Disclaimer: I wish I owned Reborn and all the wonderful character but I still do not and never will.
"Let's move, trash." Xanxus ordered on the evening of the final ring battle.
Sawada's Guardians were already gathered at the school where the battle was supposed to take place. Armed and ready for battle, Bel, Levi and I marched towards Namimori Middle School right behind our boss. Marching behind him without Lussuria and Squalo felt… strange. I won't say anymore since I don't think I should bring pointless emotions into a fight but I swore to fight enough for all three of us and I intend to.
When we arrived, the Cervello handed us each a watch and dragged Lussuria and Mammon into the area. Mammon was alright...ish but Lussuria was definitely not in any condition to fight.
"Everyone will be participating in this battle." The Cervello explained.
"Where's Squalo?" Some kid asked.
"Oh?" I grinned, inner feelings dripping into my words threateningly. I wanted to cut this boy in three pieces in Squalo's place, "You must be Yamamoto Takeshi. If we're all participating in this battle, you're my first target."
He stared at me oddly for a while before nodding to show that he was taking up my challenge.
"Oh good."
Squalo was not here with us but I would not let his hard work go to waste.
The Cervello showed us all to our spots and I took the time to assess the school that Kyoya seemed to love so much. Kyoya was glaring at me the whole time. He's probably mad that I left him to fight a boring robot while I chased after the more interesting opponent.
"You are all welcome to fight, if you can." The Cervello explained and that was the only warning we got before the little wrist watch decided to pretend it was a fucking leech and stabbed itself into my skin, obviously injecting something into our veins.
I fell first but Kyoya fell harder. I collapsed to my knees first and then all the way as my blood began to boil but Kyoya's inexperienced body shivered for a second before his muscles gave out all at once, his body hitting the dirt hard.
"The guardians have all been injected with a poison that will render them unable to move." The Cervello continued their explanation, "The poison is called Death Hitter. It'll slowly spread about the body, rendering the guardians unable to move. They'll feel a burning sensation throughout the body and if they do not receive the antidote within half an hour, they will die."
Well that sucks. I don't want to die yet and I don't like the idea of suffering for a whole half an hour before dying. I probably said this before but I'm not a masochist. I don't like pain but it's okay. Death Hitter is one I know. As the daughter of a government official, I've had my fair share of antibodies made for me by using small portions of poison to give my body the experience it needs to fight stronger toxins.
I turned my neck slightly to get a glimpse of Kyoya. Poor kid was breathing pretty harshly but he'll live because I can move already. The battle between Sawada and Xanxus just started, I can feel it, the boss' flame. And I can practically hear the boss laughing sadistically as he plays with the victim.
Oh. My fingers twitched. Good. Oh. I got it. My legs are twitching. I can bend my knees. There we go. I picked myself up slowly and unsteadily. I tried to even my breathing but it was pretty useless. I sounded like a tornado but at least I was moving.
I glanced up at the tower that held the ring. Now, I can either attempt to smash it or climb up. They both sound a little difficult with the pain but smashing it seemed easier. If I can bring the whole tower down with one or two blows, it would be much faster and easier than climbing to the top in this condition.
My eyes were drawn to Kyoya's body as I pulled my gauntlets over my hands. He was glaring up at me, his fingers twitching around his tonfas and his legs shivering.
"Wao." I whistled, "You're already starting to get used to it. Do you want me to help you up?"
He glared at me silently.
I was hurting his pride but my body had been exposed to many more toxins than Kyoya's simply because my parents thought it was too cruel to make him experience more after seeing the way we suffered. I just laughed and slammed my fist into the steel poles that made up the tower holding our antidote. It took two solid punches to topple the tower but once that was done the ring was right in the palm of my hand. I used it first and then knelt beside Kyoya, silently offering it to him.
He scowled at the ring as it neared his wrist, "NO."
I held the ring inches from his watch, "Okay. You have almost twenty-five minutes. I'll wait for you to get it yourself."
