#Blazing Famiglia

[aranciafiamma]

One day, the Tenth Boss of the illustrous Vongola family decides to go for a walk. The weather was good that morning - promised to be good all week. It was perfect for a restorative constitutional.

So the Tenth put on a pair of sturdy shoes and he walked out the front door. He walked through the front lawn, passed the main gates, and down the very long, gravel driveway that lead to the estate. In a half an hour, he reached the edge of the Vongola's property, then he kept on walking.

Now, this was not so strange. The Boss had been stuck behind the desk for the better part of a fortnight. He was trying to iron out a deal with the Insolenza, fiesty famiglia in Monopoli. They had tripled their numbers in under a decade, making good money off "waste management". Their wealth of success went straight to their heads (the ones in their pants), because it takes a pair of brass balls to challenge the Vongola family. They figured if anyone was gonna make a stand - they would have to do it now, in the Tenth's first year as boss, before he got too comfy with his power.

They weren't the only ones thinking so because a bunch of smaller famiglias allied with them. Up and down the coast of Apulia, from Barletta to Bari, capos began congregating. They were easy pickings alone but spite - oh spite could be a powerful, powerful motivator. Who does this foreigner think he is? Huh? Waltzing in like he owns the place? Well, he was about to get a taste of Italy's heel.

All eyes were on the Tenth. At 24 years old, he looked half his age, without any Roman machismo to call his own. He was as hairless as a babe, not even a stray whisker on his lip. And he kept sending foot soldiers, then capos, then finally an underboss to try and reason with the Insolenza and their associates. Each and every one was run out of town in a rain of bullets - but not blood. Not yet. Soon, they promise as each shot gets closer and closer to finding its mark.

The Tenth had to do something.

So he goes for a walk, straight off his property, and into the picturesque town of Rieti. Now, the Vongola have their proper headquarters in Sicily like any self-respecting, old blood famiglia. But a few days ago, the Tenth moved from the Iron Fort into this quaint, little place just east of Rome. People began to speculate that this was the first move - that the Tenth was beginning to shift his forces and launch an all out attack from the mainland. But Monday passed into Wednesday, and as far as anyone could tell, the Tenth was just in his office, doing paperwork same as usual. Sometimes, he goes out to town and buys himself a pastry.

As such, when the Tenth leaves the property, no one bats an eye. He's probably gonna grab himself an expresso and a biscotti before hiking back to the house. Except, he walks right past his favored cafe, and crosses the city lines.

That... That gets everyone's attention.

Of course, the first to react is the Tenth's inner circle. Gokudera Hayato hops on a bike and blazes down the road. He catches up with his boss in no time. From afar, a curious staff watches as the Tenth never once stops walking, cheerfully taking step after step as he talks to his Right Hand. Whatever he says to the Storm Guardian, they will never know, but it's enough for him to clench his jaw, nod, and then back away. No other Guardians reach out after that.

For hours and hours, the Tenth walks, heading down south. By then, all the other famiglias have sat up and tuned in, sending spies to watch his progress. When the sun sets and he reaches Bussi Officine, they all witness as he begins to shift his trajectory, heading east, towards the coast. It doesn't take a genius to figure out where he was going from there. But surely, they think, that can't be right. He can't seriously be going to the Apulia Coast, on foot, not even flying as people say he could. Yet, as the sun fully sinks and the moon rises high and this guy continues to walk eastwards, everyone had no choice but to believe it.

The Insolenza were at a loss. Half of them were laughing their asses off. The other half were plotting, scheming, trying to figure out the hidden plan that the Tenth must surely have. The Vongola Alliance was equally at a loss. Don Cavallone and Don Cozarto reached out to the Tenth's inner circle but his Right Hand offers no explanation.

"Trust in the Tenth," he tells them.

When dawn arrives, the young boss meets another of his men on the road. Xanxus di Vongola has both guns out, incandescent with rage. The Tenth doesn’t even twitch and stares straight at him. Keeping his brow in the line of fire, he continues forward, one foot in front of another until his skull nearly kisses the gun barrels. But by then, Xanxus must have found whatever answer he was searching for because he sheathes his guns, walking alongside his boss. They walk together for two - three hours in complete silence.

On the fourth hour, Xanxus speaks up, but far too quietly for any of the mics to catch. In response, the Tenth laughs - a heavy, throaty chuckle.

“Let them come,” he says.

At that, Xanxus stops walking. For a full thirty seconds, he watches his boss pass him by, going ever onward. Then he spins on his heels and flies away. The drones were able to capture his expression right before he left. It was a sight that prompted many to panic. Xanxus di Vongola rarely has any cause to smile but when he does, people rarely seek the cause.

Observers tracked Xanxus flying back to the Iron Fort. This destroys any claims of the Vongola launching a ground assault or really, any kind of assault. If they were going to wage a war, they would have summoned their prized warhounds.

By now, it’s been forty hours since the Tenth started walking. He has neither eaten or slept. And, as day becomes night, the assassins attack. To the surprise of most, they were not sent by the Insolenza. The Vongola has earned plenty of grudges in their long and disastrous history. There’s plenty of enemies willing and eager to take potshots at an unprotected boss.

Some send a few freelancers seeking glory. Others spend a small fortune hiring Named hitmen. And the rest are known to the Tenth, throwing hands just to keep him company. Those seem to find this whole endeavor hilarious.

The fights are short and sweet but numerous, enough to continue into the morning and through the afternoon. Not a single one, neither friend nor foe, could break the Tenth’s stride. As a result, he leaves a long trail of bodies behind him, all alive if not awake.

This attracts the attention of civilians. Now despite the notorious corruption of local law enforcement, a pair of polizia pull up to the Tenth. They frown and they yell and they light up their sirens. He smiles at them, speaking softly. Before the last words leave his mouth, they rush back to their car, without a bribe in their pockets and with a hefty shit in their pants. The Tenth never once misses a step.

He reaches the coast around the witching hour of the third night. After all that walking, his hair is wilder than a bird’s nest and his skin is several shades darker. A thick layer of grime and dirt cover his bespoke Armani suit and his polished, leather loafers. Yet the Tenth himself remains fair of face and strong of limb. The Insolenza are no longer laughing.

Taking a deep breath of that salty sea air, the Tenth turns south. He walks at a leisurely pace, even taking the time to wave at a few bystanders. The clueless ones wrinkle their noses, possibly mistaking him for some homeless vagabond. This brings a smile to his face and a spike of adrenaline to everyone else. At this time, no more assassins come for the Tenth as everyone shifts their focus onto the Insolenza.

They have set up a blockade. Concrete barriers sit on the road, in front of armored tanks and enough artillery to pulverize a mountain. The fourth day begins with a firestorm. They aim, and they fire, and they keep firing - bullet after bullet, shell after shell, missile after missile. The Italian countryside is transformed into a warzone within the span of five minutes, as deep craters pockmark the earth and dust blankets the air.

It was by the grace of powerful, powerful Mists that such a ruckus was largely ignored. Of course, a couple stray eyes bore witness but they knew better than to speak of it. Aside from the shroud of secrecy, no one else intervenes on behalf of either party. This was now a battle between the Insolenza and the Tenth. Enemies and allies watch on the edge of their seats as the dust swirls and twists.

The Insolenza run out of ammo and a hush falls over everyone. They don’t blink. They don’t breathe. From the lowest footsoldier to the high-handed capos, they could only watch, with ears ringing and pulse racing, as the dust settles.

The idiots are ready to rejoice, and they could be excused for they just unleashed a payload that could shame the United States. But the smarter ones expected retribution - for a wave of that infamous Vongola fire to sweep through the ranks. They get neither.

Schrnk. Schrnk. Schrnk.

At first, they barely hear it. But steadily, the sound grows louder as the footsteps come closer. Striding forward, as if on a relaxing stroll, is young Sawada Tsunayoshi, Tenth boss of the Vongola famiglia. Except unlike before, his bloodline is now proudly on display. On his thin shoulders rests a heavy mantle - blacker than the purest ash, as a crown of Flame sits thick and hot on his brow. He looks at the gathered men before him with eyes the color of a molten metal. The Insolenza reel back as if burned.

The Tenth does not stop walking.

To their credit, the Insolenza do not back down. The first to gather his wits throws a grenade at the Tenth. He bats it away with an easy backhand, flashing the engine-red of his gauntlet-covered fists. The others are not deterred, grinding down and summoning either stupidity or bravery to face the young boss. The day proceeds accordingly.

They throw everything they had left. There is a mountain of over the top violence, swearing, and unnecessary shouting. They flash him the goods, the greats, and the even betters. The Tenth keeps going, never straying from his chosen path, never changing his placid pace. When he reaches the tanks on the road, he lays his burning hands on the chromium armor and without even hesitating, melts his through.

The tank operators had the wisdom to evacuate before he could reach them but that’s the lone wisdom they had. One runs at the Tenth with a steel knife! Steel! They just watched him disrespect the strongest alloy known to man! The Tenth immediately drops that guy without a thought, his ass making a satisfying crunch.

When the Tenth makes it through the blockade, battalions of footsoldiers await him on the other side. There’s an echoing cry as they all charge in a single, furious mass. Their guns lay on the ground, completely empty clips scattered all over. They only had their fists to rely on. By then, pure desperation fuels them. There’s a primal need to mark the Tenth, to reach him in any way. Or else… Or else…

They don’t know. They don’t know! They don’t want to know! The reality they understood would be forfeited entirely. They would have to live with the knowledge that beings far greater - that power they cannot comprehend - that giants walk the earth. Death would be preferred - an act of mercy - in the face of that.

The Tenth has no mercy.

As the footsoldiers charge, the Tenth takes a step. Where his foot touches the ground, ice sweeps out - encasing everything for acres around him. Men are frozen where they stand, locked in mid-step with fists cocked and mouths half open. They don’t get anywhere near the Tenth. The fourth night passes peacefully.

He crosses into Barletta some time after daybreak, with only a spare hundred kilometers separating him from Monopoli, where the Insolenza are located. His clothes sit beneath a gritty, bitter layer of dirt, soot, and oil. But there’s not a single tear to be found in the fabric. Now his shoes have given up, which makes sense given all the walking. Only strips of barely stitched together leather are left on his feet. The civilian citizens of the city scuttle away from him, as if he was diseased and not like he was a Capo di tutti Capi. Their Flame blind eyes fail to notice the burning glow radiating from him.

It’s nearing 120 hours, a grand total of five days, and the Tenth still has not slept or eaten. Even more incredibly, he has maintained a state of Hyper Dying Will for thirty hours and counting. Any average Joe would have collapsed long before now, and even the above average Moe would have looked tired at least. Not this guy. He’s just going and going, breathing evenly, and moving fluidly.

When he leaves the more urban areas into proper enemy controlled territory, he encounters a couple more Insolenza men. But these were the assholes that ran from the battle once they realized the futility of the fight. They weren’t about to grow a spine now that the enemy was literally at their doorstep. So… They just follow him. They shadow his steps for the last stretch of the road as the unyielding and unstoppable boss heads for their headquarters. By the time Monopoli is in their sights, there’s a good three dozen of them just ambling behind him. He pays them little mind, taking it all in stride.

As the Tenth hits the city limits, an obscenely slick Porsche rolls up at his side. His new groupies back all the way up as a tall man steps out, pristine and sinful in his tailored suit. He doesn’t interrupt the Tenth’s walk, but keeps up as he circles around him. Without even zooming in, those watching know the newcomer as none other than the famed Reborn, former Sun Arcobaleno but still the world’s greatest hitman. He doesn’t say a word to his once student but his hands move quickly over him.

Taking a total of ten seconds, he completely redresses the Tenth in a new suit - white and clean as freshly fallen snow. He manages to tame the Tenth’s hair, removing all the twigs and leaves and trash that got trapped in there. With a wet towel, he wipes off the accumulated filth on the Tenth’s face, snapping his teeth when the Tenth lets out an annoyed whine. Finally, he sets down a pair of steel toed, wing tipped shoes for the Tenth to step into. All this was done as the Tenth continued his walk. It would have put any quick change Vegas act to shame.

The Tenth arrives at the gates of the Insolenza compound, perfectly coiffed and properly looking like a Mafia Boss. For the past five days, the head family’s bodyguards were inundated with news of the Tenth’s easy progress towards them. So when they finally laid their eyes on him… There was little they could do beyond standing aside, parting before him like the Red Sea did for Moses. The Tenth nods agreeably and invites himself right in.

Vittorio Alessandro Romano di Insolenza stood waiting at the steps to his front door. He sees the Tenth coming and he meets him halfway, holding out a sheaf of papers in his trembling hand. It’s the treaty that the Tenth sent to him awhile back, the first Vongola men visited. Of course, the Insolenza had torn up every single one. It was just this morning, when Romano sent a screaming call to his underbosses and demanded they find him a copy, that they got one in tact. (The truth is that a wiser underling sent a sheepish email requesting a copy from a bemused Hana Kurokawa, the head of the Vongola legal department.)

“Here, just take it. Take it already. And leave. Leave, damn you!” The Insolenza boss spits out, pulling in short, shallow breaths.

“Of course, but I should sign the treaty first, right?” The Tenth smiles, smooth and gentle as silk.

His former enemy jerks his head forward in an attempt to nod. It looks more like he’s having a seizure. Not that anything he does really matters at this point. It’s all just formalities. That doesn’t keep the Tenth from relishing every second. He takes his time patting his pockets, looking for a pen, before a bodyguard shyly offers one. Then, he spends even more time reading through the document as if the Insolenza boss had any audacity left to change something on the sly. But once five excruciating minutes pass, the Tenth signs the treaty with fancy flourish added to his name.

“There. That should do it,” he announces.

A veritable tsunami of relief washes over the gathered crowd.

“Please leave,” the Insolenza boss murmurs, just a heartbeat away from collapsing on the ground.

The Tenth gives him an arch look. “You know… Your men are impressive, I’ll grant you that. I look forward to working with you.”

The Insolenza boss straight up stares - jaw hanging loose - at the young boss who single handedly terrorized and demoralized his men. Tsunayoshi Sawada di Vongola had just won a war without shedding a single drop of blood, yet at the same time bleeding his enemies of all resources and any will to fight. He won a war by barely striking back, only lifting his hands to move something physically out of his way. He won a war by letting everyone take a good, long, hard look at what exactly he’s capable of.

To hear a compliment - earnest and sincere - from someone like that, well… Romano thinks it wouldn’t be so hard to work with him.

“But you gotta stop dumping radioactive waste in the water.”

“Right, sure.”

The Tenth chuckles - a raspy, rattling sound. “You should come to dinner. We’ll iron out the details. And you’re welcome to take a car or even fly over. Not everyone loves a good hike like me.”

Romano chokes on his spit as something warm trickles down his legs. It’s piss. He just pissed himself. Merda.

Without waiting for a response, the Tenth spins on his heel, tucking the treaty into his suit jacket, and walks out the front gates. The newly allied Insolenza family can only watch as he makes his way down the path at an even, unhurried pace.

Half an hour later finds Tsuna far from the Insolenza manor, strolling into downtown Monopoli. He swings by a nearby cafe, where a plate of biscotti and a fresh cup of espresso sit on the counter in a takeout bag.

“Oh good, you got my order!” He says brightly.

The barista gives him a funny look. “Zio, the app says that you ordered this from Rieti?”

“Yep, I just came down here to pick it up. Thanks!” With that, Tsuna grabs his food and walks away.

He takes maybe ten steps from the cafe before that same black Porsche parks itself in front of him. The door opens automatically and Tsuna climbs right in, careful not to spill his drink.

Reborn looks him over, lifting a slim, single brow. “Dame-Tsuna, we have espresso at home.”

“Sure. But I heard good things about this place.” Tsuna grins, sharp and cheeky and boundless with joy.

They laugh the whole way home.

[wolfgirlfloof]

Imagine, if you will.

Lungmen's newest star is burning bright and fast! Wild, spunky, and unabashedly infected, Lappland is taking the idol industry by storm, with the heat of her meteoric rise matched only by the blazing controversy around her. But her plans to burn the city to the ground must be put on hold when opportunity arises in distant Siracusa; a trip to a shared homeland she has never known is surely a good way to bond with her dear Texas. And though the beasts of Siracusa are a different breed than Lungmen's, she has always loved learning new ways to whet her fangs.

