Lambo hadn't been mistaken.

It was exactly what he saw.

Silver hair reaching his chin, mint green eyes staring lowly over the railing, small arms cushioning his youthful face.

Lambo knew him.

He knew him painfully well.

It was Gokudera Hayato.

Gokudera. Hayato

Future Storm Guardian.

Tsuna's right hand man.

The world seemed to stop as Lambo lay there in shock, time passing as the clouds drifted further and the twitter of birds continued, finger no longer hovering over the trigger. And Gokudera...still had no idea. He had no idea what's being pointed at his head. And… Lambo doesn't know what to do either.

With a wheezing breath, Lambo looked down.

It was an hour later, when Gokudera decided it was enough before he turned away to enter the building doors, leaving Lambo to pick up his supplies numbly. Scaling down the castle wall, leaving the area with tight-lipped silence, and reached the middle of the forest. He dropped his head from where he stood, uninterested at the disappearing peaks of the castle, mind occupied by the fact that Gokudera was still out there alive and breathing. Staring at his outstretched hands, eyes following the lines of his lightning bolt scars, Lambo brought them towards his face.

He broke down, the first ripples of a sob escaping through his fingers as tears fell down (—hold it in, they whispered, hold it in dammit!—), crouching heavily against himself.

His first mission was a failure.

One that brings both fear and relief to brew in his chest.

Relief at the fact he didn't kill Gokudera.

Fear for what will happen when he reaches 'home'.

The impact of a fist hitting the side of his cheek was what greeted Lambo when Claudio entered his room in a storm of fury, sending him sprawling on the floor with a muffled cry of pain.

"Young Master!" Nina screamed when Claudio first lashed out, rushing towards Lambo with trembling hands. She was holding comfortingly to his shoulders as Lambo willed the tears away, covering his flaming and stinging cheek with the palm of his hand. Green eyes met fuming brown ones.

"You…" Claudio hissed venomously. "How dare you! How dare you come back with such—failure!"

The boy didn't say anything as he stared mutedly to the floor, letting Claudio's anger to wash over him. He's learned a long time ago that arguing would do more harm than good from his time alive as Oliver, and instead, learned to shut up and contain his anger or frustrations from erupting out loud.

"I didn't train you to be a useless weapon!" The man screamed, throwing an arm out to knock a vase to the floor in a loud shatter of destruction. "I didn't train you to be worthless!"

Lambo watched as the usually cold and blank face of his boss twist to something vile and disconcerting. Eyes burning with rage and mania, and it was frightening to see these changes, this revealing of true colours. Made even more so when he took note at how similar their faces were.

The Bovino Boss moved to hit him again, and Lambo flinched at the action, squeezing his eyes shut as Nina tightened her hold on him protectively. When nothing happened, he opened his eyes hesitantly, trembling when he realised that Claudio's face had changed once again. Back to the cold and calculative gaze, earlier rage hidden behind layers of ice and control, and Lambo felt that something terrible was about to happen.

Claudio brushed a hand through his hair with a shaky sigh, trying to keep his anger controlled before snapping his eyes towards the younger. "I warned you, didn't I?" The man inquired coldly. "Of the consequences of your failures."

What happened next had seemed like a dream. A distant yet loud dream that echoed across his world like a bang. It was like a feeling of deja vu as he stared at the barrel pointing at him. Like he was Oliver all over again, standing terrified before the criminal that killed him with a single shot, dying before the eyes of a mother who begged him to open his eyes. To live.

And in this time, Lambo had also stopped breathing.

For an entirely different reason.

Shakily, Lambo brought a hand to his cheek, touching it briefly before pulling them back. With a hitch of his breath, Lambo realised he was looking at blood again, glowing crimson and shiny under the dim lights of his room. The colour bringing dread and despair to fill his head, and turning his body around slowly, a low cry escaped his lips at what he saw.

"Nina!" Lambo cried out, crawling frantically towards her prone figure, golden hair cascading all over the floor like a fallen angel.

