Warnings: Rated T for themes and language. I will be using both manga and anime b/c I like parts of both plots. And errors in grammar, spelling, etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn anything, but I hope to bring my OC into the world of KHR.

Italicized words I use them to emphasize, when there is a different language, and when the characters are thinking. If it gets confusing - sorry.

Thank you to ALL YOU READERS who have favorited, followed, and reviewed this story! d.b It makes my day when I'm notified of a new follower/favoriter and I'm eager to read any and all reviews I get.

Special thanks to thomashailey67, merendinoemiliano, Micha247, Megi Keishii, iWasDamned,NaRuKo-InuTaiSHo-XD, scarlet rose white, Animeweeb123 and LyriaHart for reviewing the last chapter!

To thomashailey67: I completely feel you LOL. I do the exact same thing all the time. My record was binging till 6am and the sun was rising.

To merendinoemiliano: Thanks as always for your support and review! *hug*

To Micha247: Glad you enjoyed the little segment :D!

To Megi Keishii: I've thought about it...and I'm deciding between a short little omake or using the description 'warcry' cuz I had no idea what Xena's yell was until I looked it up and it's not something that can be easily described in writing without sounding unnatural. Maybe 'Aiyaiyaiya' could be used, but yeah, kinda awkward to me. But truly, this is as far as I'll go with it since Xena was nonexistent to me until I did chakram research. I'm a novice writer so we'll see what happens. Thanks for reading my story!

To iWasDamned: Seeing as you've reviewed the last chapter and likely read Ch.9's beginning notes, all I can say is thanks for sticking with the story and I hope you continue to enjoy what comes next! :D

To NaRuKo-InuTaiSHo-XD: Dang, your name is awesome! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

To scarlet rose white: Thanks a bunches and sorry for the super long wait!

To Animeweeb123: I'm so happy! Thanks and I hope you enjoy this chapter and what comes next as well!

To LyriaHart: Just gotta say, great timing on that review, I was 4/5ths through the story and planned on uploading this chapter in the next 24 hours. And yes, 'little worm' b/c Nade is PG...mostly, LOL. I'm happy you've enjoyed the story so far and are looking forward to what comes next :D. Thanks for your support!

There ya go! I replied to every reviewer because of the long wait I forced on you guys. Sorry for the wait!

Enjoy!

*WARNING* Varia's language again, most if not all due to Squalo, and short gore description due to Bel.

Thunder roared in the distance as the sky darkened, a forewarning of the impending rainfall. Nadeshiko leaned against the wall looking out the window with a pensive frown.

"You know the Lightning battle is tonight, ne?" she informed Kyoya who was reclined on the reception room's couch. He didn't acknowledge her words, but she knew he was listening. "My otouto is supposed to fight, but he's so young, Kyoya, and his opponent is supposed to be a ruthless assassin. His only chance is the ten-year bazooka, but even that doesn't guarantee a victory. Or at least one where he isn't seriously injured in the aftermath."

She made her way to the couch, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the couch and Kyoya's stomach. She closed her eyes and sighed.

A warm hand rested on her forehead. Nadeshiko opened her eyes and turned her head toward its owner. Kyoya's eyes were soft with understanding. What many didn't realize was that the Cloud cared immensely for anyone under his care and those he considered his - not that he'd ever admit it aloud.

She suspected that was why he was fine with Tsuna and his friends missing classes. He knew they were training which meant they'd be better prepared for battle and would also hopefully become slightly better sparring partners - ehem, victims.

And yes, her friend knew what was going on in Namimori. Dino had done his best to distract the young prefect with fights, but during those rare breaks for food and naps, Nadeshiko informed him of what was going on. Knowing made Kyoya angsty in the 'I'll bite those herbivores to death for messing with my school' kind of way, but at least she convinced him that Vongola would fix whatever damages promptly. So far, Vongola held up their end, so the raven-haired teen hadn't gone on a rampage...yet.

Instead of missing classes to train with her shishou, she used her time to take a mental break with Kyoya who was forced into taking a break as well by Dino. She'd visit the shop/dojo after school to get in a couple of hours of training, but for now, she'd rest beside her friend.

At least as much as she could with her worry for Lambo looming overhead.

A few minutes before the Lightning battle…

"What is that?!" Tsuna's voice shouted through the rumbling noise of thunder. The storm had worsened with the wind and rain pelting against the windows. Large black poles could be seen on the roof as lightning flashed above.

Lambo sang cheerfully in her arms, squirming in delight as if he wasn't about to walk into a deathmatch.

