Author's note

I've got two news for you, dear readers. The good one is that my sister promised to still help me with the story. The bad one is that she has even less time than before, so the updates won't be regular. Up until now I tried to post a new chapter at least weekly but now it may take a bit longer. I hope you don't mind. As I once said, life can be time-consuming ;)


It didn't take Xanxus too long to empty the tequila bottle. After he finished he threw it at Tsuna. "Bring me another bottle, trash."

Tsuna looked at the varia boss somewhat doubtful. "Ummm…Are you sure?"

"Stop asking stupid questions and just bring it."

Tsuna decided that Xanxus must have an extraordinary alcohol tolerance as he seemed mostly sober. The boy sighed and headed for the door with the intention to ask Ida for another bottle. To his surprise, after he opened the door, he saw his father. "Hello, Tsuna! Reborn told me I'll find you here!"

"What are you doing here, father?"

"Is that tequila? Xanxus, didn't I tell you not to make Tsuna drink alcohol?"

Xanxus gave Iemitsu a glare full of contempt. "I don't take orders from you."

Iemitsu thought that Timoteo got the opposite effect to what he was really intending. Instead of Tsuna having a good influence on Xanxus, it was the latter having a bad influence on the former. He sighed and spoke. "But you do take orders from the ninth, right Xanxus? He wants to see both you and Tsuna."

"What does that old fart want?"

Iemitsu resisted the temptation to give the disrespectful brat before him a good hiding and answered the question. "Apparently, there are some problems with Macchina Family."

"Tch. So, he wants us to eradicate those weak trash."

Tsuna wasn't too happy to hear that. He didn't feel like fighting anyone or meddling in mafia affairs. Contrary to him, Xanxus barely concealed his enthusiasm. It's been awhile since he killed someone and he was feeling a bit out of form. As a result he eagerly followed Iemitsu while Tsuna reluctantly dragged along behind them. On their way to the ninth's office they saw Bianchi, Haru and Ida. The former was giving some sort of lecture to the other two. Tsuna overheard a part of it. "If it's for love, someone can die." The boy facepalmed. Bianchi was probably the last person to ask for a love advice.

Timoteo smiled warmly when saw his adopted son. "It's been a long time, Xanxus. You're looking well."

Xanxus narrowed his eyes spitefully, not even trying to hide his distaste. "Spare me that bullshit, old man. Just get to the point."

The ninth looked at Xanxus somewhat sadly but he proceeded to explain. "Two of my guardians were attacked by the members of Macchina family."

"Then send your other guardians to aid them. Those Macchina trash are so weak that even they should be able to cope with it."

Tsuna was quite sure that Xanxus made that remark just to spite his father. Timoteo sighed and continued. "My other guardians are on leave, so it's an emergency situation. Besides, you and Tsunayoshi-kun are the only ones that can get there fast enough."

"Aren't you forgetting something, old man? I can't fly with these on." Xanxus pointed to the restraints. In response the ninth took out a pair of x-guns and a small electronic device with a single button. He handed them to Tsuna. "I'm leaving it to you, Tsunayoshi-kun."

"Huh, me? What I'm supposed to do with them?"

"Here's the map with the location. Now please hurry."

Xanxus glanced briefly at the map. Then he grabbed Tsuna by the collar and started dragging him away. The boy tried to protest. "Hey, let me go!"

Xanxus released him abruptly. "There is no time to waste, trash. Give me back my guns and deactivate those shitty restraints."

"But do you promise not to kill me?"

In response Xanxus grabbed Tsuna's neck. He tightened the grip just enough to inflict pain but still not tight enough to strangle the poor boy to death. He spoke in an icy tone. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be already dead, trash."

Tsuna was released and he coughed violently while massaging his bruised neck. Eventually he spoke. "Fine, you convinced me. Here are your guns. I'll deactivate the restraints immediately."

Xanxus took the guns and smiled as they started glowing. For a moment Tsuna thought that they would be fired them at him but the varia boss soared into the air. The boy took the dying will pill and quickly followed him. He asked. "Is it far from here?"

"Not far."

Indeed, they soon saw a pair of men in black suits being attacked by 10 people in what looked like some sort of mechanical armors. Xanxus started loading his guns but Tsuna grabbed him at his waist to stop him. "Wait! If you shot them, the guardians might get hurt too!"

Xanxus frowned obviously displeased. "Do you have a better idea, trash?"

Tsuna thought about it for a moment. "I'll freeze the attackers that are the nearest. You'll do the rest."

Xanxus nodded albeit reluctantly. Tsuna suspected that he wouldn't mind burning the guardians along with the attackers but he said nothing. Instead he started to release his flames and flew to the nearest man in the armor. A one touch was enough and the man froze almost instantly. Next he froze two others who tried to attack him. The rest was shot by Xanxus. Fortunately for them, the armors protected them from certain death but they still required medical treatment. The only ones left standing were the two guardians. The first one of them was an elderly man wearing glasses. The second one was middle-aged with mixed hair. Xanxus landed and smiled mockingly to them. "Aren't you shitty guardians? Not only you can't protect your boss but you can't even protect yourselves. You're the lowest of the trash."

"How dare you, Xanxus!"

The younger one of the guardians wanted to go at Xanxus but the older one stopped him. "Calm down, Ganauche. This brat isn't worth it."

Ganauche looked at smiling Xanxus grudgingly but he obeyed. The elderly man spoke to Tsuna. "You must be Sawada Tsunayoshi-sama? My name is Visconti. I want to thank you for your help."

"Not at all. Aren't you hurt?"

"No, thanks to you. I'll give my report to the ninth imminently. Ganauche will take care of them."

Visconti pointed to the laying men in the armors. Tsuna nodded. Soon the guardians walked away taking the members of Macchina family along with them. Xanxus spoke to Tsuna. "Aren't you going to activate those shitty restraints?"

In response Tsuna smiled and handed him the device. "There is no need. You can have it."

Xanxus looked at him questioningly. Tsuna answered. "You said that you could've killed me all this time but you didn't. So there is no need for those restraints. I trsut you."

Xanxus gave Tsuna a strange look but he took the device. He burned it almost instantly with his flame of rage. Soon the restraints followed it. A smile appeared on his face. A smile that made Tsuna shiver. Xanxus spoke. "You're too soft, trash."

And then he burst into an insane laughter. "BWAHAHA! NOW THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP ME! DIE!"

A flame of rage formed on his palm. Tsuna shrieked and cringed. "Hiiiie!"

Xanxus' flame disappeared and he squatted next to trembling Tsuna. "Oy, trash, I was just joking. Move your ass, we got to go back."

Tsuna thought that he would never get fully used to Xanxus' sense of humor.