Chapter 43
Kiss of Death
"Kiss me, and you will see how important I am."
― Sylvia Plath
Xanxus had many vices but gambling was not one of those. He had a warriors eye and instinct for battle and war. But the action of moving all of one's hard earned work or reputation over something as fickle as luck, bothered him to no end.
There was a reason why the Varia was known as an elite assassination squad. They did only missions that had 99% success rate. He chose those intentionality. Success and fear was their bread and butter.
Xanxus didn't do luck. He did hard earned control, success that came from sheer force of power and ability. Power that was so in his grasp no one would dare question him or blindside him.
And then his failed coup happened. He had the scars as a reminder of his years in ice. And his never waning wrath and resentment to the father and his guardians who just kept him in that abyss.
The limbo state of existence almost ruined him. He would've made a deal with anyone to get him out.
When Xanxus saw Amina on the screen, blood on her hand from having placed pressure where she got sliced, the look of a deer caught in headlights. All of these things brought him waves of memories of long lost days. Days his body remembered but his mind had been able to leave behind.
His ice prison and the day she got him out.
Cradle affair
During some expanse of time
Everything blurred together for him and not in a good way.
In the beginning his father would come and visit. Usually he wouldn't say anything. Sometimes it was to remark his sadness they got to this point. That it was punishment for all the lives cost during this coup known as the cradle affair.
Hearing it all just made him want to kill all over again.
Not dead or alive. Not fully awake but not asleep. Time passed and it wouldn't.
Then he heard a voice, "Guao"
A little girl?
Really?
Some trash servant was going to get fired soon.
"Hola" when she heard no response she asked louder and louder. God, where were his guns when he needed them.
Shut up, he roared in his head. Not that it would do much good—
"Oh sorry, am I annoying you too?" She asked, practically on the verge of crying but holding it in. He gave her credit for that at least. He didn't need to boot a snotty nosed kid bawling their eyes out.
Wait.
No, it wasn't possible. Very few people were able to hear him. Not even Squalo, only the old man and Federico.
"You can hear me scum?"
"Hey mister that's mean. I'm not scum." He could hear the frown in her voice.
Bloody. Fucking. Hell.
After so much time in what he called the abyss, Xanxus developed the ability to occasionally open his eyes. His flame was super latent so he couldn't expand it outside his body, but he could flow it internally. It's how he's kept himself warm, alive, and sane.
It took a lot out of him to do so, so he only usually did it when Squalo was around to show the shitty shark he was still alive.
But now he made an exception. He took in the little girl, chubby, bright eyed, caramel skin tone. Slightly wavy hair that was darker against her skin. Bangs in the front with a poofy black and white dress. Eyes wide that resembled the shape of fishes.
Young, innocent, and clearly not Italian.
"Trash, who the fuck are you?"
She pouted and actually glared at him. "You are before a lady. And daddy taught me men shouldn't be mean to ladies. That's a bad man, and mami told me to always avoid bad men."
Incredulously, Xanxus saw this shitty brat look at him with a sassy face and walk away from him.
How the mighty have fallen that some no name kid can do all that to him and live. As he was stewing in the indignation of his own impotence at the hands of the child, he saw she popped her head out to look at him from a distance after some time had passed.
"Did you learn your lesson? Will you be a good man now?"
Was he supposed to learn his lesson in 5 minutes? Were all children this dumb?
She walked closer to him, clearly curiosity over seeing a man in ice greater than any apprehension she was raised to have.
"...Yes" he told her. And she believed him like an idiot. Judging from her satisfied smile God, was he this dumb as a child? He hoped not.
"You're my first human fossil, so I'm glad I don't have to leave you."
Xanxus would've blinked if he could. "Human fossil?" What nonsense was this. Was she dumb and crazy?
"I saw In my favorite movie, they brought dinosaurs to life since DNA was kept in amber. You must be the same in this ice. But you are wayyy cooler because you can talk with me."
Finally she made some sense. Recognizing his greatness, Even if the comparison was to a prehistoric extinct animal. Overactive imagination for sure but she had logic.
"I was apparently annoying the others. Mami says I ask a lot of questions but I thought it was good to ask questions?" The little girl furrowed her eyebrows and kept talking. Just as he was thinking the kid had potential, she began to ramble about things he could careless about. Why did he have to stand here and listen to some little kid and their problems? You wanted to talk problems? He was the one frozen for fuck's sake.
He had tuned her out when he noticed she had stopped talking.
"Will you be my friend?" She asked innocently, clearly craving friendship and companionship.
He scoffed, he had no doubt if he said no she would only either talk more or cry. Both different kinds of headaches, none of them pleasant. "Get me out of here and I'll do anything you want."
She smiled brightly. "Okay!"
God how could anyone be that bright and innocent here. He wanted to shield himself or puke at the sight of it in the mafia.
