AN: To the people still reading this story all I have to say is 1. I'm sorry for the wait 2. I'm almost done saving for a new computer getting adjusted to a new life living alone with some roommates and 3. Please enjoy. I do pray I can update faster by next week or so once I raise enough money for a new computer. I need a laptop since a desktop just won't fit in the room we're renting right now.

Also, I just noticed this. As you can probably tell I'm just using an internet café and had not had an opportunity to do so till recently. Browsing or using phones are forbidden in my workplace, you see? So I was typing my fanfic's name on Google when I noticed a link I did not remember. When I opened it OMG imagine my surprise when I saw it was fanart! O_O

And I absolutely LOVE IT!

Please check it out:

Please check it out: h#t#t#p#:/#/#xralc-tsens. Deviantart art/ TYL-Chrome-Varia- 331294971

Just kick out all the spaces and leave a note to tell her what you think!

Thank you so much Xralc-Tsens; your art ROCKS! You managed to capture the melancholy in her eyes despite her immense power. She's FANTASTIC! I am so in love! 3 3 3 As for my reviewers I'm sorry but I have not read any of your reviews. Like I said I have not had access to the internet for a long time and the few times I did I felt too bad to look into it since I haven't updated in so long. For the follows and the favorites you guys… I just love you all. I hope you keep on looking out for the story. Thank you all so much.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize!

Chapter 24

"I must say, Lal, you look absolutely stunning! Say cheese!"

Snap!

Lal wanted give Iemitsu a well deserved uppercut right then and there as the blonde idiot grinned behind his camera. She was too far away, however and it took her quite a bit to groom just for the evening's occasion so she decided to settle for the snarl. "What was that for?!"

"Colonello would never forgive me if I didn't at least show him a picture of you in that dress." Sawada Iemitsu declared as he pocketed his phone for safe keeping. "I'll have to thank my Tuna-fish for requiring all the women in the Famiglia to dress up for the occasion this year."

Lal snarled even as she blushed hotly at his words but resigned herself to her fate. For the sake of the Famiglia's stability of course she was not going to refuse the Decimo's request. But that did not mean she was going to let him get away with it either. "I am going to kill both of you."

Iemitsu just laughed, as usual taking her threats lightly. "You look ravishing, Lal, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, I assure you."

The blue haired woman tried hard to keep her blush down as she went further inside the office. "Is Basil ready?"

"Already waiting outside with the car." Iemitsu opened up his arms to show off his black evening suit and the snowy white dress shirt underneath it for Lal's approval. "What do you think?"

Lal nodded in approval. "Not hideous. At least you're not wearing a flowered shirt underneath that thing."

"Tsk; Reborn would have my head for that if he ever finds out I embarrassed the Vongola Decimo at his own birthday party."

"Not to mention I'll be beating you half an inch of your life if you even tried." The former COMSUBIN instructor growled as she leaned against the wall beside the door she was in front of keeping an eye on the CEDEF Boss. The fact that she was all gussied up did not mean she was going to forget why she was there. Iemitsu was still CEDEF leader and she was still assigned to watch over his safety for the evening especially under the circumstances. In fact, she was betting that all the other Famiglias attending would be bringing their own personal bodyguards to the party; all cleverly disguised as guests. No one would get any rest until the Vongola Decimo made a move against Trinidad.

Also she had another reason to keep Iemitsu alive tonight and she refused to allow the blonde's stupidity to distract her. They had been busy all weel making sure the political members of La Justicia Pasada stayed firmly down but now that she had some time alone with him she needed to grab the opportunity while she still had it. "We need to talk."

"Hmm?" Iemitsu turned towards a window where the wide bulletproof glass reflected his image and began to fuss with his sienna colored tie. "What about?"

"Chrome Dokuro."

And there she saw it. The minute hesitation of his usually agile fingers and the tension in his broad shoulders before he busily continued with his task. "What about her?"

The dismissive tone in his voice made Lal's hackles rise. "What do you mean, 'what about her?'. Did you know where she was all this time? She was with Varia! The last time I saw her she was wearing one of their ridiculously stupid uniforms with their crest as a broach! She saved Xanxus' life while she was practically bleeding to death! I know Viper and the others have gone on some sort of fieldtrip and they're short of an illusionist but I don't understand why you have her stationed there when they already have a Mist proxy! All they had to do was call in Fran! Isn't there any way for you to tell Tsunayoshi to recall her and take her rightful place at the Iron Fort?"

