Chapter 17

The first sign something was wrong within the halls of Vongola was the darkening of the Meeting Room the Vongola Nono and the CDEF Leader holding their annual meeting.

The second sign was the shadows as they stretched across the room, releasing a dense fog that made a chill travel down both men's backs but not quite as much as the soft jingling of chains.

The darkening of the room despite the sunroof over overheard, the shadows reaching to devour them, the soft rattle of chains in a non-existent wind. Neither man dared to breathe as they simultaneously reached the same conclusion:

Vindice.

"Vongola Nono; Timoteo Vongola " A taller bandaged creature emerges from the darkness, shadows clinging to its cloak and melding into the one's upon the floor as though he was apart of them- knowing those abominations for they could not possibly be for they could not be human- as its unnatural voice filled the deathly silence, "You have been fount guilty of two separate charges of Assault Upon a Child, there counts of Neglect upon three separate children and one count of Abuse upon a child within your care, alongside the practicing of Sealing a Child Sky."

What?! Assault, Neglect, Abuse? Sealing... No, they couldn't know, what reason would the Vindice have to enter Namimori? Yet one of the Shinigami was standing before them, charging him of all people! Did it not realize who he was?!

" CDEF Head; Sawada Ietsmu. You have been found guilty of Neglect and assault upon a child alongside Abetting with the Sealing a Child Sky."

For a brief moment, the memory of his beloved Tuna-fish dressed in bandages, tattered cloak and a top hat filled Ietsmu's mind. He had put it off as a harmless coincidence but now.....

The Vindice knew- they knew he and Nono had sealed his son's Flames- the only way the Head of CDEF could think of them knowing was the possibility the creatures were watching- and likely had been for some time- his little Tuna-fish. The CDEF Leader clenched his fist, allowing his Sky Flames to fill him while keeping them from bursting just yet, as the thought of thought of those Monsters being anywhere near his civilian filled his head.

"To resist would only be to prove your guilt and lengthen your sentence but please, by all means, Try It."

"Ietsmu," Timoteo's sharp voice barked out a silent order- he could already feel the suffocating killing intent that made Intuition scream for him to run radiating from the creature before them- before focusing on the Vindice, "Do you not know who I am? I am The Vongola Nono; Head of the Most Influential and Power Mafia Famiglia-"

"No one is above the Law."

"If you take either Myself of Ietsmu it will be an outcry of War towards The Vongola and Our Allies. They will come-"

"Let them come, they shall share your Fate."

Neither man gets a chance to speak further as they find themselves yanked forwards by a chained collar around their necks- when had the creature even moved?- that was slowly dragging them into the shadows the creature was disappearing into.

Later, Sawada Ietsmu would be relieved to know he could at least write a letter to his wife once every six months. For some reason one of the Guards had shuddered at the idea of allowing his wife to visit him in Vendicare- Being around such purity as his beloved Nana must be agonizing for these creatures of the darkness- before all but shoving the parchment and quill into this hands yet the blond Mafioso fount himself with a dilemma.

"And what exactly am I supposed to tell her?" It not like he could- let alone would- tell his precious Nana the truth of who he really was and what he had done to their child."

"You can tell her you're working for penguins in the South Pole for all I care" The Vindice with the lone goldeneye all but growled, "She will not be making a visitation. Ever."

Penguins... Huh, there was an idea.

———————

Though the Dursley's would never realize it, they owed their lives to Harry Potter via The Modified Blood Wards surrounding Number Four Private Drive.

If not for the ancient magic, Bermuda would have already stormed the properly and murdered the lot of them in cold blood. As it is, the murderous Night Arcobaleno stands just outside the property line; cold emerald eyes watching the child- who could be no more than nine- sleeping in the heavy snow just outside of his reach.

It a rather familiar child with messy black hair and old wire glasses held together by tape almost completely covered in snow. If he stays here, he will die. Of that Bermuda has no doubts, he could already feel the younger's Life slipping away like water through a cracked glass. Yet he cannot reach the younger to wake him or ensure he finds somewhere safe to sleep.

