Nico: Hello, once again. Time for chapter two.

I just want to point out something I didn't point out earlier, this is not a yaoi fanfiction of Xanxus and Squalo. It isn't. However, Xanxus does have a role later on in the story, worth deeming him as a main character. When I think about it, yes you could assume that it suggests XS, and yes when I think about the rough story idea, one could assume it was a romance story by skipping to the end. Despite that, it is not a yaoi/boylove/whatever word you have for it.

Also, from the last chapter, Resonant Cadence is my creation and I'd rather if no one copies it, and/or any of the songs/poems I wrote for the band, please and thank you.

I think that's about it for now, so you may start reading now.

I STILL DON'T OWN KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN!

Storm is Brewing

"Insanity to Clarity"

"I'm home," my father smiled. "Did I scare you?"

"Y-you scared the daylights out of me...!" my mother stuttered. My father chuckled apologetically and sheathed his switchblade and placed it back into his back pocket.

"Scusa," he said. "It took longer than I expected to get back." My father worked under the Ninth Vongola. One would think, that by having a man work under the Ninth, the family of that man would be rich. The reason why we aren't is because my dad is a chronic gambler and drinker. It doesn't take long for him to get back home, since he's takes a jet back to the village. Once he's back, he'll wander into some stores, buy a couple things, go to the bar or the casino then head on home.

There's a trick to figure out if he's drunk or sober. My father is always smiling and always tries to be kind to my mother and sister, no matter if he's sober or drunk. However, there is one difference. When he's sober he is kind to me, kind-ish. Then when he's drunk, he beats me. He says I remind him of his old man – my silver hair and eyes – and he hated his old man.

To be absolutely truthful, my family is messed up. My father is a lying gambler and drinker, who wastes money on meaningless gifts. My mother is an idiot for marrying such a man, and is blind to the fact that he has been stealing the money she worked so hard to earn. My sister is a whiny, greedy brat. Me, I'm just some kid that everyone ignores.

"Papà! Papà! PAPÀ!" Avarice squealed, like a boiling pig I should add, as she jumped out of her seat and ran up to greet our father. The man known as my father smiled and chuckled as he lifted Avarice with his large hands, into the air. "Papà~ Did you bring presents?"

"Why of course," his smiled never dropped. "Anything for my little princess." With that he placed Avarice back down and took out a sparkling pink gift bag with curled ribbons on the handle. Avarice squealed with joy as she took the gift from my father's hands, without saying anything close to a thank you. He took out a small box, beautifully wrapped in emerald green wrapping paper, tied together with a red ribbon. Held in between the box and the ribbon, was a red rose.

"Adamo..." my mother spoke, clearly at a lose for words. "Grazie." She gently held the small box in her hands, carefully unwrapping it.

Then he turned towards me. "Squalo, why don't you give your papà a hug?" I didn't move an inch. I hated this man who was apparently my father. I hated him so much I wish I could kill him. I would rather throw myself into a sea of sharks than hug him, but I knew that if I didn't, he would beat me after my mother and sister were asleep.

"Come on, Squalo," Avarice pulled my chair back. I almost fell off. "Give papà a hug!" I fought the will to yell at her in front of my parents and stood up. I took small steps, each of them unbearable as I smelled the scent of that man. The scent that was a revolting mixture of alcohol and old cheese. I stopped at his feet and looked up at him. His face was just as disgusting, I needn't describe it.

Then I was picked up by large hands. I held my breath was I was smothered between two large hands and a jacket covered chest. "It feels so wonderful to finally be home, surrounded by my loving family~" I heard the man say.

He placed me back down and then noticed the dinner table. "Oh? Have I interrupted dinner?"

"Not at all," my mother said. "You made it just in time."

"Good," he smiled. "I brought a treat for dessert!" He lifted a white box tied by a thin red ribbon.

There are times, I would take a pig squealing over my sister squealing...

"Squalo, are you about done yet?" Avarice's voice came from behind the door.

