DISCLAIMER: I don't own KHR or any of the associated characters aside from my OCs.
"Make a choice, Kira. Is it us or them?"
What a shocking question to be asked by the boss. I stared at him, the glass nearly slipped from my fingers in shock. This was it. Was this the choice? Was boss checking my loyalty before he ordered an all out battle against Sawada for the position of Don Vongola Decimo?
I have to…. What? Can I even stop him? Do I want to stop him if this is what he really wants?
"There's no choice to be made. As long as you're the strongest, I'll stand by you." I told him the same thing I've said many times before because it's my personal code, "Until I defeat you, your orders are absolute."
"I'm asking without any of that." He finally turned his chair sharply back to face me, slamming his bottle onto the table, "If I'm weaker than you, do you still choose to remain with us?"
"But you're not." I didn't want to picture a boss who was weaker than me. I can't bear the thought of taking orders from an herbivore, "Don't ask pointle-"
He gripped the bottle until his knuckles turned white as he cut me off, "Don't say it's pointless unless you want me to kill you on the spot."
I clamped my mouth shut, taking his threat seriously. I thought about it for a moment and then gave him my equally serious response, "If you're weaker than me then so be it but you're not the only one who has earned my respect. Squalo is still here and on their side, the strongest is Kyoya. My brother is… I don't know about now but he has always been weaker than me due to our age gap. There's no question about it. Be it you or Squalo, I choose to follow the Varia."
His expression grew angry but he only lifted the bottle again, taking another long drink. It was not the answer he wanted to hear.
The minute I lifted my glass, his eyes flickered back to me. He was watching me. Trying not to be unnerved, I took a sip and placed the cup back down. I tried not to be bothered by the knowledge of the whiskey's origins but it bothered me. The boss drank out of that bottle, poured me a glass, and continued to drink out of his bottle like it wasn't a big deal. It was a strange gesture, especially since he was now watching me so closely.
His eyes went back to the window, turning his chair to match.
Uncomfortable, I muttered, "If this is about the future, I'm not going."
He was mid-swig when I spoke. Only his eyes came back to watch me, taking an interest in my new topic.
"To quit. I mean." I added, not sure if this is what I should be saying. I don't know when it started but his eyes were beginning to make me nervous, "I won't."
"Ten years is a long time." He said, finally putting down his bottle again, "It can change a lot of things."
"Eight years is also a long time." I tried not to stutter but my heart was pounding in my chest.
Cradle Affair was taboo among the Varia for a reason. The boss could easily get angry if I speak out of turn about it. I wasn't sure how he would react.
Come to think of it, this is a rare occurrence. It's not every day that a person can have a conversation with Xanxus. This is something really special.
He took a deep breath. It wasn't really a sigh but it wasn't really a sharp breath. It sounded like he was just letting off steam.
"In eight years, you never once thought of leaving?" His eyes were turned out the window again, almost as if he didn't want to see my face when I answered. He didn't trust me.
"That's a dumb question. How could I think of leaving while you were…?" What was I trying to say? Why did it matter if he was stuck there or not? My heart was now pounding against my ribs from the inside as I struggled not to blush openly.
"You don't owe me anything." He never turned to look at me, which was something I was grateful for considering how much trouble I was having with keeping my face one color, "So why did you come?"
"I told you before. You're the leader of this group and we need you." I'm honestly not sure why he's asking but he took pity on me and made himself clear.
"Why did you come alone?" He finally swivelled his chair back around to face me, crimson eyes unwavering as he waited for the answer he probably always wanted to hear, "If I was really as necessary as you say, why were you the only one who came?"
I tried hard to recollect my thoughts. Thinking back, it was many things that lead me into attempting a solo rescue. I was impatient, Ottavio was trying to kill off Squalo and Lussuria to claim the leadership spot for himself, and I was unable to accept our defeat at the hands of the Ninth and his Guardians. I felt it was unfair for the boss to receive the punishment all alone when we had all betrayed the Ninth. But more than anything...
The basement was calling to me. The boss was calling to me.
"You…" I finally found my answer. I met his gaze with the same anxious hope, "I heard your voice telling me to come to you on that day. I had to go so you tell me. Were you only calling for me?"
Eyes wide, he stared at me like I'd grown another head. Eventually, he let a low chuckle echo through the room, "Because I thought you'd be the only one to succeed."
The highest praise. The blush I was trying to hold down now exploded across my cheek and I was the one averting my eyes. I had never felt such happiness before in my entire life.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi." He started and my blush settled immediately as I waited for him to continue, "He can have that spot. My Vongola ends with the Ninth but if he drags the Vongola name through the mud with weakness, I'll claim that spot. Objections?"
"None. … But why?" It was a sudden change in topic but I expected nothing less from the boss. There's no reason to keep talking about something stupid when there's something else that must be said.
"As long as the Vongola is the strongest, there's no problem. And isn't he with them?" He smirked when I stared at him curiously, "The brother you're always bragging about."
