Monika-san: Welcome to the third installment of Soothing Rain by Kiss-san!

Haruhi-nee: We're her co-hosts Haruhi-nee and Monika-san.

Kissanpennun: This time I think I know what I am doing.

M&H: You are doing?

Kissanpennun: I'm going to do-

Haruhi-nee: I swear to god if you discontinue this story I'll cut you up.

Kissanpennun: ….

Monika-san: I don't think she was going to say that…++Sweat drop.++

Haruhi-nee: ++Nervous laugh and sweat drops.++ I'm gonna go play with my syringe now.

Kissanpennun: As I was going to say, I'm going to section each portion of the ring conflict so that the readers are exposed to the growing relationship between Xanxus and Mea.

Monika-san: Oh! That does sound like a good idea.

Haruhi-nee: Kiss-nee doesn't own KHR but she does own her Ocs.

Monika-san: ++Giggles.++ If you haven't notice, Kiss-san likes to make her girls independent and having the worse situations.

Haruhi-nee: She likes to make her Ocs suffer a bit with their man before finding happiness.

Kissanpennun: No…. I just like to see them go 'Omg he is so unbearable' in their minds when they first meet him, then find out he's not so bad after they get to know him.

Monika-san: Well, anyways. Let's get to the show!

Haruhi-nee: R&R and don't make me hunt you down and see you innards…

M&K: Haruhi….no threatening the readers…

Kissanpennun: Enjoy the chapter-nee! :3

Chapter 2: Blossoming during the conflict, scars revealed.

~Sun Match Evening~

When the group returned after the Sun guardian match, Mea was the first one to greet them with a fresh new shirt. "Welcome back everyone." She said with a smile, she noted Lussuria was missing. "Where is Lussuria?" She asked seeing that Squalo was beyond pissed and everyone seemed a bit down. Xanxus seemed to know what happened and tossed the hotel's bottle of brandy at their heads. "You lost!" He bellowed, standing up and his scars on his face getting larger. Mea gasped, seeing as it almost hit Mammon who she did treat as a baby sometimes.

"Xanxus-sama please calm down. It's just the beginning of the conflict, you mustn't be so rash and lash out at them." she said walking over to him and placed her hand onto his arm as he was going to throw another bottle aimed at Squalo who threw a nasty comment back at him for chucking the bottle at them. Xanxus stopped, his eyes snapping down at her with furry. He was angry, his men lost to a bunch of middle schoolers and she tells him to calm down? Oh she was stepping over her boundaries. Xanxus shoved her way, he wanted to hit Squalo once for that remake but somehow she caught his attention again.

When Mea was pushed aside, she tripped and landed awkwardly on her right foot. That ended up making her fall backwards and her hitting her head against the coffee table. She make a cross between a squeak and a soft noise of pain as she rubbed the back of her head on the spot she struck. Why did he always do that? She wondered as she noted Mammon floating beside her, he may not voice it but he did worry about her since she did treat him very kindly aside from his greedy self.

"Aw, looks like the assistant hit her little head." teased Bel as he snickered at her pain. He liked her hurt, but then he fell silent as Xanxus glared over at him. The rest of the group fell silent on their little taunts at her while Xanxus was in the room. They knew better than to cross that line. It's one thing to say something like that when he wasn't around, but it is totally different when he was in the room. The last fool who spoke something bad to Mea while Xanxus was in the room was sent to the hospital for months. Mea sat up, she rubbed her head again and stood up to only fall forwards into Xanxus' arms.

"Ow it hurts." she said looking down at her ankle and lifted it up. She touched it, wincing when she felt it was swollen and indeed hurt to the touch. It took her a moment to notice the hot breath on her cheek, she thought one of Levi's men caught her. She sighs. "Thanks for catching me, but my ankle is swollen. I doubt I can walk to go see if Lussuria is ok in the hospital." She said looking up to mentally flinching at seeing Xanxus holding her, his arm around her waist to support her.

