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

Dino finally called with the dreaded news, "I thought… you deserved to know. I'm extending an offer to negotiate with them first. After that, I'll let you know."

"... So it was my mother." I had already known the answer in my heart but it was still a heavy truth to accept, "Did you tell Kyoya?"

"Not yet. I'm going to negotiate first and Kyoya's still a minor so I thought I should ask before I just tell him."

"I see… I'll tell my brother so for now, focus on negotiating but… Dino?"

"Yeah?"

I didn't know how to say this in a way that wasn't cold but I knew what was at stake here so I just had to go for it, "Don't hold back because they're my parents. Put your conditions on the table firmly. If they don't cooperate, don't be afraid to take it up with Timoteo. I'm not afraid to kill them if that's what it comes down to."

"Thanks." He didn't really say anything much on that but he changed the topic, signalling how bad he felt about everything, "By the way, I've set up the materials here like you and Reborn asked and I have a message from Reborn."

"What is it?" I sighed, "It can't be good."

"Umm… He said you took them out of school so you have to make up for the lessons they missed and make sure they catch up. And then he wants you to fly back to Namimori with them once we've closed negotiations." He said, "He wants you to tutor them in Italian at Tsuna's house on the weekends."

"If I have no choice then so be it but take me with you." My demands took him off guard. I listened to him sputter and blabber in a confused fashion before clarifying, "To negotiate. I want to see it for myself. As for Kyoya, I don't know if we should bring him or not but I'll decide soon. Let me know when they accept your meeting."

"If you go with me, I'm definitely taking you on a date afterwards." He said in jest-sternness, "If you don't want to go on a date, don't show up when I text you the details."

"Don't kid yourself. I'm showing up even if you threaten me with marriage this time." I had no reason to decline now. I'm not holding out for anything and if all it takes is one date, I'm definitely sitting in on the meeting.

"Whoa there." He chuckled, "It's one date first and then we'll talk."

"... Dino?"

"Yeah?"

"You trust me?" I knew what this looked like to most. I'm the daughter of the woman antagonizing his family. If I was in Dino's place, I would definitely mistrust me and Kyoya.

"Kira, if you wanted me dead, you'd have killed me already." He admitted, "I gave you plenty of openings and I know what you said to the me of the future. You wouldn't do that to me."

"You're such an…" I couldn't finish. I didn't know how to tell him I was happy that he trusted me. Recently, I've been struggling with my sense of self. I thought I was strong but I can't beat the boss, I'm still at 50-50 win-lose rates with Squalo, and I can't stop this odd sense of pain in my chest whenever I think the boss is fucking some other woman while the rest of us are out training or working our asses off. Having Dino's faith makes me feel a little more solid about my own image.

"Herbivore?" He finished for me, chuckling, "Well, I guess in the eyes of a carnivore everyone else looks like prey, huh? But I do wonder sometimes if you got that attitude from Kyoya or he got it from you."

"I wonder too sometimes." I laughed, glaring over my shoulder at the boss who was standing at the door with an angry glare. I made a face when he waved the file in his hands at me as if to tell me to hurry it up, "I have to go but I'll definitely show so get ready."

"Sure."

Boss threw the file into my hands the minute I hung up and stormed away, not bothering to even talk to me. I glared after his backside, huffing at how rude the exchange had been. Although, if I expected something more from Xanxus, I must be an idiot.

As I suited up for my next job, worries swirled in my head. I didn't want to kill Dino. I don't intend to but that means I have to pick sides. My parents or Dino? Which side is my brother going to take? Is he going to be at the negotiation? It's his choice but if it goes sour, I'd rather not have my brother there to suffer through making a choice at the last minute. There is no right answer there either.

If we choose Dino, we betrayed our parents but we kept our freedom. If we choose our parents, we sold the path we chose and a friend but we avoid being ungrateful to the parents who raised us to be proud warriors. But I think I already know myself well enough to know my choice. I don't think the choice I make later will surprise me.