I could hear Xanxus laughing from where I was sitting.
"This is the difference between your guardians and my subordinates!" He cackled.
Irritation filled my chest, I rolled my eyes, "Kyoya, do you hear that? Is he bragging about me or saying that he doesn't even consider me his one of his guardians? I spent eight years… for that guy."
"Shut up." My brother hissed, his breathing coming out in short puffs as his foot began to twitch.
"Oh? You can already feel your feet. You're doing well." I encouraged him, "Do you want to join the Varia?"
"I hate crowds." He said harshly.
"Right. I used to too… You trained under Dino, didn't you? You can't possibly hate crowding as much as you claim if you can bear being around him."
Kyoya spared a second or two to give me an amused look. The implication of my words was "I know from experience that Dino's a crowding herbivore." He looked curious before determining that he was in a lot of pain and being able get the ring from me was more important than anything I could possibly have to say about Dino.
I felt my lips twitch into a smile as he began to focus on getting the ring again. My question must've taken him by surprise but I really was curious. Did he think about me at all during the nine years that had past? Did he know that Kyoya was my brother? Did his heart ache like mine did when he stopped talking to me? But I suppose I should ask about my poor brother too.
"Kyoya, is there a girl you like?" I asked, surprising my brother again.
His lips curved into a sly smirk and suddenly, he was on his feet. He swung his tonfas at me and I instinctively flipped away before he could touch me. He was wobbly on his feet but the determined look in his eyes had changed to a much more fierce look of determination than ever before. He swung at me again and I tried to make it look like I was really fighting for the ring but I guess my acting was bad as I went 'Whoops' and dropped the little chunk of metal.
Kyoya stared down at the thing that could possibly save his life but didn't take a single step toward it as he glared at me, "Fuck you."
I grinned at him, "Take it. Then I'll fight you as much as you like but only after you tell me about that girl you like."
His eyes narrowed stubbornly for a moment but eventually he took up the antidote. I ran. There was no time to waste. Kyoya had taken less time than I anticipated to get the ring so I had time to spare as I went around to the places that held the rest of the member of the Varia. I headed for Lussuria first and while I was doing that, our boss decided to be charitable and help out Bel and Levi.
Sadly, I was cut off halfway by Hurricane Bomber Gokudera Hayato. He was just asking to get killed so I pounded his face in and he blew something up in my face. It hurt for about ten seconds and then I thought of Xanxus and I remembered our promise.
Although, Gokudera seemed to be equally motivated to win. I have to admit that he was good and I was in some major pain by the time I was through with him but the victory was mine.
I swiped his rings and made my way toward Lussuria. The okama saw me and it took him about two seconds to realize that he was saved.
"Kira!" He cried, "This is why I love you, darling. Come and save me. Help me~"
I didn't want to admit it, but I was feeling a little dizzy so I rushed over to help Lussuria before I was too far gone. I must be crazy because when I thought of Kyoya, I ran over and helped Sawada's Sun Guardian too. He stared up at me, probably completely confused since I was on the other side.
I smiled at my own stupidity but he must've thought I was smiling at him, "Are you close to Kyoya?"
"Hibari? Not really…. but he's an EXTREMELY strong guy." The boy said.
"Sure. Your name?" I asked.
"Sasagawa Ryohei."
"Hmm. Just thought I should know the name of a person I save." I shrugged.
"I am extremely in your debt."
I rolled my eyes, "Let's call it even cause I beat up the Hurricane Bomber."
"That Octopus Head?!"
"Good bye now." Lussuria cooed as we took our leave.
It didn't take long for us to figure out that everyone had been cured and now it was just a mad battle for the rings. I had swiped all the rings off the Hurricane Bomber and so the only ones left was the one I left with Kyoya. That means if we take down Kyoya we win. Lussuria and I split up to search for him.
Kyoya wasn't exactly excited to see me when I found him. He was struggling to stay standing and all alone.
