Varia: Preparation

Indeed, trouble came and proven by the fact that Sawada Iemitsu came home that morning.

'Uhhh Juudaihime? Not gonna go down there for breakfast?' Mitsuru asked, dragging him out of the house.

'We'll just be a frigging third wheel in that lovey-dovey atmosphere!' Mitsuru snarked. 'Let's go get Yamamoto-kun before we meet bird-brain.'

xxx

Hibari received mail from Mitsuru on his school rooftop on a sunday.

Bird-brain, meet you at the roof
with Gokudera and Yamamoto
partaining to FAMILY matters.
You'll both like and hate it.

'Hoooo?' he raised an eyebrow. 'This should be entertaining.' he grinned.

And so...

Upon meeting the trio...he did a recap.

There's a revolt in Vongola resulting in the Varia Boss becoming popsicle for the next six years but somehow he was freed, took the Ninth hostage and Vongola's set of Ring Halves and are now after CEDEF's Ring Halves that went to Japan to get to them. Their main worry was Lambo and if Mitsuru would forfeit, she gladly will forfeit his match as long as they win more battles.

'To that end, will you be our Cloud Representative?' Mitsuru asked him.

Hibari's smirk was dangerously bloodthirsty.

'Its the Varia we're talking about.' he grinned. 'They will not disappoint me.'

'Thank you, Hibari.' said Mitsuru gratefully. 'Until we get more information, we can't let them win and to that end, I'll make my dad talk what truly happened six years ago. The truth...' a Vindice appeared.

I'm afraid that's classified, Decimo Candidate. he said. Vongola Nono explicitly wished that only he and his chosen few are allowed to know. You cannot ask your father unless it is permitted so. and he was gone.

'Darn.' Mitsuru sighed. 'They made it Omerta! We'll have to fight harder without knowing the truth now!'

'Afraid so.' Gokudera moped. 'The Vindice are law in capital letters, bold and colored blood red. Even the most asshole capos can't do a thing. But its what makes the Vindice neutral good as they are not corrupt lawmakers. They are by-the-book to the core we can count on them for justice but at the same time, the nightmare of Omerta-breakers, assuming nobody shot the rule-breaker in the head first.'

'But death is preferable than Vendicare.' said Hibari. 'I heard from that man who said people would rather jump off a cliff than be in there. The only one who know what's it like, is that stupid pineapple and obviously, can't ask him.'

'Sou ne...we'll know more details about the Ring Battle.' said Mitsuru. 'The Venue, the Time, and hopefully the Cervello are not in cahoots with our enemy...in the old days, its the Vindice who are the judges so I'm not confident we can trust the Cervello. We will know if they refuse to let us forfeit Lambo's match for his own sake.' she growled darkly.

'That's the sad part.' Yamamoto sighed. 'For now, we do what we can for the kid while worrying about ourselves, too.'

'Leave that to me.' the rooftop door opened to show Dino and Romario.

'Dino-san! Romario-san!' Mitsuru gasped out. 'Why are you here?'

'I'm here to deliver the Cloud Ring to Hibari Kyoya while Reborn plans on giving the rest to the other guys...and Iemitsu hired a certain guy to be the Mist.'

'Rokudo Mukuro, right?' Mitsuru piped up as Gokudera and Yamamoto gawked at the blonde while Hibari growled.

'NANIIII?!'

'Juudaihime, no offense but was your father smoking weed recently?!' Gokudera sputtered, wide-eyed.

'He's stoned since this morning, remember?' Mitsuru groaned. 'However, there's a catch...I have been shot to the future. Since he's stuck in Vendicare, he would have a representative. A girl named Chrome. Something about her being his outside body.'

'Hey, I didn't know that!' Dino exclaimed, eyes wide.

'Oh crud...is this one gonna be OK?!' Gokudera wailed.

'Well, it seems to be since future you is fine and dandy with it.'

Gokudera fainted.

'Well...that's unexpected...' Dno sweatdropped. 'At any rate, Reborn tasked me to be Hibari's tutor after giving him the Cloud Ring.' he said.

'And who is this coyote?' Hibari demanded to Mitsuru.

'Ara, you can detect how strong he is?' Mitsuru smiled. 'He's the boss of the Cavallone Family and my fratello maggiore. He called me his sorellina.'

'Tha~t's right~!' Dino squealed, glomping Mitsuru, snuggling into her and for some reason, Hibari was getting irate. 'Thanks for the Valentines' Chocolate this year Mitsuru! But did you really have to send a videotape with it?'

'I just had to!' Mitsuru chirped happily while hugging back.

'Her what and his what?' Yamamoto asked Gokudera, baffled as he can't understand Italian.

