Nico: Hello! It's time for another chapter! I apologize for the long wait. I know I left you all off on a terrible cliffhanger, that and it took me a while to write this chapter. I've been really busy with a new semester, and I've been under a lot of pressure. I'm sorry for the wait.

Plus, Fanfiction had a really strange error that would let me get past the edit button for my published stories. I can't say not uploading was the best experience. I felt really guilty for putting this story behind for a long time, and the awfully tall cliff hanger I left you all at (don't jump from tall heights!). So during the entire wait, I worked diligently on this story. I worked so diligently that I've been paying more attention to my Katekyo Hitman Reborn fandom over my others (I apologize to all the others...).

So, I hope you all enjoy this extra long chapter!

I DO NOT OWN KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN!

Cold Front Meets Warm Front

This guy, this was the guy I saw the other day, all dressed in black. He was a also a student. Why the Hell was he still here? Everyone was away for the holidays. Everyone except for me and him.

"Didn't you hear me, trash?"

Wait a minute. What the Hell did he just say to me?

"Excuse me?" Who the Hell did this guy think he was? "You mind repeating that last part?" I'm pretty sure, and by that I mean I know for a fact, that every soul in the academy knew of me. While a majority of them knew not of my name, and all of them really knew squat about me. Nevertheless, everyone knew that the kid with the silver hair was bad news.

As if it were instinct, I felt my sword call to me, as it had many times. I answered its call and reached back for my sword, but instead of the relieving feel of its grip, I felt nothing behind me. I looked around and there was nothing, my sword was gone.

"Were you perhaps looking for this?"

My hearing seemed to have shut off, because I only heard half of what he said. I didn't need to hear all of it to know he had stolen my sword. I shot my attention back towards him. Just as I expected, in his grubby little hands was my sword. Oh this guy was either the biggest idiot in the academy or some big-shot idiot who wanted to die.

"You shouldn't have done that, rich kid," I stood up from my seat. I could tell he was a rich kid, most of the students were. There was also this snotty look in his seemingly "uncaring" blood red eyes. They seemed to throw expletives at my face, while constantly holding a superior look in them. The upwards crook in the corner of his lips formed a disgusting smirk. "You better have a death wish prepared, because you never steal a swordsman's sword."

"Hmph," the kid brushed off my words like dust on his jacket, with a cool demeanor. "You call yourself a swordsman? Really? You're nothing but another brainless child like the rest of the 'students' in this little hole in the ground."

"Did you really just relate me to one of those dick for brains?" Oh this guy was going to die...

"In your words, you are a dick for brains."

I didn't bother listening to him, I just jumped at the kid. This kid, I have no idea who he was, or why he called out to me, but I didn't care. Every last detail of his face disgusted me and I just wanted to rip that smug little smirk of his off his face, and then proceed with the rest of his body parts. This kid decided to tread in dangerous waters, now here comes the shark.

"Just try it, trash."

I stopped just in time, right before I collided into him. He held out his right hand, one finger pointed out and wagged back and forth, taunting me. However, that wasn't why I was staring at his hands. Rather, I was staring what was emanating from them. A bright orange ball of fire in his hand.

"Che..." The damn kid. "A Dying Will Flame, huh?" I knew very little about them, I did know however, that everyone had one. There are only seven flames, and each person excels in one of them. Each flame has a different colour, a different ability, and a different characteristic, which separates them from one another. This one, by colour was obviously the sky flame, but there was something different about this flame. While it was harmonious as a sky flame was to be, there was something strange flickering within it. Flames were free, and they were never condensed into such a tight shape. Knowing that, the current situation was not in my favour.

"What, scum? Afraid to play with fire?"

Oh this kid was really starting amuse me now. "Hmph, kid you should be the one scared now." He may have the power of a Dying Will Flame, but I knew so far, I was faster than him. I darted around him quickly, and just as he moved his arm to follow, I was already behind him. I snatched my sword back from his loose grip, and held it horizontally, the blade just inches away from his neck.

"What now, rich kid? Afraid to play with knives?" I had his life in my hands. One slice, and his jugular would be spewing with blood. One hack, and his windpipe would be cut open. Just one action, and he was dead.

"Don't do it Squalo," I heard Esther behind me. For a second, my grip on my sword softened and retracted from the kid's neck slightly.

"Scum." He took a step to his left, keenly avoid the blade and swung his fist of fire back(1). I retracted my sword and jumped back, damn this kid was getting on my nerves. The kid stepped forward, and gracefully turned to face me. Ugh, once again there was that disgusting smirk on his face. "And you call yourself a swordsman?"

I want to fucking kill him.

But Esther would never let me do it. Esther never really allowed me to kill anyone since I had met her. There were many times she'd stop me.