The young bright eyed child grabbed her hand that was slightly bloodied, from the fall that brought her to this secret place. She cried about before, but now filled with anticipation and promise. She pressed it against the ice.
"Ice please can you let him go? He's going to be my best friend from now."
If only he could roll his eyes, he was crazy to have thought a little girl could get him out when his men, battle hard and tactical commanders, haven't been able to break him out.
And just as he was thinking that, she actually did it.
He could feel his blood, warmth, rush through him again. The ice around him shook as he was loosened enough to tap into his flames of wrath and began to pulse it out.
. Xanxus was filled with anticipation, he knew he was finally going to be able to thaw himself out!
Who was this girl that 9th generation Vongola flames, responded to her? Blended to her will as if she were Nono?
Maybe that was the point. His flame was wrath, power and vengeance. His men were blood thirsty and hungered for glory. They got along. Nono was a man of peace, compassion and love. Of course it would listen to a pure child over one of his ravenous and desperate men.
The irony of it all. But no one like Nono would intercede for him so he was doomed here. Until her and her childish desires, that were innocent. Enough the ice prison softened just enough to take advantage for him to splinter through.
It was a sound and logical theory, Xanxus surmised, but there still came the question of bloodline. It was far too convenient the flame yielded to her. From his experience with his own, he knew they didn't bend without recognition. He thought it hard to believe there was a little girl running around freely who had zero Vongola ties. For a brief second, he wondered with mirth if Nono had finally produced an actual bastard child during his years of being frozen.
Now that would be a scene to come back to.
But before he could grab her and ask, Federico came in, alerted probably by his massive outburst of flame and the slight tremor that accompanied it. The little girl however did not share his fear and looked ready to bounce at excitement. Like a kid witnessing a magic show. Clearly, she felt no fear, ready to see what her new friend would do next. Xanxus only managed to see horror overcome his features as Federico panicky grabbed her and ran away.
She screamed at Federico, unhappy at letting go of her friend. She outreached her hand wanting to grab him.
And Xanxus never found her again, and frankly had never given her more thought, hadn't tried to find her. He got what he wanted, left the ice and focused on the Varia. after all what did he owe a small young girl?
Probably some branch brat in the wrong place at the right time. Was what he thought.
Now she was plastered on the screen running for her life and he was forced to remember her again.
That impudent brat with the ability to communicate to flames where few could was here now. Running a coup. In his mansion.
This was why Xanxus did not gamble.
Who the fuck saw this coming?
After Alphonse announcement and subsequently checking the room for any hidden cameras or wires, CC and Celeste faced each other freely.
Damage was done, there was no turning back now.
Amina cupped the girl she once called friend's neck and laid her forehead against Cassandra's.
"Goodbye Cinquemani."
"I loved you, Celeste." Cassandra sobbed, ""I'm so sorry."
Celeste knew.
"I'm so alone." Cassandra looked down, tears streaming down her face. Celeste didn't know if her heart could break anymore at that moment. Hadn't she once made a promise to be there when she cried? Since when did it hurt so much to say goodbye?
"And I.." The words choked in her thoat, Celeste never would've imagined that this would be so hard to say aloud. Everything seemed so effortless in her mind, but having to utter words was such a task, such a responsibility -.
And god was she tired of responsibility. She was tired of everything falling on her shoulders, no 15 year old girl should have to deal with this responsibility in a world that didn't belong to her.
"And I can't save you Cassandra Cinquemani, i have to save myself now."
"You made your bed now you have to sleep in it." Celeste saw the hurt that flashed there, stop looking at her with those eyes. Yet it was the truth that needed to be said, it didn't lessen the blow, but there were some things in this world that couldn't be ignored.
"The only way to survive is to destroy any evidence of us. We can't be Cellandra any more." There it was the nickname of their duo, once such a blessing and now a curse. "As far as anyone is concerned we are nothing more than strangers, should we ever cross paths again we must keep on walking forward, like two perfect strangers."
"Do you think we could ever be friends again?" Cassandra whispered softly though, the question held no hope, they both knew the answer. They could never go back to the old days. No day could ever be as good as yesterday. "I don't think so CC."
They hugged and CC sobbed into her shoulder, if there was ever a moment to cry, it would've been right then and there. But then her knees would've broken down under her sadness her completely powerless to salvage the first friendship she had ever known.
It just wasn't fair.
If anyone knew they were friends, besides brief co-conspirators, CC knew it would be hell for her but death for Celeste.
The Varia would kill celeste, if she was lucky that is. Xanxus's wrath was a fearsome thing, and the worst brand to be ever marked was a traitor. She would be a spy, against them and she could no offer no explanation, they would demand her blood.
The same for Cassandra.
The silence was hanging them. The men began to pull her away from her, Celeste nodded at them and they nodded back in a sign of respect.