I couldn't control it. Another blush spread across my cheeks faster than I could hold it down.
"Wh-What's with you?" I reached for the glass of whiskey, throwing it back in one go before slamming the empty cup back on the table, "Why are you being like this?"
"Like what?" He scoffed, casually pouring me another glass, "I should be asking you. Why are you so embarrassed about nothing?"
I pushed the glass across the table, refusing it completely, "Why aren't you embarrassed?"
He snorted, taking the glass to his lips and throwing it back like it was nothing. When he put it back down, he met my gaze and held it with nothing more than confidence, "Because I'm not a helpless virgin like you."
Embarrassed beyond help, I stood so fast I knocked the chair onto the floor, "W-Well sorry! I can't help it! I don't have any interest in those kinds of things!"
He straight out laughed at me. It was such a condescending kind of laugh and I couldn't hold back. I clenched my fist and threw it straight at his face. Ever suave, he reached up and grabbed my fist in a leisurely fashion. He rose from the chair to his full height, pulling me forward across the table.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" He gave me a hard shove, watching as I righted myself from stumbling, "Let's head to the training room."
"You're challenging me?" My eyes widened as he came around the desk and went straight for the door. I blushed darkly when he turned around with a smirk, "B-Boss?"
"Show me your wings, Kira."
He wants to face me in Cambio Forma? Hesitant, I stopped following abruptly, "Boss… That's…"
"If you won't use it, I'll force you." He reached for his guns, patting them both and heading out without looking back, "Come."
Sparring with the boss is always exciting because I consider this man one of the strongest people I have ever met in my life. I almost look forward to losing. If I defeat him, I wouldn't know what to think so I can't use the Cambio Forma.
But true to his word, boss was pressing me hard within just a few minutes of sparring. He had yet to even pull his guns on me. In hand to hand combat, I was supposed to be stronger and yet…
"What's wrong, Kira?" His tone held all the confidence in the world, "Does embarrassing you make it easier to defeat you?"
I swung at him again, "Bastard!"
When he put distance between us yet again, I finally drew my gauntlets up over my hands but it was my legs that lashed out at him first. Surprised for the first time, he narrowly missed a block that had him skidding across the tiles with a bruise to his temple.
"Heh." My flames lit up and scorched over the metal plating in my gauntlets.
When I went at him this time, he was pulling a pistol from his belt. The Flames of Wrath fed in rapidly and let off two warning shots. I flipped back, halting my advance but I knew I couldn't stay back too long. I had to close in or I would lose.
Still with a leisurely smirk on his face, he lit up his ring on me first, "Bester!"
"Fuck!"
I stumbled back as the beast came lurching forward, clawing at my face. I almost had my head taken off as he advanced. Between the claws of the liger and the shots aimed at my vitals from the boss, I was hard pressed for sure. It wasn't until Bester's claw hooked my cheek that I let my ring surge to life.
"Aquilos!" I called for him and he answered, screeching to the skies even in our cramped training room, "Hunt the boss."
The shots going off were no longer aimed at me as Aquilos began his relentless offense. Grappling with Bester became much easier when the boss was off my ass. It was almost like playing with a pet. My fist hooked Bester under the jaw and sent him flying and I took my chances.
"Aquilos, Cambio Forma!" I didn't have to turn to know my companion had retreated towards me.
The transformation glow was already beginning. My back stretched and gave way, wings spread wide.
"Bester, Cambio Forma."
I turned, watching Bester disappear in a bright light and surge into the boss' guns. I was stunned. What kind of…? Since when was he able to do such a thing?!
Transformation solidified, my wings easily carried me across the floor and towards the boss at full force. He lifted his gun, matching my speed with pure firepower. Mid-flight, I drew my wings forward around my body. This would be a contest of pushing power. If I had gained enough speed in the short distance to continue forward against the power of his shot, I'd smash into him and win. If not…
Well, it's not an if because I didn't have enough speed to continue. The Flames of Wrath scorched through the steel coating of my wings and they might've burnt straight through if I hadn't twisted out of the way. The remainder of the shot went blasting by. I spun to the floor and I felt my wings shatter as I slammed to the tiles beneath. Looking at them, they were pretty much destroyed by the boss' desperate one hundred percent serious shot.
I slammed my fist on the floor in frustration. Even at my best I couldn't beat him. How sad.
The sadness was easily flooded over by the pain of having my wings broken. Cambio Forma shattered, Aquilos returned to the ring to lick his wounds for another day.
I curled up momentarily, trying to ignore the pain shooting down my spine. To my surprise, the boss sat down beside me with a hand on my head until I was capable of unfolding myself.
"Fuck you." I choked, "Sitting there without a scratch."
Without a word, he threw down his pistol. The clattering of a chipped gun against the floor was my only sign that he was trying to say something. I reached a hand towards the gun, noticing even before I touched it that it was radiating heat. The tip was blasted off. The gun was no longer usable. His full powered shot reduced his own gun to ashes. That's how serious he had been. I finally got to see his true strength.