On a rainy night in Volsinii like any other, Alberto Saluzzo falls asleep and never wakes up. Leadership of his house thus passes to his only daughter; and with a smile on her face and honey on her tongue, Sora Saluzzo builds an eye in Siracusa's storm, entrenching her famiglia at the center. Her hands hold the city and her voice beckons loyalty, but it is only with the arrival of troubles new and old that her restless heart can calm. Even as her fragile order quakes, even as the skies darken once more, her long dreams draw at last to fruition, and woe betide any wolf who stands in her way. After all, she's been waiting for this. She's been waiting for her for such a long, long time.

[leftnotright]

A TEXTBOOK EDUCATION

"This will be a skill-building experience. You've had it too easy. You've had your Family name to back you, and your Right Hand at your every call. It's time you learn to carry yourself, to build from the ground up." Dino Cavallone, the Cavallone Don, fresh out of high school.

Reborn, the deadliest hitman of the modern era, has a special kind of torture up his sleeve for his dear struggling student. Dino will have to see how well he handles alienation, isolation, and worst of all, class participation. “Now, go on, my useless student Dino. Let’s continue your education.” (Or: Reborn sends Dino to Australia. It goes better than he could have ever hoped.)

Parings: N/A Characters: Dino (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Vic Hunt (OC - Original Character), Reborn (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Romario (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!)Cavallone Famiglia, Enzo (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Original Characters Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, University, Pre-Canon, Financial Issues, Fluff And Angst

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

CHAPTER 4: AND THEY COME UNSTUCK

The TV - ‘’tele’ as they called it - was playing the morning news on channel 7. Dino had been listening to it since he had rolled out of bed, too sweaty and stressed to get any decent sleep. Fittingly, the news show was called ‘Sunrise’ and Dino had been watching since then, listening to the news and how they spoke about everything. 

There is a fire - ‘bushfire’ - in Penrith, firefighters were trying to keep it under control. Up in New Castle, there was a surfing event. Parliament was discussing the pensioner retirement age. Fundraisers were being held at multiple Bunnings for the NSW Regional Firefighting Service after a particularly bad fire season.

“I think I might pop down for a sausage sizzle,” the blond woman chimed in after the segment, “Been a while since I’ve had one’a those.”

“One’a those,” Dino echoed absently as he moved his pen along a line of text.

Calendar reminder: EDST1001 LECTURE 11:30AM

Dino paused his ledgers and looked at his phone as it beeped on the table. He had spent the whole morning pouring over the few documents he had left from the Cavallone offices, trying to quell that anxiety that bubbled in his stomach and made sleep hard. He only had a few documents left, most of them were copies of the original documents back at the Cavallone. Receipts, mostly, and barters for the last bits of furniture and assets the Cavallone could afford to sell off. 

Everything, spare what was bolted down or irreplaceable, had been sold already. It had left the halls of his home barren. Gone were the antique paintings, gilded statues and handwoven carpets. And gone was much of the Cavallone’s prestige with it. 

A Family selling off their history. 

He sighed and rubbed his nape, free of sweat for the first time since he had landed in this ‘sunburnt land’. That air conditioning truly was his saviour.

Calendar reminder: Meet Vic U-Bar Courtyard 3PM

Dino blinked. Then he gave a sharp heave of panic as he remembered that, yes, he had indeed promised to meet up with Vic today.

Okay. Okay, okay, okay, he was just meeting a friend it was going to be okay he didn’t need to panic like this it was just his only peer friend in years and he wasn’t going to screw this up he promised-

Enzo snapped at Dino’s toe and make him jump out of his minor mental breakdown. 

“Ow!” Dino yelped and yanked his foot away from the turtle. “I’ll go to the grocer’s today, so stop!”

Enzo wheezed at him accusingly before slowly turning and began the long plod to his newly found sunbathing patch. 

Dino frowned at Enzo’s back while cradling his toe until his phone buzzed again, warning him he only had an hour until his lecture. He grappled with his drawers and pulled on his most civilian of clothes, feeling blessedly comfortable in a white shirt and cargo shorts.

One thing Dino loved about university was the lack of uniforms. He didn’t think he’d survive this heat with the blazer, vest and tie he wore in high school. He had barely survived yesterday in that suit-

Dino clapped his hands loudly as if to scare off that memory and the incredulous looks of his classmates. He hadn’t had time to change for his Econ class either, but without a tutorial, he had managed to hide in the back rows of his lecture’s amphitheatre without drawing too much attention.

But he had learnt his lesson: No mafia suits in civilian classes.

Dino rubbed his stomach absently as he made his way back to the living room. He hadn’t been eating well since coming to Australia. Hell, the largest meal he had so far was that KFC with Vic and, as she said, it had enough salt to season the sea. He really needed to go to a grocer.

He hated to admit it, but he was procrastinating going to that ‘Woolies’ Vic had mentioned before. He didn’t feel confident in his English enough to go alone, and Dino had - well, he had never bought something in person before. Everything was done by middlemen, through order or pre-emptively in bulk. He’d never bought a carrot before! Could you buy a single carrot? Or did they only come in 20-kilogram packages? Dino didn’t know what he’d do with 20 kilograms of carrots!

Dino filled up a cup with water and took a long drink to calm his nerves before he thought himself into yet another panic attack on this fine, totally normal morning. He took his pills and proceeded to drink another glass of water to fill his stomach until lunch. 

Dino checked the clock on the wall and quickly shoved the last of his schoolwork into his briefcase. He needed a more civilian bag damn it, he stood out too much with this thing since it was from his high school days.

White tee-shirt, cargo shorts, joggers and a briefcase. What a sight Dino must be.

Before Dino walked out the door, his anxiety beckoned him to apply another layer of antiperspirant deodorant. Sweating so much yesterday had kind of traumatised him. He needed to figure out how to clean his suit.

Enzo wheezed when Dino picked him up off the floor but slid into the cargo short’s thigh pocket without fuss. For good measure, Dino tossed a few of his pellets in too before pressing the velcro shut. 

The trees of Wally’s Walk did little to block the swelter of midday Summer, and Dino pulled at his collar to air out his shirt. He checked his phone again to find his classroom, Building 27, the Lotus Theatre. 

“Fancy,” Dino muttered to himself and moved towards the cul-de-sac end of the Walk. 

There was a crowd of students loitering outside building 27, and Dino was quick to join them, standing off to the side to allow the traffic to flow between. He let his eyes scan the crowd, feeling much more at ease with how he blended in. No one was staring this time. Excellent. 

Dino pulled his briefcase closer and pulled out his phone, content to just scroll on the news apps for the next fifteen minutes or so. He was halfway through an article about something called the Powerhouse Museum of Science being moved to a Parramatta location when he felt eyes on him.

Carefully, Dino flicked his eyes to the side, using his peripherals to see who was watching him so intently. If they were a hitman, they were doing one hell of a bad job. What kind of assassin allowed their presence to be so obvious- Oh .

He lifted his head and waved, smiling with a sheepish relief. Vic stood at the edge of the crowd, and came over when she was acknowledged.

Reborn must really have done a number on him. 

“Oh hello,” Vic hummed as she came to a stop next to him, and Dino didn’t miss the quick once-over she gave him with her eyes. “I see we’re going casual this time.”

“Please don’t talk about yesterday,” Dino withered and Vic let out a laugh.

“Kay, got it,” she assured and shifted her weight again. “So we’ve got the same class again today, huh? EDST101?”

“Yeah, I’m happy we are together again,” Dino smiled, putting his phone away to pay full attention to Vic. “What time is your tutorial? Are we together as well?”

“I’m in the 2 o’clock group.”

“Ah, we are not. I am the 1 o’clock group.”

“Fuck,” Vic sighed forlornly and crossed her arms.

Dino tilted his head when he noticed she was wearing another faded band tee, adorning the same logo and name as the last one with a different design. Maybe it was her favourite band? It was a talking point!

“What, uh, song, is that?” Dino asked, pointing to Vic’s shirt.

“Song? Oh,” Vic looked down at her shirt and opened her arms to show the logo splashed across her chest, Smoking Cucumbers. “It’s my cousin’s heavy metal anarchist band. Don’t really know how the anarchist plays into it, but he insists it does. Gives me a shirt for New Years nearly every year.”

“That’s nice of him,” Dino uttered, “Are they good?”

Vic made a noise and rocked her head from side to side, looking off into the distance as she visibly thought about it. 

“Varying quality,” she decided to say.

“I see,” Dino chuckled, then he shifted his weight and reached for the next topic. “Do you have a large family?”

Family, that was a familiar topic. Dino could talk about Family easy! 

“Nah, not really, I’ve only got a brother. But the cousins add up, you know?” She shrugged, “I’ve got like, uh, six cousins from my dad’s side. The youngest is nearly seven months old, I’m going to meet him during semester break.”

Dino smiled as Vic fished around to show a picture from her phone. A child, cute as a button, was cradled in the centre of a mass of pillows, arms and legs askew like it had fallen asleep mid-crawl attempt.

“Ant’s so adorable. He looks like a fucking blobfish,” she cooed and Dino couldn’t help the snort of startled laughter. “What about you? What’s your family like?”

“My Family is large. The house is always busy,” Dino started, recalling all the faces he was so used to waking up to every morning. Oh, he missed those faces. “I have no siblings, but many uncles and brothers.”

Vic blinked at that and Dino smiled sheepishly, wondering if he had misspoken somewhere. She didn’t interrupt, however, so Dino continued. Talking about his Family was cathartic, and made the overbearing sun, innumerable people and unfamiliar terrain, all seem less horrible for a moment.

“Romario looks after me well. I am sure he is the reason I survived so long.” Not that Reborn didn’t try to stop that, with all those bombs and bullets. “My father introduced him to me when I was young, we have been together since.”

He remembered that day, so many years ago. He had clutched the ends of his coat and fought to stand still, surrounded by five of his father’s Guardians as they stood at attendance for the Don’s return. His father arrived with a teen trailing behind him, scuffed up and covered in grass seeds and dust like he had crawled out from the barley fields that surrounded the Cavallone estate. 

“Brutus means well, but he is, uh, a bad influence,” Dino chuckled, recalling how Brutus had ridden a mattress down the spiral staircase and broke through the railing. “He has been with us for a few years now. Growing tall. Too tall.”

That last comment was said with its fair share of bitterness. Brutus liked to use Dino as an armrest in casual settings these days. No respect!

Vic smiled as he grumbled at the memory, another one of her snorted laughs bursting forward.  

“Are you the youngest, or..?”

Dino frowned more, “Brutus is the youngest. Everyone is upset.”

Vic wheezed a laugh and pocketed her phone before rocking back on her heels and asked, “Anyone else of note?”

“Too many,” Dino hummed softly, “I hope to see them soon.” Then he winced and let out a weak laugh, “Ah, but I am sure they will make me pay back all my missed turns in stable work.”

Vic blinked and then squinted a bit, like she was trying to piece together what he had said. Dino watched her for a moment before it dawned on him: Vic didn’t know about the Cavallone Family’s main stock.

“My family breed horses. I will be missing my turns to help in the horse stables. We rotate.”

Vic’s face twitched, then she snorted out, “So, you’re like an equestrian?”

“Uh, I was part of my high school’s equestrian club, yes?” 

The girl sighed through her nose and reached up to massage her forehead as she muttered out, “My God, he’s a horse girl too.”

“Horse girl?” Dino echoed.

“Have you ever watched something called The Saddle Club?”

Dino shook his head and Vic made a dismissing wave of her hand, before turning her head as the crowd began to move, a slow and steady flow of students pouring into the amphitheatre. 

“Time to move,” she uttered and the two of them wriggled their way through the mass of sweaty students. 

Dino winced as a girl's tote bag poked into his arm, and then nearly fumbled his walk as the first step of an incline surprised him. He wheezed and gave a sheepish smile as someone in the crowd gave him a withering glance.

Vic chose somewhere to sit and Dino trailed after her, eager to get out of the river of slow-moving bodies that shuffled along unsurely. They pulled their chair seats down and spent a good few seconds fighting with their flip-up desks before settling down.

“Wow, yours is a bit fucked,” Vic commented as she looked to the hazardous angle Dino’s laptop was teetering on, no doubt only held there by the non-slip pads. 

“It’s…a bit weak. But it will hold,” Dino agreed feebly, trying to realign his desk.

“Nah, nah, mate, not with your luck. Move before that thing snaps.”

Dino fiddled with his desk for a moment longer before making the short shuffle to Vic’s other side. It felt disconcerting, to be stuck in the aisle now. Vic was blocking an easy exit, whether she intended to or not. Dino could feel that anxiety all the way in the bottom of his feet.

Someone behind Dino coughed loudly, before they gathered their stuff and moved a few seats away, still clearing their throat. Dino noticed Vic watch them out of the corner of her eye, a vague grimace on her face.

“But hey,” she uttered suddenly before Dino could ask what the issue was, turning back to idly click around on her laptop to get an empty Word document up for notes. “This way, you’re less likely to get called on for audience participation!”

Dino blinked, then he gave a relieved smile and rested back into his seat. 

“Yeah, that’s���That’s a good point.”

“Yeah, but fuck we’ve still gotta talk during the tutorials. We’ve gotta talk at least once per session to get that twenty percent.”

Dino dropped his head back with a groan. 

Before either of them could say much more, however, the large screens at the front of the amphitheatre lit up with the introduction slide of a powerpoint and a woman took centre stage. The lecture rolled on with the same amount of ease as the others, just another orientation lesson to get the students used to their first week in university and what would be expected of them in the coming weeks. Dino was starting to get more confident with his English comprehension, since a lot of the classes were repeating similar content and using the same phrases.

They were maybe half an hour in, Dino centring all his focus on breaking down the word ‘pedagogy’ when he heard, in the softest and most bamboozled voice possible: “Dino, is that a fucking turtle in your pocket?” 

Dino’s head snapped around and then looked down to see Enzo’s little head peering out from under the flap of his pant pocket, beady eyes peering back at Vic. Dino wheezed and shoved the flap down, trying to cover up Enzo from prying eyes. 

“Uuh,” Dino uh-ed.

“Dino, why is there a turtle in your pocket?” Vic asked again.

Dino fumbled for an answer, before he just shrugged and said, “Well, I, I couldn’t leave him at home alone.”

“But to a lecture?”

“Hey, could you two stop? It’s really distracting.” A young man sitting ahead of them grumbled and Vic quickly tossed out an apology.

Enzo let out a wheeze and wriggled his way to freedom again, head poking out into the fresh air of the air-conditioned amphitheatre. Dino rushed to hide Enzo again, but Vic quickly bent at the waist and cooed in delight.

“No wait, lemme see the baby,” she whispered and pushed the flap away to get a good look at the small tortoise that squinted back at her. “Oh, hello little man!”

Dino watched as Vic reached out and gently pet Enzo’s head with her pointer, grinning like some kind of loon as she did. He thinned his lips in a moment of thought, before Dino reached into his other pocket and produced a small handful of pellets.

“Do you,” he began slowly, unsure but hopeful. “Do you want to feed Enzo, Vic?”

Vic looked up at Dino and utterly beamed. 

Dino kept that in mind: Vic likes feeding Enzo. Good, good, he had a way to socialise now. Enzo truly was the best wingman. 

Dino smiled down at Enzo who was quietly crunching on his pellets. The little turtle squinted up at him. 

  ☁ ☁ ☁

Vic Hunt Class done

Vic Hunt Do you still have Enzo?

Dino Cav Yes

Vic Hunt On my way!!

Dino snorted into his hand and sent a quick laughing emoticon in response. He had already chosen a table for them to sit at for their meeting, a shaded table outside one of the courtyard’s student cafes, off to the side and more isolated than the others. It was most likely for studying, Dino liked the privacy. 

Enzo sat snugly in his pocket happily fed after all those snacks from Vic during their lecture. Dino smiled to himself and patted his pocket, feeling that hard shell. The most secure weight.

“Show me the baby,” Vic demanded as she rounded the corner and dropped herself in the chair across from Dino. 

Not even a hello? Dino couldn’t blame her though, no one could resist Enzo. Spoilt rotten that little turtle was. 

Dino huffed and glanced around, before sliding Enzo out of his pocket and onto the table between them. He stretched his arm out on the exposed side of the table, covering Enzo up just in case.

Immediately, Vic dropped down to Enzo’s height and started cooing, murmuring unintelligible little noises at the turtle. She grinned and giggled as she watched Enzo plod about the table, quietly exploring the area with his usual squint of suspicion. 

“Look at his little feets!” Vic nearly gasped and Dino couldn’t help the snort of laughter. “Oh shut it, Dino. All that talk of horses, why didn’t you mention the turtle in your pocket! ”

“I don’t know… Enzo didn’t come to mind?” Dino offered unsurely. He hadn’t meant to not mention Enzo, it was just that Enzo was such a constant for Dino that he honestly didn’t realise that someone wouldn’t know about Enzo at this point. 

