Chapter 21

"For the Last time, we're not renaming Vendicare Wonderland."

"Why not? It's fitting."

"Oh, how's that?"

"Everyone's Mad here."

"I give up," Jager couldn't help but deadpan as he stared at the teenager- How had they even gotten this far into the Heart of Vendicare without anyone noticing?- having tea with His Lord. Where exactly did they get that eyesore of a Tea Set and table?

At one, two separate sets of eyes- one a familiar Inhumane emerald and the other a startling silver, as though someone had trapped moonlight within them- locked upon the Vindice Strongest Warrior.

"So is this Your Mad Hatter?"

A soft feminine voice questioned from beneath the cloaked figure sitting upon his Lord's Throne. Mad Hatter? The corner of His Lord's lips twitched as emerald eyes gained a thoughtful glint, "Yes, I suppose you can say that."

The woman's silver eyes seemed to shine as she gave him a small smile, "Thank you for keeping Bermuda from getting lost. I fear the path is a bit mischievous, it likes to constantly change beneath his feet."

Golden eyes stared down at the teenager in concealed confused and defeat -Why could his Lord never have a sane Guardian?- before his Lord cleared his throat.

"Jager, I would like to formally introduce to my Mist Guardian; Luna Lovegood. Luna, this is Jager Veckenschtein."

—————

If Bermuda is honest, he's not the least bit surprised how well Luna seemed to settle into the halls of Vendicare. Though the Vindice Warden still couldn't figure out how she had gotten into Vendicare without anyone noticing. He had asked her once but all she did was smile and claimed a Cheshire Cat had shown her the way. Seeing as Luna was a Mist- who were only limited by their imaginations- it very well could have happened.

The blonde Mist shared Alejandro's love for strange creatures and both could spend days talking about them. They once spent a week discussing the Crumple-Horned Snorkack before taking a wormhole to Sweden for a month. When they returned it was with one of the strangest creatures the Vindice Warden had ever seen which apparently held the ability to turn invisible.

When she wasn't with Alejandro, Luna could either be found with Jack attempting to test Jager's Saint like patients or Small Gia and Big Pino 'helping' with The Prisoner's 'Mandatory' therapy. For some strange reason, the prisoners would burst into tears every time Luna came within five feet of one of them. On the other hand, Small Gia and Big Pino were now Vendicare Prisoners' favorite Therapists.

Jager, on the other hand, wasn't as close to Luna but- they seemed to get along when left alone together- it was a work in process. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was perfect.

BOOM! Bermuda could feel the very walls of Vendicare shaking due to the impact of the explosion before Jager's voice pierced the air, "Jack!"

Well as perfect as things could be in Vendicare.

The Vindice Warden didn't bother to suppress the smile on his lips as the screams and sound of running- swift feet slapping on marble as their owner darts down the hallways praying to escape before he's caught- reached him, it's not like anyone would see it through the bandages anyway.

"Are those candy cane trees?"

Turning his head slightly, the emerald-eyed toddler glanced out the window catching sight of a rainbow themed forest- the Vindice Warden was certain hadn't been there an hour ago- stretching for miles outside the gate. Was that a Gingerbread Doll walking out of it with a licorice axe?

Mentally sighing, Bermuda allowed his cheek to brush against Jager before a small bandaged hand gently patted the shoulder beneath him, "I'm afraid so, Jager. Just ignore it."

——————

"No." The stern voice spoke without hesitation as golden eyes glared into silver.

"But-"

"Never."

Though never could see it, emerald eyes darted between the two as Bermuda would swear he saw lightning shooting between their glares. Honestly, one would the two were discussing an open war with how serious they were taking this matter not-

"Just for an hour," The blond pleaded only to be met with a merciless glare from Jager tightened his grip and held His Lord well out of the Mist's reach.

"No one carries Lord Bermuda but me."

-that. Really, Bermuda didn't care who carried him at this point as long as they stopped swinging him like a ragdoll. Their only forewarning was a low growl seconds before a blond blur that had one been Luna Lovegood lunged towards the Vindice's Strongest Warrior.