I felt so honored. Grinning, I rolled onto my back, "Next time, let's fight outside. I feel like I'm disadvantaged in here."
He grunted acknowledgement, looking down at me so calmly compared to when we were fighting.
I sat up, stretching my back every which way, "And next time, I won't let you shatter my wings."
He grunted again, "Kira."
"Yeah, boss?" I ceased my stretching, turning to face him curiously only to find he had come much closer. I gasped at the sudden proximity, "B-Boss?"
He leaned in and I squeezed my eyes shut immediately, heart pounding so loud I could hear it knocking in my ears. I held my breath as he kissed me. It was nothing like our first tentative kiss. This was something that invaded all of my senses.
His scent filled my nose. It was a scent I could only describe as Xanxus'. A keen mix of whiskey, musk, blood, sweat, and something more. His taste was just as manly. Dry liquor, whiskey, tobacco. He didn't smoke often but the taste was there just the same.
One of his hands was weaved up into my hair and the other roughly pulled me closer by the lower back. The warmth spreading down my previously aching spine was unsettling. It drove me to desire something more. I reached for him, my arms looping around his neck to draw him closer.
I whimpered against his lips when he pulled back, biting at my lower lip as he peeled away for a moment. The noise seemed to motivate him to come forward again. This time, it was much more aggressive. He pushed me down, pinning me beneath his body as he kissed me. His hands spread across my stomach first, slowly pushing up under my shirt.
I reached for his hand, snagging it up by the wrist as I tore away from him, "W-Wait."
"You're seriously saying that to me in this situation?" He grumbled, lips moving against my neck with each word. He didn't get a timely response so he opened his mouth and clamped down on my neck savagely.
I didn't see it coming. I threw back my head and moaned nice and loud for the world to hear and then I got embarrassed so I socked him in the face.
He didn't see that one coming at all. He reared back, hand pressed over his bruising cheekbone, "You fucking… Seriously?"
"Asshole." I hissed, covering my bright red face as I scrambled to my feet and ran for it.
Memories of this day would never leave me for the rest of my life.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
My neck was wrapped in bandages when Squalo and the rest of the guys came back. Our strategy captain was baffled by the wrappings and stunned speechless.
Lussuria was immediately on me, "What happened?! Did he send you on a mission? Who was it?!"
Embarrassed out of my wits, I slammed my fist into his gut and stomped on him when he doubled over, "Anyone else want to know?"
"Ushishishi. We're good." Bel snickered, "It's probably something stupid anyways."
"Shut up!" I snapped, trying to regain control of the conversation, "Anyways, what happened with the Ninth? Is he replanning the ceremony?"
"Not yet. He's pushing it back for a while." Squalo said with a long sigh, "Sawada's group suppressed the Simon Family but now that everything's ruined, there's a lot to make up for before we can set up another ceremony. Your brother's alright. It seems he played a big part in their victory."
"As expected." I snorted, "Kyoya's adorably strong."
"And from the Bucking Horse." Lussuria added, "He said, 'Let's settle our match soon, Kira.'"
"VOII! That's right! What does that mean?! What match?!" Squalo demanded, shaking me back and forth, "He said it twice!"
"Ah…" I forgot about him, "Well, I told Dino I'd fight him. If I lose, I'm dating him. In a monogamous relationship or something."
Simultaneous gasps rolled through my coworkers and he was immediately asking for clarification, "I thought you said you weren't leaving!"
"I'm not! Don't you have any faith?!" I hissed, "I'm going to win."
There was nothing more for them to say if they thought I was going to win. No one could say anything because they wanted to have faith in me. Not that it would have changed anything. I wouldn't have backed out of the challenge regardless.
"It's none of our business anyways." Squalo scoffed, "Anyways, I was thinking. Maybe we should head out to France soon."
"Oh? For Flan?" I liked the way this man thought but I don't know how I feel about the Frog-hatted illusionist meant to be Rokudo Mukuro's disciple, "Is it really necessary to have Flan when we won't be losing Mammon?"
"The more the better and who knows. Maybe he'll end up being your replacement instead."
Such an insult. I threw the first punch, knocking him in the side of the head. He didn't just sit idly. He punched back. Laughing wildly, Bel and Levi joined in on our childish brawl. Before we knew it, it was a full on battle royale to determine the dominant force in our ranks. Mammon snuck out.
Results of our cheap, dirty fighting round will be omitted but let's just say I went nuts when someone reached for my wrappings in an attempt to reveal the bite mark underneath. I slammed my foot into poor Levi's nuts and watched him double over. I retreated, protectively guarding my wrappings and daring the others to try it if they wanted to meet the same fate. And I said the results would be omitted but I changed my mind.
The truth of the matter is I, Hibari Kira, took cheap shots at all of them and stomped them into the ground to protect the secret behind my bandages. I'd die if they found out what happened between me and the boss the other day. Keeping the secret was more important to me than a fair fight. Case closed.
Hi! Bye! :)