"Ahh! We're finally done!" Aoi wiped her hands on her uniform, smearing blood on the side of her jacket, as she told her fellow officers.
"That job was shorter than usual…" commented Lussuria.
"So what?" Aoi asked.
"It seems pretty fishy to me," Levi muttered.
"Who cares? Come on, let's spend the night in an inn, it's no use going back home, it's too dark," Aoi asked hopefully.
The Varia with the exemption of Xanxus who was too busy with other pressing matters to go along with the mission, just finished disposing of thugs who were attempting to assassinate a famous and wealthy banker in the Village of Impatiens. This person was one of the many unfortunate people who funded the Vongola and paid for their other miscellaneous expenses such as renovating the Varia headquarters whenever Squalo, Aoi, Bel or Levi destroyed it. So those assassinators were assassinated themselves. What a tragedy! It had been approximately a month and three weeks since Aoi was legally freed from the Vindice with the help of her boss. It was also approximately a month after she and Fran got together. Sure they had some pretty stupid arguments and few idiotic misunderstandings but they still managed to keep their relationship. Contrary to everyone's belief that couples act romantic almost all the time, Fran and Aoi were a different thing altogether. They bickered, they teased, they fought with much vigor that in an outsider's point of view, they might have seemed mortal enemies. Lussuria, Bel, Squalo, and Levi didn't give a damn though. It wasn't their business to advice the younglings on matters such as love. Love was sort of like a taboo around them. All that matters was that they remain loyal and faithful to the boss and that they were still able to slaughter people with consent from the higher ups.
"An inn? What's that?" asked Fran, attempting to start a fight with Aoi for the third time of a day.
"Ushishishi, an inn is basically where travelers stay for a night or so, something like a small hotel," Bel answered, "Fran, you don't even know that?" he sneered.
"Sempai, I wasn't asking you, I was asking Aoi," Fran replied back.
"Oh really? Did I hear you mention Aoi's name in your question earlier?" the prince sneered back, slowly removing three knives from his pockets. Fran chose to ignore Bel's question and turned to Squalo instead.
"Let's go then," Fran said to Squalo, while taking Aoi's side and draped an arm on her shoulder.
"Fran! Your arm's way too heavy," Aoi complained.
"Really?" he asked in his indifferent voice.
"Really," Aoi confirmed.
The two began to bicker again. Unable to take the level of noise, Squalo finally acquiesced. "VOOIII! Fine! Let's go to an inn, just stop your annoying bickering!" he shouted, flecks of saliva coming out of his mouth.
"Yay!" Aoi and Fran said simultaneously in a monotonous voice.
They all entered a Japanese Inn. It was a good thing that the Vongola and the Varia weren't well known in the village where they decided to do their job. Instead of running away and screaming out of terror like some cowardly sissies, the customers of the inn just eyed Lussuria, Levi, Squalo, Fran, Bel and Aoi.
"Who are they? They look so… weird," one girl whispered to her friend.
"Totally, and what are they wearing? Matching uniforms? That's so like history!" the friend giggled.
"Look at that person, he's wearing such a ridiculous hat," a man silently said, pointing to Fran.
"Is that person gay? His hair's so long! Even longer than mine!" a woman seethed with jealousy.
"What's the deal with wearing sunglasses even inside a hotel? Is that guy an idiot?" a customer muttered, staring at Lussuria.
"What a nutcase, carrying several black umbrellas when it's summer," a guy chuckled.
"Oh,oh! Look mommy! There's this person wearing a tiara! Is he cosplaying as a princess?" a little boy asked his mother.
"Stupid aniki, it's a girl in disguise," the boy's little brother scolded.
More insults about the Varia's appearances, looks and habits issued as they approached the cashier to inquire if there were still available rooms. Aoi was clutching her stomach and covering her mouth, attempting to stifle her laughter. Her teammates looked very much pissed off and annoyed to the EXTREME.
"VOOOIII!" Squalo shouted; everyone in the inn turned to stare at Squalo as if he was a crazy. "Do you have any rooms left?" he continued, staring at the tough-looking man behind the counter.
The cashier a.k.a. Manager-san, was also in a bad mood, what gave this silver-haired punk the right to shout at him like that? "The only available room is the tiniest one in this inn," he said.