The Blood Wards kept out anyone with ill intent towards the family and the Vindice Warden is all too aware his intent is well beyond Ill. Closing his bandaged eyes, the emerald-eyed Chibi took a deep calming breathe- If he cannot reach the child, Bermuda would just have to find a neutral party to do it for him- before speaking.

"Jager."

Jager has been his silent shadow for so long, the Vindice Warden doesn't so much as bat an eye when the other's presence seems to materialize behind him, despite the fact Bermuda knew Jager should be on the other side of the world at the moment.

"Lord Bermuda."

"Collect the child, Jager. Then bring me the Runestone for these Blood Wards. "

It obviously would need some altering as whoever created these Wards didn't care in the least what happened to the child as long as he was kept there. Bermuda, on the other hand, happened to have an investment in the child and he refused to permit someone else's plots to ruin his own.

"Yes, Lord Bermuda."

Harry Potter would spend the next week within the darkened halls of Vendicare trapped within a Medical Induced Coma. If one was to enter his room at the dead of night, they would find Jager standing there giving the small child a considerable look before he would materialize wherever His Lord Happened to be and grant him the same look. Though he never voices it, the golden-eyed man cannot help but notice that Harry Potter's Cloudy Sky Flames were an exact match to the one's Bermuda once held.

It would take the Dursley's leave the safety of their home, upon doing so they would find their freak of a nephew alive and well, sleeping by the back door. The two elder Dursley's were rather displeased having expected the Freak to have died within the 'coldest blizzard of the century' they had left him out in.

Elsewhere, the humanoid known as Checkerface would give an enraged scream as the artifact he was using to track down His Grandson stopped functioning. There was no doubt in the creature's mind, someone was purposely hiding Harry Potter from him. Once he figured out who, Checkerface swore, they would pay with their interference with their lives.

In the Vendicare Throne Room, Bermuda suddenly sneezed only to be almost suffocated by a pile of fluffy blanket that was suddenly piled upon him by his Guardians. Damn Jager and his Sadist Tendencies; How he ever convinced them Bermuda was 'Deathly Sick- to the point a sneeze could cause his heart to explode'- was beyond the emerald-eyed Chibi.

After all, one technically had to be Alive to be capable of being deathly sick. Something Bermuda was not, as it was solely His Night Flames that kept him- and all of them- living; not the rapid beating of a heart.

——————-

Tsunayoshi, as the Vindice suspected, turned out to be just as much as a trouble magnet as Giotto himself.

It seemed as though every time the Vindice turned their back the eight-year-old seemed to be at the eye of a hurricane marshaled by trouble, Assassins, headaches, Hitman, sleepless nights, and enough paperwork to literally drown The Night Arcobaleno. Jager had been ready to commit cold-blooded murder the first time Jack had accidentally lost Bermuda in the sea of papers. It took them a week to locate the Vindice Warden, who looked as though he had just crawled out of an active warzone after having a bomb dropped on top of him.

Still, the Vindice tried to look on the bright side, after all, Tsunayoshi wasn't associated with the Mafia and therefore his messes could be contained to a certain degree and not planetary disasters like a certain cheeky brat they once knew. They were still cleaning up some of Giotto's 'situations'.

Bermuda would later swear to kill whoever thought it was a 'brilliant' idea to introduce 'Are we absolutely certain he's not Giotto?' Tsunayoshi to Reborn- who was a known Chaos Magnet.

Then there was Nana.

Bermuda would swear that woman had a mental radar solely indicated to when they entered the town- for they always seemed to end up hiding in the strangest places or just outright fleeing the town with the brunette woman sharply on their heels. It was only thanks to their Night Flames she had yet to catch the two- to the point Jager had outright refused to set a foot onto anything that could be considered Namimori Territory.

Which was why Bermuda was here, having to clean up another 'Tsunayoshi' disaster- honestly, the quality of Hitman must have diminished from his days as for how else could a child who scored straight zeros manage to trick a Professional Hitman into accidentally knocking himself out? Oh well, that just made his job easier- alone.