This aching feeling in my chest told me my choice was the path that would make me suffer the most but I have to go that way because if I don't, I'll become someone else-an herbivore.

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

I hadn't expected Kyoya to come with us. He hates crowds and more than anything, I trusted Dino not to tell him but Kyoya was a sharp boy. He caught on and demanded to come with us.

Negotiation with my parents was impossible. I think I already knew it. My parents aren't the type to do something they don't want to do. If they started moving on the Cavallone Family, it means they already won't accept any conditions put on the table. I suppose it was naive for me to even think for a second that they were accepting these terms to actually discuss something.

Instead, when we arrived at my home in Namimori as per request, it was not my parents who greeted us but Fon. I was left gawking at him, his sad smile seemed to betray all the secrets he kept from us for ages.

I spun and immediately ordered, "We're returning to the Cavallone estate!"

"What's the big deal?" Dino didn't get what was happening but Kyoya did.

My brother was immediately grasping Fon by the collar, snarling in his face, "You're in on it too?!"

"I only came to stop her but it seems I didn't make it in time." The Arcobaleno embraced Kyoya, apologizing over and over, "I'm so sorry. Forgive me."

I gritted my teeth, grabbing Dino, "Hurry and call for a vehicle to take us back to Italy. This is an emergency."

"Kira." Fon called as I was ushering Don Cavallone away. He grasped my hand and said, "They left me a message. They told me this is all for you. This is to take revenge on the Cavallone for the suffering they put you through."

I stared back at him, upset but unwilling to express it. I know it's for me. That's what makes everything worse in my head. Deep down, I know my mother can't get over the events that happened in my childhood. More than me, it has scarred her.

This is not a complex story but it's not one I want to share. But for the sake of context, I think it's time to at least give a short summary. When my mother was pregnant with Kyoya, I was four. At the time, I had yet to learn to fight. My father was out at work, my mother and I were alone at home.

Before my father returned home, three armed mafiosos came to our home demanding payment. My mother had no idea what they were talking about but they insisted on getting their goods somehow. Unwilling to bend to their will, my mother refused them and so they easily beat her down and took me as a hostage. They demanded the money they were owed in exchange for my life.

Father was called home early and he was furious to find my mother alone. As the story proceeds, Fon is coincidentally landing in Japan from China and he joins my father as they search for me. Domenico shows up, saying he's going to help them. He gives my father the location to the Condoriano Family hideout where they're keeping me. Happy ending, I was rescued by my father and Fon. We return home and I recover from trauma and go through therapy for drugs they used to keep my silent as they took me into hiding.

But the real reason for the kidnapping is as follows. Domenico, Dino's father, borrowed money from the Condoriano Family and they didn't have the capacity to pay it back so when they were asked to repay their debt, Domenico sold us out. He was close friends with my mother so he knew she and my father were stronger than any average mafioso. He thought we would chase the Condoriano's away for him without a doubt so he used us to get out of paying his debt. Too bad it didn't go that well.

Anyways, he told Don Condoriano that he was getting the loan as a proxy for my father and if he wanted the money back, he would have to get it directly from my father. He sent his men to get it and the whole mess ensued.

My mother was furious and never spoke to Domenico again. My father chased the Cavallone Family out of Japan that day, promising to make Domenico pay in the future.

I understand my mother's feelings more than anyone. I was the one who suffered the most back then. But I have no feelings of hatred towards Dino for it. I only blame my own lack of strength. However young I was at the time, I didn't have the strength to defend myself. That's all. My mother is also likely lost in her anger towards herself for being unable to protect me at the time. She's probably directing all her anger towards Dino because it's easier to blame someone else rather than to admit that she was weak.

In the end, my obsession with strength stems from the horror I felt back then. As herbivorous as it sounds, I spent hours crying and pleading for someone to come save me. The cause for the captors' use of silencing drugs was my hysterical wailing. My own weakness is what got me kidnapped in the first place and my lack of strength is what made terror pulse through my veins back then.

