{Namimori, Japan}

Shock, shock, and fear were the only two emotions present in Yucca's eyes as he overlooked the lightning guardians' fight.

To be honest, he hadn't expected much from it. Leviathan, a full-grown adult, one of the Varia's best member going against a five-year-old child who knew nothing of the world, the issue of the battle was evident even before it began.

Leviathan against such a tiny and insignificant opponent should have won an easy victory. Whatsmore his boss, his beloved idol was watching him. All the odds were in the spiky haired male's favor.

So how did he end up this way, thoroughly beaten up, fighting against a distant image of the future? Things had entirely gone out of Yucca's and every member of the Varia's (of the Vongola even) calculations.

This duel wasn't supposed to end this way, Levi should have won, in less than a minute, and the lightning ring would have been ours without any hesitation.

But anyway, it didn't go as planned and now Levi had been injured and on the verge of losing while Lambo, the teens' representative needed to, urgently be, sent to the hospital.

... The only positive thing about this outcome, to the Varia at least was the fact that the sky ring had been, confiscated due to Sawada Tsunayoshi being, disqualified for interfering during the fight.

::

The question of the lightning battle remained on Yucca's mind the whole night, even the next morning when he put on one of his many disguises, he couldn't help but think about the unexpected outcome they were, given.

His hair dyed a light shade of brown and his eyes wearing dark brown lenses Yucca put on a plain white t-shirt and jeans, a cheap blue apron covering the whole outfit. Putting on some, light unnoticeable makeup as to add some freckles to his face, Yucca silently made his way out of the condo, his black backpack in hand.

It was currently 9.38am, the hospital's visiting hours began at 10.00am sharp, by the time he reached it, no doubt would it have opened.

::

Evening, calmly sipping his espresso at one of Nomimori's cafe's terrace, Yucca contemplated his and the Varia's situation regarding the rings' battles.

Now out of his disguise and back to his usual appearance, Yucca thought back on what could have gone wrong within their plan.

Why? Just why was every duel going wrong? First was Lussuria's unexpected loss, then came Leviathan's barely won battle, just what exactly did these students have that the Varia didn't?

Everything, all the odds were in their favor. From pure strength to experience, scheming abilities included, the Varia was, compared to the teens' group far superior in every possible domain. So what were they lacking?

Yucca didn't like it, the state of blindness he was in regarding the issue of the ring battle. As things had begun, nothing guaranteed the Varia's victory. Of course, Yucca trusted them, but he couldn't help his guts from telling him things weren't going to proceed as planned.

Taking another sip of his drink, only to realize he had finished it previously, Yucca sighed. Having already paid for the bill he tiredly stoop up and decided to take a quiet stroll around the living district before going back the Varia's current "base."

Observing the children running around the street, Yucca's thought, drifted to his former life as Koro-sensei. The students, Kunigigaoka, 3-E, his colleagues, their assassination attempts, etc.

A small nostalgic smile came to Yucca's face as he observed the students on their way home, memories of his, own flooding back into his mind. He couldn't help the small chuckle as he remembered their first attempts, how futile they were. How they grew with each failure and obstacles to become stronger, wiser and finally, maybe succeed in creating the perfect assassination. With nothing to lose, his students always pushed their limits.

Suddenly, Yucca's footing came to a halt. Of course, that was it, the Vongola kids were, always growing, striving to become stronger when faced with powerful foes. Yucca had momentarily forgotten this fact as he hadn't found himself in such a situation for a long time now, his visions, clearly not helping his cause.

It was the same as his former students, although they were only kids, they also were assassins or part of the mafia in this case. They shouldn't be, treated like "normal" teenagers. From the moment they joined this world until the day they died, they would never be the same as regular students.

Maybe, the problem wasn't coming from Sawada Tsunayoshi and his guardians but the Varia themselves.

While these students were doing their best to succeed, pushing themselves to the limit, fighting while knowing their opponents could kill them in the blink of an eye, the Varia was only fighting a fight they knew they could win. But could, didn't mean they would and that was why they were currently in such a predicament.

They were underestimating these students, only considering them as playthings, pebbles on their route to take control of the Varia Famiglia, and this, Yucca was sure would be their downfall.

Yucca's previous nostalgic expression had long since morph into one of seriousness. His purple eyes narrowed in thought, his lips forming a straight line, neither smiling nor grimacing, a chilling aura emanated from the raven head as he slowly understood.

Since Yucca had now a full grasp of the situation, he couldn't allow Iemitsu's representative to do as they pleased anymore. Tonight was Belphegor's fight, out of all the Varia he probably was the less experienced and also the most reckless. He also was the one Yucca was the closest to, the one he took care of the most, the one he thought of as family before any of the other members of the Varia.

Belphegor was to Koro, a vague souvenir of his older students, to Yucca, his second little brother. He wouldn't let him suffer the same fate as Lussuria or Leviathan. Belphegor would get out of his fight without a single scratch, Yucca promised himself.

"Ah! What are you doing here!" a voice suddenly blurted, pulling Yucca out of his thoughts.

