{Namimori, Japan}

Standing in front of the receptionist, Yucca stuttered. "What do you mean you don't have any Dokuro Chrome as one of your patients?"

"It is as I told you, sir," the receptionist repeated, a bit of annoyance tinting her soft voice. "I've checked more than ten times already. We don't have any patient registered under this name."

"How come..." Yucca muttered, the flower bouquet he brought resting on the front desk while he passed one of his hand through his raven locks.

The dark-eyed lady sighed, "Maybe she was, sent to another hospital?" She tried to comfort, "Have you checked them already? Better, can't you call her?" she inquired.

Yucca looked at the lady for a few seconds before sending her a small apologetic smile, "Yes, you must be right. Excuse me for taking up your time, have a nice day."

With these words, Yucca excused himself, flower bouquet in hand he casually made his way to the automatic doors.

That wasn't part of the plan, he didn't expect Chrome not to be, sent to the hospital like the others after their battles. Whatsmore, since she wasn't part of his calculation since the start, he didn't have any lead as to where she could be. How troublesome.

Roaming Namimori's street deep in thoughts, Yucca walked into somebody, how pitiful for a hitman such as him not even able to avoid others while not looking in front of him.

Looking up, Yucca's purple iris' met Chrome's violet one. A small gasp escaped both of their lips at the unexpected encounter.

As he gained his composure back Yucca smiled his brightest fake smile, making Chrome take a step back. She stared at him dubiously, guard raised. Her hand tightly grope what seemed to be her school bag, ready to escape at any given moment.

"Good morning, Chrome was it?" he greeted, earning a small nod of agreement as she whispered her, own greeting.

Yucca's smile stretched if it was possible. "There," he said hand extended as he presented her the flower bouquet he had bought earlier in the day. "These are for you."

Chrome looked at him suspiciously, her small hand slowly taking the flower bouquet, she inhaled their scent her eyes never leaving Yucca's figure. "Thank you," she murmured, softly.

Yucca's smile and eyes softened. The girl's current expression reminded him of Okuda Manami, one of his former students.

Without him noticing what he was doing, Yucca started to, gently pat her head. The same way he had once patted Okuda's head when she was trying to kill him with chemicals.

Chrome's eyes widened, she froze for a second before hurriedly taking a step back, a hand reaching for the spot Yucca had touched the second before. Yucca too froze when he realized his actions, his expression a mix of embarrassment, hurt and nostalgia. Chrome remained on her spot, staring at him confused. Confused because of his actions and confused because of the face he was making.

It didn't last long though, in a blink, Yucca's expression of sorrow turned into his usual fake one. "I'm sorry about that," he apologized, his tone bashful. "You reminded me of someone I met a long time ago. I patted your head on reflex," he tried to justify, his left hand passing through his raven locks.

"Ah," Chrome blinked a few times, getting out of her reverie at the sound of the male's voice, "I-it doesn't matter, d-don't worry," she stuttered, her voice soft.

Yucca smiled "These flowers are a congratulatory gift, and also a get well soon gift," he explained changing the subject. "I hope you won't throw them away," he asked with a small smile.

Chrome found herself nodding in confirmation, making Yucca's smile soften and become more genuine once more.

"Then I'll see you tonight, probably," Yucca said as he began to take his leave. "Have a nice evening."

Chrome remained on her spot, her eyes never leaving Yucca's figure. The souvenir of his previous relaxed expression deeply imprinted in her mind. Chrome wondered who this person she reminded him of was. Were they close? A past girlfriend? Sister? Colleague? ...Pet? Millions of possibility made their way to her mind, none of them entirely answering her question.

Why was his hand so warm when he patted her? Why were his eyes so full of love when he gazed at her? Why did it seem like he would protect and raise her at best as he could?

Why did she found herself wondering how it would have been had the two of them never been enemy? If they had met under different circumstances, would he have looked at her like this too?

Pensive, Chrome went her, own way.

::

That was close Yucca thought as he silently walked along Namimori's street. He didn't imagine the memory of his past pupils' would overlap with people he knew, an enemy nonetheless.

Yucca mentally shook his head. No use dwelling over it, tonight was his fight meaning they would go away soon. He should take his time to do some souvenir shopping in the shopping district while he still had time.

Walking down the crowded streets, Yucca soon came upon a particular clothing shop. Behind the window display was a bunch of tacky shirts. All of them were a strange assortment of color with lame puns, catchphrases, and images.

For a second, Koro remembered his days in Yanagisawa Kotarō or Shiro's laboratory. More precisely, he thought back on the times he spent with Aguri and all the lame shirts she wore, each one stranger and tackier than the previous ones, although there was that one time when she wore a simple cyan shirt instead.

Well, it only happened once, it doesn't count.

Yucca didn't notice it, but as he gazed at the few displayed shirts a nostalgic expression had made its way to his face. Shaking his head, he found himself entering the shop with a confident smile.

As expected, each design is lamer than the other, he sweatdropped.

Looking around Yucca couldn't help but smile a genuine smile as he gazed at one particular t-shirt. The t-shirt had a tiger stripes pattern with small round demon faces. Alternating between blue and red faces, they delimited both the cuffs and shirt's collar.

This one must have been designed to go with Aguri's lame bustier.

He refrained himself from laughing as he took the shirt to the cashier. His souvenir shopping could wait. Such a rare treasure only appeared once every full moon.

