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Since arriving in Japan I haven't had a lot of time to think about my home country but now that things have slowed down and am on my way, I can't believe how homesick I'm feeling. The emotions are those ones that when you explain them it ruins the full passion. Italy is the place I've always gone back to after a mission, it's where I was born and where my brother lives. Unfortunately not all of the memories are pleasant ones. On the bright side of things, I get to see Superbi for the first time since the scramble for the Vongola Rings (I'm not counting the future because that's not my proper time and it's been changed by Yuni). I'm crossing my fingers in the hope our time spent together won't just be around Xanxus and the rest. It's not that I don't like them it's just they put a lot of strain on Superbi and me so that takes a lot of the fun out of things.
"Look at who it is," Levi's frown contrasted with the jovial voice, "the baby sister of the Shark that got eaten by a shark". Before Superbi could say a word, I already kicked Levi in the back of the knees and pinned him to the ground hog-tied style.
"That…is not a funny joke Leviathan. Say it one more time and you'll be six feet under," I meant it; Superbi almost getting eaten by a shark is not a joke I'll be tolerating anytime soon, "Understood?"
"Yes Ma'am," Leviathan jumped back several paces the instant I wasn't sitting on him,
"Kare Bear!" Lussuria sang as he waltzed in, oblivious to the atmosphere,
"Quit calling me that!"
"Why is it so noisy out here?" Xanxus had his arms crossed his chest and scowling,
"Nothing!" "The usual" was the answers,
"Karen, do you mind explaining the resignation letter?" he dangled it in front of everyone,
"What's there to explain? A resignation letter should be self explanatory," I cocked my head slightly,
"Why in the fuckin' hell are you fuckin' resigning?" his voice was soft, yikes! I'm in trouble,
"I don't want to work full time anymore. I mean honestly, how many times a year do you get a mission that you honestly need me to go in and the information?"
Xanxus was silent. The average essential mission I went on was twice a year if I was lucky and by lucky I mean lucky for my money pocket. I only ever do A- and S-Rank mission levels.
"Point taken. Get the hell out!"
"Yes sir," I wasn't sticking around. I'm scared of Xanxus but I do have the primal desire to survive like any other human and I stuck around, Xanxus was going to kill me.
"Oh yeah and Xanxus?" I stuck my head back inside, prepared to bolt,
"WHAT!" Xanxus yelled, leaning forward as if to move to strangle me,
"A suggestion for my replacement is Fran,"
"He's irritating,"
"So he's a good replacement for me. Besides, he'll be a superb illusionist someday soon and part of being a secret agent is too be good at deception, so there you go."
"GET THE FUCKIN' HELL OUT!" I didn't stick around.
Irritating little witch! Karen has always been able to rile me up, but this one time was too much. The look in her eyes, the implacable determination and power to go through with things….not even Squalo has seen that expression on her and he bloody raised her! Why, why did the bugger have to choose now to jump ship when she's proven her worth? Why does she now have to show how alike she and the Ninth and Sawada are! The idiotically pathetic trash!
"Boss?" Leviathan's voice was quickly cut off by the chucked wine glass; a low grunt and thud of glass hitting bushy hair sounded very satisfying. No doubt Karen would've enjoyed it. She and Leviathan got along about as well I do with everyone, and that is an accomplishment, especially for her because she's always the pain-in-the-ass charming diplomat.
"Xanxus?" Squalo was the only one in the room. He must've cleared everyone else out,
"Feel free to spend time with your sister," no point fighting them on it; they'll spend time together whether I permitted it or not. It's one thing to fight with just one of the Squalo Family but a completely different thing to have both of them going at you like there's no tomorrow.
"Thanks….that's not what I was going to say though,"
"What?" I growled,
"Why did you let her go without a fight?"
"You saw it; she would've gone through with it even if left the Vongola destroyed. She has the power to do it too" and that is a very scary thought because she has the will and power.
As per usual, the 'talk' with Xanxus was a contest of power and domination and as usual, he is king of the roost by giving in without struggling since he knows I'm just going to do my thing whether he likes it or not. He knows how to keep face and I've made sure he's practiced but not any more. I don't have to report to Xanxus, he went from second on my boss list to third; Tsuna is first (obviously), the Ninth is second (he was first until Tsuna came) and Xanxus is third. God would he be pissed if he knew what place he was in and who replaced him. With me he learned to tolerate second but he won't accept third no matter what. There is only one place he has first place on any of my lists, and that is the ferocious, lacking in mercy sense fighter who doesn't get mopped with. Sure he got mopped by Tsuna but not before Tsuna was beaten to a pulp. If Xanxus was ever slaughtered without his opponent getting a few memorable scars too….well that's just incomprehensible and my world view will be shattered. The Varia was violent but they were consistent in battle prowess and if any of them (except for Levi) were pummeled without getting their opponent then that means the end of the world….to me at any rate. I've known those guys since…well, forever I guess. Everyone, with the exception of Superbi, were like irritating brothers, Superbi is my beloved brother, father, role model and best friend; Lussuria, who was nicknamed Lucy by me when 'Lussuria' was a mouthful, was a wacky nanny and Levi can go to hell and I'll be happy to not have to put up with him but I'd eventually miss him so I'm just as pathetic as he is.
Now that I stop and think about it, I really am going to miss listening to the Varia's commanders ambush each other with surprise verbal and physical attacks and I'm already missing on participating. But at the same time, being around people my age (everyone but Chrome are older than me by a month or more) is a lot more enjoyable. They still bicker like crazy, Gokudera especially but there was the strong camaraderie and respect between all of them that was missing in Varia was I wanted to see and experience. Besides, Tsuna is as much of family as Superbi…literally. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact Superbi and me are related to Tsuna as cousins.