"VOOOOIIIII!!!!!" screamed Squalo glaring at her which made her jump and slap Xanxus on accident as she fell into his chair. Xanxus didn't say a word, he walked out onto the balcony to drink alone and to avoid hearing what Squalo had to say. Today is SO not my day… she bitterly thought as she looked at Squalo go off on her on how she was weak and wasn't able to do a damn thing. Then he went off on how Lussuria spoiled Mea by calling her princess. It went on and on for a good thirty minutes. Seriously… she thought as she recalled what she hit when he startled her. Why doesn't he stop talking and let me apologize to Xanxus-sama about smacking him. She sighed and looked at him with a calm stare.

"Squalo, as much as I would love to hear you lecture me more on things that are pointless. I owe Xanxus-sama an apology for slapping him because of you startling me." she said getting up from the chair and wobbled over to the balcony. Squalo was going to say something else but Mammon stopped him. "Leave her alone Squalo. You know she has it programmed in her to apologize for even the small things." Mammon said turning around to see Mea hobble out onto the balcony. She made her way over to Xanxus, he was swirling some brandy in a glass and looking away. "Forgive me for hitting you Xanxus-sama and taking your seat. It won't happen again." she said bowing even though her ankle said otherwise.

"Stupid trash.." he snarled, turning around and downing the rest of his drink. She blinked as she stood straight up to see his red eyes glowing with hate. Oh boy, I did it now.. she thought as he came close to toss her over his shoulder. She squealed, loudly in his ear which made him growl loud at her sound. "Shut up trash and don't move or I swear I'll make you regret me being this nice to you again." He threaten even though it was really what he wanted. As he walked inside to take her to her bed room, he couldn't help be feel the difference in her soft supple body against his shoulder. Nor ignore the matter of her legs looking sexy as hell in those high heels he bought for her.

All the members of Varia stared at her, and Bel noticed her wiggling a bit so he decided to tease her with a knife off his. He tossed one knife straight at he hip, slicing the fabric and a bit of her skin set of the kind of reaction he wanted. She squeaked again, failing her legs in an attempt to lift herself up to see what had happened. Xanxus tighten his grip onto her waist and snarled. "Calm down or I'm going to throw you down right here and now and do far worse than Bel's knife cut." He warned, glaring at Bel as he walked away to her room which was across from the living area.

He flopped her down onto her bed and snarled. "Do not do that again, understand trash?" he said turning around and opening the bottle of brandy in her room. She sighed, nodding as she took her heels off. "Yes Xanxus-sama..." she replied as she checked her foot again. "I'm going to need a cold compress to take care of this…if it's not trouble, could you get one for me?" she asked timidly, worried he would say no or something else. He turned to her, the scars on his face now to the minimum as he gazed at her. Such a small request, a simple request of taking care of her. Something inside of him swelled knowing she was depending on him for this.

Isn't it about time you made you're mark? The words of Squalo passed into his mind when they were younger and when she was starting out as his assistant. Squalo noted others would want her, he even expressed her likeness that the other members saw in her. "Tch." was all he said as he left, leaving his drink in the room with her which meant he was coming back. She sighed as he went to the refrigerator to find the cold compress and returns swiftly with a bottle of water. "Here trash." he said placing the compress onto her ankle and pushing her down slightly so she could relax.

"But sir." she started looking at him as he took a seat in her room and drank. "I'll be fine on my own." she said, the words sounded hollow and sad to him. Which pissed him off, the sadness in her words made him more pissed than Squalo back talking to him. "Listen to me trash, you've been unable to work properly because them worthless maggots make you worry about them. Lie down, rest up, get better or I'll force you to stay in bed by using any means necessary. Got it?" he said coldly, watching her tense up and her mouth open wide in pure shock at his words. Good. He mused in his mind, seeing her lush lips parting as she blushed at his words and laid down to avoid more conflict with him. He made his mark, she got it that she was his now. Or did she just do it to avoid getting more lectures? He didn't care either way, she knew he meant business about taking care of her, and that all that mattered to him.

