AN: I wasn't too pleased with how this came out, but hopefully ya'll will like it. When I was writing this chapter I realized that this story may be longer than the original three parts I had planned, who knows. I hope ya'll enjoy. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors.

Part Two:

61.

The doctors in Namimori Hospital announced, after several weeks of testing, that there was nothing to be done about the damage on Kazumi's lungs and heart. He would live longer if he was careful and refrained from any and all stressful or strenuous activities. His time on this earth would be prolonged with permanent medical supervision, staying in the hospital in the long-term care ward was recommended. To be honest he had not expected anything else. Unfortunately, this news caused his little brother to sob, Squalo cursed, and nearly skewered the poor man who had delivered the news, and then stormed from the room. Yamamoto Tsuyoshi was silent, but Kazumi could see the tears the older man refused to shed.

It hurt him to see his loved ones so upset. But there was nothing he could really do to alleviate the pain and suffering. His health was what it was and there was no changing that. He had long ago accepted the inevitable.

His body would eventually fail and he would die. The same old dance that he had learned in his former life. Only this time he wouldn't drive his beloved younger brother to kill him; this time his brother would cling to him as Kazumi breathed his last breath…not cause it.

A small smile appeared at the rather (what it would be to most anyone else) dark thought. It made him happy that he had people who would care about his death this time around.

62.

Katarina Superbi had just finished up her rounds - checking in on her patients, actively reassessing their treatments as necessary, and discharging those who had recovered enough to leave - and returned to the nurses desk to inform them of any changes with the patients. Almost immediately as she approached the long counter behind which was the nurses' work station, a rather annoyed looking nurse approached her holding a portable phone.

Extremely odd. When a patient needed her, she was paged and her husband knew better than to call her at work with useless chatter - not that her husband ever dissolved into useless chatter, he was a man of few words.

The nurse huffed as she handed Katarina the phone. "Inform your son that we nurses have better things to do than play secretary, Dr. Superbi. He loudly demanded to speak with you immediately, you should try to correct those poor manners." Said the woman with a sneer before thrusting the phone into Katarina's waiting hand and walking away.

Bitch, Katarina thought. She would have done more than think it, had she not been chastised already this month for making a nurse quit. Apparently it was difficult to keep replacing the nurses she drove away, or at least that's what her supervisor had said the last time it he had had to talk to her about it. Apparently she would have already been fired for her behavior to her colleagues if she wasn't as good as she was at her job. In her opinion her colleagues should toughen the fuck up - they worked for the goddamn mafia after all they should be able to handle some screaming and cussing - and if they couldn't - good riddance.

"Hello, Squalo." Katarina answered the phone. "It's rare for you to call me, especially-"

"Madre..." Squalo's voice that interrupted her was so strange to her ears that she pulled the phone away from her to stare at the device. That soft, ragged tone sounded nothing like her son. What the hell had happened?

She asked just that. "What the fucking hell is wrong, Squalo?"

"It's Kazumi...Madre. He's really fucking sick...really fucking sick."

She should have figured. Nothing but Kazumi could affect her son so much.

63.

"Shamal, remember that huge favor you owe me?"

"Ah! Of course, Katarina! I could never forget anything about such a lovely lady as yourself!"

"Good. I'm cashing it in now. Get your ass to the Namimori Hospital. Tell me the name of the closest airport to you and your ticket to Japan will be waiting for you at the help desk within the hour. "

"Huh? Katarina-?"

"Be on that plane, Shamal. Nice talking to you."

And the phone was hung up with a distinct click.


"Katarina! You know I don't treat men. Why did you send me all this way? I'm not touching this guy, even for you sensei."

"Yes, you fucking will."

"I will not! I don't treat males -"

"You will treat this one. Because if he dies and I find out there was anything you could have done to help him, I swear to fucking god, Shamal - I. Will. Kill. You... Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Dammit!...Fine. I'll try, Katarina."

"Good. If you try and he dies I'll only castrate you."

"Katarina-?!"

The phone sounded it's dial tone.


"Shamal -?"

"This kid has no Dying Will Flames, Katarina -sensei. None. Natta. Zip."

She gasped, utterly shocked. "That means..."

"...He has no will to live. This kid has known he's been dying for years, and now he is so resigned to the fact that he doesn't have the want to, to fight for his life."

A crash sounded from Katarina's side of the phone. "Dammit! Dammit to hell!"

"If I could somehow make him produce flames then this would be a lot simpler. If he has sun, mist, or cloud flames then I would be able to make it were his flames would be constantly healing his heart and lungs. He'd still have the symptoms of the illness and probably remain weaker from it, but his flames would prevent him from dying from the illness at least - no guarantees if he chokes to death on his own blood, though. But as things are now..." Katarina heard Shamal huff on the other side of the line. "You know as well as I do, Sensei, its hard to heal a patient who has no will to fight to be cured. I've never come across a case like this before - its so singular it might make up for me having to deal with a man."

"Isn't that just fucking peachy, Shamal." Katarina replied bitterly. "Tell my son the situation. He'll inform the family. You'll need to stick around for a while."

"Why? You think they'll manage to get the kid to produce flames? Not everyone can activate their flames, you know this, Sensei."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"She hung up on me..."

64.

Shamal stared at Katarina-sensei's son. The kid looked nothing like her. He vaguely wondered where the shoulder length white hair had come from. Maybe Katarina-sensei's husband? Anyway, he recognized Superbi Squalo from his reputation alone. A fourteen year old kid had defeated the leader of the strongest assassination group in the world, then he hadn't even taken up the leadership position for himself, but had given it away to Nono Vongola's youngest son. Then only a year or so later the reformed Varia had attacked the Vongola losing their leader as a result of the attack, leaving Squalo Superbi in charge of the Varia, the deadliest assassination group in the world.

The sixteen year old current leader of the deadliest assassination squad in the world who was also recognized as the Sword Emperor, and had an infamous reputation for being terribly temperamental and not at all hesitant to strike anyone down.

A person who was looking terribly frustrated and aggravated at the moment.

A person who Shamal was going to have to explain to that his best friend (according to the lovely Katarina-sensei) had no Dying Will Flames - at all - and the ramifications of what exactly that meant. Especially if they couldn't get the kid in question to produce flames or become flame active.

First examining a male and now this? Why did he get stuck doing this shit?

65.

"VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

The windows, walls, and floors of Namimori Hospital shook and rattled and quivered with the force of the yell. It startled the staff and caused some of the family members of patients to worry. The sound was heard from outside the building and caused an eleven year old Hibari Kyoya to begin heading towards the hospital to "bite the person disrupting the peace of Namimori to death."

All Shamal could think, once he could once more hear himself think was: Well, that went better than I expected. Only one hallway had been destroyed during Squalo's short rampage, and it could have been so much worse.

66.

Kazumi watched bemusedly, as Squalo stormed into his hospital room, grabbed Take-chan with one arm by his waist, and stomped back out of the room, without so much as acknowledging Kazumi once.

How strange. Especially with that scream that Kazumi had heard just moments before.

In fact, Squalo hadn't spoken to him much since it had been revealed that Kazumi was sick. Not that he could blame Squalo. He and Squalo had been so close for so many years, Squalo couldn't be taking the news well at all.

Kazumi sighed. If only there was something he could do to make this easier on everyone he cared about.

67.

Yamamoto sighed as his son was drug from the room by Squalo. While he was curious as to what that was all about, he just couldn't gather the energy to get up and check it out. And it wasn't like Squalo would dare hurt Takeshi - Kazumi had long ago trained Squalo to be careful with and around him.

Ah...Kazumi. He couldn't believe that Kazumi had hidden his illness from him - and everyone else - for so long. Even though Kazumi wasn't his biological son, Yamamoto had come to love the boy as such, and now he felt like a failure as a father. How would he ever be able to face Tomoko when he died?

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep the tears threatening to fall at bay.

Finally once he had regained his nearly slipping composure, Yamamoto asked the question he had been wondering for the past six weeks.

"Why, Kazumi. Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you tell someone? Squalo, Takeshi, or even, me would have been fine! We would have gotten you help! Your brother wouldn't have had to find you passed out in your own blood!"

Kazumi was silently staring at his sheets.

"How long have you known?"

"Since I was four." Kazumi replied resigned.

