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

My return home came with an influx of work. Hit after hit was thrilling. I had no problem killing people in general. I just have a problem if they're people I hold dear. I'm glad I'm not a total herbivore. I've still got it.

I was in a surprisingly good mood until I came home with Squalo-senpai only to find the boss and Dino were squaring off like a bunch of children. I stared at Squalo in disbelief, "Is this actually happening?"

"VOI!" Squalo was furious, storming forward to rip the pair apart. His blade slashed through a fiery bullet and then an aggressive flame-coated whip, "What are you scumbags doing?!"

"Out of the way!" Boss snarled, shoved Squalo aside with a single hand to storm forward.

"Oh boy…" I rushed forward, restraining him as Squalo grappled with Dino who was doing the same. I'm definitely a little surprised to find Dino in such a snappy mood but I suppose he's every bit the mafioso that we are.

Dino calmed himself at the sight of me, finally grumping, "Sorry you have to see me again. I heard he's working you so I came to check on you."

"And you started fighting?" I questioned skeptically, "I'm glad to see you again, Dino. I forgot to call you but… in the end, thanks for telling everyone where I was. I'm glad to be home."

His eyes softened the smallest bit but he was still uncertain, "You're not upset with me?"

"Not at all. I'm the one who killed them. It was my choice." I shrugged, uncomfortable with the reminder of my herbivorous attitude from just a few short days ago, "I'm okay now."

He chuckled quietly, trying to relieve his nerves but he was only able to scratch at the back of his head in discomfort and drop his gaze, "Never got to go on that date, huh? I suppose I don't have a shot anymore."

"Not for the reason you're thinking." I smiled when he looked up with wide eyes, "I guess I think you're cute at the very least. I don't know what I'm supposed to say to you but I think you're kind-too kind."

He called my every single day without fail, multiple times a day sometimes. It was as if he was quietly encouraging me to return home. Each day it felt like he was telling me everything would be alright. He had been so devoted to someone who had never given him anything but trouble. That makes it so much harder to say I'm not in love with him. A normal person would be totally infatuated with Dino at this point but I'm not normal.

I turned, looking to the boss for help as if it was the most natural thing to do, "You have experience. What am I supposed to say to him?"

He growled, stormed forward and simply brought our lips crashing together. This was not a little peck but a deep, invasive kind of kiss. Normally, I'd welcome it but this was not a nice thing to do to someone. I knew it from the time I saw the boss with Coyote's daughter. This is the number one way to break someone's heart.

I punched the boss in his gut and watched him double over with a glare, "You're the worst."

I didn't wait for a response. I huffed and hurried to Dino's side, my hands awkwardly hovering around his shoulders as he stared at us like he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, "Umm… Sorry. I appreciate everything you've ever done for me. Really, I do. But I… I can't return your feelings so maybe it's better for you to be with someone who is kind and devoted just like you are."

He only shook his head, unable to really say anything right away. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before carefully saying, "I never even got to properly confess to you. You know… I always wanted to tell you that I was so happy to be protected. I used to be so lonely, you know? We were so poor and I was so weak. No one even stopped to think I was a person and then you came along. Cheesy as it may be, I thought you were some sort of angel sent by the gods."

"Even herbivores are living beings." I mused, smiling at the way he chuckled and carefully brought me in for a hug, "And since then, you've helped many people. In my book, you're the angel so find someone worthy of you or I'll have to bite them to death."

He heaved a sigh, forcing a laugh, "Man, I can't catch a break. The words would be so cute if only it wasn't a rejection. Alright, Kira. I love you so I'll be praying for your happiness. But if you ever need anything, I owe you big time so don't hesitate to ask me. Ever. I'll do anything."

I laughed, stepping out of his loosening grip. I got a good look at his faux-smile and felt my heart twinge. I wanted to cry for some reason. This was probably my heart's way of telling me that I probably held Dino in high regards as well. I felt horrible when he tried a little harder to seem confident about his offer.