"Voooiiii... Luccino, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Miiih! I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!" Luccino whimpered as he backed up against the wall.

That idiot, Luccino(2) was another student of the school. He was younger than me, and new to the school. He was a naive child, and quite a pretty boy like Dino. However, he was was a lot more timid than Dino. From what I knew about him, he had an interest in the arts; fashion especially. However he was a klutz, and I dare say, he was a klutz at the most dangerous times.

That evening after class, I was in the art room waiting for Dino to find his project in the art storage, right next door. It was such a nice night, I found myself idly staring out the window, to the night sky, as I leaned against the wall. Luccino was in the room with me, painting a picture. While Dino was taking his sweet time, Luccino ran out of paint and when to get more. On his way back to his easel, he tripped on flat ground and the thick acrylic paint flew out and at my face.

"Lu...cci...no..." my anger seethed through each syllable of his name. I could not quite see, with the paint over my eyes, but I could hear the art wimp in front of me crying and sobbing for forgiveness. I grabbed my sword. I felt my senses shut down, it was like that night four years ago. Suddenly everything seemed to calm and everything about the moment seemed heavenly. The crying, the anger, the fear, it was so...

"Stop Squalo!" I heard Esther, and felt my entire body rendered motionless. I began to hear the sound of choking sobs again, however that crying disappeared as I heard footsteps pounding frantically against the tiled floor.

"What the fuck Esther?" I yelled wiping the viscous liquid from my face. I saw Esther standing before me, and Luccino was long gone. "Why did you...!"

"And then what huh?" Esther interrupted me, sternly. "Squalo, I was too weak to stop you before, now I have the power to keep you from doing something you'll regret."

"And how the hell do you know I will regret killing that wimp? The world would be better off without weaklings like him!"

"Look at your hands Squalo," Esther snapped. Huffing, I did as she dictated. I almost screamed. My hands were covered with blood. Where the hell did it come from? When did it get there? How did it get there? Who did it come from...?

"It's not blood," Esther spoke, I shot my head back at her. I could only imagine that my eyes were wide, I could tell I was stunned. "It's the paint, it's red like blood. However, Squalo, imagine for a moment that the paint really was blood. The blood of Luccino, on your hands. What would you do then? You've got no possible alibi now, Squalo. You were lucky to get out of the last predicament, now anything you do or say will be held against you."

It was paint, huh? Wow, this was haunting. Just this morning, my class was reading Shakespeare's Macbeth. From what I got of the reading, Lady Macbeth went crazy after killing King Duncan. Even though she pushed her husband into killing the king, she got hit the hardest with guilt. The doctor and the maid watched as the crazed woman tried to rub the imaginary blood off her hands(3). Now here I was, looking at my hands. Even though it was paint, I could see the blood on them. I could feel the blood on them.

"Do you remember your father, Squalo?" Esther asked me. "Whenever your father got angry, he would beat you. He would make sure you were scared. He would make sure you would never tell. Now look at yourself, Squalo. Do you want to become like him, no, worse than him? He just beat you, but you will kill anyone who's too close. Is that what you want to be, Squalo? Like you father...?"

I leaned back against the wall. Adamo was like that. Me? I'm just becoming worse. I let out stifled chuckle, and answered weakly, "No..."

"Maybe in the future, Squalo," Esther said with a sigh. I looked up and there was a sympathetic smile on her face. "When the time comes when life requires you to kill, then you will kill. Until then, please, endure it."

"Yeah." I said and walked over to Luccino's easel. Just what was he working on so late at night? Held up by the easel, I found a canvas. Painted beautifully, was a painting of me. I felt a bit disgusted, but slightly mesmerized at the workmanship of the piece. There on the canvas, I stood leaning against the wall, staring out the window, the exact same position I was in before Luccino fell. My silver hair seemed to shine, in fact, the area around my figure seemed lighter than the dark background I was in. It all seemed rather peaceful, rather eerie too.

I scrunched my nose at the picture still, something was not right; something was missing. Taking my thumb, and as artistically I could, I smudged the red paint over my clothes, my skin, and created a blood red sword, held in my hand.

I liked it much more.

"I don't kill for pleasure," I simply said, answering the kid's question. "I simply teach knuckle-headed kids by pummeling them."

"You'll never reach the greatness the Varia Leader holds with that ideal," the kid said. "I'm sure, as any swordsman before, you aim to be as powerful as him, as great as him; a Sword Emperor."

"Tyr," I said. I knew of Tyr. He is the Sword Emperor, world renowned for his mastering of the sword, and his leadership over the Varia, Vongola's elite independent assassination team. With a such a great swordsman for a leader, it was no surprise they were revered by many. I was quite envious of that man, however I prided myself with the idea that I too could obtain such greatness. "Hell, I can and will become greater than him."

