DISCLAIMER: I don't own KHR or any of the associated characters aside from my OCs.
Varia Headquarters was ravaged when we returned. There were dirty footprints and everything was strewn about in many directions. It was clear they had searched this building first but it was currently empty. It suited us just fine. We bathed and dressed in our uniforms for the first time in a long time.
When we met in the great hall once more, we were all fully armed for combat. Seeing the boss dressed in a white shirt and tie with his guns openly belted around his waist, I felt my heart skip a beat. This was the Xanxus I loved. Not the man I had spent six months with but this Xanxus. The powerful leader of our powerful group of assassins. This was the boss we had all been waiting for and this is the boss we would follow to our deaths.
Levi had set up all the chairs around the table like it used to be for our big meetings. We naturally fell into order. The boss sat at the head of the table, Squalo on his right, me on his left and everyone else down the line next to either me or Squalo.
"Kira." He called for me and I was immediately on my feet, standing next to his chair. He snagged my arm and pulled me down across his lap like I belonged there, "Let's begin."
Their eyes were burning into me. No one knew how to react at first, staring at us as if to put two and two together just by staring.
"This is an all out war. We're storming the main base until our clothes are drenched in blood. Understand?" The boss said it casually, as if I wasn't sitting in his lap with a scarlet blush across my cheeks, "If you want to back out, return to running for your lives like trash. When I'm done with the Ninth, I'll come hunt the cowards down personally."
They were not horrified by his threat but by my frozen and blushing form sitting in his lap. I slowly returned to my senses and I returned to my seat quietly, keeping my eyes on the table. I could feel them all staring at me-demanding answers.
"Any questions?" The boss wasn't the type to answer questions anyways.
Squalo cleared his throat, putting his hand up awkwardly like a student in a classroom, "Are we going to overrun Cavallone too or does he get to live for his part in our escape?"
"That's what you want to ask?!" Lussuria shrieked, slamming his hands on the table to stand up and point an accusing finger at me, "Where are my answers, Kira-chan?!"
I looked to the boss for help and felt my face darken when he simply smirked back at me and cocked his head towards Lussuria. He wasn't going to help me. I clenched my sweating fists under the table, shaking my head. I had to remind myself this was a joke. Boss can do these things without feelings. I should too.
"Oh my god!" Lussuria was fired up and ready to go, "Let's march! When we come back, I'll beat the answers out of you so be prepared, Kira!"
Grateful, I stood up with him, "I'll bite them all to death and you along with them."
Boss, chuckling lightly, stood up and motioned for the rest to follow, "Move out!"
The boss I spent six months on the run with is still in there. No, perhaps, that's the boss' true self reserved for us who broke past his outer shell of savagery. Either way, I seemed to know in my heart that I loved them both.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Our plan to storm Vongola Main Base and bathe in the blood of our enemies was cut short when Timoteo lead his Guardians to the forefront of our hell-painted landscape. Too bad for them we were not the weak children who had failed the coup d'etat nearly a decade ago. This time, we were full-fledged mafiosos with unrestrained power.
The moonlight of the night sky seemed to illuminate our path to victory. Visconti, the Ninth Cloud Guardian, was no longer someone out of my reach. This time, I pounded him ruthlessly into the dirt. Squalo's victorious scream to the heavens was a battlecry spurring us forward.
Any negotiation pleas were rejected and met with full on firepower. The seven colors of the rainbow lit up the night as our resolve to decimate the Vongola Family burned in our chests.
"Boss, incoming!" Levi announced, "Help is coming from the left. Ten o'clock direction."
Reinforcements were upon us. The killing blow on the Ninth Generation was put on hold as we turned to face Sawada Tsunayoshi and his six Guardians.
"Xanxus!" He called in rage and… was that pity in his voice? "This isn't the answer!"
"VOIIII!" Squalo turned, kicking the Ninth Rain Guardian in the gut hard enough to send him smashing into Visconti. He watched the two roll in the dirt, unconscious for the moment being, "Kira and I will hold them off. It looks like we've got company from behind too."
The Cavallone Family had just arrived in full force. For the first time, I saw Dino standing under the moonlight and he looked just like any other powerful, respected mafia don.
Bel and Mammon turned to greet them, "We've got the Bucking Horse."
We were surrounded on three sides-encircled by enemy forces. We took our places, surrounding our boss in a protective semi-circle. We had taken too long fighting the Ninth. We were probably done for here but we'd definitely go down fighting.
