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

Bummed out by our loss, I licked my wounds in silence and solitude. I never expected anyone to approach me but Squalo came as casually as he did in the past and sat down beside me. His footsteps had been as heavy as the way he sat down. He held a bottle of water in each hand, offering me one without looking in my directions. I hesitated a moment but I accepted it when he shook it at me impatiently.

"You did good, Kira." He said, cracking his bottle to take a long swig before adding, "Byakuran said whichever team's flame goes out first is the loser. Technically, Daisy's went out so it's a draw. Fuck him if he wants to call that his win cause it technically wasn't."

I couldn't stop the laughter shaking my body, my shoulders hurt but I couldn't stop myself, "Are you trying to make me feel better? It's surprisingly working."

He reached over and socked me as hard as he could without breaking my wrappings, "Garbage."

"I guess some people don't change." I was in a good mood now. I got to talk to Squalo-senpai.

"You're not among those 'some people.'" He said sharply, finally turning to look me in the eye, "Anyways, I've got something to do. Patch yourself up. The enemy will come chasing us soon enough."

"Yeah."

When he said soon enough, I don't think he meant for it to be right after he left. He was hardly gone for five minutes when the base rumbled. We were under attack.

One of the Six Funeral Wreaths was upon us. It was time to fight again or so I thought but Squalo-senpai told us to run for it.

"I can't leave him." I hissed, urging Sawada to leave with Yuni, "Go on."

"You too, Kira." Squalo demanded, "You did well to take out one of their top brass. Leave some fun for the rest of us."

He's talking about my mother… I might've lost the game of Choice but I defeated my mother. She's probably down for the count.

I turned and didn't look back, "Fine. He's yours. Have fun, Squalo-senpai."

If this was his wish, I'd grant it. And besides, there's no one I trust more than Squalo. If he doesn't win, it's whatever but I'm sure he's not a martyr. He's definitely not being left behind to die.

"Hibari-san ran off to fight. We have no word from him or Dino-san… What should we do?" Sawada looked to me and I realized something in his super intuition was telling him that I was the one with the answers here, "Kira-san?"

"If it's Kyoya… Leave him to me." I turned to go, "All of you take Yuni and run. Squalo-senpai will… eventually come to us again. I'll radio you once I find them."

Trusting my words. They took the Sky Arcobaleno and ran for their lives narrowly missing the brunt of the explosion from within the base. Squalo was… most likely defeated. I didn't want to think about it. I ran towards Kyoya, my feet carrying me towards him as if they were programed to find him. It's a talent I've had since I was young. I can always feel where Kyoya is as long as we're in the same area and for him, it must be the same. We instinctively seek each other out.

I knew it. They were fighting it out with one of the Real Six Funeral Wreaths at Kyoya's beloved school and the first thing I got was a "Stay out of it." from Kyoya. No "hello sister" or "it's good to see you again sister" just a "Stay out of my fight" no sister added. So cold but just like I expected. Kyoya was perfectly fine but Dino was bleeding.

"Wao." I grunted, slapping his arm when he reached out to touch me, "It's a miracle that you're still alive."

"Ahaha! One day, you'll see how cool I am." He smiled up at me from the ground, "I'll show you. Maybe not this me but you know…"

"There no need for you to be cool. The Dino I knew was a loser from the start." I helped him sit up in a more comfortable position, "Although I recently had a change of heart."

"Oh? Are you taking interest in me now that I'm strong?" He chuckled as if he had expected it to be so, "I don't know about the past but the you of my time was thoroughly beaten down by yours truly."

"Are you proud of that?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes at his comment of 'ouch', "I can't imagine being beaten by you."

"I'm a gentleman after all. I can't bear the thought of hurting the woman I love." He protested when I rolled my eyes again, "I'm serious! It hurts me more to beat you. Anyways, aren't you going to help your precious brother?"

"It's our unspoken rule. If I step in on a one on one fight, it's because he's going to lose." I turned, watching my brother take his time with the battle in an analytical way, "I have the utmost faith. My brother's going to win."

"It's not because he told you to stay out?"

