Chapter 15

He's not supposed to be there.

Everyone who had heard the Legend knew it was only supposed to be the family and the mockery of a Dark Lord. Yet there he was, standing in the shadows of the nursery listening as footsteps rushed up the stairs and a wandless man attempted to stall a mass murder. He could save them. He could stop the mockery from tearing apart this little family, yet even as glowing emerald eyes watched the redhead woman rush into the room with a small toddler with matching eyes; Bermuda knew he wouldn't.

He wanted to, he wanted nothing more than to smite Riddle into a million little pieces but...To alter the past was to alter the future.

The Potter's could live Happily Ever After; They could have a miracle delivered to them this night. Young Harry Potter could grow up with his Loving Parents and their friends. He would never have to experience the Dursley's abuse. He would never have to be consumed loneliness and the awkward feeling of never belonging. He would know of the Wizarding World all his life, never having to suffer eleven years before bein throwing head first and completely unprepared into a world that he should have known all his life.

If the Potter's lived; Peter would be caught and Sirius would never have to suffer Azkaban. Harry wouldn't have to spend every year at 'The Safest Place in the World' with something new always attempting to murder him. The Battle in the Department of Mysteries would never have happened for he would have had people who were willing to fight for him. He would never have died young by falling through the Veil.

And there was the reason why The Night Arcobaleno would not save the Potters.

He was a horrible son, putting his own happiness over his parent's lives, but they had to die so Harry would do the same. Harry Potter had to fall through the Veil for Bermuda von Veckenschtein to exist. To Alter the Past was to Alter the Future.

He's selfish, oh so selfish.

He wants to exist, he wants Jager to find him that day, he wants to meet and grow with his twisted family, he wants to feel the loneliness slowly fade away with every Guardian he locates. He wants to experience the daily chaos and destruction that is his life. So the Vindice Warden does nothing as the redhead woman- Lilly- who was his mother whispered softly to his counterpart in the crib before spinning to face her killer as the door is blown off its hinges.

Its harder to be a spectator then he thought.

He listens with a firsthand experience as the woman offers her own life and begs for his, forcing himself to watch as his hands shake at his side with pure, undulated rage. Yet he does not intervene even as the flash of brilliant emerald hit the woman and her body falls to the ground in front of his toddler self's crib.

Bermuda could feel his Night Flames surging beneath his skin as that wand, which had just aid in the murder of his Mother and Father, turns towards his infant self. he could see the sneer on the aristocratic-looking face as crimson eyes glowed with victory.

"Avada Kedavra."

He's not supposed to intervene, he's just a Spector, a silent ghost in the night. Yet the moment the emerald light is upon his infant self, Bermuda Flames act; springing forward with a viciousness the Night Arcobaleno had rarely seen before unless Checkerface was involved. The Vindice Warden watches in silent surprise as his Night Flames tear into the curse the moment it glazes the child; devouring a vast majority of it, before both them and what remains of the curse if flying back towards the so-called 'Dark Lord'.

It happens so quickly, Bermuda would have thought he imagined it all if not for the robe in a pile of dust where riddle had once stood, a familiar lightning scar upon infant Harry Potter's face, and the Black Flames mixed with crimson ones eating at the ceiling. He's only just diminished His Flames when the Night Arcobaleno hears a cry of 'Lilly' followed by someone rushing up the stairway. By time Severus Snape enters the room, Bermuda von Veckenschtein is gone.

The Legend of Harry Potter, who defeated The Dark Lord Voldemort at the age of one, spreads overnight. Though many of Magical would speculate, none ever quite figured out how the toddler managed it.

In the Darkened halls of Vendicare, Emerald eyes move over the assorted Vindice- dragging in new prisoners into the Throne Room- before they rest upon the obvious leader with a lone visible goldeneye. Yes, Bermuda could have saved the Potters but in doing so he would have lost this.

So-wither it was right or wrong- Bermuda cannot find it within himself to regret his decision.

-------------------

Namimori was a beautiful town, full of life and a comfortable homely feeling, to the point the golden-eyed Vindice could easily see why the cheeky brat knew as Vongola Primo- still a countless source of Nightmares- would choose this place to spend the last years of his life. Unfortunately, the Scum of the Mafia seemed to have the same opinion since they always attempted to flee towards the usually peaceful town in a vain hope that its 'neutrality' stance would keep The Vindice away.

It doesn't.