With quivering hands, Lambo threw himself over her, trying to cover the blood rushing out of her throat with trembling fingers. Sobbing like a useless child as the blood continued to slip past his fingers. Nina's whose face was pale, too pale for his comfort as her eyes stared sightless to the side, hands grasping nothing as they lay strewn to the side and over her stomach. Lambo tries to ignore the way the side of her face was splattered or the way the pool of blood continued to grow larger—all he could do was babble under his breath. Telling her to stay awake despite her chest not moving at all, telling her to hold on despite her silence, telling her to live despite the lifelessness of her beautiful blue-grey eyes. To just stay with him.

Realistically, he just didn't want to admit that Nina was gone for good. That she was—

"I told you, didn't I?" Lambo stifled his cries to stare crestfallen at Nina's murderer, Claudio's voice piercing through his fragile heart. "To choose someone you wouldn't regret."

Lambo went chalk white because he did remember. The choice he had to make when he had been taken away from the nursery. And now, because of his choice, Nina was...Nina was…

The boy choked, green eyes wide with near catatonic shock as he gripped tightly at Nina's apparels, mouth moving as if to say something, anything.

Nothing came out.

"This is only the beginning, son. If this happens again," Claudio spat darkly. "Then my dearest sister will be next."

Lambo raised his head up, frozen at the boss' words, fear coursing through his body as he pushed harder against Nina's throat despite knowing it was futile. He wouldn't, would he? Lambo bit his lips, sweat falling down the side of his head, Claudio wouldn't kill his own sister would he?

"This was only a warning." Was the man's cruel words, like Nina's life meant nothing to him, and staring into those cold and ominous eyes, Lambo had only felt empty inside. "So don't bring anymore shame to this famiglia."

Claudio turned his head away, briskly walking out his prison like he didn't just commit a sin of killing an innocent soul like Nina's. With the doors closing behind the man, and unable to do anything else, Lambo collapsed over her. Grasping her face and pressing his forehead against hers, uncaring of the blood smearing all over the place, and repeated her name in a broken mantra. The tears in his eyes falling, his sadness overflowing as he begged her to stay. Knowing they were just empty words spoken to someone who was already gone. And with a cry filled with anguish, Lambo sobbed.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me, please. Please. Forgive me."

Nina's funeral was a quiet affair. One that only he, Aunt Ottavia and a few others attended. He didn't remember much about the funeral in general, only that he was staring emptily at Nina's peaceful face inside her casket, limp hand grasped by Ottavia's unwavering ones.

It was only by the end of the ceremony, standing before Nina's gravestone and getting hugged by his aunt that made him finally react, spilling his tears over her shoulders as his own trembled. Ottavia murmuring comforting words into his ears as she rubbed the small of his back, a hand tangled in his black curls, bringing him closer.

Lambo had only held tighter, hugging her fiercely as he cried, for once, abandoning his recalcitrance for something more vulnerable. Despite his dislike to be seen as the very thing he was displaying, even Lambo had his breaking points (—even Oliver—). His limits broken from his endless thoughts that Nina died because of him. He didn't protect her, hadn't promised her either, and wasn't strong enough. He should have been the one. It should have been Lambo. It shouldn't have been Nina who was caught in the crossfire. He should have stepped in like the human shield he had been in that distant lifetime, the one that protected someone. Instead, Nina was dead because of him.

Lambo choked.

Just why did loss feel so unkind?

And now? Now Aunt Ottavia would be next. He can't. He can't lose someone else again (—No more, no more, not again—).

"I'll protect you!" Lambo sobbed out, voice cracking at his desperate plea. "I'll protect you! I swear! I won't fail you!"

Aunt Ottavia's arms clutched him harder, "Lambo. Sweetheart. You haven't failed anyone. None of this is your fault, remember that, alright? You don't need to protect me, you shouldn't have to, I'll be just fine with protecting myself."

She pulled away to stare at his splotched face, expression contorting sadly at his tears as she whipped them away with a swipe of her thumb.