Oh...God! He had been sick even when Tomoko had been alive - and no one, no one! - had even suspected a thing was wrong. Not even Squalo who Kazumi had known since he was four and had been best friends with ever since. Hell! Yamamoto couldn't even remember how many times Kazumi had stayed with Squalo and his family during weekends and while Tomoko was off on week- long hits and Squalo's mother was one of the most renown neutral mafia doctors in the world. And even Katarina-san hadn't suspected anything amiss!

Yamamoto felt sick to his stomach. What did it say about all of them, that they were the closest people to Kazumi and none of them were aware that he was ill? Either Kazumi was excellent at hiding his illness or that all of them were pathetic examples of family and friends.

I wonder how much else about Kazumi that we aren't aware of, Yamamoto wondered vaguely.

He would probably be scared to know the extent of the answer to that.

68.

It was silent in his hospital room after Kazumi answered Yamamoto-san's question. It hurt Kazumi to realize how much him having not disclosed his illness sooner hurt those he considered family. However, he had hidden it, and overall he didn't regret it. Maybe it was selfish of him but if he could change it he wouldn't. If he had said anything it would have caused his loved ones years of worry. They would have been so concerned over his health that the precious moments they shared together would have been tainted by it. Also, they would have forced him to seek medical attention - which would have results in him being virtually tied down to hospitals, medicine (that wouldn't work), and doctors for a majority of his life. It was an idea that he couldn't fathom having gone through (he would have taken a note from Hatake Kakashi's book and would have tried to escape from all of the medical staff).

Though if he could change one thing about the entire situation it would be that his younger brother wouldn't have been the one to find him unconscious.

He truly hoped he hadn't traumatized a second younger brother.

Squalo stuck his head into the room and curiously motioned for Yamamoto-san to come out into the hallway. Kazumi watched as the older man walked out with a confused expression. Once Yamamoto-san was out into the hallway, Squalo gently pushed a teary eyed Take-chan into the room, then Squalo slammed the door leaving the brothers alone in the room together.

Take-chan, to Kazumi's horror, began to wail - his brother had sobbed before when he found out Kazumi was sick, but this was on a whole different level, it was awful. Take-chan jumped onto the hospital bed and into Kazumi's waiting arms.

"What's the matter, Take-chan?" Besides the obvious, Kazumi asked soothingly, trying to calm his brother down. He really wanted to see Take-chan's smiling face not this.

"S-Squ-nii -Squ-nii," Take-chan sniffled, "said that there is a way to cure you, Kazu-nii -"

"Really?" Kazumi questioned skeptically. Squalo had better not be getting his brother's hopes up or the two of them would be having words.

"Y-yeah, but Squ-nii said that it wouldn't work on you." His brother wailed.

Oh, there would be words.

His brother continued in a heart-breaking sad voice, "I-it won't work on you, K-kazu-nii, 'cuz Squ-nii says you want to die!"

What...?

"He says that you don't want to fight to stay with us, so the cure won't work on you. Is that true, Kazu-nii? Do you not want to be with us anymore!? Am I annoying? Is that why you don't want to stay with me, and Tou-san, and Squ-nii? Do you want to leave us? Is that why you didn't tell us you were sick?" Take-chan questioned desperately, little hands clinging tightly to the front of Kazumi's hospital gown.

Kazumi himself was in a bit of a daze from his brother's words. Had someone hit Squalo on the head recently - hard enough to rattle his brains? Was Squalo high? What on earth could have caused Squalo to fill Take-chan's head with such nonsense. He didn't choose to be ill and if he had the choice he would prefer not to be. He wanted to spend the rest of this second life with his loved ones, he would never leave if he had the choice. But he didn't. And he was resigned.

"I didn't tell you I was sick, Take-chan, because I didn't want anyone to worry about me." He hugged his brother close. "And how could you ever think that I would willingly leave you? I love you so much, Take-chan." Kazumi said.

"And Tou-san and Squ-nii?" Take-chan asked with a sniffling hiccup.

"And Yamamoto-san and your Squ-nii." Kazumi said, kissing Take-chan on the forehead with affection.

"Then why did Squ-nii say you could only have the cure if you had the will to live?" Take-chan asked.

Kazumi thought he might have an idea. "Did Squalo emphasis the word 'will' a lot, Take-chan?"

"Yep!" Take-chan said.

Well, then. Maybe he didn't have Dying Will Flames because he was so resigned to his own death.

Kazumi concentrated. I don't want to die! I don't want to die! He chanted internally, all the while feeling very stupid. Why couldn't flames just come to him like chakra? He hugged Take-chan even tighter as a purple flame erupted from his right hand.

Hn. So he was capable of Dying Will Flames after all. That would have been nice to know earlier.

Suddenly this entire debacle became quite anticlimactic.

69.

Outside in the hallway with Squalo and Yamamoto-san.

Squalo explained the situation to the older Yamamoto.

The older man sighed, partly in relief and partly in exasperation. "So, we can practically, but not quite, cure Kazumi as long as he has sun, mist, or cloud flames? And given his personality it's practically a given that he has one of those three, right?"

"Voi!" Squalo said as he nodded in agreement.

"So you just sent my son in there to his brother's room to guilt him into not being quite as resigned to his fate as he is, so that he would have the will power to develop and activate his flames?"

"Voi! Basically."

Yamamoto rubbed his face with a hand. "I should be mad at you for using my son like that, but if it works, then I really can't bring myself to care."

"Voi! Of course it'll work, fucking old man! Kazumi'd do anything for that bra- Take-chan. You'll see."

At the deliberate change in words, Yamamoto couldn't help but be a bit amazed at how well Kazumi had practically trained Squalo.

He really did hope Squalo's plan worked.

70.

Hibari made his way through the hospital as he tracked down the person who had disturbed the peace in Namimori. He eventually came across the hallway the culprit must have been in when creating that obnoxious sound. He knew it must be the scene of the crime due to the damage on the walls that the nursing staff had already begun to clean up. As he stalked down the damaged corridor, tonfas in his hands he heard the tell-tale "VOI!" coming from inside one of the rooms.

Silently, as a predator stalking its prey, Hibari slipped into the room, completely acknowledged by the three people in the room (well okay, one of the three was asleep, but Hibari was certain that even if the boy herbivore was awake he would still enter the room without the inhabitants noticing - he was a carnivore after all). He took a moment to evaluate the situation and listen into the conversation between the two awake herbivores, so that he could identify which herbivore the obnoxious sound had come from. It took him a moment to realize that one herbivore was chastising the other, and that the chastising herbivore wasn't a herbivore -

"Squalo." The man with the long dark hair addressed the other with a deadly tone, and a dark aura ominously hanging behind him. Which was amusing considering that the young herbivore sleeping in his lap was completely oblivious to the sinister air.

"Voi! Kazumi - you have no right to be mad after what you hid from me, you bastard! You are so fucking sick, and have been for years! And you didn't fucking think to tell me! Damn it, Kazumi." The white haired herbivore - or was he a carnivore? - yelled at the other.

"Squalo. You used my brother against me." Hibari swore that the dark haired man's eyes flashed a bloody shade of red. "You used Take-chan against me. You told him I wanted to die."

"V-VOI! I'm not fucking apologizing!" The white haired male shouted, though it appeared to Hibari that he looked slightly nervous - as well he should the dark haired carnivore was looking distinctly terrifying at the moment. Hibari was slightly in awe, while he wasn't sure if this carnivore could fight, but the man was certainly displaying the quintessential elements of a fantastic carnivore. "It was a sure fire way to get you to do something! It was for your own damned good!"

"That may be the case, Squalo, but remember - the road to Hell was paved with the very best of intentions. So, always make sure to tread carefully when doing something for someone's 'own good'." The dark haired man intoned darkly.

The dark haired carnivore's eyes narrowed and the atmosphere in the room got even darker - a thing that Hibari hadn't even thought possible (maybe the white haired maybe herbivore-carnivore wouldn't even last long enough against the dark haired carnivore for Hibari to bite him to death). Then the dark haired carnivore motioned for the other to come closer - and in Hibari's opinion only an idiot or someone with a death wish would have actually obeyed - and the white haired man moved closer - the fool.

The carnivore reached out and tapped the white haired fool on the forehead. There was a pause in both their movements. And the air cleared as the carnivore smiled softly at the white haired man, who -

"VOI!" that obnoxious sound -maybe the carnivore would eventually tire of the sound and bite the white haired noise machine to death for Hibari. "How many fucking times do I have to tell you, Kazumi?! Don't fucking poke me in the forehead! Dammit!"