I smiled back weakly and gulped down a dry lump in my throat, "Thank you."

"Aww man." He sighed again, scratching at the back of his head in that adorable manner, "Jeez. If you like him that's fine but just promise me he's not forcing you to be with him."

I glanced back at the boss with a smirk, "Oh man… Forcing, huh? Can he even?"

Boss' expression was sour. He looked like he could snap at any moment. He crossed his arms and turned away to pretend he hadn't heard me.

"I'd like to see him try." I snickered, turning a smile back to Dino, "Did you forget? I'm tough too."

"That's true." He finally broke into a genuine smile, waving at a very awkward looking Squalo, "If he tries, promise you'll protect her for me, Squalo!"

"Fuck off!" Squalo was so embarrassed to be asked such a favor. He looked so uncomfortable, unable to leave since he was obviously curious but feeling like he was hearing something not meant for him, "She can handle herself!"

Dino and I laughed for a moment before saying our goodbyes. I felt a little sad to watch him go. It looks like Romario was teasing/comforting him as best as he could but I could tell Dino was only barely holding it together. He'd probably go home and cry. That's his habit. He was such a crybaby in our school days but he would often try his best to cry alone where no one could see him.

I probably love Dino to some extent. I always will. I think this is what people mean when they say you never forget your first love. I might not have known but I was most certainly in love with him.

Boss stormed away, leaving me with Squalo. He was obviously unhappy but the conclusion was appropriate. I rejected Dino properly.

Squalo put a hand on my shoulder when the boss was in the building, "You rejected him but you look like you're going to cry. What's with that?"

"I'm not going to cry." I huffed, swatting his hand away, "I'm fine. I'm just thinking about whether or not he's going to try to kill me if I talk to him."

"Good luck with that." He said and stormed into the building as fast as possible.

I smiled. So dishonest. Squalo is just as good a guy as Dino. He's loud and nags a lot but he really cares. He just tries really hard to pretend he doesn't cause he gets embarrassed easily. Now that Dino told him to protect me, Squalo-senpai would definitely come running if I called. Not that he wouldn't before.

Squalo-senpai is reliable beyond anyone else I have ever met. I admire him the most out of everyone here because he's someone I aspired to resemble when I was first trying to decide what a mafioso's image should be. In private, he's loud and obnoxious but on a job, he's dead silent. A roaring beast on a battlefield but a silent killer in the dead of the night. It doesn't matter what he's like behind closed doors as long as the professional image is kept during work.

They're both so very different from the man I chose. Thinking about it, I made my way inside slowly. I'm not sure what exactly drew me to the boss aside from his strength. He's rude and violent and selfish beyond anyone else I've ever met. Given, I can't meet myself so I might be worse in terms of violence and rudeness sometimes.

However, we're kind of similar so sometimes we don't need words to understand each other. We have a similar sense of pride. As long as we are the strongest, nothing else matters. Or so it should be but I've started to change. Strength is important but so is the reason I possess strength. Strength without meaning is pointless.

I knocked at the office door the boss had deliberately left open. I grinned when he glared up at me from the chair he was obviously not going to get up from. He already had a bottle of whiskey in his hand and he was drinking straight from it. He snorted at me, shooing me away.

"Oh, come on." I huffed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind me, "I rejected him. You don't know how hard that was, boss."

He snorted again and I almost thought he was going to straight out ignore me but he responded with, "Shouldn't have been so hard."

Now that was upsetting. I rolled my eyes, "Sorry. Unlike you, I get attached to the people I've kissed."

I slapped a hand over my mouth. Oops.

His eyes narrowed, "More than one?"

"Umm. Well, yeah? Cause I kissed you? So… two?" I paused and cautiously said, "Three outside my family."

"Three?" He slammed the bottle on the table, snarling threateningly.

"No one but you from now on." I offered, grinning away my nerves when he leaned forward to sit up in the chair, "I swear."

