Guest: Thank you so much! May you have a blessed day! Or night.

I don't own KHR.

Kyoya wasn't sure what woke him up. He didn't know whether it was because of some noise that had occurred outside, or because Ryohei had accidently kicked him in his sleep again but in any case, he was fully awake. And while sleep was never a stranger to Kyoya, he could tell that falling back asleep tonight wouldn't be as easy as it usually was.

Kyoya sighed as he quietly sat up and looked over his siblings. They were all still fast asleep, some with smiles on their faces, and some without. Kyoya couldn't help but smile, glad that none of his other siblings hadn't gotten woken up. They needed the rest.

The eldest then sighed as he thought about all that had happened in the last two days, his smile dropping out of existence as a result.

While he didn't regret his decision to accept Giotto's offer, he still wished that there had been another way. Another way that didn't put his siblings at risk from the very real chance that the Vongola had lied to them last night. Another way that wouldn't risk his siblings getting attached to the Vongola even if they had told the truth.

Because no matter what, they couldn't stay here. Even if Mukuro had somehow gotten over his bad blood with the mafia, Kyoya would never forgive Lampo for hurting his brother like that (just because Ryohei accepted his apology didn't mean that he had). He would never forgive Reborn for letting Lambo cry like that. He would never forgive Reborn for forcing Tsuna to go past his limits. He would never forgive Giotto, Asari, and Reborn for causing Takeshi to panic so badly. Kyoya would never forgive the Vongola for taking Hayato and Chrome away from them...though he would admit that the mafia family probably didn't have much a choice in that regard.

And last, but not least, he would never forgive Alaude for defeating him so quickly and so soundly like that. Not to mention that at first...Alaude had played with him.

A familiar baby's soft coo then filled the air, effectively interrupting Kyoya's train of thought as he turned his head. It didn't take him long at all to locate Lambo, who was still snuggled between Takeshi and Tsuna, with his green eyes closed while wearing a big smile.

Kyoya sighed with relief. Lambo was just making sounds in his sleep. Cute.

What wasn't cute though was how Lambo disappeared from the room earlier that day. Luckily, they found him before any real harm could be done (at least Kyoya hoped so, Lambo did spend some time with Lampo) but still. He had disappeared from their, his, sight and it was because Kyoya was too focused on Elena.

And it make matters worse, this apparently was only the beginning. According to the Elena, Lambo was getting to the age where he was going to be getting into everything while wanting to be everywhere at the same time. Kyoya didn't mind the fact that Lambo was starting to want to explore, he understood perfectly the need to be free while feeling curious about your surroundings. But he hoped that Lambo could hold back on his new exploring tendencies for a just little while longer.

The last thing they needed was Lambo going off and disappearing while they were escaping this place.

Which they couldn't do until they made a fool-proof plan. Which they couldn't really do until they have more information about everything. There was no way they going to be so underprepared this time.

Kyoya sighed once more as he quietly got off the bed. Thinking about all of this was only making Kyoya restless, so much so that he couldn't just sit still anymore. He was going to parole the hallway once or twice, and then go back to bed so he could be well rested in the morning.

Because right now, that was really the only thing he could do.

So with this plan in mind, Kyoya went to the door, stopping to look over his sleeping siblings once more. Satisfied with what he saw, Kyoya left their temporary bedroom, making sure to close it silently behind him.

Kyoya then turned to his left and started to walk down the dimly lit hallway, his ears alert to the slightest sound. It didn't take him long to reach the end of the hall, causing him to turn around and head down to the other end. As much as he was tempted to patrol the whole mansion, he didn't want to be too far away from his siblings right now.

As he continued on his short patrol, Kyoya found his brain returning to his previous train of thought. He quickly shook his head in order to stop himself. There was no point anymore in going over things that he couldn't change at the moment, as much as it frustrated him otherwise.

He really did wish that things had gone differently last night.

At this point Kyoya had reached the bedroom door, prompting him to stop. Should he go back to bed, or should he patrol the hallway one more time?

"Kids your age should be bed at this time of night." Kyoya, startled, instantly turned around as he reached for his tonfas, a sound that was practically a growl leaving his lips as he did so.

The one who had spoken to him was Alaude. And he was currently wearing an expression that Kyoya couldn't exactly read.

It only made Kyoya want to bite him to death that much more.

"So...why are you up?" Alaude eventually asked when Kyoya just continued to glare at him silently. This question made Kyoya furrowed his eyebrows, wondering on how he should respond. Because as much as he wanted to not answer the question and just fight Alaude until he wore an expression that he could read...he couldn't.

His siblings were sleeping right behind the door.

"I don't know," Kyoya eventually muttered as his hands finally left the handles of his tonfas. "I just woke up."

"I see," Alaude accepted with a nod. "So you walked out just in case it was some unwanted intruder?"

"...Hn," Kyoya replied, having decided that Alaude's speculation was close enough.

"Well...you can go back to bed. I have greatly upgraded the security just a few hours ago, it won't be so easy for intruders to sneak in as it was last night," Alaude told him with a knowing glance. If Alaude was testing him for a reaction, Kyoya didn't give him one. He had already suspected that Vongola was going to upgrade their security so hearing it confirmed just made him feel a strange sense of calm.

Because he will get his family out. Granted, the less dangerous for his family the better but even so, he will get them out.

Not matter what.

When Alaude kept looking at him with an expectant expression, Kyoya sighed and nodded as he placed his hand on the doorknob. He was pretty much done with his patrol anyway, he might as well go back to bed.

Alaude seemed pleased with this because after an approving nod, he then walked past Kyoya to wherever his destination was. However, just when Kyoya had opened the door a bit, he heard the man's voice again.

"You have potential." Kyoya's eyes widened with surprise as he swiftly turned his head to find that Alaude had only stopped a few feet away from him and was currently looking back at him.

"I should be in the training room at around four tomorrow. I...wouldn't mind giving you a few pointers. That is, if you're up to it."

And with that, Alaude left, without even waiting for a response from the twelve-year-old boy. After Alaude left his line of sight, Kyoya just continued to quietly stand there at the door, as his shock gave way to bewilderment.

Did...Alaude just offer to train him? If so...why would he do so? Did he hope to gain something from it? If so what?

While there were quite a few things about this new development that Kyoya was unsure of, there was one thing he was certain about.

He wanted to accept the offer.

If only just for the opportunity to bite Alaude to death.

So...Kyoya had his moment with his doppelganger and Alaude is...actually trying. That or he wants to fight someone with tonfas again.

What did you guys think of this chapter? Did the characters act like themselves? Please leave your thoughts in a review and I will update next month.

Till then, have a good day/night! And belated Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it!