Later, Bermuda would only shake his head as he stared at the sulking mummy that had once been his Mist. "Maybe that wasn't my smartest idea..." The muffled voice of the blond would reach the emerald-eyed toddler's ear causing him to raise a brow.

"What gave that away?"

It couldn't possibly be the fact she was teen witch- who only recently graduated a C Ranked School like Hogwarts. He was going to have to see about getting her a proper education in magic- that attempted to attack a man who was Strongest Warrior to emerge from the darkened halls of Vendicare, now could it?

———————

"Lord Bermuda!"

Though he would forever deny it, Bermuda couldn't help but jump as Jager busted into his office- it was going to be a hassle to remove the door from the wall- with a frantic tone of voice. A frown found its way to the emerald eyed toddler's face as he turned his bandaged face the other's direction to show he was paying attention. After all, Jager wasn't usually the sort to panic so something terrible must be happening.

"Yes, Jager?"

"Sawada Nana is outside the Gate with the Former Arcobaleno and the Vongola Decimo!"

Oh, the Former Arcobaleno ponder to himself- what was it with them and their new found hobby of camping outside the gate?- why was Jager worried about the- Wait... The Vindice Warden's head snapped up in alarm and though none would ever see it, emerald eyes widen in horror.

"Did you say, Sawada Nana?!"

"Yes, Lord Bermuda."

Knocking everything off his desk in a blind panic, the Ex-Night Arcobaleno slammed his small fist onto a button causing the Alarm System to activate.

"Seal Vendicare! Now!"

Sawada Nana was a living legend -coughHorrorStorycough- in Vendicare. Ever member of the Vindice had heard of the -Mad, Insane, psychopathic- woman that had managed to kidnap Lord Bermuda, turn Jack into Mincemeat and sent the ever Fearsome Jager running. So it was no surprise when Vendicare broke another record by Sealing the literal 'Hell on Earth' only milliseconds after retrieving the order and reason- seeing as none of the prisoners had attempted to escape- for such an order.

Outside the Vendicare Prison Gates, Tsunayoshi couldn't help but blink as the whole prison vanished before their eyes.

"Reborn, What just happened? "The small hitman hummed softly, "Vendicare is known to relocate itself into what many call a 'Pocket Dimension' when Sealed, Dame-Tsuna. Most likely someone attempted a Prison Break."

The young Decimo couldn't help but groan.

Of course, this would happen the one time he finally gathered the nerve to introduce His Mother to the Vindice and here he had finally found a good argument to convince the Eternal Protectors to allow the kind- though obvious- woman visitation rights to her husband.

————————

"Is he one of the Guards?"

"No."

It was the truth and no amount of threats, begging or pleading could change that.

A frown made its way to the young Brunette's face as his glowing orange eyes narrowed in consideration, "You're not lying, but I feel as though you're not saying everything either."

"Are you calling me a liar, Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

The Vindice Warden's voice had darkened as the killing intent seemed to flood the room- even when he was in his toddler form Bermuda was terrifying. From the corner of the eyes, the Brunette could see the shadows shifting as what appeared to be all the Vindice in Vendicare seemed to materialize yet remained out of sight.

Though his Hyper Intuition was screaming, Tsuna didn't need it to sense the danger in the room and know he wouldn't be leaving it alone and whole unless he backtracked quickly. "No! Of course not! I just... I think you know where Harry Potter is."

Now that he had said it, the Vongola Decimo was certain of it- it just felt so right- Bermuda knew where Harry Potter was.

"I told you, Tsunayoshi-kun. Harry Potter is dead," He wasn't lying, but there was something more to this. Something the brunette just couldn't quite put his finger on. How could Harry Potter be dead, yet still live and not be one of the Vindice? "If you wish to waste your time by talking yourself in circles that is your business, Decimo, but you will not waste mine. "

It was as good and subtle as any dismissal the brunette had ever hear and judging from the bristling of his Guardians they realized it as well. Still, he couldn't leave not without a proper answer.

