I cannot thank any of you enough for your patience, support and love. I would be nowhere without any of you. The hard times in my life still stay with me, and your support means the world. I am sorry my updates are so staggered and strange. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Next chapter the battles begin! I hope you enjoy!

Please enjoy despite the spelling and grammar errors I am prone to.

WARNING!: Swearing galore! You'll see why when you read it ;)

Beta'd by mercyn~~

The knots that Tie and the Strings that Bind.

Interception

"Speaking in another language and will be stated."
Flashback

"Speaking normally."

He had a mission, one that was not unusual, but was this time of the utmost importance.

Xanxus had always had a good head on his shoulders, ever since Squalo had met him when they were but nine. But since his incident Xanxus had matured and changed so drastically that Squalo- had he not known the man so well- would call him a different man.

But not even the cradle incident could change that core, burning strength in his eyes. No amount of rest or sedation, or even chilling change would ever change the core strength and ability that Xanxus was. Even if it seemed to somewhat calm his categorical rage.

The' cradle' incident. It was such a degrading title, though there really was no other title suitable for that detestable span of years where the Varia was under chains and their boss comatose by the same fucker of a man who was his father. Squalo still could not look at Nono straight in the eye, if he did his hatred would have roasted the man's gentle heart.

So much hatred and betrayal ran deep in the Varia during the time their boss was in that rainbow ice. Though, Squalo supposed that it needed to happen. The boss was far too emotional and far too unstable to be left to walk around the mansion. Squalo respected Xanxus, but even a Coup-d'état was taking it a little too far for something like the reason he had chosen. The outrageous attempt to overthrow the Vongola was brought about because Xanxus was too emotionally involved, Squalo would have only tried Xanxus' plan had frontal confrontation and calm talks had failed.

Squalo wanted Xanxus to be King, but there are many kingdoms to rule, Xanxus didn't need the particular crown he strove for.

During the nine years- between the time Squalo was nineteen and twenty-five- he ran the Varia and kept it in tact. He was sure his boss would be back and he would not let everything Xanxus has fought for become the trashy story the Vongola told to the young to show what happened to ignorant children that craved too much.

That span of time was long and arduous. The Varia were strong, but without their precious boss- because damn right he was precious to them; violent, dangerous, brash and suicidal at times yes, but damn fucking precious- they were less men and more boys. That didn't mean they didn't work their fucking asses off to get ready for the day the commander prepared them for. It just meant that they were not the same.

Then he woke up. Their fucking boss finally woke up. It was a private affair when he arrived home. The subordinates were quiet and respectful. Their boss hadn't seen nor heard anything for many, many years. His time and care was distributed between his guardians, and Lussuria was the main arsenal in that care. The other subordinates stayed long away from their boss' room, knowing the man needed time, looking forward to the time when Xanxus took back Varia's throne- even if he didn't want it as his throne.

Squalo won't lie. When he saw Xanxus move his hands, just a twitch really, he almost cried. He would also have observed that every other member also had that tear-sheen in their eyes. Fucking violent yes, but fucking precious even more so. They had each been saved in some way by their boss, and the betrayal and failed Coup cut each of them deeply. To see their boss moving again was something none of them would deny was indescribably wonderful; even though some of the members- Mammon, Belphegor, and even Squalo himself- would say they were happy because they would get paid, they could fight properly again and not because they were genuinely worried during his coma.

When their boss was coherent again he opened his eyes to the ceiling, the crimson gaze slithered across each of them, and then his eyes connected with Squalo. The eyes lingered, drifted over his body once again before connecting with the eyes of each man in the room again.

This was a changed man.

Xanxus' stare was intelligent, and wise. There was no rage and no malice. There was a deep understanding and acceptance. It was terrifying and thrilling.

This man would not lose so vainly again.

That was the past; the changes- good or bad- in his boss were there and needed to be addressed. But Squalo had a duty to fulfil. He needed to scout out Decimo and see whether they were a threat or not. He needed to be assured that the Varia would succeed, that Xanxus' wishes were fulfilled. It was all Squalo owed the man after everything that had happened after all.