Mea relaxed the rest of the night, she felt odd having Xanxus in her room taking care of her.

~Thunder Match day~

When she had awoken, she heard about the next match would be the Thunder Ring from Mammon. She hobbled out of her bed before they went to the next match and went to Levi who was in the kitchen alone. "Good luck on the Match Levi." She said smiling, which intern made the Guardian of Thunder blush since it was the first time he saw her smile that warmly. He felt a bit energized after seeing her smile, his train of thought was to not let her or the boss down. Her being second since she was almost like the trophy of Varia.

"Get back to bed." Snarled Xanxus seeing her hobble back to her room. She giggled, waving him off as if he was getting to riled up over this. "I was just telling Levi good luck on the match today. Who is he facing again?" she asked, Bel smirk and was going to tell her before he got cut off. "We'll tell you after the match." said Mammon leading everyone out. "Why didn't you let me tell her he was facing a kid?" Asked Bel. "Simple." stated Squalo. "The second she hears a kid is involved she is gonna be a doting mother and want to protect the kid. Even from us, we don't need her as an enemy because that trash of a boss will no doubt protect her if we try to get her to let go of the kid."

~After the Match~

She was wondering where Xanxus was, since all was left was Levi's grunts taking care of her and she really just told them to leave her alone. She was walking around a bit like she wasn't suppose to but she was back in her room sitting on her bed when she heard the definite sound of Squalo barging in. "VOOOOIIIII!!! We won! Two rings in one night!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "Really?" She called back, trying to get up but Xanxus was at the door glaring at her to sit down and stay down.

She sighed, she sat up and covered herself again. Mostly to hide the fact her ankle was worse than the day before since she was walking around on it without Xanxus knowing. "He intervened and I got the Sky Ring because of it." Said Xanxus. "And you moved when I told you to let Levi's trash take care of you." He snarled, pulling back the bed sheets to see her ankle was indeed more swollen than the last time he saw it. He bellowed at one of the lackeys to get him a bag of ice while he glared at her.

"But you won by default. Wouldn't it have been better just for you to fight him? To see if you were stronger?" she asked looking at him as Levi's lackey came in with the ice bag and handed it to Xanxus. "Tch." was all he said as he went back to tending to her. She knew better than to move about but she was really worried about the group. Everyone was getting hurt and she was stuck in this room just to heal. How fair was that? "You don't need to see any of this. Best that you didn't, not even at the end…like last time." He said quietly, and she flinched recalling the last battle she saw.

Sure she was stronger now, and she could defend herself. But the last battle she saw was when Xanxus tried to take on his father head on. Xanxus knew what happened because Squalo was the only one who stopped her from racing to Xanxus defense. Xanxus' father, he was so apologetic about her seeing the battle since it pretty much hurt her so badly. Squalo informed Xanxus of everything after that incident, even the part when she went silent for days on end. Not talking to anyone, not even Lussuria could get a reaction from her in those long days of silence.

She sighed, nodding and glances out the window. She knew what he meant, the day he came back and she cried so hard. He swore to her one thing. "I will never let you cry like this ever again." And he has kept that promise, even if it meant for Mammon to put an illusion in front of her eyes so she couldn't hear or see a damn thing while Xanxus and them took care of the rest. She laid back down and let him treat her ankle, all she could do is let him do this so he could uphold this promise.

~Four days later, the night of the Sky Match~

The past four matches were difficult for Mea to bear, particularly seeing Bel getting almost mummified and Mammon saying he was blown to pieces. Then there was the matter the Ninth boss was Mosca the whole time. "Mea-chan, are you hungry?" Came Tsuna mother's voice. Mea looked over at the woman, a sigh escaping her as she nodded sadly. The Cervellos told her to come to Tsuna's place due to that information. She hugged her knees, recalling the exact words they said.

