Title: The Arcobaleno's Sky

Summary: Tsuna is a person who works 'behind the scenes'. He is a shadow that helps those who need assistance. He was never one to take the spotlight of anything, and yet, he was called to the the meeting of the strongest 7.

Disclaimers: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

"Hey! Reborn, what's going on!? Why did we suddenly stop fighting!?" Skull demanded as he marched after Reborn. "Hey! Are you listening to me!? Answer the questions!" Reborn kept walking forwards, ignoring Skull as if he was nothing more than an irritating fly. When Skull continued to pester him, the hitman shot him a dangerous glare displaying his annoyance. Skull flinched and stopped walking allowing the hitman to go ahead of him. Fon also stopped and called out to Reborn.

When Reborn finally stopped and turned to them, Fon voiced his question, "Reborn, please explain what is going on. Why did Nono call off the attack for a temporary truce?"

Reborn's gaze flickered to Fon. "We're going to see how much more money we can rake in." Fon's eyes widened, and the hitman smirked at him. "Is there a problem?"

"How much more money we can rake in? Are we going to try to force more money out of them simply because this mission is against the Vongola? You should know my morals, Reborn; this is disgraceful."

"What are you talking about," Mammon interjected. "The more money the better. You're part of the mafia, having morals means nothing."

"Hey! Someone explain what's going on!" Skull yelled. "Why did we stop!?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Lal Mirch growled. "Reborn."

"You guys ask too many questions," Reborn stated.

"I do not believe this is right, Reborn," Fon said.

"Why not?"

"It is unfair to our client. We should not be taking advantage of them," Fon argued.

"It doesn't matter," Mammon said. "Money is money. However, shouldn't you put this off until after the mission is finished? And how did you manage to get Nono to hold off his attack?"

"Very good questions, Mammon," Reborn replied. "You'll get your answers when we all regroup."

"What exactly are you planning?" Fon asked the hitman.

"I am planning absolutely nothing." The hitman turned around. "Let's go, I already told you I'd explain it later."

"Fine," Lal Mirch said, and she and Mammon followed after Reborn.

Skull watched them for a while before shouting, "Someone tell me what's going on!"

Fon sighed heavily. "I don't know anymore."

When they arrived at the room, they were greeted by a panicked Stefano. "Signor Reborn! Do you know where the kid is!?"

Reborn lifted a brow and feigned ignorance. "I though he was with you."

"He managed to slip away when we were returning here," Damiano said.

"Is that so?"

"You don't seem surprised," Verde observed. "Did you know this was going to happen?"

"I'm not surprised he managed to escape," Reborn replied. "After all, sneaking around is that kid's specialty."

"Well how are we supposed to know that?" Skull interjected.

Reborn raised a brow at Skull. "Surely you must have noticed during the last mission. If not just ask the blond one, I'm sure he's noticed." Colonello nodded at the claim.

"Why, you!" Skull shouted. "Are you insulting me!?"

"I am merely pointing out that your observation skills needs work," Reborn retorted. "In fact, shouldn't all of you know this by now? Quite disappointing, really."

"Che—!" Lal Mirch took a threatening step forward, and Fon quickly stepped between them.

"Reborn, we are a team. I'd prefer it if you didn't rile up our other members," Fon said.

The hitman gave everyone an unimpressed look, but Mammon spoke up before he could say anything. "Enough, Reborn, tell us what your plan is."

Lal Mirch looked at Reborn. "You have a plan?"

"Well, as I said before, it's not my plan." Reborn didn't miss the narrowing of Lal Mirch's eyes as he responded.

"There's no need for you to do anything," Damiano said. "We're terminating this mission. There is no need for you to do anything else."

Stefano shot Damiano a confused look. "What? But what about everyone else in building?"

"I've already ordered them to evacuate." Damiano stood up from where he sat and looked at the team. "You guys may leave." Damiano began walking up to the door followed by Stefano, but were blocked from leaving by Mammon.

"Move," the scientist demanded.

"What about our pay?"

"You didn't finish your mission, what do you expect?" Damiano replied. "Now move."

"I refuse." Damiano made an attempt to push past Mammon, but the illusionist moved along with the scientist to prevent him from leaving. Damiano shot Mammon a glare and began reaching into his lab coat.