Happily getting out of the clothing store, Yucca strolled around the shopping district. Stopping to look at a few window display, entering the shops and getting out without buying a thing. He casually spent the rest of his day, his previous thoughts about his former students and Aguri, the sadness and restlessness his thoughts had caused him buried deep into his mind.

But every good thing had to end time was ticking tonight was the cloud's battle. His battle, or Mosca's as Bel had said. Nonetheless, his presence tonight more than the others was required. The boss and the other members would probably skin him alive if he stood them up.

Sighing in defeat, Yucca made his way to the Varia's current headquarter, humming the seaweed dance's tune. A song Aguri used to sing when she visited him in Yanagisawa Kotarō's laboratory.

::

"Trash," Xanxus called out from his seat.

Yucca hummed, knowing he was the only one the boss was susceptible to call right now. "What is it, boss?"

"Don't blow it all up," he ordered.

Yucca who was checking his daggers halted his movements before putting them back in their respective sheaths. "Don't worry boss, these," he said indicating his blades and the gun he was currently checking, "are only for good measures."

Xanxus narrowed his eyes dangerously.

At the sight, Yucca's grin widened. "I will let Gola Mosca take care of it, don't worry. I know how important he is to the plan, boss."

Xanxus merely grunted. "Don't screw up, trash."

::

"Hibari is our ace. Therefore, he definitely won't lose," Yamamoto affirmed, confident.

The remark made Xanxus burst into a laughing fit. "Did you hear that Yucca?" Xanxus called out to the raven head who was standing on one side of the arena, the Gola Mosca close to him. "It seems like you don't stand a chance against this trash."

Yucca gave a dry laugh as Belphegor too started to laugh at him. "I can't wait..."

"I'll look forward to your defeat, trash," Although Xanxus didn't tell precisely to who he was talking, Yucca knew. He knew Xanxus was telling him to let the plan unravel to its fullest. So Yucca simply smiled, showing he agreed to his boss' order.

"I'll bite you to death."

Yucca smiled, "I'm sorry, Kyoya," he called out calmly. "But before fighting me, you'll need to take care of my friend here." he indicated, his eyes going from Gola Mosca's metallic body to Kyoya.

"Don't underestimate me herbivore," he growled.

In the background, Yucca could hear Bel's laugh. That's a first, Yucca mused at the unusual nickname.

"Begin!"

"Go," Yucca whispered, sending the Mosca flying in Kyoya's direction.

Hibari wasn't fazed, charging at the figure he effortlessly took it down. Yucca widened his eyes in slight surprise as silent filed the whole school ground.

"Now fight me."

Yucca dismissed the comment, casually flipping the teen over his shoulder, he walked to the Mosca and crouched down.

"Tss, tss, tss, that's what happens when you don't do maintenance," he muttered tiredly. "Stand up," he ordered, evading another one of Hibari's blow.

On cue, the Mosca stood up, sending precise missiles to detonate some of the bombs hiding within the field. Hibari dodged them all, once again charging in the robot's way, to take him down for good.

"Mosca," Yucca's clear voice resounded. "Let's unravel the world..."

Nobody understood what he meant, nobody but Xanxus whose smirk's widened. The next second, after another one of Hibari's hit, Gola Mosca went down.

"Now I'll bite you to death."

Yucca smiled, his purple eyes staring intently at the male, not taking any fighting posture. "It's quite unfortunate. Now Mosca won't be able to fight by my side," he marveled.

Kyoya didn't take the adult's words into, consideration. But as he began to attack, a laser beam went his way.

With this, Gola Mosca went out of control. The previous battlefield which only involved the clouds suddenly affected all the audience.

Missiles went left and right, aiming for a precise target or not. Putting everyone's lives in danger. The teens were panicking, so were the Cervello.

But Xanxus was laughing The Varia was smiling their eyes flashing a dangerous light as they calmly overlooked the situation.

Now, let's let Tsunayoshi Sawada unravel Gola Mosca.

The trap has been, set. It is only waiting for its prey to fall into it.

::

Although the Sky ring battle wasn't part of Xanxus and the Varia's original plan, nobody showed their dissatisfaction. It only gave them an official reason to kill the teens, why whine when they were serving their preys on a silver plate?

On their way back to the headquarter, Yucca spoke up, breaking the silence. "I need to get out of town tonight," he announced, making the others glance at him in confusion.

"Are you forfeiting, trash?" Xanxus growled dangerously. Eyes narrowed, unmistakably threatening the male.

Yucca smiled, appearing unfazed. "No, I'll be back before the beginning of the battle, I swear, boss," Yucca promised, tone confident. "I only need to pick a few 'things' up," he explained vaguely. "They should be useful for tomorrow's battle."

Xanxus didn't add anything else, only grunting before turning away.

"Then I'll be taking my leave. I'll see you tomorrow, boss, Bel, Levi."

Walking into the silent night, Yucca called for a taxi. He needed to go to the next city within the briefest delay, to pick Squalo and Lussuria up from the hospital. It's always two more guardians, although injured they remain part of the Varia. They should be able to fight.

Now for Mammon's case, or Viper's, he believed the Cervello would bring them. Worst case scenario they, really died. Although the likelihood, of Mammon dying, is quite low.

So, there goes the cloud battle. Next chapter, Squalo, and Lussuira will be back!

Thanks for reading, until next time^^

This is Aguri Yukimura's bustier, for those who wondered about it.

And this is the seaweed dance

https://youtu.be/ODzjP6nLT6M