"What do you mean I have to change who I serve?" Mea demanded from her bed, the Cervellos looked at one another before the left one spoke up. "Due to the matter of the Ninth Vongola family head being inside of Mosca, you are to transfer over to the other family heir immediately." she said, Mea gripped the bed sheets tight as she gritted her teeth. "That doesn't explain why the sudden serve change." she said coldly, her eyes glaring straight at the Cervellos made both of the women flinch. It was one thing to piss off Xanxus, another thing was to piss her off.

Mea didn't look the part of being in the mafia, so many don't think she had what it takes to kill someone. Only the Cervellos knew the truth of that though, it was because of Mea's natural sweet nature threw most off. None knew that once someone awaken the true 'animal instincts' in her, there was no way a person would come out unharmed. The left Cervello spoke again. "Because of the situation, you are to be switched over to the other heir since they have more rings." Said the Cervello. "Also, due to the incident of the Ninth boss being in Mosca we cannot allow a hard working assistant as yourself to be corrupted by something like this." They told her. She closed her eyes and breathed, and that was all they needed before they had people swarm her room and take her to Tsuna's house.

"Mea-san?" asked Tsuna over dinner, he noticed she was distant and he didn't want her to be so worried. "Don't worry Mea-san. I'm sure everything will be cleared up soon." He said reassuringly, it only earned him a half hearted smile. Tsuna could see she was suffering, not because of the sudden change of who she served, it was like the Cervellos forced her away from the place she belonged. Even Tsuna noticed how well Mea fit in with the Varia group. She was meant to be over there, not with his group.

~Before the Match~

"Mea-san, I want you to come see the battle tonight." said Tsuna as he got ready for his match. Mea looked up at him and sighed, she got onto her crutches and looked at Tsuna in the eyes. "Ok…but I'll tell you one thing Tsuna. I don't like seeing anyone hurt, and it'll be pretty bad for me to be stuck in that inferred box thing and unable to help anyone. I know this is a battle to decide who will be the head of the family…but I worry about everyone.." she said slowly and Tsuna smiled. "Don't worry, everything is going to be ok." He said and they walked towards Namimori Jr. Middle School.

-

Xanxus was furious when Tsuna's group finally showed up. "Boss…" said Levi, looking over shocked to see Mea on crutches walking towards them. The Cervellos stopped her before she could get any closer. "Please stay on your current side, Mea Umberto." said the left one and Mea sighed as Tsuna gently grasped her arm. He knew it was tough on her. "She can't even talk to them before the match starts-"

"No, she cannot speak a word to them." They said, Xanxus' mouth twitched hearing those words which got him more angry. He wasn't allowed to speak with her? Then why did this trash bring her along? Did he want to see him enraged more? Well he did it now, bringing Mea sealed Tsuna's fate, and Xanxus was going to kill him no matter what. If she so much sheds a tear…this kid is as good as dead… He thought bitterly.

"Xanxus-sama…" Mea looked on as he swore everyone to hell as he laid there weak on the ground after being rejected by the Sky Ring. She was on the verge of crying, knowing that he couldn't very well inherit the family name. "Cervellos! Let me out now!" yelled Mea, which caught everyone's attention since Mea wasn't the type to yell. "Sorry, but unfortunately the inferred cage isn't working properly. You cannot get out." They said which made Mea bite her bottom lip. "Lies." she said softly. "Dino, give me a boost would you. I'll scale over this thing no problem." she said softly tossing her crutches down.

"That idiot." said Bel hearing what she said and glanced over at Xanxus who looked just as shocked as everyone else. "Mea, you heard them-" she cut him off with a glare. "Do as I say or I may just kick you hard enough to send you flying over it yourself. Now, help me." she said firmly, Squalo watching her in awe. When did she get like this? Never has she been an authority figure at all, but here she is bossing around someone else like she's the boss. He thought watching as Dino got down low enough to propel her into the air. She moved back far enough to have a running start, her ankle may be throbbing but she needed to get over the cage to where Xanxus and Tsuna were.

