Seven Devils

Chapter o1. All Alone

And all the roses turn to black
And my heart is as cold as stone
We give ourselves a shining star
All alone, all alone

~David O'Dowda

The white gown was taunting her, "Do you drink, Laupi-chan?" Lussuria asked from the other side of the room. Her violet hues snapped to where her older brother sat.

The blonde smiled kindly before sitting up, "Only when she has too." He replied back in Italian.

The Sun Guardian cooed, handing the younger girl a glass of wine, "Well after tonight you're gonna have to."

She took the glass with trembling hands, hoping that neither man noticed. On the outside she looked calm and composed, but on the inside a raging storm of nerves and fear was brewing. Laupine could feel her brother's eyes on the back of her head, watching her with quiet pride as she sipped her drink. She knew how grateful he was for her actually going through with this. She couldn't help but to wonder what sort of punishment their father would have applied on him had she declined.

The blonde girl sighed.

No point on thinking about it. No point on dwelling on the past.

And, yet…

Laupine was half tempted to black out through the entire evening. She wanted to hide in the memories of her long lost childhood, on the few fragmented instances she had of her mother. She knew she couldn't do this half asleep…she would be in a room full of Mafiosos and Assassins. Even at weddings one had to be on high alert.

Especially if it was your own wedding.

Still, had it really been a few months ago that the flamboyant Varia member showed up in her home?

5 months ago…

"Please, tell me you didn't invite me here to eat your stitched up turkey." Giles mumbled from across her studio apartment. The boy sat comfortably in the middle of her little living room. The room was set up with her sofa facing her kitchen, the back of it to the stairs leading to her mezzanine. Two arms chairs were across from him with a small coffee table in the middle of the living room.

Her brother wore casual clothes, he knew better than to show up wearing any of his expensive suits when he came to see her. He looked like he belonged there, not in some private château surrounded by 24/7 surveillance. If she allowed herself to, she could imagine a whole different life for them. Sometimes she would pretend that the reason her brother was never around was because he too was away abroad in school. But Laupine knew better than to dream.

The younger girl lifted her head up from her sutured poultry, "This isn't for eating, it's been seating out for days." She smiled at the sound of her brother's laugh, he rarely laughed these days, "And I didn't invite you over, you just showed up, again."

"Are you complaining?" A buzzing sound broke their conversation. His indigo eyes watched as his sister lowered her needle driver on the table before pulling her phone out of her pocket. She hardly glanced at it before declining the call. "That's the fifth time since I've been here."

Her lower lip pouted out at the sound of rubber gloves snapping of her hands, "It's a school friend, she wants to go out for drinks,"

"So?"

"I don't drink."

"And I'm saying: so?"

The young girl slammed her hands on her kitchen island causing her needle holder to lightly bounce on the table. "Is there a reason for your visit, Gluttire?"

Her brother smiled leaning back against her throw pillows, "As a matter of fact there is, my dear Alaude." Laupine smiled, grateful that he had remembered to use the name she had been going by since she turned thirteen in honor of their deceased mother. "What news have you heard from Japan?" He asked.

The younger of the sibling shrugged taking a seat across from her guest, "I haven't heard anything from the mafia world since I started school."

There was a suspicious glimmer in her brother's steel eyes. It worried her to see him so calm. Growing up in the Gluttire house hold she had known calm was a bad omen. Calm meant a storm was brewing. Calm meant her father was about to strike. Calm meant bad news.

"The Vongola Famille has a new successor and it's not the boss's son." Giles informed.

Laupine rolled her eyes, "So Nono's son declined the position?" She asked turning her violet gaze to the lazy clouds floating above Paris. How she wish she could join them instead of having to worry about her final exams and graduation.

"More like he was rejected," Her eyes snapped back to her brother, "The Vongola rings choose the second candidate to become the Vongola Tenth."

A chuckle of disbelief left his sister's lips, "You mean to tell me that the loyal Iemitsu had a disagreement with his boss? Who's the unfortunate person stuck with the job?"

"Not only that, do you know what this means?"

Laupine shrugged, "We we'll have a long summer? Who's the next boss?"

