Lesson 38: To Sacrifice
"I just don't believe violence is ever the answer. It is a question. The real answer is far more terrifying."
-Joseph Fink & Jeremy Cranor (Cecil; Welcome to Night Vale: The Sandstorm)
"Hey, Ausil… are you hungover?" Dino asked, slowing as he walked into the classroom. Ausiliatrice's eyes went to his, nearly glaring, but with a tired, slightly annoyed tint.
"Ausiliatrice," she corrected instead, propping her head on her hand and almost slumping forward onto the desk.
"I guess this will help then," Dino said with only slight hesitation, not knowing whether to be amused with the situation or not. He placed a mug of coffee on the desk in front of her, before pulling a chair up to the desk for himself, casually plopping down into it.
"I didn't know Shamal was in," he said with the same amount of casualness, to which Ausiliatrice responded (almost, one could phrase, without thinking).
"I was with Xanxus, not Shamal."
And Dino nearly choked, having taken a sip of his own coffee right as she spoke.
"Xanxus?! Why – Why were you with him?" He asked, far more concerned than angry. He backtracked quickly, however, when her eyes snapped to him. "Not that it's my business, I mean, you do what you want – just," and he said this as a sigh, slumping forward, "I just… I'm not sure you know, about… I trust you and if you trust him, I guess…" and he trailed off again, looking to the side as he ran a hand through his hair, expression unsure and uncomfortable. Another breath, and then he asked:
"What were you talking about? Why were you with him? Because ...you had a reason, right?"
(he hoped)
Ausiliatrice watched this transpire carefully, his reaction. And instead of a spurt of anger, like she assumed she would have, she felt something else instead. Curiosity? Perhaps. But then,
Guilt.
Her eyes flickered to his watch, then hers, before a scowl barely graced her features.
"….I'll explain later."
And he frowned – no, it was a wince, submissive and edging on hurt. And he turned away from her.
(It's not that she wanted to keep things from him, but wasn't she always doomed to circumstance?)
"I guess you're not coming with us to meet with Team Uni then?" He asked quietly, far more reserved (cold) than he was in the beginning of this exchange.
"I'm staying with Kyoya tonight," she answered simply. And he nodded and began to push himself up,
Before pausing, his mouth barely opened, as if wanting to say something – but that only lasted a moment, it was only a pause before he spoke again, clearly not saying what he wanted to,
"I should get back to work."
And he walked away from her, out of the room,
And she let him go.
(star crossed lovers indeed)
"But…" Uni said, smiling brightly once more after giving the group a daunting premonition about the next battle (two Arcobaleno losing, but who, but who?), "Let's not focus on that for now, okay? I've been meaning to ask," she said, her eyes shining, aura and attitude bright as she looked around at the group, "Where's Miss Ausiliatrice? She is fighting for you, right Uncle?" Uni asked, turning to Reborn in question.
The hitman hesitated before opening his mouth to answer, but nearly winced when Dino spoke before him.
"She stayed behind," he said, frowning only slightly before giving Uni a charming, albeit crooked grin, "so she isn't with us tonight."
"I think she chose to stay with Hibari," Chrome answered from her seat, placing her tea cup down gently as she nodded in confirmation, "She decided to spend this battle with him."
"You're her student as well, right, Chrome?" Uni asked, smiling softly over at the girl. Chrome barely blushed and nodded once more, far more determined and confident than the first.
"What's it like, being with her? I've wondered, since I met her… well, since my future self met her, I should say," Uni corrected herself, sending a twinge of sadness through the room.
"You seemed fond of her, then," Dino said, with a smile, hinting at sadness, confusion. Uni hummed in agreement, and looked to the window of the room, light filtering through the curtain daintily.
"It's because…" the Sky Arcobaleno (so young to carry such a heavy title, but she knew this already, she knew this well), "in a way, she reminds of my mother. Don't you see it, Uncle Reborn?" Uni asked, turning to him suddenly.
"Yeah," the hitman said, lifting his hand to tilt his fedora down, hiding his face efficiently, "I can see it."
(Ah, but hindsight is always a hindrance)
"Where's the other one?"