"Hn. Go get me some dango before you wake up Take-chan."

"You are so damned demanding!" The white haired fool said, in a volume that was almost normal.

"Hn. Get dango, Squalo." The carnivore demanded, a serious look in his black eyes.

The white haired fool -who Hibari still hadn't managed to determine his carnivore/herbivore status - rushed from the room.

Hibari looked at the dark haired carnivore in awe. He had just found what he wanted to grow up to be - a carnivore of the caliber of this man (who was probably more like sixteen and not actually a 'man', but whatever).

"Now," the carnivore spoke, petting the slumbering herbivore's black hair. "How about you come out and keep me company for a while?" The carnivore asked, those deadly black eyes of his soft and completely different than they had been earlier as they looked directly at where Hibari had hidden behind the large chair near the window. Hibari shivered, as he realized the carnivore had probably been aware of his presence since Hibari had entered the room -amazing.

Hibari stepped out into clear view of his new role model.

"Hello, dark haired carnivore. I am Hibari Kyoya." Hibari bowed, showing politeness while in the awe-inspiring carnivore's territory. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance."

The dark haired carnivore looked amused at the way Hibari addressed him, and also bowed as he introduced himself to Hibari. "Hn. It is a pleasure to meet you Hibari-kun. My name is Inoue Kazumi, and this one sleeping here is my younger brother, Yamamoto Takeshi. You two are probably around the same age, I suspect. " Inoue-sama looked down at his younger brother adoringly ( Hibari carefully noted he difference in sire-names between the two. He also made note to be polite to the younger brother of Inoue-sama, it would not do to offend the older brother by way of the younger).

"I am eleven, Inoue-sama." Hibari supplied to Inoue-sama who looked slightly surprised at the way Hibari chose to address him. Of course Hibari would show the utmost respect to a carnivore of such esteem as Inoue-sama.

"Ah. Two years older than Take-chan."

"Hn."

"Hn. May I ask you Hibari-kun, why exactly are you in this room."

Ah, of course Inoue-sama would want to know why such a young carnivore such as himself would be encroaching in his territory. So, he told Inoue-sama of his mission to bite the one who had disturbed the peace of Namimori to death for their transgression, and how he had found the one in Inoue-sama's presence and came to the conclusion that the transgressor had been suitably punished by Inoue-sama.

His report prompted a small laugh from Inoue-sama.

"So, you are the protector of Namimori's peace? That's quite a noble ambition." Inoue-sama commented, causing Hibari to preen with pride. "Do you know how to play I-go?"

Hibari shook his head in the negative.

"Hn. Any interest in learning? Take-chan can't sit still long enough for me to teach him, neither can Squalo." Inoue-sama questioned, looking at Hibari curiously and slightly hopefully.

"I will gladly learn if you are willing to teach me, Inoue- sama." Hibari replied.

"Hn." Inoue-sama nodded his head.

Hibari went to find a nurse to acquire one of the plastic, magnetic goban that they kept in hospitals for patients.

By the time the white haired fool -who Hibari learned was named Squalo Superbi, he was an Italian swordsman, and he and Inoue-sama were childhood friends - had returned with Inoue-sama's dango, Hibari had a rather good grasp on the game of go - which Inoue-sama had explained was an ancient game that many successful war generals had been quit proficient at.

He was introduced to Squalo Superbi, who seemed curious as to where he had come from, but Superbi didn't ask any questions probably because Inoue-san looked as if he were about to fall asleep, so Hibari excused himself quickly after Inoue-san finished his dango. However, he did not leave before Inoue-sama gave him his phone number and an invitation to meet up at a local tea cafe to play go again sometime.

Despite not accomplishing what he had initially set out to do, Hibari felt that his day had been quite productive.

71.

Squalo's plan did work.

Shamal began helping Kazumi with flame therapy the very next day. The therapy was to teach Kazumi how to make the propagation ability of his cloud flames to be constantly reinforcing and strengthening his heart and lungs with no conscious effort or concentration required on Kazumi's part.

Luckily for Shamal and Kazumi - who didn't get along that well on account of Kazumi's disapproval of Shamal's constant flirting with the nurses and Shamal being unhappy about having to treat a man - Kazumi learned the technique extremely fast, and Shamal was out of Japan within a month of receiving the call to go to Japan from Katarina-Sensei.

Despite the great help the man had been -in between the never ending stream of complaints the man had spew and constant flirting with the nurses - Kazumi was quite happy to see him go. Mostly because with Shamal's departure came Kazumi's release from the hospital - which came extremely surprising to the doctors who had formerly concluded that he would need to be permanently institutionalized for his illness. His condition's rapid improvement from completely debilitating and potentially deadly to just the symptoms of a deadly illness astonished all of Namimori's doctors - who concluded that it was nothing short of a medical miracle, though they did recommend that he have a physical check up ever few months to make sure his illness didn't progress once again and to see if the symptoms stater within manageable limits.

Kazumi agreed easily and soon was allowed home.

72.

The phone clicked.

"Katarina-sensei. Your kid'll live." Click.

"That jackass hung up on me!"

73.

Despite the all clear from the doctors, with just a recommendation that he be careful while doing any strenuous activities, Take-chan, Yamamoto-san, and Squalo (who had informed them that he was staying in Japan for a month before returning to Italy (he also implied that he was going to drag Kazumi back with him for a short while when he left)) treated him like he was made of glass once he had returned home from the hospital.

He was well aware he had given them quite the scare, so he tolerated the delicacy they treated him with for the first few days, but after that it became plain irritating.

Whereas he had been apprenticing under Yamamoto-san since his graduation from college at fourteen (so, for the past two years), and he was quite the proficient chef (as long as he didn't have to make dango) almost ready to test for his license to become a certified sashimi chef and to work with fugu (blow fish/puffer fish which was poisonous if prepared incorrectly - which would be an efficient way to commit an assassination now that he thought of it...). After his return from the hospital, Yamamoto-san fussed over him and drove him from the kitchen if Kazumi even looked like he was thinking about offering his assistance. Instead, Take-chan skipped out on his baseball practice and took over assisting Yamamoto-san at the restaurant and the chores that Kazumi normally did.

Apparently, Take-chan and Yamamoto-san had delegated the responsibility of distracting Kazumi to Squalo, which would have worked better if Squalo didn't fuss over Kazumi as much if not more than Take-chan and Yamamoto-san combined.

From Squalo it was:

"VOI! Kazumi, we need to turn back, you've walked long enough! Turn your ass around before I drag you back!"

"VOI! Kazumi, you need to fucking rest before I tie you to your fucking bed!"

"VOI! Kazumi, why the hell did you climb that fucking tree! Get your ass down here before you have a coughing fit and fall down on your fucking face!"

"VOI! Kazumi, don't fucking run away from me! You shouldn't be running in the first damn place! You'll fucking fall over from the lack of fucking oxygen to your fucking head!"

"VOI! Stop Kazumi! Just fucking take it easy!"

And finally the last straw was:

"Hn." Kazumi and Squalo had been taking a 'short walk', and Kazumi had stopped by a street pole because he had noticed a flyer for a talent competition that was looking for participants and was going to occur soon. "How about we enter, Squalo? It's been awhile since we've danced together." Kazumi had truly missed it.

"VOI! Fucking hell no, Kazumi! You heard what the doctors said about strenuous activities!"

While it was sweet that they cared, it was as Squalo would say, 'Getting so fucking old, and he was so fucking over it.'

74.

Kazumi gathered his brother, Yamamoto-san, and Squalo together in the living room the night that Squalo had flatly said no to participating in the talent competition. He smiled at each of them in a sickeningly sweet way and informed them that under no circumstances were they to continue acting as they had been for the past week. He appreciated their concern, but he was fine. He agreed that him coughing up blood now and then was a legitimate concern and that during those fits he may pass out from oxygen failing to be moved to the appropriate areas in his body. Okay, alright, but if someone was standing right next to him or in the room next door then it shouldn't be terribly concerning if he was to - he didn't know -actually do something.

Take-chan, Yamamoto-san, and Squalo were all very amendable to the very valid points he had posed, and agreed to stop treating him like he was fragile. Squalo even said that they would participate in "That damned talent show you saw earlier".

It made him quite happy.

