DISCLAIMER: I don't own KHR or any of the associated characters aside from my OCs.

Against Romario's orders to go to a hospital, Dino and I were on a date. If you don't know what's going on, I'm not repeating it. My pride aches as is and I absolutely hate myself for it.

Drinks ordered, we were about to decide on the actual food. It's no secret. I only eat meat so I just had to pick a steak and get out of here. Date or not, I don't have to stick around for long nor do I intend to.

"Kira, tell me about the things you like." He grinned when I looked up with an arched brow, "Things you like or don't like."

"Are you interrogating me?" I demanded, eying the waitress as she approached us with our drinks. I ordered and waited for him to order before continuing, "I won't answer if you're trying to pull something."

Having expected resistance, he laughed quietly to himself, "I'm just trying to get to know you. I changed a lot in these long years we haven't seen each other. You must've changed too."

"I'm the same." I told him in a quiet voice. A feeling I couldn't put my finger on stirred deep in my chest, "I'm not like you. I haven't changed. I like strength and I hate herbivores. Nothing complicated."

"I see." He smiled, watching my every move in an unnerving kind of way, "I should have expected as much. You're as beautiful as I remember you after all."

My heart thumped in my chest as I tried not to avert my eyes. I didn't want him to control the mood as easily as he was but I was so easily swept up. This was my first date but it was probably not Dino's first date. I had no idea how to respond to a compliment given so casually.

Clearing my throat, I turned the subject onto him, "And you? What do you like or dislike?"

"I like you." He declared smoothly with a charming smile as he leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm, "I always have so in that aspect I guess I'm the same too."

Now, my heart was pounding sharply. I dropped my eyes to the table. I wanted to go home to spar with Squalo, polish techniques with Lussuria, go over papers with Belphegor, count our financial state with Mammon and even beat some sense into subordinates with Leviathan. I thought of the boss momentarily.

Xanxus has beaten me time and time again. He's the only one with a clean record in all sparring matches. I would never leave the Varia until I beat Xanxus but… I've also lost to Dino.

I chanced a look at the blonde across from me, freezing when he smiled at me. I can't leave Dino's side until I've beaten him too but… this date isn't totally about freedom. This is about the only person who has ever left my side after bonding with me.

I'm not a social person. I don't make many relationships with people because I simply don't want to. I feel no need for it. So all the people who have ever connected with me have stayed connected with me all this time. Dino is my only loss-was my only loss.

"I… was told I might've liked you too." I admitted, meeting his shaking chocolate orbs with my purple ones, "I'm uncertain about now so… perhaps, I have changed in that aspect where you haven't."

"Told? By who?" He said in a choked voice, eyes sparkling with sadness despite the smile he was forcing onto his face, "Someone you're in love with now?"

"In love with…?" I probably don't know the true meaning of those words, "I suppose I am."

Dino's expression went from shock to "she told me the world's ending" in 0.2 seconds as he tried to hold back the tears pooling in his eyes, "H-How stupid of me. Of course you're in love with someone by now. I-Is he good to you?"

I thought of Squalo momentarily. I only needed a moment to recall everything we've done together, "He's dishonest and loud and annoying. He likes to nag but… he's kind deep down even if he disagrees."

"L-Lucky guy. Where'd you meet him?"

"Meet him? In middle school." I wonder for a moment if he knew I was talking about Squalo-senpai and then I gave him a clarifying detail, "He was in your class. Superbi Squalo."

"Sq-Squalo?!" He blurted, covering his eyes with one hand as the tears began to spill, "O-Oh, is that so? I'm glad I saved him after all. He-He is kind of cool."

"... Why does that make you cry?" I don't understand. There's no way I could understand the feelings of a normal person but… watching Dino cry made my heart ache, "Should I not have said his name?"

"No! It's not you… I just… Didn't stop to think you'd be dating Squalo."

"Dating Squalo-senpai?" I blinked at him, stupefied, "I'm not."