"If you're referring to Chrome," Ausiliatrice said evenly, placing the gun (freshly loaded, all her weapons checked), in the holster on her back before her hands went to gently rest on the weapons at her hips, "She decided to fight with her boss tonight, along with Dino, in case you were referring to him. I know you're eager to fight him again."
Hibari Kyoya's look soured at this, snapping irritably at his uncle, who covered his mouth with his sleeve in order to hide his laughter. Fon coughed, and pointedly looked away as they entered the elevator.
Kyoya had made true to his promise for today, and had effectively followed Ausiliatrice the entire day. From the school to the hotel, he even patiently waited with his back turned in the hotel room while she changed and geared up for the night. Of course, this victory was ruined by the fact that the woman was clearly letting him follow her, a fact that the Storm Arcobaleno found amusing.
"Don't be such a brat, Kyoya," she tutted, causing his irritation to further spike, "I have to split my time between the two of you evenly after all."
"I'm not," he snapped, glaring, "one of your students." She merely hummed at this, sharing an amused look with Fon. Just then, both their watches beeped loudly, announcing the one minute remaining before the battle began. Kyoya nearly purred at this, gripping his tonfas, already shifting into more of a fighting stance. Ausiliatrice smirked easily, maintaining her casual posture.
"With that said," she continued their conversation, as if the battle was not about to start, "I've gotten the feeling that you've come to resent me, with the little attention I've given you. So tonight, I'll treat you."
Kyoya raised an eyebrow at this, immediately suspicious. Even Fon spared a curious glace with glinting eyes. Kyoya hesitated, scowled, and opened with mouth to question her, but closed it as the door of the elevator opened,
Revealing the Varia, finishing their own prep for the battle. Xanxus, who stood at the helm of the group along with his second, grew excited and practically feral upon seeing Ausiliatrice, and Kyoya seemed to reflect this mood as well; but there was conflict within this, the prefect's eyes flickering back and forth from the Varia to Ausiliatrice as if determining which prey he would pursue.
"To lead us straight to the lair of beasts…. How sly of you, Ausiliatrice," Fon mused, his sleeve covering the bottom half of his face, despite his own excitement shimmering in his eyes. Their watches were now multiplied, the noise of the countdown much louder and daunting. But ah, excitement and bloodlust filled the air between them.
"You say that as if we're," she said, her eyes glinting as well, "not beasts as well."
(Takes one to know one)
And the battle began.
"What the- Chrome?!" Ken stared down at his shattered watch in shock, and moments later, was thrown into Chikusa, hindering him as well.
"Sorry, Ken, Chikusa!" Chrome called out to them, barely blushing and spinning her trident once more before turning to meet an identical weapon.
"Looks like you've flourished," Mukuro complimented, staring down at her as they braced against each other, "under her tutelage."
Chrome barely frowned, pushing back, before her eye flicked to the side, widening slightly. Surprising him, she went back suddenly, causing him to fall forward, catching himself just in time to dodge a swing from Yamamoto Takeshi, only to deal with dynamite from Gokudera Hayato seconds later.
"Did we get him?" Yamamoto asked, sword still ready as he stood beside Chrome, peering into the smoke.
"Probably not, knowing that guy," Gokudera spat, and scowled further, seeing that Mukuro stood unharmed and smirking. Now separated, they prepared to collide again, but paused, seeing a strange and blue beam arcing towards them. Acting fast, Chrome pulled both Yamamoto and Gokudera back, swinging them to where their backs where against a nearby tree, the beam hitting and nearly making a blast with its strength.
The boys blinked, and looked to Chrome, who was still holding them to her. With a deep blush, she quickly released them, muttering soft apologies. Carefully, they looked back to where Mukuro once stood, but were shocked to see –
"An illusion?" Chrome muttered, seeing a destroyed decoy, mist pilfering off of the corpse of it, "Made with the gloves?"
"That bastard!" Gokudera snapped, going to kick the remainder of the form, "If he's not here then where the hell did he go?"
"Fodder," Hibari Kyoya declared, easily smashing Lussuria's watch, and throwing him to the side, just as he did with Levi, "should stay out of this. Stop," he hissed, turning glinting eyes to Squalo and Bel, flicking his eyes behind them, where Ausiliatrice and Xanxus were battling it out, "getting in the way of my prey."