"Please," Ottavia starts, pressing her forehead against his. "Just take care of yourself more. In the end, your safety is the most important thing to me—the most important thing to us. I can take care of myself just fine, but you on the other hand, shouldn't have to shoulder all this burden in the first place. If Nina was here…she would agree too."

Lambo shook his head fiercely, wanting to scream that he wasn't a child. That he can take care of her too!

Yet, he found himself hesitating, burying his face further into the crook of her shoulder as Lambo cried for the rest of the day. Grabbing the back of her black dress, promising himself that he'll forever protect the people close to his heart. To be their shield.

And the only way he could do that is if he didn't fail anymore.

For the next 260 days, Lambo completed 35 missions without fail much to Claudio's pleasure and Ottavia's sadness. His first kill being an old politician and an enemy mafioso, standing before the scared man as he pointed his handgun at the man's forehead, firing with only a split hesitation before going back to his aunt with a new sense of disgust for himself.

Lambo was still five when he first realized this year was ending soon. Realising to himself that there was something wrong.

No Reborn. No bazooka. No nothing.

No one was calling for him.

At five years-old soon six, Lambo slid down the side of the wall from coming back exhausted from yet another mission. Hugging his knees when he realised that his escape from this cage was getting slimmer and slimmer with each passing day. And no matter how much Aunt Ottavia tried to make him smile through those days with extra care and presents, Lambo found himself unable to enjoy them as he slipped further into his despair. That he was stuck here. Never to meet Sawada Tsunayoshi that had changed Lambo Bovino's life. Something Oliver had longed for since the very beginning. Something that Lambo longed for now.

He cries. A bitter smile on his lips when he came to the conclusion that perhaps he was just too useless to be saved.

A/N: *Cue tears* I have always liked Nina as a character, but unfortunately, her fate had been long foreshadowed the moment Claudio told Lambo to not regret it. But yeah, I feel bad for poor Lambo.

And I was actually quite excited to present the first hint of the main cast in the form of Gokudera Hayato! Did you guys expect that?

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as well!

One word for the next teaser:

Ba-zoo-ka~

EDIT (26/11/19):

Because there's multiple comments about the same thing, I've decided to provide an explanation so that I can hopefully dispel some confusions! And I always love to do explanations, haha!

Why does Lambo not kill Claudio?

The reason is simple. Firstly, killing Claudio would be the most illogical thing he can do in his position right now. Lambo has no allies there— especially not with the unnamed targets he's killed that could very much be someone of importance— and the only ally he does have is the form of Ottavia who has absolutely no control over the Bovino Famiglia, much less any power to do anything drastic. By killing Claudio would only paint a target on the back his back and a constant life on the run for patricide. Secondly, the existence of the Vendice and their need to uphold Mafia Law is a constant danger in the background of any mafioso. If by killing Claudio, does that spell out the fate that Lambo must then kill most of the subordinates that have sworn to protect Claudio? From what I remember, Mukuro's reason for being convicted by the Vendice is due to killing two mafia famiglias that had taken him in. There is also the fact that Ghost (TYL) was convicted for the reason of killing prominent members of the mafia. In Lambo's current situation, he would be a sitting duck either way. And finally, and more of a personal thought that I've mentioned before to someone else and shamelessly repeating again: In the end, it's the part of Oliver that's limiting Lambo as an individual of the mafia. So, I wonder what would happen when that limitation disappears?

Why does he not use his flames?

Flames have been the least thing on his mind until this very moment with the constant stress of trying to survive electrification everyday. And maybe, as a reincarnated individual, he should have practiced with trying to channel his Dying Will Flames because of the knowledge he has of them. But frankly, he was a toddler until now (and still remarkably young), I doubt his body would have tolerated the presence of Dying Will Flames back then until now which literally works through soul essence. Vongola Nono sealed Tsunayoshi's flames for the sole reason that he was too young to handle flames (which, personally to me, was a shitty thing to do). And it's far from easy to unlock them in the first place. And honestly, all I can say is to have patience with this slow writer. (I WANT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, OK? SUE ME.)