So, happy that Kazumi finally put down the knives that he had been sharpening and throwing into the wall above their heads since the conversation had begun.


Afterward, as Kazumi was helping Yamamoto-san prepare for he dinner rush at TakeSushi - Take-chan and Squalo were watching from where they were sitting at the bar - Squalo asked, "Voi! Kazumi, when did you get so good at handling knives?"

Kazumi smiled, twirling a knife with ease. "You don't apprentice with a chef for years without picking up something other than cooking, Squalo."

"Voi! Impressive."

Take-chan grinned and piped in, "Kazu-nii is the best!"

Kazumi just smiled as he chopped the head off a salmon.

75.

As the month after Kazumi was discharged from the hospital progressed (and after he had managed to get Take-chan, Yamamoto-san, and Squalo to...see things his way), Kazumi met up with Hibari-kun several times to play go at a local cafe (his new young friend was quickly showing a proficiency for strategy, which was the purpose of go), and they would eat cake, drink green tea, and chat amiably.

Every morning Squalo and Kazumi (and occasionally Take-chan on the days he didn't have morning baseball practice) would go to Yamamoto-san's dojo to practice for the talent competition they had entered. Then they would break so that Kazumi could assist in the restaurant for lunch. And after lunch, Kazumi and Squalo would go for a walk around town, once or twice taking Take-chan to the local high school to watch a baseball game. Then they would all return to TakeSushi for their own dinner and afterwords Kazumi once more would help out in the kitchen. Kazumi and Squalo would then retreat back to the dojo for a short run through of their dance before turning in for the night.


Three days before the talent competition Kazumi meet with Hibari-kun at their usual cafe.

"Hn. Hibari-kun." Kazumi greeted as the boy in question sat down across from him.

"Hn. Inoue-sama." Hibari-kun greeted.

They started on their tea, cake, and game. They continued in this mostly silent manor until Kazumi questioned.

"Hibari-kun, would you be interested in accompanying Take-chan, Squalo, and I to a baseball game?" Kazumi received a questioning look, so he elaborated further, "10:00 AM, this Saturday, and if you like, you could attend a talent competition Squalo and I will be participating in that evening. You'd be watching with Yamamoto-san and Take-chan."

"I would be honored, Inoue-sama."

And that was the extent of their conversation, besides idle commentary about moves placed in the game, and what moves would have been better at certain times.

76.

Yamamoto Takeshi was not happy. Not in the least. No matter how big the smile was on his face. In fact if he were to quote Squ-nii (in words that Squ-nii had specifically warned him not to let Kazu-nii know he had heard Squ-nii use), he would admit that he was kinda pissed.

Oh, the day had started off amazingly! First off Kazumi and Squ-nii had gotten him up and informed him that they were going to go see the Namimori high school baseball team play their biggest rivals. Which was going to be awesome! Baseball was the greatest sport in the world!

Then everything seemed to strike out from there.

The boy who Kazu-nii had been hanging out with lately, joined them to go watch the baseball game. A person who took time Kazu-nii could be spending with Takeshi away. Which he hadn't really minded...until now.

Takeshi chattered mindlessly about the game they were about to go see, and as per the norm, it was mostly him and Squ-nii contributing ninety- five percent of the conversation.

Still.

This dark, heavy, ugly feeling of dissatisfaction arose in the pit of his stomach every time he glanced in Hibari-san's direction. He wasn't happy that he felt like that to the boy who had done no wrong.

But.

He was very unhappy about the (by his perception) intruder into his day with his Kazu-nii and his Squ-nii.

But, as always, he continued to smile.

Because he knew his brother loved to see him smile.


And he continued to smile, as he seethed, as he learned Hibari-san was going with them to watch Kazu-nii and Squ-nii dance at the talent competition.


It was always amazing to watch his brother and Squ-nii dance together. They moved as if blessed by a goddess of grace and brought to the earth to show its people the true meaning of beauty. Watching them was like watching a work of art in motion. It was captivating and nearly impossible to look away. Not that Takeshi wanted to.

He could watch his brother dance forever. It was better than watching a baseball game.

Somehow a gasp managed to force Takeshi's attention to his right.

Interesting...Hibari-san's expression...was, well, almost totally expressionless save for the stary, awestruck glimmer in his eyes as he watched the two teenagers on stage.

The dark feeling that had persisted to bite at him all day just seem to vanish. It was hard to stay mad at someone that looked as if he worshiped the ground his older brother walked on (Takeshi felt that everyone should look at his brother that way - Kazu-nii was the best person in the world (and Squ-nii was pretty awesome, too)). Plus he knew he would always be his brother's only brother, so it was a given that he would always be in his brother's life -there was no logical reason to be jealous of Hibari-san's new friendship/idol worship of Kazu-nii.

"Amazing right, Hibari-san?" Takeshi said, honestly more amiably at this moment than he had faked all day.

Hibari-san nodded wordlessly, unable to take his eyes away from the stage.

Takeshi smiled and turned back to watch his brother and Squ-nii. He was so glad his brother could still dance, it would be a loss to the world if he wasn't able to anymore.

(Takeshi was still desperately grateful that the world hadn't lost Kazu-nii, he didn't know if he could have withstood losing his brother - he shuddered to think.)

(Takeshi also made a mental note, as he returned his attention to his brother and Squ-nii, to remind Tou-san to buy a recording of the talent show so that they could add it to the collection of Kazu-nii's performances that his Okaa-san had started when Kazu-nii had begun to dance. Oh, and they had to buy a second copy for Katarina-obaa-san, she would want one for her collection, too.)

77.

Kazumi smiled softly as he and Squalo took a bow to the avid applause that rattled the auditorium they had preformed for. That smile disappeared as soon as he was out of sight of the audience. He rushed to the nearest bathroom (as fast as he could without drawing undue attention on himself) with Squalo (who was strangely silent) hot on his heels.

Twenty minutes later he was back on stage accepting the first place trophy with Squalo, his hands without the slightest trace of blood on them to show that he had just recently been in the bathroom hacking up blood like he was going to die (Not anymore, at least, he forced himself to remember).

Before they reconvened with the others Kazumi said to Squalo, softly, "I am fine."

Squalo snorted loudly, scaring one of the people passing by. "Like hell you are."

"Hn." Kazumi rolled his eyes.

"Voi! Of course I'm fucking overacting! I've got twelve damned years of worrying over your stupid, stubborn, sickly ass to catch up on! You'd better learn to fucking deal!"

Ah, Squalo...

Kazumi chuckled and tapped Squalo lightly on his forehead (which was now nearly covered by his bangs, Squalo's hair was getting so long...). The normal pause - and something not quite so normal happened. Squalo's cheeks tinged a slight shade of pink, and Kazumi's best friend jerked his head away from him. Not normal Squalo behavior.

"V-VOI! K-Kazumi, how many fucking times do I have to tell you!? Don't do that! For a fucking genius you are so damned slow!" Squalo yelled, face still pink.

Ah. Well, then.

Kazumi smirked. This was going to be interesting, especially with his upcoming trip to Italy with Squalo.

Very interesting indeed.

78.

"Good job you two." Yamamoto-san said clapping both Kazumi and Squalo on the back as they met back up at the entrance of the Namimori High School auditorium, where the community talent competition had taken place.

"Yeah! You guys were the best!" Take-chan exclaimed, tackling both of them in a hug around the two video cases in his hands and the trophy that Squalo and Kazumi were holding between them.

"Hn. As expected of one such as Inoue-sama. A true carnivore among mere herbivores. Dominance was only to be expected." Hibari praised in his own way.

That gained the boy some odd looks from those gather around, except for Kazumi who understood the compliment for what it was and chuckled.

"Anyway," Take-chan smiled, glancing between Kazumi and Hibari. "Let's all go home and have fatty tuna to celebrate!"

So, that's what they did.


That night Takeshi specifically requested that Kazu-nii personally sing the lullaby that Takeshi still listened to every night before bed ( though it was generally the recording). To Takeshi the line 'show the world the warmth of your smile' had always struck a certain cord with Takeshi. He smiled as he began to drift knowing that he was the only one his brother ever sang for.


The very next day Kazumi and Squalo boarded a plane bound for Italy.

79.

The cigarette precariously hanging from Shamal's stunned lips was almost completely ash. He stared at the computer screen in front of him in a daze. This couldn't be right...but no it had to be! He'd run the test ten times! There was no way the program had gotten the same results so consistently, even if it did have a glitch - which it didn't!