"Those are some bold words for a piece of trash," the kid smirked. "I don't think they accept scum like you as the leader of Varia."

"Oh I don't give a damn about leading Varia," I scoffed. "His dead body can continue to lead it for all I care, all I aim is for Sword Emperor."

"Hmph," the kid chuckled. "You're interesting for trash, what's your name, scum?"

"Isn't it customary to give your own name before asking someone there's?" I raised an eyebrow. I really hate this kid. He was calling me interesting? What am I, a display at a museum? "Whatever, my name is Squalo Superbi."

"Squalo," the kid chuckled once more. "Xanxus."

I kept that painting, Luccino painted of me. I thanked him for it as well, and tried my best to apologize for trying to kill him. He was as shocked as I left him, but after I asked for the painting, he had a nervous smile on his face.

I keep the painting on my side of the room I share with Dino. Right in front of my bed, so I could see it. Dino took an interest in the painting, saying it was really good. I didn't know if it was good or not really, it just rung out to me. It gave me a sense that I was looking at myself, and myself that was in the picture was a killer, caged in a dark room, always staring out the window for freedom. Perhaps, that's why I always look at it when I'm alone, to make sure that that Squalo doesn't come out until I need it.

Later during the break, I would see that Xanxus kid around. I really don't like him. We would sometimes pass, exchanging not even a glance. Still he did remind me of Tyr, if I there was ever a time I could let the other Squalo out, it was against him. I decided that I would begin training to defeat the Sword Emperor.

"You're what?"

"What?" I raised an eyebrow at Dino's exclamation; I was a bit disgusted when tomato sauce came spewing out of his mouth(4). The Winter Break was finished and all the students had returned to the academy. Dino and I were in the cafeteria, having lunch. Dino, as usual, was making a mess of his side of the table, and thanks to his spewing, he got tomato sauce onto my side.

"What do you mean you're going to fight Tyr?" Dino whispered, concern was drawn all over his face. "You've got to be kidding me, Squalo. You could get killed! You know the title of Sword Emperor is only obtained when the challenger kills the current holder. That means Tyr will do anything and everything he can to make sure he keeps that title, including killing you!"

"Will you relax?" I said taking a drink of water. "I don't plan on getting killed, who in the right mind plans on getting themselves killed when trying to achieve their goals?"

"How can you be so sure you'll win then, Squalo?" Dino asked. "Tyr is Sword Emperor for a reason. You may be able to scare everyone in the school into a heart attack, but how can you be so confident that you'll defeat, no, kill him?"

"Through daily training," I said placing my glass down. "My plan is to train everyday after class, on my own. I'm going to get stronger, and to do this I plan to study every last sword style there is, and eventually I will see through every and any opponent. I'll be unbeatable."

"Squalo, don't take this as an insult, but do you think you have the capacity to hold in so much information and theories?" Dino asked. "I may know not about sword styles, but what I do know is that most people practice one particular style for their entire lives. Why? Because they can master it, and because it takes a lifetime to master one. How do you expect to memorize and master all of them?"

"Hmph," I smirked. "Just watch me(5)."

I was not a very patient person, and reading books made me fidget uncomfortably. However, if I was to be able to walk the road I planned, I had to take it. I started visiting the school library more and more often. I'd research the different styles, and with each I would train to each one. Every detail, every step, every movement seemed so natural to me. I was a bit hesitant though. there was no one to tell me if I was doing a stance wrong, or if I was off by a couple inches. Everything I learned from the books, I would copy, and quickly everything became so easy it was questionable if it was correct. Perhaps I was just a quick learner, perhaps.

As the nights passed, I learned more and more styles. I kept in my mind, when the day came when I had recognized and found all the faults of each style, I would create my own, one that could not be defeated. My style for me, and me alone.

"Hey, Trash."

I turned around reluctantly to the source of the rude remark. Once again I was facing the smug face of that Xanxus kid. Really, can't he see I'm training? Still, now that I think about it. I haven't seen him since I started training. That day when everyone gathered on the first day back.

"Ugh, where is Dino..." I walked around in the crowd of formally dressed people. All these people, students of the academy, all prettied up in their expensive suits and disgusting dresses. Me, I was wearing the most tolerable formal clothing I could get off Dino before he had left. Even though it was the most tolerable, I still felt uncomfortable in it. It reminded me of that school uniform I was supposed to wear, four years back.

The suddenly, I felt something. I turned quickly only to be faced with more crowd. Craning my neck between the overly dressed up students, I found it.

Xanxus was standing alone by one of the entry ways, partly concealed in the shadows. Something was different about him. Something bad. The smug smirk on his face was replaced with a rage filled scowl. Just the sight of him, shook me. This wasn't the pompous rich kid I met two weeks ago, this was something terribly bad, and terribly strong.