"She has no place in the Iron Fort."

Lal was floored at the utter indifference and dash of spite that seeped into Iemitsu's voice. Surely she can't be hearing this right. "What in the world are you trying to say?"

"Nothing."

"Don't tell me nothing when there's obviously something!" she snarled as she pushed herself off the wall. "Tell me what is going on!"

"Lal, there's nothing to tell because there's nothing to say."

"Bullcrap! Why won't you tell me?!"

"Lal, for the love of everything that's good and holy, calm down!"

Lal stared at Sawada Iemitsu as the blonde CEDEF Boss struggled to fix the silk, sienna colored tie. Not many knew about this but she had tutored the blonde CEDEF leader back when he was still a wet behind the ears wannabe. Before she found out he had Sky Flames he was one of her recruits back in COMSUBIN; the discovery led to Vongola's interest and to make sure the succession was not threatened for the then still living heirs, the young Iemitsu was inducted under CEDEF. She was the one who was called in to tutor him in the art of Flames and Mafia. She was the one who was called in to groom him into a Boss and later served under his leadership all in the name of the Famiglia they both served until he had exceeded her expectations.

For years she had served under this man and fought with him on countless occasions. She had borne every idiocy and brilliance the CEDEF Boss had had to offer so she knew him well enough to know every single quirk he had and the way he continually avoided her gaze made the failed Arcobaleno's eyes narrow in irritation and realization.

"You're lying to me," she breathed out incredulously. "You're actually trying to lie to me."

"What kind of ridiculous idea put that into your he—"

"Damn you, Iemitsu!" Lal roared.

He finally stopped his useless tie fiddling and turned to face her, hands raised palm up in supplication. "Lal—"

"Why?" she snapped at him, cutting him off impudently and they both knew that had she had a gun she would have cocked it already and had it pointed at his face. In fact, her right hand was hovering much too closely over her thigh. "Why is Chrome with Varia? Why is she not reporting to headquarters? What the hell is going on, Iemitsu?!"

"Enough."

Lal gasped a little and took a step back when the good natured façade the blonde always donned for the sake of friends and family alike fell away and was replaced by the hard edged face that the Young Lion of Vongola was reputed for.

His hands at his side, his tie settled perfectly around his collar he met her eyes from across the room with an intensity that was as cold as his son's First Edition Zero Point Breakthrough.

"That woman is a danger."

"Of course she is," Lal spat at him as she regained some of her bravado at the venom she heard in Iemitsu's voice when addressing her student. "You had me train her that way. Have you forgotten what that child has sacrificed for the sake of your son?!"

"I forget nothing, Lal, and so does she," the cold calm of his voice made the former COMSUBIN instructor stop and stare in confusion at the man in front of her. She understood nothing. "That's why she knows it's best that she stay away from him."

"She's a Guardian!" Lal watched as Iemitsu began to leave his office and chased after him as he walked out the hall outside. "How are you supposed to do that? You can't keep her from the Decimo's side forever!"

"Rokudo Mukuro is my son's Mist Guardian," Iemitsu replied, his eyes like chips of frozen gold. "She is nothing but a stand in for that position until Rokudo decides otherwise."

Lal couldn't comprehend it; she couldn't wrap her mind around it.

She had known Chrome since she was given under her care at the tender age of fourteen. She knew about the girl's biggest insecurities; her biggest fears. One of those fears was to be abandoned. Left behind; be found useless by the Family she had come to love with all her heart. If she knew how she was being regarded by Iemitsu or the rest of the Family it would break her apart.

"You can't do this…" Lal breathed, still staring after the disappearing form of the CEDEF Boss in disbelief and frustrated fury. "You can't do this to her!"

"It's too late, Lal," Iemitsu didn't even bother to throw her a glance. "And you know better than to fight against what's already been decided."

"I thought Tsunayoshi was the one who will change the Mafia!" Lal cried out in disheartened dismay at Iemitsu's retreating back. "What about all of this has changed?! I'll tell Tsunayoshi—"

"You'll tell my son nothing," Iemitsu turned toward her, his eyes blazing like the Flame that appeared on his forehead whenever he was in battle. "For the sake of the Famiglia, for the sake of the Vongola and for the sake of that girl you are so fond of… you will say nothing."

Lal's eyes iced over and she stood straight, her back rigid and poised like a queen demanding her due as she spoke icily at the CEDEF leader. "Tell me what is going on, Iemitsu. Or I swear to everything we both hold dear that I will draw blood."