"Bermuda," His he kept his voice firm and serious- his 'Boss' voice as Reborn had dubbed it- as he meets the bandaged face of the infant before him, "You owe me. Without my help, you never would have gotten your revenge on Checkerface-" Lie. Lie. Lie. His Hyper Intuition was but deafening him the moment those words left his lips but he pressed on. "-So please, tell me, What happened to Harry Potter?"

"Very well, Tsunayoshi, but once you have your answer. I will owe you no more." Though he couldn't see it, Tsuna was certain the other was glancing him over with those inhumane eyes. "I killed Harry Potter."

An eerie silence filled the room as everyone waited to see the verdict. Glowing orange eyes stared down the Vindice Warden before Tsuna finally spoke.

"He... He's not lying."

A moment later, shouts were filling the air as his Guardians were reaching for their weapons- from the corner of his eye, Tsuna could already see Gokudera had his trademark dynamite within his grip- as Leon shifted into the gun that had started it all. The soft jingling of chains soon followed as both sides prepared to tear each other apart.

"Enough!" Tsuna glared at his Guardians and Reborn before turning towards Bermuda, who had held up a hand to signal a cease from his own side. "I apologize for My Guardians actions, Bermuda. Thank you for your time."

He dared not speak until they were safely outside the Gates of Vendicare.

"What was that about Dame-Tsuna? Did you not just hear him admit to killing a child?"

Golden orange eyes locked onto pitch black.

"I heard him, but I think you're all forgetting something," Seeing their open confusion the brunette couldn't help but sigh- To think he was supposed to be the Dame one- before continuing onwards, "There's more than one way to kill a person and not all of them involve Death."

Reborn caught on quickly as understand filled those pitch black eyes and a smirk formed onto the toddler sized man's face.

Unknown to the group, a pair of icy inhumane emerald and molten gold eyes watched them as the treaded further from the Gates of Vendicare. "They'll be back," Jager spoke softy able to see his breath from the icy chill that had overtaken the room, "Vongola's too stubborn not to continue pursuing this."

"Let them come," His Lord's voice had darkened and though he couldn't see it, Jager was certain a Slasher smile was beginning to form beneath the bandages, "They can't prove anything." There was no evidence, no trace or record. And if they happened to accomplish the impossible..

Then Jager would all too happily dip his hand into the crimson river to keep His Lord's secret. Any of the Vindice would as Bermuda was theirs and they would sooner turn to dust in the wind then surrender him to anyone.

———————

'We believe the Vindice knows where Harry Potter is.'

Vindice.

Of course. Those monsters would do anything to spite him. Why not figure out how to break an Atlantean Artifact and kidnap his Grandson as well?

The white-haired humanoid known as Kawahira couldn't help but twitch at the thought of His innocent Grandson trapped within the care of such Creatures. His beloved Lilly's son was probably terrified, cowering in some darkened cell or cave just wishing someone would be brave enough to save him.

Bermuda- and no, he did not shiver at just the thought of the other's name. There was just a bit of a draft in the office. Honest- was likely torturing; or worse, brainwashing His Grandson at this very moment. That abomination was no doubt filling the child's mind with lies- that were not actually lies but harsh truths- and distrust towards him.

"Are you certain?"

Please say no. Please say no.

"Well, Bermuda did claim he killed him-" Please say yes. Please say yes. For sadly enough, Checkerface could see Bermuda von Veckenschtein murdering a child in cold blood to get back at white-haired man bluntly chose to ignore the amount of time he had chosen a child sky knowing it would lead to their deaths and in turn all but murdering them with his bare hands. "-Though we not think he meant literally but rather figuratively."

"So he's likely hidden away somewhere in the walls of Vendicare."

"Exactly."

No doubt the Devil- for Bermuda could be nothing but Satan himself- was drawing out his torment. Slowly driving His Grandson into the same Madness that consumed the Vindice. They were probably trying to make Lilly's son one of them at this very moment.

Cold emerald eyes narrowed as the humanoid learned forward slightly, "So how do you plan on rescuing him?"