"Bermuda?" Speak, let alone think, of the Devil and they shall appear.

The Night Arcobaleno felt his back stiffen at the gentle voice coming from behind him. Titling his head slightly he could see the brunette woman with warm chocolate eyes and a delicate smile. Reflexively he began to call out a warning.

"Ja-" Oh right he was alone.

"I knew you would come back to Mama!"

A soft snort left the white-haired man next to the gleeful woman, but Bermuda couldn't bring himself to care as he slowly took a step back in preparation to run. The Night Arcobaleno didn't even manage a step before strong arms were crushing him to the housewife's bosom.

Can't...Breathe...

Later, Jager would gain a solemn expression upon learning the Fate of His Lord, bowing his head in a clear sign of mourning and respect. Bermuda was rather unimpressed when he finally escaped- after a long week and a heavy hit to his pride and dignity- only to return to his own Obsequies. Night Flames swiftly devastated everything in a matter of seconds.

The screamed of the damn souls- unfortunate enough to cross his path; be they prisoner or guard- echoed through the Majestic Halls of Vendicare for weeks.

　—————-

"Sirius Black has escaped."

"Leave him."

"Lord Bermuda?"

"He's innocent...to a degree."

Well as innocent as a man who tried feeding another child to a werewolf in his youth could be.

As much as Bermuda knew Jager wanted to go after the escaped convict, The Night Arcobaleno couldn't allow it. Sirius Black, while innocent of Mass Murder and betrayal of the Potters had an assorted number of other crimes under his name. Still, He needed Black to have a certain degree of freedom to play his part in the Upcoming Acts.

"You have something planned for him." Ah, Jager knew him so well. Too well at times.

Tilting his head slightly, Bermuda glanced up at the golden-eyed man; enjoying the ability to see the other's face without all those bandages obstructing it. "Yes."

"And what of when his use runs out?" Yes, Jager defiantly knew him too well. Had it been anyone other than Jager, the Night Arcobaleno might have been worried but as it was; Jager's ability to read him like an open book was just another aspect of the elder's natural charm.

For a brief moment, Bermuda allowed his eyes to close- Laughter much like a dog barking, A wide smile as stormy eyes shines with mirth. 'Good one, James'- before glowing emerald meet molten gold head on.

"Ensures he finds his way to the securest magical mental intuition there is."

The man obviously needed help-instead the cold walls of a prison cell- seeing as he couldn't tell the dead from the living. It was the least Bermuda could do for the man that had offered Harry Potter a chance at happiness, even if he didn't see the child but a long-dead man instead.

"I will see to it personally. "

　
————————-

Christmas in Vendicare was always a... Unique occurrence.

"Jager, we have a problem."

"Lord Bermuda?"

"The Christmas Tree ate Alejandro."

"Jack touched the Christmas Tree, didn't he?

"Yes."

And it would appear this year would be no different.

A heavy sigh left the golden-eyed man as he swiftly swooped His Lord from where he was watching the oncoming disaster that had once been their tree. To be honest, Jager currently had no idea what he was staring at seeing as the last time he checked Christmas trees didn't have ominous glowing red eyes let alone let alone dagger-like teeth.

"Let me guess Alejandro wanted to keep it."

His Lord doesn't bother with a response. Knowing the blue haired man, he had likely attempted to hug it during a 'Cuteness Overload' only for it to eat him in turn. Jager had warned the younger Vindice before that his attraction to questionable species would come back to bite him. Literally in this case.

"Jack?"

A heavy sigh left His Lord as a small finger pointed up. Following the other's unspoken signal, Jager glanced upwards only to feel his eyebrow raises at the sight of hissing, multicolored Christmas lights attempting to strange the redhead menace as though they were a serpentine with a mouse. Of course. Was it too much to ask for one holiday where they didn't have to suffer through Jack's special blend of Madness?

"Is there anything else I should know about?"

His Lord shifted slightly from the younger's place upon his shoulder, gentle brushing a bandages cheek against his own in a reassuring gesture.