Iemitsu's jaw moved, gritting his teeth as he looked into her eyes and gauged how serious she was. Lal was an Arcobaleno; a part of the Strongest Seven. It didn't matter if the Trinisette failed to consume all of her she was still one of the most powerful people in existence and she can deal retribution that could potentially take a large part of the Vongola and damage it irreparably. The decision was easy enough to make.

"Fine," Iemitsu sighed, his hands tucking themselves away in his pockets. "But swear to me that you will never speak of this again. Not to anyone who doesn't know."

"I—"

"Please, Lal," the man's eyes softened, his pleading sincere and unmistakable. "It's for my son."

"Tell me what I want to know first. Every little part of it," she demanded of him coldly, knowing her worth, projecting the formidable woman she was who had trained and fostered men and women who had become far more than what they originally were afterwards. She was and always will be, a woman of power. "Then I will decide whether or not I want to keep your pathetic little secret."

/*****/

Xanxus let out an irritated snarl as he ripped off yet again another silk tie that had failed to bow to his demands by arranging itself in a comfortable fashion around his shirt collar. He swore if he could ever go back in time he would fucking break the neck of whoever turdball who invented the damned things.

He had kicked Lussuria out of his room not wanting the other man to interfere and meddle too much in his privacy. He had already given him too much leeway in picking out his godforsaken suit. But he was fast realizing the fact that it had been a good long while since he had bothered to put on a penguin costume like this. Why should he? He almost never left the fortress for anything less than a life threatening mission of international or cosmic importance.

He was about to call it quits and throw the entire box of ironed ties out the window when he heard the knock on the door.

"Lussu?! It's that you?! Get your butt in here you fucking faggot, I'll skin you alive for making me wear this piece of shit!"

He heard the door open and muffled footsteps entered his room while he continued to struggle with his tie.

"Lussu," he began to growl. Pure frustration alive in his gravelly voice. "I swear if you don't do anything about this fucking tie I'm going to strangle you with it and turn you into roadkill!"

Xanxus was expecting a perverted remark of some sort before the idiot did as he was told and was now than ready to reply with a few well placed punches to the gut but the hands that suddenly fell over his were much more delicate; much more gentle than the bespectacled, multicolored haired man. Before he knew it he was staring down at a head full of purple hair and surrounded by the scent of night blooming jasmines.

She was back.

All of a sudden, the scarred man found it hard to breathe.

She was so small she barely reached his shoulder but she deftly managed to fix his tie with a flourish. And when she was done she smoothed his shirt over his chest with those dame hands and Xanxus forgot all about breathing for a moment.

Like a stupid brat he wanted to yell at her to go away and stay away so she wouldn't have to how ridiculous he looked.

And then he remembered just who he was and that Squalo would never let him hear the end of it if that stupid shark ever found out so he gritted his teeth, sucked his breath in and called back out.

"So," he began cursing at the barely traceable tremor in his voice. "You're back."

Xanxus wanted to kick himself for the damned stupidity of the statement. What the hell kind greeting was that?!

And then he just forgot to fucking think when she raised her face to his suddenly hungry gaze with a soft, gentle smile.

She had always looked beautiful, enough to garner second looks whenever she passed casually by, but tonight she took a little extra care with her appearance before coming to him, it seemed. Her usually unbound hair was piled up her head with pearls artfully arranged to keep those violet strands away from her smooth, flawless neck with just enough grace to frame her face. He couldn't see the dress she was wearing for tonight he heard Lussuria was the one who chose it for her since she was wearing a high collared charcoal gray trench coat over it. He could only hope the bastard didn't get too carried away and made her wear something too revealing under it. He'd have to gut his Sun Guardian otherwise. The last thing he needed tonight was a mortified Cloud Guardian… or to kill a bunch of bastards trying to pick her up.

"Yes, I'm back, Xanxus-sama."

She looked tired. A shadow of something a little too close to worried colored her eyes a little bit more darkly...

But God, the sight of her made him want to bury his hands in her hair and scatter the pearls loose with his fingers while he buried his lips against the pale skin of her neck kissing his way up to her lips...

He had to lick his suddenly dry lips at the thought even as he fought to breathe. He tried to remember if he had ever wanted anything even remotely like this in the past.

Not his mother's love.

Not his father's pride.

Not the Vongola throne.

And suddenly he was reminded of the true reason why he was suffering through all these stupid preparations.

Tonight, he was going to claim Chrome Dokuro and take her off that brat Sawada's hands.