So, he had no other option but to conclude that the words in front of him were accurate - one hundred percent accurate.

Damn! Damn his curiosity! And damn Katarina-sensei for forcing him into treating a male patient - he knew nothing good could ever come of it!

But seriously, why had he been so curious about the occurrence of someone who had no perceivable trace of flames - no flames at all! - suddenly, not only producing flames but producing active flames!

His curiosity had driven him to test the blood against everyone in his personal database to see if anyone else had any similar DNA to the kid to compare if someone else had an absence of flames as well. He hadn't expected to come up with much from his search, but he certainly hadn't expected what he had found.

His eyes slowly found the telephone that was innocently sitting on his desk. With one phone call he would likely get involved in something he had no desire to be attached to ... Should he do it? Should he call?

He pulled his hand violently away from the phone at the last moment.

The hell he was going to start that mess! First having to treat a male and now this! He was not going to deliberately get involved in another shitty situation again for a while (he had just managed to get Hayato to go away!).

He printed off all ten DNA reports and locked them away in his personal safe before deleting all traces of the tests, and more importantly, the results.

He was going to forget he ever saw that.

Plus he didn't really see a resemblance between the two of them at all, so hopefully no one else would ever notice either.

80.

Kazumi awarded Squalo with his most unimpressed expression. He had been invited (told by Squalo that "You are coming the fuck with me back to Italy, Kazumi! No arguments!") only for Squalo to be told by Lussuria that they had just received a mission that they needed Squalo for, and it was directly from the Vongola - so with the strain that was between the Varia and the Vongola due to the recent assault by the Varia, there was no way that they were able to turn the request down.

So, basically, Squalo had drug Kazumi to Italy only for Squalo himself having to leave the very next day after arrival for a job that was estimated to last nearly the entire month Kazumi had planed to stay.

Kazumi wasn't exactly thrilled.

"Hn." Said Kazumi, his eyes narrowed at Squalo in disapproval.

Squalo flinched, but recovered with admirable speed. "VOI! I know, I know, Kazumi! But I didn't fucking know that the Vongola scum was going to send a mission like this! Hell!"

Kazumi decided to take pity on his friend.

"Hn. Okay, but you'll have to make me a lot of dango tonight to make up for it." Kazumi conceded to forgive.

A pause."VOI! You and your damned dango! So demanding! "

Kazumi did get his dango, though. And it once more concluded that Squalo made the best dango. It was absolutely delicious.

Later that night, as Kazumi and Squalo were laying together on Squalo's oversized bed, Kazumi pressed his lips lightly to Squalo's forehead.

It was entertaining to watch Squalo turn a deep shade of red, violently turn away from Kazumi, and stutter out the customary complaint.

"V - VOI! How many damn times do I have to fucking tell you, Kazumi! Don't fuck with my forehead!"

A loud groan erupted from Squalo as Kazumi merely laughed lightly.

81.

"Kyaa~ So cute~!" Lussuria exclaimed clasping his hands together as his entire frame seemed to absolutely squirm with excitement.

"Shi-shi-shi." Belphegor laughed with a grin while he spun in the chair he was perched in that was in front of the monitor. A monitor that was displaying Squalo Superbi's bedroom and all its current inhabitants. "The prince approves." The he bit into stick of dango he had stolen from the batch Squalo had made earlier.

"Mou," Mammon commented from their place on Belphegor's shoulder. "Leviathan owes me once he returns. He's definitely lost that bet."

Lussuria and Belphegor both laugh at Mammon 's point. There was definitely something between their second in command and his dark haired best friend, or at least there was certainly the potential to be...eventually.

Lussuria supported it one hundred percent due to the sheer adorableness of the relationship between Squalo and Kazumi. Plus it didn't hurt that they we both were fantastic~ eye candy!

The prince approved because he the only time the shark peasant would make delicious dango was when Kazumi commanded him to.

Mammon was satisfied that he had made money off the arrangement, and didn't really care beyond that.

However, all three of them could agree on one point: it was hilarious to watch how whipped Squalo Superbi of the Varia, Sword Emperor was when Inoue Kazumi was around.

Absolutely priceless.

82.

And so when the morning came Squalo and Lussuria left. Leaving Kazumi with an eleven year old Belphegor and Mammon. And, well all the guards and lesser members of the Flame Squads, but Kazumi didn't really see them, and since they really didn't pose a threat, Kazumi didn't really pay attention to them.

(What Kazumi was not aware of was that Squalo had given all of the Squads a warning about offending Kazumi - something along the line of, "If you upset, annoy, talk to, disrespect in any way, or even fucking look at Kazumi wrong I'll cut all of you scum down! VOI !". So they were all avoiding their second in command's childhood friend like the plague.)

So, the weeks passed slowly


The first night after Squalo had left, Kazumi had been bored, so he had made his way to the five star chef's kitchen that was in the castle. He soon had company watching him as he began to prepare the food. Kazumi was going to make traditional Japanese fare. Thank goodness Squalo had had the forethought to stock the kitchen with a plethora of supplies to make Japanese cuisine.

"Shishishi~," sounded from Belphegor, who was proped on the kitchen bar's counter. Mammon, as per the norm, situated on the blonde's shoulder. "What is the peasant cooking the prince for supper? Will the prince be able to stomach this?"

"Salmon, tuna, and unagi sashimi, with Wasabi on the side. Onegiri wrapped in nori with pickled plums in the middle and Shiro miso soup. Dessert is going to be daifuku with sweet anko bean paste in the center." Kazumi supplied succinctly as he chopped away, occasionally twirling the knife between his fingers as he worked.

There was a pause as the two observers considered the list he had reported.

"You are not going to make the prince dango for dessert, shark whipping peasant?" Asked Belphegor, with his head turned sideways, an intense feeling in the air as the blond grinned. Several knives had appeared in the boy's hands.

Kazumi, quite frankly, ignored him and continued what he was doing.

"Shishishi, don't ignore royalty, shark whipping peasant!" Belphegor exclaimed, sending his knives straight towards the side of Kazumi's head.

"Mou, Bel, Squalo will kill you if he comes back to find you killed his friend." Mammon said, while doing absolutely nothing to stop Bel.

Kazumi rolled his eyes. Easily he raised his hand, the one holding the large Japanese knife, and with quick motions flicks of his wrist had deflected all of the approaching knives. Without breaking the movement of his wrist his knife came down cleanly through the prime slab of tuna, as if nothing had ever happened. He wasn't worried about the incident getting back to Squalo - he'd already alluded to being able to effectively handle knives, so a bit more wasn't much of a giveaway. Besides if Squalo learned of this, he would most likely focus on the fact that Belphegor had attacked Kazumi who was a 'civilian', and not concentrate of the fact that the 'untrained ill civilian' had efficiently defended himself.

"Hmm. The shark whipping peasant is better than I thought. The prince approves." Belphagor declared after they had eaten what Kazumi had prepared. "Though the prince still wishes to know why the peasant did not make dango."

Kazumi's cheeks tinged slightly pink as he turned to look at the nearest window. He was not going to answer that.

"Mou. I bet he can't make it. That's probably why he makes Squalo do it every time." Mammon stated rationally. Incidentally hitting the eye with the kunai.

Kazumi would neither confirm nor deny that statement.


"Mou. Kazumi-kun," Mammon addressed Kazumi, who was curled up in a chair in a parlor he had found reading about a boy by the name of Harry Potter - it was a series he had just begun to read, and so far he was enjoying it quite well.

Kazumi found it odd to be addressed as 'kun' by someone he was fairly certain was, physically at the very least, two. But, whatever. "Yes, Mammon-san?"

"You have been friends with Squalo for long time, yes?"

"Hn. Since we were four." Kazumi agreed, quickly gathering where this was going.

"Mou. Most of his life, then. So, you must know everything about him -everything."

"Hn. I have copies of our recitals when we were younger. Our mothers once forced us to wear tutus during a recreation of a Russian ballet. This is something you would like, yes?"

"Mou. Of course." said the baby with a sinister smile.

Kazumi smiled in return, and bloody eyes glared at the baby. "I'll let you have a copy, but be warned if you do anything to actually harm him," Mammon visibly started at the flames that appeared to be licking at his skin, " I assure you that there will be hell to pay."

Kazumi smiled and all of a sudden the Mammon s vision had returned to normal.