She charged at Dino, her right foot in his cupped hands and he tossed her up as high as he could and watched. The Cervellos switched the monitor over to Mea and everyone in the battlefield watched as she shot up high enough to clear the cage. Arching her back delicately, she cleared over the top of the cage without setting off any of the sensors and landed onto her feet. She tossed her hair out of her eyes and smirked, everyone in Varia jaws dropped seeing her complete the feat like it was nothing. "Thank you Bucking Bronco." she said rushing over towards the battlefield.

"She just vaulted over that like it was nothing…" said Bel surprised, Mammon for once was speechless. He didn't predict that Mea had that kind of skill ever. But then again, Mea wasn't always in battle since she only wore skirts. Today, on the other hand was different. She was dressed in casual clothes which was unusual to see her in. Sweat pants, tennis shoes, and a regular t-shirt made the Varia group not take note that Mea was indeed a good asset to them if she could vault herself that high and not even set off one alarm on the sensors. "Damn, who knew she was that good." said Squalo, amazed as she made her way over to Tsuna first.

"Is everyone alright?" she asked, kneeling down next to Tsuna and he nodded. "Mea-san, you went pretty high today huh?" he asked which earned a laugh from the brunette Italian beauty. "Mhm. I did, that was actually higher than what I normally vault." she said and walked over to Xanxus. "Xanxus-sama…please stop this." she said kneeling next to him and rested her hand onto his cheek. "Even if you're not his son biologically, you are still his son none the less." she said softly, recalling what the Ninth told her the day his office was a wreck. She only kept one secret, one secret from Varia Group and it was who she really was. She could still remember what was said in the wrecked office of his.

"Mea, I know this is sudden for me to ask. But how is your flame?" he asked looking at her. She blinked while fixing his office and gave a small smile. "My Dying Will Flame is fine, not as strong as everyone else because I don't have a firm resolve yet." she said softly while she tidy up the room. "Show me, Mea." he said softly and she sighed. She turned around towards him, lifting her index finger of her right hand she let her Dying Will Flame sprout out and flicker. "You are indeed my sister's daughter Mea. Although I didn't agree with who she was to marry, I see she made the right choice." He said softly, smiling at her.

"Thank you Uncle, but what about Xanxus. I know about the adoption and the truth of his heritage…" Mea said slowly, and the Ninth sighed. "When the day comes and there is a battle going on. Mea, I want you to show him you flame. Show him your resolve." he said softly, smiling at her once more. "Then, and only then will you know your true resolve."

Xanxus started at her, he couldn't move against the touch of hers. Then he saw her right hand move upwards and she smiled. "Although I am not a heir, Uncle knew one day…one day I would have to show you the truth." she said softly, sadly as she gazed at the Cervellos. They nodded. "We will announce the results after you show him the flame." One Cervello said. "The Flame?" asked Gokudera looking at Tsuna. Tsuna watched, he only was told by Mea about her flame. She stood, holding her right hand up and closed her eyes. "My Dying Will Flame, the proof I am a blood relative of Tsuna and the Ninth, my uncle." she said as soft flames erupted out of her right hand swallowing it whole.

Xanxus, like most of everyone beside the Cervellos and Tsuna, watched her flames memorized by it. She opened her eyes and her flames changed how they flickered and focus at the tip of her index finger. "Uncle didn't want you to know Xanxus. He didn't want you to know that I was his niece and you were my adopted cousin. He kept us apart but I've seen you at family gatherings. My father kept me away from you because I looked like my mother so much. Uncle would have said something, so for my safety he kept us apart." she said softly and kneels next to him. "But, since we're not blood, I think it's safe for other things to happen." she said smiling and letting her flame vanish.