The Cervello greeted them the moment they entered the rooftop with explanations of the Elettrico Circuit. Special superconductive wires, amplified electrical currents, and imminent death by a million volts, oh my.

Those pink-haired masked ladies just jumped to the top of her 'Sic Kyoya On' list.

Lambo squirmed out of her arms, excitedly running toward the arena after seeing the way the lightning flowed through the web of wires. "Lambo-san wants to try that!"

Tsuna automatically scooped him up and scolded the five-year-old, "No, Lambo, it's dangerous!"

"So what!" He stretched and wriggled in the hopes he'd escape from the brunette's arms. "I'm gonna play out there!" he whined.

It was then that Lambo's horn fell out. Gokudera picked it up and returned it after writing "stupid cow" on it with a black sharpie. She sighed as she snatched it from his hands and reattached it to Lambo's head. She'd wash it off later.

"Guardian of the Lightning Ring, please go to the center of the arena. Your opponent has been waiting two hours," announced the left Cervello.

"Talk about being overzealous," Nadeshiko muttered as they watched the rest of the Varia drop down behind their representative.

She stood apart from Tsuna and his friends as they huddled and yelled their pre-battle cheers. Lambo was having fun, looking as if there was nothing wrong with the situation.

Tsuna crouched down in front of Lambo, "Lambo, listen carefully. If you don't want to go, you don't have to." His offer wasn't unexpected to Nadeshiko. "I don't know why Tou-san picked you, but it's wrong to make a kid as young as you fight. You don't want to die, right?"

Lambo looked at his future boss as if he was about to impart some great wisdom to him - the image wasn't helped by the fact that the toddler was picking his nose. "My, my, my. Didn't you know? Lambo-san is invincible, so Lambo-san can't die."

"If you still insist on going, take these," Tsuna offered the old horns he was given by the older Lambo the previous night. And forcibly stuffed them into his afro when Lambo was being his usual stubborn self.

Just as he was about to go, Nadeshiko halted him. "Wait! Lambo-kun!"

"Nee-chan~, Lambo-san wants to go play now!" he whined.

"I know, I know. I just wanted to tell you something." She crouched down as her brother did just moments ago and gently cupped his face in her hands as she looked him straight in the eyes. "Lambo, you're about to fight someone who's a big bully."

"Bully?"

"Mhm," she nodded, "And he's gonna try to bully you, but you won't let him, right?"

He shook his head vehemently, "Uh-uh, 'cuz Lambo-san's the best!"

"That's right!" She smiled, then whispered excitedly to him, "And, guess what?"

"What? What? What? Nee-chan, what?!"

"I have a gift for you after you show that bully who's the best."

"A gift?! What is it? What is it? Nee-chan~ you gotta tell, Lambo-san!"

"Nuh-uh, you'll only get it the moment you step out of that...playground, so that means you have to win against that overgrown bully, right?"

There was a resolve in his eyes that wasn't there before. The prospect of a reward will do that for kids. Thank goodness. "Lambo-san will win!"

"I'm rooting for you, otouto." She lowered her voice to keep the others from hearing what she'd say next and to impart the seriousness on the five-year-old, "Just know that if that bully gets to be too much that Nee-chan will help you no matter what, okay? I will step in immediately. No matter what."

Lambo suddenly jumped back from her and gave her a two-fingered salute that made her feel all sorts of warmth at its use, "GahHAHaHa! The great Lambo-san's not worried because Lambo-san will beat the bully and Nee-chan will give Lambo-san his awesome gift!" He then turned around and entered the arena without a second look back.

Good luck, Lambo.

"The Lightning Ring match between Leviathan versus Lambo Bovino will now begin!"

Hm, apparently Lambo's body makes him the perfect Lightning Guardian. It was shocking - no pun intended - just how well-suited to become the Lightning Guardian the toddler was, regardless of his age.

Everyone on Tsuna's side was tense as Leviathan began his assault on Lambo, whose height barely reached the assassin's knees. When Lambo began using the ten-year bazooka, more than once, things began looking up again.

Twenty years later Lambo made her proud to be the younger Lambo's Nee-chan.

Lightning pulsed in the air around Lambo as the Bovino acted like there was nothing wrong with the situation, but unlike his younger counterpart, it seemed he had good reason to not be worried. Leviathan's attack was easily absorbed and released into the ground, shattering all of the windows as the charge traveled down the building.