“How did you even get the allowance to bring him?”

…Allowance? Dino blinked. He didn’t know anything about an allowance.

The silence stretched on until finally, Vic looked up, a smile creeping onto her face. 

“Dino, did you smuggle your turtle into the village?” She asked.

Dino thinned his lips before he slowly murmured, “No one told me I couldn’t .” Vic grinned then, something vicious and joyful with so many teeth. “That is to say,” Dino continued, trying to explain himself for breaching university rules. “I need Enzo. I go nowhere without him. I need him.”

Vic let out a soft hum of acknowledgement, before giving a shrug and leant back in her chair. 

“Hey, no skin off my back. It’s not like lil’ Enzo here’s gonna damage the room for the next student. Not like some dog or cat.”

Dino relaxed a bit when she said that, a tension in his shoulders seeping out. Dino admitted it, he hadn’t met many civilians in his time. Most of his social circle consisted of Mafia and their middlemen, the people he knew were utterly steeped in the criminal underworld. 

Maybe it was his naivete getting the better of him, an opinion from childhood he had never had the chance to rectify -- Dino thought of civilians as a rather pure existence. Morally right, law-abiding citizens of the world to counterbalance the presence of the Mafia. 

Dino had broken university policy. A horrified little part of him was sure that Vic would be appalled by his blatant disregard for the established order-

Dino let a long breath out through his nose, slow and steady. It was fine, though. Vic didn’t care. The rules weren’t so cut and dry in the civilian world. Within limitations, of course. 

Vic shifted in her seat, and pulled her computer up onto the table just aside of Enzo. She booped him on the nose for good measure, unaware of the stress Dino had gone through. 

“Anyway, I did a bit of work last night and I think I know what I’m going to be talking about.” She said, and opened a tab to start scribing ideas. “But I kinda wanna talk about your activity. The resources one.”

Dino tried his best to join the discussion as the two began to finally dig into their assessment. Vic scrolled through her document and showed Dino what she had scraped together the night before, which was honestly an obscene amount.

“Uniforms?” Dino asked, seeing how the word was bolded as a heading.

“Yeah, in Australia uniforms are mandatory for Primary and High schools,” Vic explained, “It’s to more of less, stop students from seeing the difference in status. Like if one kid came in fucking Gucci, and another comes in second-hand Kmart. Uniforms stop that shit.”

Dino hummed and thought back to his school, they had worn uniforms too. And they were right, you couldn’t really tell who was from a better Family -- if you were using clothes as a tell. Posture, presence and poise. Those all could tell just how large a gap there was between Families. And the Dons who led them.

Vic continued to scroll to her next point, and Dino scooped Enzo into his hands, thumbing at the edge of his shell to try and soothe himself. 

“I’ve also got ‘homework assistance’ and tutoring.”

Dino’s eyes snapped up from Enzo at the word. ‘Tutor’. God, that sent chills to his very core. 

“People with money can afford to send their kids to better schools, and can afford to support their kids with, ya know, tutoring. Basically, the better off the parents, the better off the kids.”

Dino thinned his lips. It was true, Dino had no doubt that the smaller Families wouldn’t have been even able to dream of having the Reborn as a live-in tutor. He didn’t even want to think about how much of the Cavallone funds must have gone into the little devil-man’s pockets just so he could torture Dino day in and day out for the past year. 

“We got this yesterday,” Dino muttered quietly, almost unwittingly.

Dino could see why Vic wanted to be a teacher, she obviously felt strongly about the imbalances in the education system. Direct action, it seemed very up her alley.

Vic blinked, and then she shrank back in her chair a bit. She gave a huffed little smile and shrugged, sheepishly and kind of drowsy.

“But yeah, that’s just my idea for my part,” she said idly, “And I think it’ll segway nicely into your activity. So, uh, how’re you going with your intro?”

Dino winced, “I have not, ah, started it yet.” Gosh, Vic had already produced all of this and Dino hadn’t even looked over the assessment properly yet. Dino traced the pattern in Enzo’s shell. “English, is, uh, not my strong skill.” 

Vic made a short noise of understanding on the back of her throat, before she gave her own work a look-ver as if to see it in a new light.

“I will have to begin in Italian, and move to English,” Dino said slowly, and Vic waved her hand at him.

“Hey, whatever floats your boat and gets the job done. Do what makes you comfy,” she shifted on her seat and tugged on the end of her shorts before uttering off-handedly, “And, ya know, if you need help, I can lend a hand with those dickish words like ‘pedagogy’ and shit.”

 Vic pointedly looked away from Dino as she said this, eyes fixed on her document that she scrolled through to give her hands something to do. 

Dino blinked, then quickly said, “I don’t want to be a bother!”

“Nah, no, it’s ‘right,” Vic insisted lazily, and took a drink from her thermos. 

Dino could hear ice rattling around inside. God, that was a good idea.

Vic and Dino leant across the table to look at Vic’s computer screen, organising a file for the project. Vic pulled up a powerpoint and wrote ‘SOCIAL CLASS IN EDUCATION by Dino, Jessica and Vic’.  

“Great, that’s enough work. I think we’re due a break,” Vic said and closed her computer.

Dino decided not to point out the fact that they had only been ‘working’ for a total of maybe 10 minutes, and that the most progress had been naming and sharing the group slideshow. 

“Okay,” Vic said suddenly, breaking Dino out of his thoughts as she stood up. “I’mma go get some lunch. You coming?”

Dino grabbed Enzo up off the table and stuffed him into his pocket. Vic stared with wide eyes before she glanced between the pocket and Dino’s face and asked, “Is he, uh, always in there?”

“Usually, I keep Enzo in a breast pocket,” he answered, before patting his chest and added, “Over the heart.”

Enzo’s shell was practically indestructible. Nothing short of Reborn’s Chaos Shots could pierce it. 

“Aw, that’s fuckin’ sweet,” Vic chortled.

By the time Dino and Vic sat down again, they were balancing their chosen meals in their hands. Dino carefully slid his salad and chips plate onto the table, and watched Vic quickly slurp some of the excess butter chicken gravy from the edge of her plate before doing the same. Vic wasted no time in drumming the tabletop with her hands until Dino ‘produced the goods’.

Enzo immediately stole a whole leaf of lettuce from Dino’s salad.  

“ Smettila, Enzo! ” Dino scolded but didn’t try to take the leaf away from the happily munching turtle. 

Vic smiled at the little turtle before using the handle end of her fork to tap on the side of the bottle of water Dino had bought. It was wet with perspiration and creating a puddle on the table with every jolting tap; just as shiny as Dino was.

“Drink, mate, you’re sweating buckets,” Vic urged with a frown. 

She was right. Dino wiped his chin with his arm and grimaced as sweat just smeared on both sides. Dino was as shiny as a newly minted coin, and the back of his shirt clung to his spine, two shades darker than the rest of it. He made an expression of great sensory discomfort as he sat forward to try and peel it off. Australian heat was very different to the Sicilian summers Dino was used to.

“Yes,” Dino murmured and took a sip from his bottle. By the time he put it back down, more than half was gone. 

“You gotta be sun-safe, or I’ll slip-slop-slap a bitch,” Vic warned. Dino stared at Vic for a long moment, before the girl reeled back a bit and asked, “Wait, you know about the slip-slop-slap sun thing yeah? Or is- wait, fuck of course that’s an Aussie thing.” 

Dino smiled as the girl rubbed her face in a mixture of frazzle and embarrassment. 

“I, uh, will be ‘sun-safe’,” he said, “I do not want to be ‘slip-slop-slapped’.”

Vic blinked, and then she grinned with teeth. 

“Okay, but what’s up with the horses?” Vic asked and then spooned a generous helping of rice into her mouth. 

Dino paused halfway through another guzzle of water.

“The horses?”

“Yeah, like, you breed ‘em, right? What for though?” 

Dino quickly swallowed the water that had dammed up in his mouth. He settled back in his chair and smiled a bit, idly spinning his bottle on the table with his fingers.

“Uh, we- we breed them for… Well, every job. Labour, farm, carriage, show. We used to make war horses.”

Vic made a sharp whistle of surprise and leant her cheek against her hand, elbow on the table. Dino stared at it, her elbow on the table, for a moment, before he pulled his eyes up. 

“Warhorses? So, this is like a tradition thing. Family business?” 

‘Family business’. Dino withheld a snort, he smiled weakly and said, “Yes, for at least ten generations.” 

“ Whew, that’s some old blood,” Vic wheezed.

Dino smiled and remembered the history walks down the legacy hall. Walls adorned with past Dons, and those faded faces of the nameless patriarchs who tilled the fields and corralled wild horses long before the time of the Cavallone Famiglia Mafia. 

“We are proud of our horses,” Dino said, an undeniable truth. But it was an undeniable truth also that- “Horses, however, are not very- very, useful. Today.”

Vic winced, “Ah, yeah. With cars and all.” She took a slow bite of her curry and tilted her head. “So with all those horses, surely your family, like, races them? Got any cool ones…” Her voice trailed off as Dino’s face pinched.

Dino ran his thumb along the edge of Enzo’s shell, the little turtle squinted up at him. 

“We are banned. No Cavallone horse may race in Italy.”

Vic thinned her lips and scraped her wooden, disposable spoon along her plate, drawing a random shape with the orange, butter chicken gravy.

“Can I… Can I ask why? Or would you rather just, ya know,” she made a waving motion with her hands. “Not talk about that.”

Dino let out a frail burst of a laugh that was equal parts bitter and vindictive.

“We kept winning.”

Vic paused, and looked at Dino. Looked at the way Dino’s smile had gritted teeth in the corners.

Vic gave a bark of laughter. 

“So instead of beating you fairly, they booted you?” She asked and leaned forward. 

Dino took in a sharp breath. Despite her tone, her smile wasn’t playful. It had an edge to it. Annoyed. Frustrated. Angry. Vic was angry. For some reason. 

But, Dino quickly scanned her over, not at him. Always good, always good!

“Cavallone horses are hard to beat. Very,” Dino explained and Vic scoffed hard enough that Dino thought she hurt her throat.

“Look, unless you’re doping your horses, I don’t see why you should be kicked.”

Dino shrugged, “Our horses are special.”

“I’m not fucking surprised! You’ve been working on them for over ten fucking generations!” 

Vic pinched the bridge of her nose, before Dino watched as Vic clenched her teeth, her biceps, her forearms, her fists, then all the way back up again. Then, like she was suddenly exhausted, Vic slumped back into her chair, shoulders sagging under her loose shirt. She let out a long, slow sigh through her nose. She smiled and started cooing at Enzo.

Dino stared, baffled. What the hell had happened there? Had she gotten so upset that she had to actively calm herself down?

Dino shifted in his seat. He looked down at his salad -- slowly being stolen one leaf at a time by Enzo -- and bit down on the need to smile. 

Vic was upset for him. He didn’t expect that to feel so… Nice. Validating.

“So you can’t race in Italy,” Vic hummed, tone low and almost dragging itself out of her mouth. “Why not race in a -- fuck I don’t know horses,” she tilted her head back and waved her spoon around, “Melbourne Cup is a horse race. Why not race here? Or does the ban keep you?”

Dino reached for his fork and ate a mouthful. He realised what he was doing only halfway through: buying time. 

Did the ban keep the Cavallone from racing outside of Italy? He didn’t know. 

The ban had been his grandfather’s greatest shame. The Eighth Don of the Cavallone hadn’t been able to fight off those little Dons who had climbed on top of each other to seem taller and tip the scales. The beginning of the end for the Cavallone, really.

After that, the Eighth had fallen to illness and Dino’s father had taken the reigns as the sole heir. Everyone knew how that ended.

Dino nudged an olive and watched it roll across his plate. Enzo stole another leaf with a satisfied ‘crunch’ .

Dino had never seen a Cavallone race on a track before. 

Could he? Did he dare? Enter his Cavallone horses into civilian races? How close could he get to the civilians when the Mafia were so careful to keep that strict divide? 

Hell, even their resorts were Mafia and Mafia-adjacent exclusive! It took a whole boat or plane to get to the separate island . 

Dino swallowed the leaf, long gone mushy in his mouth. 

But if it worked? If he dared to start racing their Cavallone-style bred horses -- if it worked? 

Break the tradition, break the rules, break the bonds of debt that tie down the Cavallone. 

“Good idea?” Vic asked, a lazy smile on her face. “You look excited. Practically chomping at the bit.”  

Dino looked up, he hadn’t realised he was grinning.

‘Never race a Cavallone.’ Time to bring that old saying back.

[bloodyspade0000]

Dum Spiro, Spero Part 1– The start of it all

Summary: When I breath, I hope...

...

After being killed by his father, Haizaki gets regenerated into a strange new world where his father didn't exist and where he had to learn to use the new powers that had been bestowed upon him—flames that flickered and spewed underneath his skin and glowed purple whenever he let them out—and had to adapt to a new beginning with his previous memories still intact.

A/N: I posted this on ao3 but I decided it be great to post this here as well. So enjoy :3

.....

After the winter cup, Haizaki's father forced Haizaki into the yakuza as punishment for his delinquency and used Haizaki as a pawn to do his dirty work so he didn't need to stain his own hands. 

He had no qualms about exploiting his son, whether it meant gaining more power, keeping people in line, or getting rid of those who defied him. 

And…

It had gone on for years.

Until…

Haizaki's father no longer found him useful and killed him. 

…

Haizaki was reborn into a strange new world where his father didn't exist and where he had to learn to use the new powers that had been bestowed upon him—flames that flickered and spewed underneath his skin and glowed purple whenever he let them out—and had to adapt to a new beginning with his previous memories still intact while adjusting to growing up again. 

In this world, the criminal underworld was ruled by a mafia Famiglia called Vongola that had influence worldwide, and Haizaki had been generously picked off the streets by Vongola Nono's cloud guardian, Visconti, who raised Haizaki as his own and trained Haizaki to utilize his cloud flames while teaching Haizaki Italian. And once Haizaki was old enough, Visconti enrolled him into mafia school. 

Haizaki was a quick learner and picked up everything faster than one normally would, as he trained his hardest. 

His goal in this world was to live the normal, peaceful life he had so desperately wanted in his world, which his father had ruined.

But…

Haizaki found that would be impossible in this world, too, when his eyes met the blazing red ones belonging to Xanxus—Timoteo's youngest son and Varia's ruthless leader—at a party, and Haizaki found himself instantly drawn to him like a moth to a burning flame. 

Xanxus was a powerful sky, and Haizaki was memorized by that power. 

He craved it. He carved Xanxus. 

Haizaki wanted—needed Xanxus as his sky. It ached and scorched his insides, blazing through him like an inferno. 

So, he sought out Xanxus. 

Because…

No matter what world it was, Haizaki always took what he wanted. 

…

Teeth scarped and nipped at his skin, leaving behind marks of sizzling desire that set his heart ablaze as wrath flames tangled and sank into the cloud flames. He had awoken at rebirth and mastered it.

Rough, calloused hands gripped Haizaki's hips, and Haizaki felt the familiar stretch and burn of being penetrated by a cock.

He hadn't felt it in a long time and had ached for it.

He had ached for the sensation of being filled that had kept him grounded in his world and kept him sane under his father's scrutiny and control.

Heat curled down Haizaki's spine as moans escaped his quivering lips, igniting their shared pleasure as a bond clicked into place.

They both knew what it meant. They were tied together now—bounded by a bond that would never break.

And...

It was terrifying to be owned by another person. Especially one Haizaki had only heard of through rumours whispered and spread and someone he had just met. (Though Haizaki knew it was the same for Xanxus.)

However, Haizaki didn't dwell on it any further. He was more focused on being claimed by a raging beast as he was thrust into it ruthlessly, forcing more moans out of him that mixed with the sounds of Xanxus'.

The last thought Haizaki had before being completely swept away was that he was glad he now lived in a world where he didn't have to deal with his father.

…

"Your name, scum," Xanxus spoke as he lay on Haizaki's chest. He was both satisfied and sated with how things turned out.

Xanxus now had a full set and a powerful cloud on his side.

This changed things…

"Haizaki Shougo," Haizaki responded, his lips twitching upwards into a smug smirk. "I'm sure, ya must've heard of me."

"I have, trash," Xanxus told him, glancing at Haizaki with amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're the stray Visconti took in."

"Yeah." Haizaki flipped Xanxus over onto his back and crawled on top of him.

Xanxus pulled Haizaki down with an arm and devoured his lips like he had done at the start of this.

Xanxus moaned against Haizaki's lips as Haizaki sank onto his cock, and his grip on Haizaki's hips returned.