"I don't take orders from anyone but the boss." I snorted at him, "And even then, I'm always getting lectured for not following it exactly."

"... You're not going to ask about Xanxus?"

I turned in surprise, my eyes peeling away from Kyoya once more, "Why?"

He stared back at me as if I was the one who said something strange, "I mean… It's been ten years. You're not interested in what kind of man he's become?"

"Why? So you can tell me he's the same angry dictator he's always been?"

"He's not the… Well, I mean, yeah." He threw back his head and laughed so hard the blood spilled from his open wounds every which way. Gasping for breath, he clutched at his wounds, "Jeez. I guess he never changes."

"That's his good point." I said before I even knew what I was saying but the words were the truth, "The boss has always been the same."

"I thought you would be too." He told me solemnly, "But I suppose… I ruined you."

"That's classic from someone who used to be a weakling." I spat at him, suddenly defensive, "You changed too."

"Kira, my strength changed not my whole personality!" His voice shook as anger flashed across his eyes, "You became a totally different person."

"And you married me anyways. That's your fault. Why are you complaining about it to me? I've always been the same." I met his glare with my own, "And if I became a totally different person isn't that because you desired it?"

He looked awfully hurt to be accused of changing a person for the worse but he accepted it as the truth, "I married you because I'd love you no matter what. I'm just complaining because you've become someone you hate and can't accept."

To me, strength is a person's whole personality. I mean, sure there are one or two other dominating qualities I include with strength like… whether or not one is loyal or whether or not they choose to cheat and take on partners in 1v1 fights. But it pretty much all has to do with fighting. If what Dino says about me is true, I agree that I've become a totally different person and the current me doesn't like the me Dino's describing.

"So I'm an herbivore." I laughed just at the thought and I couldn't form any coherent sentences after that. I just continued to laugh so hard I couldn't breathe. I turned to Kyoya's companion, barely choking out, "Call me short, henchman."

Kusakabe stared at me as if I had grown an extra head but he was obedient, "Kira-san, you're short?"

The anger pulsed and I slammed my fist into his gut and sent him flying halfway across the school and through the window of the school building. I felt the killing intent from behind me and I turned, my gauntlet slamming into Kyoya's tonfa just seconds before it divested me of my life.

"Damaging school property, Kira?" My brother snarled, pressing his weight down over me, "I'll bite you to death as punishment."

We grappled until Romario had the nerve to intervene, telling us Kusakabe was going to take care of all the damages. Kyoya indeed had better things to do than fight me over something easily repaired so we took the defeated Daisy away and went to patch wounds. Although, it was just Kyoya lounging about while Romario patched Dino's wounds. Afterwards, we went towards Squalo at my request. He was basically dead. Well, as dead as I had ever seen him.

I laughed so hard. Squalo yelled at me for laughing at his defeat, embarrassed and partially surprised. I supposed the Squalo of ten years later hasn't talked to me in a while. Either that or maybe I'm such an herbivore in his time, he can't remember what I used to be like.

Looking around, the laughter from those who reside in this miserable ten year later period called for change. Byakuran must be defeated to fix this problem and we intend to do it.

Squalo patched up, we were called to the frontlines once more. Wounded, Dino and Squalo were left to support each other as Kyoya and I took off at top speed towards the battlefield to provide reinforcements. Sawada requested one of us for each side. Kyoya went towards Sasagawa and Lambo. I went the opposite way.

I didn't have to get the information to know who I was approaching. It was an exciting thought but at the same time, it terrified me. The Varia was already engaged in battle, proving their prowess even without me. Suddenly, it was all gone. The worries, the concerns about how I would face them, and all thoughts of anything more than battle left me.

My flame roared to life and Aquilos screeched his arrival the minute I opened the box, "Hunt them down."

They knew I was here before they even turned around.

"Kira-chan!" Lussuria was screaming at me as if nothing had changed, "You're late, dear! How many times have I told you to be on time?"

"Ushishishishi. Maybe she's an illusion." Belphegor turned to his frog-hatted companion, "What do you think?"

He was the only unfamiliar face amongst them but it was clear he belonged there considering how casually my coworkers interacted with him, "I've never met her. How would I know?"

