A Royal Capture

Chapter Six

A/N: Heads up, everyone~ A bit of violence increase as well as a manga reference in this chapter. Thought it'd be polite to warn~

Day 100.

beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-be-

Click!

Kikyo groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, his bright, teal hair pooling over the sheets below. Slipping out of the bed and sombering into the bathroom, he turned on a light, glanced at himself in the mirror, then started to strip out of his night clothes to shower. It was three in the morning, the regular time for the RFW to wake up. Slipping under the water and starting to rinse out his hair, the Cloud guardian hummed softly, closing his teal eyes as he whispered to himself, "All right, today's schedule... Introduce the shark and Fran to the family... battle between Lord Spark and Byakuran... try to get that tiger away from Hibari... Torture Mukuro, Belphegor, Soro, and Shouichi... shut down all security cameras in the time being... oh, and... the other three guardians... I wonder if they're all still alive."

Starting to shampoo those pain-in-the-ass tresses, Kikyo continued to think about the battle that would be taking place today. Spark was a ruler worth listening to, but unfortunately, Kikyo still partially wished for Byakuran's leadership. The albino was such a supreme ruler, and capable of so much more than little Andrew Spark. On the other hand, if Spark were to win, he would certainly prove himself a leader worth following. It'd be a letdown, but at the same time, who would be able to turn down a man who'd defeated the being once considered the true devil?

With a sigh, the Cloud guardian rinsed out his hair, then his body, soon turning off the water again. "Oho... I suppose we'll just have to see how it goes," he muttered.

No more than five minutes later he was dressed and making his way down the hall towards the RFW meeting room. Though they weren't the top of the Spiaggia family, being former guardians of one of the most powerful families gave them the natural authority to make decisions and propose them to their boss. And that's exactly what they did, every morning, at three thirty.

Slipping into the room, Kikyo greeted the other RFW and sat down with them. "Good morning, everyone. Zakuro, Bluebell, you'll be 'introducing' Fran and Squalo to the family today, no?"

"Indeed we will be!" Bluebell laughed. "Fran's so stupid. He followed me from the start, and now we get to use his power!"

Silence followed her, and the other RFW started to look confused as they looked at Zakuro. The red-haired male was absently toying with a pencil, leaning back in his seat as they did so, but when he took notice he was the center of attention, he promptly flipped them off. "The hell you starin' at me for, idjits?"

"Oho? This is the time we'd expect you to chime in with a comment regarding the foolishness of your own victim, Squalo. It's just a bit unexpected for you to be so quiet," the teal-haired Cloud replied calmly.

"Ugh... yeah, yeah, I would 'n' all, but...," Zakuro grumbled. "He hasn't been particularly stupid. He's really like... calm and not much different from the Squalo we've all heard 'bout. Only difference is that he's more like an ally now, and-"

"My word, Zakuro, you're blushing!" Kikyo announced suddenly, and the Storm guardian's head snapped up, his eyes wide.

"What? Hell no I'm not, Kikyo, y'idjit, I'm NOT! You think I like hooking up with that idjit Squalo? Idjit!" he spluttered out, folding his arms in protest. "God, I'm gonna puke! Don't even...!"

"Goodness... master Zakuro is quite undone...," said Daisy somberly, before his lips twitched upwards in a slight smile. "Perhaps he's been infected, as Soro has."

"Ooooh, what a pity!" Bluebell cackled. "We better get rid of him then, huh~?"

"No, no!" Zakuro snapped. "Would you guys just chill already? I'm just tired is all. Ease up, idjits. I'm fine!"

"Oho, you better hope you are," Kikyo answered, standing. "Because if you're not... you and Squalo will both be slaughtered immediately."

"Yeah, yeah, don't waste your breath - I know the rules, and I'm sure's hell not falling for the little twerp. Just let it go already," Zakuro growled, soon standing and storming out of the room with a huff of annoyance.

"I smell emotion. He has become a foolish one," muttered Torikabuto, shaking his head.