…

This was only the beginning…

...

Read the rest on ao3

My ao3

My ask box is always open for requests or fanon discussions!

[dragonfirerogue-writes]

I couldn't exactly find the soulmate au that I was thinking about so any Soulmate au would be applicable!

KHR x Wednesday

Reader is the Sky Arcobaleno instead of Luce, They have powerful sky flames that manages to keep Reader alive for decades and The Arcobaleno kept in touch via an app/website that Verde made. They decided to enroll into Nevermore because they are bored and if vampires can join Nevermore at any age then R can too! Reader is just on the sidelines, watching from afar never revealing their flames to anyone in Nevermore even Weems.

Here we come to the Angsty Fun part! Reader confronts Wednesday on being soulmates but gets rejected. Saddened but smiles at Wednesday and nods and they apologizes and bids them a good life. One of the arcobaleno comes and enrolls after that and Reader spends time with the arcobaleno, ignoring Wednesday. Reader and arcobaleno can be lovers or something like that. You can decide the plot

Wednesday x Arcobaleno!Reader

V: Any trouble so far?

-No, not so far. There seems to be some rumbles about, but nothing I need to step into.

R: Good to know. We have a contact that may show up. He's a troublemaker, but he's a good informant.

V: Name's Fester.

C: Make sure the authorities don't get to him. He's usually good about it though.

The rest of the conversation devolves into other updates that don't pertain to you so you return your gaze to the Nevermore Quad. You watch as outcasts of all sorts mingle together and smile at the sight. In the years you've been alive, it warmed your heart to see the evolution and progression of their acceptance within the world.

You came to this school out of boredom. With the other Arcobaleno able to keep things running without you, you had a bit of freedom with your life. Especially since the curse running in your family seemed to skip you. In fact, you've been the head of the Giglio Nero Famiglia for years longer than any others.

But now, you're just another face in the crowd. It was a nice change of pace. No one needed you aside from your team. No one knew who you were. No one knew your power. Both your clairvoyance and your flames. And you had no intention of showing anyone.

At least until you laid eyes on Nevermore's newest resident, Wednesday Addams.

As soon as you gaze upon her, the flame in your heart blazes then ebbs into a calm ember. Because of the strength of your Dying Will Flame, you had to constantly be aware of your power. But now, you feel as though calm has settled into your soul.

You need to talk to Wednesday as soon as you can. It takes a couple days, but you managed to catch the goth alone.

"Wednesday, yes?" You wait until the girl turns to look at you. "I'm Y/N. And... And I believe you're my soulmate."

She just stares at you, her eyes occasionally moving you size you up. You don't know what's on her mind, but you hope that there's something there.

"I have no soulmate," she says, crushing your hopes. "And I have no intention of getting one. That is a weakness I will not claim."

You feel your heart breaking. The sorrow nearly cripples you. But you take a breath and offer the goth a smile. Stepping back from her space, you bow.

"I suppose I'll just have to accept that then." Your eyes waver and tears begin to fill up. "May your future lead you to greatness."

You walk away, letting your tears fall. Your flames withering with your mood.

-----+++++-----

The days seem to blur after your encounter with Wednesday. You see her everywhere and the hurt renews every time you do so. Even now, when you're sitting in the quad, you find yourself looking in her direction. You don't snap out of it until a wrapped bento box is waved in front of you.

"It's a rare sight to see a frown on your face, Boss."

Startled, you look up at your new companion only to see a familiar smile.

"Fon! What are you doing here?" You stand up and pull him into an embrace, which he returns in kind with a soft chuckle.

"We thought you would like some company while here, so I volunteered." He smooths the creases on his uniform and sits next to you. "Also thought you might've missed some good food so..." He opens the bento, revealing his favorite food.

"Hahaha Mapo tofu. Yes, it's been a while since I've had this. Thank you, Fon."

"Of course."

Little did you know, a pair of dark eyes witnessed the whole interaction and a stuttering heart beats for the first time.

-----+++++-----

Wednesday is investigating in the woods when she hears grunts. Following the sound, she finds you and Fon sparring in a clearing. For a split second, rage surges through her veins. It was strange for her. She never wanted a soulmate. She didn't even think she had one. But now that you made yourself known, the possessive feelings seem to overtake her.

Your eyes on her quickly became a staple in her life. Even after she rejected you, the fact that you watched her gave her a strange comfort. But when your companion arrived, she didn't feel those eyes anymore and it makes her feel more empty than she usually feels. She didn't like it. And knowing that your eyes were more on this newcomer than on her, she liked that even less.

Wednesday found herself watching the sparring match. She wanted to know more about you and why she was drawn to you outside of being soulmates. When the appearance of flames from the both of you came about, she was captivated.

Yours and Fon's flames danced in red and oranges. You easily recovered from every strike using your Soft Flames. Fon's speed gave him the advantage when it came to the number of attacks. However, your Hard Flames gave you the power to deal extra damage.

The battle grows more fearsome as time goes on. At some point, Fon sends an Exploding Lotus Kempo towards you, which you dodge. But in doing so, it goes towards Wednesday. As soon as you notice, you burst forward as the red dragon races towards the goth. You make it in time to take the hit, using your own flames to nullify the damage as much as you can.

"Boss!" Fon races towards you and checks you for harm.

"What did I tell you about calling me that here, Fon?" You let out a soft groan. The sleeves of your shirt have disintegrated, leaving your forearms bare and slightly singed. You turned to look at the girl behind you with a soft smile.

"Any harm to you, Wednesday?" The goth shakes her head.

"Good." You turn back to Fon. Almost immediately, Wednesday misses your eyes on her. "Fon, we'll have to be more careful while sparring." The Storm Arcobaleno nods in agreement.

"Of course." He looks at Wednesday and bows. "Apologies for the fright. I should've held back."

"What power is that?" Wednesday asks, ever the curious one. "I've never seen it before."

Fon looks at you. He wasn't sure whether to tell the girl about your famiglia and everything that it entailed. You just keep your smile.

"They're called Dying Will Flames." You explain. "It's an... Inherited trait within our circle." Wednesday frowns at your explanation.

"Just who are you?" A sad smile graces your features.

"Someone of no real importance to you, amore."

You turn to leave, taking Fon by the arm to leave as well. "Be safe out here, Wednesday. Sorry to have bothered you."

Fon placed a comforting hand on your back as you both walked away. Wednesday feels as though she just lost something dear to her, something she hasn't felt since losing Nero. She hates herself for this, but maybe she'll have to find a way into your good graces if she's going to feel normal again.

Wednesday isn't even sure if that's possible now...

[offerta-easy]

3 CURIOSITA' SUL FOTOVOLTAICO

l’impianto solare termico e l’impianto fotovoltaico utilizzano la stessa fonte d’energia: IL SOLE ☀️ il modulo solare termico, preleva la componente termica (infrarossi) dalle radiazioni solari e la utilizza per riscaldare l’acqua domestica. Questa acqua calda infatti potrà essere utilizzata per uso igienico sanitario o anche per riscaldare gli ambienti, il pannello fotovoltaico invece trasforma le radiazioni solari in energia elettrica.

IL FOTOVOLTAICO E' INQUINANTE? 🌫️🌍 E' INGOMBRANTE? Assolutamente no. L’impianto fotovoltaico non usa nessun tipo di combustibile, non fa rumore, non emette gas inquinanti per l’ambiente perché si basa su di una fonte pulita, rinnovabile ed ecologica: il sole, Le dimensioni dipendono dai consumi energetici corrisposti. Se la tua famiglia è composta da circa quattro persone, allora l’impianto occuperà circa 20 o 30 mq della superficie del tetto di casa

POSSO INSTALLARE AUTONOMAMENTE L'IMPIANTO FOTOVOLTAICO? 💪 Se non si è del campo e non si hanno conoscenze specifiche e tecniche è assolutamente sconsigliato installare un impianto fotovoltaico in autonomia. C’è sempre un rischio elevato anche per la propria incolumità a causa delle tensioni parecchio pericolose, proprio per questo noi di OFFERTA EASY ti offriamo un servizio completo di installazione per i tuoi pannelli fotovoltaici

seguici sui nostri social per scoprire tante soluzioni intelligenti per la casa e per l’azienda.

Blaze

[maki-ryota]

Hayashi Kento in Blazing Famiglia (2012)

[filmkomik]

Blazing Famiglia / Bakugyaku famîria (2012)

Yoshimi Tokui as Tetsu Kento Hayashi as Shuhei Sadao Abe Tetsuji Tamayama Nao Ōmori Kazuki Kitamura Arata Iura Mitsuko Baisho Kento Ayashi Hirofumi Arai Jun Murakami

Tetsu Hino (Yoshimi Tokui) was once the leader of the most feared motorcycle gang in the Kanto area. Now, Tetsu Hino is middle-aged man who is looked down upon by his rebellious son Shuhei (Kento Hayashi). One day, Tetsu and his old biker gang gather together again after the daughter of a member is assaulted. Tetsu, worried about his day to day life, nevertheless regains the passion from his biker days. Tetsu then finds out that Ken Igarashi (Jun Murakami) is the man behind the attack. Ken Igarashi has had a grudge against Tetsu for a long time.

[brightly-painted-canvas]

Umano - Human by Eugenio in Via di Gioia

Il sole è un ammasso di fuoco rovente e ti sembra un pallino hai sempre provato a domarlo da quand’eri bambino Siamo nati grandi come formiche, ma ci sentiamo giganti tra tutte le scimmie del mondo le più intelligenti

The sun is a mass of blazing fire and to you it looks like a little dot you’ve always tried to tame it since you were a kid We’re born small like ants, but we feel like giants among all the monkeys in this world, the smartest

Crescendo abbiam creato un impero, ognuno ha il proprio recinto potremmo goderci il giardino, ma non ti vedo convinto

Growing up we created an empire, everyone has their own yard we could just enjoy the garden, but you don’t seem convinced

Perché punti più in alto, sei un conquistatore il mondo intero è ai tuoi piedi, ma tu vuoi avere il sole E il pubblico ti applaude, uomo-adolescente allora spacca tutto, tu sei il cavallo vincente!

Because you aim higher, you’re a conqueror the whole world is underneath you, but you want the sun And the audience cheers for you, teenager-man then go get ‘em, you’re the winning horse!

Umano, sorridi! Sei sempre il migliore Umano, sorridi! Ma chi sta meglio di te? Umano, sorridi! Che hai sempre ragione Umano, sorridi alle telecamere

Smile, human! You’re always the best Smile, human! Who’s better off than you? Smile, human! You’re always right Human, smile to the cameras

Il sole che luccica e brilla è un pallone d'oro correre e prendere a calci è il nostro lavoro

The sparkling and shimmering sun, is a golden ball (Ballon d’Or) running and kicking around is our job

E tu sei un goleador, sei un super calciatore tu sei come la Juve, vuoi sempre più potere E sei disposto a tutto, a rinunciare al colore alla famiglia, agli amici, anche all’amore

And you’re a goleador, a super football player you’re just like Juve (Juventus FC), you want more and more power And you’re willing to do anything, even giving up colour family, friends, even love

E allora in fila indiana da brava formica e quella nuova serie l’hai chiamata vita

And so in a single-file line like any good ant and that new series, you’ve called it life

Umano, sorridi! Sei sempre il migliore Umano, sorridi! Ma chi sta meglio di te? Umano, sorridi! Che hai sempre ragione Umano, sorridi alle telecamere

Smile, human! You’re always the best Smile, human! Who’s better off than you? Smile, human! You’re always right Human, smile to the cameras

Ma chi sta meglio di te? Ma chi sta meglio di me? Ma chi sta meglio di te? Ma chi sta meglio?

Who’s better off than you? Who’s better off than me? Who’s better off than you? Who’s better off?

E passano i giorni, passano anche gli anni tutta questa storia ci fa sentire grandi Ma appassiscono i fiori, mordi gli ultimi frutti siamo piccoli soli che bruceranno tutti

And days go by, even years pass all this history makes us feel great But the flowers wither, you bite the last of the fruits we’re small suns and we’ll all burn

Dovremmo frenare, ma stiamo accelerando te lo dico mentre rido, ma non sto scherzando!

We should hit the brakes, but we’re speeding up I’m telling you this while laughing, but I’m not joking!

Umano, sorridi! Sei sempre il migliore Umano, sorridi! Ma chi sta meglio di te? Umano, sorridi! Che hai sempre ragione Umano, sorridi! Ma chi sta meglio di te?

Smile, human! You’re always the best Smile, human! Who’s better off than you? Smile, human! You’re always right Smile, human! Who’s better off than you?

Se vai su di giri si brucia il motore Ma finché va forte, ma chi sta meglio di te? E tutto quel sole ti spaccherà il cuore Ma fammi il favore, ma chi sta meglio di me?

If you get the motor running high you burn the engine but as long ad it goes fast, who’s better off than you? And all those sun will shatter your heart Oh give me a break, who’s better off than me?

Ma chi sta meglio di te? Ma chi sta meglio di me? Ma chi sta meglio di te? Ma chi sta meglio?

Who’s better off than you? Who’s better off than me? Who’s better off than you? Who’s better off?

Umano, sorridi! Sei sempre il migliore Ti faccio uno spoiler: alla fine si muore

Smile, human! You’re always the best I’m telling you a spoiler: at the end, we die

[hopeswriting]

[ID: A golden, throne-like chair, with a red curtain behind it. It’s partly in color, and partly in black and white. The picture reads, “Even Rome Fell Chap. 3″ in all caps. /END ID]  

Byakuran walks right into The Eye of Fon's Storm, and is powerless when it tears him apart.

Ao3 & Ff.net

WIP INTRO

Also here’s the 400ish (platonic) 1827 words I cut because this chapter isn’t about them asdfgh:

*

Kyoya dies.

Millefiore surrounds the Vongola headquarters, but Sawada Tsunayoshi doesn’t surrender. He doesn’t try for negotiations, doesn’t ask for a ceasefire.

Sawada Tsunayoshi tears through Millefiore’s forces, breaking down their siege in a blaze of Sky flames. His Guardians stand right by his side, burning strong as their Sky, destroying everything in their path dutiful as their Sky.

The battlefield shines the colors of the rainbow, and it’s a terrifying sight, it’s history being made.

(“You do not make Vongola your enemy,” older mafiosi warn the newbies in search of glory. “You’ll see them come if you do. When the Vongola Rainbow will first shine for you, you’ll be nothing but a dead man walking.”)

It’s six against many more, not that it does matter—it doesn’t.

It’s only six of them.

That’s how the world knows one of Vongola Decimo’s has fallen—and not just anybody, but one of His. The Vongola Tenth Generation soaks a battlefield with blood, and wherever the Cloud is at the time, he doesn’t.

That’s how everyone knows.

Vongola Decimo lost his Cloud.

There're no survivors on Millefiore’s side, apart from the few he spared, the ones tasked to bring the tale home.

Not that Tsuna cares about psychological warfare, about Byakuran fearing the day he’ll come for him every second of every day until he does.

His Cloud simply loved his victories when they couldn’t be denied in any way.

The tides of the war change as the mafia all over the world rides on Neo Vongola Primo’s flames, fights back against Millefiore with their Dying Will the strongest it had ever been.

It’s not vengeful flames, not really. It is a slaughter, of the likes Primo never did, carried by Sky flames burning the way Secondo’s did, deep and ruthless.

It’s not wrath either, not really.

Neo Vongola Primo picks off the Millefiore’s men one by one, a line between his brow the likes of torment, his fists clenched as if in pain.

The Flames of Grief.

Vongola Decimo commands a Millefiore’s hunt worldwide, and it’s history being made.

(“You do not take what is Vongola Decimo’s,” Vongola enemies warn each other, because going against the famiglia is one thing, and going against Decimo himself another entirely. “His Sky flames will howl and hunt for your blood, and they’ll turn you to ashes before you can even scream.”)

Kyoya dies, and Byakuran doesn’t know it yet at the time, but it’s when he dies too.

*

Thanks for reading!

[probablythevaria]

Yo! I'm here to break ya'll hearts--hcs for byakuran, xanxus and squalo's s/o are dying from protection the famiglia. It's not like she just unintentionally got injured, but she trade her life with famiglia's safety.

((You really out here trying to kill people with this. Lmao you’re coming straight for the heart with this. Support me here. ♥))

Byakuran:

X. There’s no deeper emotion than rage. But not regular rage- Byakuran is different from most, and it festers inside him. His smile caves to something darker, and he hates everyone. Everything. 