"Go and quickly, Alphonse and who ever is loyal to him will be coming for me full force. Our paths cease to cross over here."
And because she knew, seeing CC crying that she would not be able to leave first, Celeste did one last thing for her once best friend.
Amina left the room and didn't look back.
Things just kept getting increasingly messier, and the planner part of her was worried. The analytical, goal oriented part was starting to panic that now that more time passed; her goal of killing Alphonse was getting loftier and loftier.
Phase one was a success, Puppetta and the Cinquemani weren't her concern anymore. But now weaving her way in even more madness trying to find Alphonse and avoid any of his goons in the process—was starting to look impossible.
How is it when she actually wanted to find the man, she couldn't?
Exhaustion was starting to catch-up to her, her adrenaline falling. It had been in intense day, let alone couple of days. She hasn't slept much, her accumulated injuries were either sore or burning in pain. Amina was nowhere near the stamina of these trained assassins or born and raised mafia. This was taking its toll on her and she knew it.
Before she could contemplate if she should take a rest (where though in the middle of war?) or push through without help an intense sense of forboding seized her.
Her pulse and heartbeat quickened, as she felt the overwhelming bloodlust and malice. She ran out of instinct but it was too late, Amina had made bad turns and was cornered. Going straight to where clearly those who followed Alphonse wanted her to be.
This is why she planned, this is why she calculated. It had all been a gamble but Amina hated knowing if only she had been stronger, maybe more athletic (though Coach, his training and her own dedication of early morning workouts had done tremendous benefits for her), maybe just more something, anything she wouldn't be cornered.
Their grins made her angry, she felt no fear only complete frustration at her own shortcomings.
How would she survive now?
There was no way she could accomplish this. Amina was going to die and she knew it. It would take a miracle to save her, but in places such as this where not even the light dare enter, there was no such thing.
She had her back to the wall and had good point to see them all encircling her, looking at her like wolves before a slaughter. They outnumbered her, they were stronger than her and they definitely had more fire power than she did.
One of the men who was pointing the gun at her spoke. "You should've never crossed el Patron."
"And yet pillaging, burning and attacking the house of the real Boss is much more acceptable I suppose." Not even death could shut down her wit.
At that the men around her tensed, it hit a nerve. Some of them even shook slightly in their tracks, hide it they tried but she noticed the slight movement.
One of them though still glared intensely as her, his resolve much firmer than those of his other counterparts."Heh. You're about to die and you still have the balls to talk back. Little bitch, I should cut off your tongue before you die so you can learn obedience. You think any of those people will care what happens to you?"
"No. I'm nobody. Yet, you forgot who your Boss truly was; I didn't because I never had one. Because unlike you unevolved homosapiens, I learned the meaning of loyalty." At that she did look up and stared every single one in the eyes as she said it.
It annoyed the men that even before her death, she still thought of herself mightier than them. One actually cocked his gun, annoyed at her existence. Weren't they all? "I'll be giving you an express ride to hell."
"And what do you think they will do to you once they get their hands on you. On, all of you?"
And Amina knew she was just pushing button, after button until sooner or later they would all pop. Then again if she was going to die they weren't going to see her break down and beg for mommy. They knew as well as she did that if they did not succeed, no matter what they did to her. It would never in a million years compare to what Xanxus would do to them.
It seemed this was the hot headed team leader and he got his gun and used the blunt side to hit her. Her knees shook, begging to give in but she willed them to stand.
Little did Amina know that this whole encounter was being broadcasted throughout the whole mansion. Alphonse had wanted to see first hand her death, clear evidence before giving anyone any money. Everyone was attentively watching the girl who dared fight back. While Luny was downright livid.
She was locked up here, for her own safety by the Varia commanders since she was the daughter of one the biggest supporters for the Vongola. They couldn't incur the loss of funding if she died. She banged her slender white hands against the steel bars in aggravation, giving herself wounds. "THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND YOU BASTARDS! LET ME GO!"
Luny winced when she saw Amina gasped sharply in pain.
"I'm here! HANG ON!" She screamed on the verge of sobbing against the bars. Amina would not hear her, they had distance between them, but that didn't stop either of them from thinking about each other. For Luny her eyes were on the friend she had been powerless to help.
For Amina, knowing that CC was reunited with people who cared for her, willing to infiltrate a Wolfs den and die for her. She knew she didn't need to spare her once best friend another thought.
So she thought about Luny, as she felt her insides ready to burst from pain. The friend she wasn't able to give an explanation to after all.
Another kick to the gut, she was on the floor by now.
Amina gritted her teeth not wanting to scream to give them satisfaction; her dignity would not let her.
By the end she could already feel the cracked rib and she finally broke her unspoken pride, howling in pain.
Many watched, looking on, unable to look away as they thought the inevitable summons of death awaited her.