"HAH? Can't you search for any bigger rooms?" Squalo persisted, drawing his sword.
"Mister, if you use violence, I'll call the police," Manager-san threatened.
Aoi saw that if this continues on, they might even be kicked out due to Squalo's attitude. She didn't want that! Sighing, she shoved Squalo out of the way and said, "Oji-chan, can you please give us a bigger room? You can't possibly make me stay cooped up with them, can you?" she smiled.
The customers all did a double take. What the heck was a little, petite, polite, sane girl doing with the insane assortment of guys? Was she kidnapped? Oh, wait, that's impossible. They watched her as she coolly told the long-haired dude and the other guys to calm down.
"Okay, fine, here's the key to your room, all necessities are provided, so enjoy your stay!" Manager-san said.
"Arigatou!" Aoi bowed then followed her companions to their room.
"Tch, acting so high and mighty," Squalo muttered.
"Hmm? What did you say? If I hadn't interfered, they might have chucked us out, baka" Aoi retorted.
"Tch," Squalo scoffed.
"Ah, Bel-senpai, where are you going?" Fran asked at Bel as he strode away from them.
"To take a bath," the prince replied.
"Ah, I'm coming with you," the illusionist said.
"Me too!" Levi butted in.
"Ah! Don't leave me behind!" Lussuria said, waving his pinky frantically.
"VOOIII! I'll be going with you too!" Squalo shouted.
"Ushishishi… copiers," Bel sneered.
"You trash! What did you say?" Squalo bellowed.
Aoi watched as her teammates left her behind. Jeez. Oh well, its okay. They left her behind most of the time anyway, might as well get used to it. She carried all her luggage and opened the door. She was astounded by the size of the room. It was HUGE! And really clean. Sparkly clean, no trace of dirt and dust anywhere, unlike the lounging area of the Varia headquarters. And the food laid on the table looked yummy as well. She chuckled. She'll eat first then take a bath.
"Ittedakimasu!" she digged in. "Ah! Delicious!" she licked her lips. Oh wait, I should leave some for the others just in case they're hungry.
Suddenly, a thunder of footsteps rushed through and somebody slammed the door open.
"VOOOOIIII! Don't you dare eat everything, Aoi!" Squalo shouted.
"Hai hai," Aoi replied, without turning to look at the male members of the Varia. "How could I finish such an-" her voice trailed away as they took their places on the table. They weren't wearing anything! Save for a cloth that was wrapped around their waists. Even Fran was influenced.
"Such an- what?" Levi asked, wolfing down ten pieces of wasabi sushi.
Aoi slammed her fists on the table, sending the food up in the air and back to their plates again. "AHO! At least put on some clothes!" she shouted and stormed off.
"What kind of manners was that?" Lussuria muttered, and looked down. He lost all the blood on his face. They had been running around the hallway half-naked? Apparently the others also realized the gruesome fact and they all ran helter-skelter around the room, hurriedly putting on kimonos that were for available.
"Idiots," Aoi muttered, red in the face, did they even know that they had a girl in their company? Probably not. She sighed; at least they regarded her as their equal. She made her way towards the bathing area where other girls gathered to relax. Oh crap, I forgot to bring a towel… thankfully there were rows of them in the corner. She took off her clothes and slid down into the warm water. Other girls were watching her.
"Ne, ne, we were all wondering why do you have companions such as those weird guys," a girl couldn't resist to talk to Aoi.
"Hm?" Aoi was surprised. She hadn't considered the idea that other girls would want to converse with her. She had assumed that they would all leave once she arrived, as usual.
The other girls looked at each other tensely; maybe the stranger wasn't as kind as they thought. The girl with blue hair was staying silent for a time now.
"Oh, that," Aoi continued, smiling, "I'm sort of in a job with them," she said.
"I see! What kind of job?" one girl asked. She was relieved that the stranger was nice after all.
"It's kinda complicated, you guys might find it hard to believe," Aoi replied.
"Oh…" the girls decided not to push the matter any further.
"Anyway, what's your name?" one girl with long hair asked.
"Can we be friends?" a couple of girls chorused.
"Ah, it's Aoi, sure we can be friends," Aoi grinned, overwhelmed by the warmth she was receiving.