A pillow cushion was thrown at her head. The younger girl dodged with ease, but the turkey sitting on the counter wasn't so lucky. "It means that the boss's son wasn't a true Vongola."

Her violet eyes studied the mess from her seat, "And this concerns me, why?"

Giles was about to answer when her phone started to ring again, "You should answer."

"That would be rude," She said ignoring the call once more, "well?"

"Have you been going out much since you moved here?" He asked rubbing his index finger against his lower lip.

Lupine's eyes widen at the notion. She had left her home in Nice to come to Paris in order to become a Doctor. When she left home her father was enraged, and almost put a stop to what he called "her silly little notion." She was only 16 when she arrived in the city by herself, three years later she was done with her pre-med preparation. Now, at the age of 20 she was one of the youngest medical students. Despite all of her efforts it didn't matter to her father. He would still send Giles every three months or so to see if she was ready to come home with her tail between her legs.

"Don't change the topic…" She whispered.

Giles eyes followed her frame as she opened the sliding glass door. Stepping out to stand on the balcony. She didn't stop there. She climbed the ledge with ease sitting down with her legs dangling out and her back to the door. He knew she was getting upset. She would only climb up on roofs and trees, and basically any high place, because she knew he wouldn't follow.

"Please come back in." He called stepping up to the open space maintaining his distance, "I didn't mean to ask about your personal life-"

"What does he want this time?" She pulled her knees to her chest, her violet eyes set on the horizon.

Her brother sighed.

Out of all the Alaude traits he didn't inherit the love of heights was the only one he envied. "Someone's coming to the estate tomorrow, I'm not sure who, I'm just supposed to tell you to show up or else."

"Or else what?" She challenged.

The blonde boy smirked, "You'll leave Master Fon waiting on you, again." Violet eyes widen as his smile increased and inside the phone rang again, "I'll take my leave now, make sure you get some rest." The last thing he said as he walked out of her apartment was the promise of an early phone call the next morning.

"Oh no…" She whimpered going back inside.

The phone continued to ring while the frantic tears began to build. The last time Storm Arcobaleno was in France she had been busy with school and could not make their appointment. Of course it wasn't really her fault. She was just ordered to show up in her father's manor with n reasoning. The next day she received a letter from her master apologizing for not getting to see her.

He apologized to her.

Laupine had never felt so ashamed. Now with the announcement that he had made the long journey from China to France yet again, her pride was now at risk once more.

"Merde," she mumbled taking a swing out of the open wine bottle. The only one she had in the apartment, specially reserved for guest. The blonde never drank unless she felt it necessary or when she had to.

According to the endless phone ring, she had to.

Finally, in a drunker stupor, she had enough of the ringing.

"Allo?"

The voice from the other line was ear shattering, "OH MY GOD FINALLY!" Laupine held the phone away from her ear, "I've been calling all day~! Is this Docteur Alaude?"

Her violet eyes widen before hanging up and tossing the phone on the tea table. She hadn't recognized that voice, she wasn't entirely sure if it was male or female. Worse of all she was terrified of how a stranger could have gotten a hold of her phone number. A soft hum left her lips.

The phone rang again, unknown caller, she answered after the first ring, "I believe you have the wrong number-"

"Mwah! You don't even know whose calling!" The flamboyant voice whined.

Laupine stared at her closed door, wondering if it was too late to catch up with her brother. After a pause she asked, "Whose calling?"

"My name is Lussuria, but you can call me Luss-Chan!"

I'm not doing that. The younger girl cleared he throat, "I can assure you I don't know any Lussuria's," or any other people named after sins, "And this isn't a Doctor Laupine's number anyway." She hopped that was enough to get this person to stop calling.

"But I said Docteur Alaude!"

Click.

She wouldn't be answering her phone from now on. A deep sigh left her lips she didn't want to worry about this. She knew she was safe here, even if she was by herself. But just to be safe she wouldn't be moving around the apartment without carrying her sai around.

She wasn't much for weapons but thanks to Master Fon she found that when it came to baton weapons she was actually very talented. She knew that had she decided to go back home she could always find a job as someone's Guardian thanks to this skill. She preferred not to give it too much thought especially now that she was to go back to her childhood home for the weekend.