"Small Gia switched out the berries in the mistletoe with camouflaged motion sensor bombs. As long as you don't walk beneath them you should be fine."

It was a good thing they could warp then, Jager decided, seeing as every square inch of the hallway ceilings within all of Vendicare had been covered in mistletoe.

——————

Chapter 18

It was like watching a bad comedy.

Bermuda is there when Harry Potter dies, residing upon Jager's shoulder as the two Vindice observe the occurrence as a spectral from the shadows. It's saddening really, to think this had once been the hardest complication he ever encounters- that he had once been afraid of these cowards for what else would one call grown men and woman who targeted School Children?- in his life. It doesn't matter now though.

Emerald eyes watched as the Order rushed into the battle. Harry Potter is nearing the end of his final act.

Bermuda watched Sirius instantly made his way towards Harry, batting aside any who dared stand in his way, before placing himself between the child and Bellatrix.

Harry Potter would go through the Veil.

Even if Bermuda had to push him through it himself.

It never comes to that though, everything plays out perfectly accordance to his memories. Sirius, who could never live up to his namesake not even in battle, couldn't help but taunt Bellatrix.

"Come on, you can do better than that. " And better she does.

Bermuda tips his hat slightly as he watches the Veil devour the child he had once been. Next, to him, Jager finally speaks his words whispers in the Chaos around them.

"Do you ever regret leaving this?"

He's not the least bit surprised Jager already knows why he was so invested in Harry Potter's continual survival until this point in their Little the other can't see it, Bermuda allows a soft smile to drift onto his face.

"Never."

Its nothing but the truth, Bermuda doesn't regret- abandoning those that had called him savior and friend alike without a second thought- leaving this. He would gladly do it again if Fate granted him the option.

"Good. Had you hesitated I would have thrown the child through that Veil myself. "

And Jager honestly would have done just that because Bermuda is not the only selfish Vindice within the room.

Then entered Dumbledore, a whirlpool of blinding colors and agitated magic, likely hoping to save his Golden Boy Protégé. Once more, he's too little too late. Bermuda doesn't need to see anymore-

"Let's go, Jager."

-After all, now that Harry Potter was 'dead' and his Future/Past secure, Bermuda can finally wash his hands of this Magical Community.

——————-

Bermuda could almost hear that cheeky brat laughing at him as the Vindice Warden stares in horror at the report before him. He had wondered why Jager had just dropped the pamphlet onto his desk instead of living a verbal report as was normal for the elder, but now....

Now though Bermuda knew.

The Vongola Nono's three sons were dead at the hands of a rival- and rather cliché- Famiglia. Xanxus couldn't inherit due to the Blood Magic upon the Vongola Ring's- done by Bermuda's own hand after a minor conflict that sunk several islands- which meant...

Sawada Tsunayoshi would become The Vongola Decimo, seeing as he was the cheeky brat's last blood relative available. Worse, in the Night Arcobaleno's opinion, Vongola had hired Reborn to tutor the brunette. Bermuda would swear he could see the ghostly image of that cheeky brat laughing at him. Maybe they could colonize the moon? After all, now that those two had met it was only a matter of time before they no longer had an Earth to call home.

Groaning softly in misery, Bermuda allowed the papers to fall onto his desk.

He was far too sober to even think of dealing with this. Maybe Jager wouldn't mind a drinking buddy- it was quite obvious where his loyal companion had fled to after reading that report- for the night?

If not, the golden-eyed man would just have to get over it as Bermuda refused to continue on with that report unless he was completely smashed.

—————-

Though rare, it wasn't uncommon for Bermuda to enter a state of 'hibernation' every other century.

It was during those time that the Halls of Vendicare would fall into an eerie silence as the usually unpredictable Guards would turn solemn and cautious. Those who had been trapped within the prison walls long enough knew the signs and did their utmost best to keep their heads down until the 'Morto di Notte' -as one of the oldest prisoners had dubbed it- would pass. The new prisoners, who never experienced the occurrence, learned quickly to do the same.