"Are you ringless?" I asked.
He held up his bare hands and nodded.
"Damn. You're useless. Who has the rings?" I questioned him for the answer I wanted.
His picked up his tonfas and lifted his arm in front of him, "Fight me for the answer."
"You look like you're going to fall over if I push you." I laughed, "I don't have time for you."
"Speak for yourself." He grumbled, "If I spat on you, you would probably die."
I paused. I fought Gokudera and won, I freed Lussuria so he can fight for himself, and I promised Xanxus I'd fight enough for three. Even if it's not Yamamoto Takeshi, this is my third big move.
Taking Kyoya on in my state was probably one hell of a hurdle but I couldn't help it, "Want to try it?"
We were staring each other down for a moment before my armored fist met with his steel tonfa. The sound of our weapons clashing echoed of the crumbling walls. Kyoya's tonfas slammed into my side and my gauntlet smashed into his shoulder.
"I'll bite you to death." He growled and his second tonfa crashed into my skull.
I felt my vision blur from the impact but my foot instinctively came up to slam into his chin. He hit the ground on his back as I landed on my side. I hate to admit it but there's a blank in my memory right here so I know that I passed out for about ten seconds here and when my consciousness returned to me, I scrambled to my feet. Kyoya was still lying flat on his back, unable to move.
He glared at me weakly and I hate to hurt his pride but I have to tell you that he looked really pitiful just then.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
"Not long." He grumbled.
"I guess you won this one." I laughed.
He averted his eyes from my smiling face obviously not thinking of it that way.
"Come on. I'll help you up." I grasped his hand tightly and tugged, urging him to take my help.
"I don't need your help." He protested verbally but his body said otherwise. His hand curled tightly around mine much like it used to when he was a child. I mean, he's still a child, but when he was much younger he used to hold my hand all the time. He just refuses to admit it.
"After this…. Let's eat together someday." I tightened my grip on his hand as I pulled him up.
"... Hamburger steak." He murmured, indirectly saying yes to my offer. He gave my hand a quick yet strong squeeze before snatching his hand away in a hurry.
I laughed as he took off running, "What's the hurry? Jeez."
"AH! YOU AGAIN!"
My eyebrow twitched in annoyance as I turned to find the Hurricane Bomber pointing at me like I was some sort of strange being, "I'm not exactly thrilled to see you again either."
We all gathered at the front of the school where the true Sky Battle was reaching its end. Xanxus lay flat on the ground, staring blankly up at the dark, night sky. It was nearly over. The rings had rejected him and the Cervello had disqualified him. The Varia had lost for the first time.
Xanxus' eyes landed on me. There was a fire behind his eyes that I had never seen before. Such anger, such rage, is probably not good for his mind. I smiled at him in apology. It was over.
The boss' eyes slid shut. He was obviously tired. I glanced around to find the officers staring off into space. They were tired too. It wasn't just our side that was exhausted. Sawada's side looked like they had had enough. I nodded to myself and allowed my mind to admit to itself that I was tired as well.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
"VOII! HOW LONG ARE YOU PLANNING TO EAT?! AND YOU! STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERYTHING AND EAT WHAT WE GIVE YOU!" Squalo roared.
That's right. I said Squalo. He's alive but sometimes I wish he had just bitten the dust like everyone said he did. Bel and I shared a long look of empathy for the first time and it was obvious that we were both thinking the same thing. For someone who had just 'come back to life', Squalo-senpai was way too loud.
"Haneuma should've just left you to die." I complained.
"HUH?!" He glared at me harshly, snatching the fork from my hands, "NO MORE FOR YOU!"
I shrugged and stabbed my steak with the knife, eating it with the knife since he had confiscated my fork and when he took that too I stuck my tongue out at him and used my hands.
"Dirty woman." He sneered.
"Well fuck you too." I snorted, "I'm going to hang out with Kyoya. Call me up if-!"
Squalo grabbed me before I could get up, "Finish the food, you black hole!"