X. If he finds her body, he will carry it with him, holding her while he strokes away the hair and blood from her face as he whispers vengeance on her attackers. Swearing to it because she’s sick like him- and he’s lovesick for her.

X.  If she traded her life for his, he’d bring her back. Finding any way possible to drag different versions of her from other timelines until they were forced to accept him and love him the way she once did before death. Once his queen, always his queen. 

Xanxus: 

X. He mourns for a shorter time than most, kneeling by her body when its found and caressing her cheek slowly for just a moment before moving on. or so it seems.

X. Xanxus suffers with no one- but he drinks himself to submission, choking on alcohol and a burning sensation in his throat when he can’t sleep at night remembering her touch and love for him. It’s god’s gift, perfection, and it’s gone.

X. Supposing the son of a bitch that killed her ever dares show his face, they’re dead. Blasted at point blank range without words by her lover just so he could watch them bleed and rot before him in the blaze of pain he only feels inside.

Superbi Squalo:

X. He knew about it before she did, racing to stop her but arriving just too late while he tried so hard to have her in his arms before death, hiding tears in the very corners of his eyes as he screamed for medical help. 

X. There’s a gravestone for her memoriam near their hideout, adorned in beautiful flowers and trinkets in her honour where Squalo spends a good chunk of his free time swimming, resting, and whispering how he wishes she were there.

X. He isn’t one for cruelty at times, but he would rather be damned then let them get away with murder. He slashes them down with intentions of gore, viciously gashing the throats of his enemies in revenge while her spirit watches him. He feels it.

[from-hibatsuna-with-love]

Gekokujou (Vongola 10th Guardians)

Hi, I’m finally back with this parody lyrics translation project.

This time the lyric is adapted from Kagamine Twins’ Gekokujou. There’s a lot of jokes in here that I don’t think I conveyed it well.... but this is so funny & I really like this video since ages ago. The cover was brilliant too, so I want to share. As always....

*Notes : Done by amateur at reading kanji, at listening japanese and at translating (also bad at making poem), correction is welcome. Video is here (for original without cover singer) and here (which was already covered by a wonderful singer who could imitate khr seiyuus).

I forgot, the cover singer didn’t follow the paro lyric 100% so uhm i tried to adapt to the kanji. the romaji is to sing along... so i fit to the cover

十代目襲名　早幾年 主役固めるは　十年前ばかり ここらで一花咲かせませうと 大人の力見せ　　下克上

DECIMO shuumei hayaikunen shuyaku katameru ha  juunenmae bakari kokora de hitohana sakasemashouto nariagarimasu gekokujou

The DECIMO generation has just started It was already decided since 10 years ago we're gonna make the flowers bloom time to show the adult’s charm   REVOLUTION

一番　槍　僕がいただく 自由に　参上　　六度ナッポ 骸ですよ 変な捏造のせいで 二コでの僕の扱いは変態 ちょっと待ちなさい 僕は無実です いったい僕が何したっていうのですか？

ichiban yari boku ga itadaku jiyuu ni sanjou ROKUDO NAPPO MUKURO desu yo hen na netsuzou no sei de NICO de no boku no atsukai ha hentai chotto machinasai boku ha mujitsu desu ittai boku ha nanishittate iu no desuka?

I'll be the one taking the lead Descend in freedom  ROKUDO NAPPO (PINEAPPLE) It's MUKURO because of the weird fabrication i've been treated as pervert in NICO(NICODOUGA) wait a minute i'm innocent just what did i do?

ちょっとイメージ違うんでない？ 秘めたる黒さは実は他に いない程で 剣技  魅せ 剣高くして 弱え敵さんは無視して

cho-- IMEEJI chigaundenai? himetaru kurosa ha jitsu ha hoka ni inai hodo de kengi mise ken takakushite yowee tekisan ha mushi shite

isn't the impression different? the so-called darkness is actually just a mere a bewitching sword high technique silencing the weak enemies

出番くれ 未来編になって出番減りました 出番くれ 5歳児（おさない）には無い色気放ちます

deban kure mirai hen ni natte deban herimashita deban kure osanai ji ni ha nai iroki hachimasu

gimme more screentime my turn decreased in future arc gimme more screentime to blast the charm my younger self doesn't have

そらいくぞ！！ 十年後！！此処に集え我等 ボンゴレ一家 （x４）

sora ikuzo!! juunengo!! koko ni shuue warera VONGOLA ikka (x4)

here we go!! the ten years later!! here is gather the VONGOLA Famiglia (x4)

一家総出で啖呵切った 単独行動者 ちょっとまて 俺がみんなまとめないと

ikka soude de tanka kitta tandoku koudousha chotto matte ore ga minna matomenai to

we argues when we gather there are people who do as they please REALLY i gotta be the one to put them in order

僕は君たちと群れないよ

boku ha kimi tachi to murenai yo

i won't flock with you lot

気に入らない奴たくさんいるけど 少しは大人になってやる でも我慢したって何も変わらないから ここはあえて ツン全開

kiniiranai yatsu takusan iru kedo sukoshi ha otona ni natte yaru demo gamanshitatte nani mo kawaranai kara koko ha aete TSUN zenkai

there are lots of people i don't like i thought to try to be mature however no matter how i hold back, nothing's changed in that case, i'm going full throttle!

いいか 聴きな 座右の銘は 無論 極限 俺は無敵だ 覚悟示す この熱き炎（きぼう）に 揺るぎの無い魂を宿す

iika kikina zayuu no mei ha muron KYOKUGEN ore ha muteki da kakugo shimesu kono atsuki kibou ni yurugi no nai tamashii wo yadosu

listen would you? listen well our motto is, of course, EXTREME i'm invicible with my blaze resolution for the hope a soul that wouldn't waver

ボンゴレ一家の御旗の下 集う仲間達が振り翳す炎 死ぬ気纏うボスを筆頭に 臨機応変に掴みに行く勝利

VONGOLA ikka no mikata no moto tsudou nakama tachi ga furi kazasu honoo shinuki matou BOSS wo hittou ni rinki ouhen ni tsukami ni iku shouri

those who are under the VONGOLA famiglia allies who raise the flames together with the boss leading in dying will we are right behind for victory which in grasp

笑顔くれる 彼女達には夢ある未来を 皆守る その思いは今もこの胸にある

egao kureru kanojo-tachi ni yume aru mirai wo minna mamoru sono omoi ha ima mo kono mune ni aru

with the smile given by them for the future they dream of we'll protect everyone keeping that thought still in our mind

そらいくぞ！！ 十年後！！此処に集え我等 ボンゴレ一家 （x４）

sora ikuzo!! juunengo!! koko ni shuue warera VONGOLA ikka (x4)

here we go!! the ten years later!! here is gather the VONGOLA Famiglia (x4)

願うのは一つだけ 皆が望む幸せな未来 叶えるのは俺達支えてくれる人の笑顔守る

negau no ha hitotsu dake minna ga nozomu shiawase na mirai kanaeru no ha oretachi sasaetekureru hito no egao mamoru

our wish is only one a happy future which everyone wants the only thing we can do is to protect their smiles

そらいくぞ！！ 十年後！！此処に集え我等 ボンゴレ一家  (x3)

そらいくぞ！！ 十年後！！此処に 集え我等 (x4)

ボンゴレ一家

sora ikuzo!! juunengo!! koko ni shuue warera VONGOLA ikka (x3)

sora ikuzo!! juunengo!! koko ni shuue warera (x4) VONGOLA ikka

here we go!! the ten years later!! here is gather the VONGOLA Famiglia (x3)

here we go!! the ten years later!! here is gather (x4) the VONGOLA Famiglia

[adelinafugowantstowrite]

Nice! My otome game scenario is writing itself up, as expected!

Synopsis: Saito Sakura, a woman working as an author for the famous VN company “N*tr*pl*s” is currently the main writer for an otome game scenario coming up. One night, during The Crunch, she collapses and wakes up in her game world! However, she wakes up as Adelina Fugo, the main villainess/pain-in-the-butt for the commoner protagonist Petra Saenz. Worse than that, since the storyboard was never completed, she’s only got a general idea of where the story’s headed in each of the four main routes, and they all lead up to exile or death of her character!

“Well, worse comes to worse, this all serves as inspiration for when I wake up!”

Recap from last chapter: Adelina and Petra got introduced to each other like a wrecking ball--- quite literally, since Petra actually crashed into Adelina with enough force to tumble her down the dirt! What was actually surprising was The Queen of TenCal Academy actually maintain her cool composure - at least, if you asked anyone who knows her on a basic level. Instead of the expected lashing out and abusing her authority, she welcomed her instead, and set up a date to drag her somewhere!

But first, she needs time to cool off. She’s been having wholly invasive thoughts that keep derailing her mind. What exactly is going on?

Chapter 03/??:

?????????????????

Adelina Fugo did not scowl.

No, sir-ee. Scowling was something that plebeians did when encountering any meaningless difficulty along their pointless lives.

I glowered, thank you very much. Now that’s a much more refined word fitting for someone of my status. The question being now, was-

“Why?” my face would’ve screamed to me had I looked into a mirror. As if there was such a convenient thing to know what anyone was thinking; except, this is my mind, I clearly know what I’m thinking.

Except not really, since somehow, someway, my memories and thoughts started getting jumbled. I know I’ve been to Japan before, they’re a hot vacation spot for the Nahuatl Republic after all, but these memories tell me that I’ve lived in Japan for well over 20 years. My latest place was over at Chiba, a 20 minute commute in bike to the Narita Airport if I so decided, but---

I shook my head.

Right, this is why I Absolutely Need to sort it out before even daring to see anyone outside.

Alright court! Rise! Greet! Sit!

Judge Adelina Fugo, present.

Jury Adelina Fugo, present.

Executioner Adelina Fugo, present.

Bring defendant Sakura Saito to the podium, please~ Is what I would say if this were an actual show like Judge Judy--

Ah, naughty, naughty~! I’m sorry, defendant Sakura Saito, but you cannot overrule nor impose your will over Queen, Judge, Executioner, Jury, AND Executioner Adelina Fugo so easily! Now, what shall we do with you?

Let’s see if this mental feedback is two-ways. Now, if this works, let me see who you really are instead of telling me!

Hmmmm... A mediocre writer, barely making ends meet, with big dreams that remained unaccomplished even when reaching your thirties, 28 is close enough for that, right?

Motivated enough to rise in the ranks, disregarding marriage opportunities? Why should I pity you about that? Our cultures are extremely different and I don’t really care to learn the details, so cut it out with that. Know your place, this is not Japan anymore, nor is this body that of Sakura Saito.

See? You’re not even bothering to talk back to me. At least try to make suppressing your voice entertaining. While I’m certain that whatever audience is out there is having a riot at hearing me monologue, at least try to emote so that more people can actually know how you’re feeling; otherwise they’d be really lost!

Hop*? --a--A-----A-----!!!!

OOOOOOHOHOHO, did you really think that me, The Protagonist of the story you were writing, was really let you have any screentime? Eeeeeeeh? What’s that, as The Queen I’m supposed to be the Villiainess? Aren’t those roles, like, two sides of the same coin? After all, without me, Petra won’t be able to fall in love with my fiancée, much less those other two nobodies, am I right Saaaaakuraaaaaaa?

Hey, hey, why are you acting so surprised? After all, this world you were writing about, it has magic, right? Unlike your boring world, where you lived and died as a mediocre person, not even fit to lick my shoes, didn’t even develop the mastery over your mental landscape to a degree such as mine, right? Right? Right!?

Oh, amusing, this is too amusing! A plebeian who could be considered a creator goddess, dying of exhaustion, and ending up as a prisoner within my mind! A goddess who, from what I’m gathering, has set in motion my own downfall via that oh-so-sickly-sweet Petra Saenz! But let me say one thing with absolute certainty, Sakura Sato.

I, Adelina Fugo, as your Judge, Jury, and Executioner hereby declare: Your punishment for daring to defile my mind is the utter and complete destruction of your narrative.

I’ll play my part as the Villiainess. However, Petra won’t be the ray of sunshine you envisioned her to be. If I am to go down, it shall be guns blazing, as it’s fit for someone of the Fugo famiglia. If I have a say in it, and I absolutely do since it’s my right, she shall be the Brutus to my Caesar.

For what it’s worth, your motivations DID inspire something in me. Your ravings to be a recognized novelist sparked an interest in the arts within me. So, rejoice! That mediocre story you were writing before you decided to become a freeloader was picked up by a much better writer than you ever could’ve been!

Best of all, you get front row seats to all the action! The nitty gritty details that you wanted to iron before heading back home, and drowning your mind with static while eating on cheap noodles are now here!

Hey, hey!

Aren’y you glad at all, Sakuraaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Ok, case closed~ That definitely felt good to do!

Aaaaaah, now that’s a much better expression on my face that nobody should ever see. An intense gaze, nose pointed upwards; and instead of a sneer, the biggest shit-eating grin as if the cat caught the mouse.

Rejoice, indeed.

I’ve got a date to attend to with Petra, after all; and it’s going to be glorious.

Chapter 03/??: Hostile Takeover.

[sanjuno]

1859, bodyswap incident

Oh-ho… This is going to be so much fun. *cackles evilly*

Alert! Porn happens in the second half of the fill. ^_^

Freaky Friday Prompt Fill 3/13

Nobody was having a good day. Even Mukuro, as entertained as he had been at the beginning of the chain of events that had led them here, had reached the point where he was done playing around. The enemy they had been chasing, the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the Alliance’s younger Flame Users, had been revealed to be one of the Vongola’s own. A member of their research team, someone they had trusted with their secrets.

“Once I have your body, Vongola Decimo, the Alliance will have no choice but to serve me!” The wild-eyed man in the middle of the room cackled. “Blood of the Vongola is needed to use the Famiglia’s treasures, and once I am you that power will be mine!”

“Gee.” Tsuna’s stare drilled into the side of Mukuro’s head hard enough that the Mist started to lean away. “I wonder where he got that idea from.”“Kufufu, indeed.” Shifting casually out of the Sky’s arm range, Mukuro refused to meet Tsuna’s eyes. “What a silly plan.”

“I will not be mocked by a civilian child!” The strange gun was levelled at Tsuna’s chest. “I’ll show you!”

“Jyuudaime!” Hayato shoved Tsuna out of the way hard enough that the air left his lungs when he crashed into Mukuro. Dynamite in his hands but unlit, the bomber scowled as Kyouya swooped in on their enemy, tonfa out and ready. “Hibari, no! Get-”

The gun fired.

Hayato and Kyouya hit the ground.

“No!” Tsuna struggled up out of Mukuro’s hold, fire already blazing on his brow as he stared at his felled Guardians. “No!”

“Don’t get in the way!” The scientist screeched, red lights casting crazy shadows on his face.

The explosion flung the madman back to and halfway through the far wall. Tsuna stumbled to a stop, blinking at the space where his opponent had just been standing. Kyouya was on his feet, a mad whirl of Flames flaring around his body.

“Don’t mock Jyuudaime you traitor!” The Cloud spat, making a rude gesture that was aborted halfway through as Kyouya caught sight of the Storm Flames covering his tonfa. “… Ah che palle. He had Possession Bullets. I’m in the wrong body.”

Tsuna choked, covering the last of the distance quickly so he could look his Cloud Guardian in the eyes. This was just too strange. “Hayato-kun?”

Looking slightly sheepish, which was a very strange look indeed to see on Kyouya’s face, the other man coughed and hid the tell-tale tonfa behind his back. “It’s me, Jyuudaime. Please tell me it’s that damned carnivore in my body and not the asshole I just put through the wall.”

“Kufufufu, well, Kyouya-kun?” Mukuro nudged the still-prone body of Tsuna’s Storm Guardian with the butt of his trident. “Ky~ou~ya-ku~un, are you there?”

Hayato’s body twitched, and then staggered upright with a growl. Glaring at Mukuro, the other Guardian hissed. “… herbivore.”

“Ah!” Mukuro beamed and turned to call over his shoulder at Tsuna. “It’s Kyouya in there!”

Tsuna sighed, shoulders slumping in relief. “Oh thank the kami.”

“… hrk.” Kyouya swayed in place, face gone paper white and Hayato’s green eyes wide and shocked with pain. The Cloud Guardian coughed, blood bubbling from his mouth and streaking his chin before his eyes rolled back in his head. Hayato’s body promptly dropped like a sack of wet cement and Mukuro barely managed to lunge forward in time to keep the silver head from hitting the ground.

“Kyouya-sempai!” Tsuna scrambled over where his Mist was cursing and laying Hayato’s body out in the recovery position. “Hayato-kun, why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?“

Kyouya’s face did not lend itself well to Hayato’s usual expressions, but the Storm still managed to convey his confusion well enough. “Because I wasn’t hurt? What did that idiot do to my body? It’s been less than two minutes!”