Intaking a sharp breath, he slowly lowered his hand. One of his eyes still spilled tears as he stared at me, "You're not?"

"I'm not. And… I'm not solely in love with Squalo-senpai. Kyoya, the boss, Lussuria, the… rest of them." I was belatedly embarrassed by my massive confession so I dropped my eyes to the table as the waitress approached us again with our food. I waited for her to leave before continuing, "I. You. Thank you for saving him though…"

He stood sharply, nearly knocking his chair down as he rounded the table to embrace me, "Kira that's a different kind of feeling. You're not in love with any of them. Please be more careful with your words from now on."

Flustered, my fist shot into his chest full force. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I stared down at a baffled Dino, "D-Don't touch me so casually!"

Scrambling to his seat in embarrassment, he nodded vigorously at me, "Y-Yeah. Sorry. But you… so you're not dating anyone, right?"

"Until I beat you, I'm dating you, aren't I?" I stared back at Dino who could only return my stare with a blank expression, "Unless you don't call this dating?"

I'm a lot lost on romantic implications and antics. I have no idea what I have to do but I'm here until I beat Dino into the dirt.

"So, if I just keep winning, will you marry me?" He asked in a slow, unsteady tone.

Irked, my eyebrow twitched, "If you're the strongest, I will. Strength is everything to me so… if you defeat me, I suppose I'll marry you if that's what you want but at the same time, I feel like my father would have a lot of complaints about marriage. You'd have to defeat him too. And… Kyoya maybe."

He was all smiles from there on out, "I've already beaten Kyoya plenty of times and I'm not trying to pick fights with your father so cut me some slack for now. Maybe in a few years, I'll give it a shot."

"Don't say it like you've already beaten me!" I snapped, insulted by the way he said it in a tone as if I was the lowest of hurdles, "A blow to my face and victory over me is two different things. I won't take you lightly next time!"

Laughing cheerily, he gestured to the food, "I get it so let's eat before it's cold."

Huffing my final complaints, I took up my utensils. I would have to save a thorough beating for another day but today, I accepted my loss.

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

My precious little brother came looking for me after my date with Dino. Apparently, the Bucking Horse boasted about our time together and our fight. Kyoya, jealous by nature despite his cold mask, came searching for the fight he thought he deserved.

We beat each other black and blue as we often did until Sawada's group came to stop us. They had probably taken it wrong seeing as how Gokudera came screaming and with lit dynamite in both hands.

"Cannibal! By the order of the Tenth, die!"

Irked, Kyoya and I turned. One swipe of his tonfas defused the dynamite as I broke through the raining duds to smash my fist into Gokudera's nose, sending him flying back a good block down. I turned a deadly glare onto Sawada who immediately screamed and apologized.

An unfrightened hand settled on my shoulder and I immediately slapped it away. Staring at the child who casually touched me without permission, I waited for an excuse with clenched fists.

He grinned at me brightly, "You're the one who saved Sasagawa-senpai during our big fight! Thanks. You're a swell lady!"

Swell… lady? Irate, I smashed my fist into his gut. Satisfied with the way he doubled over instantly, I turned once more to face Sawada, "Tell Iemitsu I have no thoughts of becoming friendly with you lot in the future but our loyalty to the Vongola remains because we are the strongest. Nothing is more important than our spot at the top. If you make our family weak, we intend to forcibly remove you from power."

I turned, storming away. My fight with Kyoya was over. The crowd was too big now and I had to catch a flight home soon. The Varia was waiting for my return.

Sawada called out to me as I walked away but I didn't stop, "Kira-san! Thank you!"

I didn't know why he was thanking me until much later in my life but he had apparently wanted to thank me for providing the antidote to Kyoya and Sasagawa. It wasn't something to thank me for. I often do things without reason simply because I feel like doing it. I don't understand it myself sometimes but I later learned it was called compassion-something I should have been incapable of feeling.

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

My return home was met with a barrage of mission lined up for me. We were short handed. Odd.

Squalo's explanation for our short-handedness was just as short, "They're all out for work or fired."