He tried to gather his scattered composure by speaking. "Levi gave me a report about the hazing. Vienetto must have been impressed since he personally asked for you on the next job hell need done. Good work."

She shook her head, standing a few feet from him as calm as a fucking lake in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon. It was just so fucking unfair. "It was nothing difficult. It was a generally low risk assignment; I doubt it had needed any sort of violent intervention on my part."

Xanxus huffed. "I'd like to see the poor civilian asshole that could defeat a Mist users mind control abilities so easily."

She nodded a little shyly at his offhanded compliment and blushed a little. Pleasure at the sight rolled into his chest at the thought that he could get that kind of reaction from her. Pleasing her was nothing like keeping his subordinates content. With the trash he did things to make sure they kept living and then shove their worthless carcasses out of his mind. With this woman, however… Pleasing her pleased him.

"It takes a special kind of person to be able to see through and shake off an illusion." She replied quietly. No pretentious bragging; no annoying preening. It was just a fact.

But it still displeased him that she would downplay herself like this. "With your caliber I doubt even a special kind of person would be so lucky."

She smiled that soft, shy smile again and reached up to fondle a few clumped strands of hair hanging in front of his face. "Your hair looks messy; didn't Lussu-nee give you a haircut?"

The thought had Xanxus' eyes narrowing in contempt at the very thought. "If he tries, I'll kill him."

It still amazed him how she wasn't even a little bit scared of his penchant for violence. Of how little she seemed to care of his wrath while showing him such affection. Even now her response to his malicious aversion to having anyone touch his hair was a fond shake of a head and a smile.

"Alright, I understand. But we still need to do something to avoid it. It won't do for you to look so untidy, Xanxus-sama."

"No cutting and that's final."

"Of course, please excuse me."

For a moment he was afraid she was going to leave. But all she did was look around his room until her gaze landed on his dresser which Lussuria left all cluttered and filled with all sorts of bottled nonsense. Something there seemed to have caught her eye since she walked over and picked something up. Xanxus squinted at it and saw it was some sort of organic styling gel.

"This will do nicely." he heard her mutter before her gaze moved over to him with such a mischievous, predatory look from under her lashes it was all the scarred Italian could do not to burst out of his skin in want.

"May I?" she asked softly.

Xanxus scowled at her warily despite his desire and Chrome looked like she was suppressing a smile. He probably reminded her of a wary, stray cat because that was exactly what he was feeling right at that moment.

"I promise it won't hurt," she coaxed him gently as she walked back up to the scarred Italian, willing him to trust her. "Trust me?"

She half expected him to step away from her, growling and snarling but to her surprise and delight he merely stood still. He was tall; so tall the top of her head only reached his shoulder and since he was Xanxus he merely kept staring down at her and didn't so much as bow his head even just a little like a normal gentleman would do so she was forced to go on tip toe to run her styling gel soaked fingers through his hair carefully arranging it so that his bangs would be combed back loosely.

Xanxus forgot to breathe when she boldly combed her fingers through his hair; fearless and careful as though he was made of delicate glass. The way she swept his hair away from his face and arranged it with her bare hands kept her close enough for him to smell that sweet scent of night blooming jasmines floating lightly from her skin. Feel the warmth of her arms as they surrounded his face. The feel of her fingers in his scalp felt like he had just won a great battle. His lips tingled as her calm breath brushed them lightly and since she wasn't paying him any mind she didn't notice the aching want in his eyes as he stared down at her face and ran his eyes over her features impetuously. She must be having difficulty as she kept on her tiptoes to fix his hair up and if Xanxus were a gentle, considerate soul he would have bent his head or at least offered to sit in a chair so she wouldn't have to stretch so high...

But he wasn't gentle or considerate.

He liked seeing her struggling. He liked staring as her brow furrowed a little in concentration. He loved the way she bit her lower lip as she struggled to keep herself on tiptoe while finishing her task. And he especially enjoyed the way the two of them looked at that moment.

Like she was trying to pull him down for a kiss…

The thought of her willingly opening her mouth to him in a lip lock was enough to turn him into a shaking bundle of need. And he had to swallow hard to keep himself from losing his mind. Trying to distract himself he focused on his hair and what she was doing to it.

Xanxus knew his hair was somehow just like him. Rough in texture and stubborn to the point of impudence but clean and someone he had slept with once said it smelled of something spicy and musky. He was glad she chose a styling product that was completely odorless and organic. Before she was satisfied she noted that a few stubborn stray strands fell across his forehead but instead of looking shabby it merely made him look roguish. Very fitting for a naturally menacing man like him. When she was done Chrome smiled, seemingly pleased at the results.

