Chapter 44: Arrival

Beyond myself, somewhere, I await for my arrival

Octavio Paz

Simultaneously in the other parallel universe

Brownie nie jr assessed the young girl properly, after having explained that he was not God and that she was not dead yet. she sat shell-shocked and in silence once that adrenaline rush died down. He briefly explained that they were in a time in between. But there was a far away look in her eyes.

There was a deep sadness juxtaposed with the visible cry for vengeance that emitted from her pores. The ninth generation sun guardian was shocked to see the change in demeanor in this teenage version of Celeste from the one he remembered from his own timeline .

"Bambina," he reached out his hand and stroked her head, she looked up at him then. Equal parts bewildered and vulnerable, snapped back from her ire and grief.

"You've gone through much, haven't you?" The tenderness in his touch made her eyes glisten. Brow Nie knew by the reactions this once beloved and coddled girl had gone long without a friendly face or a sincere touch. Suddenly come over by a realization, she fiercely grabbed onto his suit. "Federico, tell me about him? Is he dead?"

While her sudden intensity would be enough to surprise anyone, it was more the name of the once upon foretold Vongola Decimo that stunned him. Now the world swept up in the whirlwind of change brought on by Sawada Tsunayoshi.

When was the last time that someone had thought about Timeoteo's son, let alone mentioned his name?

"He died." Brow nie jr stated carefully, worried that his words would cause another intense pendulum swing of her emotions. And by her reaction, he was right in having been worried. It was as if a light had burst forth for a second from her eyes, only to be mercilessly squashed by his words shortly after appearing.

"He's dead." She blurted, pain bubbling up inside her and this time she couldn't stop it. "He's still dead." She said once in a gasp and later in a sob over and over again as he kept stroking her head softly and poured his healing sun flames into her wounds. Shock and grief rippling through her every time. It tore open the seams on one of the great weights of her heart, tired of doubting and wondering who was worth trusting or not.

He did not quite understand why Federico's death had impacted her to such a degree but thought it better not to ask. Wait and see if she decided to speak, if not, he would not force her to. Eventually her sobs subsided and she regained an even breathing tempo as he kept gently pouring flames and comforting her.

"So there is time travel, mysteries of the universe literally revealing themselves before me, and yet I can't find a world with him in it?" Her voice cracked towards the end, she no longer sobbed but her tears still rolled. Immensely relieved that she could pour herself out without worrying if she would die.

So in this world she was connected to his life and death? That was new.

"Bambina, how do you know the difference then between what fate had already declared even without you in the picture?"

"I don't understand" hope bubbled inside her and she fought it down. Not yet, she thought not yet.

"Federico died in my world too and I assure you it had nothing to do with you. He was the footnote in the story the tutor told to the heir who took his place." He was careful to not mention reborn or tsuna, no need to burden her with prophecy

"So what am I supposed to feel better because he was going to die anyways?! I remember him, I know him, his very being thrums within me! The memories of every unfulfilled dream or desire, I have to live with it now! How is that fair?"

"It isn't, but life was never promised to be either." He used his sun flames to calm her down, she did not know it but they helped subdue tempers. Like light bursting through dark clouds, whereas rain comforts and tranquilizes.

"Instead I think your Federico was far more blessed than my Federico," he wiped a tear from her face softly as she looked at him incredulously. "My Federico did not have such a beautiful Bambina to mourn and grieve him, to seek a world with him in it and cry out in pain when she found herself in one that had lost him".

In his recollection he remembered the funeral service, the sadness owed by Nono and Visconti who knew him best. But he also knew how later the bright light that was tsuna came, and all of Timoteo's children, became nothing more than little anecdotes in the story of Tsunayoshi Sawada, 11th Vongola boss.

Truly parallel universes were an awesome thing to behold. "Take heart in imagining this, just like your life and world is different from mine. There even is a world out there where you never even met and lived a normal life. Just as there might be a world where you two had a happily ever after."

Now it was his turn to look at her in hope and imagination, things she should be focused on at her age.

"How the universe works and what we know is but a drop compared to the ocean. You have choices Bambina, don't forget that. And if you love Federico, love him in a new way, by endeavoring to live and see to fruition his dreams."