"Well, first of all, we're going to need to break into Vendicare."

Tsunayoshi, His Guardians, and Reborn couldn't help but notice how Kawahira seemed to shiver despite it being almost ninety degrees in the office. Must be a 'Last True Earthling' thing

——————-

Chapter 22

"Intruders? Who would be stupid enough to break in here?"

As one every head in the room turned towards a blue-haired Vindice, though Luna didn't seem to notice.

"There must be a Nargle infection Nearby."

Vendicare.

Home of the Vindice, the Eternal Nightmares of the Mafia, and a prison for the worst Mafioso known to mankind- It was said to be a literal Hell on Earth, an eternal damnation that only the lucky few ever left- which not even the bravest and courageous of souls would dare to enter.

Yet here they were, covered in sewage as they silently-slowly, for none dared to light a flame to see least they draw the Jailors' attention- making their way down a darkened hallway. It was freezing here, to the point Tsuna could hear the soft crackling of frost beneath his feet with every step he took.

It was unnerving if the brunette was honest, he kept expect some monster to jump out at him at any given moment. Maybe splitting up hadn't been their best idea but the Vongola Decimo couldn't deny the logic in Reborn's reasoning. The more ground they covered the sooner they could find Harry Potter, whoever he was now, and get the hell out of Hell.

He could only hope the others would stay safe for only the Devil knew what awaited them within these halls.

Creeaakk.

The brunette could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention as the soft- almost unbearable- sound of something dragging itself across the floor reached his ears. Gulping softly as his Hyper Intuition started to scream, Tsunayoshi allow a small bit of Sky Flames to appear on the palm of his hand- just enough to dimly light the hall- and turned around

"HHEEEII!"

The scream left his lips before the brunette could even consider stopping it as glowing orange watched in horror as a corpse slowly began to pull itself out of the ground while others slowly made their way closer to him. Turning on heel, the teenager fled as fast as his feet could carry him, completely forgetting he could fly due to his utter panic.

Exit. Exit. Exit. Where's the God Damn Exit?!

To be honest, Tsuna didn't care where his feet took him as long as he was far away from those zombies- that were most likely the Vindice's past victims- so they couldn't eat his brains. Door! Without so much as a thought, the brunette flung open the door and rushed inside, slamming it shut before him- managing to serve several fingers that had been reaching for him- before attempting to catch his breath.

Gggggrrrr.

Stiffening, wide orange eyes slowly opened and lifted from the floor towards the source of the noise. Only to feel his heart stop as he was meet with a large serpentine creature the color of the night sky with wings, a spiked tail, and silted crimson eyes.

"HHEEEIII, Dragon!"

————————

Papers.

An endless sea of white and black for as far as the naked eye could see.

Hayato couldn't help but frown as he slowly made his way into the hallway- Who in there sign mind filled a hallway with paperwork? Surely that had an organization system for this mess- with the Stupid Cow. Oh, all the people he could have gotten stuck with.

"G-g-g-Gokudera, I...I th-think the p-papers g-glaring at us!"

"Stupid Cow, papers can't glare!"

Honestly, what did he do to deserve this?

"Tell that to them," The panicked child pointed a finger which the silverette's followed on instantly onto to feel his heart stop as he meets glowing crimson eyes and sharp teeth as several separate stacks of paperwork seemed to form into some type of monster.

No way. It couldn't be...

"I knew it! The Vindice are hiding the UMAs from the rest of the world!"

Lambo gulped softly seeing as the paperwork monster was now growling and slowly closing in on them. "G-Gokudera..."

Unfortunately, the other didn't seem to hear the young Lightning as he continued on with his rank while writing in a small journal, completely obvious to approaching danger the danger.

"-I told that Pineapple there was a Conspiracy!"

　———————

"Hello, would you like to join me for some tea?"

There was a blond haired teen that was floating in the air as a teapot- that couldn't decide wither to be striped or polka-dotted -poured itself into a rather blinding yellow cracked glass which was upside down yet not a drop of tea spilled.