'Big brother and little sister respectively.' said Gokudera.

'Whew...' Yamamoto looked relieved.

Dino's a great-looking guy with a good personality and as a boss, that means he's wealthy, not to mention Mitsuru likes him...he and Gokudera can't compete with that!

'Oy, hands off the little bird already you damn coyote.' Hibari growled, territorial mood over 9000.

'Ohya ohya, someone's territorial...but befitting of a proper Cloud indeed for my cute baby sister.' Dino grinned, tossing him his ring that Hibari snatched mid-air and wore it. 'Soo lady and gents, this rooftop is reserved until the battles begin!' he said as he got his whip ready. 'You'll meet your respective tutors soon! Oh, Micchan, about that matter...Reborn says you'll be OK by yourself for some reason...'

Mitsuru smiled mysteriously.

'Of course.' she smirked. 'I got my own training planned. Let's go guys. Bird-brain will become a bird of prey within the week!' and they left.

'Well, she has that much confidence in me, I shan't disappoint.' Dino smirked, stretching his whip. 'You up to it, kiddo?'

His response was a wild lunge, aiming to kill.

'Right now you're a wild bull so I'll teach you how to be a proper bird of prey!'

Romario knew he had to get ready to heal the pair later...

xxx

Gokudera wondered who his trainer will be.

It was Reborn?!

'Reborn-san?!' Gokudera yelped. 'You're my tutor?'

'Nope...but this guy is.' said Reborn as another baby came out. 'He is Fon, the Storm Arcobaleno.'

Gokudera coulda sworn this guy was babyfied Hibari in a red cheongsam and white trousers.

Then it hit him.

He wisely stayed silent.

'He will teach you how to fight the Varia Storm properly...and why Shamal dumped you.' Gokudera bristled at that. 'You better let the lesson sink in before they realize they've been duped.'

'Hai! But who are you tutoring?'

'...the idiot cow.'

'I pity him.' Gokudera sweatdropped.

'Ara, you should worry about yourself first.' said Fon kindly. 'Because you're up against a bloodthirsty maniac after all.'

'Now he tells me.' Gokudera whimpered but braced himself. He didn't endure intense training for nothing, dammit!

xxx

At home...

'Dad?' Yamamoto called out in the kitchen. 'Are you busy?'

'Takeshi...I got a phone call.' said Yamamoto Tsuyoshi. 'Daddy's free for a couple days, so wanna join me in the dojo?'

His father sported the same dangerous air Reborn has.

He knew it.

He's his tutor.

'Bring it dad!' Yamamoto grinned in nervous excitement. 'I have something to fight for!'

'That's the attitude son...because just like your baseball, daddy's sword is not playing around.' Tsuyoshi grinned, looking at his son with an excited smile. 'I'm su~per strict!'

xxx

And the training? At the mountains outside Namimori...

Mitsuru took a deep breath and flared her flames ala super saiyan, and went wild in re-training her fire techniques.

Elsewhere, a certain blonde baby approached a certain boxer...

'Huh? I'm picked as a Sun Guardian to fight under Sawada-chan against some extreme guys?' Ryohei asked Colonello.

'That's right, hey!' Colonello nodded. 'You and I will be very busy these next few days! I heard you're sparring with her?'

'Yes, but she's so extreme I extremely cannot win but that's what makes it great!' Ryohei cried in enthusiasm. 'As long as I get to fight her, I'm not complaining!'

'Well, this is one time you need to win to protect your boss and your family.' said Colonello. 'You are to do your darndest to protect them, hey!'

'Huh? What do they need protecting from?'

'A formidable enemy, that's who!'

Needless to say, Ryohei finally gets involved in what the others got themselves into.

xxx

Four days later...

'Micchan.' Mitsuru turned to see her father. 'How's it going?'

Mitsuru turned to look at her father.

'Reborn said you have to train on your own.' he continued.

'Yeah. Because I'm using my master's methods.' said Mitsuru. 'And Reborn has no idea of the training I'm doing. But its also something my friends can't do because you have to start young in this method. So they'll have to deal with Mafia-Style Training for their Flame-Training. Its a method he came up with after unsealing me.'

'About that...' said Iemitsu awkwardly. 'I only did it to protect you. We never saw the afters coming.'

'...somewhat-decent in intention, an utter zero in execution.' said Mitsuru blandly. 'Perhaps time for retirement is nigh for that old man if he's making judgment lapses even with our bloodline trait's help.' she snorted. 'Or because he may have ignored it that it left him?'

'Mitsuru!' Iemitsu choked out, scandalized.

'When people take stuff like this for granted, it leaves, courtesy of karma.' said Mitsuru. 'And I foresee something complicated. Go see what's wrong in Italy. I feel the answer is there.'