I wanted to become strong so that the people I love would never have to feel the same way I did back then. I trained so no one would ever be able to take Kyoya away from me like I was taken away from my mother. I prayed day after grueling day that I would one day be the strongest person in the world so no one would dare to even look at us funny.

My dark past is long buried in my memory. I don't care much for the reason anymore. In this world where strength is everything, I want to prove myself. There's nothing more to it.

"I don't want revenge." I hissed, shoving Fon away, "If I wanted it, I would have killed Dino already. I had endless chances!"

"We have to get to the airport. They readied a private jet for us. It's ready to take off immediately." Romario said, rallying us into the limo as he shouted orders for his famiglia back home into the radio, "We don't have anyone strong enough to stop them but we can stall them with numbers."

"You might be wrong about that." I took up my phone, dialing the number to the one person I thought would help me. If you thought the boss, you're wrong. Sorry herbivores. I didn't wait for him to even say hello. The minute it stopped ringing, I blurted, "Gather up everyone you can get and head for the Cavallone estate. My parents are attacking."

"..." Silence didn't suit him but he was only gathering his thoughts. He immediately roared into the telephone once he had pieced things together, "VOIII! We're on it! What's your status?!"

"Rushing back to Italy. We'll head to the estate immediately upon landing." I told him and smiled as the line went dead. Turning slightly, I told Dino, "Squalo-senpai's on it."

He gave me a half-hearted smile and kept his eyes forward. Those warm, joyful eyes seemed filled with nothing but controlled rage. This was nothing like the boss who was open about his fury. This was the calm before the storm and I felt it send a shudder rippling through my spine. No sexual innuendos intended, I want to be on the other end of Dino's whip when he's like this. It would be one hell of a fight and I'd like to test my strength against the famous Bucking Horse that pulled a no-name famiglia from the gutters into third place.

But this isn't the time for that.

There's one more person I have to reach out to immediately. I lifted my hand, staring at the number scribbled onto my palm just before I left Italy. I dialed it, hesitating only briefly. The phone rang only three times and no more.

His cheery voice signalled their safety, "Kira-senpai! You called! Does that mean it went well?"

"No, herbivore. Listen closely." I would normally smile at Yamamoto's tone but I couldn't find it in me to act like nothing was happening, "I want you to take Sawada and get out of there. You're going to get caught up in a full blown mafia war if you stay there. Dino's family… Leave them behind to fight on their own."

Laughing, he said, "What's with that? You can just honestly ask for help, Kira-senpai. I don't know about Tsuna but I'd never refuse a plea for help from a lady."

"A lady, huh?" I don't know anyone who considers me a lady but I'll take it, "Then… I owe you one, Yamamoto Takeshi. Protect them with your dying will. We're on our way."

He's young but he's definitely a reliable ally. As herbivorous as they may be at times, they're dangerous mafiosos at their core. When duty calls, they all step up to the plate but just stepping up might not be enough.

If my parents are doing this it can only mean one thing. The Special Services are probably going all out over there. My father's special team was made specifically to hunt yakuza/mafia. They usually keep to Japan or people who come and do business in Japan but damn, this is a new assault tactic. I can't say their plan wasn't good. It was great, drawing Dino away from the Cavallone to leave it unguarded and then hitting them with an all out offensive.

I only hoped we would make it in time to avoid any deaths on our end but… I knew how strong they were. They're not stupid. They saw me and Kyoya fight. We lit up rings and box weapons. They probably ended up getting their own so they could compete with us and the result would definitely be devastating.

If we go head to head, we're not coming out without casualties on both ends. I suddenly felt a surge of empathy for Dino. If it was the Varia getting attacked while I was away, I'd be concerned too. … No. Who am I kidding? The boss is there. That monster won't lose to anyone.

I was really surprised when I found the Cavallone mansion still standing and the battle still raging on. My parents were nowhere to be found. It was a bad sign.