Luny screamed, on the verge of insanity, she could not bear seeing her friend in agony while she was safe behind bars. With a voice that would even bring Squalo to shame, she glared towards the skies. Mustering up all her strength in her voice, "I SWEAR TO GOD SUPERBI AND XANXUS, IF SHE DIES I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
Amina was on her back now, along the way she had changed her position and was given an ample view of the sky. She had tried thinking if she could see an upper level perspective, she might have better ideas. Come up with a plan, maybe find an ally in any rogue regime that wasn't assisting CC. But Alphonse men found her first.
The sky was dark, wasn't it always said it would be darkest before the dawn? Perhaps it was soon to rise but Amina knew she would not survive enough to endure to see it.
Then, as if the pain in her body wasn't bad enough. The pain in her soul was heavier, she thought about Federico, who was powerless to do anything as she wanted to succumb to darkness. Camila who also left far too early and would always be a weight on her conscience . And now, her mom.
Goodness gracious, who would tell her mom she lost her twice. Maybe if it had been better if she never called her all those days ago. Given her hope of reunion, and let her grieve once. Not twice.
She sent a silent prayer to the one who had showered her with the most love. Dear Mami, I'm so sorry.
She almost cried out, thinking of the pain she caused her mom. And how she would never be able to hug her again. Eat her food. But she didn't want to give any sadists the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Nobody deserved her tears, her vulnerability here.
I hope you move on at best I wish you believe that I ran away and found a new life. That you never realize how much your daughter has suffered or the sins she has committed.
I love you mama and I'm sorry for everything.
Then pink fog began to cloud her eyes. Great. Even now pink came back to haunt her. Couldn't God have given her a break on her death bed, or more correctly her death floor? She was going straight to talking to him about this insult to literal injuries. She hated pink.
When she came face to face with a man, she expected a beard, a white toga like apparel.
Yet apparently God likes short hair, suits and a lizard tattoo. She blinked a him, but he must obviously be God after all she went through a tunnel (albeit a colorful rainbow tunnel) and now this man was here shining a yellow light that felt warm like the sun onto her injuries.
"So, what am I supposed to call you?" God? My lord? Over lord? Man who likes to make my final moments miserable?
He silently regarded her. "You can call me what everyone else does Brow Nie Jr."
Oh my goodness gracious. Wait until everyone knew this. God likes to refer to himself after a pastry. Not that brownies weren't fantastic but who would've pegged God for a brownie lover? Heck, could God even EAT?
Wait, can she do the same? If so she would like to be anointed as Chocolate Royale.
Simultaneously at the Present moment
Varia mansión
Current timeline + universe
The fog abated and no one, neither those watching in anticipation or the confused underlings were ready for the flurry of motion that emerged from the smoke.
Many watched as some woman grabbed the gun, disarmed it, and kicked him. The gun holder to his head bashing him against the other man. Grabbing the piece of dismantled gun she jammed it in the other man's jugular. Every movement never wasted, within minutes she had them all lying on the floor after snapping their necks. Just like a chicken's the older brunette thought wirily.
Amateurs. She noticed the drone camera and knew without a doubt the sadistic son of bitch must have watched this whole thing and she flashed him a smile knowing it would make him burn up inside.
"Is that the best you got fuck-face? Or what you can't handle a girl unless she's half your age? Knowing how much of a sick son of a bitch you are, you're probably transmitting this through the whole mansion. So let's establish this, I will find you. And when I do, I will kill you like the swine you are." She burned a hole through the lens, these were chocolate eyes that wrote murder. "That goes for all of you who stand in my way, because no one fucks with me and get's away with it."
Then with a flash of her canine teeth, a grin that was equal parts predator and glory she grabbed one of the guns and shot the drone down. The screens many were looking at went to black and it answered no questions of who was that older girl they managed to get a glimpse of.
Especially the Varia Squad commanders who had watched the ordeal. Their inner warrior and sanguine nature watched warily and admiringly as this cloaked figure in a matter of minutes changed the tide. That was finesse. They knew quality when they saw it. Squalo especially in charge of recruitment and training—wondered what family that young servant girl was from that she has someone like that to call on as an ally.
One thing was for sure, Squalo's grinned thinking he finally had someone he wanted to fight in this dammed battle.
Let's test what others were brought up with and how long they could keep up against his sword.
The older Amina knew she had time but wasn't sure how much. Bovino technology implied 10 minutes, but after Tsuna went to the future and changed it, it was clear people could stay longer.
Intentionally recreating the same result twice though was excruciatingly difficult, even with Shoichi and Spanners help. Not to mention the ninth generation guardian she managed to coerce into helping her.
She had longer than 10 minutes that much she knew but 20? 40? She didn't know. So for now it was a clear objective: get to Alphonse as soon as she could.
The young woman kept her cloak, not wanting to reveal her Varia uniform yet. It would raise questions and she didn't have time to answer. She was on a mission, one where her existence was at stake.
