A.N: Thank you so much for stopping by!

WARNINGS: Mentions of blood and foul language.

Disclaimer: I do not own the familiar characters.


You are coming to Japan with me…Echoed those words…

Xanxus was pretty sure his jaws were sweeping the floor right now but who was he kidding….

Why? Why now? Why do you care….Xanxus gritted his teeth.

"And why the hell would I do that?" he demanded challengingly. Who does he think I am…his personal LAPDOG? Even the guardians looked on, perplexed, except the Ninth. He looked…heart-broken? He noticed Brow Nie place a bound file on the table with his name on it.

" Xanxus Daniel Vongola…" Iemitsu read out loud, "adoptive son of Timoteo Daniel" he spotted Xanxus scowl at this, however, he made no move to stir up his Flames…yet, "will be temporarily removed from Timoteo's Wing" he heard several gasps but read on, "and be placed under the guardianship of Sawada Iemitsu and Sawada Nana where basic ground rules shall be exercised upon him."

He looked up to find the guardians look back and forth between Timoteo, who was starting to look more depressed by the minute, to Xanxus, who looked horror-struck.

"Boss…" Coyoto whispered softly. To give up his only son, no matter how rebellious he was, must have torn Timoteo apart. He looked beseechingly at Iemitsu, "This is insanity! Why would you d—"

"What Xanxus really needed, apart from good tutors and a safe home, was real discipline and control, which the Ninth CLEARLY failed to impart on his son" he knew his words were harsh, but it needed to be said, "So…it has been decided that Xanxus, albeit temporarily, will be monitored by a stern mentor in his few days out of the Mafia." He signed.

"WHAT?!" everyone in the room, exclaimed.

Coyoto turned to his boss only to find him slumped on a chair, hunched over with his head buried in his hands, looking utterly tired and defeated. The rest of his guardians crowded around him.

"Boss, you can't agree to this!"

"I'm afraid I—"

"This is unjust, Boss!"

"I know Viscon—"

"It sounds more like a punishment to YOU than the bo—"

"There was nothi—"

"Iemitsu, please reconsider…."

"I am supposed to remain impartial, Ganauche-san"

"Boss, can't you overrid—"

"I've already discussed this with the Ninth, Braban—"

"You can't just—"

"THIS IS MY FINAL DECISION!" Iemitsu bellowed above the din. He noticed Xanxus cringe from the corner of his eyes. "Look, personally I don't like how this has turned out but sometimes tough decisions have to be made, for the greater good" He shook his head, "We have made enough bad decisions already" he muttered.

Iemitsu turned to the only person who had been silent through the whole ordeal, "What do you think, Xanxus?" he noticed Xanxus stiffen at the mention of his name," Wanna give this whole Mafia business a rest and live with the commoners for a while?" he smirked.

"As if my opinion matters" Xanxus muttered under his breath.

"I don't think I heard you right, Xanxus" Iemitsu raised an eyebrow at him," Care to run that by me again?" he added with a little edge to his voice.

Xanxus sighed in a very put-upon manner and shook his head." I have no inclination to comment on this" for the moment at least….he thought gloomily.

"If there is nothing else to add…." Iemitsu studied everyone in the room and after a moment of silence he turned to Xanxus and smiled softly," Xanxus…won't you start packing now?"

"Huh?!Yeah…I can do that…" Xanxus dumbly nodded, his eyes looking strangely moist, and left the room, but not before throwing a tentative glance at the Ninth. The room succumbed to its familiar deafening silence. The guardians were shuffling around, looking anywhere but at him.

Finally, Iemitsu sighed and kneeled in front of the Ninth, "Don't worry, Boss. I'll take good care of him" he promised, "Look on the bright side, after a messy start, Tsu-kun and Xanxus get to bond" he tried. He saw the Ninth nod weakly and turn to face him, taking in a shuddering breath.

"I urge you not to be too hard on my boy, Iemitsu." Timoteo looked up with pleading eyes.

"He used to be a really sweet kid" Ganauche mused, "Running around the main house and always clinging on to somebody" he smiled fondly to himself.

"I just don't know where I went wrong" Timoteo frowned, "He never expressed any desire to become the Decimo before…Not until…."his frown deepened.

"Not until his death…." Visconti walked up to them from where he was leaning on the wall. Noticing the bewilderment, he repeated, "Of what little I know of Xanxus, his first declaration of his right for the Decimo title was….

"A month after Federico's demise…" Coyoto finished breathlessly. "Why didn't this ever cross our mind?" he frowned.

"A lot of things surrounding the Cradle Affair don't add up" Brabanters sighed.

"The Ring Conflict has stirred up quite a ruckus among the European Families" Iemitsu stood up to lock the door, "It would be best to have our guard up. This issue must have definitely reached their ears" he gritted his teeth.