"You have some nerve." He growled, "How long ago?"

"In high school." I grumbled, "And Dino …. Uhhh like before I went to fight with Sawada's bunch ten years in the future."

"Cavallone was recent?!" He was getting so pissed I could feel the burn of the Flames of Wrath that he was trying so hard to hold down, "There was someone in high school? That's when I was-"

"It was an accident!" I exclaimed, gritting my teeth. I felt worse about it because my kiss with Squalo was while boss was frozen away in the basement by Timoteo, "I was dead drunk! That one can't count. I kissed him once! Errr… Twice!"

He reached for his gun and stood up, "Who?"

Oh my god. I can't say it was Squalo. Oh my god. What do I do? But I didn't want to lie to him.

"Squalo-senpai." I murmured, blocking the door for good measure.

Boss didn't move for a good minute. He stood there looking like a statue. I guess he had never thought about it. He was thinking up so many things in his head but eventually, he hissed, "That bastard."

"It wasn't his fault!" I began, startled into snapping my mouth shut when he threw down his gun on the table and took his seat again. I didn't know what this man was thinking but if he's not going to kill Squalo, I'm glad, "... You're… not mad?"

"About Cavallone? I'm fucking pissed." He said dryly, taking up his drink again in a lazy manner.

"I meant…." I didn't want to say Squalo's name again. I wonder if maybe the boss didn't hear me the first time. If he didn't hear me, I'm definitely not going to say it again and get him killed.

"You meant Squalo?" He snorted at me, taking a long swig before saying, "Not worth it."

"Because he's your loyal right-hand man?"

He didn't answer, only motioning for me to come closer. He waited for me to be within arms reach before pushing his chair back and putting the bottle on the table. He pulled me down across his lap and told me in the most stern tone, "He's got the longest fucking stick up his ass. He's not going to do shit to you."

I laughed right in the boss's face. It wasn't even a small laugh. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. I just clung to him, shaking as I gasped for breath. That was an accurate description of Squalo. He's such a stiff bound by duty. He's definitely not going to do anything to me if I'm dating the boss. Squalo is the most loyal to Xanxus. Anyone who falls in love with Squalo is going to have to deal with Squalo's undying devotion to the boss and accept they're forever going to be second place.

Although, Squalo is worth it. Probably.

"It's okay, boss." I finally managed. Grinning when he lifted an eyebrow curiously, "Let them all try. You're the only one for me."

He made a soft expression that was between a content subtle smile and a teasing smirk. It was all gone in a split second-replaced with the same lust I always seemed to ignite at odd times.

When he came forward to kiss me, I cut him off with a swift finger between our lips. I thought his annoyed expression was kind of cute, "Hey. But can we go on a date?"

He rolled his eyes, "No."

"You're so not romantic." I rolled my eyes back but it was more at myself for thinking he'd say yes, "Have you ever been on a date?"

He had to think about it. He shrugged, "Once? Twice?"

My expression turned sour. A little bit of jealousy bubbled deep inside. I only hummed at him, standing up to leave.

He snorted at me when I reached the door, "We can go. Tomorrow."

"I don't want to go anymore." I huffed, storming out and slamming the door behind me.

Where does he get off being all jealous over Dino asking me on a date and then rejecting me when I ask him? The fuck kind of logic is that? I went straight to Squalo and invited him to spar. Squalo never refuses sparring invites.

Good old Squalo-senpai. Boss can suck it.

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

"What's this?" I grumbled when Squalo came knocking at an oddly early hour to be calling me out for a job. I stared at the bag skeptically, "You're being weird."

"Take it, wear it, meet me out front in ten minutes or die." He told me.

I shrugged and humored him. I assumed we were going to work out from the white tee and yoga pants. I met him out front as promised and he only gestured to the car. He told me to get in and wait for him, he forgot something apparently. I huffed and got in first, telling him he's an idiot for forgetting.

