Saya's birthday party ended at 9:00 PM. Everyone headed home, leaving only Chrome to stay with Chikusa and Ken. Chrome and Saya talked late into the night, and it was only then that Saya realized they were still living in the abandoned amusement park known as Kokuyo Land.
"I'm used to it by now. Ken and Chikusa take good care of me," Chrome said. Seeing that Chrome was more comfortable there, Saya didn't push, but she offered an alternative.
"If you ever want to visit my house, please do, Chrome-chan. Ken-kun and Chikusa-kun too. I live alone, and sometimes it gets lonely."
"You live alone?" Chrome asked for clarification. Saya nodded.
"I would be so grateful if you could come stay with me once in a while." Saya gave a wide smile. Chrome smiled back, followed by Ken's exuberant cheering.
"Yay! Food!" The blonde boy hopped around. Chikusa, who was reading a physics book, scolded him.
"Have some manners; we're in a hospital, Ken."
"But I'm happy someone is treating us!" Ken half-ran, half-skipped toward Saya, drooling slightly like a dog waiting for a treat. "There's meat, right? Meat! Meat!"
"Of course," she promised.
"Glutton," Chikusa muttered.
"Shamelessness is better than starving, you jerk!" Ken snarled at Chikusa until Chrome intervened.
"Manners, Ken," she chided. "I am so sorry, Saya-san."
"It's okay, really!" Saya waved her hands dismissively with a sheepish smile. She then noticed the textbook in Chikusa's hand. "By the way, I'm falling behind in school. If you don't mind, could you help me with my homework? I've been absent way too often."
"Chikusa is very smart," Chrome added. "He's a wizard at calculations. He helps me all the time."
The nerd gave a small, proud smirk. Saya gasped, "Wow! Then could I trouble you next time?"
Chikusa looked at Saya, adjusted his glasses without a word, and returned to his book. Chrome translated his body language: "He says yes."
The conversation flowed smoothly until it was time to sleep. The three of them stayed on the sofas; Chikusa and Ken shared one, while Chrome stretched out on the long couch. Suddenly, Chikusa and Ken's eyes snapped open. Sensing something, they stepped out of the room silently, leaving Chrome alone.
At that moment, Mist Flames began to seep from Saya again. She frowned in her sleep, moaning softly as a nightmare took hold.
A tall figure in a white shirt and jeans took a bite of cake from a plate before walking toward Saya. He stopped by her bed and gently touched her cheek.
"The Mist Flame is giving you nightmares, isn't it? How pitiable," Mukuro said. His Hell Rings began to feed on Saya's flames and the negative emotions from her nightmare. "The Mist is that which obscures and creates anew. The Mist attacks the mind; it must be making you dream of horrors you never even realized."
Mukuro spoke with a gentle, polite tone, but he made no move to balance her flames. Instead, he slipped both Hell Rings onto his fingers. They reacted instantly, consuming Saya's flames as if they were a gourmet meal.
"I've received the cake you gave Chrome," Mukuro said, wiping a bit of cream from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. "You really are a kind little rabbit. I suppose I'll have to consider giving you some sweet dreams after this… though perhaps not every night."
Mukuro studied Saya's face. Last time, he had missed the chance to see her closely in human form because he was intent on turning her into a rabbit from the start. Now that he had the chance, he realized just how much she resembled a little rabbit.
He had followed her, watched her every move, yet the more time he spent observing her, the more fascinated he became. Her flames, her beauty, her personality—even the words from her small lips, her smile, and her laughter.
How adorable, he thought. How wonderful would it be to make her mine entirely?
Suddenly— BANG!
The door swung open violently. A boy in a Namimori uniform stood there. Mukuro gave a thin smile. "And here I thought it might be someone interesting. It's just the Prefect and Yamamoto-kun."
"We followed our instincts," Yamamoto said.
Hibari didn't reach for his tonfas; instead, he held up a pair of handcuffs. His eyes were cold with displeasure at what Mukuro was doing to Saya. The handcuffs, ignited with purple flames, spun around his fingers, multiplying in number.
"Oh dear…" Mukuro gave a strained smile. "Are you serious?"
"Step away," Hibari warned. "Consider this your only warning."