"If you don't move," Damiano began, "I'll move you by force!"

Damiano swung his knife at Mammon who stepped backwards to avoid the attack. Everyone in the room stood up in alarm and got into a fighting position, prepared to attack. Damiano scanned the room with his eyes as he slowly pulled out a second knife. His eyes flicked towards Stefano who had pushed himself against the wall in fear.

"Stefano, go, I'll cover for you," Damiano whispered to him.

"No!" Stefano bit out. "I-I can help you! Please let me help!"

Damiano sent Stefano a stern look. "Go."

"You can't handle them alone! Please let me—"

"When I say go, you go!" Without any warning, Damiano launched a kick straight at Stefano's stomach sending the younger man outside. Damiano shut and locked the door and prepared to fight. He ignored the constant banging of the door and turned to face the team. "I'm surprised you waited for me to finish."

"We don't need to do anything," Reborn said. "After all, it's check mate."

"Reborn, do me a favor, will you?"

"A favor?" The hitman parroted, "Pray tell, what the almighty Yoshi scheming?"

"Reborn…" Tsuna drawled with a warning tone.

Reborn scoffed in amusement. "So, what can I do for you?"

Tsuna nodded, satisfied. "I'll make it quick," He began. "I've struck a deal with Nono. They'll temporary stop their attack, and if all goes according to plan, we'll team up with them."

"Help them how?"

"Nono wants them either killed or captured. Either or."

"The others aren't going to agree."

"That's where you come in. I need you to convince the others to go along with my plan."

"And how am I going to do that?"

"Are you implying that you can't? Don't mock me, Reborn. I know you can convince them. If you need something to help you, tell them that the reward will be doubled."

"Oh, and is it? How did you ever manage to pull that off?"

"It's not like Nono knew how much we were originally going to be paid."

"Conning the leader of the biggest mafia familgia? You must be crazy."

Tsuna scoffed. "You're one to talk."

"Heh, very well then. You're going to owe me and keep in mind, favors from me aren't cheap."

"I'll be sure to pay it back one day."

"I'll see to it that you do. However if you do this, you will be practically revealing yourself as Yoshi. Are you okay with this?"

"'Yoshi' isn't the only one with sky flames."

"Is that so?"

Tsuna smiled knowing Reborn understood what he was implying. "Yes. Yes it is."

Tsuna watched from the roof of the mansion as men from the Segugio began leaving the building and narrowed his eyes. What was taking Reborn so long? If Tsuna had to wait any longer, he would be forced to move to prevent the Segugio from reaching the city. It would be far too dangerous to fight on the narrow streets, not to mention—Tsuna looked up at the rising sun—it was almost morning. They had to finish it soon.

'We're clear. Alert them.'

Tsuna shut his eyes and rose to his feet as soon as he got the okay. He felt a relief rush through at the Reborn's success, not that he doubted that the hitman would do otherwise. While he knew that his plan had a high success rate, due to the many unexpected events that had occurred over the duration of mission, he never expected it would go through so smoothly. Tsuna was infinitely thankful that, for once, things were going his way.

This way, he thought while snapping his eyes open, everyone should be satisfied… Except the Segugio, of course.

Tsuna's eyes snapped open, and he swung his hand out in an arc. A wave of harmless sky flames shot off in the direction where Nono and his men where waiting. It was the signal that he, as Yoshi, would use to say he had finished his part of the mission. It was a signal that Nono would know very well.

He shot another wave of flames, this time in a concentrated beam, at the retreating Segugio. Tsuna saw Nono raise his staff and released a wave of his own sky flames. It was Nono's response to him. Vongola's old leader had gotten the message.

Tsuna looked up at the rising sun once again, his previous worries seeping away. They would make it; he had no doubts.

With that thought in mind, Tsuna pulled up his hood and snapped. In a flash of purple flames, his winged feline appeared beside him. He scratched it affectionately as he continued to watch the area surrounding the mansion. He had one more errand to do before joining up with the rest of his 'teammates'.

Finally, Tsuna found what he was looking for, and mounted the lion. The lion lowered itself to the ground, eyes narrowing on its target. Then, it pounced.