Shockingly, the boss was in the car with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked up when I opened the door, staring at me like I was insane, "Are you just going to fucking stand there or get in?"

"You're going too?" I questioned, thinking that the world was falling apart as I climbed in. I took note that he was dressed casually. It reminded me of our long six months on the run and I smiled a little bit, "Where are we going?"

He growled and reached over, annoyed that I had left the door open. He ordered the driver to start, not answering me.

I blinked dumbly at him, wondering what had just happened, "Wh-What about Squalo?"

"You want him to third wheel?"

"Oh." I said like an idiot, snapping my mouth shut. The gears in my head came to a screeching stop and I couldn't figure out what was going on. Could this be…? My phone buzzed, it was the only thing I had on me. I reached for it, noting the message but not fully comprehending it quite yet.

I took a second look. It was from Lussuria, "Have fun on your date. First date rule, be back before midnight. ;)"

"Lussuria said we should be back before midnight on a first date." I said cautiously. Is this actually a date though?

"So what?" Xanxus huffed, crossing his arms over the logo on his hoodie, "Don't be a stiff. We'll come back when I want to come back."

"Suit yourself." I was plenty happy with the way things were going already and I was even happier when he casually put an arm around my shoulders, "Boss, you're kind of cute."

"Don't be a bitch." He grumped, "What kind of man wants to hear that bullshit from someone half his height?"

"... Half…?" Now, that's an exaggeration if I've ever heard one but I let it go, "Whatever, boss. Where are we going?"

"South." He said vaguely, "And… don't be weird."

"Hm? I'm… weird?" I didn't know how to take the comment, "Aren't I normally a little different than normal people? You're weird too."

"Be yourself but don't be weird. You'll know what I mean when we get there." He told me, "And you have an uncle, don't you?"

"You mean Fon?" I smiled when he nodded, "Yeah, he's a nice guy. Are we going to see him?"

"No." He snorted just at the thought of it.

"... I guess it's better that way. He's probably really mad at me now." I tried not to lose the grin but when his eyes came around suspiciously, I had to let it go, "I killed his sister after all."

"Don't think about that now." He pushed my head down with a heavy hand. I knew he was trying to hide his expression from me by keeping his hand on my head and I let him, "... Kira, formally introduce me to your brother after tonight."

Another surprise in the short time since we had started our drive south. I smiled and nodded, "Sure, boss. You've already met though. Multiple times."

"I don't want to meet the next Vongola Cloud Guardian." He said quietly, "I want to meet your brother."

"You'd be surprised. He's almost exactly the same professionally and not." I was happy just thinking about my cute little brother, "If you fight him, he'll be friendly. Just promise you won't shoot him or melt him."

"Whatever."

There was a moment of silence and then I muttered a hopeful, "And the Ninth?"

"The old man? What about him?"

Embarrassed, I looked out the window and shrugged, "Never mind."

He heaved a quiet sigh, hand over my head again, "I'm adopted, Kira. You should already know."

"Yeah." I said, disappointed. I don't know what I was expecting.

I kind of thought it would be nice to be recognized as the boss' significant other. Then maybe people would stop approaching him trying to gain something. I know how it goes at parties. Sometimes, women approach the boss trying to earn a favor or gain something from his adoptive father. Many times, they share a night with him. I know he doesn't accept their invitations anymore but I wish people would just stop approaching him altogether.

Another half hour in silence brought us to a stop. Xanxus stepped out, glancing back and forth down the streets warily as he reached back for me, "Stick to me like glue here. Especially in those clothes."

Even if I was naked, I'm pretty sure no one's interested in me like that but I didn't say anything. I appreciated being held under his arm. It was a warm experience. It's always a warm experience.

As for the surroundings, I recognized the dirty streets. We had spent weeks here during our six month run. This wasn't the ideal place for a date but it was indeed something with special meaning. I liked the six months we spent together despite the struggles. I loved struggling and getting through it all together.