Blinking several times, as to make the frown and the pensive expression on his face disappear, Yucca stared at the figure which had screamed a second ago. Standing before him was Sawada Tsunayoshi, a mildly scared look on his face. On the wall next to him was the ever so impassive Reborn who seemed to observe his every movement. On the other side of the teen was another teen, Basil if Yucca's memory served him right, the guy Squalo had chased to Japan, a member of Iemitsu's CEDEF.

The four of them stared at each other for a few seconds, Yucca's and Reborn's expression blank while Tsunayoshi's and Basil's screamed for vigilance and apprehension.

In the end, Yucca was the one to break the tense atmosphere. Gently tilting his head to the side, Yucca's blank face turned into a closed-eyes-smile. "Tsunayoshi, Reborn, Basil," he called out, taking in his environment and realizing how late it was, "good evening."

Reborn was the first one to reply, totally unfazed by the unexpected encounter he greeted the Varia's guardian with his trademark "Ciaossu." Next came Basil's formal and guarded greeting followed by Tsunayoshi's ever stuttering one.

"Are you going to Namimori junior high?" Reborn asked, disregarding any questions concerning Yucca's suspiciousness within Namimori's living district.

Giving a small polite nod, Yucca's business smile, remained "You too, I presume?" he rhetorically asked, "then shouldn't we go there together?" he proposed.

At the expected but still somewhat unexpected proposal, Tsunayoshi momentarily blacked out. Walking to Namimori junior high with a dangerous criminal, what's more, his current enemy, someone who could most probably kill them with the snap of his finger? No, no, no, the Varia was scary enough from afar, he didn't need to have one standing next to him.

"Sure," came Reborn's calm reply, further stunning the poor teen. "I wanted to talk to you anyway."

Yucca merely smiled at the statement, humming in agreement before answering. "Me too," he confessed, "teaching has always been a hobby of mine. I'm sure we could get along very well."

Reborn only showed an amused smile before making his way to Namimori junior high, Yucca walking next to him as they let the two teens follow behind them.

::

When Yucca arrived on Namimori junior high's ground, he was, met by the amusing sight of Tsunayoshi's guardians and friends surprise and wariness. Dismissing the group of teens completely, Yucca calmly went into Namimori's school building, Reborn sitting on his shoulder as the two of them continued their debate regarding the way to raise children.

It was not until they reached the other Varia members that Yucca and Reborn bid their farewell, the two of them with the tactful understanding that their, previous conversation would never occur again and that from now on they were once again, opponents.

"Ushishishi, Yu did you change board?" Belphegor jokingly asked when he saw his colleague arrive. Although, the threat lying under his question was as clear as day.

Under his teammates threatening gaze, Yucca remained unfazed and calmly joined them. "Of course not Bel, I would never, ever betray you, for... them," he stated, his voice dripping with ridicule.

Xanxus glared at his guardian for a few seconds before grunting in disinterest.

"Ah! You brought Mosca for me!" Yucca exclaimed, trying to break the tense atmosphere as he cheerfully made his way to his cyborg counterpart. "Now that my bestie's here, I'm feeling extra pumped!" he declared.

The others looked at him strangely, before dismissing the previous matter entirely. In the meantime, Gokudera Hayato, Belphegor's opponent for the storm battle had arrived.

Everything, from how the match would proceed to the teens traditional battle cry had occurred, but before the beginning of the duel, Yucca went up to Belphegor.

"Bel," he called out, voice unexpectedly serious. "don't play around," he stated, gaining the whole audience's attention. "End this fight in a minute."

Belphegor looked at Yucca quizzically his usual grin perfectly etched on his face as he tilted his head to the side. "Why should I?" he asked, "I want to have my fun too."

Yucca's gaze turned sterner at the teen's answer, clearly displeased. "Just don't play around," he ordered this time, "Finish it in less than a minute, it shouldn't be too difficult right?"

At the insinuation of his opponent's weakness, Bel couldn't help the small laugh from escaping his lips, "Of course I could, after all, I'm a prince." he declared proudly.

"Then do it!" Yucca yelled, startling the younger male and all who were watching at his sudden outburst. Taking a deep breath, Yucca continued a wry smile on his face. "Do it," he whispered, his voice calmer "I'll treat you to whatever you want okay?" he tried to coax.

Under his elder's unexpected outburst and unusual seriousness, Belphegor felt his will to play around waver. He didn't notice it, but it was as if something within Yucca made him want to follow him, follow his lead, his order, his everything. It was similar to Xanxus' influence over the Varia but weaker.

It's strange, but at this moment, Bel's eyes were, entirely focused on Yucca's one and he couldn't help but notice how pretty the small orange light which momentarily flickered into his purple orbs seemed under the artificial lighting. It only lasted only for a moment before entirely disappearing, as if it was never there.

Reluctantly, Bel nodded, "Sure, okay, if you insist," he murmured.

Yucca smiled, a bright genuine and relieved smile before gently ruffling the younger's hair. "Thanks, under one minute okay?" he gently reminded, earning him a swat of Belphegor's hand in reply.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Stop nagging it makes you sound like an old man."

Yucca merely chuckled as he made his way back to the Varia, outside of the building.

The new cover was made by @jeniious, go and check their shops they are awesome!

Thanks for reading, until next time