"Fat fucking chance, brat!" Squalo sneered, raising his sword as Belphegor brandished his knives.
"We've got orders," Belphegor chimed, smile nearly glinting as much as his knives, "to make sure no one interrupts the boss."
"I'm in these battles to fight that woman," Kyoya sneered, raising his tonfas as well, "and if I have to bite you two animals to death to get to her, then so be it."
"Oh, but Kyoya…" a voice rang out, causing even Ausiliatrice and Xanxus to pause momentarily, "you'll be much too preoccupied to get to dear Ausiliatrice."
Ausiliatrice barely smirked, and stepped back in a timely matter; lotuses bursts from the floor, exactly in the center of the room (the center of attention, Ausiliatrice thought, as he liked to be), framed by light coils of mist. The vines and flowers furled and then broke apart to petals, revealing Mukuro Rokudo in a flamboyant fashion (standing between Xanxus and Ausiliatrice, much to Xanxus's chagrin).
"You're late," Ausiliatrice called out to him, to which he smirked and smoothly replied:
"Fashionably so," he tutted, and then immediate leaned back, barely avoiding the shot from Xanxus.
"You're in my way, trash," the boss of the Varia seethed, scars threatening to show. Mukuro's amused expression remained, and lowly (mockingly) he bowed.
"My apologies," Mukuro cooed, shifting his eyes from Xanxus to the others, landing on a seething Kyoya, "I'll get out of your way then. After all," and in another flourish of mist, he was in front of Kyoya, who met Mukuro's trident easily with his tonfa,
"I'm not here to play with you Varia. But I suppose" he said, narrowing his eyes and separating just as Belphegor's knives pierced the floor where they had been standing, "the more the merrier."
And the battle began again.
Iemitsu was surprised, happy even, with the amount of ferocity Tsunayoshi was displaying in their small squabble. And he made a point to express this, vocally:
"Wow! Tsuna, you've changed since last time, huh? What's new with you! You can always tell your old man!" he said, grinning widely, catching Tsunayoshi's fist and promptly sending his son flying into the face of a cliff. Iemitsu laughed heartily, leaning down and easily picking up a large chunk of ground, nearing Tsunayoshi.
The boy pushing himself up, face contorting to a scowl.
"I've…" Tsunayoshi started, fists clenched, and eyes unclear in that moment before thinking back,
("Just kick his ass")
"I've…" Tsunayoshi said again, head down cast as Iemitsu neared. But suddenly, he looked up, eyes blazing orange, brightly (brilliantly), and in that moment, Iemitsu was stunned by the ferocity, by the beauty of this (and in that moment, he thought of Primo, and his son's uncanny resemblance to their ancestor), but in the next moment, was stunned by his son's next words:
"I've decided to kick your ass!"
(and Reborn titled his fedora down, and lowered his wrist where he had been ready to speak into it. Looks like he didn't need to step in like he thought, and somehow?)
(he knew he had his daughter to thank for this)
It was seeing her like this, that reaffirmed Xanxus's original attraction Ausiliatrice. She was brutal with every action, eyes glimmering, glinting, the reflections of the sparks jutting from their weapons meeting being absorbed instantly by the inky blackness of her eyes;
This is what he wanted from her. Ferocity, passion, unhindered, not distracted, her attention entirely on him, her,
completely his.
But the moment she was within his reach? She was defiant, always. Going through extremes in order to float freely, unhindered, unbound (a cloud, a cloud, but she shone, she burned goddammit). The moment he grabbed both her wrists, ceasing her movements entirely,
she thrust her head forward, dislodging her shoulders in the process. And as he stumbled back, he wiped blood from his nose with a feral grin, watching as she easily popped her joints back into place, raising her guns just as he did,
And throwing themselves back into battle, violent, and ferocious, and beautiful. Truly (truly, truly) she was a monster, a beast, a predator. It was seeing her like this, that made Xanxus crave her even more (but she had refused him once hadn't he? But ah, that was a different Xanxus, and a different Ausiliatrice, and wasn't he making a point to show her his calm, to show her his strength, to show her, to prove to her?).
Xanxus, however, was quite disgruntled when their match was interrupted.