With our arrival, the forces remaining called a full retreat. They knew better than to face off against me and Kyoya. Kyoya and I knew our parents held a soft spot in their hearts for us despite their strictness. They weren't trying to hurt us. We already knew that this was all for revenge for something they did to me so it would be counterproductive to attack me.

"Tsuna!" Dino ran for the to-be Vongola Decimo in a dead sprint as the boy collapsed onto his ass, "Jeez! You kids…"

The building was standing but there were definitely signs of a long-waged battle and plenty of carnage to go around. I'm only sorry I wasn't part of it. The officers I called friends were nowhere in sight. I started to feel worry creep into my chest.

Yamamoto, bruised and bloodied, approached me with his chest puffed out proudly, "Did I do good, senpai?"

I gasped upon seeing the condition of his face. I removed the tie from around my neck and curled it around the open gash across his forehead. It was definitely in his eyes.

"Oh my god." I muttered, pressing down to staunch the bleeding, "You little herbivore, why would you…?"

He was still grinning that carefree grin, "Because you're actually a nice lady!"

"I broke your nose for god's sake! Stop saying that!" I felt really bad about it by now. I mean, I broke his nose and nearly killed his boss so I'm undeserving of his kindness for sure, "I hate you so don't risk your life for me!"

He looked troubled by the request, one eye sliding shut as the blood dripped down over his face, "Hmm… Well, you didn't kill me and you saved Sasagawa-senpai during the Ring Battle and you let Gokudera live and Hibari too. You're definitely on my side and I think you like me too so don't be so shy!"

This brat! I didn't know whether I was pleased or displeased by his loyalty. Solely on the fact that I chose to give Sasagawa the ring/antidote during the Sky Ring Battle, he nearly had his eye taken out. What's wrong with this kid?

"He's EXTREMELY right!" Sasagawa was in just as bad a shape as Yamamoto and he was wearing those scars like badges of honor, "Count my debt repaid, Hibari!"

Laughing, Yamamoto pointed out, "That's what you call Hibari. It's so confusing."

"Then Miss!" The Sun Guardian to-be declared, "I'll call her 'Miss' and Hibari can just be Hibari!"

"..." After a long moment, I sighed, "You can just call me Kira."

"Kira it is!"

"You'll be calling her the cause of your death if you don't go away." Kyoya snarled, tonfas lashing out at the both of them to drive them away but not do real damage. It betrayed his inner feelings of guilt. This whole thing was caused by our parents after all, "Buzz off, herbivores."

Herbivores? Yes, all the herbivores are accounted for but where are my coworkers? I spun, searching for any signs of Squalo or his shark but I doubted the battlefield would be this quiet if Squalo was in operating condition. I scanned the wreckage for Lussuria or his peacock but I couldn't spot him.

Voice monotone, I asked, "Where is the Varia?"

"Varia? They never showed." Yamamoto blinked at me curious when I turned on him in surprise, "Were they supposed to?"

"Oh my god." I choked.

It was slowly starting to add up. My parents were missing. This force was too small to defeat the leader-less Cavallone and Sawada's small force. This was obviously just a distraction for tonight's main goal.

"Those guys aren't retreating." Dino turned, ordering Romario to get the car we had just come out of, "They're heading off to join their main force. We should have given chase but it's too late now. I can't go with you but I can offer you a ride."

"I'll be with Kira. That's enough." My brother was impatiently tapping one foot as Romario pulled the car up beside us.

The car was pulling up, time was of the essence. I turned, pointing at Yamamoto, "The number I used to call you. That's mine. Save it. If you need a favor, call me at any time. I'll come running."

"Thanks, senpai!"

But not today. I pulled the driver out of place and got behind the wheel myself. We sped towards Varia HQ without looking back.

Varia HQ was still in one piece. It looks like my father's team had caught Squalo and Luss as they were about to leave so the battle began outside the castle. I knew the situation was not looking good when I spotted the boss standing up front, head to head with my father who was wielding a box weapon that had merged with his tonfas to yield twin swords.

