{???, ???}

"See? I told you, you couldn't do it Koro-chan," a voice whispered in a sing-song tone. The teen sat on a white couch, purple eyes glazed with mockery and affection.

Alone in the vast room, the teen continued to stare into space. Listening intently to the world around him, around them.

::

{Namimori, Japan}

What is this herbivore doing? Kyoya though tiredly as he saw the man's figure getting closer to him. Does he plan on striking while I'm down? So, pathetic.

The hell, who does this herbivore think he is? Molesting me this way, I'll bite him to death. Is he trying to parade with the ring? I don't care about this piece of junk herbivore, stop crowding dammit.

My vision is getting blurrier and my body number. No, I can't let this herbivore see me in such a state.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

What? Not a second later, Hibari felt his body getting lighter loud explosions rezoned throughout his school as he blinked his eyes.

Orange?

Yucca's eyes turning back to its usual purple Hibari snapped out of his reverie, quickly jumping back to make some distance between himself and his target.

Yucca observed the teen, slightly surprised by his remaining vigor he didn't move, remaining at his spot. Thinking about if the male was okay for he was still staggering and about his previous actions which were, clearly uncalled.

Yucca mentally scolded himself, what was I thinking? Reminiscing, about the old times?

He didn't have time to question his actions further because, the next moment, a tonfa came swinging at him. Reflexively jumping back, Yucca managed to dodge.

"I didn't need your pity, carnivore," Hibari growled, his complexion already looking better.

Ah, I graduated from herbivore to carnivore. How comforting.

"I'll bite you to death."

Yucca couldn't answer, the next second an assault of tonfa doubled with some kicks came his way.

Up, left, right, down, attacks came from everywhere. Yucca's only solution at the moment was defending himself while trying to analyze the teen's fighting style and most importantly pattern.

Digging deep into his memories, Yucca searched for his results about Hibari Kyoya's life and fighting style.

Hibari Kyoya, a disrespectful brat who only cares about strength, has a strong law-of-the-jungle-complex. Hates crowding and people in general, but loves to "bite them to death."

That was the shortest description he could do of Hibari Kyoya before feeling the tonfa graze his chin.

Yucca widened his eyes. He didn't expect a teen to manage to land a "hit" on him. Even though he wasn't taking him seriously, he still considered his passive reflex to be top-notch. Maybe this was a proof of his slacking off?

Disregarding this issue which he would solve later, Yucca narrowed his eyes. A flash of displeasure appearing inside his purple orbs before disappearing as if it never materialized, being replaced by his usual fake-smiley look.

But the sight didn't escape Kyoya's wolfish eyes, giving a feral grin he continued his assault with more vigor than before. The drug had been, entirely expelled from his body. He could fight at full strength without anything hindering him.

Ah, how he loved the adrenaline fighting gave him. As his eyes glinted hungrily, Hibari couldn't have been more content. It unquestionably was an excellent idea to take part in the baby's game. So many strong opponents to bite to death. He could feel his blood boiling only by thinking about it.

But first, before taking care of the other carnivores, he needed to bite this one. Getting into another stance, he readied himself for another attack. The carnivore had been dodging non-stop, and he was getting tired of it.

Seeing the teen change his approach tactic by taking a step back, Yucca took the opportunity to get one of his daggers out. Left hand armed, he charged at the teen. Time was ticking he wanted to check on the others and this kid, no matter how admirable he found him, was hindering his progress.

He didn't have the time to entertain him all night. Now that he had indulged himself in giving the teen some of his time, Yucca estimated it was time to wrap it up.

No more playing.

The two clouds didn't know it. But at that moment, both of their eyes glinted a deep violet. Each one resolved to end the fight, they charged at each other, not holding themselves back anymore.

::

In the room reserved for the audience, the spectator looked at the monitor with bated breath. Eyes entirely focused on each fight happening all around the arena otherwise known as Namimori junior high.

It was hard to admit, but the teens were loosing. Although Lambo had been, saved by Hayato in extremis from Leviathan, Squalo and Takeshi were currently having, a rematch (something about finding it disgraceful to fight against the disabled, or so Squalo said as he staggered to stand correctly). In Ryohey's case, Lussuria had left him behind to agonize he needed to wait for others to come.

The main problem remained with Hibari. As the aloof cloud, he was their trump card, their most powerful member. Not having him become part of the fight was a huge problem.

At the thought, Reborn's eyes trailed to the screen which showed Hibari a Yucca's fight. The Black Plague, Reborn thought as his dark orbs landed on Yucca's figure.

From what the knew of the assassin, he was before joining the Varia a new up and coming freelance assassin whose reputation kept soaring. The reason as to why he joined the Varia was unknown, but from what Iemitsu had told him, Yucca had decided to change board after infiltrating the Varia under the Ninth's order.

Why? Reborn didn't know. Did he plan it, all beforehand? He didn't think so.

It's a shame, the two of us stand on different sides of the field, Reborn mused as his eyes trailed along the line Hibari's tonfas were drawing. Otherwise, we would have gotten along quite well. His gut as a tutor told him Yucca would have been one hell of a colleague to work with when it came to tor-tutoring his pupils.

Reborn's eyes flashed, zeroing on the far corner of the screen. Someone was coming into the cloud's fight direction.

::

"Ushishishi."

As the cold blades met each other, Bel's laugh was, heard throughout the field. Announcing rain on knives, falling on both of the cloud guardians.