Which was why Jager found himself standing within the streets of Namimori, darting from one darkened alleyway towards another, as he hunted down Gonzaga De Angelo; a rouge Mafioso that had betrayed his Famiglia by selling its secrets and attempting to help aid within its massacre. He was losing on it the traitorous man when a gentle voice all but had the blood freezing in his veins.

"Jager-kun?"

Fuck.

Moments later a brunette stuck her head in the alleyway, warm chocolate eyes searching for the man Nana had sworn she had witnessed dart inside only moments before. Yet the alley was bare to the bone, with only a faint breeze uplifting the dirt, the dark-haired man nowhere to be seen.

Strange. "I could have sworn I saw him." Had it just been another fantasy? It wouldn't be the first time she had mistaken fantasy for reality while searching the streets of Namimori for her future husband; that had all but vanished into thin air after that day. Sighing regretfully, Nana turned on hell; heading for the main streets once more to continue her vain search.

For a moment, the alleyway remained silent- almost as though ensuring the brunette woman was gone- before the lid of a nearby trashcan slowly lifted showing a bandaged face with dark hair with a banana peeling somehow replacing the man's top hat. A soft relieved sigh left the man as a lone golden eye watched the alley entrance just in case. That had been a close one.

-----------------

Jager was going to kill them- scratch that he was going to eradicate from existence- for this.

Jack couldn't help but groan as he lunged at Alejandro's newest 'adorable' pet only to miss- one of the strong jaws snapping around his forearm before being shaken around like a ragdoll and thrown into a nearby wall; leaving a small crater upon impact. Blinking slowly the rouge eyed could only watch as the dark brown blur- as the creature that was Alejandro's newest pet darted pass him followed by a blue and silver one.

"Catch it!"

"Cocoa, come back! That's not a toy!"

"Shit, Jager's back!"  Vincentius' voice all but echoed through the hall like an execution order it might as well have been.

It was official: They were going to be so instinct even dinosaurs would be more common than them and for once Jack could honestly say he was innocent of all happenings. With a soft groan, the redhead forced himself off the floor as his eyes darted around in search of where his other arm had been thrown.

When Jager arrived back in Vendicare the first thing he noticed was to pools of slobber on the floor and the destruction of most of the hallways. The golden-eyed man could feel his eye twitch as he walked down the empty hall and towards the throne room where he knew Lord Bermuda would be waiting for a report. Yet the Vindice's Strongest Warrior never quite made it there as three steps into the large greeting room, a brown blur almost managed to turn him into roadkill.

It took the Vindice a moment to register exactly what he was seeing as his lone, visible golden eye locked upon the large three-headed dog wearing a bright pink collar. Followed only moments later by Alejandro and Small Gia, who judging from the looks of it had been chasing the creature for some time. The menace was only moments behind the two, holding his severed- and drooled covered- arm with his good hand.

"Is that a Cerberus?"

"..."

The uncomfortable silence stretched on as the three Vindices shared a look, none of them wishing to inform their Strongest Warrior exactly what was going on. Unfortunately for them- and their continual survival- someone else was more than willing to.

"Jager. " The muffled voice was coming from the third head drawing the golden-eyed man's attention. Had that thing just spoke? The last time Jager had checked Cerberus couldn't talk. Narrowing his eye, the golden-eyed Vindice allowed his chain to appear in his hands causing the creature to drawl back its lips; baring its teeth at the obvious threat before it. Regrettably, baring its teeth had made the sight of a small bandaged hand hanging out of the middle head's jaw visible.

"Is it chewing on Lord Bermuda?!"

"..."

The silence stretched on as the three Vindice shifted uneasily under Jager's fierce glare mentally- wondering if they ran for it now would they actually make it out of the doorway before the bloody massacre could occur- as pure unadulterated bloodlust filled the air.

"Yes," Bermuda voice drawled out, obviously as unamused as Jager himself about his current predicament.

"I wasn't even gone for five minutes-"

"Alejandro did it!"

Of course, he did, but they were still guilty by association. After all, what were they doing when that creature was using His Lord for a chew toy? If they had been doing their job instead of slacking off it should have never reached the throne room. A flash of silver filled the air followed by haunted screams and a feral howl of agony.

------------------------

If Jager's honest, it had been a long time- hundreds of years even- since he had seen his Lord without bandages. He had forgotten how fragile the other looked.

Large emerald eyes stare up at him from behind a curtain of ebony in- well hidden but never well enough to hide from him- confusion as his hands briefly pause upon removing the last drool covered bandage from his childish face.

"Jager?"