She walked through the halls, once where as a young teen lost and confused but now as a woman she knew like the back of her hand. Boldly and proudly, with a confidence born from trial and experience. she encountered some people but many feeling the aura she was exuding kept out of her way. Those that didn't she quickly struck them down.
By the time she now encountered the younger version of Leviathan her cloak had many blood splatter. And judging from the lack of shock and pure defensive pose of the lighting guardian—Amina knew that Levi was aware of her identity.
For everyone who made fun of Levi (herself included) that was a prop that he immediately made the association between past her and her future self. She was sure no one else thought they were the same person yet.
He didn't bother asking how she got older, how anything happening was possible. She was a threat and needed to be taken care of, that was the only thing that mattered to the loyal Xanxus follower.
"I knew you were trouble sorceress from the day I saw you. none of them believe me when I said it. They called me a fool, believing that guise of a fat lamb." Leviathan glared at her vehemently, but it had no effect on her, she remained calm and indifferent.
"It was never a guise, it's just that after wandering in this filth, don't reproach my coat for getting smudged." Amina retorted, making a gesture as if removing dust from her shoulder for good measure.
This effectively made the thunder commander apoplectic.
"I will end you!" He swung his parabola and she stopped it with her knives. "Never. Know this when I beat you it will not be because I was stronger, not because I have years of experience but rather that my resolve was infinitely stronger than yours!"
She shifted her weight as to crouch below his aim and kick him from underneath to his knees. Leviathan groaned and fell to his back, Amina wasn't far behind, grabbing his parabola and pointing the sharp end at his throat, daring him to make a move. "The resolve to defend, the need for justice and the sweat and tears I have shed to get this far, you could've never matched."
He gritted his teeth in shame. How could he have made himself so vulnerable to a girl so young, he failed the Boss. "What are you waiting for, kill me, END IT NOW!"
Amina stared at him for a couple of seconds, and Leviathan could not read her gaze. He braced himself for the worst. He felt her shift her weight, he assumed it was to attack but after a few seconds when nothing came Levi realized that Amina had moved into a position that put enough pressure to keep him in place but not to strike.
"No."
"What do you mean, no?"
"I'm not going to kill you."
He turned his head haughtily away from her. "Well, I'm not going to work for a little bitch either, I would never betray the Boss!"
"You're talking pretty mighty for a man who lost to a girl younger than him." To emphasize her point she kicked him harshly in the family jewels making him turn several shades of colors and hissing under his breath. "Besides I wasn't fucking offering, just because i'm not killing you doesn't mean I like you either."
Leviathan stared at her with wariness and bewilderment.
"You have just been a complete and utter douchebag. You gave me a black eye, threw me in a dungeon, tried to make me into a shish kabob, accused me of rape and murder, and have repeatedly threatened me. Forgive me, for not being your biggest fan." She bit out sarcastically. "Then why?"
"Because I understand. You're loyal to a fault, all you did was out of a sense of loyalty to your Boss. It was your duty to get rid of any threats, you were simply doing your job."
"I don't know how many times I have to repeat this but I have nothing with or against your Boss. Neither to any of you Varia, except maybe you and Alphonse. Alphonse is my main purpose and the only one I have a desire to get rid of, because that's the same thing he has been trying to do to me."
"So yeah I do have ample reason to kill you, but I won't because I'm not a monster like you." Momma taught me better than that.
"However that doesn't mean I won't make you pay for all of the above."
With that being said, Amina proceeded to inflict every wound he had ever put on her. Levi had severely underestimated her, and she took full advantage of it. By the time he realized the level of his adversary, his own overwhelming desire to attack made him act before he thought-it was too late. She had made sure to avoid damage to vital organs and arteries so that he wouldn't die or pass out but had maximized on pain and efficiency.
"Now we are semi-even."
He realized, as he couldn't move due to her hitting points rendering him immobile as well that this woman wasn't just dangerous, she was practically Varia level good, which made his blood cold at the thought. That was a standard he never said lightly.
"Ushishi my my, man down?" A very sardonic and amused voice quipped.
Unfortunately for Levi things just went from bad to worse when in that moment, his boss and Squalo appeared with Bel in tow. There was no way that the scene wasn't abundantly clear for anyone in a matter of seconds.
His throat burned in shame from having his Boss witness this humiliation. Levi noticed the moment that blasted woman wanted to make a run for it, and mustering his strength he resolved to make her stand still to face his boss' wrath. Except all he managed to do was grab her cloak and rip it off her.
Her eyes widened in surprise. She had let her guard down around Levi when she had noticed Xanxus. Immediately drawn like a moth to a flame.
Damn, she really had wanted to avoid this kind of encounter, to avoid explanations. Cat was out of the bag now. So Amina did what she did best, she didn't try to escape. She turned to face them head on.