A pained groan escaped from Damiano's mouth as he slid down the cracked wall. His knives clattered on the floor, useless, beside him. Reborn had slammed the scientist against the wall moments after Stefano had escaped and pointed his gun at him. No one had moved. They were all too surprised to do so.

Reborn ignored them and reached for the earpiece in his ear. "We're clear," he said. "Alert them."

Lal Mirch looked towards Reborn, confusion etched on her face. "Reborn? What—"

Before she could finish, the room illuminated by an orange flash, and everyone in the room, minus Reborn, stopped and looked outside only to gape at what they saw. Everyone in the room knew that signal, especially those who have worked with the renowned Yoshi. It was his way of saying he had completed a mission.

Everyone was shocked at the wild display of flames, and only one thought ran through their minds. Yoshi was part of this mission? Another response wave came directly after, this time from Nono.

"What's going on, kora…?" Colonello said finally breaking the silence and snapping everyone out of their stupor. "Wasn't that…"

"Yoshi," Lal Mirch finished. "But since when?"

"Was he sided with Nono the whole time?" Fon asked.

"Impossible," Verde said. "It can't be Yoshi. If he were on this mission, I assure you, it would have been much harder."

Mammon shook his head. "I have been on a few missions with him. He would never stick around for this long."

"Let's not ponder about that for too long," Reborn said. "Our new provider from now on is Nono. We already have his agreement. Convenient, isn't it?" Reborn twirled his gun in his hand and pointed it at Damiano, who was attempting to escape. Damiano froze when Reborn cocked the gun.

"You don't work for the Segugio, do you?" Reborn said. "Who do you work for?" Damiano snarled at Reborn while slipping his hand slowly into his pocket. Reborn fired off a warning shot and Damiano stopped. "Who do you work for?"

"That's none of your business!"

"That's too bad then." Reborn pulled the trigger and a shot rang out. Damiano slumped to the floor dead. Reborn reloaded his gun then turned to face the rest of the team. "Since that was the ok, signal, we can begin out new mission: eradicate (or capture) the Segugio famiglia. Understand?" Nods. "Good, then let's cause some chaos."

As soon as Stefano managed to escape from the mansion, he instantly bolted towards the forest hoping to find proper cover. He refused to turn back even as the sky lit up with flames and a single shot rang out. He told himself over and over that he ran because Damiano had told him so, but he knew he really ran because he was a coward. He was relieved when Damiano had pushed him out the door because in truth, he was scared. He had never been in a real battle before, and spent his entire life being protected by everyone in the Segugio famiglia. And he knew that the only reason why he did that was because he was…

"Experiment 907."

Stefano heard his heart stop as he heard those words. A large force slammed into his side, sending him sprawling onto the floor. He could hear his arm snap as he crashed into the mangled roots of the trees. His arm was throbbing with pain even as he felt his sun flames begin to take effect.

He could hear soft footsteps as the person who had crashed into him stepped closer. Stefano tried to open his eyes to see his attacked, but his vision was too hazy to make out the details. All he could make out was the cloak of the attacker and the large orange beast beside him.

"Who are you…?" Stefano asked weakly.

"Does it matter?"

"… I suppose not." Stefano coughed and spat out the blood in his mouth as he made to stand up, his flames healing most of the damage to his arm.

"You're a lot stronger than the other experiments. Though I suppose that's to be expected. I guess 907 tries was enough for the scientists to finally perfect the process. Where do you suppose they managed to find so many people?"

"You know…"

"No I don't." Through his haze vision, Stefano saw his attacker pat the beast, which he could now make out as a lion. "Lione, attack."

The lion sprang forward, its jaws ready to tear him apart. Stefano reeled back in shock. The lion's jaws missed their mark, but it didn't stop the lion from barreling into Stefano. The lion pounced onto Stefano's prone form and pinned him into the ground, and Stefano let out a shout of pain as claws dug into his arm.

"Not going to fight back?"

Stefano grit is teeth in pain and jerked his arm from under the lion. With a mighty roar, he slammed his arm across the feline's face, staggering it. As the lion began to balance itself, Stefano pushed it off with as much strength as he could muster. The lion snarled and slammed its paw into him, and Stefano was sent careening across the forest floor. The lion roared and leaped forward, and Stefano scrambled to get up. As the lion drew closer to him he let out as snarl of his own and drew his arm back to meet the lion's strike. They clashed, and the lion easily gained the upper hand. Stefano swung his other, now transformed claw at the lion. His claws raked against the lion's face and the lion stumbled backwards.