"He's exceeded my expectations," spoke Iemitsu. His sudden appearance shocked almost everyone, hitman not included. Nadeshiko spotted Basil beside her father and sent him a smile that was returned bashfully.

Things seemed to be working out as Lambo charged his Elettrico Cornata and effortlessly disabled Leviathan's parabolas. The power behind his attack pushed his opponent into the roof they were certain that it was Lambo's win until the smoke from the bazooka signified the return of the original Lambo.

Unfortunately and ironically, the younger Lambo collapsed under the remaining power of the electricity his older self had built up.

"In the end, The one who is more suited to being the Guardian of Lightning is still me." He moved like a man possessed as he neared the downed child.

"JUST TAKE THE RING! You don't need to hurt him anymore! He's already defeated! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she screamed, startling everyone. She scowled at the Cervello, "CALL IT! The match is over, he's won, alright!"

"The rings have not been reconnected, therefore the match continues," retorted the right Cervello coldly.

Tsuna and his friends tried and were stopped by Reborn and Cervello from interfering or risk losing their rings as well as the Lightning Ring.

Who cares?! she thought as Leviathan grew closer to Lambo. She couldn't wait anymore.

"Tsuna…" Her brother's eyes widened in the cold comprehension of what she was about to do next. "...I promised."

"Wait! Nade I'll-" he yelled.

She was a purple blur as she entered the arena. No going back now.

Leviathan was so focused on ending the little scum that when his wrist was grabbed he turned, confused about who stopped him.

Fiercely glowing purple eyes glared up at him. A thrill of terror traveled through him. Him! An assassin who's killed hundreds was afraid of some little girl?! Only the boss should instill such fear into his unworthy body!

So distracted was he that he could only stare as she sliced through the arm she held in seconds. Up, down, up. His biceps and triceps, forearm, and wrist - all grew numb.

He cursed himself for his inattention. Finally focused, he swung with his other arm but to his disbelief and the disbelief of his comrades, the girl caught his punch by stabbing her blade into his wrist.

He felt no pain, just like when she sliced through his other arm, but once again he could feel his arm lose all feeling. And once again no blood was shed as she dragged her blade all the way to his shoulder and out, followed by a hard kick that sent him flying back into the wall behind him and beneath his colleagues.

What the hell happened?!

Nadeshiko quickly picked up Lambo and ran to Tsuna as fast as she could. Lambo was both hot and cold - burning from the electricity and a growing fever, and freezing from the unforgiving rain.

The Varia moved to attack the interferer until Tsuna - Sky flames blazing brightly from his forehead and gloves - resolutely stood between them.

"No matter how important they're said to be - the Vongola Rings, the position for the next boss - I'd never fight for such things. But I will fight to stop my friends from getting hurt!"

"Shut up!" The order was the only warning Tsuna had before he was blasted out of the way. There atop the water tank stood Xanxus, proud and menacing as he looked down on all of them.

Tsuna stared up at him determinedly. "What's with that look? You don't really think you can defeat me and become boss, do you?"

"I just don't want to lose any of my friends in this battle!"

"I see..." An unhinged expression crossed Xanxus's face as he gathered his flames into his hand, no doubt planning to attack Tsuna again.

The Cervello who jumped to stop him was met with equal unmercifulness as his attack was redirected on her without hesitation. "I haven't lost my temper. Rather, I'm finally having fun," he stated with a sinister grin. "Now I understand why that old geezer chose you as his successor, even if it was temporary Whether it's this nonsense called friendship or that weak flame, you and that old fool are the same," he jeered, letting out a discomfiting laugh. "This will be quite a tragedy…No, a comedy!"

"Hey, woman! Continue," he ordered the remaining Cervello.

"Of course. I shall announce the results of the match. Leviathan wins," Not unexpected. "And because of the interference from Sawada's side in this guardian battle, the Lightning and Sky Rings will be given to the Varia."

"Eh?!" Well, we were expecting something like that to happen, she thought.

Basil spoke up his own rebuttal, "That's wrong! Sawada-dono should not be disqualified, he did not enter the field!"

"The interference was caused by a member of Sawada's Family, therefore he is to be held accountable for their actions. In addition, Nadeshiko Sawada is not a Guardian. We cannot confiscate a ring. If you refuse to relinquish the Sky Ring, then she will be directly punished for her intrusion."

Their announcement was met with vehement protests from Tsuna's side. "NO WAY!" Tsuna refused.