Bermuda had been his life for so long- everything he did was and would forever be solely for the younger's sake- Jager honestly didn't think he would survive those inhumane eyes every gazed upon him in repulsion and horror. It was a look Jager would never know though. Those unnatural eyes were searching his own face, not once flinching or battling a lash, at the horror Jager knew he's body currently was.

He never could understand how his Lord would so willingly accept him- let alone look at him with that unfaltering veneration- after what had happened that day but at the same time he was thankful for it.

"Nothing, Lord Bermuda. "

The dark haired man drops the bandages into the trash before focusing on helping the cursed infant free himself from the imprisonment of slobbered cover bandages. His Lord would defiantly need a bath after this- the smell of dog breath and raw meat was all but sickening even to Jager's senses- if they ever wished to remove the crusted blood and drool from Bermuda's hair.

"I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?"

"It wasn't my fault."

"I would be worried if it was. "

Bermuda wasn't all there at times but Jager liked to think the other would have enough survival instincts not to be eaten by an overgrown fluff ball. Knowing His Lords luck, The emerald eyed Chibi had likely been sleeping on his throne when that creature decided he wished to play with the Night Arcobaleno.

That was one wake up call, Jager decided he never wanted to experience firsthand.

-----------------------------

The first time Bermuda meets Reborn-kun he's not quite Reborn just yet, instead, the World's Greatest Hitman is known as Renato Sinclair.

He's an arrogant man- though one might argue it wasn't arrogance when he had power and abilities to back it- yet the raven-haired man doesn't seem to realize when to pick his battles and when to accept his loses. Bermuda recalls the day with a sense of clarity; the Hitman had been in the midst of a mission unknowing that The Vindice had their eyes on his target as well.

Ziyi Taio appeared to be a rather popular Mafioso at that time and neither The Vindice or Renato had been willing to just hand over their target when both had their own reasons- neither of which would be healthy or friendly for the Mafioso continual health- for seeking him.

The Night Arcobaleno cannot help the amusement that fills him upon recalling the hitman's attempt to threaten them with a gun only for a shellshock expression when the bullet vanishes into their cloaks. It must have been strange for him. To always have gotten his way, to always be at the top, only for someone stronger- someone untouchable- to appear.

Their first meeting is short, no more than a minute or two at most but it's later when the Vindice has returned to Vendicare victorious that Bermuda allows himself to explore the new connection in the back of his mind. So this was what a Sun Guardian felt like.

Jager takes one look at His Lord's relax form and recognizes the signs instantly.

Lord Bermuda's Sun is Renato Sinclair, the World's Greatest Hitman and if Checkerface continued his pattern; likely the future Sun Arcobaleno. Of Course, why the Hell not? Jager couldn't help but give a resigned sigh. Why was it His Lord kept attracting the most dangerous and insane people he stumbles across for Guardians?

"Do you want me to collect him?"

"No." 

Renato Sinclair wasn't the sort of man who wanted a Sky- The Raven-haired man's Flames all but screamed that he didn't desire one and that he didn't need one. Renato Sinclair was free of all ties and Bonds and would kill to stay that way- Bermuda could respect that. So he says not a word, continuing on as though nothing has changed.

Later it becomes clear Renato never discovered the Bond; not even when he vanished and Reborn stole the title of World's Greatest Hitman.

The fact is all but proven when Reborn attempt to forge a Guardian Bond with the Giglio Nero Famiglia Head: Luce despite the woman already having a full set of Guardians. Just as Jager suspected: Reborn ends up another pawn in Checkerface's twisted grasp serving as the current era's Sun Arcobaleno -though it's only for sheer strength that the golden-eyed Vindice stops His Lord from murdering the pregnant woman for setting up one of his.

After all, there was no reason for His Lord to dirty his hands when she would be dead soon enough- none who inherited the Sky Pacifier Curse ever lasted long.

--------------------

He's running, always running.

His victims follow him like shadows waiting for a moment of weakness so they could devour him whole. Though he fled, He was not afraid. 'You cannot hide from them forever.' No matter what Luce would claim.

It's his fault, he supposes.

He should have been more through instead of trying to figure out what made that one prey hangs to last threads of life. He should have put the one and future Arcobaleno to rest; instead of watching how the fleshed slowly stripped itself away and those unnatural eyes- even by his own standards- glowed with grief and rage. Sepira had always warned him his curiosity would get the best of him one day. 'When the end comes do not draw it out least your regrets chase you towards the ends of the Earth'

Now it was too late, Bermuda von Veckenschtein had gone from being another sacrificial prey into a Monster willing to defy even Death for a chance at Revenge.