"You're an illusionist!" Levi snapped, "Make yourself useful, Flan!"

"Now now now." Lussuria was so leisurely about the whole fight, he stormed over and ripped them all apart as they began to sneer in each other's faces, "Mama Lussuria hates it when you're all distracted in the middle of a fight."

Then again maybe Aquilos is chasing off all our enemies so they have a moment of leisure. Honestly, this bird is relentless. I have no knowledge of birds nor do I have any previous experience with box weapons but I feel like this creature was born to fight with me. I mean, watching him peck for the eyes. He's trying to bite them to death for sure.

"Where's Squ-chan?" Our Sun Flame bearing okama turned comically around in circles, "He's not actually dead, is he?"

I let out a laugh I couldn't hold back and then I covered my mouth, feeling awkward after having made eye contact with the boss, "He's on his way."

The officers fell into deathly silence as the boss beheld me. Those crimson eyes flickered with emotions I've never seen before but of course, those emotions were meant for the me of the future.

"I came to save you." I said, trying hard to keep my voice level, "But it looks like you don't need me."

He didn't make a response to my comment but he let me have it-verbal abuse he thought I deserved, "I misjudged you. If you wanted to be in chains, you should have said something, trash cloud."

Now that irritated me. He's saying those words to someone who doesn't have those feelings.

"Knowing you, you were too busy sitting on your comfy ass to say that to my face." I spat, "If you gave the orders, would I have left you?"

"What orders can I give to someone who doesn't want to stay?" He lifted his gun and aimed it straight at my face, "The punishment for disloyalty is death."

"And yet, Dino claims I've been married to him for years." I nodded, taking a step closer, "Why am I still alive if I left the Varia so long ago? What? Did your aim end up being shitty in your old age or are you weaker than Dino?"

As if to answer my questions in one go, he let off a shot that went scraping dangerously close to my temple, "Let me ask you then. Can you look at someone you don't even recognize anymore and give them the same respect and treatment you gave to someone you thought would never change?"

Those words made my heart skip a beat. Someone who would never change. Someone he doesn't recognize. It was almost painful when I realized those words would someday be directed at me. In ten years, the boss would call me a stranger. I don't want that.

"But you recognized me."

"I recognize your strength, Kira. I always have." He turned, reaching for his own box weapon. The beast within was released, immediately beginning to circle the boss protectively, "Bester, bite them to death before that bird."

I shook my head. Those words, again, were not meant for me but for the me of the future. My job here is to tear these herbivores to shreds and return home to prevent this future from happening.

"Aquilos!" I heard my coworkers cheer and laugh as I stepped up beside the boss, "Cambio Forma!"

Boss jerked back, one step, two steps, and three as Aquilos turned mid-clawing and returned to my side. The bird had narrowly missed taking off Xanxus' head on purpose. I grinned as I felt the change start to happen. This might only be my second time but I already love the feelings of sprouting wings. It feels like a long awaited stretching of some phantom muscle I wanted to develop.

"Uwaa!" I heard Dino's voice from the back as I flapped my wings gutsily into Xanxus' personal space.

I turned, grinning at the image of Dino shouldering Squalo's weight and limping towards us, "There he is. Squalo-senpai."

Dino, in all his excitement, dropped Squalo to the side and waved vigorously at me, "Go get 'em, Kira! You look like an angel! Doesn't she, Squalo?"

"She looks like a degenerate fallen angel!" Squalo roared, unhappy to be dropped so rudely, "Fuck off!"

Laughing, I reached for the boss to steady myself, my wings were heavy and laughing really hard made me unbalanced. When I finally stopped laughing and looked back up, the boss was just staring at me with an amused expression.

"Trash."

Rolling my eyes, I gave my wings a stretch, "What do you think? Isn't it cool? I can actually fly."

After a moment of frozen staring, he seconded, "Degenerate fallen angel."

Loudly complaining, Dino demanded, "What part of her is degenerate?! She's the most adorable thing!"