"There," she breathed as she delicately brushed a stray lock on his forehead aside only for it to return rudely back over his brow. She smiled as her heels settled themselves back to the floor. "Very hand—"

She seemed to have finally noticed just how close they were. So close their breaths were mingling with each other in what little space left between their lips. Xanxus watched with growing anticipation as her gaze widened and darkened in the unwilling awareness of a woman who had just discovered the meaning of sexual attraction, her arms trembled around his head, her breath quickened and her lips parted ever so slightly, unconsciously begging for a kiss. Xanxus watched her gaze fell to his lips before she swallowed and, with a gasp, began to back away.

He caught the small of her back and pressed her against him before she could even take a step back. Allowing her to feel the same quickening of breath, the scent of his desire. Forcing her to be aware that he was a man who needed her as a woman and that she had enough animal instinct to respond to that desire. For him, this was as inevitable as the sun rising tomorrow.

But she tried to push away and deny it. "No—"

Her words were cut off by a heated, hungry kiss as Xanxus' control broke.

Her kindness, her affection, her pure unadulterated acceptance of him finally did him in. It was the straw that broke the fucking camel's back and Xanxus wouldn't have been able to stop it even if he tried.

Her lips were so damned soft... So damned soft he almost thought his own rough ones would crush them. But instead of making him cautious it only made him want to break her under his desire. Tear her to pieces until she was sobbing out his name.

He pulled her close to him, one hand on her back forcing her against his harder body while the other caught her by the nape of her neck. She tried to push away once more, opening her mouth in protest but Xanxus took advantage of the opening by dipping his tongue in her mouth and groaning in surprised pleasure.

Damn, how could she possibly taste this good?

He pulled her closer to him as he tried to deepen the kiss, already addicted to the taste of her, the scent of her, the feel of her. He could feel himself losing his mind at the heady sensation of her nearness… Her taste…

But she managed to shove him off and push him back.

Breathing hard Xanxus tried to come to grips with the desire burning in his blood, the sight of her bruised lips and blushing cheeks making him want to lose himself in her again. He was not the kind of man who was used to denying himself. Taking a step forward he tried to catch her in his arms again but she stepped away from him as though he had caught fire.

"Nagi?"

His confused call did nothing to calm her down. Instead she shivered and embraced herself as though the sound of her own name had vibrated in her blood like the strum of a guitar string.

"Don't; I can't..." she managed to whisper as she took another step away from him. "I'm sorry."

Want was still coursing through Xanxus' entire being, making him breathe faster, his pants tighter and now that he had managed to get a taste of her Xanxus found his temper growing shorter the longer she was not in his arms. "Why?"

"Please..." she closed her eye, trying to hide the desperate expression in her gaze, her bruised lips were trembling along with the arms she was hugging herself with. "Don't..."

Rejection. He wasn't exactly new to it. Fuck, he'd been rejected in one form or another by women just like her. Snobbish, high fallutin', conceited— But she wasn't any of those things, wasn't she? She had proven and shown again and again that she cared for him and his. She had never been a miser to them with her concern, affection, warmth and goodwill.

So why? Why didn't she want him?

The discovery left a bitter, hollow ache in his gut. His deepest desire screaming through his soul like a broken refrain. Words a man like him cannot afford to say aloud.

'Want me...'

"Do you need me to get you flowers and fucking chocolates?" he sneered at her even as he took a step towards her, nearly growling when she took a step back. "Because if that's what you want then you're shit out of luck."

"No; I don't need those."

"I can give you power," Xanxus continued; uncaring that he was beginning to sound like a desperate dog begging for scraps the way he used to before he met Timoteo. "I'm not as rich as the Vongola but I can give you wealth. Respect."

"I don't need that—"

"THEN WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU NEED?!"

She opened her gaze making Xanxus see the harassed look in that single violet orb. "All I want is to do my duty and serve you."

"You fucking liar!" Xanxus' lip curled back at her answer and stepped closer to her until he had her cornered against a wall. "You felt it just now! You want me! And I want you. Your eyes can't lie to me!"

Chrome's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at determined, crimson eyes trying to crush her denial with his glare. "Please, Xanxus-sama, don't—"

"I want you, Nagi."

Chrome looked away even as his words ripped through her soul like a blade, tearing it in half. And Xanxus felt it drown him because he didn't know how to fix it. "That's a big mistake. Don't let me destroy you."

