Sorry for the incredibly are-you-even-going-to-continue-this long wait. I take responsibility for all the OOCness which is due to my eight months without Reborn!. I'll bet my whole stash of yaoi you've all forgotten what was happening. Oh but, I tried to fix my habit of jumping-from-scene-to-scene. So here it is, the sixth chapter of FTverVDecEd.

Thanks to ezcap1st, Kichou and Kiseki no Tenshi. And Yukirin-sama, they're still in that maybe-kinda-sorta-development stage.

Fine Men Did Exist

(Recap: The Millefiore offer their help to stop the coup d' etat of the Varia.)

The chiming of bells alerted the Funeral Wreaths of the fact that someone had just made the mistake of entering their overly-grandiose flower shop.

"O-ho. Welcome to the Funeral Wreaths," Kikyo declared. "You shall not leave without a purchase."

He turned his gaze away from the Bluebell he was tending to and took a good look at the woman who entered – and was wearing a White Spell uniform.

"I'm Iris Hepburn," she said. "I bring a message from Byakuran-sama."

She handed Kikyo, who had a curious look on his face, a scroll and turned for the doors. Before she could leave, however, Kikyo called out to her.

"Wait! You shall not leave without a purchase!"

The doors were then blocked by his Nuvola Velociraptors.

Iris sighed.

Once again, the Funeral Wreaths triumphed in selling their products.

–––––

"A week, we'll give you a week."

And 'their' week began.

–––––

As thanks for accepting their help, the Funeral Wreaths dropped by the Sky castle and gave Tsuna their best-grown undead Daisy and aquatic Bluebell, which the Sky Prince did his best to graciously refuse to no avail.

Kikyo then gathered the Millefiore troops and deployed them.

After that, the Funeral Wreaths proceeded to dawdle in the lounge with their boss, who had a blanket over his shoulders and was eating marshmallows peacefully.

Tsuna could only gape at them.

–––––

The second day had passed and the third was coming to an end but the Wreaths were still idling in Tsuna's lounge.

Just as Tsuna was losing his patience that evening, a bleeding and heavily-injured woman came stumbling through one of the damaged walls.

"Iris-chan," Byakuran greeted. "What's wrong?"

'What's wrong?' Tsuna thought. 'She's half-dead and he's asking her what's wrong!'

"Byakuran-sama," the woman managed a bow with much difficulty. "I regret to inform you that we cannot handle the Varia on our own."

"Hm. Gather the remaining men and retreat. Have the other Wreaths cover you."

'Other Wreaths?' Tsuna wanted to voice his question but felt that it'd be unwise to ask.

Byakuran dismissed Iris. The injured woman ignored Tsuna's offer of treatment and stumbled as she disappeared into the forest.

"Kikyo-chan," Byakuran said, snapping Tsuna's attention back to him. "What do you wish to do?"

"We can attack now, Byakuran-sama."

The Millefiore boss smiled. "Nah, let's rest for the night. Who wants marshmallow?"

Tsuna felt like pulling his hair out.

–––––

Byakuran and the Wreaths left on the fourth day and Tsuna was so relieved, he finally remembered Reborn asking him to call four days ago.

"The evacuation's going well, Tsuna." Reborn said, answering on the first ring.

The Sun Arcobaleno was with Dino, who upon hearing of their situation, promised to shelter the Vongola citizens. Reborn and the guardians, minus Hibari and Mukuro, escorted the citizens to Cavallone Caves and stayed there to tighten security while the Cloud and Mist guardians remained in their kingdoms and continued instilling fear and pain (but mostly pain) in the hearts of Varia members.

"That's good," Tsuna sighed, "but what about the Varia?"

"I'm not sure. Stay in the palace," Reborn sounded worried. "I'll come get you."

And he hung up.

–––––

"Bel-senpai, Bel-senpai, there's a red-haired guy flying towards us." Fran hollered in his monotonous voice as he stared out the Storm castle's window.