"Hmmm…. Aoi, I've heard that name before…" the girl with long hair mused. "Ah! Never mind! My name's Sayuki, pleased to meet you," she held out her hand and Aoi shook it, sealing the bond of friendship.
"Ah! My name's Kiyo!" another girl with blonde, curly hair introduced herself.
"Mine is Hinamori!" a girl in pigtails gave Aoi a flying hug.
"Ahahaha," Aoi laughed, "It's a pleasure to meet you all!"
"What the fuck is taking that girl so long?" Squalo impatiently asked, pacing up and down the room, holding a pillow.
"She's probably having a good time chatting with other girls," Lussuria thoughtfully said.
"Ushishishi, who cares about her, let's start the game," Bel ushishi-ed.
"Yeah!" Levi said, grabbing three pillows, he threw it at Squalo who jumped up in the air, dodging it. The pillows' path hit their target, Lussuria, hard on the face, making him stagger backwards.
"You won't lose to me!" Squalo shouted.
"Mou! How dare you!" Lussuria said seriously, flexing his muscles. He scooped up the pillows and shot them with accuracy and agility at Fran, Bel and Squalo. The three couldn't dodge because of its incredibly fast speed.
"Ah, Itai," Fran said, getting hit.
"Ushishishi," Bel snickered after recovering from Lussuria's attack. "You'll pay for that."
"VOOII! You cretin! It was Levi who hit you, not me!" Squalo said, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"I don't give a damn," Lussuria replied.
"You bastard…" Squalo seethed.
A hell of a pillow fight issued, VARIA VERSION. Pillow feathers littered on the floor, tables toppled over, blankets torn into shreds by Squalo's sword and Bel's knives.
The customers could hear the racket the Varia members were making and all went to the manager who happened to be the cashier to complain.
"I've had enough of this!" Levi growled, lighting his Varia thunder ring.
"It's not just you!" Lussuria said, igniting his Varia sun ring.
"Interesting," Fran muttered while his ring glowed indigo with his Mist dying will flames.
"Ushishishi," Bel followed suit and his ring lit with bright red deathperation flames.
"VOOIII! You won't win against me!" Squalo shouted, igniting his own Varia rain ring.
Before any damage could be issued further, the door banged open. All the guys turned to stare at Aoi.
"Eh?" Aoi uttered, her eyebrows raised in surprise. She too, was wearing a kimono. When she realized what her teammates were doing, her right eye twitched. "You bastards…" she growled. Everyone else in the Varia visibly gulped. They had never seen Aoi this angry. Her fists were clenched and her aura screamed death.
"Oi! What do you guys think you're doing?" the manager bellowed, his face purple with rage upon seeing one of the best rooms of his inn in tatters. He was followed by a mob of frustrated customers. They all stopped short after noticing flames emitting from the male Varia's rings.
"Teme…." Aoi muttered; her varia ring suddenly burst, emitting purple Cloud dying will Flames that was bigger and scarier that the others'.
The manager turned to stare at the girl who acted polite to him; beads of sweat ran through his forehead. He should have known! He mentally slapped himself. All the descriptions other Inn managers sent him matched the six who had entered.
"How dare you start a pillow fight without me!" she shouted, punching her ignited ring to her box weapon, releasing Luca, her animal box weapon free.
"Ara, ara, we can still continue it you know," Lussuria reassured his teammate and followed suit. The other Varia members opened their box weapons and started a free-for-all fight, this time, with Aoi.
All the other people watched spellbound… scary… within a few seconds, they all ran away, screaming in terror like some cowardly sissies.
"I remember now!" Sayuki shouted, while running away, "They're the Varia Assassination Squad of the Vongola Family! The wealthiest and the strongest family of the mafia!"
"Ehh!" her friends shouted, scared shitless.
"My inn…" the manager grieved as the Varia fought on, until dawn broke.
The Varia left a day after, leaving the inn in pieces, the roof caving in, the walls in splinters, the windows broken and so much more. Heck, they even forgot to pay! But Manager-san was too scared to ask for it. It would be a few years until the Inn could be open to public again.
As for the villagers of Impatiens, they would now run away in terror and fright like all other people whenever the Varia accidentally dropped by. They learned their lesson.
And, here is the epilogue. :)) I kinda didn't focus on Aoi and Fran's relationship. XD Hope you guys like it!