"Hello, Boss~! Oh my I see you actually used the styling cream! You look absolutely scrumptious! Chro— er Nagi-chan you're here too? Perfect! The chopper's ready and everyone's waiting up on the roof; we should go before Bel decides he wants to drive instead of Lev—"

The tension in the room was so thick even Lussuria could feel it the moment he entered the room. His eyes swept over Chrome and then his Boss and back to the purple haired woman again. She was blushing prettily but the look of utter misery in her gaze denied any pleasure from whatever was going on before he interrupted.

Chrome began walking over to Lussuria, her back straight and steps steady. Only the slight quaver in her voice betrayed the turmoil her emotions were boiling in at that precise moment. "Of course, Lussu-nee. I'll serve as co-pilot in the cockpit. I'll see you there."

"Nagi."

The name sounded like a whip in the wind; singing a deadly, hypnotizing song and Chrome had no way of refusing it. She stopped in the middle of her stride but did not dare look back. She didn't know what feelings her face would give away if she saw his face so soon.

"If you have any mercy left in you..." she responded softly. "Then please stop this cruel joke. Stop asking me for something I can't give you."

"This isn't fucking over." Xanxus' voice was a deep growl of frustrated desire and confused anger. Had Lussuria not been there he would have physically dragged Chrome back and pinned her underneath him until she gave in to his desires. "I won't let it be over, do you hear me?"

She ignored him and he was left in his room with a nervous Lussuria.

Moments later the resounding crash of several bottles of wine from his private wet bar echoed in the stillness of the Varia fort and the pained cry of a Varia officer.

/*****/

"MIERDA!"

Cornelio knocked over the small table in front of him in a fit of pure fury, spilling the Sangria and full ashtray that had been occupying its surface a few moments ago. His eyes glowed like burnt gold and his face a decidedly worrying shade of crimson.

"GODDAMN THOSE IGNORANT PUTA!"

As soon as he returned from Italy he had been hounding the Senate to increase its efforts into the apprehension and total domination of the Mafia members still existing in Italy. Despite Fernando backing out as his benefactor he still had a respectable information network and he knew that pockets of them still lay dormant and waiting in Spain and he wanted them out. Flushed, burned, torn apart limb from limb. A testimony of power that their violence would be tolerated no more.

But his colleagues refused him. Refused him.

"UNGRATEFUL BASTARDOS!" Cornelio continued to rail as his hands found a particularly expensive looking vase and threw it across the room, snarling at everything around him. "DON'T FUCK WITH ME, HIJO DE PUTA!"

The Spanish Senator threw a rather heavy frame at the nearest wall and Pasha barely had time to duck before he was hit in the face by the flying drinking vessel, his face as cool and unconcerned as ever.

"Sir," Pasha tried again for what must have been the millionth time that evening. "I think it would be best for you if you stopped drinking—"

"SHUT UP!" Cornelio marched up to Pasha and backhanded the taller man across the face. "SHUT THE HELL UP, PUTA! I WILL NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM THE LIKES OF YOU!"

Pasha made no move to dodge or retaliate. All he did was stand there, still as a rock as Cornelio Rivas Solano Trinidad fell at the seams.

They had managed to escape Milan after the incident that made all La Justicia Pasada's contacts in Italy fall in one fell swoop. Every single thing he had ever worked for was now gone; wasting away; burned back to ground zero and turned into nothing; his integrity lying on the ground in tatters.

Oh he still had his position; he was still Senator and his influence in the country was unchanged. He had denied all associations with Paulo but the buffoon had constantly yelled for his help like a madman even behind the bars of the asylum they put him in. Despite reassurances from his friends and supporters he felt their interest in his ideas waning. Behind closed doors he could almost hear them all laughing at his expense. Even the media was barely resisting the urge to publish anything negative about him; mentioning his name here and there during suspicious times when some of the men in Italy arrested were still free men as though they had all been hinting at his associations with each and every one of them. His staff, however, was still quite capable of culling the more outrageous print outs but he was made painfully aware how he had managed to be a favorite in the papers' humorous editorials.

They have lost faith in him.

Yes, he still had power. Yes his reputation was still impeccable. He had managed to save both by the very skin of his teeth thanks to his natural charm. But now that he had been tainted by association and with his prime benefactor completely abandoning him he was at a loss. He had lost more than half of his original strength. Until now he had failed to realize just how much and how large Fernando's support to his organization was.