The rest of the day was uneventful. After turning her phone off Laupine became bored. All of her school work was finished, her kitchen had been cleaned, the raw turkey was now in the trash and her sai were strapped to her back.

Now where was that bottle of wine?

Just as she was about to finish her first glass a loud buzzing vibrated within her walls. The girl frowned taking one more sip. Laupine was becoming irrigated, not just with all the loud ringing but also with herself. She wished she could handle her alcohol better, but alas she was Alaude after all.

"What?" She grumbled pressing the intercom button.

The voice spoke in French, "A package for Laupine Gluttire."

She rested her forehead against the wall, I'm Alaude, and my mother was Cerise Alaude…not Gluttire…

"Hello?" The voice called back.

"This is she." Laupine responded.

There was a brief pause from the other, "I need a signature.

The young girl rolled her eyes before banging her head against the wall once, "Fine, Apartment 23-E." She mumbled stepping away after unlocking the door.

When she looked back on it, Laupine realized how stupid she was at unlocking the door and walking away. To be fair she did feel like the wine was coming back up, and she wasn't about to make a mess in her main room. When she lifted her head from the sink she was met by her mirror.

She looked terrible.

Her silvery-gold hair was tussled out of place, her eyes were puffy from not crying (because she hadn't really cried, but she almost did, but it doesn't count according to her). Laupine frowned in silent shame for looking so weak, and that's when he let himself in.

She walked out of the bathroom to find her front door partly open. "I'm sorry Laupi-chan but you didn't leave me much choice!" The voice from the phone said from behind her.

In the blink of an eye her sai were pointed at the intruder as she stood in a defensive pose. The man before her was the oddest person she had ever seen. He looked to be of extremely muscular built, she couldn't really be too sure; hiding his body was an open black trench coat with giant, orange, fur trimming. She couldn't see his eyes so her gaze was met by a pair of dark sunglasses. Then there was his strange choice of hair style: shaved head with a side part of green hair.

"Who are you?"

"Waaah! You can put those away, Laupi-chan! I don't mean you any harm!" The man shouted holding both hands out before him, "I'm Lussuria, we spoke earlier remember!?"

Raising a pale eyebrow she asked, "How do you know where do I live?"

"Well I just asked your father's secretary, she gave me all of your info!" He stated lifting his index finger to point at the celling, "Also the safe word is alouette." With a heavy sigh she lowered her weapons. The safe word had been set up when she first started going to school. It was only known among those in her immediate family and their men. "It was a pretty impressing guide with all that doctor stuff on it. Must be expensive; especially if your father refuses to fund it."

"That is none of your business," her tone was cold, "Now, get out." She ordered stepping aside, pointing at the door with the saki of the sai.

Lussuria hummed in annoyance, "Stubborn uccelino! I'll give you two hundred euros if you let me say what I came to say, which I will say anyways!"

The Gluttire in her was intrigued. Yes, it was true that she would get nothing from her father. When her mother had died she left a trust fund behind for her and her brother but that was of course administer by none other than the head of the Gluttire, Serge Gluttire. Her father.

She could always ask Giles, but she was too proud for that.

The strange man had her where he wanted her. She couldn't really let her pride get in the way of just listening for pay…not when she needed it.

"And then you'll leave?" she asked relaxing her arms.

Lussuria nodded, smiling charmingly, "You'll never see or hear from me again!"

Lupine pouted.

She had lost, "I need to see the money first." Still she sounded proud. The man's smile broadened as he held two one hundred euro notes.

The conversation was moved to her sitting room where the intruder was seated on her brother's old spot in the middle of her sofa. She maintained distance by staying by her garden wall. She always had a soft spot for flower gardens. Laupine was sure she developed this love for them because of her mother. Most of her memories of the late Alaude were of her flower garden.

Her violet gaze soften and a small smile played on her lips while her hands worked on watering her plants.

"WAAAAH! THE MORE I LOOK AT YOU THE MORE PERFECT YOU SEEM FOR THE JOB!" Lussuria squealed from his seat.

