Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OCs.

Xanxus' fist sank straight into my gut and I doubled over, quickly attempting to hold down my lunch. Again, I was on my knees and glaring up at the winner of our fight because that's all I could do.

It was pitiful. This might have been our twelfth bout or our twentieth. I wasn't certain but I did know something for sure and that was the fact that I had not beaten Xanxus even once out of all the times we fought.

"Fuck." I hissed, "You're a monster."

Ottavio and Lussuria were giggling together in the doorway and at the same time, they both said, "I never thought a monster like you would say those words."

"I haven't beaten him once! He's actually a monster!" I complained, glaring when Xanxus began to pick up the jacket I had knocked off his shoulders in the midst of our fight.

"EXACTLY!" Lussuria shrieked at a very Squalo-like volume, "That's how I feel about you! So just let me beat you!"

I opened my mouth to retort but Xanxus' gruff voice cut me off, "Lussuria, get some towels. Ottavio, unless you want to be the next one to fight her, bring me some water."

Both of my companions went running off in opposite directions down the hall to fetch the boss his goods. I paused and thought about it a moment. Was this my cue to leave too?

"I'm not who you think I am." He said suddenly, making me turn my full attention on him in surprise, "You'd be disappointed."

I wasn't certain of what he was saying but I did know that he was dead serious and believed that his words would be the truth if I knew what secret he was hiding. I thought about and looked him over, "Are you secretly a woman?"

He looked at me like I was the one keeping secrets, "No, trash."

"Are you secretly a vegetarian?"

Again a funny look, "That's not possible."

"Then I don't care about anything else." I muttered, "You're strong and that's more than enough."

"You can only say that because you don't know the truth." He insisted.

"And what exactly is the truth?"

He didn't tell me. He only took another swing at my face.

I was too young to know that he really wanted to tell me so I didn't push him. I was too immature to care about anything more than the thrill of our fight.

I loved the time we spent together in the training room. I didn't want to think about anything past that very important point. If the law of the Varia states the strong dominate the world, then it's only right that Xanxus dominates the world because he has unrivalled strength. What could possibly change my mind from that?

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The officers were gathered quietly in the big office with the long table and the wall of windows. We often gathered here when we needed to discuss somethings of utmost importance so I knew that our topic tonight would be something we could not ignore. Squalo and I walked into the room together and naturally took the seats that seemed to belong to us at the table with the rest of the officers.

For once, Ottavio looked totally confused. We were all gathered here without any prior notice and it looked like Ottavio was also out of the loop. That would mean that this meeting was called to order by our boss.

As if on cue, Xanxus arrived. His long legs stretched across the space between the door and his usual seat. He took long powerful strides into the room without making eye contact with any of us. He took his seat differently than he usually did. He did not lean back in his chair lazily. Instead, he leaned menacingly forward with his elbows propped up against the wood of the long table. His crimson eyes finally swept across the warriors gathered here.

After a long stretch of silence, he said, "I've chosen all of my Guardians."

He paused there. It was clear that his statement had shocked every single one of us sitting here tonight.

"Squalo, Kira, Lussuria, Mammon, Bel, Levi." He called our names without hesitation and it made each one of us sit up straight and puff out our chests with pride, "Do you accept your positions?"

"Yes, boss!" We chorused.

Half of us were excited and the other half of us were bristling with uncertainty. Why was he announcing this now? Had the time come for him to take the leadership position in this famiglia?

My eyes shifted towards Ottavio, who was sitting stiffly in his seat. He was the only one who wasn't named and clearly, the boss had no intention to change his mind about it.

"Good. We're overthrowing Vongola Nono." Xanxus declared and a second round of shock and silence settled over the chosen Guardians.

I felt my palms start to sweat.

"Kira." Xanxus' voice called out to me in that same tone of authority and arrogance. The minute I turned to him with confusion thick in my violet eyes, he smirked with confidence, "Welcome to the mafia."

My eyes sparkled with admiration and I nodded, "I'll be behind you all the way."

"I want you next to me." He ordered, "Our plan has already been made."

"Wh-What plans?!" Ottavio was clearly confused, "You made them on your own, Xanxus?!"

Xanxus' eyes narrowed and his lips curve upward, "I'm the boss here. Do you have a problem, Ottavio?"