"What are you talking about, Froggy? If this is another one of your illusions…" Belphegor gazed out the window and, recognizing the red-haired man, made a face. "Go tell Boss the real enemy has arrived."

Fran only shrugged as he made his way to the basement.

–––––

Squalo had just sliced a wine glass headed for the general vicinity of his head in half when the door to the basement opened.

"Boss, Bel-senpai says the real enemy has arrived," Fran said, ignoring Squalo's indignant yells about his hair.

"Tell that fag to set the plan in motion."

Fran nodded and Xanxus took this as his cue to resume throwing filled wine glasses at Squalo's head.

–––––

"Levi, dear! Fran called!" Lussuria sang as he jumped down from his hiding spot up on the tree.

"Shut up and start walking, Lussuria!" Levi scolded. "The brat's going to hear you!"

"That's silly. We're a kingdom away and you think he's going to hear me?"

Levi didn't respond. This was his chance to prove himself to his boss and he wasn't going to blow it by letting Lussuria blow it.

–––––

Hibari's smirk didn't falter even once on his journey to the Sky palace. If anything, it grew more pronounced as he smashed skulls and cracked ribs with his tonfas.

As the Sky castle and two Varia guardians came into view, Hibari's smirk turned predatory.

–––––

Tsuna gasped as Lussuria entered the lounge through the wall. He stood up to run away but noticed the older man's injuries.

"Tsuna-chan, it's horrible," Lussuria drawled. " Xanxus and the others…they're planning… a coup d'etat!"

What? In his surprise, Tsuna ceased all movement and Lussuria took this a good sign.

"I…I can't believe they'd d-do this," he sobbed.

Tsuna looked convinced and Lussuria mentally complimented himself for being such a good actor.

"I'm s-sorry I couldn't stop t-them…" He continued, noting the change of emotions that freely showed on the young boss's face.

"Lussuria-san, how badly are you injured?" Tsuna asked, genuinely concerned.

"Darling, don't worry about me! The Varia set up base in the Storm castle. Stop them, please!"

Tsuna nodded, swallowed an HDW pill and was flying before Lussuria could urge him to hurry.

Outside of the castle and surrounded by hundreds of Varia men including Levi, Hibari scowled as he watched a familiar trail of orange flames soar across the sky.

–––––

"Bel-senpai, Bel-senpai, why does he have a box in his chest?"

Belphegor frowned. The Millefiore had arrived to regain control of the kingdoms and the Varia were fighting them off but even with the help of Fran's illusions, things were not going well.

"Idjit, Torikabuto, what're you doing here!" Zakuro stopped attacking Belphegor and Fran to point an accusing finger at a moth-like creature flying his way. "Boss told you to retrieve the Sun kingdom, didn't he!"

Belphegor scanned the skies and noticed flickers of orange flames.

'That brat… We can't let the Millefiore see him!' With that thought in mind, Belphegor had Fran create illusions of them fleeing into the woods to lure the Funeral Wreaths away from the Storm Castle.

Belphegor knew that if he and Fran messed up here, they would never see their true goal come to completion. He was their goal. He was the only reason they followed the Vongola; he was the cause of their coup d'etat….

… and he was finally here.

The genius grinned.

–––––

Tsuna's hyper intuition was screaming at him to turn back. Turn back, it ordered. Turn back. Tsuna wanted to, he really did, he wanted to return to his castle and wait for Reborn but he couldn't. He had to stop relying on his guardians, had to prove his worth as a Boss.

With a flashy X-Burner Air, Tsuna blew away a good portion of the Storm castle roof to make his entrance. He touched down on the now-unrecognizable second floor decorated with unmoving bodies, rubble and holes.

"Come out already," Tsuna sighed. He could feel another presence within fifty meters but couldn't tell whose it was. His senses were dulling, he knew. But why?

Out of nowhere, a green-haired teen Tsuna identified as the Varia illusionist appeared.