"Be quiet, or you'll wake Saya-chan," Mukuro teased, not moving an inch. He glanced at Saya, who was curling up in her nightmare, a tear escaping her eye. His Hell Rings continued to drain her. "My Hell Rings aren't full yet."
"Saya won't wake up until the Mist Flames are balanced," Yamamoto noted. Hibari didn't wait; he lunged, throwing the handcuffs at Mukuro.
"My, you even knew that? I thought only Gokudera realized," Mukuro dodged and stabilized himself. Hibari looked around; not seeing Chrome, he deduced the situation. "If you use too much force on me, there will be no one left to control her flames."
"If I just capture you, it won't be a problem," Hibari countered. Yamamoto gripped his sword. But before they could clash, a voice cut through the room.
"That's enough." Reborn walked in, followed by Shamal and Gokudera.
"Baby," Hibari muttered as Reborn walked past him.
"You're back, Mukuro," Reborn said. "What did you find out from your investigation?"
"Quite a bit," Mukuro replied with a mischievous glint as Dino, Tsuna, and Jinnai joined the group. Mukuro raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Understood. I shall balance the flames now."
Mukuro ignited his ring and touched Saya's hand. He glanced provocatively at the newcomers, gently brushing a stray hair from her face. His actions made some of the boys visibly tense, which made him chuckle coldly. Feeling a strange sensation, Saya slowly opened her eyes.
"Are you awake, Princess?"
Seeing Mukuro, Saya's eyes widened, and she scrambled back in shock. But Mukuro caught her, pulling her into his embrace. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, his warm breath hitting her neck. "The bed is quite narrow; you should be careful when you move, or you might get hurt."
He looked at her as she gazed up at him. Seeing her navy-blue eyes, which resembled a blue moon, he gave a faint smirk. "Eyes this color are rare… beautiful, like a blue moon in the night sky."
"What are you up to now?" Saya narrowed her eyes. Mukuro paused, then laughed heartily.
"Now, can we begin our discussion?" Reborn asked. Reluctantly, Mukuro let her go. "Everyone is here, even the unexpected guests." Reborn glanced at Yamamoto and Hibari, who both looked away.
"First," Mukuro began, "for us to reach a clear understanding, I believe we should let the boy named Jinnai speak."
Mukuro's sharp gaze turned toward Jinnai with a chilling smile.
"Very well," Jinnai said.
"Why didn't you mention you were a spy for Head Butler Raiden?" Mukuro asked. Everyone's eyes snapped to Jinnai.
Jinnai met Mukuro's gaze without flinching. But when he looked at the worried girl, he lowered his head in a rare show of shame. However, his voice was firm.
"I have switched sides," he stated. "In this world, the only person I wish to serve is My Lady. Even though the Izagami family and Butler Raiden have done much for me, I will not betray My Lady. If My Lady says she wants to stay with Vongola, then I will protect her and this place with everything I have. You don't even have to trust me."
As long as she can be happy here, he thought.
"Even if it means being hunted by the Izagami and Tomoe families for the rest of your life?" Reborn asked. Jinnai smiled, avoiding Saya's eyes so she wouldn't see his true feelings. "I intended to travel the world and train with Master Skull anyway. It is not a major issue."
The Arcobaleno smirked. "What?! Izagami?!" Tsuna shouted. Everyone was stunned.
"And I tried so hard to keep that a secret; you ruined my plan," Reborn said. Jinnai gave a bitter smile. "My apologies, Reborn-san."
"The Izagami family owns over 20% of all industries in Japan," Dino explained, sitting on the sofa. He looked at Saya. "But… I didn't see your name on Wikipedia or in the family records."
"In the business world, I go by the name my father used for me when I worked at his company or made public appearances: 'Kaya Izagami.' I used it for a while, but I didn't attend many events, so there isn't much data. Mostly, I attended social events as a model or actress with my mother. In that world, I use my real name: Saya Tomoe. I am the daughter of the famous former actress Mikasa Tomoe and the sole direct heir of Sanzen-in Izagami, the industrial tycoon... Jinnai, what was my father thinking when he sent you to get me?"