"Wa-Wait!" Sawada put up his hands, flames going out in a sign of goodwill, "We're not here to fight! We owe you an apology!"
Herbivorous negotiations. We don't forgive them. We might never find it in our hearts to say they're forgiven but we waited for him to speak. It would buy us time to find a way out of this situation.
"Let's put down all our weapons and talk." Sawada motioned for his Guardians to lower their weapons. After much nagging on Sawada's part, his skeptical and rowdy Guardians were temporarily stalled and "negotiations" continued, "We heard about what happened and we came to help you. Dad- I mean, CEDEF's hunt was put on hold until further investigation and we found you all to be innocent. The Ninth prosecuted all of the people involved in framing you and resolved the whole thing. No one's going to hurt you guys anymore."
"VOIII! Hurt us?! We're going to be the ones hurting you!" Squalo snarled and we all raised our weapons in agreement, "If you don't want to die, get lost, Sawada!"
"You ungrateful-!" Gokudera was easily cut off by Yamamoto and Sasagawa who restrained him violently, motioning for Sawada to continue.
"Don't you get it! Revenge doesn't fix anything!" He seemed to really believe what he was saying but that's not the logic for people like us, "Let's put this hate behind us and work together again. You guys are… my precious allies too."
"We fight together a handful of times and suddenly we're allies?!" Squalo is about as insulted as the rest of us but this conversation has to keep going until someone finds us a way out of here, "We don't work for scum! There's no way you can possibly understand the suffering of six months running like prey! Our humiliation can't possibly be settled without blood payments!"
"Then so be it." Sawada said and suddenly, all his Guardians were lighting up their flames to match their boss, "We'll be your opponents. Just like the Sky Battle, Xanxus. This is a rematch! If we win, you submit quietly and if you win, take it. The Vongola Family is yours to use or destroy as you wish!"
There was no hesitation. Squalo and I were standing at the forefront of our attack formation in a split second, Lussuria and Levi behind us with Bel and Mammon flanking them. We parted just the slightest bit to let our boss through as he pushed to the front.
Guns literally blazing, he ordered, "We're taking their offer! Kill them all!"
"There's no way you can win in your conditions!" Dino called sharply, "Kira, back off!"
We heard the words but their meaning was lost on us. We didn't care. We were fighting for our boss now. This was no longer about revenge but about achieving the goal we thought was out of reach. The dream we had once forfeited was now in our sights once more.
Flames blazing, my gauntlets came crashing against Kyoya's tonfas. Around me, the officers were locked in combat with the Tenth's Guardians. There are no rules saying we have to fight the Guardian with matching flames but it was natural for us to take on the ones who took the spots we thought would belong to us.
There were no greetings from my brother save for the clanging of metal. In the half a year we hadn't seen each other, Kyoya had grown and developed strength rivalling and surpassing our father. Box weapons surged to life around us and yet we could not do the same. He left me no openings to summon Aquilos and I gave him no chances to call Roll. If the flames left our weapons, we'd kill each other on the spot.
Eventually, Kyoya planted a firm swipe to my jaw and in the short second I spent collecting myself he had summoned Roll in massive quantities. He intended to cover the battlefield in needle balls to crush everyone at once. I wasn't far behind in my reaction.
Cambio Forma came naturally with speed prompted by my resolve to save them from an untimely death pierced by needles. My wings grew and grew beyond their normal size and spread, blocking the growth of massive Cloud-flamed hedgehogs.
My allies had noticed the protection they received and immediately repaid their debts by sending all of their box animals flying towards Kyoya with snapping jaws. Kyoya's attack had been indiscriminate. As much as we had to back off for a moment, so did Sawada's group and no one blocked the path of the box animals narrowly missing their Cloud Guardian. He was forced to abandon his strategy and regroup.
Finding it to be a waste of flames, my wings shrunk back to their normal size and we were locked in combat once more. This time, we didn't stick to the flame-bearers matching our classifications. Sawada's team had a similar thought. If Kyoya is the strongest Vongola Guardian, why not pick off our weaker units using Kyoya? Strategy shifting, we entered a full blown team fight rather than one on one brawls.
If Kyoya is the Tenth Generation's strongest, for us we take pride in our boss. There is no Guardian stronger than our leader. We weren't chosen as Guardians to protect Xanxus. We were chosen as multi-use soldiers who aren't ashamed to become his sacrificial pieces because we have absolute faith in him to make our death worth something.