I didn't ask why we fired them. It's obvious. They're either fired for being failures or being unable to keep up or… worst case scenario they were talking about our crippling defeat at Sawada's hands and our boss killed them. Either way the result was a busy two weeks of hard work for our officers and the remaining units.

Exchanges between me and Dino throughout the two weeks started with "Can we meet up for another date?" to "I miss you." on Dino's part anyways. For me, it was a constant stream of "I'm busy." I never expected it to end with my mother standing in front of the Varia Headquarters like I had invited her.

I sucked in a breath and immediately tried to cover the white shirt stained with blood but my mother had seen it already. It didn't bother her in the least. I guess… If she knew Domenico Cavallone, she must've been used to the dirty mafia world I live in long before I lived in it.

"Why are you avoiding your betrothed?" She didn't ask, she didn't care, she got straight to the point, "You're hurting his feelings."

"I'm working." I said grumpily, "I wasn't aware I had to care for Dino's feelings while I'm murdering dirty mafia men."

My mother looked me dead in the eye and without batting an eyelash, she spat, "You look like a dirty mafia man. Look at all that blood and grime. Your father would have a heart attack if he knew what you were doing."

"He'd have a heart attack if he knew you were trying to arrange a marriage for me." I rolled my eyes at her and she immediately smacked me for it, "Mother, if you really have this much free time, why don't you try to get Kyoya married instead?"

Heh. Good luck, mother. I tried not to let it show on my face but just thinking about her trying to get my brother married was hilarious. He'd probably bite her to death too.

"Your brother's below the appropriate age." She grabbed me when I tried to flee, "Dino's a good boy. Just give him a chance. It'll get you out of this dump."

One. The Varia Headquarters is a castle, not a dump. It just kind of looks like we haven't really taken good care of it. That's all.

And two. I don't want to get out of this "dump." Everything I've worked hard for all these years is here. If this is a dump, this is my dump. My whole life and childhood is dumped here. I threw all my hopes and dreams into this place. There's no way in hell I'd give it up for Dino or any other person.

"I happen to like this dump." I tried to yank my arm away but my mother held fast, pulling me toward her roughly, "What's with you all of a sudden? Why now?"

"Domenico tried to bring us to ruin, Kira. I'm going to ruin the Cavallone Family and this is the easiest way to get to him. He's naive. He wants you without knowing the dangers." My mother revealed her grudge against the Cavallone Family for the first time today. I suppose, if we look back on the history of things, her desires should have been obvious, "I'm not saying you have to marry him for nothing. All you have to do is marry him, gain access to his fortune, kill him, and take everything for yourself. Are you not an assassin? Consider this a job."

I tried not to look horrified or surprised but the Cavallone Family is the third most powerful mafia family in Italy and they're allied to the Vongola. There's no way I could kill Dino and get away with it. Especially not if the next boss has close relations to Dino. More importantly, we were barely forgiven for the coup d'etat against the Ninth. If I make a personal hit against Dino, we're dead for sure.

"I don't take jobs for outside customers." I declared, "If you need something done about Dino, you take it to Vongola Nono or directly to our boss and see if they'll clear the job. If you don't, I won't do it."

"Since when did you need someone's permission to do anything, Kira?"

Her words stabbed a sword deep into my fragile pride. I took a deep breath, trying not to fall for her trick but she knew she was getting to me. She took a second jab.

"Which big strong man has my independent little girl eating out of his hands? Hmm?"

My mother stabbed at my two biggest peeves. Gender and height.

I'm not about women's rights or gender equality or whatever. I don't care. It's not about men and women. It's about who can kill the other first in my world. If you think I'm not equal to someone because I'm a woman, you're sorely mistaken. If I'm not equal to someone, it's because I'm weaker and less skilled at my job not because of my biological sex.

Needless to say, my height is a sore topic. I'm small but I'm not fragile. My height means "Oh, she can't reach things on the top shelf without a stool" not "She can't bite you to death."