'Despite the flesh stripping from his very bones, the dark-haired lunges for him; emerald eyes glowering with a power- and so much grief it was painful- that his mind registers as Kin in his mind.' A monster the humanoid knew as Checkerface, knew would never stop chasing him. He is not afraid, he does not eye every shadow he passed with a barely concealed wariness'

And then his running had brought him to Namimori. They were waiting for him; Checkerface could feel them rushing through the darkened alleyway shadows. Moving closer and closer to his position. They were right on top of him. He expected the worst in all honestly, they had finally caught him only for the dark blur he barely recognized as Bermuda and the ever-loyal Jager to flee past him as though the Hounds of Hades were chasing them.

"Hurry Jager, she's catching up!" 

He could only watch in pure bafflement as the two disappeared into a wormhole only moments before a beautiful brunette rounded the corner.

"Jager-kun! Bermuda!" Chocolate eyes had glanced around the alleyway- searching but not locating what they sought- before settling on him. "Excuse me, Sir. Have you seen my fiancée and son?"

Fiancée?" Son? Surely it must be another Bermuda and Jager, he was well aware the two had already married- though to who he didn't know- before he cursed them.

"Ah," The woman face flushed as her eyes shined with delight, "Jager-Kun's not my fiancée yet but I know he will be. He's just always busy and away from home so long-"

This woman was delusional. Yet she had sent that Monster and its loyal companion fleeing without even noticing him in the slightest. Checkerface allows a warm, polite smile to slip onto his face, "He must be nervous then. I hear many men tend to get a bit shy in the company of a beautiful woman such as yourself."

He's going to enjoy living in the small peaceful town of Namimori. Until the woman dies that is, then he will flee once more.

----------------

Chapter 16

Sawada Tsunayoshi was four years old the first time Bermuda laid eyes upon the child.

For most, the child might have been adorable with his ruffled hair and wide brown eyes but for the Vindice Warden, he was a living nightmare. Though that may have had something to do with similarities the youth shared with his ancestor or maybe the way the younger had clung to him like a leech- all but cuddling the small Arcobaleno- with terror-filled eyes.

So its only natural Bermuda, having been taken by surprised and unspoken horror- Oh, Gods Giotto is right there. That cheeky brat has found his way out of hell just to torment me- that the Vindice Warden acts upon a well-trained reflex.

Crash!

The child sails across the room and fortunately for him, lands upon a worn mattress that had been apart of the room his kidnappers was holding him in. Though startled the toddler doesn't appear to be harmed as he immediately sits up, blinking at Bermuda with wide innocent brown eyes. Wait, wasn't his eyes supposed to be orange? And for that matter, hadn't the cheeky brat been a blond the last time Bermuda saw him?

Beneath the bandages emerald eyes slowly glide over the child once more; Fluffy brown hair and wide innocent brown eyes. Unless he's managed reincarnation, that was not Giotto, but knowing the cheeky brat there was still a slim possibility that the fluff ball actually was Giotto incarnated. Though none can see it, Bermuda warily eyes the child before mentally sighing. Giotto or not, he couldn't leave the child here as a captive.

Especially seeing as someone- that most defiantly was not him- had already set half the building aflame.

And thus goes the first meeting of Bermuda von Veckenschtein and Sawada Tsunayoshi.

Personally, Bermuda likes to think he reacted well; especially when one takes into the chaos caused by the other Vindices once the Night Arcobaleno bought the possible Brunette Giotto incarnation back with him to Vendicare.

Its the obvious horror that soon fills Jager's golden eyes upon seeing the toddler fiddling with the fur collar of His Lord's cloak- carrying Bermuda as though he was a porcelain doll- alongside the harsh curses that slip past Jack's lips that informs the Vindice Warden he is not the only one of 'Giotto Incarnated' speculation.

"Fuck! I told you we should have burned the corpse!"

The young one, the Vindice would learn, was not, in fact, Giotto- who found a way to drag himself out of the oblivion that was Death to make their lives Hell once more- but rather the blonde's last living descendant. For a moment, silence would consume the room as countless bandaged faces turned towards one another in silent agreement.

The child, Tsunayoshi, had to go.

After all, anyone with that Cheeky Brat's blood was likely to attract the daily madness the Primo had been famous for. Though Alejandro wouldn't voice it aloud- as he was rather fond of being on one solid piece- the blue-haired Vindice thought the adorable brunette would fit right in with their Family.