As he was walking around the small Japanese town Squalo took in the sights. He was dressed down, blending with the local crowd. If anyone were to look at him they would be wary, but would assume he was foreign or a teenager who enjoyed experimenting with hair colouring.

So, considering that Squalo hadn't officially started his mission yet he was surprised to find the Decimo in a small –Italian- cafe with two other boys and a young girl. So as not to arouse suspicion, Squalo ordered his food and took a seat at an empty table not too far from the Decimo candidate and his companions.

The Decimo was nothing special, wide eyes and a thin form. His hair was a mess and the way he expressed himself was wide and open. But he held himself like he was tethered in too many places. Though open he was also protective, he was seated with his back to the door there was an aura to him that told Squalo that this candidate was prepared to kill to protect the boys and girl with him.

The men with him were of a concern. Both were leaner than Decimo, yet there was a murderous atmosphere to them and the way they spoke and moved. Squalo's instincts were telling him to unsheathe his blade and kill them. Now.

One was extremely tall, unhealthily skinny with strangely blue hair. It was styled like fruit with a long tail that flowed down his back. He wore exaggerated clothing, tailored obviously with a flare of sophistication. He stood out among the group. His hands were gloved and at his side was a trident.

Squalo had been trained to see through illusions, so he knew immediately that the reason no one was fearful of the man's trident was because they were probably seeing something else. This man was an illusionist; a powerful one too. After all Squalo actually had to blink a few times to wash away the illusionary mist.

Next to the illusionist was a young woman. She was sickly looking, something Squalo was rather disappointed about. Why have someone who was sick be a part of your famiglia? Squalo could tell they were famiglia of course because he could see the rings that all of the individuals wore. The girl had long hair, styled like her illusionist partner. In fact, they looked related. The girl was sickly pale with an eye-patch and think limbs. But she was a powerful illusionist too, for beside her, crossing her partners was another trident slightly shorter and thinner.

It was the final man that really got Squalo bristling. He had pure, untainted bloodlust circling him. It was different to Belphegor who only became insane upon the sight of blood, this man- the one that was all black and white- was looking to fight even now. He was sitting between the girl and the candidate; his hands were jammed in the crook of his elbows as his arms crossed across his chest. He looked to be restraining himself and his eyes were hawk-like. Squalo knew that if anyone of those before him were to notice him it was going to be this man.

His assessment of the candidate was, if he were to be honest, impressive. The boy had gathered some strong allies. Considering that the boy was only seventeen he had been able to collect, analyse and make loyal at least two incredibly strong, apt fighters. Though the boy himself seemed self-destructive. He was almost too aware of his companions. That was dangerous in a boss. The boss was the last to enter the battle field, the first to sacrifice others. This boy seemed like one who would be neither and do neither.

Sitting back to listen to their conversation, Squalo ate his food, hoping to find more information from their conversations. So far all he knew was his assessment of their aura and look. Never go by looks alone.

"Mukuro is telling you the truth, Kyouya. It's the strings that told me..." Decimo began.

Squalo tuned out for the rest of the candidate's sentence, he knew the name of the man he was addressing. Mukuro Rokudo was the name of the convicted criminal that decimated the Estraneo facility and escaped some of their most highly secured, dangerous experiments alive. That made sense why the girl was with the three boys then, she was one of three others that escaped with Mukuro. Squalo knew their release/non-recapture had been negotiated for, but Squalo was unaware that it was for the candidate's benefit.

"-ivore, that doesn't explain why I can feel them." Black and white spoke with cold analytical precision. This man would do well in CEDEF or even in the interrogatory section of Vongola.

"I don't know. Mukuro and Chrome know about them because they are mists, maybe because you are a cloud?" the candidate moved his hand around strangely, as if wrapping something around his hand and presenting them to the black-haired teen. "You can feel that right? This is yours."

"I don't think the Skylark can see it, Tsunayoshi-chan." The pineapple-male smirked dangerously, and even Squalo had to suppress a shiver of unease as it slithered through him. He could only imagine that the boy with the slick, dark hair was feeling almost filthy from the tone of voice.