"Are we clear, Mammon-san?"

Mammon nodded, impressed against their will.


"Shark whipping peasant, the prince has a request. " Belphagor said as his head popped over the chaise Kazumi was lounging on. Kazumi glanced up from the book he was reading ( he had finished the Harry Potter series a few days ago and had started on a book called '1984' by George Orwell) and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Shishishi, you mentioned at dinner the other day, shark whipping peasant, that you had gotten the shark to enter a talent competition, yes?"

Kazumi nodded in confirmation.

"When the shark returns, the prince desires to watch the dance the peasants performed." Announced the blond.

Kazumi considered it for a moment. Well, he had no reason not to do a recreation of the dance. It wasn't as if he had forgotten the dance - that would be ridiculous if he had - and personally he thought it would be fun to have an excuse to dance with Squalo before he returned to Japan. And it wasn't like it would be all that difficult to coerce Squalo into doing it...

"Hn."

"Shishishi. The prince is pleased."


The moment Squalo entered Varia Castle ( still covered from his target's blood - they had been sent to leave a message and yes Squalo and Lussuria had fucking succeeded) Kazumi greeted him at the door with two fingers to the forehead and :

"Hn."

"VOI! I don't care how fucking happy you are to see me! I've told you a fucking million times to stop poking me on the forehead! " Squalo exclaimed.

Kazumi smirked and walked away, announcing as he went. " Squalo, after you make me dango we are going to perform the dance we did at the talent competition for the rest of the Varia."

"VOI! You are so damned -! W-wait a fucking minute! What the hell did you just say?! Oi! Kazumi!"


Kazumi got his dango, Belphegor stole some, and Lussuria recorded Kazumi and Squalo as they danced.

Two days later, after spending the last two days exploring the Italian countryside with Squalo - managing to get to spend some time together alone-, Kazumi boarded a plane for Japan.

83.

Time trickled on.

84.

Yamamoto looked down at his son's midterm report card with deep frown. He could not figure out how Takeshi's grades were so dismal! His highest grade was a B and it was the only B! And it was in English - which was great - but Yamamoto honestly expected Takeshi's grade to be higher in English considering he was fluent due to Kazumi speaking it to him has he grew up (that and Italian which was partly from Squalo as well). But really, four C's were just ridiculous. Especially considering... Yamamoto shot a quick glance at Kazumi who was watching him and Takeshi (who was standing right in front of Yamamoto waiting for him to say something).

Yamamoto sighed and looked at his son. "Takeshi, son, I have to say - I am disappointed. I know you're smarter than this! You could do so much better if you only applied yourself."

Takeshi scratched the back of his head sheepishly, still, as his son always was, grinning. "I know, but, Tou-san, I'm really busy with baseball and-"

"No buts, Takeshi." Yamamoto said, rather sternly. He loved his son and was happy that Takeshi was passionate about something he loved (and oh had his boy gotten that from Tomoko) but he was concerned about his son's future if his grades kept on like this. "Baseball is all well and fine, but you need to prioritize your schedule a little better. I know you can get better grades than this. Please try to be a bit more like Kazumi, he was in college at your age you know." Yamamoto was proud of both his boys. "If he could do that I know you can -"

"Yamamoto-san," interrupted Kazumi softly, but rather firmly.

Both Yamamoto's turned their heads towards Kazumi. Yamamoto-san looked at his step-son curiously. Kazumi rarely got involved when he was disciplining Takeshi, he knew that Kazumi recognized the fact that Takeshi was his son and that he had different methods of parenting than Kazumi had been accustomed to with Tomoko. Yamamoto had refrained from acting too much like a parent to Kazumi after Tomoko's passing because while he loved Kazumi like a son, Kazumi wasn't his son, and Yamamoto respected that - and plus, Kazumi was so mature that disciplining him had never been an issue.

"I would appreciate it," Kazumi continued as he did the dishes (Kazumi had received his chef's license shortly after he had returnedhome from his last trip to Italy). The restaurant was closed for the night -Takeshi had come in late from the last baseball practice before summer break, and they were cleaning up when Takeshi had drug out the report card. "If you didn't bring me, or my accomplishments in this discussion. Take-chan is his own person and I am sure he is well aware -considering how much he always cried when I returned to Kyoto Daigaku - of how young I entered college. Please do not use my achievements against Take-chan. We are two different people with different strengths and weaknesses. It would be unfair to him if you were to always compare him to me. I would not be happy with it either.

"Take-chan loves baseball. Isn't it good that he wants to excel at something he is happy with? Everyone is different. Academics may not be the path Take-chan wishes to pursue, and while I do think that good grades may allow more options available to him in the future; the same may be available if he procures a baseball scholarship." Yamamoto watches as Kazumi sighes (he vaguely wonders if Kazumi needs to take a break, but after the last conversation Yamamoto had with him about 'treating him as if he were made of glass' he really doesn't want to risk irritating Kazumi with the question), and scrubs at the last plate. "Of course, this is entirely between the two of you, so you are perfectly able to ignore what I've said. However, I do specifically request that my name be kept out of it." Kazumi placed the last dish on the drying rack, wished the Yamamoto and Takeshi 'Goodnight' and retreated to his bedroom (that settled it, Kazumi had to have been very tired).

Yamamoto looked at his son, who was looking at the doorway Kazumi had just exited through. Yamamoto grimaced, Kazumi, as usual was right.

"Takeshi." Yamamoto said, causing his son's head to snap in his direction.

"Yeah, Tou-san?"

"Just listen to your brother. That kid's wise beyond his years." Yamamoto sighed, running a hand through his hair as he smiled. "Though do promise you'll try to study a little more."

Takeshi laughed. "Hai, Tou-san!"

85.

The restaurant had been especially busy one day right after Takeshi's summer break had started. So much so that Kazumi had had to run out to the grocery store in the middle of the day to gather more ingredients in preparation for the dinner rush. A strange feeling had been bothering him all day (and had he still been a rogue ninja he would have payed more attention to it), but due to the constant tasks that required his attention that odd feeling was pushed to the back of his mind.

Until closing time.

He found a note left by Takeshi. One that said he had been talking to Squ-nii on the phone. Take-chan wrote that he was going to Italy to visit for a few weeks this summer. His brother also wrote that Squ-nii had thought it would be a wonderful. Suprise. If they didn't tell Kazumi until it was all said and done.

The note burned to ashes in Kazumi's hand before he turned to find Yamamoto-san.

He was not happy to learn that Yamamoto-san had been aware and approved of this venture.

Kazumi was on a fight to Italy the next morning.

86.

Squalo did not get nervous. It just generally wasn't an emotion that he concerned himself with, he was the toughest bastard around and if he couldn't personally accomplish something, chances were he knew someone who could and would. However, that never took in Inoue Kazumi to account. He didn't (and would never) have to fight his best friend and Kazumi wasn't someone he could just send someone else to deal with, not that he would want to do that in the first place. (Kazumi was his closest friend (he didn't dare consider him anything more...yet) and he knew Squalo like no one else. Kazumi could get him to do things that no one else could ever hope to do. Squalo had no problem admitting (to himself) that he loved the devil that was Inoue Kazumi. All of the previous pretty damned good reasons not to tick Kazumi the fuck off).

Which was precisely why he was... a little fucking nervous that he had (practically) kidnapped (did it count as kidnapping when he had the brat- ah, Take-chan's father's permission?) Kazumi's (aka the devil that he was friends with) precious baby brother. The very baby brother that Kazumi had made abundantly clear he wanted no where near anything that was remotely related to the mafia (and apparently Squalo, Squalo's parents, and Take-chan's own father didn't fall into the category of 'remotely related to the mafia' in Kazumi's eyesight, because Take-chan had been around all of the previously mentioned before.)

He had two reasons for doing what he had done as he had. The first was that Take-chan had talked him into it. There plain and fucking simple. He had caved to the pleading of a recently turned ten year old. He entirely blamed Kazumi for him being weak to the kid's requests. All Kazumi's fault. Really. The second was that it was that Squalo hadn't seen Kazumi in person since he had made a short trip to Japan in January, and even then he hadn't been able to stay as long as he would have liked, and he wanted to spend some time with Kazumi. It only being a few days away from Kazumi's seventeenth birthday didn't hurt as far as timing went.