"We are the rules," stated the Cervello. Nadeshiko scoffed at the duplicity of their judges. One of their own gets attacked and the Varia don't even get a slap on the wrist. Not to mention, the amount of respect they bestow on the Varia boss, Xanxus-sama, while her brother was only Sawada. It was obvious whose side they were on.

Nadeshiko spoke up. "What would the punishment be?" she asked to the astonishment of all, even the Cervello as she didn't think they'd consider anything but forfeiting the Sky Ring.

"T-then, uh - " stuttered the Cervello.

A loud guffaw from Xanxus drew every person's eyes. "Alright then! I'll give you a choice. Either you surrender the ring to its rightful owner...or the girl. The ring belongs to me. It will end up on my finger by the end of these battles anyway. And how about this, I give my word that she won't be killed."

"We refuse! I refuse! Take the ring!" Tsuna decided.

"No!" she argued. "Tsu-nii, you have to keep the Sky Ring. Out of all the rings, it's the one with the most power, politically and no doubt literally. You can't give it up. And you heard him, I won't be killed. I'll be fine. You know I will," she pressed.

"No, I don't. Weren't you listening to what I just said, Nade?! If I won't sacrifice my friends for the Vongola or these rings, what makes you think I'd sacrifice my own sister?!"

"It wouldn't be fun to eliminate her if that's what you're thinking," interjected Xanxus. "I'd rather bury you after you've tasted true despair in this battle for the rings...just like that old fool."

His final comment elicited a reaction from the Vongola veterans. The Young Lion of Vongola roared like his namesake, "Xanxus! You bastard! What did you do to the Ninth?!"

"Isn't that your job to find out, Outside Advisor?" he taunted.

"Don't mess with me, you-"

"Calm down, Iemitsu. There's no evidence," said Reborn.

"You, too, Reborn. Put the gun down," he advised the equally enraged hitman who held Leon's transformed self in his hand.

"What's going on? What did Xanxus do?" wondered Tsuna.

"I can't say for sure, but it seems that he may have, no, he definitely, did something to the Ninth. Who knows what, though." She pushed Lambo into his arms, "Let me go, Tsuna. Lambo needs help as soon as possible...and maybe I can find out what happened to the Ninth if I go with them," she implored, whispering the latter of what she said.

"This way, the battle is still even, which gives you guys a better chance in the long run. I can take care of myself and contact you -" She shot a discreet glance at the bracelet she gave him. "- if and when I have information. I can do this. Let me help, Tsu-nii."

Tsuna gave Nadeshiko a wry, reluctant look. Regret and worry flooded his amber eyes. The inferno of Sky Flames was barely withheld within them. "...Okay," he acquiesced. The words felt like ash in his mouth.

Nadeshiko turned around and walked toward the Varia unwaveringly. "Have you decided then? Heh, where's that unwillingness to fight for the rings to protect those 'friends' of yours, huh? Maybe we're more alike than I thought, trash, if you've resigned your own flesh and blood to a fate possibly worse than death," Xanxus mocked. He's just trying to scare them. Mindgames. That's all it is...hopefully.

Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Ryohei were shocked as their friend's sister proceeded toward their enemies. In front of them, Tsuna grit down and clenched his fists in dismay. Basil had to be held back by Iemitsu's firm grip on the younger male's shoulder. His protests silenced with a hard look from his master.

Iemitsu and Reborn watched resignedly. They could understand the girl's reasoning and knew that if Xanxus was given the Sky Ring then he'd have the power to order all their deaths. This may have been the best of bad options. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made in their line of work, but it didn't mean it got any easier to make them. Especially when it involved Family and family.

Other than a reproachful look to Leviathan, who now stood beside the other Varia and was slowly gaining feeling back in his arms, Nadeshiko observed the rest of the Varia cooly and held herself proudly.

"Be grateful, scum. I'm giving you a chance. The remaining battles will continue as usual. If you manage to win, I'll give you the Vongola Rings and the position of boss...but if you lose, everything you cherish will be eliminated, starting with the girl. Be sure to show me the power that was chosen by that old fool." Xanxus addressed the Cervello, "Woman, go ahead."

"Yes, I will now announce tomorrow's matchup! The next battle will be between the Guardians of Storm."

Leviathan, fully recovered, joined Xanxus on the water tower and kneeled before him, "Boss, please accept this Ring of Lightning."

"I don't want it," he refused and continued, "Levi, if you disgrace me again…"

"I will kill myself." Is he serious? While reminiscent of the devotion the Disciplinary Committee held toward Kyoya, Nadeshiko was vaguely disgusted to see that the Varia's Lightning Guardian would go as far as the end his own life if his boss ordered him to.

