Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn! or any of its character, settings, or random deus ex machina.

Notes/Warnings: Just so everyone knows, this chapter is even dumber than usual because it was written as the result of a joke prompt requesting a fic called "How I Overcame My Fear of Everything" that featured, specifically, "Basil, Genkishi, Byakuran, snakes, illusionary missiles, and fluffy bunnies." Yeah.

But mostly the blame for this falls on poor little Basil, for making the same D: face in every single reaction panel he's ever been in.

Summary: Basil takes a stand against Byakuran's tyranny. An adorable, fluffy stand.

Mafia Days: Chapter Six - How I Overcame My Fear of Everything

"I'm telling you, it really works!" Genkishi insisted as he waved the CD in Basil's face. "It helped me overcome my dependency issues and finally break free from Byakuran-sama to become my own person!"

"I... I just don't know," said Basil timidly. "Subliminal therapy? Really?"

"It'll give you all the confidence you need!" Genkishi declared, thrusting the CD into Basil's unwilling hands. "Just take it! Trust me!"

"Okay..." Basil conceded, though he still looked apprehensive.

"Watch your face, kid, or it'll get stuck that way," Genkishi advised before disappearing in an illusionary poof of smoke.

"..." said Basil as he began to examine the CD.

"I am a strong, independent man. I am not afraid of anything. I believe in myself! I don't need to chase the approval of charismatic would-be dictators just to boost my own self-esteem."

Basil slept on as the self-empowering mantras repeated throughout the night.

"Byakuran!" Basil shouted defiantly as he stood outside the Millefiore headquarters the next day, surrounded by an army of fluffy bunnies. "Come out! Face me!"

"Well, it seems I have a visitor!" smiled Byakuran as he opened his door and stepped out onto the Millefiore front lawn. "And what brings you here, Basil-kun?"

"I'm not afraid of you anymore! And I don't need to seek your approval to boost my own self-esteem! Also, I quit smoking!"

Byakuran's smile faded. "Damn it, is this more of that subliminal message shit that all the kids are raving about nowadays? Remind me to have Genkishi blown up." Pause. "Again."

"My army of cute fluffy bunnies and I are here to put an end to your evil ambitions for good!" Basil cried, shaking his adorable little fist.

Byakuran regarded the bunnies with a raised eyebrow.

"...I don't know, they just started following me all of a sudden!" said Basil defensively. "But anyway, that's not the point! The point is... ATTACK!"

Baring their vicious little bunny teeth, the rabbits sprang forward. With a sigh, Byakuran reached into his back pocket and withdrew a pan flute, on which he proceeded to play a dapper little tune.

All of a sudden, a chilling hissing sound arose from the hills as a mass of snakes appeared on the horizon, slithering as fast as they could to Byakuran's aid. Basil looked shocked.

"A little trick I learned from the parallel universe in which the Mafia is composed of thousands of magical snake charmers, who battle each other for honor and prestige in something very much like the world's lamest game of Pokemon," Byakuran explained.

Basil could only watch in horror as one by one, the adorable fluffy bunnies were mercilessly devoured.

"Well, now, it appears you're defenseless, Basil-kun," said Byakuran in that smug little tone of voice that makes you want to punch him in the face.

"No... no! My plan... it failed!" Basil collapsed to his knees in despair.

"Any last words?" Byakuran asked.

"I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!" came a sudden booming voice from the heavens. Suddenly, missiles appeared out of nowhere, blowing up all of the snakes. Byakuran made that face he made at the end of chapter 253, while Basil looked around wonderingly, trying to spot his miraculous savior.

"It is I, Genkishi!" the voice announced as the clouds parted to reveal Genkishi decked out in full Stalfos mode. He walked up and gave Basil a hearty thump on the back.

"Genkishi! I-I tried, I really did! I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, Basil! You've already proven your bravery! I told you those CDs would work!"

"Genkishi! I'll never doubt you again!"

"..." said Byakuran.

"Don't worry, Byakuran-sama, your snakes are fine! The missiles were only illusions!" explained Genkishi soothingly.

Byakuran took a threatening step forward, and Genkishi stopped him with a well-placed wall. Then, turning back to Basil, he took him by the hand.

"Come, Basil, let's embrace the new world of endless possibilities together without fear, you and I!"

And together, they skipped off into the rainbow.