It's only right that the sky who embraces us is strong enough to contain us. Cambio Forma fully active, I was holding my own against Sawada Tsunayoshi who was the only one who possessed greater mobility than our boss. Boss flies and attacks with the same medium-those guns. So if he's using them to fly, he can't fight back as well. Leaving him to take on the ground forces, I'd hold off Sawada until the boss is good and ready.
I realized two things when I exchanged punches with Sawada. The first was naturally just the difference between him and Xanxus. Our boss doesn't hold back no matter who his opponents is but Sawada is the type to consider gender and size and even appearance. He didn't consider using his full force against me as respect but the opposite. He was holding back because I was… as he called me, a precious ally.
The second revelation became the one true reason he couldn't defeat me easily. Not because the Cloud is the strongest of the Guardians or something stupid like that but something much more simple. Sawada only fights at his best when he has someone or something to protect. His flames lost out to mine. I don't need something stupid like someone to protect. I fight to prove we are the strongest and nothing more.
But Sawada is kind. To him, this is senseless battle. He doesn't want to fight and if you don't want to fight, your flames cannot possibly hope to match up to ours. In the Varia, we fight for the sake of fighting and for the sake of proving we're the best. It's just that simple.
Utterly insulted by his lack of motivation to fight me, I spun midair and slammed my foot down onto his head. Sawada went crashing down into Gokudera, surprising Gokudera's opponent-Squalo. I ruined their battle between right hand men but I was grinning down at Squalo proudly.
He huffed and spared one moment to flip me off. I had stolen his battle but he didn't have time to bicker with me. He turned to join Bel and Mammon in their fight against Chrome Dokuro, who was now transformed into Rokudo Mukuro, and Yamamoto Takeshi. It was an unlikely pair but they were effective. Yamamoto had natural combat instincts and Mukuro was the only illusionist strong enough to fight toe to toe with Mammon in his uncursed form.
Boss was locked in combat with Kyoya. Of course it was going to take him much longer to get my brother off his back. When Kyoya finds a good opponent, he never let's them go until they're dead.
Gokudera and Sawada were scrambling to their feet once more and I went at both of them. Squalo was now busy taking on Yamamoto to help Bel and Mammon fight off Mukuro. That's a fight I wanted to see but I was busy.
I almost thought I could take them both on with my aerial advantage until Lussuria came crashing into my side. I was derailed, harshly hitting the ground for the first time since the battle had begun. Lussuria scrambled to get off and was met with a relentless barrage of punches from Sasagawa Ryohei. We swapped. I turned to enter a full on fist fight with Sasagawa while Lussuria and Levi occupied Sawada and Gokudera.
This was a big, fat mess.
It almost looked like we would all drop dead of exhaustion before a winner was decided but eventually, I witnessed the one moment that caused our defeat. The boss shot everything at Kyoya, both barrels of his Cambio Forma releasing the maximum output of his Flames of Wrath. Kyoya ducked down in an agile yet swift dive for the boss' exposed lower half.
My eyes were wide, Squalo's infuriated scream echoed off the crumbled pieces of Vongola Main Base, and Lussuria let out the loudest shriek as Kyoya went from low to the floor to airborne in 0.2 seconds. In a move I could only describe as clean, Kyoya used my signature roundhouse kick to send the boss flying.
Sawada's more athletic Guardians threw their heads back and screamed in victory. They were all immediately running at us to seal the deal. I immediately spread my wings to protect Squalo and Lussuria from the falling dynamite sticks. The explosions were deafening against the metal coating but turns out, their goal wasn't to actually defeat Squalo and Lussuria but to defeat me. With my wings spread over them, they were wide open.
On the left, Yamamoto was bringing his sword down in a Rain-Flame coated strike and on my right, Kyoya's tonfa came whistling downwards. Both went straight through my wings after they were already weakened by the vibrations of Gokudera's explosions.
The excruciating pain of having my wings cut off shot straight through my body and I screamed, my throat gurgling with blood. I went crashing down to the floor, my body shuddering viciously as if to grow those wings back but Aquilos was done. Only Cloud Flames sputtered out of the gaping holes in my shoulders.
With me and the boss down, there was no hope for victory. Sawada was immediately wrestling Squalo to his knees. Sasagawa forcing Lussuria into the dirt below made Mammon and Belphegor both throw their hands up in surrender as Chrome-no, Mukuro's illusions surrounded them. Levi was now surrounded by Sawada's full force.
Still I struggled. I reached out and grasped Yamamoto by the leg and pulled it out from under him. Blood splattered against the floor from my backside, pooling beneath my feet as I stood up. My dismembered wings disappeared into my ring but I wasn't ready to forfeit.