While Bermuda would sleep, Jager would be in control of both the Vindice and everything that happened within the walls of Vendicare. How long he stayed in such position would depend solely on how long The Night Arcobaleno would sleep. Sometimes it was no more than a couple of years while other times the Vindice Warden would sleep for decades.

If Jager was honest, these were the loneliest times of his undead life. No matter what happened His Lord had always been with him- the younger ridding on his shoulder as his feet carried them further into their future- and for the familiar weight to not to be there... It was agonizing. Yet all he- all any of them- could do was wait and keep their guards up in case someone attempted to use this period of calm against them.

A year passed, then a second. They caught the fugitive; Rokudo Mukuro and his accomplish after the brawl between the future Vongola Deminco, whose body the purple haired teen was planning to steal. Tsunayoshi once more proved himself to be remarkably like Giotto by vainly attempting to save his attackers from their halls. A third was gone in the blink of an eye. Rokudo Mukuro attempted to escape Vendicare with his accomplishes. Since it was the most entertaining thing to happen since Bermuda fell into his slumber they allowed them to reach a nearby field before becoming serious in their attempts to capture the ringleader. As long as they had Mukuro they knew the boy's friends would eventually come back in an attempt to rescue him.

Then came the Future That Never Was. The Golden-eyed Vindice doesn't quite know how they were capable of remembering that timeline - though he suspects it has something to do with their position as Ex-Arcobaleno, the Night Flames that kept them alive, and the utter terror that flooded them- yet remember they did.

After all, the Vindice fount it was impossible to forget the terror that flooded their veins upon realizing Bermuda's sleep was no longer natural and that an outside source was attempting to kill their Sky without even being there.

Jager himself could remember spending countless of Nights at His Lords side as The Night Arcobaleno's health waned. He could recall countless nights building an anti-radiation chamber Big Pino designed and placing their sleeping Lord inside to keep him safe. It was just another day- trying to keep an eye on their lord least the Night Flames failed- when word had reached them, the Arcobaleno were dying. Something was killing them off, quickly at that. Eventually, His Lord was the only one left- Bermuda's sun was gone and Jager could only be thankful for the other's unnatural slumber shielding him from the backlash- the Vindice dared not to leave his side. Instead Alejandro sent one of his favored Gingerbread Dolls to spy on the source of the problem.

Then out of nowhere Tsunayoshi and Reborn were alive one more but younger; their past selves having been forced into their future.

Tsunayoshi, it appeared, really was like Giotto. Jager just knew he was going to have nightmares, especially when discovering a part of Giotto was sleeping inside that ring and had been awoken. In his mind, the golden-eyed Vindice could already see a sheepish Tsunayoshi and Giotto trying to explain their newest Global disaster. In the end, the Mare Rings were sealed- and stolen in the middle of the night only to be replaced with fakes. While the originals were locked into a safe that was chained shut and thrown into the deepest into the portions of their underwater level- while Byakuran was placed under constant watch. It was only because of that Byakuran didn't join his precious rings for had the Vindice caught him alone, there would be no mercy.

The Future that never was had been forgotten by all but a handful.

Lord Bermuda continued to sleep.

Jager had been with Jack and Small Gia, explaining the vow Giotto and Crozat had made to one another to their descendants- he knew it would come back to bite them- when he had felt it. Honestly, had the golden-eyed man not been waiting so long for it; he would never have felt the slight shift in the back of his mind that informed him of something he had been waiting so long for:

Bermuda had finally woken.

———————

There is no doubt in Bermuda's mind, Sawada Tsunayoshi is that cheeky brat's clone. No one else could cause him this much of a headache.

The Vow had been broken- for the second time. He knew it would come back to bite them one day- thanks to the manipulations of the walking pineapple ghost: Daemon Spade. At least this time, the spirit had finally moved on. Bermuda was becoming quite annoyed with having to smite him every other century since Jager killed- err... He meant since the other suffered an unfortunate accident.

Though in the end, the Vindice didn't keep any of the losing party. For some reason, his Guardians had literally thrown them through a wormhole when Bermuda had stood to head for his office to file the necessary paperwork for the new prisoners before pulling him back into their pile of bodies. Honestly, they were never this affectionate when he woke from his usual hibernation. Had something happened?

