Interlude: Arcobaleno II

He's meditating when he feels it. It's dark outside, with no light aside from a couple of candles inside the room. It's not silent though. Lichi, as he's decided to name the little snow monkey he's apparently been partnered with, is on top of his head, eating some nuts he gave her. She's not loud, but she isn't quiet either. Sometimes a bit of drool drips to his hair, but he doesn't complain. Better his hair that doesn't suffer any effect than the floor which now has a couple of holes on it. Apparently, little Lichi's saliva works as some type of acid that destroys anything in its way. He still has a couple of tears in his clothes where she started licking him. He hasn't changed yet as she's still learning to control it and better for her to work on a pair of clothes he's not going to use anymore.

She makes another happy sound and he finds himself smiling even through his meditation. Not that it matters as the sound soothes him in the same way the Sky flames that were inside the small orb did before the small snow monkey ate it. He uses that sound as his focus.

He's relaxed and that may be why he catches the presence a second later than he normally would.

He doesn't tense, nor shows any outward response that he knows someone is watching him. However, Lichi still looks up, her powerful flames already disintegrating the Mist Flames in the air, even as subtle and unobtrusive as they've been.

"The rouse is already up," he says with a hum.

With a chuckle, a man walks from the shadows with a grace that doesn't come from martial arts as his own movements do. However, there's still the experience and weight that tries to suffocate him with each step. A checkered suit that makes his normal height and lithe build seem bigger, more threatening.

"I didn't want to interrupt," the man with the iron hat and mask says with a small dip of his head. His words were a lie as if he didn't want to disturb he would have come in a more public setting or at least in the morning when it's less suspicious to meet.

"It's of no consequence." He smiles wanly. "Is it wrong to assume you're here for the tournament?"

Because the week before New Year's is usually spent with a small tournament between the Triad's clans. He's not been invited since the last time he completely demolished the other combatants three years ago and he didn't think he would be invited again.

"I'm not with them." Well, that is still a surprise.

He still doesn't tense.

"Then may I enquire what business do you have with me?"

"Of course," the man says, a gives him a card.

He reads it and his heart feels like it's been stopped for a second. His hands want to shake in excitement but he doesn't let them.

"The Prescelti Sete, then." He hums as if the title could care him less as if the title hasn't been whispered in the Mafia for so many years. No one knows from where it comes, but most high-ranked individuals know about it. The fact that the Vongola is giving an invitation just confirms it's the real deal. "I thought it was a myth."

"The Greatest of an era always come together."

And they always disappear without anyone the wiser, too, he thinks.

"This time a get-together will be held first at the Vongola Ball, for the ones not entirely involved with the Mafia." He looks pointedly at the letter he gave him. The man nods once in understanding. "The date written is for when you'll meet up afterward for the jobs you would need to take to gain notoriety. You'll be well paid."

"That's nice," he says wantonly, "but what if I don't plan to accept."

"You can deny, of course, though I'd recommend you to at least meet your fellow Arcobaleno if you want to gain the title." He looks lazily around. "I think a new title would be a great way to separate from your Triad. If you want to, that is. I heard there's more freedom in being from a Neutral party."

So he knows he wants to become a neutral enforcer in the Triads while distancing from the heavy politics of it. Does he know about Tsuna? He hopes not.

"If you're unsure, we can talk more about the jobs you'll have to do, yes?"

With his smile never faltering he nods, trying to hide his red eyes as he looks down at the floor. Lichi jumps to the floor next to him, a small trail of smoke growing from where she's licking the nut between he little fingers. "Let's talk then."