"Tch. It's time to go, huh?" Father gave the signal to retreat but the difference between us and Dino is the will to fight. We don't let enemies escape.

Kyoya was two steps behind me. One because he didn't know that the Varia doesn't let prey escape without a fight, and two because this is our parents and the hesitation made his steps heavy. The two of us were in tiptop shape, capturing our attempted escapees easily but Father managed to slip away from the boss. I watched in awe as Cloud Flames made his blade extend as he swung it. The reach was endless if he played his cards right and it looked like the boss was just as frustrated by it.

Mother slipped away from Squalo, her weapon of choice today was a steel fan where each prong was a blade. One flap sprayed the blades out and Cloud Flames made the missing prongs regenerate. Much like the spray of my feathers in Cambio Forma, this was a weapon that had endless ammunition as long as the user didn't run out of life energy to fuel their flames.

Only two out of the many Secret Service agents in custody, we considered this a loss. Lip bloody, Squalo approached me, easily helping me cuff my prisoner. Lussuria took care of Kyoya's captive. Worried, I hovered as Squalo gave orders to take our prisoners to the basement where they would be tortured.

He caught me floating about behind him like a child and he wiped the blood from his busted lip and hissed, "My bad. Cavallone Family still standing?"

"Yeah." I muttered, reaching up to stop him from wiping so hard, "I'm not angry. They're fine but… if anything… I'm sorry."

"That's not like you." He grunted, wincing when I wiped at his lip tentatively with a finger. He turned, eyes shifting over his shoulder to where Levi was bustling about to get the boss' torn open arm in better condition, "It's not like you told them to attack us. No one blames you so give your report."

Give your report was code for 'baby the boss a little' in this case. Squalo's probably too embarrassed to tell me to be romantic. He's not like Luss who was openly waving and mouthing encouragement at me. I huffed, trying not to blush when I made eye contact with Kyoya who stared at me curiously.

I approached the boss slowly, mind clouded over with worry. I wondered for a moment if he thought I was a traitor. Or maybe he thought I should be slaughtered for being the reason for their attack. Did he even know? Would he want to know?

Xanxus was grumpily shoving Levi who was clumsily trying to wrap his arm and he looked up from where he was sitting in the grass, glaring at me as I approached, "What? You going to fucking stand there all day or tell me what the deal is?"

I might've been madder about his attitude if he wasn't sporting an impressive bruise on his cheekbone and an even more impressive set of teeth marks on his throat. I didn't know which part to call out first. I gaped at him, pointing at his neck and the professional mafioso in me just crumbled, "You let someone mark you?!"

He looked confused for a second, reaching up to his neck and then he snarled, "Yeah. Your old man fucking bit me!"

"Oh." I felt a little dumb. I stared at him awkwardly for a moment, trying to regain my bearings but I was so lost. I shook my head to clear the thoughts away and finally said, "Sorry. I'm sorry. I'll make this right."

"What exactly are you going to make right?" He demanded, giving Levi the signal to pause as he stood up. Towering over me, he should've looked angry but there was something gentle in the way his eyes were observing me, "Tell me the details."

"Long story." I muttered, dropping my eyes to his feet in shame, "Short version is that my parents are after the end of the Cavallone for something they did to us a long time ago-something they did to me a long time ago. We went to negotiate some sort of peace between them but… this happened."

"And? You want revenge against the Bucking Horse?"

"No!" That's the last thing I want. I shook my head when he arched an eyebrow at me as if he was doubting my answer, "It wasn't his fault. If I wanted revenge, I would have done it myself!"

"Then we have our answer." He looked up, analyzing the damage our officers had taken in one sweeping gaze, "When they come at us again, we show them the Vongola is the strongest. We'll be the ones taking revenge for tonight. Kill them all."

The cheers and battle cries of the officers around me sounded terrifying in my head. Those are my parents. I don't want this. I don't want this at all. I turned, my eyes settling on my brother who was wearing a grimace as he nodded along. This was not sitting right with either of us.

How can we make this right?