"After all, Tsuna, storm, sun, thunder and rain don't seem to be able to see them."

"But TYL!Lambo acted like he could."

Squalo was lost, that was for certain, but something in their conversation sparked recognition in Squalo's mind. The way that brat talked about strings as if they were physically attached to his body sparked a memory in his mind. It was unclear and muddled by exhaustion and suspicion.

It was not long after Xanxus' waking that he started mumbling to himself when he thought he was alone. While Squalo wasn't particularly surprised or worried about this new side of his boss, he listened in whenever he could, hoping to learn of the change in his boss.

"... all these damn strings." The mumblings were snappy and confused, but there was an understanding deep within the tone. "...why did she have to interfere? I can't stop now... at least I know my path is right..."

It wasn't often that Squalo caught the mumblings, and they only lasted for a month after his waking. Though Squalo was aware that his boss had changed in more ways than one by the Cradle incident due to the mumbling and strange mannerisms his boss had taken up. Xanxus was seeing something, and it was very physical and important, whatever it was. The fact that the brat could apparently see these 'strings' too left Squalo worried, but not excessively so.

He knew that eventually he would get to the bottom of this mystery. There was something about skies that he had never understood. Not Nono, not Xanxus, and certainly not this Decimo character.

Squalo was suspicious of course, but he had a duty to fulfil, and now what he had scouted out this young man he would test the boy's resolve and his strength. That was what Xanxus wanted after all.

He had scouted out the Decimo and was surprised to see that the boy had gathered so many so closely and so strongly. But Squalo was perturbed by his words. Squalo wanted answers, he wanted them now. So that was why he was here, cornering Decimo and his two guardians as the civilians scattered. They were screams of terrorism, though Squalo was a little insulted; he was far more powerful than some coward terrorist.

Decimo looked over Squalo with some kind of understanding; the golden-brown eyes trailed his body, widening a little, before narrowing in comprehension. Squalo bristled at the gaze, it was almost identical to Xanxus when he awoke from his long slumber, identical besides the fact that this gaze was burning with a different kind of warmth. Innocent warmth that threatened to swallow Squalo whole.

"Voooooiii! Are you the fucking trash that dares to try and take Vongola's throne for your own."

Immediately the two boys- different ones to earlier- took defensive positions in front of this Tsunayoshi. They had their weapons out and Squalo was impressed to see that both had raging flames, even so early into their training.

He almost salivated with murderous glee to see that one was a swordsman.

There was no reply to his words, both guardians waiting for their Decimo's direction before attacking. This again surprised Squalo.

Smoking-bomb Hayato was one thing to control. The boy had been abandoned and kicked so many times that Squalo was sure the boy had lost all self-preservation and respect. Yet here he was, his intelligence excavated from the hate and scars to be used and exploited perfectly. But to tame a swordsman was something to truly be commended. Squalo himself was a handful for Xanxus, and he had years to calm, this boy- the tall rain- was a new swordsman- his stance was lax though not exceedingly so- he had yet to calm his new fighting instincts. Decimo was truly someone to watch if he could tame and make loyal a new swordsman and a temperamental bomber.

"Who are you?" Decimo candidate's voice was high, but there was a tone of strength that lay under the youth. The boy's flames were beautiful. Squalo squinted with displeasure when he noticed they were purer than Xanxus' because he could see that the resolve within the burning was unfathomable and was without end.

"I am Varia's second in command, Squalo."

The Varia would have a long fight on their hands if it was down to simply resolve and flame resource.

Then the brunette nodded and the fight started. The boys moved well for young teens. Squalo knew they hadn't been training for more than a year, but they were both versed. They parried and dodged. Both the rain and storm took damage and Squalo took more damage than usual. But he was Varia quality and was not loosing this fight.

He broke away from the rain and storm as his attack left them floored. He charged at the candidate and watched the boy's eyes narrow. Fists flew as flames parries and twisted. It was strange to feel the boy's flames against his skin and not burn. They were so hot and so furious, yet they were enveloping. Even Squalo's incredibly tranquil abilities could not combat the harmony within the candidate's flames.