The loud noise had startled her into dropping her water can. She found herself burring her head behind the garden wall in fright, "…Are you always this flamboyant?" she peaked over the edge of a flower pot.

Lussuria nodded resting his chin on his hands.

"Please don't do that again." Her platinum hair fell over her shoulder when she bent down to pick up the water can, "Now why are you here?" She asked making her way from her kitchen to take a seat across from the intruder.

The man cleared his throat, "I'm sure Giles-kun informed you of the events that took place in Japan a few months ago."

She looked to both sides frowning, trying to think if she should confirm. "We don't talk about the mafia." She half-told the truth. Lussuria raised and eyebrow in disbelief, "I don't like talking about the mafia…he only told me a few details."

"How much do you know about the Famiglia your Famille works under?" He inquired.

She shrugged crossing both her arms and legs after. Her frown becoming deeper, "Not as much as you would think. I tried very hard to separate myself from my father's world."

His laugh was too loud, and too obnoxious, for her, "It's more of your mother's world than your father, little uccelino!" Laupine tsk'd before closing her eyes and looking away from the intruder. Just like the Japanese Skylark…must be related, Lussuria mussed, "I guess I'll start from the beginning."

After an hour and two migraine pills later (for the poor Alaude), she was completely up to date with the events that took place during the most recent Vongola ring conflict. Suddenly two hundred euros didn't seem enough for putting up with the boxer's loud mouth.

"So you were defeated and the Vongola 10th is a fourteen year old boy. Now the Varia is under surveillance by the CEDEF until further notice and your sitting on my sofa," She rubbed her temples with her finger tips, "This doesn't concern me, get out." She mumbled.

"Aw~! I still haven't gotten to the you part yet, Laupi-chan!" The sun Guardian called from her kitchen. He had decided to make himself useful half way to the story and was now cooking a gourmet meal.

"Please don't call me that." She groaned unsure of how much more of this she could handle.

The smells from the kitchen made her reconsider her options of using her sai to force him out. She hadn't had a proper meal since the last time Giles came to visit. He had invited her for breakfast but she had declined. Maybe she'd let him finish then she would kick him out…then there would be more for her to eat.

"Do you know what's happening tomorrow at your father's chateau?" Lussuria asked flambéing whatever he was cooking.

Laupine grimaced, "More emotional trauma."

She moved from her seat in the living room to a stool by the kitchen bar to watch him closer. His back was too her but she knew his guard was not down even if he seemed completely at ease. He was Varia after all.

Lussuria snapped his lips turning his stare back to her, "Don't be depressing, dear, I get enough gloominess from the boss back home." She shrugged, "The truth is. Laupi-chan, you won't be just meeting with Master Fon, I will also be there with another member from the Varia."

He noticed her eyes widen a fraction of a centimeter. He couldn't help but to muse on the coloring. Not many of the Alaude still possessed the purple tint in their eyes. From what he had heard the late Cerise Alaude had lilac eyes, and the young girl before him had a haunting violet tone to them, more beautiful than her brother's indigo. Perhaps this was a good omen after all.

"You want me to replace your lost Cloud Guardian. That's why you're here." She stated standing up, with trembling hands she reached for her sai, "I think you've extended your visit. Time to go, M. Lussuria."

"Hmm~! I'm all done anyways," He declared turning the stove to a simmer, "But just in case, I'll give you two grand just for showing up-!" The money offer had offended her enough to attack; she swung the sai with minimum strength to strike him on the left knee only to be sent flying across her main room. Her eyes went from his leg to her empty trembling hand to his hidden eyes. He hadn't moved a muscle and yet the shock had caused her hand to hurt.

"Metal knee. Very convenient," He explained giving it a light tap, "take it or leave it?"

The young girl was indignant, "What time tomorrow?"


The next afternoon she found herself face to face with the monster of her nightmares. Before the guest arrived she and her brother were summoned into what was once their grandfather's office. When their mother died all traces of the Alaude Famille banished with her. Now all that was left was ugly Gluttire. The office had ugly gray walls; two of the walls were covered with ancient books that probably belonged to the first Alaude himself. The furniture was from late last century and squeaked when you moved too much to get comfortable. She was always cold in that room, in the whole mansion, there had never been familiar warmth for as long as she could remember.