Despite his considerable fortune he could only bring their movement a small measure of influence. He managed to supply his men with the training they needed; hunting dogs attuned to a specific prey, but it was when he met Fernando that his organization truly reached its full potential. Fernando was charming. Admiring. A willing student to his teachings and Cornelio took him on believing he had just gotten a sheep back into the fold; had reintroduced to the man morals that must have been missing in his life. And when the younger man offered his resources he did so with such insistence that Cornelio could not refuse him. Believing they had wanted the same thing he allowed himself to enjoy Fernando's seemingly endless resources only thinking of the coming utopia he was to bring to the world not even noticing that his entire operation only survived through Fernando's influence.

It was not until now that he had understood that what he had was only Pasha and his men of trained elites. The technology Fernando had offered was now inoperable without the staff operating them. The contacts that had provided them with instant access to any territory without its immediate government making a fuss were no longer in his reach. And worst of all the promise of anonymity had been taken away so that if Cornelio made a move out of line his enemies would be on him like starving dogs on a fine slab of meat. All he had was Pasha and his team of elite soldiers to answer to his beck and call now. And why not? They were La Justicia Pasada. They all joined him knowing what they were doing was righteous and justified. They would be with him till the end and they would do anything he said; anything he wanted.

And right now he only wanted one thing.

"Chrome Dokuro."

Pasha tried but failed to hide his surprise at the first calm words coming from his employer. "Sir?"

Cornelio ignored the Russian's incredulity and took a deep breath as he straightened his back. "Fernando had only requesting one thing from us when he offered us his resources, si? The only thing he wanted was to possess Chrome Dokuro."

Pasha shifted a little before speaking. "Are you planning on giving him Chrome Dokuro then, señor?"

Cornelio whirled around to face his subordinate; his eyes alight with madness and a dark promise made even more sinister by his tousled hair and disheveled appearance. "I'm planning to use her as bait. Fernando will pay for abandoning me! I will make him come to me and I will watch him bleed as I take what he obviously wants the most. I swear to God he will pay for his treachery!"

/*****/

He wasn't exactly sure why he was there but all he knew was that he needed to see his baby sister. Wanted to make sure Kyoko was happy and every unfair and unjust thing he had just learned was worth the sacrifice if it meant she would be happy.

"Onii-chan!"

Ryohei could only smile crookedly as his precious baby sister greeted him with her usual bright smile. He had been watching her get fussed over by the multitude of maids who had been assigned to follow her every whim and each and every single one of them were all vying to see which one would be able to please her the most. And though it did his heart good to see her so innocently happy knowing what that happiness entailed tore at his sense of justice like a dull knife.

Nonetheless he still tried to greet her with his usual good natured enthusiasm. "Yo, Kyoko! You look really nice!"

His comment earned him enough death glares to land an ordinary man in a grave. The only thing that saved him from a lynching was his status as the Vongola Sun Guardian. Haru, however, have no qualms about letting him know exactly what they thought about his opinion.

"Nice?!" Haru practically spat at silver haired pugilist as she stomped up to him and began digging her index finger into his chest like a dagger. "She's gorgeous! She's a work of art. We spent the better part of three hours to make sure she'll be the most beautiful woman in the party tonight! She had better be more than just nice."

Ryohei frowned and tilted his head to the side like a confused parrot as he looked down at the peeved brunette. "Eh? Why would you bother making her look gorgeous? Kyoko's always been beautiful."

His response left the women in the room mollified with Kyoko giggling into her hand after a few moments.

"Oh, Onii-chan," she chuckled. "You always know exactly what to say!"

"I doubt Kurokawa would keep on dating him if he didn't have at least one saving grace."

Every single one of them turned to face the beautiful form of Bianchi, looking like a goddess in her crimson evening gown, her hair falling freely around her shoulders with only a crown of lilies decorating her hair. Ryohei nodded at her respectfully, admiring her with pure male appreciation. He doubted anyone with red blood cells would be able to deny that the heiress of the Vianetti Famiglia was a sight to behold. Her reputation only making her even more of a mythical wonder in the eyes of the Mafia.

She walked in the room with the regal bearing of a queen and examined a blushing Kyoko from head to foot before nodding to the girls with an approving smile. "You look stunning, Kyoko-chan. Haru certainly didn't hold back this time, did she?"

"Of course not!" Haru puffed up reminding Ryohei of a proud rooster. "This is my best friend's engagement party! I want Tsuna-kun to lose his mind when he sees her!"