As Crimson eyes became fixed on her person, they roamed over her body. Taking in all the blood, leather, lace and curves. He knew this was an entirely different type of trash that was in front of him.
This wasn't a little girl trying to play with the big boys. This was a woman who knew how to reinvent the whole fucking game.
Thick lips curved sensuously, as if they held secrets they weren't telling. And by the cool mischievous look in brown eyes, they probably did.
Dark chocolate locks became thick curls that set themselves into a wild crown around her face. A different designer glasses she had, a black and red pattern crisscrossed pattern, that was foreshadowed by the Prada brand. Or perhaps the most startling brand that was on her was one he knew very well, his own.
The black leather jacket she wore had embroidered on it's sleeve the proud sign of Varia.
He knew his men took note of that too, that this girl was one of them. They stared on incredulously, a female commander?
Squalo narrowed his eyes warily at her, he had never seen her before. "VOIII bitch who are you and why are you impersonating a Varia official?" He swung his sword threateningly, glowering at her. Anyone else at this point would've been whimpering and begging for mercy at the sight of the imperious second-in-command.
Yet, the woman in-front of him only turned to look at him and smiled at him. "Ello, Alo," Meanwhile, Squalo twitched at the overly familiar tone she had with him, not to mention the sudden nickname. Xanxus scowled he didn't like the way she addressed him either with that ease and intimacy.
"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" She cocked her head to the side as if she suddenly realized something and chuckled. "Oh, right we aren't friends yet. Oh well, all good things happen in due time I suppose, you'll love me eventually Mr. Second-in-command." She winked playfully at him not one bit intimidated or frightened.
The girl let out a bell of laughter at seeing the contorted blushing expression on Squalo's face that occurred against his better wishes. "My, how cute. You never get flustered so easily around me in the future like you do now." Xanxus's eyes were fixed on the plump red lips that formed into a consequent pout at Squalo's attitude. Squalo meanwhile had thousands of questions swarming through his mind. Who was this woman and how did she seem to be so comfortable around him? What was this future she spoke of?
He hated being out of the fucking loop. "It's my job to be able to tell what you're plotting, it's why I was hired you know, well one of the many reasons I suppose." She stated wirily.
"You're confused right now Alo, and I assure you I mean no harm, I am not your enemy. You don't trust me yet, how could you? Most likely you probably haven't even realized who i-"
"You're that servant girl who was leading the servant revolt, who somehow both the betraying sect of varia and the cinquemani want to get their hands on." He stated even with slight disbelief.
"Correcto-mundo. Sharp like your sword"
As she said this, Squalo began to take a hit at her, which she dodged with such ease, ease that only comes from practice. He made a jab to the left, her right, up down and she moved fluidly, as if he was but attacking the wind. All along she stared at him evenly in the eye, no fear no apprehension as if this was but a normal greeting between them.
Which really it was. This was Varia normal, but of course Squalo had no recollections, she however did. Her every pore oozed experience of dealing with the insane megalomaniacs of the household.
Squalo looked at her with even more distrust than before, she was quick and knew she had gotten some semblance of sword training, what he didn't like was that she seemed to know his every move. "Who taught you to move like that?"
As he made a jibe forward, which was sure to hit, she got on her feet and jumped onto his sword, not even putting all her weight on it. Leaning forward, gloved hands touched the side of his face, Amina whispered into his ear. "You did."
Then she turned to Bel, her favorite.
"Princey you more than anyone should be able to understand me, you somehow always have."
"Princes don't need to understand peasants, ushishi" He said flinging many knives, wanting his turn at her like the shark. Which she easily evaded after so many years of the same treatment. He frowned at that, he didn't like not getting his way easily. It was one thing to see the shark flounder, not him.
"Ah, but I'm not just any peasant, you know that well." Her lips formed a crooked sardonic smile, cocking her head to the side as she always had and he pieced together the missing clues. The stranger before him, suddenly illuminated before his eyes, a picture of a short haired unruly fat commoner cocking her head to the side, before berating him for damaging her book.
"You look different, there is no proof to say you are that commoner."
"Do you want to throw a knife at me and lick my blood like you did so many years ago to check?" She grinned nonplussed, a jolt went up the spine of getting his knife and marring that caramel cheek.
"Or better yet, since as a sovereign you want to be entertained. Here's something for your eyes to feast on, proving I'm your favorite." Hmm, interesting, now this captured Bel's attention well enough. He stopped throwing his knives, curious to see what he had in store. Squalo and Xanxus would also be lying if they also said differently.
Amina looked at Leviathan after talking with Bel and her mind lit up with a brilliant idea. She was excited though her tone had been whimsical with Bel, she pursed her lips at Levi no love lost there. "You have been a thorn at my side for so many years, you know that perverted thunder commander?"
"I've thought long and hard what I would do to you if I saw you now. Beat you up, or even kill you. But unfortunately, you most likely like pain for what you always stalk Xanxus for, and the latter of which might upset the time space continuum."