Plus, Squalo had been hearing from Take-chan that he wanted to see Italy for years now, so it seemed like a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Take-chan would get his visit and ergo since Take-chan was visiting (and without informing Kazumi of said visit) Kazumi wouldn't be far behind.

(Hopefully the Kazumi who wouldn't be far behind wouldn't be one who wanted to kill him. Not that Kazumi could, he wasn't trained to fight (something Squalo had never understood for the longest time because ,fuck, fighting was damn fun- but was kind of grateful for now, because, hell, Kazumi could be really fucking scary when he was pissed)).

Regardless of his fucked up nerves at the moment he was pretty damned exited to see Kazumi and-

"VOI! Shitty prince get the fuck away from Take-chan with those damned knives! I'll kill you, trash!"

"Shishishi~. The prince is merely playing a game with the peasant." Said the blond as he slung his arms around Take-chan. The tips of Belphegor's knives caressing Take-chan's neck.

A few feet away Lussuria commented with an over dramatic sigh. "Oh dear~. Kazu-kun won't be happy about this at all."

"VOI! I'm going to kill you!"

"Just try to. Shishishi." Bel taunted as he drug a blissfully oblivious, rather amused, Take-chan who completely trusted Squalo to take care of him, away.

Dammit! Kazumi was going to fucking murder him! But not before he slashed that fucking fake prince into fucking fish food!


After successfully (and safely) rescuing Take-chan from Bel, it was well after midnight. Squalo got Take-chan to fall asleep to a movie (Take-chan had been very upset to realize he had left his recording of Kazumi singing his lullaby at home) in a bedroom that was off Squalo's own suite, and Squalo himself headed down to the kitchen.

He had work to do. He had a fuck-ton of dango to make to even have a chance of appeasing Kazumi once he arrived.

87.

Kazumi was greeted at the entrance of Varia Castle by Take- chan, who looked perfectly intact, Squalo who was noticiably standing a foot behind Take-chan (very smart move, in Kazumi's opinion) and who was holding a large bag in his hand.

"Happy Birthday, Kazu-nii!" Take-chan exclaimed as he pulled Kazumi into a hug. "Squ-nii and I have a surprise for you!"

"Is that so? Then I can't wait to find out what my surprise is." Kazumi said, smiling adoringly at his brother.

"You're going to love it!" Take-chan promised before grabbing the bag Squalo was holding out of his hand and heading out to where a sleek black car was parked just outside the entrance.

Once he was out the door, Kazumi glared at Squalo accusingly. "This is the only warning. Don't you ever take Take-chan away without informing me. You know perfectly well how I do not wish for my brother to be involved in the mafia." If for some reason his brother one day decided that he wanted to join the mafia world...well that was a different story. If it made his brother happy Kazumi would not be able to stop him - but until that time...

"VOI! I fucking know that! But Take-chan wanted to visit!" Squalo explained looking rather flustered.

Kazumi's glare almost immediately disappeared at the expression on Squalo's face. He snorted. "Hn. And Belphagor and Lussuria say I've got you whipped." Kazumi commented before also heading outside.

He wondered what his surprise was?

Behind him Squalo sputtered. "VOI! The fuck -?! Kazumi! Wait one fucking minute!"

88.

Kazumi was rather surprised when they arrived at Mafia Land, however, he was more than a little curious when he was informed that the trip to Mafia Land wasn't his surprise itself.

He had fun as he, Squalo, and Take-chan rode roller coasters, played various festival games (Squalo still couldn't shoot a still target to save his life, they discovered - and neither could the same old man who had attempted to shoot them when they were kids, another discovery of the day (Take-chan on the other hand - who had gone, thankfully before Squalo got them run off - had done extremely well at the shooting game), and went to visit Squalo's parents. Katarina wrapped Kazumi in a tight hug the moment she got her hands on him and then harshly berated him for concealing his poor health (she had already lectured him over the phone, but had apparently felt that another one had to be given in person -and this was the first time he had seen her since he had been hospitalized). After that Katarina latched herself onto Take-chan, gushing about how much he had grown and 'oh my you look so much like Tomoko! Your eyes are just like hers!'

As usual Squalo's father hung in the background taking pictures as his wife had instructed.

Instead of cake they all ate dango - which turned out to be what was in the large bag Squalo had been carrying around all day. Afterward Squalo and Take-chan excused themselves for a moment, and soon enough they returned carrying something large covered in a sheet between them.

Take-chan grinned as he took over taking carrying whatever it was and placed it down on the table in front of Kazumi.

"Is this my surprise, Take-chan?" Kazumi asked, examining it without yet taking off the cover.

"Yeah! You're going to love it, Kazu-nii!"

Squalo sneered. "VOI! He'd better."

Kazumi rolled his eyes and uncovered the sheet to reveal... a large black crow.

Kazumi could feel his gaze softening. He opened the door to the beautiful cage, and reached a hand inside. The crow's deep black eyes looked at him suspiciously for a moment. Then the bird appeared to deem him worthy and perched upon his hand. Kazumi gently removed the silky black crow from its cage and petted it gently.

Kazumi looked at the waiting faces. "You were right, Take-chan, I love him. Thank you."

"Really?" Katarina asked skeptically. "I thought Take-chan had misheard you when he said you mentioned you would like a pet crow."

"VOI! Kazumi you are so weird. Who besides you would want a crow as a pet?" Squalo commented, then reached to pet the crow. Squalo had to pull his hand away quickly - as everyone else laughed- because the crow seemed to understand the insult to his master and tried to snap at Squalo's hand.

"Crazy bird!" Squalo exclaimed (Kazumi was happy to note that Squalo was watching his language around Take-chan).

Take-chan laughed at Squalo, then asked Kazumi. "So, what are you going to name him, Kazu-nii?"

It only took a moment before Kazumi answered. "Shisui."

89.

Take-chan stayed with Squalo's parents as Squalo and Kazumi took a walk - an odd sight considering Kazumi's new shoulder decoration (the crow seemed offended when Kazumi had tried to return Shisui to his cage). Soon enough they came across a small grove of trees. Squalo stopped and Kazumi took a look around, recognizing the place as the spot he and Squalo had meet roughly thirteen years ago.

"VOI! I hope you actually like that fucking bird, Kazumi, and weren't just saying that to make Take-chan happy! 'Cuz your stuck with that damned thing for a long ass time!" Squalo commented randomly after they sat in silence under the largest tree in the grove.

"Hn?" Kazumi questioned.

"VOI! I fucking hope you don't think I picked out you a normal bird! That damned thing will live off your flames! So you'll have that fucking bird until you die!" Squalo explained. "Which had better be a very long ways away, Kazumi!"

Kazumi was happy to hear that he would have Shisui until he died (he had lost the original Shisui much too soon). Kazumi smiled. "Hn. I do actually like him."

Squalo shifted uncomfortably and Kazumi instantly realized there was something specific Squalo had brought him out here to talk about.

"Get on with it, Squalo." Kazumi commanded.

Squalo bristled. "VOI! You are so damned demanding, Kazumi! I plan this entire fucking day - trying to be fucking romantic and include your precious baby brother - because heaven fucking forbid he not be included on your birthday! And now! Now I try to fucking ask you - !"

Kazumi pressed a kiss to Squalo's forehead. "Of course I'll go out with you, Squalo." Kazumi rolled his eyes in exasperation. "We might as well have been dating for years now anyway."

Squalo's face turned red. "VOI! Damn you, Kazumi! I didn't even get the fucking words out of my mouth!" Squalo complained.

"Hn. Shut up and kiss me, idiot."

"So fucking demanding!" Nevertheless Squalo leaned in to kiss Kazumi -

Only to have Shisui fly off of Kazumi's shoulder and begin attacking Squalo. Which, quite frankly was hilarious, and caused Kazumi to chuckle as Squalo struggled to get Shisui away from him.

"VOI! Kazumi get your damned bird away from me! Get off me you fucking crazy bird before I make you a bird-ka-bab! Get off!"

Finally once Kazumi managed to compose himself (mostly when Squalo seemed about to carry through with his threat to kill Shisui). He convinced Shisui to leave Squalo alone and return to his perch on Kazumi's shoulder (the bird looked very smug for some reason).

"VOI! I'm going to kill that fucking bird!" Squalo announced, his hair a mess due to Shisui's antics, as they were walking back to Squalo's parent's home.

"Hn. You are not going to kill my birthday present, Squalo."

"Dammit!"

90.