Belatedly, I realized he was leading me down a shady looking alleyway. We came to a stop at a door in the far corner of a twisted maze-like encasing of buildings. The door itself was rather old looking, wooden and crooked. On the left underneath a rusty staircase, there was a small cracked window.

He turned to finally face me, hands holding mine lightly as our gazes locked.

I blinked at him dumbly. I knew this wasn't something he found easy to say but I had no idea what to expect.

He hesitated uncharacteristically, thinking about his words again before starting, "If you can see what's behind this door and still walk next to me on your own two feet, I'll tell you something good."

"If I can't?" I was nervous. I'd never expected something like this today, "Do you have a secret wife or something hiding in there?"

"If you can't… I'll take you home in chains cause I'm never letting you go." He said and I believed him. He looked so serious but at the same time he was almost nervous, "You belong to me."

I laughed at him in disbelief and nodded, "Fine but you're scaring me. You seriously have a wife in there?"

"... Worse." He finally reached for the doorknob, pushing it open. His body blocked the way as a crazed woman came forward to cling to him.

Watching her cling and touch his face, I realized she meant something special to him but… there was something a little off about her. She was old enough to… be his mother.

Oh my god.

I can't be kind about her description. Physically, she was an elderly lady with long, thinning hair, medium height and weight, and the same crimson eyes as my boss. But those eyes didn't hold the same solid emotion that Xanxus' held. She looked happy, sad, and murderous all at the same time. She was… clearly insane no matter how you look at her.

She was looking at him, murmuring incoherent sentences in Italian. Xanxus nodded as if he could understand what she was saying. He took hold of her arms, leading her back the way she had come towards the table in the corner of the room. The whole time she was just babbling at him in a slurred tone.

"You didn't take your medication." Xanxus said gruffly, reaching for the bottles on the table only to find them all empty. He seemed mildly upset by the lack of contents but he tried not to let it show. He glanced around the room, eyes narrowing at the lack of contents, "Where's the maid?"

She babbled in response. I speak Italian fairly well but I couldn't understand a word she was saying. The words themselves were jumbled and she spoke more with her hands than her vocals. I felt a pang of pity. She was hardly even a person anymore. She was too far gone to even find herself something to eat.

"You can come in." The boss called, eyes shifting towards me as I gawked from the doorway, "Close the door."

The woman was now running towards me. Surprised, I stumbled backwards.

"Close the door, Kira!" He ordered sharply, hands barely managing to snag the woman as she came right up to me, "Hurry."

I shook the surprise out of my head and I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

He smiled the smallest bit but it was gone as fast as it had come, "If you were going to run, you should've closed the door without coming in."

"I want an explanation." I told him, flinching as the woman burst from his grasp in a crazed manner. I was secretly horrified by how she screamed incomprehensible things at me but I tried not to flinch when her hands began to roam my face curiously, "How can you understand what she's saying?"

"I can't." He admitted, "I just pretend. It's good for her. Sometimes, she says something we can understand and then you can actually converse with her for a while."

Her finger went in my eye and I hissed, drawing back. The boss was immediately holding her back as she flailed and clearly said, "Pretty eye! I want it!"

My hand was firmly over my eyes as it watered from the unwanted contact. I tried not to let it bother me but this woman was definitely a psychopath.

"No." Xanxus said sternly, turning her away and pushing her back towards the chair in the corner, "Leave her alone."

"... She's…" I didn't know if it was appropriate to ask him anything at this point. I could only watch them warily but he got my meaning.

"My mother." He said, finishing my barely started sentence. He turned, smirking at me, "See. I told you. I'm taking you home in chains. You lost your chance to run when you closed the door."

I shook my head, smiling after a moment of surprise, "I love you, boss."

He looked surprised at first and then mildly pleased. He approached me, carefully watching his mother for any signs of violence after being told she couldn't have my eyes. He pressed a soft kiss against the top of my head, "You're an idiot for sure."