"So I came to a brilliant conclusion, something that would truly rock you to your core. In the future it has very little effect, but here and now I think it may very well shatter you." Amina chuckled, a dark melodious sound filling the air. "By doing something that you've only ever probably been able to fantasize of doing."
Leviathan got himself into a battle ready stance. He was ready to defend what ever attacks she threw his way. "What are you going to do to me now, you sorceress?"
"I'm so glad you asked."
Amina walked past him, like a predator stalking it's true prey and made her way to Xanxus. Something that nobody saw coming, not even the imperious Varia Boss himself.
Because the Amina here was very much unlike the girl they had come to know. This was a woman, who managed to not only survive but excel in their world. She was a completely different force to be reckoned with, and she walked with the sagacity and confidence of a born predator.
She sauntered up to Xanxus and smiled at him, becoming even brighter as Xanxus only glowered on.
"Hola, Jefe." The effect of those two simple words startled him with it's calm and seductive nature. It was a soft, calm sound that flowed from her lips. Unafraid and unassuming, the spanish tone made it a velvet caress, enveloping him. It made him want to listen to what she had to say-a rare feat. But she knew what and how to say, an upper-hand he didn't have with her.
Chocolate eyes clashed with wine and a wave of recognition jolted his very being. As if some part of him was roaring at him to remember something that he should've never forgotten. He felt bare in front of her, in those few seconds that they stared at one another. No matter how much he stared, she remained there and like her voice simply unafraid. It was precisely that ease of hers that unnerved him. Even he noticed at the corner of his eye as his men took a step back as they felt the inferno of his gaze. Only she remained the same, silently taking him in not saying a word but her eyes were a different story.
They weren't eyes like his.
Her eyes looked in seeing everything in him and for the second time ever in his life he wanted to look away. His pride being the only thing not letting him, not wanting to show weakness. The truth being that those eyes did disarm him, how could someone he barely knew look at him with such intensity, such intimacy?
No matter how much hate, anger and ire he put into his gaze, still she stayed.
Warm chocolate pools delved into the darkest part in his soul, waiting at the edge saying, show me your everything. Not in cause of malice or in search of an advantage to turn it against him. It did not demand, it waited patiently, wanting him. Providing a lure for the imperious Boss unlike anything he had ever dealt with. For he had never been the recipient of such a look.
How could he destroy something that could not even alter?
No one dared speak during the silent exchange not even Leviathan moved. All were transfixed at the startling contrast of a picture the couple provided. He was raw power, more animal than man, a cruel anger radiating off him with each passing second scalding the air around him. She was lush and sultry, where he burned she healed. Like a cool stream that flowed endlessly,
It was as different as staring into blazing sun and the ethereal moon.
The electricity that was in the air between them could be felt prickling the other's skin. It was an instantaneous bond the likes of which nobody had seen.
There were a thousand things she wanted to tell him. Yet, nothing came out of her mouth. Part in fear of altering the future more so than her presence already has and also because she didn't know quite what to say.
But the magnetism was there. When she was on her way here, after much negotiation (Varia style of course) with the Bovino family for their 10-year bazooka technology, the older brunette was well aware that she shouldn't do much. Her mere presence was enough to alter the space time continuum. But she had to come, her life was in danger, Alphonse was acting with knowledge from people from the future. That's how he found her in the first place. This present hadn't been her past. This was new, and she dared to think this was going to be a new branch of existence.
It was only fair that she aided her past self as well if that bastard was getting help too.
That had been the plan, it was get in, get out. No one needed to know she was breaking rules, not that anyone could've stopped her. (Nono's guardian knew that first hand, unwillingly becoming an accomplice in her crime) But as usual there was one thing she failed to count on, Xanxus.
He had so much anger, but after being with him for so many years, Celeste knew it stemmed mostly from his own dejection. Of course he was still a spoiled brat, and she did make sure to point it out, dodging fireballs along the way. Nonetheless, in this moment she wanted nothing more than to embrace him and offer him affection and understanding. Because in the end that was all anyone ever needed, even if he was too much of a prideful chauvinistic idiot to admit it out loud.
As usual, it was hard to walk away from a man like him. So she did the only thing that came to mind. The only thing she could do for that matter, because anything else would've ended horribly with the reclusive Varia boss. It was something that older Xanxus had shown her, that actions spoke louder than words ever could.
Amina went and did the worst thing imaginable that truly destroyed Leviathan, a kiss of death.
Or more accurately, a kiss to Xanxus.
Amina pressed her lips to Xanxus'. She wanted to do this, it was only a plus that it damaged Levi along the way. Leviathan let out a heart-wrenching 'NO' and dropped to his knees. Bel would've clapped at the spectacle if he didn't also have his jaws dropped, Xanxus himself would've never guessed that this would occur, it took him so off guard that it took him time to register what was happening.