"We're kidnapping you," the teen deadpanned.

Tsuna realized he was weakening. His eyes couldn't focus; his knees were wobbling. "Where's Xanxus?" He asked. The teen merely stared at him. Alarmed, the Decimo went for a retreat.

In a split second, Belphegor, hidden and sensing the Decimo's intention to escape, had Tsuna pinned, dazed, against the floor.

"Good work, Froggy. I wonder how you stand that sleeping gas though," with ease, Belphegor hauled Tsuna onto his shoulders and motioning for Fran to follow, headed for the basement.

–––––

Squalo was still screaming bloody murder about his hair when Belphegor dumped Tsuna onto Xanxus's lap. Xanxus, after readjusting Tsuna to a more comfortable sitting position, smirked.

"Contact Lussuria nd Levi. Tell them to meet us in the Vaudeville tent." The Boss ordered no one in particular. Fran however nodded and Belphegor snickered as Squalo secured an escape route.

–––––

Lussuria giggled. And giggled. And giggled some more.

"Oooh, I did it!" He sang. "Boss would be so proud!"

In Lussuria's estimate, a good thirty minutes had already passed since the Vongola Boss's departure but he didn't feel like leaving the castle yet. What he felt like was celebrating. Celebrating, baby!

"Finally! I did something right!" Lussuria put a finger to his cheek and pouted as a ring from his phone interrupted his dance mid-twirl.

"Lussuria."

"What is it, Fran? I'm a little busy here."

"Head to the Vaudeville tent."

"What?" Lussuria stopped dancing. "But Levi isn't back yet!"

"I don't think Boss cares. Captain's still securing an escape route. In thirty minutes, we leave."

Fran hung up. Lussuria paled, not liking the prospect of leaving a comrade behind. Fortunately, he was saved from the trouble of deciding between leaving Levi and waiting for him. Unfortunately, it was due to a tonfa being smashed against his skull.

Hibari watched Lussuria's body fall to the ground with a smirk on his face. After making sure the man, like his companion, wouldn't wake up anytime soon, he left for the Vaudeville tent.

–––––

"Damn it! Where're Lussuria and Levi?" Squalo growled.

"Ushishishi, should we leave him?"

"That's not very nice of you, Bel-senpai."

A few more minutes passed before Xanxus finally stepped out of the helicopter parked behind the Vaudeville tent. "Where's the trash?" He snarled.

"They aren't coming." A new, familiar yet unrecognizable voice answered.

Xanxus and the others turned around to see the figure of a smirking Rokudo Mukuro partly shrouded in mist.

"Kufufu, surprised?"

Immediately, Xanxus drew his gun and fired Flames of Wrath aimed at Mukuro who disappeared before getting hit. Mukuro reappeared near the helicopter's entrance, smirk in place, and hurried inside.

Xanxus cursed.

The sound of the copter roaring to life with the entrance open snapped the Varia out of their trance.

"VOI! Someone do something!" Squalo barked as he dashed for the copter.

Xanxus aimed his gun.

"Don't! You might hit him!" Squalo warned.

"Don't order me around, trash," Xanxus growled. A clanking sound was heard when his gun was knocked out of his hand by someone. With a snarl, Xanxus sent his unknown attacker a kick and scowled when it was blocked. A hit forced him to turn and he finally recognized his assailant.

Hibari Kyouya.

"I'll bite you to death, herbivore."

"Let's see you try, trash."

Belphegor grimaced upon seeing the Cloud Guardian and his boss engaged in a fight. Squalo was duking it out with Mukuro inside the copter while Fran was being kept busy by Mukuro's illusion-clones. Belphegor sighed and climbed onboard the copter which rocked back and forth with every released blow. He spotted Tsuna, curled up and asleep in a corner. Quickly, he scooped the boy into his arms and hurried out of the copter. Belphegor didn't get very far though for Tsuna woke up and, with a yelp, slapped him across the face.