Ignoring his Right Hand’s grumbling, Tsuna shook his head. “Mukuro, get Kyouya-sempai to the medics, tell them what happened. Hayato-kun, help me secure the traitor until Security gets here.”

/…/

Hibari Kyouya was in a great deal of pain. He was familiar with the burn of fatigue settled in his bones, the sharp flare of torn muscles and ripped tendons. Bruises and broken bones could be shrugged off, the ache of pulling scar tissue  could be worked away.

Having someone set off a shrapnel bomb in his guts to tear apart every internal organ from sternum to pelvis was another matter entirely.

Kyouya glared at the drip pumping painkillers into his bloodstream. He hated the fact that he was leaving the needle in. That he needed the drugs to dull the pain enough to stay conscious. Once Kyouya was back in his own body he was going to bite them all to death.

Tetsu was seated in the chair beside Kyouya’s bed, frowning down at his tablet but mercifully silent once the situation had been explained to him. His subordinate could take care of things while Kyouya was stuck in the wrong body.

The herbivores were bleating at one another in the corner of Kyouya’s hospital room. The bomb-herbivore was watching Kyouya with a strange expression. Kyouya wanted his tonfa back. The bomb-herbivore deserved to be bitten to death for stealing Kyouya’s body. Stupid herbivore body being so weak it broke just because Kyouya was in it.

This was pathetic. Kyouya was too strong for this weak herbivore body and he wanted out. Now.

The omnivore made the appalled shriek that meant he was making a point. “What do you mean there’s nothing wrong with Hayato’s body?”

“I mean what I said. All the tests show that aside from a few bruises picked up from falling over, Hayato’s body isn’t injured.” The Mist-pervert grumbled, one hand shoved into the pocket of his coat as he glowered down at his clipboard. “There’s no logical reason for him to be spitting blood!”

The wounded noise made the omnivore sound like the one who had been gutted. “Then why?”

“Idiot womanizer.” The bomb-herbivore growled with Kyouya’s voice, rolling his eyes as he stared at the mist-pervert. “For fucks sake, Shamal, it’s not new damage. It’s the side effect of surviving poison cooking.”

… What? Kyouya stared at the bomb-herbivore as the rest of the herd started bleating again.

“WHAT?” The omnivore was fluttering again. “Hayato-kun, you ate Bianchi-san’s cooking? When? You should have told me, I could have taken someone else with me on the investigation!”

“… Jyuudaime, I…” The bomb-herbivore’s face was blank except for a faint twitch by the corner of his eye as he breathed slowly. “I… I told you about this already, the first time you met Aneki. Remember? I was always fed her cooking when I was a kid, and it had permanent side effects. You seen me coughing up blood before. Like whenever I see Aneki’s face. The crazy carnivore could probably keep it under control with his Mist if he tried. Chrome’s going to have to explain how that trick works to him though, I use a different mix of Flames to deal with the damage.”

Tetsu shifted in his chair to stare at the bomb-herbivore and Kyouya glanced over. His subordinate looked horrified, but Kyouya was mostly stuck on the fact that the pain he was in was normal for the herbivore’s body. The bomb-herbivore always felt like this, all the time. When he fought, when he trained, when he organized the omnivore’s affairs. The pain that was keeping Kyouya in a hospital bed even with painkillers blunting the worst of it was normal for the bomb-herbovore.

Kyouya stared and silently, reluctantly, admitted to himself that he was impressed. For all the bomber’s dramatics, Kyouya had never suspected the truth.

The implications that came with a pain threshold this high were both intriguing and worrisome. What sort of creature would Gokudera Hayato become without this handicap holding him back? Kyouya would have to look into this when he had his own body back.

/…/

Now that his highly uncomfortable conversation with the Jyuudaime was over, Hayato dove into researching how to switch his mind back into his own body.

It was fascinating that Hayato still had access to all of his Flames despite being the the body of a Misty Cloud. Equally fascinating was the fact that Hayato still did not have access to Mist Flames.

“Flames do have a biological component, but that’s just… a trigger.” Muttering to himself as he moved from notebook to computer to the research files confiscated from the traitor’s lab, Hayato ignored the way his assistant was cowering in the far corner of his workroom. “You need a Flame Active bloodline to go Flame Active, that’s Nature. Neurology probably plays into things too, a bit, but… personality. Skies have Sky children because they’re raised with Sky values. Storms aren’t temperamental because they’re Storms, Storms are Storms because they’re temperamental. Flames Type expression is a result of nurture, rooted in the basic personality. Skies are rare because Harmony, abstract concept but inherently valuing the whole above the self, that’s not instinctive to many people.”

Hayato paused, staring into the distance as he tapped his pen against his bottom lip thoughtfully. “Humans are… selfish. Skies extend that selfishness to their Harmonies, they can’t help but be self-sacrificing because their harmonies are them. Lack of separation and loose boundaries, stronger Skies have less concept of themselves as individuals and instead base their value on the whole.  But… ch’. Inversion of Harmony isn’t disharmony, it’s bringing the separate Elements only into Harmony with the Sky’s desires instead of extending that Harmony to bring the whole into Harmony with itself. Inverted Skies make their Elements into slaves through enforced harmonious accord, True Skies bring their Elements into balance with one another to make cooperation and compromise easier.”

Pen flying over the notebook page, Hayato nodded to himself. “So… First Activation sets the Primary Flame, but growth is inherent in the human condition, achieving access to other Flame Types is possible with enough effort. Mentality still plays in, I can’t access any Mist because I rejected falsehoods entirely when I was a kid but Hibari basically lives in a reality of his own construction so it��s no wonder he developed a Mist Secondary… Still. This isn’t my body, this isn’t my brain. How am I accessing memory storage that’s in an entirely different meatspace? Like… hmm, wireless download through paired devices…”

Flipping through the file with the details of the possession bullet Hayato froze. “That’s it! That’s how it works! It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of and it would’ve backfired so BADLY I’m almost sorry it didn’t happen that way! Fuck this bullshit time to get my body back!”

Ignorant of the way his subordinate had thrown himself under the scant protection of the nearest desk when the wrong-bodied Storm started shouting, Hayato ran out of the room.

/…/

Gokudera’s abandoned chair crashed to the ground and the cowering man responsible for bringing the Decimo’s Right Hand the files he needed flinched like he was coming under fire. It took a few minutes before he gathered the courage to leave his hiding place.

Oh god, please let this be over soon. Hibari and Gokudera were terrifying enough on their own. Gokudera wearing Hibari’s body was leaking enough Storm Flames to leave holes in the Flame-resistant carbon-steel door.

/…/

They could feel Hayato coming long before they saw him. Already a category five hurricane packed down into human form, being in Kyouya’s body had let all that energy loose on the world. Tsuna could only be glad that he had already finished briefing Xanxus on the situation, because Hayato had been borderline Hyper Dying Will Mode ever since the body switch had taken place. Even now,  several hours since the incident, Hayato was still going strong and lighting up the air around him with an aurora of hazy rainbow of crimson-tinted Flames.

It was both impressive and terrifying, because if Hayato’s Flames were this strong right now, without any signs of running low… how bad was the damage to Hayato’s body that it took up such a large portion of his Storm’s strength?

“Holy fuck.” Xanxus stared as Hayato-in-Kyouya’s-body rounded the corner grinning like a maniac. “… That’s your Storm-trash? Where the fuck did he get all that fucking power from? Your Cloud-trash might be strong but he’s not that strong.”

“I know.” Tsuna winced, realizing once again how much of Hayato’s suffering that he had overlooked. How much of the Storm’s pain he had let Hayato gloss over and push aside without ever realizing how much the Storm was downplaying his own suffering. As Hayato’s Sky, it was an unforgivable mistake, but Tsuna knew that Hayato would never call him out on it. So Tsuna would just have to be better about taking care of Hayato from now on. Glancing at Xanxus to make sure the next message was heard, Tsuna tilted his head at his Storm. “That power? It’s all from Hayato’s Will.”

Xanxus blinked, the only outward sign of his surprise as Wrath stirred under his skin, testing the weight of the multihued Storm hanging thick in the air around them. The Varia Boss reached for his wine bottle. “… what the fuck, trash-brat.”

“… Yeah.” Oh yes, Xanxus had figured it out too. Tsuna grimaced and then turned just as Hayato reached them. “What is it, Hayato-kun?”

“Jyuudaime! I figured it out!” Hayato crowed in victory, bounding up to his Sky with his hands gesturing expansively in his excitement. “It’s so simple, I can’t believe it took me so long! Come on, Jyuudaime!”

“Ah?” Tsuna had half a second to blink at his Storm in bemusement before Hayato was hauling Tsuna down to corridor towards the infirmary by the arm. “Ack! Hayato-kun?”

“Seriously, Jyuudaime, I don’t get how that crazy carnivore can spend so much time sleeping his body is ridiculous do you have any idea how hard it is to concentrate when I’ve got this much energy I feel like someone injected one of lawn-head’s extreme motivational speeches directly into my bloodstream and I blew up my phone sorry about that my Lightning got out of hand somehow-” It was really, really disconcerting to see Kyouya’s face paired with Hayato’s gleeful expressions. Tsuna could only gape as the halls whipped by and Hayato just kept talking. “-so it’s a simple reset and with your Harmony we can reject this pathetic substitution of reality and enforce our own!”

/…/

In the end, the hardest part was getting Hayato to slow down enough to actually explain his revelation in full. Once that was done, it was a simple matter of Tsuna’s Harmony reinforcing the way his Guardian’s Flames wanted to be back in their own bodies. A few moments of concentration, then Kyouya and Hayato’s consciousnesses snapped back into their rightful places like releasing a rubber band.

“Hn.” Kyouya swayed, disoriented from the switch in perspective that came with going from lying down to standing up without going through the steps in between. A quick shake settled things down, and the Cloud swiftly hid any further signs of weakness.

“Madre di Dios, I’m glad that’s over with.” Hayato plucked the needle out of his arm, the overwhelming riot of his Flames sinking back under his skin as they were funnelled back along their usual channels. Ignoring the way Tsuna squeaked in protest, Hayato hopped out of the hospital bed without any sign of being affected by the numerous drugs that had been pumped into his bloodstream. “Does anyone know where the nurses put my clothes? And have we finished clearing the lab yet? The possession bullet isn’t as big a threat as we thought since the Flames can’t be switched, so any impersonator will end up caught fairly easily but making sure things get switched back is a pain. I wonder if there’s a way to block the process, maybe if… Jyuudaime?”

“Hayato.” Tsuna smiled brilliantly, keeping a gentle but immovable grip around his Storm’s wrist. “You aren’t going anywhere just yet. We obviously couldn’t preform any surgeries with Kyouya in your body, but now that you’re back where you belong we can get your stomach fixed.”

Hayato balked, tugging on his arm and frowning when Tsuna refused to loosen his grip. “But Jyuudaime, my research!”

“But Hayato, your chronic internal bleeding! Forget the research! Your health is more important!” Tsuna hissed as he glared at his Storm. “Do you know what Shamal found? Malnutrition! Muscle and nerve degeneration! Long-term starvation! Because your digestive tract is nothing but holes and scar tissue! You cough up blood unless you pour half your Flame capacity into just keeping your body functional! You will let the doctors fix you and that’s final.”

Hayato grimaced and looked away as he slumped in surrender. “… yes, Jyuudaime.”

Ignoring the way his Storm was sulking, Tsuna glanced at Kyouya. “Hibari-sempai, could you and Kusakabe-sempai take care of the rest of the investigation? I’m going to take Hayato to Shamal now.”

Kyouya blinked slowly as he watched the bomber for any sign of the debilitating pain that had kept Kyouya bed bound for the last six hours. The Storm continued to grumble that there was nothing wrong with him and that they were fussing over nothing and he had too much to do to be letting the pervert quack mess around with his insides he was fine. Still staring, Kyouya inclined his head. “Hn.”

“Thank you.” Relieved to have Kyouya’s cooperation, Tsuna smiled and then  turned a scolding look back on Hayato. “Stop arguing, Hayato, you know very well that you are not fine. You regularly cough up blood and I cannot believe I actually let you convince me that was normal for the love of all that’s holy, Hayato, why? Now come on we need to get this fixed…”

Tsuna’s dismayed rebuke and Hayato’s petulant protests continued as they left the room. Kyouya stared after them with a slight frown, one hand rising to press against his sternum.

… Kyouya was going to need to reassess the bomb herbivore.

/…/

Hayato had not enjoyed the last six months. Everyone had been treating him like glass after the poison damage issue had become common knowledge. Which was ridiculous because it only became common knowledge after the issue was corrected. So what if nobody had known about the details? It’s not like Hayato was hiding what had happened to him as a kid! There was a reason Hayato had run away from his father’s household!

Eight years old and starving and Hayato had held his own on the streets of Mafia Italy as an Independent Hitman. Surviving and building strength for six years until joining Tsuna’s Famiglia. Hayato had still held his own through the Ring Battles and time travel and the Arcobaleno Trials and everything else that had happened in the past five years to see Tsuna made Vongola Decimo in truth.

All this fussing about Hayato’s health was unnecessary and driving him crazy. Tsuna refused to give him any missions, Shamal was hovering, Bianchi had made more than one tearful apology, Mukuro was treating him like Hayato was Chrome, and even the cow-brat was running Hayato’s errands without throwing any tantrums!

Dios, who’s mother did Hayato need to insult in order to get a decent fight around here?

“Gokudera Hayato.” Stepping out to block the bomber’s path, Hibari blatantly looked Hayato over with a strange intensity in the Cloud’s silver gaze.

“What the fuck do you want, bastard?” Green eyes narrowed, and Hayato’s lip curled into a snarl. This was just another example of how people had started treating him differently since the body switch.

Obviously acting on behalf of his boss, Kusakabe had been very upfront about keeping track of Hayato’s health status, dropping by with sweetmeats meant to tempt Hayato into eating even after Hayato finally managed to shut people up about his weight and malnourishment issues. Privately, Hayato suspected that Kusakabe had gotten a few wires crossed because of seeing Kyouya suffering from Hayato’s health problems. Something in Kusakabe’s brain had latched onto keeping Hayato healthy equalling the same as keeping Hibari healthy with the singleminded focus of a Lightning.

At least Hayato could understand that much about the change how he was treated. It was the small, random gifts that were just odd enough to have to be Hibari’s idea that threw Hayato off stride. Hibari himself had been oddly gentle in the last few months, all but stalking Hayato’s movements and recovery but never once giving into Hyatt’s goads. If even Hibari refused to fight you then someone was informing a ban on sparring. The worst part was the way everyone was obeying the ban.

None of them ever obeyed a fighting ban! It was a conspiracy! They wanted to drive Hayato mad with boredom!

Case in point, the narrow eyed consideration with which Hibari appraised Hayato’s combat ready stance. “The pain has eased.”

“The pain was never all that bad! You assholes are all overreacting.” Hayato scowled harder to mask the surprise he felt over Hibari’s consideration. It looked like the old adage about walking a mile in another’s shoes held true. Hibari looked almost concerned about Hayato, under the blank-faced apathy. “What the fuck do you want, carnivore?”

“Hn.” Apparently satisfied by what he saw, Hibari’s teeth pulled back from his teeth, feral and challenging. “Bite you to death.”

“Ah, cazzo.” Hayato flung himself aside to avoid the blazing tonfa, rolling to his feet and flinging a line of sparking flash bangs in return. Anticipation had Hayato grinning in fierce satisfaction. “Ha! Took you long enough to get over it, you crybaby carnivore!”

Snarling, Hibari threw himself at the cackling Storm. Flames rose around them as they clashed, wild and raging like a hurricane.

/…/

BOOM!

“What’s going on?!” Tsuna scrambled uptight even as the walls shook hard enough to clear off dust. “Is that… is that Hayato and Kyouya-sempai? What are they doing?”

Pop-pop! Pop-pop! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

“Ah, looks like the chairman finally made his move.” Kusakabe did not say ‘whoo! Go get it’ but the sentiment was implied, although it was more implied through his Flames and Tsuna’s Intuition than any outward signs. “I hope Haya-san treats Kyou-san well.”

BOOM-B-BOOM! BOOM!

A chandelier swung too far and wrenched free of the ceiling, falling to the floor with a thunderous crash of breaking crystal and shattered tiles. In the brief silence afterwards, Tsuna stared Kusakabe with blank, uncomprehending horror. “… Kyouya-sempai is doing what? Oh kami-sama, poor Hayato…”

/…/

“Ahk!” Hayato was slammed into the ground on his back, and Kyouya drove both his tonfa into the ground to either side Hayato’s head. Chips of stone flew up with a crack, craters blooming under the force of the twin blows, and Hayato glared as a thin line of blood opened up on his temple.