Without another word, Xanxus lept away. This signaled the rest of the Varia to make their way back to their base. Belphegor smirked at their new addition, "Ushishishi, will you be able to keep up, girly?"

Nadeshiko regarded him with a raised brow, sprouted her wings, and followed after their mammoth-sized Cloud guardian who was easily trackable from her overhead position.

11:37 PM

Dino read the text Reborn sent him then shared a troubled look with his right-hand man, "Romario...I think we should keep this from Kyoya…" He'd hunt the Varia down the instant he heard where little Nade is.

"...That'd probably be for the best, Boss."

"Ne, ne, ne, have you ever considered using throwing knives?" Bel asked as he toyed with his own knives.

"Yes and no, I suppose. I found my main weapon pretty quickly during my decision process so any other weapon wasn't really considered. Now, I'm happy with my choice," she replied. She was currently lounging on the loveseat opposite of the blonde Varia member who introduced himself as Belphegor, Prince the Ripper. Oooo, Scary.

The name made him no less of a danger than she already considered him.

"Yeah, ushishishi, that blade of yours rendered Levi even more useless than he already is. What's it called, hm~?"

Since they arrived at this fancy hotel - she didn't even realize a hotel as luxurious as it was, existed in a place as rural as Namimori - Xanxus disappeared to his own deluxe room to eat steak, drink whiskey, and sleep till tomorrow (or rather till later in the morning). It didn't take much investigation to find that out when the assassins they were warned to fear ran around like headless chickens to make sure their boss had everything he wanted before caring for their own needs.

She thought of it more as evidence of Xanxus' strength that inspired their loyalty and subservience than anything else.

She wasn't as exhausted as she thought she'd be - her nerves were probably on end being in enemy territory and all - and neither was Bel so he took it upon himself to begin asking her a series of questions to pass the time.

The baby called Mammon, who definitely resembled Reborn in size, abilities, and intelligence, left for their own nap. When she asked them their preferred pronouns, the hooded-baby seemed to freeze and distractedly said 'they, their, and them' as they floated out of the main area to take a nap in relative peace. Just like Reborn and his naps, she noted. She figured that no one had ever asked them before as directly as she just did.

While the infant didn't admit to being another Arcobaleno, Nadeshiko wouldn't discount the possibility. What were the chances that the intelligent baby who can keep up with the mafia's most skilled assassins wasn't an Arcobaleno? Little to none, she reasoned. And if Mammon was the Mist Arcobaleno - Nadeshiko concluded based on the other representatives - she wondered how powerful a Mist they really were if they were meant to be the strongest.

She briefly remembered her short introduction to the Cloud Arcobaleno and the infant's annoyingly shrill voice.

Squalo didn't trust Bel to not kill her if he was left alone with her for longer than a few minutes, so he claimed a corner of the room to take short naps in and pulled up his legs on another chair for a more comfortable position. Close enough to be alerted immediately but far enough away he wouldn't be too disturbed by the Storm.

She trusted, for the most part, that he'd react quickly if something ended up happening.

Plus, he was the only reason she wasn't scheduled for the Varia's version of torture and interrogation. In much nicer words than he originally said to her, he basically said that as long as she did as they said, didn't try to escape, and didn't piss off their short-tempered boss that she wouldn't be harmed. They didn't plan on obtaining a hostage so her fate was up in the air at the moment. A small kink in whatever they had planned.

Mainly, she served as a psychological pressure for her brother's allies and that was enough for the Varia. For now.

Was it odd that she found some comfort in that her head currently wasn't on the chopping block?

Of course, it went more like, "Brat, I don't know what our shitty boss has planned for you but try anything and I'll cut off your legs," and other such variants with more colorful vocabulary, but the message was loud and clear. Don't do anything and we won't kill you. She read a bit more between the lines so that it was more like, Don't do anything we'll catch you for...and we won't kill you.

So, espionage and reconnaissance under the threat of bodily harm.

Fun.

Expected.

Great.

As for the rest of the Varia, apparently their Sun Guardian was dumped at a Vongola sponsored hospital and Leviathan was being a creepy pervert - Bel's words, not hers - and stationed himself outside Xanxus' room so he'd be the first to do whatever Xanxus wanted the moment the big boss woke up. She came to realize the Lightning's fanaticism had no bounds, moral or otherwise. Not that it excused his actions against her otouto, but it rendered any sort of reasoning with him completely impossible. He knocked the Cervello from first place to second on her 'Sic Kyoya on them' list.