Usually, when one stumbled across a scene they would have stared and gawked. Maybe even how the silver eyed girl was breaking all the rules of gravity yet all Takeshi Yamamoto did was smile.

"Sure!"

A moment later, laughter left the -Baseball Obsessed- Swordsman's lips as he found himself floating alongside the blond.

Vendicare surely was a strange place, but it didn't seem that bad.

———————

"Chrome?"

"Yes, Mukuro-Sama."

"I think the Christmas Tree is alive..."

The purple haired teen started from the tree with ominous crimson eyes and dagger-like teeth- was that blood on the edges?- that was purposely making its way towards them before her lone violet eye glanced upwards only to see the light above slowly making their way towards the two.

"Mukuro-Sama, it would appear the Christmas Lights are alive as well.."

"My Dearest Chrome, I believe it's time we take our leave."

"Yes, Mukuro-Sama."

The two barely took three steps before only just stepping beneath a piece of mistletoe. Neither of them saw the small berries fall onto the ground at their feet.

BOOM!

————————

Three large heads snarled at him, showing off large teeth that were more swords than anything, as the creature's conjoined body crouched lowly in anticipation to pounce. A Cerberus, a real-life Cerberus. Weren't those supposed to be myth?

Then again, they were said to guard the gates of Hell so it only made sense to find one here.

Myth or not, though there was a real-life -fluffy as Hell- Cerberus wearing a neon pink collar before him.

Kyoya Hibari could feel his lips twitch as his dark eyes gained a determined gleam.

He wanted it but first, he would have to prove his dominance as Alpha to it.

　——————————

Though he couldn't see anyone, Reborn was certain he was being followed. One didn't survive as long as he did in his line of business without learning to trust their instincts and he was all but screaming he was in danger. That there was something following him with ill intent.

A slight shifting of the shadows had the hitman spinning on heel, his trademark Leon Gun in hand as he shot into the darkness only for the bullet to ricochet off the wall. Had he just imaged it? It wouldn't be all that surprising, this place seemed determined to screw with his mind.

A moment later a chain shot out of the darkness from the other side of the room. It was only pure reflex that hands the Chibified Hitman hitting the floor as it said overhead and into the wall, reducing it into rubble upon impact. Had that attack hit him, Reborn had no doubt he would have died. A sharp flare of warning within his mind had the Hitman quick pushing himself away as a hand pierced through the ground where his chest had been moments before.

Using his role to his moment to his advantage the Ex-Sun Arcobaleno pushes off the wall behind him and towards the straightening figure, firing several shots as he neared.

Only once he pierced through the smoke caused by the rubble, no one was there.

Besides himself, there was no sign of life within the room. Yet it was impossible for them to leave seeing as he felt no Flames activate and the door behind him was still sealed shut.

What the Hell?

There was something Disturbing -unnatural, erroneous, frightening- going on within the darkened halls of Vendicare.

Keeping his gun firmly in hand, Reborn headed for the door. Unknown to the 'World's Greatest Hitman' a shadow on the wall slowly allowed a Slasher Smile to appear on it's 'face' as it watched the Hitman walk away before disappearing into the darkness around it.
Finally, it had been so long since someone had come down to play with it.

———————

The first thing the Brunette notices upon waking is he's no longer in the darkness with cold stone walls slowly closing in around him. Rather he's in a beautiful white room with pure gold trimming and a crystal chandelier hanging from a majestic dome ceiling as light enters through the Memorial Stained Glass ceiling. Beautiful.

He's lying in a bed with the soft silk sheets he's ever felt and a pillow under his head that might as well be made from the clouds themselves

He's dead. He had died, eaten by the Dragon. He had died and he was now in Heaven.

Its the only explanation Tsuna could think of to explain where he was.

"Good Morning, Tsunayoshi-Kun."

He knows that voice, slowly the brunette tilts his head, brown eyes meeting bandages faces of Jager and upon his shoulder; Bermuda. Had they died as well?