"Sorry to cut in," a placid voice stated, even causing Squalo, Hibari, and Mukuro to look over from their fight (Belphegor having been eliminated quickly after the illusionist arrived), turning to look at the figure who dared to stand between Ausiliatrice and Xanxus.
"But I'm afraid I couldn't help but get involved," Fon said with a calm smile, now uncursed, tall and lean, taut with potential danger, making the other's blood boil in anticipation. Hibari however, scowled at his uncle, furious that another opponent (another obstacle) stood in the way of him and his target.
"By all means," Ausiliatrice purred, grinning fully, "join the fun, Arcobaleno."
(And Xanxus glowered, and Mammon scoffed from their position on the sideline, attention turning curiously to the watch on their own wrist)
"It's refreshing, really," Fon commented easily, in the midst of the fight, fluidly dodging both Ausiliatrice's and Xanxus's attacks, and only suffering small scratches as consequence. His eyes barely narrowed however, upon noticing Ausiliatrice shoot to both sides, and immediately he reacted, lifting his hands to catch her bullets, skidding back as he stopped.
"It's like fighting a young Reborn," Fon told her, allowing the bullets (mere mushed metal) to fall from his hands, the indents and marks, evidence of Ausiliatrice's attacks, nearly smoking, "he left the same bruises as well, you know?"
There was bare setback in Ausiliatrice's eyes, hesitation in how to react to this. But before she could consider taking up anger, another took this mantle in her stead.
"Always harping on the past, preaching about it," a voice called, and the shadows of the room seemed to wither then stretch, writhing, "As if you're detached from it! It makes me sick!"
They turned their attention to a cloaked figure, just as a pacifier fell from their chest.
"I'm sick of it!" the Arcobaleno Viper yelled out, seething, "I'm sick of your preachings, saying that your martial arts is better, I'm tired of how you look down on me, on everyone! But now, I'm stepping in," they glowered, then turning to Mukuro, addressed, "and I might as well get back at you while I'm at it. This," they said, raising their hands, "will be different that the ring battles, Mukuro Rokudo."
Ausiliatrice's eyes immediately went back to Fon, noticing the slight shift in his demeanor.
"Getting serious, huh," she tutted, sheaving her guns and switching weapons,
bringing up a pair of axes just in time to meet Squalo's sword. Despite Xanxus's harsh (furious) look at his second command, the battle was fractured from the Mist Arcobalenos entrance. And yet? Hibari Kyoya had yet to cross weapons with Ausiliatrice, a fact that angered him to no end. However, the fact that angered him further? She was blatantly avoiding him (however, he channeled this irritation, this will into his flames).
(just as she taught him)
Ausiliatrice however, kept note of the Arcobalenos, and her eyes widened immediately, letting out a quick swear seeing Fon fall into a stance she had seen only once before.
"Mukuro!" she called across the room, ducking under Squalo's swing and stepping back, "Get back!" The illusionist met eyes with her, before turning his attention to Fon, understanding and retreating as well.
Meilin spoke of her father's attacks before. Whether this piece of information was from Ausiliatrice's future memories or a recent conversation, Ausiliatrice did not know or care. But what she did know? Fon was running out of time, and aimed to use this as a finishing move. And from what Meilin had told her, there was no doubt it would be.
(but there was doubt, wasn't there?)
Ausiliatrice's eyebrows knit together, watching Fon's body blossom with blood and cuts, his attack only half completely (having only destroyed Squalo's watch in the process, a fact that the swordsman was now loudly complaining about). The martial artist's body fell to the ground, and immediately, Ausiliatrice turned accusing eyes to the other Arcobaleno, knowing this to be tainted in an illusionist's touch.
She held out a hand out daintily, as if feeling the air, and lightly, she put that hand to her temple. With another look to Mukuro, she confirmed,
"You've put that on all of us, haven't you?" she addressed Mammon, who huffed in response.
"His keen sense for illusions as well," they tutted before explaining, "Now do you understand, Fon? Illusions are superior to martial arts. Working inside of the mind, no matter the opponent… I've placed rules inside your head, and just look how easily you've broken them. Pathetic."