"Dreams are but the children that are souls produce, that feed our hearts and minds"

She nodded, taking his words to heart. Wondering to herself what dream of Federico could she accomplish? What would make him proud? It would never replace or make up the lack of his existence but she knew it was something tangible to think of assuming she survived her brother in the first place.

"Thank you, also why are you here exactly?"

He laughed lightly, she blinked widely undeterred. Brow Nie felt an airy sensation of fondness for the young girl rising in him. That eternal curiosity and unabashed nature in asking questions was very much the same no matter which universe he found the girl. "Your future self of this time is not easy to deny."

"So what you mean is that I coerced you into helping me break potential laws of the universe? Aren't you older than me?"

He stayed silent, slightly ashamed that he had been led by a girl younger into fulfilling her desires, though he knew it was a messy situation he was being dragged into. There was an internal laugh that bubbled inside her at his face and the situation that almost made her break out into a grin, older than her, had skills. She liked her future alternative self already. Now that was someone to aspire to be.

Brow Nie Jr noticed the change in her demeanor, how it relaxed and was distracted from her earlier grief. Well one silver lining at least, even if it was at the cost of his suffering.

"There is also the matter that future you had a point that I would be guilty of an innocent murder if I didn't intercede"

He also owed her the truth of what was happening to her, since it's one of those situations one can't fathom without an outside perspective.

"As you know you've gone through a lot at the hands of your brother. That didn't happen though in this timeline, or better yet, in this universe."

What? Amina could not believe what she was hearing but knew she needed him to finish speaking to make sense of what he was saying.

"The Celeste of my world grew up without being involved in the mafia. Your mother got exactly what she wanted for you: you grew up none the wiser of the darkness and bloodshed of this world. But children rarely do everything parents want them to do." Then he smiled ruefully and Amina knew it wasn't her she was looking at but memories of a 'her' she didn't know.

"Celeste became a great surgeon, and that coupled with an ever present curiosity to know, to search out the father she never knew; you found your way to Europe. Much to your father's delight and your mother's chagrin. He immediately took you under his wing, your brother having passed long before; the desire for a successor was great. By then you were officially an adult woman, no one could stop you even if they wanted to."

Holy.

"The knowledge you had about the human body coupled with your father's knowledge and expertise made you into a formidable force over the years that the Varia couldn't ignore. Then in the second greatest upheaval witnessed, you actually joined the ranks. " And also later became Xanxus' woman but that he did not add. He never really approved of Xanxus to begin with, let alone his own fondness for the girl always led him to believe she could do better.

"But how did I get to the Varia from my dad?" Ah, she didn't know the link yet. Buckle up bambina.

"Your father was the one who founded the Varia. He is the first Varia Boss. Which once again delighted your father, that his bloodline was back in the place he created."

Just when she had recovered her bearings, she went right back to being a gaping fish.

"So older 'other' me has a brilliant life, but what does that have to do with the 'me' of this universe?"

"Like i said your brother died but there is someone who never let that go, Ottavio."

Ottavio? Who the heck was that, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She racked through memories trying to place that name anywhere.

And she found him.

Not in her own memories, in Fede's: due to their joint partnership of mind real estate. Because Fede's presence had been weakened from his last assistance, she could feel him dimly. She didn't risk asking him questions, better him there like a mist than not at all.

What she could manage there was just a hazy image of a man besides Xanxus, wearing a Varia uniform and sporting glasses.

"But I've never met the guy!? What does he have to do with me?"

"Xanxus actually," the source of many ills, brow nie did not add. Not wanting to poison her mind either with his predisposition against the adopted Vongola son.

"He hated him. Hated how he had everything and he had nothing. Resentful and bitter to his death, he especially hated how your presence eclipsed his own. He got his just desserts but he was crafter than even the other you imagined-he sowed seeds of discord traveling to the past,"

"And talking to Alphonse." She finished absolutely shocked that someone else. Someone unrelated not even from the same universe had enough hatred and resentment to cause pain to any version of her she could get to Alphonse.

"He's the one who fed the idea of the dragon incantation ceremony, conveniently told him of your existence"

Right he had no idea she existed. Just like she didn't. Unless someone told him. In this case Ottavio.