"Tsunayoshi," Mukuro called from inside the copter. "I hear you're awake."

Tsuna looked around, confusion evident in his features. "H-Hibari-san? Mukuro?"

"Brat! Why'd you wake up now of all times, damn it!" Belphegor cursed as he chased the startled Tsuna around the space behind the Vaudeville tent.

"You were kidnapping me!" The Decimo squawked while evading Belphegor's grabbing hands.

Tsuna shook his pockets for HDW pills and found none. When Belphegor almost grabbed a particularly sensitive spot, Tsuna shrieked. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

That got everyone's attention.

Mukuro was out of the copter in an instant, more of his illusion-clones appearing to cover his back. He blocked Belphegor's knives with his trident and slammed its butt on the genius's temple. "Come, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro, holding Tsuna in a lovers' carry, said before he utilized his Malocchio Hell Ring to generate blast after blast of Mist flames to prevent the Varia from pursuing them.

Hibari scowled as Xanxus lost his cool and started firing his flames everywhere. Even the Vaudeville tent was destroyed. After he finished the last Mukuro illusion-clone, Squalo fled to the forest. Belphegor and Fran followed suit; all three running from their own boss. Hibari went after the two whom, after losing to him, begged to be taken in. Apparently, they were more scared of their boss than their enemy.

Hibari led them to the Sky castle where they waited for the Sky prince.

–––––

"Tsunayoshi, why don't we just run away from all this and start over, hm? What do you say?"

"Um, no."

Mukuro sighed. He got rejected thirty-two times in less than thirty minutes. What was worse was that, although he slowed down because he liked having Tsuna in his arms, they still reached the Sky castle within an hour.

He opted for not announcing their arrival at the castle, surprising – and irritating – Hibari when he walked in with Tsuna still in his arms.

"Where's Reborn?" Mukuro asked, not wanting to miss this chance to make the Arcobaleno jealous.

"I'm here, Mukuro. Put Tsuna down," a cold, menacing voice from behind Mukuro replied.

Reborn, Mukuro noticed, was radiating I'mma-kill-you vibes so, hesitantly, he complied.

"Hibari, Mukuro watch those two," Reborn ordered, referring to Belphegor who was watching with unconcealed interest and the bored Fran. He then motioned to Tsuna and told the young boss to follow him. The two disappeared to the basement.

The Vongola guardians – and Belphegor – scowled.

–––––

Once they reached the safety of his room, Reborn lightly slapped his student.

"I told you to stay. I told you to stay." He said, eyes narrowing as Tsuna whimpered.

"I-I know Reborn but… Look, I-I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry." Tears were starting to form at the corner of Tsuna's eyes. "I didn't wa – "

Tsuna softly yelped when his tutor drew him into a tight hug.

"I was… scared when I heard you...disappeared. No, I…" Reborn sounded worried. "Are you hurt? Anywhere?"

The surprise passed and Tsuna returned the warm hug with enthusiasm. "No, I'm fine. I'm sorry, Reborn."

"It's alright. Get some rest." With that, Reborn carried Tsuna to his bed and tucked him in. He gingerly kissed Tsuna on the forehead and bade him goodnight.

The young boss instantly fell asleep.

–––––

Tsuna awoke the next day to the sound of obscenities being screamed and 'Shut up's being roared.

Cautiously, he made his way to the lounge and was greeted by the (unpleasant) sight of the Varia all tied up separately and bickering with the Millefiore. Hibari was standing at the farthest corner, looking like he was wishing he was anywhere but there. Mukuro was present and occasionally would join their little game of Who-can-insult-the-other-creatively-the-most. Seated on the couch, Reborn's eyes roamed the room.

"Tsunayoshi," Mukuro announced his arrival with a warning smile. "You're awake."

Reborn rose from his seat. "Just on time. We were about to decide on something important."

All the Mafioso, even Squalo, quieted down.