"Yes…" Fon sputtered, lifting a hand to wipe blood from his mouth, "I remember… Viper Mirage R."
"Anyone who has doubts of winning," Mammon sneered, "will be crushed!"
There was moment of silence (stunned). And then Ausiliatrice chuckled lightly, turning all eyes to her.
"What a useless illusion…" Ausiliatrice tutted, causing Mammon to scowl, their head whipping to the woman, "as if we don't place enough consequence on ourselves."
(The thought of loss, in the world we were born into? It's already unacceptable)
Mukuro hummed as well, joining her with his amusement.
"I'll admit, it's an intriguing trick," he said, narrowing his eyes, causing Mammon to seethe further, "However, with this group?" he said, gesturing around to Xanxus, to Ausiliatrice, to Hibari, and then looking to Fon, whose time had run out, and now was sitting in his cursed form once more (dejected, still injured and affected by Mammon's illusion),
"Do you really think there's anyone here that would doubt themselves?"
"Enough talk!" Mammon snapped, lifting a hand and pointing at Mukuro, "I'll show you a real illusion battle!"
And the battle was thrown to chaos once more, with illusions deluding the reality of it. Truly, Ausiliatrice thought, exhilarated and in the middle of the fray, this was battle. Chaotic, unpredictable; never meeting the same opponent, never clashing with the same wit twice; even if one had plans to attack one opponent, another would always get in the way. Truly, Ausiliatrice thought,
this was fun. The most she's had in years.
But this was her mistake, she realized; losing herself in the midst of bloodlust, and forgetting, only thinking of herself and her own life, a bad habit she so easily fell back into (and there was shame in that, wasn't there? The simplicity in which she forgot others). In those moments, she had forgotten about her student, but in so few and so suddenly, she remembered him again.
"Let's end this!" Mammon yelled out, panic edging in their voice after looking at what little time they had left. They threw their arm out to Hibari, just having stepped back after blocking Mukuro's trident, and immediately ice encased the prefect's legs.
"Boss! Now!"
Xanxus's eyes flickered, from Ausiliatrice to Hibari, and in the next moment, Ausiliatrice saw his gun turn towards her student. And in the next, she looked to Hibari, and for the first time since she had met the boy,
She saw true panic (fear) in his eyes, and so suddenly she remembered he was a child. And he was her student.
Thoughts ran through her head, but her feet were far swifter, throwing herself in front of Kyoya, shooting the ice at his legs, and dislodging him just as Xanxus finished his charge and shot,
and she pushed Kyoya out of the way just in time.
"Ausiliatrice!" Mukuro called, wincing at the bright light, holding an arm up to shield his eyes. From where she had thrown him, Kyoya stared, wide eyes, the effects of Mammon's illusions barely webbing, dreadful and dark against his pale skin.
"Are you alright?" Mukuro called again, seeing a figure sitting as the rubble and dust from the blast cleared.
"Fucking peachy," Ausiliatrice called out, her voice clearly annoyed, "My watch however," she admitted with a roll of her eyes, holding her wrist up, "isn't as resilient as me."
A moment (of shock, the men staring, genuinely surprised). And with a look to their boss, Mammon quickly whispered into their watch, returning to their cursed form and nearly hopping back.
Xanxus's fingers unfurled, and then rewrapped around his guns, scars darkening and bruising his skin at an alarming rate. Red eyes snapped angrily to Ausiliatrice, sending a shot at Mukuro without looking, sending the illusionist skittering back.
"The fuck…" he hissed, and then yelled, "The fuck, you bitch! You could have fucking taken that, so why the hell didn't you, huh?!"
Ausiliatrice remained as the ground, simply blowing a stray hair form her face before turning her eyes to Kyoya.
"I guess I got distracted."
Another moment. And then:
Hibari Kyoya quickly and efficiently scrambled up, dodging Xanxus's rage filled shot just in time, bringing his tonfas up, summoning his Vongola equip and throwing himself into battle once more as if nothing had happened. Ausiliatrice moved just as quickly, moving to Mukuro and pulling him to the side, checking his watch and only frowning slightly at the time.
"He's not wrong, you know," Mukuro tutted, allowing her to pull him, wincing as he watched Xanxus's rage truly peak, "You let your watch get destroyed on purpose."