Before the royal blonde got too impatient, she finally answered him, "It was a split chakram."

She had no reason to say more than necessary. He could be fishing for information just like she planned on doing throughout her stay. So while she'd stick to the truth where she could, she wasn't about to tell him anything that could give them an upper hand on Tsuna's group.

"~Hm, really? Those can cut right through flesh I've heard." She shrugged seemingly absentmindedly, doing her best to act like his words meant nothing to her. Her lack of a reaction only urged him on. "If they're so sharp, how come you didn't turn Levi's arm into the leftovers of a dog's dinner? I could just imagine it. The torn muscles. The agony on his face. I would have enjoyed watching the blood spurt out of his body as he yelled in absolute pain. It would have been magnificent, ushishishi."

Wow...she thought Xanxus was sadistic but the teen before her was the epitome of sadism crossed with a heaping tablespoon of insanity. Gokudera-san's gonna have his work cut out for him against someone like Bel.

"Voi! Go to sleep already, you brats! It's fucking 2 AM already!" The white-haired man groaned when upon waking up from his nap he saw the two blondes still talking or whatever the hell it is Bel does.

"Do I even have a room, Superbi-san? I'd be fine just resting here. It's Belphegor-san who'd have to leave in that case," she pointed out.

"Tch. Voi! Bel! Get to bed already! You're the one fighting tomorrow remember?"

"Hai, hai. The prince needs his beauty sleep anyways, ushishishi. Bye-bi, uccellino!" He was almost out the door before Nadeshiko stopped him momentarily.

"Oh yeah, Belphegor-san, to answer your question... it's because I'd rather not be the reason someone's maimed for life. I'll beat a person to a pulp if and when they deserve it, but they'll continue to live after learning a very important lesson."

"What lesson?"

She leaned back against the couch and watched him with a taut smile, eyes glowing orange for once. "Don't mess with my family."

"Oi, is this really the time to be making threats, girl?"

"Psh, as if Bel wouldn't have eaten me alive if I didn't show some sort of backbone, Squalo-san. Better do it now before it's too late. And please, feel free to call me Nadeshiko and not girl, scum, trash, or brat if at all possible."

"Whatever, brat. Don't get up to trouble and you'll at least see the sunset one more time." Fucking hell, why do I have to be the brat's babysitter?

"Good night, Squalo-san."

"Shut up and sleep, brat!"

*Swish*Thwack*Thwack*Thwack*

One minute, she was asleep. The next, she was in the air.

Connecting her feet back to the floor and disengaging her Mist wings, she examined her previous sleeping place which was punctured with three gleaming throwing knives.

"Ushishishi, what a shame, uccellino. I was looking forward to more blood than that," he pouted as if he hadn't just almost turned her into a human pincushion. Wait...I didn't get hit?

She examined the loveseat again, finding that small speck of dark red blood that the Storm pointed out. Oh no...no, no, no, no. Not now, please, not now! "Oh no, what do I do?!" she lamented.

"VOI! Bel, stop destroying the furniture with you knives, you brat! Whenever you break something, we have to reimburse the place!"

"Be quiet! Boss is still asleep!" warned Levi as he entered the common area to grab his boss' brunch. He noticed the blonde-haired wench standing in the middle of the room with a dumb expression on her face.

He sneered at her, The little tramp.

She disgraced him in front of his boss and prevented him from teaching that scum who was destined to become the Tenth Generation Lightning Guardian. "Get that stupid look off your face and stop moping around, trash. If you don't wake up in time, you'll die, trash. You die, well shit. No one wants to hear your girlish whining, wench. I don't want your mood to affect the boss so pull yourself together or I'll make you, trash.

"..."

A dark aura surrounded the young blonde. First, Bel's 'wake-up call', then she realized where she was and who she was surrounded by, then the revelation that she was about to begin puberty again after all those years being free from the trials of womanhood surrounded said people,then that overzealous, Xanxus-obsessed fanatic chooses to be an insulting, misogynistic piece of trash...This was not how to wake up an already stressed Cloud.

"Call me trash...one more time...and I'll make it so that you'll never be able use that mouth of yours to say more than vowels for the rest of your life, trash. How's it feel to be called trash back, huh, trash?! I beat you once, I can beat you again, just try me! Or what? Is your boss too manly to take a bit of 'girlish whining' that it'd somehow affect his freaking mood?! WELL, TOO BAD! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF BLOOD STARTED LEAKING FROM THAT LITTLE WORM OF YOURS, HUH?!"