They returned to Varia Castle the next day. The rest of Kazumi and Take-chan's time spent in Italy was touring the local villages (similar to what Kazumi had done the last time he had visited, but he didn't mind doing so again, after all, Take-chan had never been to Italy before) with Squalo, Lussuria, and Belphagor as their tour guides. (Leviathan had said he had better things to do, and Mammon had elected to stay at the castle to count their money (Kazumi also decided that it would be better to leave Shisui at the castle - which the crow had not been happy about in the slightest, so unhappy Shisui had made off with some of Kazumi's dango in revenge)).

It was interesting...to say the least.

The very first day they had gone out Lussuria had latched himself onto Kazumi and Take-chan and drug them into the nearest clothing shop he could find - with and irritated Squalo and and amused Belphagor following close behind. Which had been alright, right up until Lussuria tried to kill a shop assitant who had insulted his taste in fashion, Belphagor had gotten bord and started carving his name into the store's walls with his knives, and Squalo had gotten in a shouting match with someone who had tried to flirt with Kazumi - flirting which Kazumi had been completely oblivious to (he had just thought the girl was exceedingly friendly and was just making random conversation).

Somehow or another, Kazumi and Take-chan left the store with newly tailored suits that, to Kazumi, looked very nice on the both of them; no one in the shop had been killed either, which was very surprising.

His little brother had been very amused at it all.

The next venture into the little countryside towns that neighbored Varia Castle weren't much different and neither were the following ones (Kazumi thought they were very tenacious considering something happened every time the group left the castle together, but Take-chan was enjoying himself, so Kazumi couldn't really be bothered to care).

On another note, the rest of the Varia managed to figure out - somehow- that Squalo and Kazumi were dating.

Kazumi was a bit disturbed that they had placed bets on it, and also a bit frustrated that he hadn't been able to tell Take-chan about the development himself -

91.

"Mou, pay up Levi." Mammon commanded at breakfast a few days into Kazumi and Take-chan's stay at Varia Castle.

Leviathan's head snapped between Squalo and Kazumi. "You've got to be joking. They don't act like they're dating." Leviathan declared after a moment.

Squalo spit out the milk he had been drinking at that moment. "VOI! What the fucking hell are you scum talking about?!"

"Kyaa~!" Lussuria squealed as Belphagor laughed before beginning his breakfast. Lussuria continued, "It's true, Levi~! And aren't they such a darling couple~? I could just eat them up!"

Take-chan looked between Squalo and Kazumi, grinning widely. "Really? You two finally decided to get together?" Take-chan laughed as Kazumi nodded and Squalo swung his sword had around violently, as he screamed at Mammon and Leviathan. "It's about time!"

"Hn." Kazumi agreed.

"- VOI! You fucking bastards had better stop fucking betting on anything to do with me or Kazumi, fucking scum! I'll kill you useless trash -"

"I wonder how they found out though," Take-chan pondered, looking at Mammon, Lussuria, and Belphagor, who had all seemed to know before anything had been said or confirmed.

"That would be nice to know." Kazumi said with his eyes narrowed in a glare.

"- I'll murder you fuckers! -"


Later Kazumi searched Squalo's bedroom and found the hidden, microscopic camera, he then infiltrated Lussuria's room ( even Kazumi was a little wary of all the corpses that he had found in the man's room) and found all the recordings of Squalo and him. Kazumi destroyed all of it. Kazumi then informed Squalo of the situation.

After Kazumi and Take-chan returned to Japan the Varia (every single member) was introduced to a training regimen from Hell -courtesy of Squalo and Kazumi (who had helped plan it).

Kazumi had been very amused at the training videos- he had not, however, allowed Take-chan to watch them with him. There was far too much bloodshed and cursing for his baby brother to watch them.

92.

Time passed as it always did. That year, after Kazumi's birthday, Squalo visits increased to much more than they had been before. Kazumi and Squalo still spoke on the phone every day and emailed constantly. Squalo's visits, which had been sporadic and unpredictable, now had leveled out to once every three months for a week or two. Squalo even made it back for the Namimori talent competition every year, where Kazumi and Squalo again and again danced and took home the first place trophy.

Though Kazumi and Squalo were dating, their relationship didn't really change all that much. They were still just Kazumi and Squalo - two people who knew the other and all their counterpart's buttons. The distance between where they each lived didn't affect them, because, in a way, they had been making a long distance relationship (of a different sort) work for years without complications.

Kazumi and Hibari-kun met up frequently at tea shops to play go. Kazumi even got the boy to regularly attend Take-chan's baseball games and had somehow turned the boy into a baseball fan nearly on par with Take-chan's enthusiasm for the sport (only very much less vocal about it).

Take-chan's grades never really improved that much after Yamamoto-san's conversation with him, however, his baseball skills did improve due to his constant dedication to the sport. Take-chan and Hibari-kun weren't friends, per say, however they did get along quite well considering their very polar opposite personalities.

Kazumi continued to assist Yamamoto-san at TakeSushi. He also began to work online for a publishing company out of Tokyo. He used his skills with languages to translate Japanese works into English, Chinese, French and various other languages he had picked up over the years. It wasn't what he had gone to school for (though he had used his graphic design skills to remake the TakeSushi menus over the years and create an online presence for the restaurant- he also had (with the help of Yamamoto-san and Take-chan) built a greenhouse for his gardening hobby outside the dojo) but he was still qualified for the work and rather enjoyed it. It allowed him to read many books he probably wouldn't have if he hadn't been working for the publishing company.

93.

Take-chan entered his first year of junior high. Kazumi's little brother was very popular due to his easy-going personality and above average athletic ability. And as always Kazumi was endlessly proud.

Then Take-chan came home with a broken arm.

The day after that -

Takeshi came home and with a sheepish grin as he scratched the back of his head and explained, "A girl called me out to the roof today to confess to me, I guess? I turned her down. And anyway, Kazu-nii, I was pushed onto the rusty fence up there. It broke and I nearly fell off the roof! But this real cool guy named Sawada Tsunayoshi came and saved me! Funny thing is that for some reason the entire school thought I was planning to jump or something? I guess the girl who confessed to me must have been misunderstood when she explained the situation."

When Take-chan finished his story the potted herb plant that Kazumi had been holding was cracked, soil falling out from the sides. Kazumi gently set it down and exited his greenhouse.

He vaguely wondered how much clout Hibari-kun had with the Namimori police. Ah, well, he knew that Hibari-kun knew all the best places to hide the bodies at least. Kazumi would be the first to admit that his corpse disposal skills were a bit rusty from lack of use.

94.

"Shishishi~. This is Prince Belphagor, what does the peasant want?"

There was shouting and the sound of things breaking in the background.

"Hey Bel!" Takeshi said enthusiastically. "It's Takeshi. Could you please get Squ-nii for me?"

"And why should the Prince do as the peasant wishes? Shishishi." Regardless, Belphagor put the phone on speakerphone, specifically on a setting that would allow the phone conversation to be heard throughout Varia Castle. The Prince was not going to track the Shark down.

"Um. Because I heard Kazu-nii and Hibari-kun discussing places to dispose of bodies and I'm a little concerned Kazu-nii is seriously plotting to murder someone."

"What? The shark whipping peasant wants to kill someone and he didn't invite the Prince? That is most displeasing. Shishishi."

Then a clamor of voices came over the line.

" - VOI! What the fuck! Kazumi's going to off some scum!? Why didn't he tell me?! Does he need help with the cop fuckers?!"

"Ah! Squ-nii -"

"Darling~! I'm so proud of your brother! I'll bet the corpse will be ab~so~ lutely~ divine. Kazumi has such wonderful taste." Lussuria cut in.

"Mou. He could have paid me and I would have done it." Mammon said.

"Voi! What did the fucker do to piss off Kazumi so bad!?" Squ-nii questioned.

"Um...She kind of pushed me off the roof - and you know how I broke my arm yesterday? Yeah, well she told everyone I was going to jump."

There was absolute silence on the other end of the line. Which was quite concerning considering who all Takeshi was speaking to.

"So, yeah, Squ-nii, could you please try to talk Kazu-nii out of whatever he's planning?"

"No fucking way, Take-chan, that bitch is dead."


The next day, according to all apparent record a girl from Namimori Junior High had been suddenly selected to study abroad and no one saw her after that.

Please tell me what ya'll think, and be nice please, it's my birthday :).