“Wao.” Kyouya looked pleased, eyes flicking down to where Hayato held a dagger to the Cloud’s ribs. The fabric of Kyouya’s jacket was already being eaten away by Storm Flames, skin skin dimpled under the blade. For a moment, the only sound was their breathing, still loud and harsh from the violence of their spar. Kyouya’s hair was more of a mess than usual, his lip split from where Hayato had kicked him in the teeth about three minutes in, and the Cloud’s eyes were hot with unappeased bloodlust.

“Heh.” Violence had always been a good look for Kyouya, and Hayato appreciated the chance to look his fill. It was still a surprise when Kyouya released his grip on his tonfa, leaving them implanted in the ground. Holding Hayato’s gaze, Kyouya reached for the hand holding the knife. Ignoring the hungry bite of Storm Flames, Kyouya pulled Hayato’s hand up to his face. Hot breath, soft tongue, and the firm grip of teeth over his pulse point.

The dagger dropped from slack fingers, and Kyouya’s smirk was all pleased triumph as Hayato’s breath caught. Cocking his head to one side, Kyouya dragged his mouth away from Hayato’s skin with a satisfied hum. “Yes?”

“You…” Hayato snarled, fisting his raised hand in the hair behind Kyouya’s ear, dragging the Cloud into a kiss that was full of nipping teeth and tasted strongly of copper. Trapping Kyouya’s lower lip between his teeth and slowly pulling away, points dragging over the soft flesh. Kyouya shifted, arm curling around Hayato’s waist to pull him closer even as Kyouya pressed his knee between Hayato’s thighs. Moaning, Hayato ground his hips up into Kyouya’s body. “Fuck, you had better mean this, you fucking carnivore.”

“Yes.” Kyouya hissed, pressing biting kisses to Hayato’s neck and revelling in the borderline-harsh way Hayato pulled on his hair. “Mine now.”

“Aa, but not here.” Hayato purred, pulling Kyouya away from his neck and ignoring the unhappy growl. “Get me somewhere private, carnivore, and we can fuck for as long as you like.”

“I’ll hold you to that, little falcon.” The world spun around him and Hayato found himself slung over Kyouya’s shoulder as the Cloud stalked away from the scene of their battle. There was a possessive hand stoking Hayato’s ass, and the Storm could only snicker breathlessly.

Well, this was one way to get Kyouya inside him again.

/…/

Tetsuya was happy for the chairman, even if he would prefer that Kyou-san and Haya-san keep their bedroom activities private. Thankfully, Haya-san seemed to agree with Tetsuya about what was acceptable for pubic display and what was indecent.

Haya-san caught sight of Tetsuya and Tsuna-sama as he was carried off, and poison green eyes narrowed in flash of irritation. If Tetsuya was reading Haya-san correctly, the Storm did not appreciate having an audience to the resolution of Kyou-san’s courtship efforts. “I can stab you in the kidneys from here.”

Kyou-san’s face did a weird thing, and Tetsuya realized that this was what ‘besotted’ looked like on a carnivore. “… wao.”

In his distress, Tsuna-sama made a helpless noise a bit like a deflating squeaky ball. Tetsuya patted him on the back and gently started pushing him in the opposite direction. It would do everyone good to avoid that wing of the mansion for a few hours.

Or a few days.

Kyou-san had gotten really invested in Haya-san over the last few months, and it was probably a good idea to let them work things out between them without any interruptions.

/…/

The door to Kyouya’s personal suite was still in the process of swinging shut when Kyouya ran out of patience.

Sliding off Kyouya’s shoulder, Hayato’s back hit the wall hard enough to knock a grunt out of him, the breathy sound caught by Kyouya’s tongue and morphing into a guttural moan without pause. Kyouya’s hands dug into the underside of Hayato’s thighs, and the Storm wrapped his legs around the Cloud’s waist without hesitation. Dragging his nails up Kyouya’s neck, Hayato rolled his body against Kyouya’s and was stupidly pleased by the snarled groan the move pulled from the Cloud’s throat.

“Mine.” Kyouya’s teeth scored the side of Hayato’s neck, possessive claims muttered almost absently between the heady mix of marking bites and deep kisses. Strong hands gripped Hayato’s ass, spreading him even as Kyouya ground their cocks together through the layers of their clothing.

“Nnh, yes, Kyouya!” This close, Hayato could see exactly how wide Kyouya’s pupils were blown, dark and avid with desire. Hayato writhed, pinned to the wall by the strength of Kyouya’s body. His clothes were stifling, a barrier between Hayato and what he wanted. Kyouya’s fingers pressed up against his crease, pulling fabric tight against Hayato’s balls as the seams strained, threads popping.

Breath catching, Hayato’s hole clenched down on nothing. The savage yearning to have that emptiness filled drove all other thoughts out of Hayato’s mind. He needed Kyouya, and they needed to be naked now.

Storm Flames flashed over and between them, the abused layers of fabric disintegrated, leaving them bare of everything except their boots.

“Fuck, yes.” Hayato shivered at the press and slide of bare skin on skin. Cloud Flames billowed up around them, Kyouya’s Will wrapping around Hayato’s Storm even as Mist coated fingers pressed against his twitching entrance. “Kyouya, stop teasing. Nnh!”

“Patience.” Kyouya chided, Flames coiling higher with savage delight as Hayato clawed at his shoulders. “Pretty falcon. You want it.”

“You know I want it you, ff-ah!” Hayato muffled a scream against Kyouya’s shoulder, teeth digging in hard enough to leave lasting marks as his hips surged mindlessly. Kyouya’s fingers were rubbing, pulling at his hole from the outside even as almost-solid pulses of Mist filled him. “Kyou… Kyouya! Nnh!”

“Soon.” The Mist left Hayato hollowed out and aching, with a burning need to be filled driven to a frenzied yearning with the sound of Kyouya’s rough hunger in his ear. Hayato gasped for air, his hole hot and slick like Kyouya had been working him for hours. Kyouya hitched Hayato higher up the wall, elbows hooked under knees, all but folding Hayato in half before plunging two fingers as deep as they could go. “There.”

“Come on, you-nh! Please. Kyou-ah!” Shoulders braced against the wall, Hayato dug his heels into Kyouya’s back as the fingers inside him spread wide, pulling at his rim until Hayato could feel lube escaping with every twitch of his hole. Biting back the whine building in his chest, Hayato pulled Kyouya closer, shivering as another wild surge of Flame rolled over him. “I’m ready, I’m ready, Kyouya, please-!”

Hayato keened into Kyouya’s mouth. A series of sharp, broken cries that escaped the press of their lips. Kyouya’s cock slid through the wet mess of lube coating Hayato’s inner thighs, the tip catching on the forced gape of his rim. The wide flare of the head pushed through, spreading him open. Hayato’s eyes rolled back as Kyouya bottomed out, thick shaft buried to the root and their Flames so thoroughly entwined there was no way to tell them apart.

“Kyouya…” Pinned and empaled, Hayato could only whimper in frustration as Kyouya watched him writhe helplessly. Baring his neck, Hayato pressed his cock to his stomach with one hand, keeping the other wrapped around the back of Kyouya’s neck. So full. He was so full. Kyouya’s cock was perfect, thick and hard, stretching him so wide his hole could only twitch as he tried to clench down around the invasion. “Kyouya, come on, please, fuck me you need to fuck me, caro mio, please, I need you-!”

“So impatient.” Kyouya growled, slick fingers curling between Hayato’s thighs to leave a trail of purple sparks from stretched pink rim to the leaking tip of his cock. Hayato screamed, back arching as his sensitivity trebled, pleasure whiting out his vision as Kyouya shoved a fraction deeper before pulling back to thrust in full.

Each forceful push drove the air out of Hayato’s lungs, sensation drowning out thought. His cock was a leaking mess, pulsing under slack fingers as Hayato struggled to keep his eyes open. Kyouya was beautiful in the throes of passion, wild and almost feral and eyes locked on Hayato.

A tiny smirk, and the look on Kyouya’s face straddled the line between passion and devotion. Hayato read the truth in his new lover’s Flames and felt his breath catch. Orgasm crashed over him, forcing a cry from Hayato’s throat as his cock pulsed and his body clenched.

Seconds or an eternity later, Hayato came back to himself and realized that Kyouya had paused. Which was a tragedy. There was a gentle touch against Hayato’s face, catching a tear, and a concerned murmur. “… falcon?”

“Kyouya…” Hayato sighed, doing his best to force trembling limbs into cooperation so he could hold Kyouya closer. “Keep going, please…”

A flicker of calculation passed over Kyouya’s face before Cloud Flames surged. Hayato squeaked, clinging to Kyouya as the powerful thrusts rocked up into his slack body. Kyouya’s fingers dug into his ass, spreading him wide as Kyouya took him mercilessly. Hayato sobbed as the pleasure built once again, and Kyouya lapped up the fresh tears with a growl before taking Hayato’s mouth in a messy kiss.

A deliberate flare of Cloud Flames, and between one thrust and the next Kyouya’s cock swelled larger. A shocked scream broke on the next thrust, overwhelmed cries greedily consumed as the Cloud’s enlarged cock battered Hayato’s abused prostate with every rock of their hips. Kyouya lifted one of Hayato’s legs higher over his shoulder, fingers tracing Hayato’s wide-stretched rim.

Another pulse of Flames, and Kyouya’s cock grew larger again. Hayato’s voice cut out, lights flashing behind his eyes. Kyouya’s fingers pressed against his perineum, assaulting his nerves from the outside and increasing his sensitivity. Their Flames meshed together, carrying passion and pleasure and driving them higher with every breath.

Hayato’s hand clenched on the back of Kyouya’s neck, Sun sparking from the tips of his fingers. Kyouya snarled, kissing Hayato savagely as he slammed his cock as deep into Hayato’s body as he could get, thick pulses of cum filling him further. A high pitched whine was trapped in Hayato’s throat as Kyouya pumped into his body, small thrusts lazy and satiated as the Cloud came down from his orgasm.

Still grinding his hips into Hayato’s ass, cock left in place to keep the bomber’s ass plugged full of cum, Kyouya purred in satisfaction. Hayato whimpered, mouth slack and eyes glazed as Kyouya rolled his balls and thumbed the base of his cock. A thread of Mist lanced out, wrapping around Hayato’s oversensitive prostate and squeezing. “Come.”

“Kyouya!” Hayato wailed as pleasure ripped through him, hyperaware of the weak flutter of his rim around Kyouya’s cock and the drape of his limbs around Kyouya’s body. Kyouya sank his teeth into the skin of Hayato’s throat, riding out the surge of the Storm’s second orgasm with satisfaction writ clearly in the lines of his face.

“So pretty, little falcon.” Kyouya murmured into the curve of Hayato’s shoulder, working on leaving one more mark on the shivering skin before pulling away. Reluctantly, Kyouya pulled his cock free of Hayato’s body, watching with shameless hunger as his cum leaked from the gaping hole. Hayato squirmed weakly, a soft moan leaving him as Kyouya pressed four fingers back into his body. “Look at how well you take me.”

“You, mnh! You make it worth the, ah, effort, caro.” Hayato fell forward against Kyouya’s chest, clinging tight as the Cloud toyed lazily with his trembling body. “Who, mmn, who’ve you been practicing with.”

“No one important.” Sharp and to the point, and Hayato blinked at the thought that Kyouya might be trying to be clear with his intentions. Without warning, Kyouya lifted Hayato away from the wall. Hayato squeaked in surprise as he was carried across the suite and into the bedroom.

He was dropped on the bed, and blinked at the sudden loss of skin contact. Kyouya looked Hayato over with appreciation, before looking at his feet and barking a short laugh. “You left your boots?”

“I like these boots.” Hayato shrugged carelessly, but his time on the streets had taught him the value of a good pair of boots, so he was perfectly willing to fuck with his boots on. Kyouya just looked amused and wordlessly pulled the boots off Hayato’s feet. The second boot hit the floor with a thump and Kyouya proceeded to flip Hayato over onto his front. Hayato shivered as Kyouya pressed him down into the mattress, Kyouya’s cock hard against his ass and Kyouya’s teeth sharp against the back of his neck. “Again? You- now?”

“Now, my pretty falcon.” Kyouya growled into Hayato’s ear as he thrust deep in a single unrelenting push. “We’ll see how much of me your body can handle.”

I SPENT FAR TO MUCH TIME MAKING THE WALL SEX HAPPEN BUT FUCK MY LAZY PORN MUSE I AM THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE AND I WILL BE OBEYED!

Anyway here @nightmare-aoife I wrote you a thing. It only took me forever. XD

[seijuurouxryuu]

Clipped Wings (I Want to Show You to The World; But We Can’t)

Title:  Clipped Wings (I Want to Show You to The World; But We Can’t) Author: Shiro (TeitoxAkashi [AO3]/ seijuurouxryuu[Tumblr]) Rating: T Pairing: Reborn/ Hibari Kyouya Prompt: Secret Relationship AU Events: @khrrarepairweek Prompt: Enemies to Friends to Lovers | Secret Relationship AU Tags/Warnings: Graphic Depiction of Violence, No Archive Warning Applied

Day 3: Sun Day

They stared, studied, observed and planned, to attack, and to counter. There would be only one winner, one survivor between the two of them.

Unless Fate decided otherwise, only one of them can live.

AO3

Hibari glared down from the balcony, eyes narrowed and cold as gunshots rang in the air, loud to all but him. Reborn met his glare unflinchingly, hatred in his eyes as he swiftly pushed his way through the first wave of defence, none which could do more than giving him a second delay. The West wing was already down, Lightning's shield was pierced through by a storming wind. The East and South wing were holding on, the Sun guardian blinding all whilst the Mists deceit their sight.

The North wing was where the Cloud stood, blood-soaked from killing the strays that managed to wriggle in along with the dirty traitors. And he was still standing strong, unwavering.

Silence was deafening, because his men couldn't even scream when the lights in their eyes faded.

It was a one-sided fight between his men and the hitman. Soon, none but he stood on the ground, eyes never leaving Hibari for more than two seconds. The two stood there a moment, tension high in the air.

There was no second nor third wave to stop the hitman. There was only Hibari there. And Hibari doesn't need any reinforcement. They would only be a nuisance rather than a help for him.

Hibari dropped down and landed gracefully on his feet, his suit jacket fluttering as though they were wings.

They stared, studied, observed and planned, to attack, and to counter. There would be only one winner, one survivor between the two of them.

Unless Fate decided otherwise, only one of them can live.

Hibari tighten his grip on his tonfa and rushed forward, dodging the bullets swiftly. Reborn jumped back from a swipe and used the momentum to kick upwards, aiming for the chin. When the skylark dodged, he turned his body, pushing his other leg up and swiped Hibari's head instead. Hibari had to use his forearm to block the kick as he was pushed a good three meters away, the cement under his feet crumbling.

He did not pause from that as he swung his tonfa, chain flying out and circling, glowing and growing. The end of it cut Reborn's cheek as the hitman tilted his body, pulling the trigger, fire instead of bullet. It chipped Hibari's leg, tearing the cloth of his dress pants. Hibari charged in again, meeting Reborn halfway through as their weapons clashed, the gun blocking the metal tonfa easily enough.

The two exchanged blows after blows, putting bruises, injuries and blood one after another on each other. Neither paid much attention to what was going on, nor they cared as they fought tooth and nail. Neither was in a better state than the other, equal and on par in strength and skills and experiences.

"Stop."

They jolted to a stop, Hibari's tonfa inches away from smashing Reborn's forehead and Reborn's gun pointing at Hibari's neck, the carotid artery. Behind them was Tsuna, eyes blazing with fire and anger and pain and sorrow. His flames, filled the air with the smell of ozone, hypersensitive.

"The fight is over, Hitman. Take your comrades and leave at once." He commanded, voice tight and stern. Reborn didn't even move his eyes away from Hibari's as the three of them stood still, atmosphere tense and suffocating. He knew, that they've lost this round.

Luce was calling for retreat.

A pause, and both Hibari and Reborn jumped far away from each other. Reborn brushed his shoulders slightly as he placed his gun back in his holster. He bent down and picked up his dropped fedora and wore it, tipped low and covering his eyes.

"The war is not over yet, Don Vongola." He said, voice void of everything but murderous intent.