All of the males in the room froze. Oh fuck, they collectively thought.

Levi partly wanted to defend his boss and partly wanted to skulk back to his post outside his boss's room. Bel's perpetual grin was fixed unnaturally on his face - more than usual. If his bangs weren't covering his eyes, the present company would have seen how wide his eyes grew as the younger blonde grew more incensed at the Varia's Lightning.

Squalo was prepared for a fight, prepared for illusions, prepared for a damn apocalypse, but this. A female preteen Cloud - for those were definitely bright purple flames in her eyes and not the indigo that typically made up the girl's wing constructs - who was woken up in the worst way then repeatedly antagonized by his idiotic colleagues...Nope, he was not prepared.

Mammon, hearing the commotion, floated into the room, grabbed the red-faced girl, then dragged her out behind them.

"That'll be 1,000 yen, mou." Mini-miser.

"I don't have my wallet with me right now, but the moment I do I'll pay the full amount and an extra 300."

"500."

"300. The most expensive individual sanitary napkin is just above one dollar, in yen that makes it about 115 yen. I'm considering your moral support 700 yen and my removal from the room, 185 yen because removing me saved them from a pissed off Mist/Cloud/Sky user," she said wryly.

"I may not have won the fight in the end, but the damages would have cost the Varia a sizable amount of cash. I'm willing to pay the extra later because I can't pay you now and I'm thankful for your help, Mammon-san, but I'm not about to let you cheat me for more money than you already are. I'm only eleven, ya know. My money is from what I've saved from special occasion gifts."

She wouldn't tell the infant that she had a small but steady income from her work as a Disciplinary officer.

"Mou…" pouted the esper. They disappeared in a mass of disgruntled indigo flames leaving her alone in whichever room they dragged her to.

Nadeshiko inspected the room with a cursory gaze and tried to sense if there were any Flames present or not. How would she know? If Mammon was the only Mist around and they just left her alone, this may be the only chance she has to contact her brother.

She held her ring up to her eyes. Indigo flames ignited around the headless angel and flicked down toward her cuff, lighting the orange gem embedded in the leather. Almost immediately, she felt familiar Flames - Kami, how she missed home already - answering her call and connecting with her own. She pulled back a bit, preventing an image to form on her side of the connection just in case she got walked in on.

"Nade for Tsuna. Come in, Tsu-nii. Do you copy?"

"Copy? Copy what? Nade are you alright?" Tsuna responded fretfully.

She sighed lightly, "Tsu-nii, it's walkie talkie lingo. You're supposed to go, 'This is Tsuna, I copy, over.' I guess my attempt to lighten the mood was missed."

"Nade, I don't think this is the time for jokes...Are. You. Alright?" he urged.

"I am. I promise. Everything's fine. I have info for Gokudera-san."

"Eh?"

"Yeah, his opponent, Belphegor, uses throwing knives. And he's good. Also, he has a thing for blood. I'd say he's a step below an actual vampire with the way he enjoyed talking about it."

"Eh?!"

"Yeah, he's all sorts of insane with a capital I. Almost more than Xanxus in my opinion. Pretty okay to talk to as long as you ignore most of the stuff that comes out of his mouth." She shrugged, knowing he'd see it on his end of the call. "He enjoys psychological warfare as well from what I've gathered, so Gokudera-san should do his best to keep calm and collected when fighting him."

Loud stomps echoed closer.

"I have to go, Tsu-nii. I need to talk to Shamal-sensei at some point about..something...so do tell him for me, please? And tell Lambo his gift is on my desk. Oh! And make sure to tell Gokudera-san what I told you, too. Try not to worry too much, ne? Love you," she gave him a two-fingered salute and cut the connection, with just enough time to curl up on the nearby couch.

The door was punted open seconds after she positioned herself, "VOI! What are you doing, brat? I can't believe Mammon didn't keep eyes on you, that lazy runt, tch."

"This is commonly known as fetal position, Squalo-san. Unless you have ibuprofen or a hot water bottle...or are secretly a woman...then I wouldn't judge," She opened her eyes to slits, allowing her Cloud inflamed eyes to narrow in on the swordsman.

Not that he knew it was easy for her to call Flames to her eyes for the sake of still looking irritated.

More power to her.

Her hand snapped up when the white-haired assassin threw something at her head. She looked at the small box in her hand she knew contained pain relief medicine in disbelief. She sent the scowling swordsman a soft smile, dry swallowed the recommended amount, and slid past him to head back to the main area.