"With his anger, Zakuro has always been prone to mistake," Kikyo sighed. "But this is very disappointing. Come now, everyone. Let's head out."

Slam!

"Squalo," Zakuro called, striding out to the shark and grabbing his arm. "Oi, idjit, get up."

"Voooi... what is it?" the other male grumbled tiredly, glancing up at Zakuro.

"We're makin' you a Spiaggia today... I decided I'd get y'up before the normal time today," he muttered in reply, sitting beside Squalo before grabbing his chin and yanking him into a hard, but brief kiss. Yanking the tired Rain guardian to his feet moments later, he grunted, "Let me show you around, all right?"

Squalo, though taken aback, nodded a little. "A-all right," he muttered, taking note of Zakuro's behavior. It had been like this lately... Zakuro was more talkative, more excited to see him, it seemed. Perhaps this was the Storm's first time having a kindred spirit, and perhaps some of his feelings were genuine. But what did that matter, when this bastard was putting his precious Xanxus in such poor condition? If Squalo had to toy with Zakuro... then so be it...

Anything was worth saving their family.

Zakuro pulled Squalo through hallways, the many cameras available to be peeked as they went. Byakuran looked unexpectedly strong, whereas almost everyone else was suffering, Fran being the one exception. Squalo's brow furrowed as he saw the illusionist, contentedly sleeping, not a bruise on his body or quiver to his skin.

Did he... give in...?

Squalo frowned. Oh no... if Fran gave in... then was his mind broken? Had he been brainwashed? That would ruin everything...

Zakuro suddenly opened a door and shoved Squalo through it, the silverette grunting and hitting the ground hard. Looking back, he gave Zakuro a confused glare. "The hell?"

"Come on," Zakuro said, moving forward, eyes hard. "We're getting out of here. I'm sick of listening to a child. I'm sick of Bluebell, Kikyo, and Daisy. Let's go, let's make our own family. Eh, Squalo? Our own family, with no Sky flames! Just you and I as the bosses, y'know? No stupid idjits to get in our way!"

Completely shocked, Squalo didn't know what to say. It seemed like a complete change in Zakuro, like all of the tension he'd been accumulating over the years suddenly released. What was the shark to do now? He was trapped! If he refused Zakuro, he'd be weaponless if the other male turned hostile, but if he went with him, who was to say he'd ever see his family again?

"Zakuro," he said reluctantly. "We can't..."

"Yeah we can! Don't be stupid!" Zakuro protested. "We just have to get outta here, and then we can take power for ourselves!"

"Oho... is that what you're going to do, Zakuro?"

Squalo tensed, looking over the Storm guardian's shoulder, and almost the moment he saw Kikyo's face, he snapped, "Zakuro! Get the hell out of here or he'll kill you! VOOI!" The red-haired male glanced behind him, then, seeing a flame-tipped rose in Kikyo's hand, did just that, taking off like a cheetah and shouting for Squalo to follow him. For a few seconds, Squalo was utterly torn. Would he go? Would he risk that? If he stayed, would he be allowed to live? But if he left... what would happen to the other Varia?

It was an all over painful decision, but ultimately, the best choice he had was to run. Following after Zakuro, Squalo let his legs carry him far, shouting, "Z-Zakuro! Wait up, you bastard! I'm coming!"

Kikyo shook his head.

How unfortunate. But if those two were to return, he wouldn't be hesitant to dispose of them himself.

"All right, Daisy, Juniper," sighed Spark, arms folded. "I'm going to get dressed for my battle. When I come back, I want you to have this handled, understand? No more of that stupid tiger in that room."

"Yes sir," Daisy answered, Juniper gaving the same with the addition of 'bark.' As Spark walked off again, the two exchanged weary glances, and Juniper released his box weapon.

"Let us go, bark," the boy grunted, before slipping into the room, Daisy following on his heels.

Hibari stood in the center of the room, his hand placed on the head of his tiger friend. He looked dreadful, his cheekbones showing, his eyes dark, his ribs visible beneath his shirt. How long had it been since he last ate? "Halfeye... I'm hungry," he said, his voice ragged. "Bring me the head of the zombie on a silver platter."