Ottavio's expression showed that he clearly had a problem but he was too afraid to speak out. I took note of it but I didn't address it at this moment.

"We'll be invading Vongola Main Base in two days time." Xanxus' crimson eyes met with mine once more and I shuddered at the look he was giving me. It was the look of a hunting lion that had just imagined sinking his teeth into his prey, "Our core members are all gathered here and these are the members that will be hitting the base. We split up and drive our way in from all angles. We'll be going in pairs from the two main entrances and from the rooftop. Squalo and Lussuria will hit the back entryway, Belphegor and Mammon will invade from the rooftop, and Kira and I will invade from the front. Levi will remain outside until the signal is given but his Lightning Squad will be invading the base as the clean up crew from our three entry points. Leave no one alive. The current Guardians shouldn't be in the building because they're going on a mission in a neighboring country. Kira and I will go straight for Vongola Nono so that's going to be our rendezvous point."

I was amazed. This is the first time he's actually put in all the work himself. I could tell this is something that he really, really wanted. But if I had the story right, Xanxus was the next in line to become the Vongola Family's boss anyways. Why did this matter so much to him?

"I have only one solid rule." Xanxus said, drawing our eyes up from the map he had rolled out on the table, "Show them why we are the strongest."

"Yes boss!" We chorused instantly and I didn't have to look to know that the boss' words had the same effect on everyone else that they did on me.

It made our hearts swell with pride and joy. Xanxus was the strongest and he deserved to be made the boss so it was our honor to be chosen as his partners in crime.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The operation to invade Vongola Main Base was well under way. Our headquarters was bustling with action as we tried to ready ourselves for the night out. In the midst of our preparations, Ottavio caught my arm and pulled me aside.

"What is it?" I demanded, my new gauntlets were still giving me trouble and I cursed the fact that Xanxus had melted my original ones in our first bout of sparring, "I don't have much time. I've got to get accustomed to these."

"Kira, do you think this is right?" His eyes were filled with an urgency that shocked me, "Our invasion? Don't you think Xanxus would receive the position if he was worthy of it? Why do we have to take it by force?"

"What do you mean?" My eyes narrowed, "We've already vowed to do this with him. We won't be abandoning him now."

"Yes. I suppose you're right about that part. It's too late to stop Xanxus but do you really intend to put your life on the line for this stupid rebellion?" He grasped my arm just that much tighter, "Kira, think about it. Do you really think Xanxus has the strength to overtake the strongest mafia family's upper echelon? We're strong but we're not-"

I snatched my arm away from him, insulted by the implications of his words, "Ottavio, do you not have faith in me? In us?"

He looked taken aback, "Wh-What?"

"By telling us to give up, you're telling us that you don't have faith in us." I growled, "But you know what? Maybe that's because you don't ever fight with us. We haven't needed you before and we don't need you this time either. I'm going, Ottavio, whether you come with us or not."

He bit his lip and turned his eyes to the floor, "Alright, Kira, I hope we can see each other again. But if you know what's good for you, you'll remain here."

I spun and stormed away. I was angry at him but I was also contemplating the meaning of his words. Knowing Ottavio, there was some deeper, unspoken desires lurking beneath that faux-concern for us.

"Don't you think Xanxus would receive the position if he was worthy of it?"

I paused midstep. I was standing halfway down the hall from my room. The other rooms on this floor should have all been empty but there was one door still wide open with the lights on. I peered inside to find Belphegor sitting there as if we were not about to invade the main base of the strongest mafia family in Italy. He noticed me immediately and began to scurry towards me in a way I thought was befitting of his age.

"Kira-senpai, are we going to win?" He asked, the crimson eyes peeking out at me from under that mop of hair. When I raised my eyebrows at him, he looked down in a childish manner and said, "I heard you talking with Ottavio. Why did he say we're risking our lives? We do that everyday, don't we? So why is it weird this time?"

I was taken aback. I never thought that he would ask me something like this. I also never thought about our ages or mental fortitude before now. All the officers were fairly young but Bel was even younger than us. His time with us was also the shortest. Perhaps, he couldn't understand that Ottavio was a coward or maybe he couldn't figure out that Ottavio had something personal against our boss. Whatever the reason, it looked like Belphegor had taken those words to heart.