I pulled my fist back and brought it smashing down into Yamamoto's nose. Sawada's Guardians were all in motion again, each of them had abandoned subduing my companions to tear me away from Yamamoto as I tried to smash his jaw with my second blow. I struggled violently against them, my eyes went to Squalo who was staggering to his feet as I threw my weight into struggling against the Vongola Guardians.
I slammed my foot into poor Lambo's crotch as I struggled and he keeled over. The rest of the Guardians hurried to put distance between us and I stumbled towards Squalo as Sawada ordered his allies to surround us. I came back to back with Squalo. The heaving of his body as he struggled for breath and the shuddering of mine as I tried to ignore the pain of having his weight press against my wounds made it hard for either of us to find hope in victory.
Lussuria was out cold for sure. Belphegor and Levi were scrambling to unbury the boss who was sent flying into the crumbled walls of Main Base by Kyoya. We couldn't even be sure Xanxus was still conscious at this point. Mammon took it upon himself to draw Mukuro's attention but there were still too many.
"Kira…?" Squalo heaved my name in a thick, raspy voice. It was barely audible and for a naturally loud man like Squalo, this was a bad sign.
"A plan?" I muttered, eyes flickering back and forth between Sawada and Sasagawa. I was trying to determine which one of them was easier to break past but with Yamamoto getting to his feet, I knew I was beaten, "Yamamoto's getting up, senpai."
"... I'm sorry."
Squalo's weight left my back and I turned in surprise as he fell forward. I reached out to steady him, sinking down to my knees as his added weight sent pain shooting through my backside. My body felt numb as I clutched my fingers into his back.
"... Senpai? Squalo-senpai?!" I could hear him breathing so he wasn't dead but…
Was this really it? No. Even if I have to fight alone, I can't lose! This would be our third loss! Our third failure! I can't fail the boss again!
I glared up at Sawada, pushing Squalo unceremoniously to the floor as I stood up again.
Sawada held up his hands but his flame was still burning and his eyes were still narrowed on me as he stepped forward, "Kira-san… We won't hurt you if you drop your gauntlets. We'll call a medic for you so just calm down."
I bared my teeth, fists up and ready to fight, "Piss off, herbivore."
He put his hand out for me, approaching warily, "Please. We understand your suffering so… let us make it up to you."
"Tsuna, don't approach Kira!" Dino called out but it was too late.
I snagged his hand and, the same way I had taken advantage of Dino during our escape, I used his attempted kindness as a way to turn the tables. I wrestled Sawada to the floor as his Guardians came surging forward from their places to help their boss. My hand shot out and grabbed hold of Squalo's limp and heavy sword arm, pointing the sword down into Sawada's throat.
"Don't move!" I ordered and all his Guardians came to a halt, "Drop your weapons!"
I kept the blade pressed over his throat, waiting for someone to move even the smallest bit so I might kill Sawada on the spot. My vision was starting to blur. I don't think I would even be able to tell if they moved but all of his Guardians were wary of me. Kyoya included. No, I suppose I should say Kyoya most of all. He knew exactly what kind of person I was and he knew my strength.
"She's serious." Kyoya warned but he refused to let go of his tonfas.
Gokudera was immediately calling me out, "If we drop our weapons, you'll kill him on the spot! Let him go or we'll shoot Squalo from here!"
I bit my lip hard enough to tear through the skin, my eyes shifted to Squalo who's face I couldn't see anymore. My vision was starting to go black. I gripped at the sword hand tighter and tighter. I couldn't think straight.
I tried to think of victory and of a solution. I don't want Squalo to die but he's not the kind of man who wants to be the reason we lost but if I just killed Sawada here, in our current state, the rest of the Guardians would just kill us all.
"Kira!" Bel was sprinting, a handful of knives in his hand.
Bel and Levi had finally retrieved the boss. They had presumably been shouldering his weight together until Belphegor came running out to help me. He was cut off sharply by Yamamoto and Sasagawa. Gokudera kept his weapon focused on me and his eyes on his boss.
I looked up to where Levi and the boss were standing, watching us. Levi's arm was around him and Xanxus had an arm around Levi's shoulder. His leg was twisted at an odd angle. Even our boss was… defeated.
I let out a bitter laugh. What am I supposed to do now? Where did I go wrong? Why aren't we strong enough?
My darkening vision left only Xanxus' crimson eyes in view. Those red, red eyes I loved so much.
"... Boss, I'm sorry." I could feel my body slumping forward but my mind was already gone.
It was over.