The Cloud's Anchor

Departure

A/N: Here it is! The next chapter of A Cloud's Anchor! by the way has anyone read A Gentlemen's Alliance Cross ? I just completed it and it was Hella-awesome! They should really make an anime for it or even a K-Drama. Comment down which mangas you want to be turned into anime!

Disclaimer: Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here to make it clear the I do not own KHr! rather Akira Amano-sensei does.

When, a few hours later, the time came for the Vongola to leave, there was a collective protest from both children and adults. Alaude, who had made the announcement just threatened to arrest them to death if there were any tears and/or stubbornness. To this Stella added that the guardians will be back to visit them in three days. So, everyone parted amiably, excited to see each other again. It did not escape Giotto's (and Guilia's) notice that Alaude and Stella went outside a few minutes earlier than the others, possibly to say goodbye and when the others came outside, the raven-head was sporting a deep blush and the skylark was looking extremely amused. Clearing her throat, Guilia called, "Sorella! Stop thinking about Signor Alaude so lewdly!" Stella blushed deeper and spluttered out, "W-w-w-w-what a-are y-you saying, monello? I wasn't thinking about him at all!" Guilia chuckled and went back inside, waving to the guardians.

Stella was still muttering about 'insolent brat' and 'who's lewd' and Alaude, who had discovered that she looked extremely cute when annoyed and couldn't help teasing her more, slowly patted her head, as if she were just a sulking child he found amusing. The raven-head's eyes widened at the contact before narrowing in annoyance. She grabbed the hand petting her and pulled it off. "Signor, stop treating me like a child!" she said aggravated and then completely ignoring him turned to the other Vongola members with a cheerful grin plastered on her face. "It was a pleasure to meet all of you. Thank you for your help." She curtsied and smiled at them. "You are, of course, most welcome to visit again. Now that the children know you it is no problem even if you visit. On the contrary," her eyes had an amused look to them, "I believe that they will be extremely happy if you do so." Smiling she said goodbye to all of them and went inside.

The Vongola guardians made their way back to the main road. Alaude was at the very last, maintaining his distance and at one turn left the others saying that he had an important job to do somewhere else. The others just bid him farewell, too used to his abrupt departures, and continued walking. A silence had fallen over them as they thought about the day they had just spent. Stella, Elena mused, was quite an interesting puzzle. The girl was perfectly courteous and friendly while maintaining her dignity and authority. She was polite and seemed genuinely concerned about the welfare of the children under her care. Elena personally had enjoyed talking to her, well more like gossiping. The raven head had a brilliant networking system consisting of maids and housekeepers who were either former residents of La Casa Orfana or friends of such, who kept her updated on many nobles' condition ;a trait worthy of a mafia-bred. Besides the aristocratic blond had needed a little girl-time, hard to do when you are stuck in a house full of males.

The constant silence was broken by Daemon's signature 'Nufufufu' which caused the other two to look at him in confusion. "I was just thinking that the little skylark finally found a perch." His eyes glinted in amusement. "A very interesting perch by the looks of it, though" he added hastily. "It has nothing on you, my dear." Elena sent him a calculating gaze and replied. "Obviously, love but I have to admit that she has captured my interest. What you say, Giotto?" the blue-eyed boss just nodded in agreement and said, "True, I even toyed with the idea of her being a witch and casting a spell on the suspecting Cloud but it's clear that he pays more attention to her than any other female he knows."

Elena hummed and said in an amused voice, "you aren't thinking of bringing her into the family are you, Primo?" the last word was said teasingly and the Primo chuckled good-naturedly. "Of course not, I wouldn't want her to face more hardships than she already does." Elena mock pouted and Daemon was yet again struck by the level of familiarity that Giotto and Elena had. He was still a bit stiff around both of them and sometimes felt envious of their ease with each other. He chided himself mentally, 'This is natural, considering that they are both childhood friends. Stop being a baby.' Back with the two blondes the female was still pretending to be offended and said, "Where did this consideration go when I joined the Famiglia?" Giotto arched an eyebrow and said, "That was your choice, wasn't it?" Elena stuck out her tongue at him and looked the mist guardian's and her intertwined hands. Smiling contentedly, she said in a low voice,

"Yes, it was, e non lo cambierei per il mondo."

e non lo cambierei per il mondo= and I wouldn't change it for the world.

monello=brat