"I'd be glad to teach the big, bad man a lesson for you, my dear."

I gritted my teeth. My mother is the most manipulative person in the world. I'm dead meat if I let her get to me even a little bit but it was already too late for me. Her mental games were sinking in deep. I began to wonder why I was with the Varia. When had I grown soft enough to think it was just fine for me to stay with a group of… losers.

I stayed because we were called the strongest. I stayed because we were undefeated. But Sawada Tsunayoshi handed our asses to us recently. We're no longer the world's strongest fighters. We're nothing but… losers.

In my shaken mental state, I recognized someone approaching me from behind but I only turned and stared back at them helplessly. Shocked, the boss and Squalo stared back at me with wide eyes.

Squalo hesitated. He knew the person in front of me was my mother. He only stared back and forth between us.

The boss had no idea what was going on but his expression twisted immediately into rage and he drew his gun, coming forward to press it between my mother's eyes before she could even react.

Surprise flashed across my mother's face but she was not untrained in combat. She was a master of many martial arts styles and she was not Fon's sister for nothing. I knew the look on her face before it was even visible. She was about to break his arm.

"Boss!" I grasped at his arm, tightly, "That's my mother!"

My mother's murderous aura settled as soon as the boss' did. I don't want to think about who would win in a fight between these two but… there are just two very important things to know in these circumstances. The first is that I've never beaten the boss in anything from sparring to spartan obstacle activities. The second things is… the same is true of my parents.

"Feh." He spat and turned, motioning for Squalo to follow, "No personal talks at work, Kira. You're late on the report. You've got two minutes. Wrap it up."

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry, boss." I grumbled, watching them leave.

My eyes met Squalo's as he looked back warily but the boss kept walking without looking back. I didn't take my eyes off them until they were long out of sight and even then I wished they would come back.

"Well." My mother let out a quiet yet sinister laugh, "Isn't he quite the unexpected wild beast? Is he keeping you here against your will by making use of those guns?"

"Nothing here is against my will." I grumbled, looking down at her feet in shame. I couldn't tell her I hadn't beaten him yet, "But that man is the strongest person in our group where strength is everything. He's our everything."

My mother's eyes lit up once more in surprise. Her expression softened, "Kira… Why did you not tell me you had someone in your heart?"

My expression was blank for a long moment, waiting for her words to register in my mind. The implication was clear.

"B-Boss?!" I shook my head vigorously, "That's impossible! I have no time or space for anything other than my goals!"

"Then Dino is the one. He won't get in the way of your goals." Her expression was hard once more, "And even if you have someone in your heart in the future, Dino will be long dead by then. I heard you went on a date after he defeated you. Until you best Dino, you're bound to him as well."

Another stab at my fragile pride. I shut my mouth and shook my head.

"It's clear to me you hold those three in special regard." My mother's lips curved upward in a devilish smirk, "The boss of the Varia, Superbi Squalo, and Dino. Which is it? Are you refusing because there is someone else's feelings you are protecting? Or is the one you're protecting Dino himself?"

I took a step back. All the feelings I tried so hard to suppress until now were swelling in my chest. It was almost painful. My breath caught in my throat as I thought over her words and their implications. It was clear. She was saying I'm in love with one of them and it's keeping me from doing her bidding. The painful swell of feelings proved it to be nothing but the truth. So… who was I doing it for?

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I spat, "I'm doing it for myself. I won't be bound to anyone. Especially not someone weaker than me."

"And which one of them is weaker than you?"

None of them.

I turned and stormed into HQ without looking back but… my mother didn't stop me nor did she try to call out to me again. She knew she was winning and her lack of actions could only mean she was letting me go without landing her final blow on my crumpled pride for now.

All this California rain is killing me. And the winds and stuff made my ghetto neighborhood struggle with power outages for the last week but it's finally running smoothly! I hope everyone reading is doing well.

ohmyOreos: Dude, Squalo and Kira would be one hell of a power couple. They're tempting me to write for them too.

ChuChewy: Your username is cute! :)