"H-Haru-chan!" Kyoko protested, blushing crimson at the female brunette's words.

"Oh he will be speechless, alright," Bianchi replied with a chuckle. "I think any man with any sense would after seeing her tonight. But after Tsuna declares her as his fiance they should all know better than to approach her lightly. The omerta will protect her after tonight."

Ryohei glanced at her sharply and she returned it with a knowing nod.

"Thanks, Bianchi-neesan," Kyoko smiled brightly at the red haired woman, her relief shining through her face. "Coming from you that means a lot."

Bianchi nodded graciously at the two in response. "You both need to finish up. It's time to meet the Family."

Both young women agreed in unison and then turned away to put some last minute adjustments on each other's accesories soon lost in their own world and the bounty of jewelry that had been presented to them the moment they entered the mansion. Bianchi left them to their own devices and Ryohei followed her in silence until they reached the end of the hallway where the wide staircase would lead them down to the ballroom that had already begun to fill with people.

Bianchi held onto the finely polished balustrade and gazed at the oak and walnut balroom floor before addressing the silver haired pugilist. "I suppose you already know everything."

Ryohei couldn't stop from gasping at her comment. "How did you know?"

Bianchi smirked at him from underneath her long lashes as she turned away from the dance floor to give him her undivided attention. "We've known each other for ten years, Ryohei. And even without that your face can't hold a lie to save your life. You have always been too honest. Especially for the Mafia."

He frowned in confusion. "What's the sense in lying when telling the truth is easier?"

"And was the truth easier for you to bear when you found out about Chrome?"

The comment stunned the boxer into silence. He knew better than to deny her claim.

Bianchi's smile turned bitter at his reaction. "Do you blame her?"

Ryohei's frown turned deeper and he turned away. "Would it matter if I did?"

"Will you speak with her tonight when she shows up?"

"...I guess I'd have to?"

"May I know what you are planning to say to her?"

Ryohei glanced up, his gun metal gray eyes burning with indignation. "Why would you care what I say to her?"

The crimson haired seductress chuckled quietly at his reaction. "I've been her mentor in the arts of seduction to get the information she wanted since she turned sixteen. I suppose I feel responsible for what happens to her."

"So you're the one who taught her!" Ryohei seethed, his mind racing with accusations. "You taught her to be such a person?! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Bianchi's cat green eyes turned icy as she met Ryohei's eyes with blade like precision. To his credit the boxer didn't even flinch. He was justified in his accusations and she knew it.

Bianchi nodded to him in respect. "What kind of upbringing did you think she would have in this world? She is not like Kyoko or Haru; she is not bred to be a Mafia wife. She is Vongola's Mist Guardian and her pride lays in the fact that she could shield everyone else from the harsh reality of darkness that envelopes this family. And I am proud of her.

"She did what she did to protect this Family; to protect Tsunayoshi from himself," Bianchi lifted a slender hand and flipped a long strand of hair over her shoulder casually. "As much as I love Kyoko she should be grateful for what Chrome did. It took an unusually selfless heart for her to give up her happiness that way."

Ryohei clenched his jaw at her words still not quite understanding everything. Even though I-pin and Hayato had finally told him the truth he still found himself torn. Torn between his sister's happiness and the injustice of Chrome Dokuro's fate. He might not be as close to the female Mist Guardian as he would like but she was still family to him.

"Let it go."

Bianchi's command made his gun metal gray eyes rise up and stare at her incredulously. "I thought Chrome was important to you. You said she was your student."

The Bagnoni heiress didn't even flinch. "She's made her choice. It doesn't matter how much it hurts, she will live with that choice for the rest of her life. Let it go. If you don't then you will only make things more difficult for her than it should be. If you value you sister's happiness and Chrome's sacrifice, you will let this go. Capire?"

Ryohei's response was cut off by the sudden wave of deliriously wicked killing intent that suddenly enveloped the area. Bianchi's eyes widened at it before turning to the ballroom to peer down at the guests once again. What she saw there made her smile just a little bit sickly. "Well I guess the gang's all here. Scusami, mio caro; I have a meeting to attend."

Ryohei barely watched her glide down the stairs before walking over to the balustrade and peering down at the ballroom as well. What he saw made him blink and raise his brows.

"VOOIIIIIII! WHO DO I HAVE TO KILL TO GET A SEAT AROUND HERE?!"

People around them cringed.

The Varia had arrived.

And in their midst was the aloof figure of Chrome Dokuro.