Everything about this woman surprised him.
After years of being with Xanxus in the Varia she knew that nothing got him warmed up like a battle. It set him on fire, but the moment their lips touched, she felt every fiber of her being was aflame. That she hadn't expected when she planned on smiting Leviathan with Xanxus's younger self.
True electricity flowed between them and she leaned into the kiss, demanding more, as his future self had done so many times with her before, and Amina knew he felt it too. She had thought the connection had only been possible with his older self, but now she knew she had been a fool.
The bond had been there all along. It was like until that moment they had been frozen, and suddenly things were set into a correct motion once more. The world began to spin around them.
Everything else had ceased to exist but the two of them, and he could feel as if his anger was being consumed by her, accepting it from him, sharing in the burden. As if she was but the missing link to a continuous cycle that was meant to happen all along.
When finally their mouths separated, the need for air becoming apparent, he had to tell himself that he was not fighting the urge to go back and slam her to a wall and brand her as his.
Who the hell was this woman?
That would mean that he was feeling something. And Xanxus did not feel, feelings made a person weak.
And Xanxus was not weak.
She smirked at the broken man that was once Leviathan. While trying to regain her own composure, she used Leviathan's breakdown to bring her back to reality. Reminding her she was not here to make out with the younger version of Xanxus.
Though Xanxus felt virile satisfaction and looked smugly at the fact that it took her time to compose herself.
No matter how much she wanted to just go back and continue what they were doing. Lord knew it would be an eternity before he would admit what existed between them with her younger self. That's if her younger version decided to stay, of course, or else the future she was going back to would be entirely different.
Maybe it had been a good thing she acted on her impulse and kissed (Practically made out it in front of all the Varia members) Xanxus, because if she were to cease to exist, she wanted it to be with the taste of him on her lips.
Amina looked back at Xanxus with those red lips of hers, that reminded him of his wine and tasted of chocolate and velvet indulgence split into a grand grin. "You might incinerate me for what I did Boss, but it was hella worth it. I regret nothing."
She sauntered off all grace and purpose in her gait. "I'd love to stay, chat and destroy levi some more but I got a man to kill. And if you want to kill me that's all fine and nice just as long as one of those graves is Alphonse, " she paused for a moment letting her next words roll of her tongue. "after he is dead and gone, you can do whatever you want with my body."
Amina saw those eyes darken lustfully at her last words. And she knew it was against his better judgement. He had no idea how much easier he was to incite compared to his older self. She truly hadn't meant it as a sexual innuendo, but hey, after kissing Xanxus, she could not be held responsible for her words. The man made her lose control, it was practically mandatory in a relationship with him. God was that man sexy, though he looked much better with his long hair.
But those eyes could still set her ablaze any time, any day. A nice little shiver of anticipation ran up her spine. Yet she had a mission, her mind reminded her. She didn't come all the way from 15 years in the future to seduce her future boss.
Boy, would've that had been an interesting story to tell. Maybe if she got back and things didn't completely change, she might be able to be the dominant one more often...
Her lips twitched lustfully, and Xanxus felt like he never had before to know what it was on that woman's mind.
Might've made her life a lot easier, but she had to maintain some sort of order. Who knows just how much of the space time continuum she had already put in danger or altered?
It would've been too much for the universe if Xanxus fell in love so early too. Nothing could ever handle that.
He looked back to his Varia symbol on her body. This woman was his? Though he meant it in the Varia sense, a pull of desire deep inside took it in the primal possessive way.
As if knowing his thoughts, She smirked tauntingly, one might even say seductively. "I can be, that depends on you, boss-man"
Though she couldn't make her Boss from the past fall in love with her. No matter which timeline or universe; She could most certainly shove him in the right fucking direction.
Cinquemani and cloud forces began to appear and Squalo clenched his jaw. He couldn't deal with her and them, he had to deal with these trash first. For one reason or another, against everything he was ever taught he believed that the woman wasn't a threat.
She looked towards the sky and scowled. "Time is running out, I gotta run. You can take care of the them by yourself, but I need to take out the trash before I leave."
Squalo turned back to the retreating figure and after the grunt of a fallen enemy he called out after her.
"VOIII, what kind of girl are you that everyone wants a piece of you?"
Red lips turned into a wicked grin as she looked back at them one last time. "A Varia girl."
Author's Note
FINALLY!
You guys have no idea how long I've been waiting to post this chapter. It's been eating me inside for years xD Hopefully you guys liked it as much as I liked writing it.
This was another one of those chapters originally meant to be two but I condensed into one, because there was too much goodness to divide nicely.
More will come concerning why future Amina is here, what that means and all the new things about this world. Staying true to KHR but adding my own twists within the established universe has been my go-to style.
Stay tuned and Don't forget to review please, I'd appreciate it!