Before he could slash down the young man's chest the rain reappeared and the storm had sighted Squalo for yet another explosive charge. The shark only grinned because the boy's had been naive, they left their sides open as they defended their boss. Almost with sick satisfaction Squalo watched as Decimo realised their mistake and made a move to attack Squalo.

The fight was short-lived. Just as Squalo was about to slice and dice the rain and storm bullets rained down with devastating consequences. He just narrowly avoided a hail of bullets as the Sun Arcobaleno arrived on the scene. The man looked furious and Squalo could only assume that was because the man was like a fucking mothering bear.

Once he had a ward, the Arcobaleno- all of them- were devastatingly protective over them. Squalo had made the mistake to interfere with Mammon's ward years ago and had almost lost his other hand. It was ridiculous that he make the mistake again. This fury though, the burning behind the steely, obsidian wyes, was something more than a tutor and his ward. This was a man and his famiglia. It seemed that Squalo had to reassess the Decimo candidate.

To have already tamed the sun Arcobaleno was truly an impressive feat.

"Squalo, turn tail and leave. Now. The battles have not started yet, don't think I won't kill you if you try to interfere with my students again."
Squalo liked his head where it was, and still had work to do. He was smart enough to know not to anger a furious Arcobaleno.

"Voooi! Fucking old man. Don't think this isn't over; the Varia will win the Ring battle. Be prepared to lose, trash."

Squalo knew all he needed to know. Decimo would be Xanxus. Tsuna was weak. Right before the battle was interrupted Squalo had seen Tsuna move to take the slice for his guardians. He either had no faith in them or lacked self-preservation instincts.

A boss who gave his life for his subordinates was not Varia Quality.

He was not fit to be Vongola.

As Squalo made his way back to the office to give his report he thought back to the meeting with the brat. It was so strange and surreal. The battle was fierce- more so than he expected given the boy was suppose to be untrained- but at the same time there was a softness and a cushioning to the way the brat fought.

He absorbed Squalo's blows, not avoiding or retaliating. Simply accepting them.

It was strange for the commander. He was unused to warmth, and unused to truth. So when the boy looked at him, seeing into his soul, well Squalo wasn't used to the gesture the boy showed of pure acceptance. It was a rush, warmth that filtered into his stomach and settled there, still yet to disperse.

For once in his career, Squalo felt that he did not want to fight and did not want to follow his boss' order.

For once, Squalo simply wanted to protect the boy from harm. It was a disgusting, threatening feeling. It did not change how he felt about Xanxus, it simply made him pause. He was not a sentimental man, and suddenly feeling caring towards someone he has not given his life to made Squalo queasy and uneasy.

But he wanted to see where that would go. He would not betray Xanxus, the man held more of his loyalty, though it was curious how a single candidate could make Squalo see a different path for the Varia to take. They could still be kings in their own right, even if they bowed to another.

"Trash, what did you find out?" the tone was even, and though the posture was slouched it was grand.

"Voiiiii! I found out that that shitty brat doesn't stand a chance against us."

Okay, so Squalo told a small white lie. The Boy did stand a chance against the Varia, but something was telling Squalo that Xanxus knew that already. Something compelled the shark-tamer to bend the truth a little, if for nothing else than to see his boss' reaction.

Xanxus merely raised an eyebrow; his commander was never so tame. He sighed through his nose and sent the silvernette away.

Squalo was left without words, and felt somewhat, disappointed, because his boss looked like he had lost his last hope and it didn't make sense. So Squalo simply turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, hoping that whatever Xanxus wanted he would get, because his boss was miserable, and somehow or another, the mansion didn't feel the same when he was.

Sooo. How did you like a change of perspective? You may have noticed that the Varia are much different to Canon... not this should be explained in the future, I'm sorry if you don't like how OoC the various members are, but somehow I imagine this is what –in MY universe- they would act like. Again, reasons will be explained soon!

Battled begin next chapter! So look forward to that!
Pleas review. Thank you for your patience. I love you all.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
(Check my profile for updates on my update schedule!)

~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3