Yucca who had noticed the younger male coming, effortlessly dodged each blade. Diverting them in Hibari's direction when one came into contact with his own or his free hand. On the other side, Hibari whose attention had been, solely focused on the young adult didn't notice the attack coming.

Dodging as best as he could, Hibari created some distance between him and his targets, eyes zeroing on the new arrival's figure.

"You must be the genius," he muttered, his voice practically a growl. "For disturbing me, I'll bite you to death."

Noticing the sudden shift of attention within the young teen, Yucca allowed himself to put his dagger back into its sheath.

"I'll leave it to you, Bel," he called out, subsequently making his way out of the field, none of the two present guardians had time to react. Yucca was already gone.

"Ushishishi, I'll kill him," Bel whispered in a chuckle as he took more knives out of his Varia coat.

Hibari grunted, "I'll bite you to death, and then I'll bite him to death."

Bel's laugh became louder at the remark, "Ushishi, who would have thought we would agree?"

Hibari didn't answer, charging at Belphegor he didn't hold back. The previous carnivore had slipped out of his fingers because he took his time to play with it. He couldn't let this second one do the same thing.

With newfound determination, Hibari sent his tonfas swinging in Belphegor's direction.

::

I need to find Luss and Squalo, they, aren't in the best condition to fight yet. It could get dangerous, real quick for them.

With these thoughts, Yucca hurriedly made his way to Squalo's battleground. After all, out of Lussuria and him, he unquestionably was the one in the worst condition.

If Yucca's calculation were exact, the swordsman should have received the cure to the poison already. Firstly because Xanxus' myriad of bullets had, helped him and secondly because Takeshi wouldn't have borne to let Squalo die on him.

It didn't matter if they were enemy, from the impression Yucca got of the teen, Yamamoto wouldn't let his enemy die any time soon. At least not now. In the future maybe.

Nearing the reconstructed building where the rain's battle took place, Yucca could faintly hear the sound of blades clashing. Not a second later, dynamites exploded.

Yucca quickened his steps, hurrying toward the battleground. Even injured Squalo could hold himself against an amateur for a period, of time, maybe not win but he could defend against them. But against two people? Who were both targeting him? Squalo's chances considerably decreased.

When he entered the room where the rains and storm were fighting, Yucca was, faced with the sight of Squalo slowly being cornered. Not even thinking about it, he let his right hand reach for his handgun and shot, twice.

"Don't touch him," he growled, voice unusually low as the two bullets passed millimeters away from the two teens' noses.

"Voi! Small trash, don't interrupt my fight!"

Yucca ignored Squalo's warning, striding forward, eyes never leaving the two teens whose guard had suddenly gone up. A tense silence settled on the previously noisy field.

"Voiii! Don't ignore m-"

"Shut up, Squalo," Yucca ordered, cutting him off and momentarily stunning the rain before he fumed again, voice louder than before.

Yucca ignored him. Even if Squalo kept on shouting, he wouldn't move as he was already pushing himself to his limits. It let Yucca enough time to deal with the two present teens, hopefully.

Yucca's purple eyes darted from Hayato to Takeshi before giving Squalo a stray glance in confirmation. So the rings are in the boys' possession, he mused as his eyes narrowed slightly making the two teens tense up.

Yucca's severe expression turned into his usual one, further unnerving the two boys at the hitman's calmness. "Are you looking for this?" Yucca inquired, voice mellow as he showed his left hand which wore the completed cloud ring.

Gokudera and Yamamoto tensed up further. Had Hibari fallen? No, that was impossible!

"Ah, don't worry about Kyoya," Yucca interrupted their train of thoughts. "He's cured already. I only left him to play with Bel as I had some business to attend," he explained, voice as calm as ever.

The two teens relaxed slightly before once again taking an offensive stance. Even if Hibari was (or wasn't) alright, they still needed the cloud ring to win. The only way to victory was through beating the raven in front of them.

::

"Ha, ha..." Hayato panted one knee to the ground.

Not far from him, laying on the floor against the wall was a motionless Takeshi, his sword a few feet away from him. In front of the two teens, barely sweating was Yucca, eyes a deep purple as he overlooked the whole situation.

"Give up," he demanded, voice stern.

"Dammit, as if I would betray the Tenth!" Hayato growled, staggering to stand up.

Yucca looked at him unimpressed, a small frown on his face. These kids are too reckless he thought. They should cherish their lives more. Sighing, Yucca passed his left gloved hand in his raven locks before swiftly deflecting the dynamites coming his way.

"This is useless," he muttered as he slowly came closer to the panting Gokudera. "If you won't give up, then I'll make you."

Putting his dagger back in its sheath, he suddenly fastened his pace. Although the acceleration wasn't anything to boast about, to Hayato whose mind started to get hazy, it seemed like the cloud suddenly teleported to his side.

Not a second later, Gokudera's body fell motionless to the ground.

Yucca sighed, crouching, he took the rings the storm and rain had in their possession before facing Squalo.

"We need to meet up with the others."

Squalo simply clicked his tongue in annoyance.

::

"Mammon, Bel!" Yucca called out at the sight of his two companions. "Where are Luss and Levi?" he asked.

"Ushishi, I'll kill you," Bel growled, sending two knives in the raven's direction.

"Stop playing around. Do you have the rings?" Mammon inquired, voice monotonous.

Yucca hummed, showing them all the rings they had collected.

"Then let's regroup with the boss, things should get bloody soon."

The fight is coming to an end, next chapter: End of the Varia arc!

Thanks for reading, until next time^^