'...is that so?' asked her father softly.

'Yeah. Go. Oh yeah, wear the best kevlar vest CEDEF's got or we'll be replacing you too if you don't have it on.'

The advisor smiled sadly before leaving. "...I got the feeling she hasn't forgiven us yet..."

That night at home...Mitsuru was lying on the roof, looking upwards to the dark nighttime sky. She can barely see a few stars here due to pollution. 'Good thing I took the ring from Lambo...I'll be the bait.' she muttered, looking at the Lightning Half-Ring. 'My power hasn't failed me yet since I never ignored its advice unlike some morons I can name. I wonder how is everyone doing...'

However, she braced herself for tomorrow.

She's not telling anyone. As a boss, its her duty to protect her subordinates and she's protecting Lambo.

xxx

Next day...she sent the older boys mail. He's training Lambo elsewhere where her mom won't see so Reborn need not distracting.

Prepare.

They'll be here by late afternoon.
Using myself to lure them away from
Lambo. Meet you at Shiota Park.

'Holy shit!' Gokudera's eyeballs popped.

'Oh hell no...' Yamamoto croaked out as both boys stared at their cellphones.

'Is something the matter, Gokudera?' Fon asked his student with a frown.

'The Varia will be here by around early dusk!' Gokudera cried. 'Juudaihime felt it!'

'Is that right...' Fon frowned slightly. Out of all Vongola, she was the next strongest in Hyper Intuition next to its Founder but she's getting stronger still and may reach his level that 'she'll be able to see ahead'. His successors before her just can't compare.

Namimori, Rooftop...

'Bronco. We got company soon.' Hibari frowned at his phone, while lying on his back after he and Dino are beaten bloody from each other's attacks. Dino had to roll his eyes upwards to be able to see the LCD on Hibari's phone and read it upside-down.

'Wow, they're early.' Dino laughed before making a pained grimace. 'Let's freshen up. Romario. Two more days, you're game. Haha, Micchan's right, you really will be a hawk at the end of the week.'

'Yes, boss.' and Romario proceeded to heal them.

Thus Mitsuru had a heavy lunch that noontime, and took her most graphic yaoi manga with her, and her copy of her starting volumes.

And it has a certain cover too.

For now, she will pay Kokuyo Town a visit.

xxx

Kokuyo Town, hours later...

Mitsuru made her way to the theater, her power guiding her.

She decided to meet Chrome, Mukuro's vessel to the outside world.

'What the?!' Ken gasped as she showed up in their room.

'Rokudo Mukuro, are you available?' Mitsuru spoke. 'Did you heed my warning?'

Chrome turned into Mukuro by illusions.

'Kufufufu...' he spoke. 'It was hard to believe you.' he said. 'So I did my own investigating...only to see you were right in the end.' Mukuro admitted, narrowing his eyes. 'I don't think I want to be its first tenant anyway.'

Mitsuru shuddered. She got that feeling which was why she warned him in the first place.

'I see...you're in a typical prison cell, I believe?'

'Yes. For now, I'm a hired mercenary.' said Mukuro. 'Your father bargained with the Vindice on behalf of Vongola. If I become your Mist Guardian through this child, Ken and Chikusa will be on parole. But of course...one thing wrong about my behavior, they'll be back in.' Chikusa and Ken stiffened. 'I suppose little freedom is better than nothing.' he said wryly before eyeing the furoshiki she carries. '...what's that?'

'Something to keep occupied...and a little help. Just don't blow it all within two days, OK?' Mitsuru chuckled as she put the pack down and walked away.

When she was gone, they checked the contents.

Inside was a small rectangular thing wrapped in white paper. Chikusa ripped it to see 1000 yen bills. 'Its money.' he began counting.

'And what's with these? I can't read these!' Ken sweatdropped as he can't read Japanese.

'Well, she'll be of help.' said Mukuro, half his face switching back to Chrome. 'At least we're not bored out of our skulls here...and she says we can buy real food for a change. But judging by the thickness, we should indeed spend wisely until we find another way to get money.'

'Right...'

'Kakipi, how much is that?' Ken asked Chikusa who was flipping bills while counting. It took a few more seconds...

'...200.000.'

'...That's pretty big...' Mukuro blinked. 'It should last us three weeks or so with careful spending.'

xxx

In the entertainment district...come early-dusk...

'So this is the place?' Mammon asked Levi.

'Squalo says so, there should be no mistake.' said Levi. 'This is where the other set is taken to.' he commented as behind them are three underlings. 'Can I ask you to use your Sticky Picture?'