Stefano's gasped for air as he finally caught a break and allowed the rest of his chimera transformation to take place. Fur emerged on his clawed hand, and a set of horns formed on his head. His ears elongated to form elf-like ears, and his body became bulkier. His form became wrapped in sun flames that sought to heal any injuries that were on his body. Stefano glared at his attacker who stood beside the now fully healed lion.

His attacker noticed the glare and his mouth quirked in amusement. "No tail?"

Stefano growled and charged forward. His attacker tapped his lion twice before shifting out of the way and sticking out a foot. Stefano tripped, but still attempted to strike. The person simple moved out of the way and slammed his foot into his chest. Before Stefano could reach the ground, the lion bowled into him and slammed him back towards the attacker, who in return reached for the collar of his shirt and slammed him into the ground. Stefano stood up weakly and saw his attacker standing a few feet away from him.

He's toying with me, Stefano realized as he attempted to attack again. No matter how much he attacked, the attacker would simply dodge. The only times when the attacker would retaliate were when he came too close, and the lion was not attacking him nearly as much as he used to. Frustrated and fed up, Stefano tried once more to attack the hooded person. The person noticed his ire and finally chose not to dodge instead going with the option of punching him in the face with a fistful of sky flames.

Stefano collapsed onto the ground, and his attacker moved to stand above him. The attacker observed him with piercing orange eyes and raised his fist. Sky flames flickered into existence surrounding the fist. The attacker shifted into a striking position and swung his fist down at Stefano for a killing blow.

When Tsuna joined up with the team on the battlefield, the battle was already coming to an end. Most of the Segugio famiglia had already surrendered, and the only the boss and his closest subordinates had their weapons raised. From what Tsuna could glean, the battle had come to a standstill as Nono relentlessly questioned the Segugio leader. The only people to seemed to notice his silent approach was Reborn, Nono, and some of Nono's guardians.

Reborn lifted his brow ever so slightly as if asking where he's been before his expression turned neutral once more. The guardians that noticed him tensed, but did nothing. Nono was surprised by his approach, and his eyes lit up in recognition.

"I thought you declined my request," Nono said. Tsuna paused and hesitated. Everyone paused to look over at Tsuna, and he saw an array of emotions go through their eyes—surprise, dismay, anger, hatred, and admiration. Tsuna grimaced at some of the hostility aimed at him.

Verde lowered his head slightly in acknowledgement though Tsuna couldn't see his expression from behind his glasses. Lal Mirch had her eyes trained on him while Colonelo looked back and forward between him and Lal Mirch. Mammon barely glanced at him before turning away. Fon's brows were pulled down in confusion, and Skull was scratching his head as if he didn't know what to make of the situation. The members of the Segugio famiglia that still remained all displayed hostility at Tsuna's arrival.

"You're late, Tsuna," Reborn nonchalantly called out, and Tsuna was grateful for it. He knew that the hitman's words would be trusted more than his own. Letting out a small sigh, he grasped the tip of his hood and pulled it down, so that they could see his face. He saw the flash of disappointment flash through many of them, but he chose to ignore it. Nono seemed surprised when he took off his hood and gave Tsuna a strange look that he couldn't identify before shaking his head.

"Are you the one who made the deal with me?" Nono asked him, and Tsuna nodded. Nono's eyes crinkled as he gave him a small, genuine smile. "You're younger than I thought you would be. Short too." Tsuna barely managed to contain his flinch at Nono's words. Vongola's leader had lost a few points in Tsuna's books with that comment.

"I apologize for masquerading as Yoshi," Tsuna began. "We were running out of time, and if I didn't act fast, we would have run out of time." He spoke for the whole group and prayed that no one would speak up while he offered an explanation for the recent events. To his luck, no one did.

"That is quite alright," Nono said. "It all worked out in the end after all." Then turning to the rest of the team, he addressed them. "Thank you for helping us when we were battling no more than hours ago. You have my sincerest gratitude."

Verde narrowed his eyes at the man. "What's Vongola's leader doing going out and fighting on the battlefield personally? I've heard the rumors, but I never believed it to be true."