The siblings had inherited their looks from their mother and most of her nature. From their father came traits that both would deny until they came up to the surface. Greed was one of them, she knew that if Lussuria hadn't made the offer she would have sent her apologies to Master Fon and not shown up.

Unfortanintly here she was…facing the gaunt man she called father.

The first thing he said was, "You're late." While she made her way to the arm chair next to her brother.

She kept her eyes on the floor. Serge Gluttire had mention once how much he hated her eyes to one of his subordinates after they had complimented her on them. After that she always made sure to look away when in his presence. Lupine could see her brother's hand out of the corner on her eye. It laid flat on the arm rest signifying that so far he was relax.

Their father was calm.

"I apologize-"

"Sit." So she did, "I'm sure you've been well informed of what has been happing in the East." She didn't answer, "Master Fon won't be coming," of course not, Laupine thought feeling her stomach drop, "But there are two members of the Varia here to see you preform instead."

Laupine swallowed thinking of the right words.

"An honor, I'm sure." Her brother stated first before she could.

The current boss shifted in his seat, "They are here to recruit you for the Cloud Guardian candidacy. You will accept."

"Even if I do accept, father, there is no guarantee that I will become their Guardian." She started without thinking causing her brothers eyes to snap to her, "I lack Varia quality. I'm also being trained in saving lives not taking them-"

"Whatever it is you're being trained for ends today, after you accept their invitation." His voice was becoming harsh, "And even if you don't become the Cloud Guardian there is another matter involving the Varia that only you can fulfill."

Her eyes stayed on her brother's hand.

"Xanxus has now been shamed in front of the entire mafia world leaving the Varia weak to the CEDEF," Their mother's inheritance and the first Alaude's legacy as he liked to remind them over the years, "He wants to become The Vongola successor. There is still a chance if he has a son before the Sawada child."

"Wonderful." Giles answered meeting his father's hardened gaze.

But their father's glare rested on Laupine, "Yes it is."

She wasn't sure if Giles hand turned into a fist before or after her father spoke. Slowly, as the tension rose in the room, she raised her eyes to look at the monster in the face.

"You can't mean it." She heard herself whisper.

The beast before them smiled, "I can, and I do."

"They won't go for it. He won't go for it," Her voice was becoming panicked, "It's too desperate. What makes you think Nono would even consider his adopted son's…son as an heir? The child won't have any more Vongola blood than the Varia's boss does-"

"They were the ones with the proposal, as far as I know Xanxus doesn't know. But you are to go to Verona and insure his approval-"

She was outraged, "This is cruel even for you!"

"Your happiness is not my concern-"

"I'm your daughter! Not some brood rabbit you can just auction off-"

The Gluttire boss had had enough of her forthright speech, "You are my daughter! You will do as I say and you will marry the Varia boss and put an end to those silly notions of yours."

"And if she refuses?" Giles finally spoke.

The man before them laughed, "Then I will make sure they don't come true and all her hard work goes to waste." Her violet orbs were beginning to sting, "This is a finer reward than you could ever hope for, Laupine." He leaned back in his chair, "This is far more than you deserve."

A gasp left her lips while both of her arms fell from the arm rest dangling to the sides. She was dizzy with rage and fear, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had no connections, no one to turn to…except…

"You will do as you were bid," Now he turned to her only ally, "As will you, Giles."

She tried to lift her eyes to see her brothers face, "What do you mean?" He asked briskly. Wanting nothing more than to leave the room.

"You'll join the CEDEF, and get it back for us."

"I will not."

"It was stolen from your mother-"

"No, I won't."

The monster was beginning to lose his calm again, "Yes you will. They stole it from your mother's family. With the Varia's help we will regain it and take our rightful place in the Vongola, were we belong."

Giles had enough, "It was not stolen from her! You lost it to them!"