My eyebrow went up, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Finish the food." He said firmly.
Our boss was in a rotten mood already but I guess he just got sick of all our arguing so he flipped the table and threw a glass of wine at us, "SHUT UP, TRASH!"
The entire room went silent. He called us trash again. Just great. We all knew now that Xanxus wasn't really the Ninth's son. He was adopted but he didn't know until later on in life and now he had the habit of calling everyone trash or scum because he thought that he was better than everyone else since he was the son of the Ninth but now we all know he's not so…. It's confusing isn't it? Yeah. I thought so. So I gave up. Those things are unnecessary. What's more important is now and here.
Trying not to seem too bitter about something we couldn't help, I shot back, "Yeah? And I remember I told you I'd fight enough for three of us if you won. I kept my end of the promise, boss! Where's our victory?"
His only reply was pulling his gun on me. There was no warning. He shot. The rest of the officers dove to the floor and I barely ducked out of the way. Reaching for my gauntlets, I barely managed to pull them on when he reached me. He easily pushed me to the floor and pressed the gun into my temple.
I laid stiff. I was pretty much beaten. Kyoya gave me a thorough beating during our ring battle so I knew there was no way for me to beat Xanxus in my current state. Actually, I never beat him period.
No one dared to speak. The atmosphere remained heavy for a long moment as he let the safety click off, his finger curling around the trigger.
"You lost and I recall telling you I'd kill you if you didn't win." I snarled and in the one moment of surprise he gave me, I spun. My body weight wasn't much but my strength wasn't to be underestimated. The motion flung Xanxus to one side, his skull came crashing down onto the floor and I climbed onto his torso with my armored hands grasping his throat, "We gave our all for you! You think you're the only one who feels bitter about our loss?!"
Suddenly, he turned his gun on me again. With his long arms he easily pressed the muzzle into my ribs just above my heart, "Our loss?! What would trash like you know about a collective loss?!"
"That's right! I don't know!" I spat, leaning forward into his gun, "If I'm not the strongest there's no meaning to being here! So shoot me if you've given up on making Vongola the strongest mafia family it can possibly be just because some inanimate object decided you can't be the boss! You're our boss because you're the strongest and because we, the strongest assassins in Italy, chose you as our boss! Not because some shining rings chose you to be our leader!"
His gun clattered the floor as his hands took hold of my shoulders and he flipped. Our weights easily tumbled, reversing our positions and he gave me a brain rattling shove into the tiles below us. After a moment of startling pain, I opened my eyes to find he had stopped his violent motions to watch me. I froze, staring back into his crimson eyes with a mix of fear and respect.
If he chose to kill me now it was his choice because he's stronger than me but he wouldn't. He heard my words and he felt them in his heart because those were initially his feelings. His desire to be the boss of the Vongola Family was created by his will to make us the strongest family of all not because someone told him to be the boss. We respected strength and Xanxus was nothing if not strong.
He smirked at me and suddenly I felt like I had made a mistake. My heart began to pound in my chest. I averted my eyes as quickly as possible.
Lussuria giggled loudly, drawing all of our attention, "Oh. Don't mind me. I was just thinking… Kira-chan's adorable in her own way. What an aggressive way to tell us you love us, dear."
Trying my best not to turn bright red, I tried to focus my eyes in a place where I wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone.
"We love you too, Kira-chan." He cooed at me teasingly, "You should be honored, you're loved by the strongest assassins in Italy."
The boss let me up after that. It was all so embarrassing for me but belatedly, like much, much, much later in my life I realized Lussuria said I'm loved by the strongest assassins in Italy but no one denied it. We're all a little clumsy at expressing ourselves but… it's there. Maybe not a feeling as passionate as love but… we definitely feel something for our little group. I mean, how can we not? We might pretend but… deep down we feel it.
Squalo is unkillable. It's basically canon. Even the enemy loves him too much.
Anyways, thanks for reading and the reviews. :)