"No, it is not." Tsuna replied, unwavering, but there was a hint of tire and sorrow. If Reborn picked it up, he showed no indication as he turned and left.

But not before locking gaze with Hibari once again.

They watched the hitman's back disappear before they themselves turned and headed back into the building. The war was far from over, but as for the moment, it was the time to mourn for those they've lost, to heal and to recuperate. A sacred moment of peace.

He was pushed against the wall, deeper into the shadows as another mouth claimed his, hungrily mapping and dominating in something akin to urgency. He returned it with same hunger, same urgency, same heat. Any sounds were swallowed by each other as they drink in each other's presence like thirsty men finding an oasis in a desert.

Hands, hot and cold, ran through their body, memorizing each curve and edges, again and again as if it wasn't enough.

Darkness hid them from the world as they showed their vulnerable sides, silent whispers just as loud in their ears as their breathing, too loud. A tear or two was shed, for they couldn't portray their love to the world, only in darkness and in hiding, for they could only meet for love when the stars aligned, the blue moon raised. For the hatred and rage pointed not at each other but their destinies when they meet in blood and in weapons, surrounded by burning fire.

They mouthed each words of weakness into their skins, wanting to claim but can't, wanting to put concrete evidence of having each other but can't.

(If only they were anything but killers//If only they were anything but lovers.)

Lying in bed, they held each other, basking and soaking, hours before they would have to separate, hours before they would have to hide again. "Why?" Hibari whispered, head on Reborn's shoulder, burying his face in the crook of his neck with an arm thrown across his chest. Fingers ran through his hair gently, lulling.

"Because its not time yet."

"When will the time come?"

"Who knows." Reborn sighed wearily, placing a kiss on his forehead. "Who knows." He repeated for himself rather than the other. Hibari closed his eyes, tightening his hold on him. "Until the time comes, don't dare you die without me.

"Don't dare you die in any hands but mine."

Reborn closed his own as well, turning slightly to pull him close. "You as well, my love."

.

.

Lords above, please have mercy on us sinners, let us breathe together.

Lords above, have mercy on your children and let us free.

Let us soar together, with or without the glory because we need them not but each other.

Don't pull us apart, or just take us away from this suffocating world.

A/N= This is a parallel world where Reborn did not tutor Tsuna and Tsuna was born mafia. Reborn met Hibari when they were teens and got together in their early twenties. In their mid twenties was when war among every Famiglia and mafiosi started. No Famiglias are allies. Everyone is enemies other than their own.

Reborn is from the Arcobaleno and Hibari is from the Vongola, obviously. Arcobaleno and Vongola are one of the strongest and always clashes. (There are about ten to twelve Famigia/ Organizations that's in the strongest side.) Reborn and Hibari's relationship was a secret since the beginning, more so when the war started. Now, they were simply just so sick of it.

Fun fact= Tsuna actually knew that Hibari had some sort of relationship with Reborn, but he said nothing. Which was probably why he allowed Hibari to always stand in Reborn's way, not only because Hibari is the strongest guardian, but because he understood that they must have a vow of sort.

In fact, they do. Hibari and Reborn vowed that if they were to be killed, they'd rather die in each other's hands.

[I apologize for any grammar, spelling, etc. etc. mistakes]

[mafiabosstsuna]

A rival family has attacked and hospitalized Dino’s S/O while he was out of the country doing business in Japan. Dino finds out only a few days after the attack because a subordinate who is romantically interested in him withheld the information, hoping the S/O would die in the hospital from their wounds.

~admin Adelheid

Dino kissed you lingeringly as the both of you stood at the Vongola’s private airstrip and you could barely hold yourself back from crushing the lapels of his jacket as you clung to him.

He knew it was difficult for you with him leaving like this on Family business all the time. You never say anything but he knew he would never really put to rest all your worries and trepidations. You were brought up in a civilian family, after all. And the only thing keeping you from begging him not to go was the love you have your husband’s men had earned from you. You knew quickly that everything Dino did was for the good of the Famiglia.

“Sorry.” Dino apologized for probably the hundredth time as he leaned his forehead against yours; true regret showing in his golden eyes. “If this weren’t so important I would―”

“I know…” You replied in a whisper with an understanding smile. “I know.”

Dino clutched you to him tighter, burying his face in your hair. “Tell me again how I got so lucky?”

You laughed and Dino stored the sound in his mind, hoping to keep himself sane for the next few days while he was away from you.

“Call me when you get there?” you whispered in his ear, reveling in his warmth. Storing his scent in your memory to keep you company until he returned to your side.

“As soon as I’m alone,” he promised in a sigh. “The Family Boss I’m dealing with said he’ll be sending out his son to meet me at the airport so I might not be able to talk immediately.”

“I’ll miss you, Jackass.” You replied and teased in understanding.

Dino laughed and clutched you tighter to himself. God he really didn’t want to let you go. Before he had met you he didn’t mind being away from home so much but since he found you… he could never really come home fast enough. But this was a special favor for Tsuna and it would further strengthen their hold on Southeast Asia in general. If he seals this deal not only would they be stable in Japan for several generations but also the entirety of Southeast Asia would be at the Alliances’ feet. He cannot let his little bro down.

“I love you.” He whispered to you again in a hoarse voice.

You swallowed hard and blinked back your tears as you breathed out your reply. “I love you too.”

You forced each other to let go and Dino could see behind the brave smile you were putting on. He couldn’t help but allow his heart to swell with pride and yet it broke his heart a little that you had to put on such a brave face. He had promised he would protect you and yet here he was adding to your burdens at every turn. What he wouldn’t do to save you from suffering… What he wouldn’t do to be your knight in shining armor…

“Boss, we need to go.”

Dino didn’t even spare the woman behind him a glance. Instead it was you who gave the female subordinate an apologetic nod as you let Dino go. “Sorry, Laura, we didn’t mean to make you wait.”

Neither of your noticed the jealous sneer on Laura’s face since Dino decided it was a good time to bury his face in the crook of your neck. You rolled your eyes at him and struggled to laughingly push him away. “Idiot, you need to go.”

“I don’t wanna~!” he whined.

“Tsuna will be very disappointed if you don’t go,” you told him fondly as you ran your fingers through his golden hair affectionately. “And if that happens then he might consider telling Reborn and then―”

“He wouldn’t!” Dino sprang up straight in wide eyed terror, his eyes darting around like a frightened rabbit. “Honey, I told you, don’t say his name or he’ll appear!”

You shot him a flat glare. “He’s not the devil.”

“I beg to differ.”

The dead serious way he said that made you laugh and push at him harder. “Go!”

Dino pulled you in for another long, lingering kiss before reluctantly pulling away leaving you breathless.

“Romario,” Dino called his right hand man, his eyes never leaving yours. “Take care of my greatest treasure will you?”

Romario bowed low. “No need to worry about that, Boss.”

Dino walked backwards still staring at your face, understanding what Romario meant. You will be protected by the best the Cavallone and the Vongola had to offer. Tsuna had promised to send someone who will keep watch over the Cavallone household while he was away and they would meet with them at the Cavallone mansion as soon as they got home.

You asked to go shopping on the way home and got Dino a watch with an engraved message on the back.

Romario read the message over your shoulder with a laugh. “Ready to go?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

“I assume this little trinket is for the Boss?”

You hugged the gift close to your chest and nodded as the car began moving along main street. “Just to help remind him what time it is. So you won’t always scold him about being late.”

Romario laughed. “That would help me a lot.”

You both shared a laugh inside the car.

Then the SUV following behind yours exploded.

And all hell broke loose…

BZZZTTT!!! BZZZTTTT!!!!

Dit.

“Hello?”

“Hello? Laura! Where’s the Boss?!”

“Romario?” Laura replied coolly as she took a peek at her watch. A habit she had developed when she was feeling disturbed. And Romario’s sobbing voice disturbed her greatly. “What is it? Boss is in a meeting.”

“Laura, listen to me! You need to tell the Boss that his wife’s been attacked! We’re in the hospital right now! The doctor said she’s in critical condition!”

“What?!” Laura’s eyes widened before glancing at the Dino who was now approaching her. She couldn’t believe it. This was her chance! The air-headed fool could die and then with that slut out of the way then… then she would finally have a chance with the Boss! “Right; I’ll tell him.”

Dino reached her as soon as she ended the call. “Problems, Laura?”

~

Laura smiled beautifully. “None, sir. Nothing at all.”

Dino knew something was wrong. He didn’t know what it was but he knew it for certain.

He had tried to call home several times but Laura had kept him busy. Before he knew it it had been three days.

“Laura…” he asked, tired to the bone and practically asleep on his desk in his hotel room. “Aren’t we done here yet? I wanna go home~!”

“Now, now, Boss,” his secretary and bodyguard crooned as she came behind him and started massaging his shoulders. “Just a little bit longer.”

Dino groaned in misery before standing up, forcing her to let go. He didn’t like that that Laura’s being too touchy these past few days. “Who’s next?”

“You are to meet with the head of the yakuza Family currently in power in Shinjuku.” She replied, reluctantly stepping back.

“Alright; better get to it. The sooner we get this done the sooner we go home.” He replied as he began walking out of the room.

Laura started to chase after him. “But, sir, if you’re feeling tired you can just rest; I’m sure we can reschedule―”

“No; I’ve had enough of this.” Dino replied coldly, his eyes blazing with resolve at his decision. “It’s either they want an alliance with the Vongola or they don’t. Whatever their decision is they’re making it today.”

“B-but, sir―”

Dino ignored Laura for the rest of the trip and arrived at the restaurant the yakuza Family owned. But as soon as he opened the doors he stopped and blinked at the sight before him.

Because right there in the middle of the restaurant, standing among the unconscious and bloody forms of the yakuza gang he was about to meet was Hibari Kyoya, still clutching at the yakuza Boss’ shirt collar, his bloody tonfas in his other grip.

Dino smirked and leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. “I see we’re up to our old hobbies, eh, Kyouya?”

“Ah!” Kusakabe hurried to Kyoya’s side, his eyes on Dino’s. “Cavallone-sama! What are you doing here?”

“I was supposed to be meeting with those guys you just beat up.” Dino jerked his chin towards the Boss held in Kyoya’s bloody clutches. “So what did they do to irritate you?”

“This herbivorous fool thought it would be interesting to ambush and kill the Vongola representative they are coming to meet today. I was not aware that representative was going to be you.” The Vongola Cloud Guardian threw the enemy Boss at Dino’s feet, completely ignoring Laura who was bowing from behind Dino respectfully. “More importantly, why are you still here?”

“What?” Dino asked with a laugh. “Didn’t I just tell you?”

“I would have thought you would have gone running the moment you heard your wife has been critically injured after an enemy attack.” Kyoya replied, throwing his victim down carelessly. “Perhaps I was wrong.”

Dino felt light headed all of a sudden. As though things had turned white and all noise had turned into white fuzz. “What…?”

Kyoya stopped and stared at his former teacher even as Laura paled behind the blonde. “How could you not know? It happened a few hours after you left Italy.”

Dino stumbled. He didn’t even know he was moving. His stomach was cold and he felt like heaving.

“Boss!” Laura called out in alarm, running and reaching out to him but he shook her off.

With sheer determination Dino turned around and grabbed for his phone still inside Laura’s handbag and started dialing. “Hello? Romario?”

The voice on the other line could not have chilled him more than if it had been the devil himself who had answered. “Romario’s sleeping; I taught you how to figure time zone differences, didn’t I?”

“Reborn…?”

“So you finally called.” Reborn glanced at your sleeping form, your heart monitor beeping slightly in the dim, quiet room. “Don’t worry, she’s in a coma. She doesn’t know you cared so little for her that you couldn’t even phone in to check on her when she got shot.”

“I’m coming home!” Dino snapped into the phone, his feet already moving. “I’m coming home right now!”

“Boss Dino, wait, please calm down―”

Dino pinned Laura with blazing, agonized eyes, his whole body trembling and Laura felt as though she had been pinned on the spot. “How can you possibly tell me to calm down?! My wife could be dying! How did nobody tell me about this?! Now book me the next available flight back to Italy!”

“Don Cavallone,” Kusakabe stepped forward and bowed in deference to the raging stallion. “If it’s transportation then let the Foundation help.”

Reborn and Romario were in your room when Dino arrived. Both of them watched the devastated expression on the Cavallone don’s face as he caught a glimpse of your broken form.

“It was a good thing Tsuna asked me to come over and give your wife some extra security or they would have taken her body with them as a souvenir.” Reborn said, pulling his fedora down over his face, hiding the expression on it as he observed his former student. “Sorry I couldn’t get to her in time to keep her unharmed though.”

Dino could have heaved out his insides at the thought of you in those bastard’s hands. What more could they have done to you had you been their prisoner. “Yes…”

“It’s not good, Dino,” Reborn frowned, now noticing the paling woman who had followed you into the room. “The doctors said that if she doesn’t wake up soon there might be no hope for her.”

Dino felt like the ground had fallen underneath him. He had to hold onto the back of the chair placed by your bedside to keep himself steady.

“About the Famiglia who had done this,” Romario, also bandaged from head to foot and leaning on a crutch, piped in. “They have already had a taste of the Vongola Decimo’s rage. The only reason why he has not taken out their Boss yet was because he thought you might want to take care of it yourself.”

“He’s right,” Dino replied woodenly as he stepped into the room, his eyes never leaving your form. “Tell my little bro thanks, will you?”

“Yes, sir.” Romario hesitated but then took a small, scorched box out of his pocket and handed it over to his Boss. “She… she bought this for you on our way home that day, Boss. Please take it.”

Dino did. As soon as he opened the box the sight of a broken, expensive watch peeked right out of it. He lifted it out of its cradle and turned it in his hand, his mind already imagining the expression on your face had you been awake to hand it to him personally. When he read the message you left for him at the back it took everything he had not to break down and cry right then there.

~I give you my Time. My Forever is yours. I love you, Dino.

“Romario,” the older man took a step back as his Boss’ enraged eyes pinned his right hand man in place. “Why did no one tell me about what happened to my wife?”

“What? I- I did call you! I called you the moment we got to the hospital! You weren’t able to answer the phone but I left Laura the message to let you know how she was doing every day.”

Dino blinked. The woman had been acting unusually almost as soon as they arrived in Japan. She had been too touchy, too intimate. And if he put two and two together…

“I-I’m sorry, Boss!” Laura cried out, reaching out to Dino with supplicating hands. She could still get out of this, she just knew she could! Dino was a kind Boss who would never lay a finger on a woman. Wasn’t the reason why she fell in love with you?! “I just thought it would be best not to give you any distractions while you were in those important meetings! I was only thinking about the Family!”

“You can stop acting, this isn’t my first experience with lying, deceitful women,” Dino replied, not even turning to look at his secretary. “The fact that you had failed to report something this important to me after three days and had kept me from completing my appointments as early as possible already proves you had a hidden agenda.”

Laura felt something cold skitter down her spine at his words. “B- Boss…?”

“It really doesn’t matter if she dies, Laura,” Dino turned towards the woman with a sad smirk on his face and his eyes looking like frozen gold in the morning light. “I still would never love you.”

Laura fell on the floor on weakened knees, realizing this was the end for her. She scrambled out of the room hoping for escape.

“Romario.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“She knows too much of our affairs to let her go. Dispose of her accordingly and send her parents our condolences after her funeral. I don’t want to be dealing with her any longer.”

“…Yes, Boss.”

Reborn nodded, pleased at the way the blonde had managed to tie all ends of the matter. He decided to make sure his former student’s plans all fell through. “Don’t bother, Romario. I’ll take care of her myself. Just make sure your disposal unit’s ready.”

“Ah? Yes, thank you, Reborn!” Romario replied with a bow and followed the hitman out of the room.

Dino practically broke at the sight of you unconscious on the bed, your whole body bandaged up. His hand trembled as he reached for your hand but he couldn’t bring himself to. He felt unworthy to be touching you. Instead he sat on the chair he had been holding onto and buried his face in hands that were grasping each other as his elbows rested on your bed.

He had never felt this scared in his life. Was this what it meant to love? To fear more for someone else’s well-being than his own? Was it always meant to make him feel this week? To feel as though that he was this much of a failure?

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” he whispered into your hand as he closed his eyes and prayed. “I should have been here… I should have been from the start. I’m so, so sorry…”

Suddenly the familiar feeling of fingers running lightly through his hair made him stop mid sob. Half afraid that he was dreaming he looked up to see your tired but smiling face looking back at him.

“Crybaby… What are you crying about…?” you whispered as your hand lovingly touched his cheek. “Everything… is going to be alright…”

Dino let his tears fall as he pressed your hand harder against his cheek and stared at your face.