The young girl began to panic knowing what was to come, "Father please don't make us-"

"Not another word!" Serge Gluttire shouted slamming his hand on the desk. Both siblings flinched away from the man. The room became silent; the only sound was that of Serge's chair being pushed back. His footsteps echoed while he walked around the desk to stand behind his children's seats. Both blondes sat up straight at the possible treat of harm, "My children," his tone was deadly calm, "you've been disgracing the Gluttire name for far too long."

Laupine swallowed hard.

"Now go and get ready, our guest will be here soon." The boss commanded.

Giles was the first to storm out only stopping to wait for his sister at the door, his back remained to them.

She didn't remember standing or even leaving the room with her brother in toll. Her legs felt wobbly and weak, walking was becoming too much for her to bear, as it did whenever she was in the presence of her father. Once they arrived at the back stairway which would lead them to the safety of the forgotten gardens Laupine collapsed. The older brother didn't bother checking on her.

By the time the first tear escape her eye he knew she would be, to put it in simple terms, fine.

By the then he would sit next to her, say and do nothing, and just be. They didn't speak; they were both in mutual understanding that in time like these there was nothing to be said.

Nothing to be resolved.

He was their father, they could try and go against him, but he would win. He always had. They couldn't escape him.

"I'm sorry." Giles whispered letting his sister rest her head on his shoulder. Laupine didn't answer, all she could think about was murdering a certain boxer.


Lussuria watched with quiet pride as his chosen girl fought one of her father's subordinates. Her technique was not as flawless as he had hoped, but she had skill none the less. Her moves were almost parallel to the skylark from Japan. They have to be related.

The shark sitting next to the boxer, however, was not that impressed. It was more than the fact that she was under qualified, the fact that there were ulterior motives to this visit had set him off screaming all that morning. It had been two days since he found out Lussuria's and the Gluttire scum's plans. He already made up his mind and he hadn't even spoken to her yet. This girl, fighting before him, was nothing but a parvenu. If she was anything like her idiot father he was sure the boss would kill her before she even set foot into the headquarters.

Lussuria had reassured him on the way there, over and over…and over, that she was nothing like the current Gluttire. "Whatever plans he has for taking over the CEDEF we will take no part of, Squ-kun!"

"VOOOII~! And what do you think is gonna happen when he comes to collect payment for his daughters pretty little hand!"

Lussuria just smiled, "The boss doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do!"

Squalo grumbled all the way to the car, "How did you get him to agree?"

Lussuria only hummed pretending to think about the conversation he had with the boss before leaving Verona for France. He and the sword master were to find a new replacement for Gola Mosca. They had a good number of candidates lined up but only a few had been formally invited. How the boxer had managed to get the girl's file into the mix.

Now here they were watching said skylark fighting with grace. She almost looked like she was dancing. Her hits came with ease and calculation, still Squalo would not allow himself to be impressed. She would need both of their approval before she set foot in Verona. She would not get his so easily-

She ended the fight in less than five minutes.

Damn it.

Squalo knew that Lussuria was probably smiling by now. The boxer was right, her fighting skills were a bit raw but she made up with it with that playful grace. He could feel Serge Gluttier's eyes on the back of his skull, probably waiting for a standing novation from him. He wouldn't get one, no freaking way.

"Voii~! Brat-!" Squalo called from the terrace where they were all sitting. He didn't get a chance to finish before two sai were thrown up from where she stood. The blade brushed past the swordsman's hair causing it to flutter, the second blade flew past her father's ear. Both dug into the brick walls with a loud clung.

The shark would never forget those violet eyes glaring up at him with nothing but hate a repulse.

"Well done, Laupi-chan~!" Lussuria called waving his arms like a maniac, "Lets meet up for dinner tonight!" The small girl didn't answer; she turned around to face the fallen man. Her arm stretched out toward him to help him up from the ground. Behind Squalo the older brat, Giles, flicked his finger against the sai handle testing how deep into the wall they were.

The father was whispering angry words into his son's ear, trying to act civil in front of their guest. The older man apologized before dragging his son inside, with promises of an apology coming directly from his youngest child.

Lussuria turned to him now that they were allow, "Well, Squ?"