"He couldn't take down Xanxus so he did the next best thing, the one who took his once place,"

"Me." She finished. Not sure whether to cry or laugh at the sheer absurdity.

"Listen to me, I'm not sure how much time there you will have here. You, well the older version of you, played around with the Bovino technology and found a way to go back to the past, instead of switching with the future." Brownie Jr. stopped her before she even began to ask a million questions on how she came across such wondrous technology. He knew there was simply no time to explain and he was already breaking God knew how many rules in the space time continuum by doing this. "Because there are moments in life that determine your life, that make you or break you. Listen to me carefully now."

Amina was struck by the severity in his voice. "You will be going back in a couple of moments when the other you is forced to come back, I'm injecting you with enough sun flames to surpass any damages you have for a while, but it is not permanent."

She desperately wanted to ask about the flames, but by the urgency in his voice Amina came to terms with the fact that her medical curiosity would have to wait. She would find out more about these things eventually.

He embraced her. "I'm sorry for what you have passed and what you have yet to see. I'm sorry we couldn't do anything before. So go now, go back and just run and don't look back. You know your name Celeste, go to the US embassy, they will help you. You can still choose a different path, a life without the violence, without the Varia. You can become a doctor like you always wanted to. Or even a scientist, a hacker for social good. You have the brains to be in the light not in the shadows."

"How do you know so much about me?"

"I knew your parents very well, florecita, I hope this is the last time we meet. That you will heed my words. If you ever see me again, I will not know you as I do now. We will be for all intents and purposes strangers."

The light encompassed her again and she fell, head down through the rainbow tunnel again. Before she saw a dark opening she saw a figure come out. A girl years older than her fly above her and briefly chocolate orbs clashed. Her clothes were drenched in blood but there were no injuries, and she looked strong and powerful. Like the type of girl you thought twice before messing with.

Chocolate eyes that blazed fierce and proud, but were able to soften at the sight of her.

She was not skinny that's for sure, but there was shape to her body; a voluptuous female. She flashed her canine grin and whispered the words, no fear, no regrets. Amina noticed why the blood soaked jacket seemed familiar to her; she had seen Squalo, Belphegor and Xanxus wear it. The blazing Varia crest stood out fiercely against the backdrop of blood.

It was a different model, much cooler looking. But Varia insignia nevertheless

It wasn't until she stood again surrounded by the pool of dead bodies and blood of the men who were once beating her that Amina realized she had just seen what she could become.

If she went to the right, she could take the nearest exit and run. With all the panic and 9mayhem she could steal a car and just drive as fast as she could back to civilization. Never again would she see any of this. These past few weeks would be like dark memory shoved in the deepest abyss of her mind.

If she went to her left, there was no guarantee for what was to come. Only what she saw now, older her, left her a very clear message. If she went towards the left only blood, sweat, tears and death would accompany her.

But then she saw Alphonse, face to face on this open Terrace. And all thought of running away left.

Him and his death was her path—for better or worse.

Current timeline + universe

Minutes prior

"Hola Tigrillo, I see you've grown." A thick spanish accent broke through their animated discussion and their soon to be departure towards where they saw Alphonse. David Aragon sauntered out smoothly from the shadows and looked on at Xanxus as a father would a distant child. Once he noticed the gun pointed in his direction, much to the shock of the others he only chuckled in amusement. As if it was but a toy being pointed at in mock battle. "Do you really want to waste a bullet on me?"

Crimson eyes looked in silent surprise at the older man, lowering his gun. "Steel Lord."

David raised an eyebrow in silent mirth at his old moniker. He looked around the mansion exterior and smiled humorlessly. "Well I dare say I like what you've done to the place, never took you for an interior design man. Nothing like blood and flames to bring out the true essence of a fortress."

Suddenly the assembled Varia officers looked at the man standing calmly in front of their Boss in a whole new light. Leviathan looked at the man with his jaw slack.

"You're steel lord?" Leviathan asked with a slight awe in his voice.

"We thought you were dead." Squalo said incredulously, lowering his sword. Bel also agreed with the sentiment, why then did he leave the Varia in his prime? He was rarely heard of even in the Vongola channels.

David threw his salt and pepper head back and laughed. "Oh many have tried, failed but tried. You would know better than anyone that the devil takes care of his own."