The white tiger snarled in reply, tail lashing about in rage as it stared down Jupiter instead. Hibari eyed it, knowing it would much rather take down its former master than Daisy, but honestly, he felt the same way about the Sun guardian.

"Very well, partner. Take down the shirtless brat and his dog. I can hold my own against Daisy," the Cloud replied, knowing that if the tiger lost, it would be by its own will. "Go."

The battle started with a roar from the tiger, and the two ran towards the Spiaggia, Hibari holding his fists tucked beneath his body as he forced hismelf forward. Juniper's wolf box weapon and Halfeye began to fight hard like the beasts they were, whereas Daisy simply crouched down, waiting for Hibari to come close before he swung out. The moment he did so, Hibari lunged, tackling Daisy down and swinging bony fists at the other male's face, gaining little reward. He'd barely made a mark on the other male when Daisy angrily swung one back, breaking the fragile bones of Hibari's jaw and nearly knocking him out. With blurred vision, Hibari reached for Daisy's wrist, and hurriedly tried to get his ring off, but was hit again hard enough to lose full consciousness after that. He had already been on the brink of a coma for days, but he'd been holding off for this moment... and it cost him.

When Halfeye took notice of the fact that Hibari was down, however, he stopped his own rampage and ran to the ex-prefect's side, clawing at Daisy and lying over the ravenette, shielding him, giving a hard growl.

"Halfeye, you will obey, bark," Juniper muttered, walking towards the tiger. "He is not your master, bark. I am... bark. If you do not come here this instant, I will kill you, bark."

The tiger turned its head down, and licked at Hibari's thin neck, before standing, turning and walking back to Juniper. Daisy followed once he saw that the tiger was submitting, and he glared at Hibari's unconscious body as he left.

"No..."

"Hoohoo, yes, yesss! Hibari Kyoya is finally down!" Kei cackled, clutching at his stomach as if it was too much. "Ahh, they did it! That goddamn tiger won't bother us anymore, no sirree! And with him finally passed out, just imagine! It may be a matter of days before we're rid of him for good."

Mukuro reached up, pulling hard at his hair. "No...," he whispered. "No, Kyouya..."

"And you're not going to see him again! Ever~ again! Cause he's dead!" Kei was laughing, when Mukuro suddenly lunged out, bowling the other male over before starting to violently beat him. The illusionist had had enough - more than enough of this psychotic villain, and was ready to adapt or die, just like his lover. If he could just get out of here... if he could bring enough pain to Kei to convince him to reveal more information... if he could just do that...!

But unfortunately, with a mind broken as it was, Mukuro didn't even notice that he was merely attacking an illusion.

Kikyo sighed, slipping into the basement and flipping on the lights. To his frustration, the three Varia were still arguing raucously about who's fault this was and how annoying they found each other.

Was that... Varia quality?

Shaking his head, Kikyo snapped, "Silence! We can hear you from upstairs! It's getting on our nerves!" The three fell silent, Lussuria, Levi, and Mammon all glancing his way. "Listen...," Kikyo growled. "I don't care or want to know what you've all managed to argue for over three months straight. But if you don't calm down, we'll be forced to be rid of you." He left then, and Lussuria gave a sigh of relief.

"They couldn't hear us upstairs," he mumbled. "Because we only argue when they come down, the sillies... Mammon?"

"Yeah, they bought the illusion," Mammon answered, revealing that he now had the form of a twenty-one-year old male. "I might've hoped that something like this being changed in the past would give us more advantage. But it's not much..."

"If the other Arcobaleno are experiencing something similar, though, then they may take notice of your absence and start looking for you. Plus... you're more powerful like this...," Lussuria whispered. Mammon gave a slight nod and shifted a bit.

"I can only hope someone realizes the best part of the Vongola have gone missing..."

-End Chapter

*sighs in relief* Okay, everyone, sorry for the late post again! I had some data loss problems, plus I've decided to make this a strong two-parter, so~...

Review for... more! :'D