Later, Nana would find herself curious about why her son developed a strange attachment towards wearing bandages to hide his skin, tattered cloaks, and top hats though in all honesty she didn't mind. Her little Tsuna was so adorable and reminded her of her once hopeful husband- before she finally decided to settle for second best- and her other missing son who was likely still with Jager-kun; Bermuda.

If only her two children had a chance to meet. Ietsmu, when he finally managed the time to arrange a visit, would take one look at his son and almost suffer a massive heart attack at seeing his adorable Tuna-fish dressed as the Mafia's worst nightmare.

-----------------------------

The second time Bermuda meets Sawada Tsunayoshi, the Night Arcobaleno was furious and for good reason: Someone had sealed the Sky.

Someone had sealed a Baby Sky.

Sealing, in general, was a dangerous art. The sealing of Flames required sealing away a portion of another's soul- therefore damaging both their minds and bodies in a way that if not done correctly could ensure the one being sealed suffered a slow agonizing death- which was why it was usually only meant for the worst of prisoners located within the lowest level of Vendicare.

Sealing Flames, especially those of Five Year Old, was illegal for all but the Vindice.

It's with narrowed eyes, the Vindice Warden places a flame lite finger to the little one's head, searching and testing the seal. Its well made- by another elder sky, that thought alone has the bandaged toddler bristling in silent anger- but if it stayed the way it was Young Tsunayoshi's flames would shatter, likely destroying his mind if it didn't outright kill him before the brunette reached sixteen.

Yet the shattering the Seal now would cause a backlash that would kill the boy in an instant.

So the Night Arcobaleno does the only thing he can, carefully his shifts his own Flames into the cracks in the seal- a sign whoever had done this had not fully understood let alone had the power to complete a proper seal- filling them as though one would a mold before pushing slightly to expand them by a couple of centimeters.

While he cannot remove the seal without disastrous effects, Bermuda can slowly expand the cracks- using his own flames to support the younger's mind, body and Sky Flames so that he's not violently torn to pieces- until the cracks turn into fractures. Though it could take years, these fractures would slowly crumble causing the Seal to loosen while keeping the younger stabilized- though he might have a few issues with learning within harsh environments and clumsiness for some time- until such a time it would completely perish; freeing the sky that never should have been imprisoned.

Pulling his bandaged hand away, Bermuda stared down at the dozing child sleeping against a tree within the park- where were his parents?- before turning on heel and back towards his two companions.

"Jack, watch the child. Jager, it would seem a Mafioso has purposely attacked a civilian child with a Seal. I believe they are overdue a stay in Vendicare." 

"Kekeke, of course."

"Yes, Lord Bermuda."

---------------

She's dead. Cold emerald eyes so dark they're almost black stares blankly at the gravestone before him.

Lilly Potter

1960-1981

His beloved little Lilly-flower-A gentle laugh in the soft summer breeze as he teaches delicate fingers how to make a flower crown with her namesakes. She offers him a brilliant smile and places her finished, though messy with inexperience, work onto his snowy hair.

- the child of his flesh and blood- A beautiful red-haired child with bright emerald eyes spinning in her flannel gown while begging him to teach her to dance. -

The child he had raised while spending eighteen years in hiding as 'Mr. Nigel Evans'. An agitated yet passionate teenager ranting for the heavens to hear about the spoiled prat dubbed James Potter and her utter hatred for the Pureblood Scion.

She's dead.

Crack! The white-haired man's gaze drifts down to his broken cane. Damn it all to the deepest pit of Hell. His child, his daughter, is dead. Her life had already been short in his eyes but to know it had been severed so quickly hurt. Next to his Lilly's grave lies another:

James Potter

1960-1981

It would seem his daughter's prat had followed her in Death as he once did in Life.

Despite knowing there should be another, he does not see the third grave.

A frown forms onto the man's face as his glasses flash in the moonlight. Where was His Grandson? Where was His Lilly-flower's child? Where is Harry Potter?

Honestly, Checkerface doesn't know he doesn't have the slightest of clues seeing as no one- not even the bastard daughter he adopted, tried to inform him his Lilly was dead- but he plans to find out. One way or another. After all, though not a pure 'Last Earthling' the child was purer than any other's on this planet- including Luce and her recently born daughter; Aria- but more importantly then that, Harry Potter was His Lilly's child and therefore His to guard, to shelter, to teach and protect.

All he had to do was locate his missing Kin first.

In the darkness of a spider-infested cupboard, a young Harry Potter shivered in his sleep.

In the darkened Throne Room of Vendicare, Bermuda von Veckenschtein sneezed as the sudden feeling of someone walking over his grave filled the Vindice Warden.