"I have my reasons, and I can assure you that they do not involve you."

Verde glared at the old man before turning away with a "tch."

"Well then," Reborn said. "It's about time we wrap this up, right?"

"You're too old to be running around like this, Nono," Iemitsu said. Nono laughed at the statement and leaned back into his chair.

"I suppose that's the case," he said. "But at this point, none of my successors are ready to take the throne, and I have a job as the boss to uphold. Vongola's allies are becoming impatient waiting for me to choose an heir."

"No doubt they want to establish a relationship with your successor while he is still young."

"Indeed. Do you have the money?" Iemitsu nodded and passed a brief case to Nono. Nono opened the case and began counting the money. "They are most likely excited for the time when this old man leaves the throne. Many are expressing their disapproval of Vongola getting involved with the smaller famiglias."

"They are more than just displeased, Nono. Many of our allies are beginning to loose faith in you. There has been talk about cutting ties with Vongola."

"I suppose that is to be expected."

"If I may be so curious as to ask, why are you seeking out these smaller famiglias?"

Nono gave Iemitsu a wry smile. "There are some things that are better left unsaid."

Iemitsu frowned but nodded anyways. It wouldn't do him any good to keep pressing Nono for answers if the man did not feel like speaking. Instead, he turned the conversation elsewhere, "I heard Lal Mirch was in the group?"

"She was. But please, do not think her as a traitor. She was merely trying to complete her assigned mission."

"But still…"

"Iemitsu, I have some interesting news for you," Nono interrupted.

"What is it?"

"There was a boy on that team," Nono said. "He was the one who convinced them to help us."

"If they're working as a team, then I doubt that he's join us."

"That is not what I'm getting at." Nono looked up from counting the money. "When he took off his hood, he was a spitting image of Primo."

Iemitsu frowned at the implication. "I'm sure it was a coincidence. There are other people who are related to Vongola Primo in one way or another."

"His hair was the same color as Nana's." Iemitsu clenched his fists. "Reborn called him Tsuna," Nono finished. Iemitsu couldn't hold in his anger anymore and he slammed his fists into Nono's desk.

"What are you getting at!?" Iemitsu cried desperately. "Just because...! Just because he…!" A sob made its way out and Iemitsu immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"…Please don't bring up old wounds," Iemitsu said after a moment of silence.

Nono observed Iemitsu for a moment before shrugging. "Well, it's just a thought. I apologize for bringing it up. You're dismissed."

Iemitsu nodded and silently left the room. Nono turned back to the money and picked up a bundle of money only for it to slip from his hand and scatter all around the floor. Nono shook his head and leaned down to pick it up.

"I really am starting to get old."

Someone once told me that either life or writer's block must have prevented me from updating. I will say, while life had a bit to do with it, it was mostly the writer's block for certain scenes in the chapter. At some points, I felt like I was bullying my brain into writing it, and I had to cut out a few scenes to step around my specific-scene-only writer's block. But hey, at least it's done!

Okay, so thank you to everyone who has patiently waited for this new chapter to update, I apologize it took so long. *bows* I hope that this chapter was worth the wait. Thank you to everyone who has favorited/followed/reviewed my story! I'm glad that, even after so long, there are still people reading it.

So! With this chapter, the introductory missions to the story are finally done! I'm sure a lot of you are irritated by the way the Arcobalenos (minus Reborn) are treating Tsuna, and I can safely say that after this mission, some of them begin to tone down. We also get to see the first of Iemitsu, the (according to a lot of other Fanfics I have read) bastard of a father to Tsuna. I'm sure you can draw some conclusions from the scene at the end with him, as to the role he'll play later on.

That said, I think I didn't end this chapter on a cliffhanger, so you guys finally get the catch a break with that. Sorry about that whole cliffhanger after cliffhanger thing. Didn't really mean for that to happen. Haha...

Also, if you guys are wondering why Tsuna doesn't want his identity as 'Yoshi' to be revealed, it's because he like working anonymously. He wants to be able to keep his 'mafia' side away from his 'civilian' side. There'll be a bit more of that in the next chapter.

So, I can only hope the next chapter won't take to long, but no promises this time.

Ciao Ciao!