"You are not dead, Tsunayoshi-Kun," Bermuda speaks -Huh, was he a mind reader like Reborn- bluntly, "Though not from lack of effort. You're lucky Jager makes his daily rounds early in the morning. He found you amongst Fyfe's eggs and brought you here."

Did he? Where was here? And who's Fyfe?

"This is the Vendicare Medical Wing. As for Fyfe, she happens to be the dragon that was planning to feed you to her young once they hatched."

Its official, Bermuda's a mind reader.

"I am not reading your mind, Tsunayoshi-kun."

Right...Of course, he isn't... Wait...

"You named a dragon Fyfe?!"

Though he couldn't see it, the Vongola Decimo was willing to bet the Vongola Rings that Ex-Night Arcobaleno was granting him a pointed look as the Vindice Warden spoke.

"I think the better question is, what You, Your Guardians and Reborn-Kun were doing in My Prison, Tsunayoshi-Kun."

"I.. We... You see..."

"I assure you Tsunayoshi-Kun, if you all wished to stay that bad we have plenty of empty cells which we can accommodate to fit your needs."

"HEEII! N-No, thank you, Bermuda. We wouldn't want to intrude upon-"

"Oh, no Tsunayoshi-kun, it's no problem. We have plenty of space and you're more than welcome to stay. Matter of fact," The brunette couldn't help but gulp upon seeing the unnatural emerald glow- that could only be the other's eyes- coming from beneath the bandages. "I insist."

For the next six months, the Vongola Decimo and his Guardians alongside the 'World's Greatest Hitman' Reborn all but vanished into thin air. None of them would say a word as to where they had been or what had happened to them but several of their close associations quickly noticed they gained new, strange phobias that included but was not limited to Zombie movies and games, anything that resembled a dragon, Large Masses of Paper, Christmas trees and lights, Mistletoes, and their own shadows.

Finally, they would gather once more with 'Uncle' Kawahira to give the humanoid their report.

"Vendicare is an Insane Asylum. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't locate how resembled the description of Harry Potter within its walls. Therefore, we're going need a new plan and therapy... Lots and lots of therapy. "

　————————

"Bermuda?"

"Yes, Luna?"

"Where's your Sun? Everyone's here but him."

Sighing softly, the emerald-eyed Chibi placed down his quill- One day he was going to convenience Jager into allowing them to use pens. While Bermuda understood the need for everything to look formal and important it was an endless hassle- inkblots, blockage, dripping, exploding, snapping in half- when it stained his papers and ruined hours worth of work- before granting his Mist his whole attention.

"My Sun doesn't want a Sky just yet."

"Are you certain?"

It was a lie, Reborn wanted a Sky just he only wanted Tsunayoshi, but the Vindice Warden wouldn't tell Luna that. He had already seen Jager's reaction to the Rejection-To think that the golden-eyed man was the calmest of the whole Vindice. Bermuda could already image the horror awaiting the Sun should Jager decided to tell the other's the truth- that was constantly tearing at the back of the Ex-Night Arcobaleno's mind, Bermuda would rather not have Creative Luna attempting to aid Jager in the golden-eyed man's effort. If those two joined forces, Bermuda highly doubted he would have a living- alive, healthy, and whole- Sun anymore. Reborn-kun wouldn't last a day.

"I set up the Bond so that the time in which he Desires and is willing to accept His Sky, Reborn-kun will be capable of feeling the Bond and should he chose; follow it here. "

"When he sees the doors of Vendicare he will assume the worst."

Confusion entered Inhumane Emerald eyes as the Vindice Warden's brow furrowed.

"What would Checkerface be doing hiding behind our doors?"

A frown found its way onto the blonde's face, "Who's Checkerface?"

"The Devil."

Bermuda answered bluntly without an ounce of hesitation.

"Oh, so you met the Red Queen?" A look of excitement and curiosity entered the blonde's silver eyes as she leaned forward, eager to hear the tale.

Well, that was one way of putting it and seeing as it would likely piss off Checkerface if he ever heard it...

"Yes"