"I need a chain," she snapped before continuing, sending another look back as Xanxus's rampage ensured behind them, quickly making rubble of the penthouse, "I was going to have you destroy it, but I suppose this will work as well."
Mukuro simply raised an eyebrow, before passing her a chain (conjured easily with his gloves) looking back at the others, realizing that both were moving to make the finishing blow, with only seconds left in the battle.
"Hold on."
And that was the only warning he received before Ausiliatrice pulled him towards her, jumping off the edge of the roof after throwing one of her axes up, catching on the edge and allowing them to hang by the chain she had securely tied to it. Mukuro barely winced once more, looking up to see that Xanxus and Hibari's attacks had decimated the entire floor.
"What the fuck, bitch!" Squalo yelled, having jumped off as well, hanging via his sword stabbed into the side of the building, "You fucking set him off on purpose!"
"Whoever said I wasn't my father's daughter?" Ausiliatrice replied easily, looking up to see their attacks had embered.
"Bet that brat's watch was destroyed," Squalo sneered.
"Xanxus's watch might have been destroyed as well," Ausiliatrice shot back, "by the force of his own attack." Squalo's face immediately soured, and he scowled, seeing her logic.
Mukuro held out a hand to help Ausiliatrice up, but she refused it, pulling herself onto the decimated floor. He took this in stride however, letting out a whistle, looking at the destruction around them.
"To destroy the entire floor…" he muttered, smirking, "What brutality."
"The fuck! His watch is still intact!" Squalo cursed, and they looked to see two figures standing amidst the smoldering ruins; both Xanxus and Hibari stood, breathing heavily and looking worn, and yet? Both of their watching sat on their wrists, completely intact. And as if to prove this fact,
They both beeped loudly, signaling the end of the battle. Ausiliatrice clicked her tongue however, when both of them immediately pouted upon the end of their fight.
"I won't accept this…" Kyoya muttered, looking down at his watch in disdain.
"Don't you fucking," Ausiliatrice, moving forward, past Xanxus and grabbing Hibari's wrist, "dare. And you too for that matter," he eyes snapped back to Xanxus, "Even thinking about destroying your own watch is idiotic."
"Says the bastard who let her own fucking watch get destroyed!" Xanxus snapped stepped forward. Ausiliatrice narrowed her eyes, releasing Kyoya's wrist, and turning to Xanxus with crossed arms.
"The fuck was that about, huh?" he continued, nearly getting in her face. But seeing her composure (cool and calm, but disappointed, and he nearly winced, realizing how close he had gotten to her without asking), he took a breath, nearly shaking with anger, but managed to calm himself, closing his eyes momentarily before looking at her again. She waited for him, patiently.
"Whatever," he muttered, turning away from her, only to pause, looking back:
"I want a real fight next time, got it? Where you're not distracted by pieces of shit," he spat, gesturing to Kyoya. Her student nearly growled at this, but she barely flicked her eyes back to him.
"It will be under different circumstances next time," she told Xanxus, before titling her head, her lip quirking and her voice almost sultry, "Promise."
His eyes barely widened at her tone, and then; he smirked, looking her over once more before turning away.
"Let's go, Kyoya," she called, turning to look back at her student, seeing Mukuro disappear in a flurry of mist in her peripheral. However, she was met with a tonfa in response, which she easily caught.
"Don't," he hissed, pressing forward, "think you can tell me what to do. Since you stopped me from biting that Monkey King to death, and you've been avoiding me all night–"
"What's wrong with letting you play with others, Kyoya?" she teased flatly, earning another swipe.
"Fight me," he declared, whipping around from where he stepped forward as consequence of her dodging him, "Now."
She hummed, looking down on him with amusement, taking in his clearly exhausted state.
"Fine. If that's what you want."
"It's… scary, isn't it? Those Vindice?" Meilin asked as Ausiliatrice entered the room once more, placing Fon's boss watch on the counter between them. Suyin barely squirmed in her mother's arms, fitful in her sleep. Ausiliatrice frowned, noticing this.
"It's strange, them appearing now…" she muttered, and then blinking, realizing she was staring at the child. Quickly (guilty?) Ausiliatrice looked away.