"But didn't Xanxus stop exhibiting those symptoms already?" Coyoto enquired hopefully. No…not again…

"That was what I was hoping for, but…" Iemitsu marginally reduced his voice and looked around, before whispering, "Did you not notice Xanxus' eyes now and during his earlier panic attack?"

The statement immediately had Timoteo's attention, "Please, don't tell me…" he whispered disbelievingly.

"His eyes….they were glowing…just like before…."


"How long do you think he's gonna stand there, Mizzy?" a curious maid asked her companion.

"He'll snap out of it. Besides, it's been so long since he stepped foot in the family estates" the said maid, Mizain, smiled and dragged her fellow friend away from her 'Xanxus-watching'.

Xanxus spent the better part of the hour standing in front of an ornate door, one hesitant hand resting on the doorknob, staring at the intricate details on it with doleful eyes. Should he…or should he not….Xanxus shook his head. It's not like he had something to pack from HIS old room….

"Xanxus?" a soft voice broke Xanxus out of his verbal dilemma.

Of course he knew who it was…Xanxus snorted and turned around to come face-to-face with his father.

"Hmm" Xanxus grunted before turning back to the closed door. He frowned when he felt the old geezer's presence near him. Xanxus was about to politely tell him to 'sod off' but stopped short when he saw him pull out a key from his pocket and open the door for him.

"Go on, my boy…" Timoteo peered at him with a forlorn smile. Xanxus, for his part, gave him a sideways glance and entered the room.

The moment he stepped into his room, Xanxus felt like he was projected into the past. The room looked the same, just as he had left it before he moved in to the Varia HQ except everything looked clean and maintained. His Xbox was where he left it, the controllers and game cases splayed in front of a 75- inches Ultra-HD and beside two burgundy beanbags. He walked across the room to his neat mahogany bookshelf and observed that they were housed with his favourite genre of books, not a speck of dust anywhere. Heck—even his action figure collection looked polished!

Xanxus carefully picked up a book and sat on his burgundy bed, Soooo…soft… Federico would always read him a bedtime story. He looked at the book and delicately traced its title, 'The Last Leaf' by O' Henry, his all-time favourite. Xanxus could feel a lump form in his throat and his eyes starting to burn. Freddy-nii… he sniffed softly. His sorrow was instantly replaced with rage when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He shook of the hand vigorously and turned to snarl at the man whom he believed was his father. "Aren't you happy NOW? Seeing me snivel like a fool?" he spat into his face and saw him flinch. Pathetic…

"What's your hand in this?! Got some hitmen ready in Japan to shoot me down like a dog?!" Xanxus growled, his hands tightening around the book, his knuckles turning white as he gritted out, "You should have just left me there, with my Mama!" Xanxus' lips curled into a disgusted snarl, "I would have been waaay happy there as a beggar than live my life as your son"

"Xanxus" Timoteo looked up to his son, "I never mean—"

"FOR ME TO FIND OUT?!" Xanxus bellowed at Timoteo," To let me think that you were my real F-FA-FATHER—that you REALLY CARED!" his lips quivered with barely controlled anguish.

Timoteo once again felt his heart reach out to the boy. He could clearly see the damage done to his child and it was HIS entire fault!

FLASH!

Timoteo rubbed his eyes as he read the latest report. The new boss of the Augello family seemed to have refused peaceful negotiations, he sighed tiredly. Just then, the door to his office flew open and in ran a seven-year old.

"Papa, papa—Look!" he ran to Timoteo's side and placed a drawing on his hand, "I drew this in Arts and Crafts, just for you!" he grinned up at him. Timoteo took the picture and placed it beside his report.

"Thank you, Xanxus" he replied distractedly as he answered a call," Shouldn't you be in bed, now?"

"Ah...well…I wanted to talk to Papa abo—"

"How about later, son? I m a little busy now"

"You say that all the time" Xanxus pouted, "But this is impor—"

"Off to bed now, Xanxus" Timoteo waved him off.

What he didn't know was that was the last time Xanxus gave him those blinding grin of his.

FLASH!

He knew he wrote the number down! How could he let the paper slip through his hands! Obtaining that number code took his men an entire week! Hopefully, it's still somewhere in his office. And with that, Timoteo barged into his room only to come face-to-face with Xanxus holding a paper.

"Didn't I tell you not to entire my study without permission, Xanxus?" Timoteo frowned as he looked through his desk for the paper with the number on.

"Are you looking for this, Papa?" a meek voice enquired, "I found it near the shredder"

Timoteo hurriedly took the paper and breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God…it's here…

"Thank you, son" he smiled at a dejected-looking Xanxus and immediately frowned," Xanxus?"

