Xanxus couldn't let his subordinates die. Mochida had been to the future, he had to know something. The look on his face as he stared at Xanxus...well, that meant Mochida knew something, and Xanxus had to know what.

Tsunayoshi appeared with a dramatic sweep of his jacket on top of the water tower, staring down at Xanxus blankly.

Xanxus, hair dripping, spat out water and said, "Are you an idiot? If Mochida's been to the future, then he knows something. I won't have you trash killing off that information so quickly." He glared, red eyes burning, waiting for someone to defy him so he could kill.

Tsunayoshi smirked, then started to snicker. "Is that your only reason? If you have to rely on such intelligence, then you should just give up."

Xanxus's eye twitched, hand already up and glowing. "Shut your mouth."

Tsunayoshi burst out laughing. "Those eyes of yours...you think you can defeat me?"

Xanxus clenched his jaw. "Of course. I want the title of Decimo."

Tsunayoshi was wiping at his eyes. "I don't get why the old man chose you. You break his ideals."

Xanxus couldn't hide his amused sneer. "Neither of us do."

A look passed between them, intangible and difficult to understand.

Cervello chimed in to announce the winners, declaring the Sky and Lightning Rings were to go over to Varia. Xanxus wordlessly handed over his, expecting Mochida to follow suit.

"Juudaime-" Gokudera started, but Xanxus waved him down, eyes still locked with Tsunayoshi.

Tsunayoshi was the first to turn away, looking at Levi who was presenting him with the Lightning Ring. "Fail again, and you know what happens, right?" He was smiling softly.

Levi swallowed thickly and nodded.

Xanxus spun away, clicking his tongue. "Mochida."

He flinched. "Y-Yes?"

Xanxus's eyes slid to him. "Fuck up again and I'll break your legs." Xanxus considered the fear in Mochida, then added grudgingly, "Good job not dying."

~o0o~

"So? What did you see?" Xanxus crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. Mochida stiffened under Xanxus's gaze.

"Well," Mochida stuttered. "I didn't see much-"

Xanxus resisted the urge to slap him. "Tell me." Aside from the two, only Reborn was there; Xanxus wasn't in the mood to answer Yamamoto's and Gokudera's questions. (He didn't expect much from Ryohei.)

"I saw Yamamoto, and he had a scar on his face," Mochida explained, pointing at his chin. "And, well, they looked they were in mourning."

"Mourning," Xanxus said flatly. "For what?"

Mochida shrugged helplessly. "They wouldn't tell me."

"Did you see anyone else?"

"No..."

"Your tone doesn't convey confidence."

"I didn't."

"Did you see anything that struck you as different? Something you couldn't find today?"

"Nothing," Mochida said firmly. "Only a standard living room, and Yamamoto didn't let me leave."

Xanxus paused. "Fine," he said grudgingly. Mochida probably wasn't hiding anything else, so he let him leave.

"In mourning," Xanxus wondered aloud, glancing at Reborn. "What do you think?"

"Who knows. All we know is that it could be anyone aside from Mochida and Yamamoto."

Xanxus grimaced. "I don't like it." Another glance at Reborn. "But I'll deal with it after the Battles."

~o0o~

Gokudera promised to win, and yet the trash wasn't showing up. Xanxus forced himself not to fidget, soothing himself with the thought of murdering Gokudera if he didn't show up.

And just as Xanxus considered the best places to dispose of a body, Gokudera showed up.

"Sorry I'm late, Juudaime," he said, looking sheepish.

Xanxus rolled his eyes. "Just get in there," he replied, stepping aside to allow Gokudera through. The other Storm was laughing about something, and Xanxus had a mind to slap him. (He didn't, because if he was going to smack anyone it would Tsunayoshi for not even bothering to show up, the lazy bastard.)

And when Gokudera fought, Xanxus wondered what the fuck drove him. Xanxus had done nothing to win the loyalty, and yet his so-called Storm Guardian was running himself into the ground.

Gokudera refused to listen to Shamal, refused to return, and the familiar rage of Xanxus reared its ugly head. Biting it back viciously, he spat out at his Storm, "Get back here, you goddamn trash."

His side fell silent as all eyes cut to him.

Xanxus continued glaring at Gokudera, hoping to convey his utmost fury. "I have no use for a dead right hand man," he went on. "So get back here, I'm ordering you."

Gokudera obeyed, barely making it out alive.

~o0o~

"I'm next up, boss," Squalo said, sauntering in. "Bel won."

Tsunayoshi turned slightly, then slumped back down. "Hm."

"Nothing?" Squalo said incredulously. "Boss?"

Tsunayoshi propped his feet up on the table and sighed. "Look, I don't know," he said blandly. "I don't want Gola to get hurt."

"It's a machine," Squalo snapped, irritated and thankful none of the other guardians had dared to venture into this room with him. "Who cares, Gola can't feel anything."

Tsunayoshi pouted petulantly. "I care," he complained.

"You're being infantile," Squalo said dismissively. This was happening more frequently; Tsunayoshi wasn't behaving in the way he remembered.

Tsunayoshi rubbed one of his scars, clearly troubled by something. Squalo wanted to ask what, but didn't have the courage.

Recurring pain, Tsunayoshi wanted to say, but couldn't show weakness. He just wanted these battles to be over and done with.

~o0o~

"You'll win," Xanxus informed Yamamoto, who nodded and grinned.

"Yeah, I will, Xanxus-san." The steel in Yamamoto's eyes backede up his claim. But then again, Gokudera had looked the same and lost.

Gokudera insisted on being there, barely able to stand on his feet. Something about proving himself to Xanxus, or whatever, and Xanxus was tempted to punch Gokudera. Really, he had no use for idiocy.

"Sharks," Xanxus said once they had gaped at the ring momentarily. "Fucking sharks," and he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Tsunayoshi spoke softly, and yet his voice reached Xanxus.

"Sharks," Xanxus told Tsunayoshi, before doubling over again and cackling. "Get it? Squalo, sharks, this is – fucking unbelievable."

Tsunayoshi smiled slightly. "It is, isn't it?"

Squalo whipped around to say something, but then paused and turned back to the ring. Xanxus pretended not to see that, choosing instead to turn to Reborn and say, "So what do you think about all this?"

Ryohei and Gokudera both looked surprised at this. (Mochida was elsewhere, as Xanxus didn't want to deal.)

"It'll be interesting," Reborn said.

"Yeah, it will be," Xanxus nodded. And the Rain Ring Battle commenced.


yeah this website is hell, I hate it, but I'll probably keep updating here. leaving a review will make me update quicker! :U *shameless promotion but true nevertheless*

questions will be answered on tumblr(url: otaku-alert) bc idk how ppl reply here