"But you're not changing your plans, are you?" Meilin said knowingly, with an air of amusement.
"Now that Fon owes me for saving his boss watch–"
"That Kyoya almost destroyed himself, you said? That boy," Meilin sighed, looking to his room where Ausiliatrice had laid him after returning, "But I already told you, I've already convinced Father to let you fight on our team. If I have to take care of Suyin, someone might as well fight in my place."
"Thank you, Meilin."
"You've been become quite the tutor, haven't you?" the older woman said, her voice lifting and coming across as teasing. Ausiliatrice huffed and looked away. Suyin once again murmured, unsettled in her sleep.
"First fighting alongside Chrome, then having Kyoya fight against Mukuro and Xanxus, and now wanting Chrome to fight against you while you fight by Kyoya's side…. But does your father know? That you're no longer fighting for him?" Meilin said, this thought just now occurring to her. Ausiliatrice's expression remained neutral.
"He knew," she said evenly, "that I was never fighting for him in the first place. Not really. And besides," she said with a sigh (but was this sad, annoyed?), "he's doing the same."
Meilin opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by Suyin's piercing cry, suddenly waking from her sleep and frightful. In the next moment, the two women stiffened, Ausiliatrice immediately rising and pulling a gun, turning to aim at the inky black hole that opened from the thin air behind them.
Meilin let out a shivering breath of air as a cloaked figure stepped from it, chains falling and clinking around them. And although the ghastly figure's face was bandaged, Ausiliatrice could tell,
They were looking right at her.
"Ausiliatrice…" a voice seeped from the Vindice, and Ausiliatrice barely narrowed her eyes. Meilin shifted, pivoting to where Suyin was turned away from the intruder, while reaching a hand to take the boss watch from the counter, holding it. Kyoya remained unconscious in the next room, and Fon gone with the rest of Arcobaleno to check on Skull.
"Come with me," the figured demanded, letting a chain fall and clank to the floor.
And the dark-skinned woman barely lifted her chin, her gun still pointed at the Vindice. And with a tilt of her head, she vapidly displayed her teeth, and answered:
"Since you asked nicely."
"And she was truly a puzzle, but God forgive anyone who mistook her for a game."
-Sophia Carey
Bonus:
I was planning on making this a scene, but it ended up not fitting? So I decided to add this altered version here at the end instead. So this is a phone call that Dino was going to make to Ausil right after the battles, but the mood of it didn't end up fitting for me. So, enjoy it here!
"Hey, Ausil - I know, sorry, Ausiliatrice: Yeah, so like... did you talk to Tsuna or anything? Specifically, did you talk to him about his dad? Uh huh... of course, you did, yeah, why? Why do you ask? Oh, no reason really... except that he totally went off on him tonight!? As in, he still is! Listen! Yes, that is Tsuna, he still ranting to his dad about his dad! Ausil! Ausil, stop laughing! Ausil!"
AN:
Guys I just finished registering for next semester and confirmed my classes I'm so happy. Whoo! Anyways, yay! Update! After so long because evenly is slowly dying. Having fun and loving her major, but slowly dying. Whoo!
So, the AU chapter might not be for a while, because I'm slowly gathering the little stories and working on them when I get time. In the meantime, for an easier award, anyone want to send in questions for Ausil to answer again? I could do a small segment like that again while I work on the AUs? Let me know your thoughts, and of course, let me know your thoughts on the chapter! Cliffhanger, lmao.
Sorry if there are mistakes, I'll try to look it over in the morning again before going to work on clay, but for now, I shall pass out. Peace.
Review Response:
Poppy: Glad that you liked the story and my writing! Thanks for the review!
Guest: Lmao, I could totes see Ausil just fucking killing it in the hunger games, and winning so easily. Thanks for the review, and I'll try to see if I can think of something to write for that!
Guest 27: I meant Avatar: the Last Airbender, to clarify! I always forget about the "other" Avatar, lmao. And I actually can't see much of a plot for a Death Note AU that would fit Ausil? I mean, if she found it, she just kind of think that killing people that way would be boring af, and wouldn't roll with it. Which, I guess I could write a funny scene with that? Huh. Thanks for the review!