Jinnai shook his head. Everyone was silent, knowing how much power that family held. They were in every sector, from energy to automobiles. Rumors suggested they were expanding into the mafia world. Reborn had sent Mukuro to investigate.
"After I snuck into the Izagami mansion, I found suspicious movement. They are in contact with someone. I couldn't get specific data because they have strong Flame users guarding the place. I was discovered," Mukuro explained.
"Head Butler Raiden," Jinnai noted. Mukuro nodded.
"He's tough," Mukuro said, lifting his shirt to reveal lightning burns across his chest and stomach. "His Lightning Flame is no joke. I should have used my Box Weapon; I was too careless."
"He was once in the mafia world before retiring," Jinnai added. "I don't know which family he belonged to, but he is extraordinary. I could never even touch him."
"He was injured too," Mukuro added. "But the lead I found after that is more important."
"You mean... Weiss, right?" Jinnai asked.
"I'll need you to fill in the blanks; I was found before I could get more," Mukuro said. Jinnai thought for a moment.
"Weiss is the alias of the person My Lord contacted frequently before I left," Jinnai said. "He claimed he could see the future or something like that."
"See the future?!" Tsuna yelled. The Vongola members looked grim.
"That can't be..." Gokudera muttered, while Yamamoto gripped his hilt and looked at Reborn. Even Hibari's expression darkened.
"I'll investigate the Mare Rings and this person myself. If he plans something crazy, we have to stop him," Reborn said. He turned to Jinnai. "Anything else?"
"I was only a personal servant; I was only told to bring My Lady home. I wasn't privy to more information. But… I saw him once from afar. He has white hair, he's tall, and he dresses very casually."
"Saya-chan…" Reborn asked slowly. "Have you ever seen him?"
The room went silent. Saya realized how serious this was. "No," she shook her head. "We lived in the same mansion, but it's massive, and my father had a private entrance for personal guests. If someone that distinctive had crossed my path, I would have remembered."
"I believe you, Saya-chan," Reborn smiled. He then addressed the group. "Until we have more clarity, do not move. If you must fight, do so only if necessary. Prioritize the safety of everyone, especially Saya and Jinnai."
Everyone agreed. Shamal looked thoughtful and pulled Reborn and Jinnai aside. "I need to speak with you two privately. This is very important."
"Fine," Reborn said. Jinnai bowed like a butler. "Understood, Shamal-san."
"By the way, it's your birthday," Mukuro turned to Saya. "Happy Birthday."
"Oh… thank you," Saya was flustered. Mukuro tapped his trident on the floor. The ground rippled like water, and suddenly, cherry blossoms bloomed throughout the room. Hibari's eyebrow twitched. "I heard you like cherry blossoms," Mukuro teased.
"I like them, but I have another favorite," she said. "I like Jasmine. My late grandmother planted a circular garden of them."
Mukuro changed the illusion. A circular jasmine garden appeared, the cool scent of jasmine filling the room and bringing peace to her heart.
"Happy Birthday to you," Mukuro began to sing softly, clapping slowly. "Happy Birthday to you."
He sat on her bed without permission. Jinnai, Gokudera, and Yamamoto moved to step in, but Tsuna stopped them. "It's okay," the Vongola Boss insisted. "He's just wishing her a happy birthday."
When he finished the song, Mukuro leaned in. He took Saya's hand and kissed it, then kissed her hair. Saya's navy-blue eyes trembled, unsure how to handle the situation.
Mukuro gave a cold smile. Saya slowly backed away.
"She didn't run away; don't ruin the 'route' by being too aggressive, Master," a flat, boyish voice spoke from the window. A giant apple head was stuck in the frame—it was Fran, hanging upside down from the third floor. "If you're too pushy, the girl will run away."
Mukuro's eye twitched. "Shut up, Fran."
"Look, she's backing away, Master."
"I'll take my leave then," Mukuro stepped away from Saya, shoved Fran out of the window, and jumped after him.
"Um… what is Mukuro-san normally like?" Saya asked. Everyone was silent for a moment before answering in unison:
"A dangerous man!"
"Actually, I have something to tell you all," Saya said. "About the future ten years from now."
Saya then began to tell them the story of meeting Rinji in the future, leaving everyone in a state of utter shock.