"Voi! Shut up you pea-brained brat!" I shouted. Damn, I looked insane in the mirror. I was brushing my teeth, and brushing my teeth is important. If I could, I would let the tap run while I brushed, but that would be wasting money, and that was that last thing we wanted. I just felt calmer around water, but I digress. I had foaming toothpaste running from my mouth and dripping from my chin. I looked like I was a madman.

"You're a bully!" Avarice yelled. "I'm telling papà!"

I slammed the door open but she had already ran off to our old man. Give me a break, I don't need this. I closed the door again and continued to brush.

Then there was a knock on the door. "Squalo? Son, could you come out for a second?"

I groaned as I spit out the toothpaste in my mouth and rinsed my mouth. I came out of the washroom, wiping my mouth with a small towel. There was my father and Avarice was right behind him, holding on to his left pant leg.

"Your sister tells me you've been picking on her," he said in his usual voice. "Is this true Squalo?"

"And what about it?" I asked.

"Answer the question, Squalo," my father's voice slightly hardened. I stared daggers at Avarice. You damned tattle... I turned back to my father with the same gaze and nodded.

"I think your sister deserves an apology," my father said.

"Yeah," Avarice added in with a boastful voice.

"What about me?" I asked. "When do I get an apology?"

"Has Avarice been mean to you, son?"

"He's lying, papà!" Avarice said.

When do I get an apology? When will Avarice say sorry for taking my fork, or for crying out loud in the store? When will mother say sorry for sending us to a private school when we obviously don't have enough money for one? When will father say sorry for always missing my birthdays, and for beating me? When?

"Squalo..."

"I'm sorry," I said dully. That's right, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm alive. I'm sorry that you have to put up with me. I'm sorry that I'm just a waste of space. I'm sorry that I pollute the air with carbon dioxide. I'm sorry I look like my grandfather. I'm fucking sorry!

"Good son," my father patted my head. "I'd like to talk to you tomorrow night, is that alright?" I nodded. "Buonanotte, Avarice, Squalo." With that he left.

"You got in trouble, Stupid Squalo~!" Avarice stuck out her tongue at me and left for her room.

I just stood there. I don't know how long I did, but I just stood there. Frozen in place, like nothing meant anything anymore.

"Ciao, Squalo," Keith greeted me.

"Voi, Keith, what are you doing here?" I asked. It was the day after my father returned. I heard a knock on the door and there was Keith.

"I thought that we should go out for a walk again!" Keith said with a bright smile.

"Squalo? Who is at the door?" my father walked up and then noticed Keith. "Oh, hello, are you friends with Squalo?"

"Yes sir! You must be Squalo's father, a pleasure it is to finally meet you!" Keith grave out his hand.

"Likewise," my father grabbed a hold of Keith's hand and shook it. Same old Keith, so polite as usual. "So Squalo, you and your friend are going out on a walk?"

"I guess," I answered.

He merely smiled. "Well then...here." He handed me a couple bills of money. "Go buy whatever you want. Have fun you two." He then left after placing the green bills in my hand.

"Wow," Keith's eyes sparkled. "I've never seen so much money!"

I stared at the money in the palm of my hand. It felt so heavy. Then I jammed the bills into my trouser pockets and turned to Keith. "So where do you want to go?"

"I really didn't think about that..." Keith said with a childish grin. "How about...the beach?" It was decided. The two of us ended up going to the beach, luckily it wasn't too far. The beach was nice. It was at it's peak since it was summer. Across the sand, people lay about on their beach towels, under the shade of their large umbrellas.

We removed our shoes and socks and stepped onto the sand. It was hot on our bare feet, but cool underneath. We ran over to the cool water. The water glistened with the reflection of the sun. The sky was cloudless, just a bright blue and a shining sun. The smells of fried foods and sweet treats, and sunscreen filled the air. I loved the beach, it was so calming, so tranquil.

After a couple games of water tag, dark clouds began to roll in. "Looks like a storm is brewing..."

I then remembered the dollar bills in my pocket. "How about we go to the sushi restaurant?"