"Shut up!" He shouted watching the girl walk away from the ground, breaking into a run once her father shouted after her, "No."

"Wah~! Why not, you saw her, she was great!" Lussuria argues following Squalo back inside the mansion. Squalo hated this chateau, it was falling apart. Much like his façade on not being impressed.

"She's a girl!" The Varia had always been an all-male organization. Squalo wasn't sure why that was, but even during Tyr's time it had only been males.

That didn't stop Lussuria, "We need more diversity!"

They walked down the hall to the back stairwell. The shark wasn't sure where he was going he just wanted to get away from Lussuria before he stabbed him for bringing him here. If he did they would need to look for a new Varia officer and a Cloud Guardian. "How many languages does she speak? Like one and a half, stupid brat."

Lussuria walked with his eyes wondering all over the place. Wondering how anyone could let a place this grand fall apart. They really needed to get in touch with the Varia's decorator…oh wait that was him. "She can learn, her fighting skills can be polished! The other stuff-!"

No, he didn't want to hear about the boss's arrange marriage nonsense.

How they had ended up in a garden was beyond Squalo, he wanted the car not a bunch of dead plants. "She's too damn young!"

"Belphegor was 8 years old when he came to us!"

This garden was a fucking maze of dead weeds, "And he slaughtered his whole family before that, has this girl ever killed anyone-"

"No, and it's not something I look forward to doing." A soft voice in French called from…where did that voice come from? Lussuria leaned forward on a brick fence to find the small blonde tying a bunch of dried twigs a leaves together. "I have no desire to go to Verona any more than you have of inviting me there." Her eyes stayed on the wreath in her hands. The silver haired man was glad for that, he wasn't sure if he could handle looking into her eyes again.

"M. Lussuria," A pale hand was extended toward the boxer. Neither man moved until she started bending her four fingers in a give-me gesture.

"VOI~!" Squalo shouted watching the boxer hand over an envelope full of euros.

"Payment for showing up as promised," Lussuria cooed jumping over the fence to stand in front of the girl. "Laupine, this is Superbi Squalo, Second-in-Command of the Varia." She lifted her gaze briefly but didn't seem to pay much attention to the swordsman.

"You dumb brat, you threw a sai at my head! I'll kill you~!" He shouted raising his sword.

"You lied to me." She mumbled keeping her fingers at work (earning a VOI from Squalo for being ignored), "Serge Gluttire says I'm to marry your boss…he sold me for an organization."

Lussuria tapped his cheek, "I don't know about all that," she lifted her head slightly, "If you agree to it we don't really have to help him with anything. You're old enough to make your own deals you know."

"Ha! So you lied to the father too?" Squalo accused leaning over the fence with crossed arms.

The boxer whined, "I never said anything about the CEDEF, he just assumed." Laupine wanted to laugh at her father's idiocity. Of course the Varia wouldn't back him up on his quest of over taking the CEDEF not while Iemitsu Sawada was running it. If Giles joined the most they could hope for was for him to become his successor, but that wasn't enough for their father. He wanted it handed over in a fortnight, with the Varia's help of course.

"If you join us, you can leave all of this behind…and if you marry Xanxus-"

"Voi! None of that, I haven't said yes yet!"

"You won't ever have to listen to Serge Gluttire ever again."

"VOOOII!"

Laupine stared down at her half-finished wreath. She hadn't thought about that. If she left her father's cage and entered a new one…a better one, she would breathe a little bit easier. All she had to do was give the boss a child; just one…and she could hope that it would be enough to be allowed to do as she pleased. There was nothing holding her back, except well, "So, Monsieur Squalo, did I make the cut?"

The shark was surprise that she would address him so boldly. He tsk turning his head away from her. Lussuria was right; she was more Alaude than Gluttire. "You better learn proper Italian by next month." He pushed himself off the fence, "Now how the hell do I get to the car, brat." He shouted over his shoulder.

Lussuria squealed in delight pulling the young sai handler to her feet. She had just signed her soul over the demons.


Italian:

Uccelino- Birdie

French:

Merde-shit

Allo- hello

Docteur- Doctor

alouette- Skylark

M.- Monsieur- Mister