Giotto and his Guardians had turned their rings into Soul Containers- apparently, it was only a Horcrux if he killed someone beforehand- and now their spirits were showing up left and right. He always knew that cheeky brat would find a way to continue terrorizing him from beyond the grave. Maybe it was time to look into learning how to perform exorcisms?

Then there was Jager, who outright refused to permit Bermuda to leave his shoulder for any reason... Not that the emerald-eyed Chibi minded, Jager's shoulder was his favorite perch as it was both comfortable and safe. Though, it was hard to do Paperwork up there instead of at his desk. Still, all his Guardians seemed happier when he was up there, so Bermuda supposed he could learn to adjust. Even if he really wished they would stop looking at him as though they expected him to suddenly keel over at any given minute.

———————

"I feel ridiculous." And probably looked it too.

If Bermuda was honest, he wasn't all that big of a fan on dancing, he always felt out of place and clumsy. The only reason he bothered to learn was that Jager happened to be and was constantly harassing him with that 'Practice makes Perfect' at all hours. Though since becoming the Night Arcobaleno, Bermuda had done his utmost best to avoid such 'sessions' and for good reason.

Jager was a good seven feet and here he was barely reaching two. He had always been taller than Bermuda but this was just ridiculous.

"Nonsense," The smooth voice catches his attention, "you're doing amazing. " Right.

They were probably a laughing stock, a seven-foot man crouched down low so he can hold the bandaged hands with a barely two foot 'child' that's standing on his shoes in a mockery of a dance.

"I'm not even doing anything."

It was the truth, the most he was doing was holding Jager's hands while the other did all the work and glided about to the soft waltz music filling the otherwise empty room. The golden-eyed man just gives a soft chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You're trying. That's more than most do and more than enough for me."

Though Jager couldn't see it beneath the bandages, Bermuda could feel his face flush. Squeezing the other's hands slight, the emerald-eyed Chibi huffed.

"Just, Tell me what step is next. "

Bermuda outright pretended not to hear the other's chuckle.

———————

Sometimes its easy to forget Jager is a Sadist of the highest degree and other times...Well, it was so obvious it was painful. Usually for whoever held his attention at the time.

Though for the life of him, Bermuda couldn't figure out what had set the golden-eyed man off. The Night Arcobaleno hadn't been doing much, just visiting a new cake shop and enjoy the moment of calm when this white-haired teen with eyes that like moonlight and a tattoo under the right had shown up. Instantly Bermuda knew who he was. It was his job to know everyone in the mafia after all.

Byakuran, Head of the Millefiore Famiglia. Liked marshmallows but hated cake, usually ordering it only to eat the marshmallows off of it.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

He hadn't. There was plenty of space at the table and Jager had been on his case recently.

"The seats available. " The silverette's smile reminded the Night Arcobaleno much of a Cheshire Cat.

Surprisingly, the two of them actually got along splendidly once they formed a silent pact: Bermuda wouldn't touch the marshmallows as long as Byakuran didn't touch the cake. It was a win-win for both of them. Eventually, they started to talk- Bermuda could recall discussing the possibility of making a cake out of nothing but assorted marshmallows- then Jager had shown up.

At first, the other had been clam- if not pleased Bermuda was finally taking an effort to get to know someone outside the halls of Vendicare- until he looked at exactly who the Night Arcobaleno was with. One look.

One look, that was all it took for Jager's famed calm to explode like shattered glass.

Bermuda wasn't quite sure how it happened, one moment he had been sitting at a table in a cake shop and the next, he was outside in a too tight grip as the shop burned within vicious Night Flames.

"Jager, what just happened?"

Later, Bermuda would find himself wishing he kept his mouth shut as the Vindice watched their battered Lord flee from a furious Jager. None dared to speak in fear of drawing the golden-eyed man's ire and getting extra combat 'lessons' -coughCompleteAndUtterBeatDownscough- themselves.