"I can't say we're going to win but if we don't try we won't know." I said, taking him by surprise this time, "To me, strength is everything and that's enough for me to put my life on the line. To grasp the unknown outcome with my own hands is my daily goal. If you don't want to do this don't come. I feel like Xanxus is not the type of man that would want a person with half-assed resolve to fight with us."

By saying those words, I felt like I had painted this glorified image of Xanxus for Belphegor to worship. I don't know him all that well myself so I'm not sure exactly what brought those words from my heart but I felt that they were true from the bottom of my heart.

His small hands curled into fists and he blurted, "Can I still fight too?"

"You were chosen." I murmured, "Xanxus chose you himself. Why wouldn't you fight with us?"

"Ushishishi." His smile and his laugh held all the certainty I needed to know we would fight together tonight.

"Get ready!" I ordered, turning on my heels to continue on my way but I can't lie. Ottavio's words were bothering me too.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

The vague crackle of a radio against my ear was so unfamiliar. My heart was pounding so loudly that I couldn't decipher what this person was saying or if the message was even meant for me. It might've been for someone else on our frequency. My eyes were fluttering back and forth between the windows and the guards roaming around the entryway to Vongola's main grounds.

The base itself was basically a castle. The gardens stretched out in all directions and the only way into the base was over the long stretch of gates. We, meaning Xanxus and I, were waiting for the helicopter that Belphegor and Mammon were on to drop them onto the roof. That was our designated signal to start the invasion. Until then we were dressed as civilians and walking around nearby.

Xanxus' gaze swept the area three times before he determined that the base guards were only on the inside of the gate. He murmured, "Impossible."

I clenched my fists nervously and whispered, "What should I be doing?"

The crimson eyes of our boss turned and locked onto my small frame and he smirked, "What do you normally do on jobs?"

My cheeks lit up a bright red. Never have I been so embarrassed about my normal fighting style, "I-I charge in and bite them to death..."

He huffed in an amused sort of way, "That's what you'll be doing this time too."

"Don't be ridiculous. This isn't the same as all those other-"

"Look." He crouched down to my level and I stumbled back at the sudden proximity, "We're paired like this for a reason. Stick to my orders and we'll win."

"This means a lot to you." I said it more as a comment than a question, "Why?"

I had stepped on a landmine but the only thing that showed it was the anger behind his eyes. It was something he didn't want me to know.

"If I'm fighting with you, I'm fighting with you." I tried to make amends but I was curious for sure, "So no matter what the reason, I have your back tonight."

His eyes flickered to the side in embarrassment. His tanned complexion turn just the smallest bit darker under the lamplight of the dimly lit base, "I have to get the boss' title like this or I won't get it."

"Huh?" I blurted, totally confused, "Is that the Vongola way? Ottavio said that you would get it because you're the Ninth's-"

"I have to get it like this." He said firmly, "If you need a reason to fight, fight for me because you are my Cloud and nothing more."

"Selfish." I blurted because that's all I could do.

I was stunned that the boss would be so adamant about keeping this kind of secret. What is it that he can't tell us? Why does he have to fight for something that would easily become his when the time comes?

"When I'm the boss, I'll tell you." He told me, "But if you can't fight tonight then leave. I won't hold it against you."

The helicopter was in view now. I knew this conversation was almost over but I didn't want it to end like this for some reason.

"When you become the boss, will you help me with a small financial issue?" I don't know why I said it in such a beat-around-the-bush manner but I wanted him to know that I felt like we were going to win tonight, "It's for a friend…"

I was talking about the Cavallone Family. Dino was the last thing to come to mind but I'm sure he'd appreciate the help with his debt.

He paused, expression twisted in surprise and then he burst out laughing in a way that reminded me how terrifying he is but it was kind of... endearing. It was the first time I heard him laugh like that, "Fine. Whatever it is, you can have it if you help me tonight. You have guts, Kira. I'll give you that."

The helicopter was now directly above main base. The boss reached up and loosened his tie. I unzipped my cloak and let it drop to the floor to reveal the Varia uniform underneath.