"Her stubby limbs." Xanxus' laugh sounded like a taunting cackle as he stepped back, cleanly dodging the fist aimed at his nose, "Short scum! Bester, bite them to death and show her how useless she is!"

Grumpily, I shot off the ground in a single flap and went straight for the enemy. Bester, boss' box weapon, was adorable in its own way. He seemed to be trying really hard under the boss' orders.

Anyways, must I say it, this fight ended with the Varia Quality shining through. Although, in the end, Sawada got Byakuran but who cares. I had a blast with these guys and we regrouped to go home. Everything was great.

As the Arcobalenos lined up to take us home, the boss called out to me, "Kira!"

I turned, hesitant since everyone was present and waiting in earshot, "Yeah?"

"Fallen angels have degenerate wings." He said, "Your body is the degenerate part."

Comments rippled through Sawada group. "Mean." "Rude." "He's nuts." "Ouch."

But no one stopped to think about the deeper meaning. My body is degenerate not my wings. Two meanings. One, I haven't sinned so I can still make use of my freedom. Two, … I shook my head to clear the blush shooting across my cheeks.

"Say it clearly, boss." I managed to say without a stutter, "Somehow… I really want to hear those words put down in a straightforward way."

Without a moment of hesitation, he declared, "The Bucking Horse is right. An angel."

I didn't respond. I immediately turned away, blushing darkly. I didn't expect him to say it. I heard him laughing wildly as he turned to go, taking the flustered Varia with him. Why wasn't he embarrassed? It's not like I was trying to embarrass him but I expected a more… rude reaction. My heart was pounding in my chest, his words echoing over and over.

I motioned for Mammon to take us back to the past and the rest of the Arcobalenos followed his lead.

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

Returning home, I felt relieved that boss and Dino would be unaware of what had happened during my journey to the future but as it turns out, I'm unlucky. The Arcobalenos blessed us with gifts from the future including memories and our box weapons and rings put together into just a ring.

Now, I was not only trying to forget the future but to avoid anyone I had interacted with including boss, Dino, Squalo, and my mother. Sure enough, a good chunk of them were avoiding me too. Only Dino was unabashed, actively texting me throughout the day to ask if we could meet up in person.

As if he knew just how to get to me, Dino's barrage of "Let's go on a date" was closely followed with "I love you but I'll spar if you come with me" and then "You lost to me last time so the score is technically 1-0 in my favor."

I stormed out. So be it, Dino. I was itching to fight as it is so I'll take his offer up as stress relief. Meeting with Dino was a breeze. The fight was also a breeze. Every time I thought of the boss' last words from the future and how I was more embarrassed than Xanxus, I was furious. I took it all out on poor Dino who couldn't best me at my angriest.

Tied up in his own whip, I slammed my foot down on his backside and sneered, "Don't call me again, Cavallone."

Laughing sheepishly, he said, "Hey. We're technically 1-1. Don't you think we should break the tie?"

It was the truth even if I didn't like it. Releasing him from his bindings, I agreed, "Fine. Another day. But if I win, you'll have to stop calling me out."

"And if I win, you'll be my lover for real?" His suggestion was steep. Very steep, "Of course, if I lose, I'll never be suggesting such a thing again so it's a winner take all kind of match."

"Lover… as in marriage?"

He laughed, "No. Lover as in… dates and affection and relationship? Eventually, when you're in love with me, I'll propose for real."

"If I'm in love with you." I scoffed, "Fine. It's a deal. If you win, I'll be your lover."

"Monogamous lover." He specified, expression getting hard, "Until you beat me, we're reserved just for each other. Okay?"

"Hah. You act as if you've already won." I put my hand out to shake on it, "If you win, whatever you want. In return, whatever I want if I win then. State your terms when you've grasped victory."

Taking my hand, he grasped and shook it hard, "Why do I feel like you're going to treat the next one like a fight to the death?"

"I intend to." That's how hard I'll fight for freedom, "I'm going to use everything I have. Cambio Forma included."

"Then… all the strength I gained as Cavallone Decimo, can I use it? No hard feelings?"

"Sure."

Starting off a Friday night with the update! I hope everyone has a great weekend! :)