A strand of hair interrupted my thoughts as I tied my boots the same style as what the Varia wears in the future. Frankly I love this style of boot. Brushing the silver strand back, I glanced up at the mirror and almost had a heart attack. I looked identical to the future version of my brother! The only difference is my hair is still much shorter despite the couple of inches gained (it now reaches the bottom of my shoulder blades) and my bangs fall whichever direction worked for me.
"What's up with you?" Bel's unwelcome voice shi-shi'd in; "oh" came his answer when I looked at him "Are you and Squalo twins?"
"No. Last I checked he's eight years older than me," my emphatic tone told him bug off,
"Okay, bye!" he was gone, "You're really scary you know that?" his voice became very distant,
"Whatever," I muttered; it was the only thing that kept me alive in the underground along with my reputation.
"What's wrong?" Superbi's voice was soft,
"Uh, not to sure right now. Guess I'm just going to miss you guys,"
"Huh, well they're going to miss you even though they aren't going to admit it,"
"Yeah, admitting they're going to be miss a pain-in-the-ass girl is going to bust their male dignity"
"What about me?" Superbi feigned offense,
"You don't loose your dignity whatever happens. And you didn't say you were going to miss me," I smiled
Superbi was silent, "I am going to miss you, but I'm kind of use to it and besides, knowing the Ninth, you can come over here anytime" he shrugged,
"True," the Ninth took the opportunity to spoil me since Superbi didn't,
"Besides, it's gonna be my turn for vacation soon and guess where I'm going?"
"Really?" I jumped up and hugged him, forgetting about his sword attached hand. Long years of practice spared me from getting spitted.
Karen misses the sea. The way she's ripping up and down the beach, darting into the water and back out is always tells people how much she loves it. Karen's always been light on her feet and more graceful than almost anything but she seemed even more so. Her hair, which she had kept so meticulously short now swung around her head in graceful, clear arcs.
"You're going to miss this too," I sighed,
"Yeah. Italy's beaches are so different from Japan's," Karen smiled, but it was a sad smile with an undercurrent of joy. I know she's in love with Katana-brat and he with her, but how does a person tell his little sister she's in love when she doesn't realize it? In the future, I already dropped the bomb on Katana-brat but he doesn't seem to have done anything about it! For a brother in law, I prefer him over all the other trashy idiots that have tried to get Karen's attention. Thank god she has a short attention span for romance. Romantic comedy movies that are more romance than comedy have her gagging.
"How's the Katana brat doing?" oops, Karen doesn't like it when I use nicknames like that; usually I can curb it around her,
"Takeshi's fine. He kept his promise on his temporary dedication to the sword," she grinned wickedly, leave it to her to find a way to get me back for insulting the katana brat.
"Voi," I growled,
"Baseball is to him what your sword is to you," she went on the diplomatic front. Karen is one hell of a diplomat. A combination of a pacific but bold personality and an unconscious charm could end wars, but I'm not willing to test that.
"Anything new?" I changed the subject; Karen looked up the sky with her hands on her hips, one of her many quirks,
"Takeshi is acting weird. Did you say something to him? I mean, the future you,"
"What do you mean by weird?" Yuni had payed a visit and informed me of what occurred in the future,
Karen shrugged, "Takeshi's always complimented me but the last time he said it, the same day I got the call from Xanxus, he said I was amazing and then he turned red and cleared out,"
"Agh!" (Anime drop and sweat bead) THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT ON OBLIVIOUSNESS!
Superbi looked he got hit by one of Levi's parabolas and was freaking pissed about, "What did I say?" I stared at him like he grew a parabola
"You're so dense!" he was banging his head on a rock (figuratively speaking).
"Everyone's telling me that!" I threw my hands up in exasperation, "What am I missing?"
"You have to figure that one out on your own," he clearly wanted to tell me but had decided to let me find the answer on my own,
"You told Takeshi," I zeroed in on the fact whatever I was missing out on Takeshi knew,
"Yes but that was an accident. Spar?" he was not going to tell me whatever I tried. I said yes to the sparring and had fun.
After picking up my order from Verde and delivering it to the Varia, I returned home. I had the pleasure of watching Mammon freak out over the lack of money in his account but when he saw the box and rings I ordered for the Varia he partially cooled down; he was still furious with me even though I had repeatedly told him I accidentally found his codes. He did admit it was worth it though and that is good enough for me. I cleared out before the rest found out, but I did give Superbi's his first and in person, telling him that counted for a couple birthdays. My own purchase was a Sky ring. I didn't plan on a box, but I might someday down the road.
Superbi's figured out I have a sky flame, so guess what I'm getting for sweet sixteen?
"You're going to miss her," I smiled at Xanxus,
"Shut up," was the answer I got. Xanxus wasn't going to admit it but he did like the girl. Heck, everyone liked her with the exception of Belphegor and Leviathan. She's a real charmer. Karen's maturity level is equal to that of an ancient sage but she indulged in the occasional streak of childish behavior.
"It's going to be impossible to find her successor," Xanxus growled,
"Of course. You'll be looking for her,"
"WATCH IT old fart". I couldn't help but smile again. Karen's talent for peace-keeping had even gotten Xanxus to cool down. Despite being pacifically inclined, Karen still used some force when she or her brother, were insulted.
I wonder if she knows she's been nicknamed 'Jaguar' for her lack of fear, seeing patterns where there is chaos, and her untamed but controlled ferocity.
Hi everyone. Is this fic going too long?
For the record, i don't know if Yuni talked to Squalo like she had the Ninth and Dino and whoever else but for the sake of the chapter and my fiction we'll say she did.
Reviews are desperately needed as I'm feeling very isolated.