I rolled my eyes and nodded, "Does she recognize you?"

"Yes." He admitted, "She can still say my name if you ask her."

When he turned, I stared at the woman sitting in the chair and she stared back at me curiously, "I can talk to her?"

"Your lover?" She said clearly, pointing at me and then her son, "Is younger?"

My eyes widened as the boss smiled a full blown grin. It was nothing like his confident smirk or the ghost of a smile that pulled at his lips every once in a while. This was a genuine expression of happiness that I had never seen before.

"By three years." He told her, "She's mine."

"Your name?" She was now talking to me directly, "Xanxus' lover?"

"... Kira." I told her, holding my breath as she blinked at me dumbly, "My name is Kira."

"You're…" She thought about it for a long moment and then blurted, "Exotic."

Startled by the offensive comment, I flinched back and stared up at the boss for confirmation.

He didn't look back at me. In a stern tone, he told her, "She's one of my Guardians."

Her eyes lit up in joy, "Someone to help you when you inherit? Precious."

Inherit? Xanxus isn't inheriting the boss position. Doesn't she know?

"She's precious." He said firmly, "Not exotic."

Oh my god. I'm so simple. He called me precious. The blush exploding across my face couldn't be contained. I was immediately trying to hide my face in his side, whining. He drew his arm around me as he always did, keeping my frame pressed close to his side.

"... She's cute?" His mother made a second attempt at putting a description to me, "Small."

"Small?" I whined, clenching my fists. Anyone else and I would've already punched the living daylights out of them, "Bosssssss."

"Cute, yes." He established, "Small, no."

I was a blushing mess all over again. I'm not sure I can handle this rollercoaster of emotions.

She got up from her chair and approached me once more, offering me her hand as if she was trying to approach an animal, "Hello?"

Uncertain and unwilling, I looked up at the boss for help and was blown away by his almost childishly expectant gaze. He wanted me to just take her hand and let this woman have her way. He looked kind of… cute. Damn this man.

I mentally groaned and weakly put my hand in hers, "Hello."

"Kira." She confirmed my name and then offered me a kind, motherly smile, "Thank you. Please make him a good boss. You have to. He must be a good Don Vongola!"

That was the most coherent thing she had said all day and I was blown away by the determined look in her crimson eyes. I nodded mutely, drawing my hand away from her when she began to claw at it with unkempt nails that broke the skin almost immediately. Seeing the blood, the boss was immediately between us and hiding me protectively behind his back.

The door opened and the maid came scampering in, drawing his mother away from us and back into the chair in the corner. She apologized to Xanxus about her tardiness and for once, the boss was lenient. He saw all the groceries meant for his mother and probably felt a moment of soft generosity in his heart.

Before he could change his mind, he turned and drew me under his arm, "We're leaving."

"You don't want to say goodbye?" I murmured, staring up at him curiously when he gazed down at me in moderate surprise, "Wh-What?"

"Your hand?" He reached his free hand towards mine, keeping the other wrapped protectively around my shoulders, "You're… not fucking pissed?"

I shook my head, holding them up, "It's a little scratch. I'm sure she didn't mean it?"

His expression grew soft and he leaned down to press a short kiss to the top of my head, "We can't say goodbye. She can't understand us anymore when she gets like that."

"Hey… Didn't you say you would tell me something good?" I grinned as we left, closing the door behind us, "I want to know. What's better than introducing me to your mother?"

Ushering me back into the car, he promised, "After dinner."

Oh. So we are going to dinner. I forgot about it but I guess that was the whole purpose of coming out here.

"You didn't want to eat with your mother?" I asked and squeaked when he came forwards, crushing our lips together in a fiery display of passion. I was left breathless when he pulled away, "Wh-What was that for?!"

"You don't eat with your mother on a date." He said with that arrogant smirk I loved so much, "I have some place I want to go."

I could only nod, dazed by the crimson eyes lighting up the darkness. God, I love him.