"You mean it?" Keith's eyes seemed to sparkle with joy. I nodded and the two of us headed to the sushi restaurant. I noticed, that boy wasn't there today.

"Um, o-otoro, please," Keith seemed to be bubbling with excitement.

"Uh...salmon, please?" I wasn't much of a whiz when it came with such expensive foods, but salmon seemed cheap enough.

"Hai, Irashai!" The man placed a blue plate with two pieces of otoro on rice, and a red plate with two pieces of salmon on rice.

Kieth was pursing his lips, probably to keep himself from drooling all over the table. He clamped his hands together and whispered his thanks. Then he grabbed the a pair of chopsticks and picked up one of his otoro sushi and place the entire thing in his mouth.

"It's delicious, mister!" Kieth said with his mouth full.

"Arigatou!"

"You try yours, Squalo," Keith nudged me on. Unlike Keith, I didn't know how to use chopsticks, so I picked up the fish on rice with my hands. I looked at the striped orange and white, raw, fish flesh strangely before taking a bite. It wasn't that bad. I tasted vinegar, salt, and a pinch of sugar in the rice. The salmon felt smooth against my tongue, and had a strange "melt-in-your-mouth" feeling.

I noticed Keith was staring at me, waiting for my comment. I smiled and said, "Not bad."

We finished the our last pieces and paid up. For four pieces of fish on rice, they cost a LOT.

"Waa~ That was delicious, thanks again, Squalo!" Keith smiled.

"Don't mention it," I said. I'm never eating sushi again, it was just way to expensive. We were walking home now, and although it wasn't that late it was getting dark.

"Looks like autumn is coming soon," Keith said. Autumn...when the school year would start...

"Keith..." I said. "I have something to tell you." I hadn't told him, but I had to. Keith was my only friend.

"So...you're leaving..." Keith's smile had gone. I was silent now, but then I noticed Keith's smile return.

"That's...too bad, Squalo..." Keith said. "I...I was hoping for us to be able at least celebrate your birthday again...at least once..."

"Voi, Keith..."

"I...I'm really going to miss you, Squalo," Keith said with a sad smile. Tears began forming in his eyes. "You've been like a brother to me..."

"Voi, I'm going to miss you too," I said. "You're my only friend..."

Finally we made it to my house. I turned to Keith. "Voi, until then...let's go on walks every day!"

"Yeah!" Keith smiled. Then he gave out his fist. I smiled and offered out mine, bumping our knuckles together.

"Addio, Squalo," Keith said with a smile.

"Addio, Keith," I said and watched as Keith ran off. I turned and opened the door and entered the house. It was dark, it was past dinner time, and about time everyone got ready to sleep.

"Hello, son."

I turned my head and my father was there. He sat in his old armchair. He had his left leg over his right, and his fingers were intertwined as his hands rested on his left knee. He had the same smile on his face.

"Sorry for coming back late," I said.

"No problem at all," my father said. It was hard to see his face in this light. "I hope you hadn't forgotten our talk tonight."

I shuddered. I hadn't forgotten, but I wished I could have.

"Insanity to Clarity,

Try not to flunk,

Clarity to Vulgarity,

You're just another d-d-drunk punk."

Nico: And that's the second chapter. I had to do some studying for this chapter. I'm still sort of new to all this, but I was so happy to see all the visitors and hits I got for the first chapter of the story (I just hope that the number who decrease now that I've said it's not a XS fanfic...). Uh, right now I just wish I could get some feedback, just to know that readers enjoy the story, or if there is anything I could improve on, or if there's something you'd like to see happen in the story. I'd really appreciate reviews.

There will be times I'll add some of my OCs, Keith is one of them. I do plan on adding them in, but they'll probably only be minor characters.

Oh and as for the Italian and the Romanized Japanese, I'm not 100% sure if they're right. If they aren't, I'd appreciate it if someone told me.

I'll probably be updating once a week with a new chapter, depends.

Please Read and Review!