"VOI! What's with that look, you winged brat?!"

The instant she entered the room she came face to face with the Varia's boss.

Xanxus looked as irascible as usual sitting on the most ornate chair in the room with a leg propped on the table, glowering at the world. That must get exhausting at some point, she mused.

His menacing red eyes were enough of a threat. She could feel the anger in his Flames wash over her despite the fact that he wasn't even trying. She wasn't a guardian nor a willing follower. Xanxus' Flames grated against her own uncomfortably with its relentlessness demanding submission.

With what little control she had over her Sky flames, she did her best to counteract the ruthless Flames.

"You and those frauds are fools to have agreed to the Ring Battle. You're only prolonging your suffering, trash." His epithet caused his guardians to tense when the remembered the last time someone - *cough* Levi *cough* - called the girl trash.

Pff, she didn't have a death wish people. And she didn't expect his royal bossness to change his vocabulary.

"Good morning to you too, Xanxus-san." She shot the man a polite smile and took a seat in front of him. His eyes followed her movement and promised retribution if she tried anything.

Steady amber eyes and a serene smile, so different from the fifteens minutes beforehand, met calculating red. Neither spoke as they maintained eye contact. It unnerved their spectators who were preparing for one of them, likely their boss, to crack.

"Hahahaha! The Ninth should have chosen you instead of that weakling who cowers behind the Sun Arcobaleno. What a joke!"

"I know my nii-chan would make a better boss than I ever would. His compassion doesn't make him weak. Fighting for his friends doesn't make him weak," she refuted calmly.

"He won't survive in our world with such a weak resolve. And neither will you if you follow fools like him."

"So should I follow fools like you, then?"

"You scum!" he roared. His hand, glowing with his unique Sky flames, smashed into the table sending pieces of wood flying in all directions. Nadeshiko remained seated. The Varia watched.

"Unlike that fraud and the old fool, I don't allow myself to be surrounded by weaklings, so why don't we conduct a little test…" A wicked smirk grew on his scarred face.

"Defend yourself," he ordered as his Flames gathered in his hands.

"Boss!" they shouted simultaneously.

Oh, frig. "What happened to not killing me, Xanxus-san?" she hurriedly asked. She jumped out of her seat and backed up to get some distance between them.

"You'll only die if you're as weak as those foolish scum, trash. And I'll revel in the joy I'll have annihilating that brother of yours like the garbage he is while you watch me burn him to ash at my feet...If you survive that is."

Uccellino = google translate says it means 'little bird'. I thought about using passerotta (meaning 'young sparrow') but it's something used by parents for children so it'd be odd for Bel to use it.

What Nade did to Leviathan was inspired by the ending in the kitchen fight from The Raid 2. Warning! If you choose to watch the video, it is very bloody and worthy of a RATED M. Hopefully, my description satisfies your imagination enough.

I had Tsuna agree, although reluctantly, to Nadeshiko's choice to go with the Varia because I believe that he trusts her abilities to protect herself or escape if necessary. Plus, the chance for her to investigate is too good. I think if he was willing to let Lambo's fight happen that he'd maybe let Nadeshiko go. Do you think I made Tsuna's reactions appropriate? If not, what do you think I could do to make it more believable?

I was thinking that her blow up was possible b/c first time period emotions, stress, hormones, irritation, Cloudiness and her general dislike and lack of respect for Levi after what he did to Lambo makes her not feel too bad about her spiel. Again, thoughts? It was ike 4am while I was writing that part. FYI, let's just imagine Mist clean up, yeah?

I know MOU can stand for Memorandum Of Understanding, but I actually like the Greek usage of mou or μου which means "mine" when placed at the end of certain phrases or words. Don't quote me on its usage, but I find that the KHR character representing the Sin of Greed fits how I want to use the word. Who knows? Maybe Mammon/Viper is Greek?

If you noticed, I wasn't able to put the *click* I teased in the last chapter. It just occurred to me while writing that Xanxus wouldn't take out his gun just yet. It's basically his hidden weapon and I really didn't want Nade to somehow survive his full powered wrath, injured or not in the end. That's for Tsuna to experience. I think we can all agree that Xanxus' blasts already deal major damage.

Next up… How Nade fares, Storms fight, Kyoya returns, the Rain battle, and depending on how long I decide to make those, maybe the Mist battle as well?

This was a loooooooong chapter

7/8/20