"Give the results and let me haul all of these buffoons to the pent house so I can treat them. They need a good lecture with some nurturing so they can heal up." she said, giggling at the thought of what she would do. "You trash…" said Xanxus. "Call me trash again, and I'll make sure to never buy you aged brandy again." she said flatly, her blue eyes normally warm showed she was annoyed at him calling her that. Xanxus closed his eyes, smirking at what she said. Who would have thought that this kind calm woman had such vicious claws? He mused in his mind, liking her talking back to him with a purpose. She still had that soft tone, the way she spoke was really calm and made him wanna choke her. But that undertone threat was what made him smirk, she was finally putting her foot down and acted like a Varia member.

"We will now announce the results…"

Once back in the pent house she tended to everyone's wounds, some not so happy to have her tending to them but the ones who really hated her where the guardians. "You're a friggen member of the Vongola family and you didn't tell us?" said Levi quiet shocked. "Ahya, seems like now that the true of my birth seems shocking. Pardon me a moment." she said walking into Xanxus' room and locked the door. She walked over to him. "How are you feeling Xanxus-sama." she said softly and looked into his eyes. "Tch, you know damn well I how I feel…" he snarled, glaring at her with hateful red eyes.

"Uncle didn't want you to know." she said seating herself onto the edge of his bed, her hand resting onto his cheek. "Besides, Xanxus-sama. We're not blood related, so perhaps…" she sighed, looking away. "I keep forgetting that something like that couldn't happen." she spoke quietly, which drew Xanxus' attention once more. What was it she was hoping for? Did it have to deal with them not being blood related? He slowly sat up and gave a heavy sigh, more like a grunt as he grabbed her chin and forced her to look him dead into the eye. "If you ever hide something like this again, I'll kill you. Got that woman?" he growled, glaring at her.

Mea was stunned by his actions, she just blinked and swallowed by his words. Numbly she nodded, not wanting to really see what his wrath would do to her if he really didn't like any more secrets from her. "Woman? When did you start calling me that?" she asked looking at him. He chuckled, a small smirk playing on his lips. "If I call you woman, you have to call me my name. And no -sama after it, or I'll make certain to wipe that formality off of your tongue personally." he said leaning close to her, his lips hovering over hers. She laughed softly, resting her hand over his and gave a playful smirk as she pushed him down with ease.

"Only if you do as I ask this time and rest, time for me to be the mean nurse." she said, handing him a small glass of brandy. She walked out of his room, shutting the door and a small blush flushed her cheeks as she smiled. "I guess he got the coded message after all."

Monika-san: o.o

Haruhi-nee: o_o

Kissanpennun: Well that was a good chapter-nee. ^.^

Monika-san: The hell did you pull that out of? Seriously, I thought it was going to be like short chapters and here it is all summed up in ONE chapter of the events.

Kissanpennun: . That's because I edited out the battles and put it as one thing. Also, I thought putting in the same information after the first two battles were pointless.

Haruhi-nee: Pointless how?

Kissanpennun: After Thunder match it isn't important since it would be the same old same old. They tell her if they won or if they lost, they have small talks then Xanxus tends to her in a violent kind of hostile way. ;;

Haruhi-nee: So…are you going to give a bonus chapter after the last chapter?

Monika-san: Yea, I wanted to see Bel get that look from Xanxus! ++Pouts++

Kissanpennun: -.-;; Fine, at the end of this story I will put a bonus chapter where Bel hits on Mea and that would be the start of Xanxus getting possessive. AKA, when they played that truth game. .

Haruhi-nee: Please R&R or I'll skewer you.

Monika-san: ++Sweat drop.++ No cutting up the readers!!!

Kissanpennun: After this chapter it will be the last aside from the special bonus chapter you guys get to read. Trust me, that's more humor than romance. +Giggles+ So until next time! Ciao-nee!

Chapter 3: Quick summary.

Now that Tsuna has gone ten years into the future, how is Mea and Xanxus holding up after all of those years? Is there a new addition, and also what else does Mea hide from Xanxus. Till next time, Ja-nee! :3