Xanxus however still did not lower his gun. He had a bone to pick with the Spanish patriarch. "What do you think you are doing here Old man?"

Never losing his cool, the older man gave him a feral look. "What you think I had something to do with this mess? You really think if I wanted to get rid of you I'd do something this chaotic and cowardly?"

Xanxus had already thought as much but it didn't mean he enjoyed the man's presence given what his son had been up to. David probably had half a mind to kill Alphonse himself. Knowing that what he had done was enough to bring his own reputation to shreds.

"You're the one known for dreaming and staging of coup—not me."

Looking at his predecessor, Xanxus almost smiled knowing that the man's personality hasn't budged one bit. David was the sort of man that would shoot you in the face if he wanted to. Not one to hide behind or snake his way through political nonsense.

It spoke legions to the rest of the Varia commanders that Xanxus simply chose to just glare and not attack him.

"But that's always been the difference between Timeoteo and I, he has always been far too kind and forgiving. Me? Not nearly as much, I am not a man who if my own cross me, will let it slide so easily."

"Because here is the thing. Family is the most important thing there is." David caught sight of Xanxus' scoff at the words and shook his head. "You're still young, one day you'll see what I mean Tigrillo. And he who betrays his own and brings shame to his family's name doesn't deserve it."

"Family is sacred and loyalty is a must. Without those two, you might as well be a pig. And do you know what happens to pigs? They get slaughtered."

Xanxus wasn't ever one to hold back his sneer either. "Big talk considering the mess your son created."

Levi's eyes widened as he twisted his head back and forth between Steel Lord and his Boss, two very equally polarizing and intimidating figures. "The traitor is your son?" Levi asked in shock.

"That's no son of mine. No child of mine would ever dare betray the family." David Aragon said with such indifference even Squalo was taken back at the callous attitude.

"Biologically speaking, yes. Besides that I hold no other responsibility. Though if Stella was here she would probably say that had I been a more constant presence in his life he might have no turn out this way. But I don't think so. Never believed in that American drama bullshit. Look at you for instance," He glimpsed at Xanxus. "Nono was there all those years, much more than I've been with my son and you still went against him too. He who is, always will be."

No one wanted to be there at that moment. They all stared at Xanxus with uneasy silence, straightening up waiting for their boss to explode. No one ever brought up the cradle affair, ever. Yet, here was this man out of nowhere bringing it up effortlessly, not just once but also tactless and bluntly.

Little did they know that Xanxus was more than used to it. Never would he admit it aloud but he held a silent respect for the man. Better than those who conspired and whispered their distaste behind his back. David said what he meant, and meant what he said; no matter who it was.

And for that, Xanxus liked always knowing that David was a man he knew always where he stood with.

"Nonetheless, here I am now. As it seems to fall upon all fathers, it seems my son has created quite a mess. Something you can surely sympathize with Tigrillo seeing as you did the same with your father. But unlike him I'm not just going to put him in a comatose state. I'm removing all family allegiance, men, which mean you, are not held to the standard of being unable to kill him for being a part of the same family."

He chuckled. "Not that you ever paid attention to that, doing as you pleased. But it saves you the paperwork and the headache of talking to your father. Since I know you try to do that as least as possible."

"He is not my father." Xanxus said tersely, deep ire in his eyes.

"Fine so you don't have to speak with your not father. Better?"

The Varia members alongside Xanxus could not stop their jaws from dropping. Even Squalo was dumbfounded at the sheer balls of that man.

The scalding silence between them was all the answer David needed.

The salt and peppered hair man sighed.

"So to allay your justified wrath in this case; I offer the other girl you have no doubt come to know. I am more than sure this girl will never betray you."

"Who the fuck is she?"

Getting straight to point as usual, David thought with amusement turning towards Xanxus.

He knew the face of who David meant but it didn't resolve his questions of who she was or where she came from. She literally appeared into his life out of nowhere—twice, and was always at the center of the havoc. First when he was imprisoned in ice and now as his mansion was on fire.

"She is any one she wants to be." He smiled a sad smile and looked at the skies. As if they would provide answers he could not find on Earth.

