It was a similar night, 7 years ago, which led Xanxus to a street that was buzzing with life, late in the night. Red lights flashed from the neon signs of the clubs, groups of people ambled along the closed stores, singing and laughing into the cold night with their partners in their arms, searching for the next bar to party at.

It was a November night when Xanxus fled the cold emptiness of his bed that was reminding him too much of this pointless life as the leader of the very best assassins, yet not the leader of this goddamn family, not the successor of all that belongs to Vongola, despite being the rightful heir as the son of Vongola the Ninth.

Breathing in the cool air, he walked over the cobblestones, looking for a distraction to cool down his anger that flared up again at the mere thought of the Ninth.

And there he saw her: Standing at the corner of a club, she was clutching her jacket, shivering in the short skirt that bared her long legs to the cold air. The red lights let her golden hair shimmer, her shining eyes hastily searched from face to face, looking for a client to warm her bed for the night and provide her the money she needs to survive.

Her eyes fell upon Xanxus, who was watching her, a pleading look on her face, asking him to come closer.

This night wasn't like the other nights, yet it wasn't anything special either. After he paid the girl and left, the coldness crept back to his limbs, forcing him to raise his flame, and keep the darkness at bay that threatened to engulf him.

7 years have passed, 7 years of battling and killing and secretly plotting, patiently waiting for the right moment to claim what is rightfully his. Going out in the night from time to time became a habit, he savored the moments of loneliness, away from the noisy atmosphere at the headquarters, and every night he searched for new places, new women, not knowing what it is that keeps him going, not knowing what it is he's really looking for.

The cold air in the November night reminded him of that night again, 7 years ago. He took the route to the street he hasn't visited again for a long time.

And there, in front of the club, she was standing again. Her hair, once golden, now a matted black, flowed in the cool wind. Her body, once a slim figure and so beautiful under his hands, looked more rounded, her eyes never standing still to search for new customers, every day, every night.

When she spotted Xanxus, her eyes widened with recognition. As he was about to walk towards her, she spun around, rushed through the entrance of the club and scurried back moments later, dragging a little boy behind her.

She came to a halt in front of him and shoved the boy before Xanxus' feet.

"Look!" she exclaimed, "I've been waiting for you all this time! Look at him, he's your kid, I didn't take the Pill, because I wanted to have a child, but I couldn't tell you and you never showed up and...I- I don't even know you, yet it made me so happy to have little Vito around me all the time."

Xanxus didn't listen. His widened eyes took in the familiarity of the boy's face. The boy looked up at him with distaste in his eyes, a scowl on his tiny lips that looked so familiar, clear blue and sharp eyes that have seen too much at his young age, hidden behind strands of unruly black hair, just as his. He had too much of him, who was he? Where did he come from? Why does he exist? Should he?

Once long ago, it was Xanxus who was standing at the boys place, showing his flame to the Ninth with the false hope of having found his father.

This boy can't be his, he refuses to let this happen again, he's not a father, he can't be a father, he will not repeat what the excuse of his father has done.

Xanxus spun around and rushed down the street, speeding up around the corner until he found his car.

He sat behind the wheel and tried to catch his breath. The mirrors of his car taunted him, making him wonder if his own real father did the same and just hooked up with his mother for a night. Will this boy do the same once he's grown?

Memories of his childhood suddenly fueled his anger, made him want to jump out of the car again to strangle the woman and burn her to ashes. Who was she, toying with him like this?

One week had passed since he had last gone out in the night. Whenever he felt like leaving, the image of the boy came haunting him like a ghost, reminding him of his existence.

Even when he was on the way to a mission in broad daylight, the kids that turned around to stare in awe at the luxurious car he was sitting in made him feel uncomfortable.

Right then, Squalo's voice reached his ear:

"VOOI, boss, are you listening! We're almost there."

Heading for a deserted street outside the village they passed through, Squalo glanced at Xanxus, who still looked like he was lost in thoughts.

"Boss…. VOI, Boss! What's wrong with you?"

"…nothing."

"Voi, this is not like you. You've been like this for a whole week!"

"Like what?"

"Like…well…you didn't complain about food, you didn't even throw a bottle at me!"

Xanxus raised an eyebrow: "I didn't know you were into getting shit thrown at your head that much."

"VOOOII, that's not what I mean! Oh, fuck it."

Xanxus let Squalo do the killing. They caught their victims by surprise; never did they expect to be found so quickly. Blood splashed against the wooden walls of the little hut the victims had chosen as their hideout. Their screams were loud, yet on this deserted route, no one was nearby to hear the last moments of their pitiful lifes.

Squalo didn't dare to mention it, yet he still wondered why Xanxus accompanied him to this mission, which he could've fulfilled on his own without any help.

Not that Xanxus was helping; he only had moved few quick steps to avoid the bullets before Squalo's sword slashed through the arms of the victims that had quickly grabbed their guns at the duo's sudden entrance.

If Squalo didn't know it any better, it looked like Xanxus wanted to talk to him about something, but was too proud start the conversation and on top of that he avoided any questions about his mood.

Squalo cursed. He knew it would take ages until Xanxus would open up to him. All he could do is trying to find out what it is that bothers him.


Hope you liked it. Chapter 2 will follow next night.

First fanfic I've ever written. Please point out any mistakes, english is not my motherlanguage and I'm very unfamiliar with writing xD