My gauntlets were on, Xanxus had drawn his pistols from their place and we were running. From where we were breaking into the Vongola Main Base we could clearly see the ladder being dropped out of the copter and Belphegor was making his decent. We ran at top speed towards the double doors that would be our entrance to the base.

The guards were easily shot down by the boss who barely paused to take his shots and I rushed by as the guards fell, shoving the doors open in one swift motion.

Our invasion had begun. Screams were echoing towards the front of the building and I knew that Squalo and Lussuria had begun their rampage. We pushed towards the main halls and down towards the bunker where we knew Timoteo would be located. My fighting was no different than on other missions. I used my instincts to deflect bullets off my gauntlets and grapple people into submission beneath me.

It wasn't until we were at the staircase leading underground that we met with a challenge. Coyote Nougat was standing there with a gun trained on the both of us. Of course, I didn't know who he was at the time.

Xanxus so kindly spat it out for me nice and clean, "The Storm Guardian. Kira, kill him before he kills you."

"Tch." He leveled his gun on me and shot.

The first shot sank into the tiles behind me as I moved forward to stop him but he would have none of it. The second shot went off and I barely threw my arm up to block it. The bullet clanged off my armored fist and rolled uselessly around on the floor. The third shot scraped by my face and blood splattered out into my eyes, startling me. I stopped my charge and threw my arms up to protect my core.

Xanxus shot back. Fighting as a team for the first time was a strange feeling but it was not something I felt was bad. Sure we had fought together before as a bigger group but this felt much more… intimate in a way. It wasn't like fighting with any of the other officers. This was pure chemistry with no practice.

A shot went by my face and knocked into Coyote's bullet. The two bullets knocked each other aside and embedded themselves into the walls. I rushed forward, grasping one of the Storm Guardian's arms and managing to draw the second gun away from the boss but it was clear that this man was not just a pushover.

Just with one gun he was able to scrape a shot against the boss' side. Frustrated, I used what little weight I could muster and yanked his arm back behind his back in a way that made him grunt in pain.

He swung his arm and flung me to the floor much more easily than I would have liked. My head slammed into the marble tiles and I groaned in pain at the way it rattled my brain. I was temporarily immobilized but the boss had enough time. The flames that were the boss' natural weapon were now infused in his gun.

Xanxus let it loose and it went blazing across the room towards Nougat. It forced the older mafioso to move for the first time and when he moved to avoid the shot that tore the wall down, I was waiting. My fist slammed into his jaw and sent him stumbling back. As he was trying to regain his footing, I lifted my body off the ground and slammed a roundhouse kick into his skull. I wanted to put a more firm blow on him to make sure he was unconscious but there was no time.

Noises from down below were echoing up and the boss grasped my arm and pulled me into the staircase that would lead us to our final destination. From all directions, our allies were gathering.

I locked eyes with Squalo, who didn't look surprised to see me all battered and bruised but I was certainly shocked at how haggard Squalo-senpai looked. Subconsciously, I stepped towards him. My eyes were trained on the bruise darkening above his left eyebrow.

"I'm fine." Squalo said before I could even ask and he turned to meet two new mafiosos that had come to greet us, "But something's wrong… The Vongola Guardians all should have been away… Why did they come back?"

Visconti, the current Cloud Guardian, was staring us down. Ganache was right behind him.

"It's alright." Lussuria was just as battered but he didn't look like he would just surrender quite yet, "The Varia's strongest are now gathered here. Let's clean them up before Bel-chan and Mammon get here."

My stomach sank and I knew that there was someone waiting back at headquarters just praying for us to fail here-Ottavio. Ottavio ratted us-! No! He wouldn't. He's not such a low… Is he?

The fight was over before it even began. Even when we were all together, we were no match for the two Guardians in front of us and when Timoteo himself came to draw our boss away from this fight and into a duel, we were totally defeated.

Even at the doorstep to defeat, we struggled. We made our loss the most painful one for both us and them. It hurt so much to have my skull smashed into the floor under Visconti's foot and have him spit at me, "You are much too inexperienced to wear the mantle of the Vongola Family Cloud Guardian."

We were absolutely beaten.

XxXxMuseXxXx: Short answer, yes. Squalo thinks Ottavio's sketchy but for other reasons.

NotRob: Creeper vibes, pedo vibes, just vibes. =( Bad Ottavio!