"What do we do with them?" Reborn asked, referring to the punishment to be dealt to the Varia. When Tsuna didn't respond, he continued speaking. "Should we kill them?" At this, the smile on Belphegor's face disappeared; Squalo gulped audibly; Lussuria started begging for mercy; and Fran looked completely…bored.

"We can't do that, Reborn!" Tsuna replied, voice rising. "They're our friends!"

Xanxus snorted and Reborn was tempted to shoot him.

"What do we do then?" The Arcobaleno prodded. "We can't let them out of our sight because they're still a threat but you don't want to kill them."

"Let's keep them here." Tsuna half-heartedly suggested. Honestly, he didn't know what to do.

Mukuro chuckled. "Kufufu, like house pets? Brilliant idea, Tsunayoshi."

The indignant protests of the Varia ("VOI! We're not house pets!") fell on deaf ears.

Byakuran smiled and clapped his hands. "It's like a big slumber party in a hunted house!" He chirped. "I'll bring the marshmallows!"

It was decided.

And that was how Sawada Tsunayoshi, Crown Prince of the Sky Kingdom, nineteen years of age, currently single, unwed and a virgin, got stuck in a dilapidated castle with the Millefiore, the Varia, his Cloud and Mist Guardians and Reborn.

OMAKE – Of Undead Daisies and Aquatic Bluebells

"Tsuna-kun!" Lussuria yelled, worry and distress evident in his voice. "Your uh, plant-thingy jumped from the rooftop!"

"He's fine!" Tsuna called back from inside the castle. Really, those plants were more trouble than they're worth.

"But Tsuna-kun, he isn't moving!"

"He's fine!"

Tsuna sighed. A shout of "I CAN'T DIE!" was heard seconds later.

"Kufufu, you look tired Tsunayoshi. Why don't we – "

"Go away, Mukuro."

Dejected, Mukuro slinked away. Byakuran chose that moment to appear and play Mindfreak with him.

"How many marshmallows do you think I can fit inside my mouth, hm, Tsu-chan? How many?"

"Once you start choking, I'll count, Byakuran-san."

Before Byakuran could respond, he walked away to tell the undead Daisy to stop jumping from the rooftop only to find the zombie being stabbed repeatedly by Belphegor.

He walked some more and stumbled upon Fran and Torikabuto trying to outdo each other's illusions.

Zakuro had dug up a hot spring next to the tree where Levi and Kikyo would often brag to each other about their respective bosses.

It was mostly peaceful. Mostly. Unfortunately for Tsuna, Xanxus and Hibari seemed to unite in their goal to reduce-everything-to-nothing. Reborn became handy whenever the two got out of hand.

Tsuna was startled by a sudden wetness spreading from his ankles to around his knees. He looked down and almost fainted at the sight of water covering the ground and rapidly rising. Not a patch of land could be seen anywhere.

And then there was the aquatic Bluebell.

Tsuna swallowed a pill and flew around. He spotted Bluebell in a clearing drowning Daisy. Daisy resurfaced moments later and there was another whine of "I CAN'T DIE!"

"Bluebell, please uh, remove this water." Tsuna subtly pleaded. "Now."

Bluebell smiled and complied then dragged Daisy towards who-wants-to-know-where. The ground was land again.

Tsuna touched down; there was a distinctly loud sound of boulders being smashed; a moan of "I CAN'T DIE!" and an angry scream of "Look what you did to my hot spring, idjit!"

He shook his pockets and sighed, sensing an oncoming headache. Where were those painkillers when you needed them?

Fine Men Did Exist

Romance. Fight scenes. I suck at both. So I, uh…you know, yeah. Yay. Thanks for reading. I'd freakin' appreciate it if you sent me some constructive criticism though. Don't worry about having to sound 'nice', yeah, flame me. Like if you're removing this from Story Alert, tell me why. Like, what I should improve on and what I did wrong and all that stuff. Yeah. Plain fan-girl/boy-ing and squee-ing is good too. Thanks again!