The boy seemed to have an internal conflict before facing him with a determined look," Did you like my drawing, Papa?"

What?!Drawing? Timoteo blinked. What draw—Oh! He completely forgot! He smiled down at Xanxus, trying his best to hide his guilt. "Ah! That drawing! It was pretty, Xanxus…I have it framed in my room"

He observed Xanxus loose the little bit of smile that managed to creep into his face. He walked away with his hands in his pocket, shoulders hunched after mumbling a soft, "Thanks, papa…"

What has gotten into that child of his, Timoteo wondered as he noted the number into his mobile and moved the paper to the shredder. He gasped in shock when he noticed the last scrap of his son's art and his heart torn into shreds by the shredder.

FLASH!

"Papa, Freddy-nii was—"

"Didn't I tell you never to leave the estate, Xanxus"?! Timoteo asked pointedly at his thirteen-year old son

"But I—"the child wailed.

"Didn't I?" Timoteo repeated sternly.

"Yes, papa…" Xanxus sniffed miserably, his blue contacts brimming with tears.

"Go to your room, now..."

"Papa..." Xanxus moaned sadly as he inched towards Timoteo, his eyes desperately looking for comfort.

His son…Federico was murdered…brutally…He didn't have time for this, "NOW, son!" he ordered with a little edge in his voice.

The last thing he heard was a choked sob and the bang of a door.

FLASH!

No…he let his son down once. Never again! With his mind set, he called upon his Will and turned to face his youngest. Nothing prepared him for what he saw in front of his eyes!

Under the glow of the moonlight, his son's once sun kissed skin looked dark grey and ashen, but what struck Timoteo the most were his eyes…Large crimson irises, once cold, were now glowing scarlet and burning with emotions. His mother's words hit him then…'Protect my Grandson, Tim…Don't let them see his eyes!'

"Xanxus, my dear son…" Timoteo whispered gently.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT!" Xanxus practically roared and grabbed Timoteo by his collar, " I AM NOT YOUR FUCKING SON, YA SENILE OLD COOT!" he spat and promptly let him go. Get the message and fucking leave me alone!

"No—you are wrong…" Timoteo patiently replied, "Maybe not by blood, but you are the son that my heart recognizes" he smiled sadly," You are the brother that Enrico, Massimo and Federi—"

"ENOUGH WITH YOUR SENTIMENTAL RUBBISH!" Xanxus whipped around, "You buried your son along with Federico the very day! He is gone and he's not fucking coming back!"

"Xanxu—"

"You should have KILLED ME when you had the chance" Xanxus growled fiercely, "You should have NEVER adopted me— you should have just left me in the alley to rot and die after m-my mother.." here, his voice cracked. And before Timoteo could find words to comfort his child, Xanxus had summoned his Flames. It lit up his sullen face and shone through his tear-filled eyes…. eyes that drew his Will and bombarded him with his son's memories…his pain…

FLASH!

Xanxus staring at Timoteo with awe and admiration as he fought his son's kidnappers.

FLASH!

Xanxus tasting Enrico's disastrous cooking with a smile on his face while the rest of the family gagged into their napkins when his eldest was not looking.

FLASH!

Xanxus playing his violin while his silver-haired friend and Massimo's kids danced around him.

FLASH!

Xanxus looking at the crumbled picture he drew for Timoteo, a number written at the back.

FLASH!

Xanxus standing in the middle of a battle field littered with mangled corpse and storm flames, covered from head to toe in Federico's blood.

FLASH!

"You are a coward, old man…" Xanxus whispered solemnly, towering over him, "For old times' sake, I'll do the dirty work for you…" And with that, Xanxus brought his hands, burning with his Flame, towards his own neck. I'm sorry…I guess we both had our fair share of misery…papa… Xanxus closed his eyes in anticipation as he made to slash his neck but he never felt the intense burn of his Flame. Instead, he felt a firm hand snatch his hand in a death grip and..

SLAP!

Xanxus felt his head snap to the side from the sheer force behind the slap. A sharp sting took over his right cheek. He turned back to look at the old man and almost flinched when he was met with a murderous glare. If he were any lesser than the boy he was, Xanxus would have peed his pants. And that's when reality hit him…the old man SLAPPED him…his calm and collected FATHER, THE EPITOME OF PATIENCE AND GRACE…SLAPPED HIM….

Xanxus placed a delicate hand over his stinging cheek. He should be angry! He should shred this man like paper! Instead, he felt his eyes starting to burn with tears of shame and longing. All he managed to do was hiccup a weak, 'You slapped me...' before he was pulled into a fierce hug by the Ninth.

And Xanxus, killer assassin and heartless bastard of a son, broke down in his father's arms after 13 years...


Thanks for the read…See you next week! Chuu~