'You owe me one, Levi.' said Mammon. 'Its an emergency, why not? Your ring is the Ring of Lightning, so let's find it first.' he then gathered enough spit in his mouth, and took out a roll of paper under his cape, ripped a piece then spat on it. Levi cringed in disgust.

'That still doesn't fail to disgust the hell out of me.' Levi griped as the spit took form of a map.

'Hm! It's close.' said Mammon. '205 meters south, then 801 meters to the west.'

'From here, Varia Lightning, Levi Unit, will retrieve the Ring of Lightning!' Levi declared as the underlings stood up. 'Anyone in the way, eliminate them along with whoever has it!' and they jumped off the building.

xxx

Shiota Park, 3:45 pm...

'It'll be time soon.' she mused as her guardians arrived.

'Sawada!' Yamamoto cried as they came.

'We're here now.' said Gokudera as he and Hibari came next. 'Wait, I don't see Turf-Top anywhere...'

'His training is about to be over, I'm not about to ask Reborn to distract him and Colonello for now.' Mitsuru reasoned. 'He'll be done by late at night and we'll be fine. Hide and conceal your presences. They must see I'm alone first.'

'I'm not one to take your orders.' Hibari grunted, but Mitsuru smiled...and showed him a colored drawing of him and Dino in it, in such a lovey-dovey embrace too. 'Wha?!' he squawked in horror.

Gokudera and Yamamoto's eyebrows shot upward.

'Kawaii deshou~?' Mitsuru cooed at the picture she showed.

'GET RID OF IT!' Hibari yelled in freak-out.

'No I won't~' Mitsuru sing-sang. 'It's so cute!'

'Mitsuru!'

Hibari called her name for the first time and that's because he ain't too happy about it.

Hibari was about to protest more when the enemy came.

xxx

'Its a bunch of kids hanging out.'

'One of them should have the ring. Mince them first, then get frisking.'

'Sir!'

xxx

Three men in black began their assault, only to hit and bounce off a barrier.

'Ara, they're here.' Mitsuru smiled darkly. 'Let's play.' she declared as her boys jumped on them and she stood to watch them make short work of these men. '...are they really the Varia or some rookie recruits? Most likely or we'd be in trouble by now.'

'Tch! Bunch of rookies!' Hibari spat in disgust. 'Too weak!'

'Well, the fun ones are coming. They're just side-attractions, that's all.' said Mitsuru blandly as Levi arrived.

'Which one of you brats has the Ring of Lightning?!' he demanded. 'If you don't want to die, hand it over!'

'Now now Levi~' Lussuria spoke, 'Don't hog all the fun to yourself~' several blurs jumped down next to Levi. A baby, a bunch of adults, and a teenager.

'Well Hibari, here are the fun guys. But for now, the real thing is about to come.' Mitsuru spoke, taking out a certain manga to read in front of the Varia that got them choking.

'Not that again?!' Levi, Mammon and Squalo yelled while Belphegor choked.

Gokudera, Yamamoto and Hibari looked at the cover, then at Squalo...

'Oh my god! He exists!' the first two boys yelped.

'Hooo? Long hair bottoms, huh?' Hibari raised an eyebrow.

'I'M STRAIGHT YOU SHITTY BRATS AND I DON'T BOTTOM FOR ANYONE! EVER!' Squalo yelled, red-faced as Xanxus shoved his way to the front, and saw the manga too.

'Hooo? You into that, shitty shark?' Xanxus twitched.

'LIKE HELL YOU SHITTY BOSS!' Squalo yelled. 'I'M NOT INTO THAT!'

'Oh! That's the one you ripped to shreds before I can even read it! I want that!' Lussuria whined. 'I'll get that comic book with my ring too!'

'THE RING, YES! THAT SHITTY BOOK, NO!'

'My my, is it because I drew you as the Uke, Squalo?' Mitsuru shook, trying not to laugh.

'Wait, whut?' Squalo paused.

'I'm the author of these hardcore yaoi books.' Mitsuru smirked. 'And I have several things about you about to come out to the market this coming Winter Komiket. I wonder who I should pair you with next? Maybe that boy with the crown? He looks like an Uke...'

'Like HELL I'll be the Uke!' Belphegor sputtered, taking his knives out. 'Die!' he flung the knives at her, only to hit a round barrier of orange flames. 'Wha?'

'So my enemy is at least competent.' Xanxus grinned as he charged his hands with his flames. 'Interesting!'

'H-hey boss?!' Lussuria yelped,

'If you use that, you're gonna hit us too!' Squalo cried.

'Lucky we have an umbrella...' Gokudera commented. 'Sucks to be them though.'

'Hold it! That's enough!' Iemitsu's voice boomed.