Fucking philophical answers as usual. In all the years Xanxus had known the man, he wasn't sure he ever got a straight answer. It had infuriated him for the majority of his childhood, especially more so during his training.

"If you were a smart man you wouldn't let her fall through your fingers, so that another family can claim her."

"Her?" Levi asked, no clue who they were referring to. Did Xanxus have a lover he didn't know about? How was it possible!?

"Who else do you think? My favorite servant, did you not remember I said she had royal blood?" Belphegor smacked Levi on the head for his idiocy at which Levi promptly cursed out at him.

"Do you not realize with the two brain cells you have that the girl is Alphonse's sister and by extension, Steel Lord's daughter? An offspring of the spanish Vongola branch?" And inherently Varia royalty but that he did not add, knowing that would sound like a contention to Xanxus rule.

Squalo could not hide his shock that was not as dramatic and exaggerated as Levi. He hadn't made the connection yet. He looked to David for verification and saw no hint of denial in the man's features.

"And why should I believe you?"

"The same way I once believed in a ragged little Trigillo who couldn't fit in with his other siblings, preferring to fight them than get along. When I had to step in to separate this cub from clawing their other's throats out, those young eyes glared at me with such rage." He pulled out a cigar, and lit it. Such comfort and ease, both his body and tone contrasted greatly with all the chaos and death occurring around them. Yet, David looked right at home, and as Xanxus looked at the older man, he figured he probably was. "Rage I was sure would bring down the house to ashes." David chuckled, looking at the mansion on fire, as if to say that he had been right. "And yet, I still handed the same boy who looked like he was going to kill me with a gun and taught him how to shoot it."

"Make sure she doesn't die, oiste? You never know when I may be back." David turned to leave. "Tell your father my regards"

Xanxus watched the retreating broad shoulders of the man who gave him the tools to be who he was today. As he stared, he found himself not wondering for the first time how his life would've been if he had been adopted by this man instead of Timeoteo.

David was never one to stay in one place for too long,

"He's not my father." Xanxus saw that slight flutter of shock in the fearless man's eyes. Yet, when that far away glaze came in, he knew it wasn't because of his words, but whatever was on his mind. Which wouldn't be far from the truth, the words had been an echo of his daughter, the same fire of resentment burned just as strong in both their eyes. It was as if in that moment these two people, so utterly different had molded together into one being before his eyes.

One resented a father for showing a future that could never be attained.

The other resented the father for showing her a future she never wanted in the first place.

Oh life was ironic indeed.

But before anyone could comment any further they were joined by an unexpected guests.

Chills went up Squalo's spine before he saw the figures. Not even Xanxus caused that effect. It couldn't be.

Even David lost his cool and unfazed demeanor knowing exactly who had just joined them. Also knowing who it was by the sensation of darkness and suffocation that filled the air of death and judgement.

Out of a haze of black smoke out came mummified figures.

Vindice had arrived.

Authors note:

Wow readers. i honestly cannot believe we are almost at the end of the Cinquemani arc. its like watching your first born walk. thank you all who have been part of this journey, new and old as i have endeavored to deliver my best work but also flesh out these characters and stories that have floated around since i first started this fanfic. i feel so emotional showing you all plot points and moments ive had planned and playing on loop in my head for years.

As many of you have noticed (and some I've even managed to convince based on the reviews) I've always had sympathy for Federico. When I first started KHR all those years ago I was struck by the fact he was literally a side panel in the manga, a one sentence mention in anime. Because even when I finally started writing this fanfic, I had already had Federico swimming in my own subconscious far earlier than that. I wanted to flesh him out, while still sticking to cannon. Seeing so many of you express your own sympathy and pity for Federico has been one of my proudest moments. It's one thing to think something as an author, it's another to actually being able to get your readers to feel the same. So thank you for letting me show you my idea of Federico.

I also always do a ton of research (not that i really suffer re-watching KHR or looking at KHR articles) Which is how I got to Ottavio! Yay for KHR fandom!

Hope I managed to surprise some of you with this Vindice development. Start casting your thoughts on what role they will play, I'll even let you know if you guess correctly!

As always so grateful to you all who take the time to share your thoughts, leave a review and let me know your appreciation or what you are excited about. a review is enough to make my day.