Suddenly we locked eyes, and for a good minute, we were just staring at each other. Each second, I was wondering why I was staring at him. This violent intent that emanated from him, even I wasn't strong enough to fight against it.

"What do you want...?" I huffed. I really didn't want to speak with him at the moment, I was busy with my training. It wasn't difficult, learning each style, what was difficult was pushing myself to make each movement to perfection. What was more difficult was having someone close by while I was training. It was disturbing me.

"A little bird told me you are planning to take the title of Sword Emperor," Xanxus scoffed, with a slight smirk.

A little bird...? Dino! "What the fuck did you do to him?" I walked over to him, ignoring the fact he was stronger than I, and grabbed him by the collar. Pulling his collar, our foreheads clashed. "I swear, if you did anything to him, I will fucking kill you right here, and no breed of dog or man will ever find your rotting corpse..."

"Hmph, calm down," he said blandly. "He's alright, I simply asked him. He seemed rather hesitant to tell me so..."

"So?" I was growling now. Dino and I were never meant to become friends. If it wasn't for me saving his ass in the showers, we probably would never have known each other. He was just a pretty boy who could have made friends with a lot of other kids in the academy. I was a swordsman, who intimidated a majority of the academy's students, as well as staff. Somehow, we became friends and roommates. Somehow, we ended up living by the rule "You take care of what you save" and I ended up looking after the kid, while he paid me back by paying for my lunches and various school supplies I needed.

And now, I was damn worried for that kid.

"So, I told him I was a 'friend' of yours," Xanxus said rather calmly. "And he told me your plans."

"Heh," I released my hold on him and crossed my arms, with my sword still held. "So what about it?"

"You do know, Varia will need a leader, and since you plan on killing both the Sword Emperor and the Varia Leader, who do you suppose they're going to appoint as the new Varia leader?"

"Why do you care?"

"Let's have a deal, Squalo Superbi," Xanxus said, moving his arms in a sign of declaration. "If you do defeat Tyr, the Sword Emperor and the Varia Leader, you can take the title of Sword Emperor and I will take the title of the Leader of Varia."

"Hm? What does becoming the Leader of Varia do for you?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Hmph, well, for my part, when I take the title of Varia Leader, you will become a part of Varia, how does Varia Second-In-Command sound to you?"

"But why?" I asked. It was a nice offer, Varia was a grand group, and having a Sword Emperor in Varia would boost its greatness. However still, just what would this guy get in becoming Varia Leader, and having me in his team?

"Well, I'm going to become Vongola Decimo," Xanxus said.

He what...?

Nico: Ah you guys don't know (or maybe you do) how happy I am to be finally finished this chapter! I started this chapter back during the Winter Break, and I've been working and thinking how to write this. I kept on second thinking, whether or not I was getting Xanxus's personality right and what I should have happen in this chapter. I hope it's right.

Just a couple notes:

1. This move is a defensive move I learned through self-defense classes, minus the flame of wrath.

2. Just thought I'd mention, I do not think Luccino is an actually name. It was a name I created for my Minccino in my Pokémon White game (which has been taking over my life). It was supposed to be a mix of the names Ludwig and Feliciano (Hetalia reference!)

3. For those who are curious, this is Macbeth Scene 5, Act 1. For those who are also reading my Hetalia fanfiction Diplomacy this will not be the last time this reference appears (psst, was that a spoiler?)

4. I need to thank one of my friends for this. I have a friend who is very... eccentric, and she inspires me for most of Dino's parts.

5. In case you don't know, these words did not come from a movie (I know a lot of movies have this phrase), however this phrase originally came from Pierre Elliot Trudeau while he was Prime Minister of Canada during the October Crisis of 1970.

6. Also, once again the title is a bit of a pun (I guess). When a cold front and a warm front meet, they create an occluded front, which can create a tornado, and tornadoes wreck havoc, which is how I describe Squalo and Xanxus.

I'm please to see that during the wait, I got a couple more votes on the poll on my profile. I've started getting ideas for the ending, but they're still not final. I'd say that the poll will end a week after chapter nine is out, so please vote!

I should thank all you readers again, especially the two anonymous readers who recently reviewed. I had recently had thoughts of putting the story on hiatus or just cancel the story. You both mentioned I portrayed Squalo well, and I thank you for it (I was worried, as my personality differs greatly from his...). You also told me through your reviews that there are still people who enjoy reading this story, and I shouldn't give up. Thank you.

I'll keep working hard on this story. I also think I will be getting more inspiration and motivation since Spring is coming, and that means rain. I hope you all continue to read and enjoy this story!

Please Read and Review!