Disclaimer: Hitman Reborn is not mine.

Pairing: Squalo x Xanxus.

References: The manga, a lil' bit from the anime.

Synopsis: What's Squalo's real feeling serving for Xanxus?

Word count:1872

When I looked at the stupid boss's back, huh?

Frankly, I felt like I wanted to kick him so bad! He was the most spoiled Mafia I've ever met! Even that retarded Horse wasn't as spoiled as him! Seriously. He always wanted things to go his freaking way, especially on food. He changed his menu whenever he wanted just like he change his shirt.

Wait a minute.

Just how many times I saw him change his shirt?

Never mind.

My point was that the stupid Boss just didn't know to appreciate our efforts. Apart from his choosy attitude towards food, he also hungered for power. Even when he was young, he'd already emitted an aura that said: 'I want more power'. You didn't believe me? First he planned to be Vongola Decimo, then he took over the position as the Boss of the Varia from me? What the hell?

His words were always filled with venoms and insults, yet I was still attracted with the spoiled brat. Something about his cocky attitude made me stay with him for years. Besides, he was the only heir of the Vongola's IX. He could provide me with greater opponents in the future. He knew just how much I longed for an opponent that worth my time and skills. It's a big fat truth that I wanted to slice him into pieces when I first met him. He was cocky, he was spoiled, but he had the POWER. And with that power, he had what it takes to be the leader of the Vongola. He possessed a charisma of a true leader.

Wait, scratch that.

I would never use such a gay word to talk about him. So…let's just say that he was the most eligible candidate to be Vongola Decimo.

I still remembered the time where he talked about his plan to throw over the Vongola IX. He suddenly called and asked me to meet him, saying that he had something interesting to discuss. At first I declined as I just got back from Japan, defeating a swordmaster who claimed to have the ultimate sword technique. I lost my left hand, but it was worth it. It showed that there's no sword technique that I couldn't defeat! But when the stoic face brat told me the reason behind his coup de tart, I just couldn't leave him alone.

Urgh! Again with the gay sentence?

From his back, I saw a young man who wanted nothing but a self recognition.

I understood his struggle. I would follow him and kill whoever dared to cross in his line in becoming the next Don of Vongola; even if it meant that I had to go against the IX.

But our efforts and hopes were shattered into pieces. We lost the war, he was sealed for eight years, I became the leader of Varia, and I…learned that he wasn't IX's real son. Xanxus was adopted. The fact itself didn't affect me. But hearing him screamed about it, asking for reasons in front of IX like that was another thing. He sounded like he was scared. To think back about it, both of them sounded scared. I understood his pain. For the first time, I felt sympathy towards him.

I wasn't really a loud person— seriously. But when that stupid Boss was imprisoned, I became the leader of the squad, thus making me deal with those noisy idiots. Bel was whining about not being treated like a damn princess— I mean prince, Marmon kept complaining about his low payment, and Lussuria kept praising his so-called beautiful body. That sick scum even tried to braid my hair every single freaking minute! It's especially hard to stay quiet when he's around. Levi…cried whenever he saw me sat on that stupid Boss's chair; talking about how much he missed that stupid Boss. It's just so gay that I gave my best not to slice him into tiny little pieces whenever he cried. So, with everyone tried to make me crazy, I had to use my voice to get them quiet. And when I got the chance to visit that frozen Boss, I just wished that I could kick his frozen ass and made him sit on his freaking just to make those scum shut their mouths. But when his frozen figure stood in front of me, I could only stand silently, seeing him nothing less than a friend. I wished I could do something to free him. No matter how many years would pass, I would always attach to this guy.

He was finally freed from his imprisonment and said that he's the new leader of Varia. Remember when I said I hated his spoiled attitude and did things as he wished? Well this time, I wouldn't back down. There's no way on Earth, the hell, or the universe that you'd see me let other people, especially that idiot to tramp on my pride. We had a duel, which I lost. Something must have happened to me that day which made me lost my concentration and didn't use my full power against him. Guess I was too stunned with his sudden appearance. Speaking of appearance, that idiot had changed drastically. Aside from the fact that he had that weird looking dead cat (well it seemed like a cat) on his shoulder, his body was adorned with scars from his previous battle with IX; the scars which became the reminder of our failure— of my failure.

His temper became worst after that. Did you know why I was able to dodge and parry deadly blows from the enemy? It's because of the damn Boss made me a living target and threw almost everything within his reach straight to my head! It trained me to have a good reflexes or I'd end up with a split head or something. Up until now, I was still curious why didn't he just throw his freaking holier-than-thou chair to me. Not that I wished he would, but…you get what I meant. And so far, all the things that he threw on me never inflicted a deadly injury to me—yet.

"I'm gonna be the next Don of Vongola," he said.

From his back, I knew he was really determined to prove to the IX that he's not just a useless adopted child. Even without the blood from IX flowed in his vein, he'd prove that he's most suitable candidate for Vongola X.

One day, we learned that Iematsu wanted his freaking son to be the Vongola X. True to my words, I'd slice that brat for interfering that stupid Boss's line. Still, we're bounded by the law, thus preventing us from eliminating them with our way. So to make things go in our way without having to deal with the freaking law, I chased after that CEDEF's brat to Japan. He wasn't a worth pray, but I had to admit that he's quite a pain in the ass. There, I learned that the other Decimo candidate and his guardians were only brats. Guess luck was on our side and it'd be an easy victory. Not to mention about Xanxus other plan.

When I looked at his back, I felt like I was looking at the back of Vongola's X.

He'd be the next Don of Vongola.

But the feeling somehow felt like it shattered into pieces on my second failure. I let my guard down during my battle with that Vongola brat. I let my freaking guard down. There's no way I'd let a school brat to defeat me. At that moment, I knew that my time was over. I dare bet on my Varia pride that the stupid Boss would be laughing for the failure. It was expected though, and I accepted my punishment with no regret. That brat better be thankful that I saved his sorry ass from being eaten by that shark.

…

…

…

It was blurred at first, and I could only register one word; pain.

When I faintly heard a voice called out for my name, I subconsciously thought that it was the stupid Boss. Urgh…what's with this gay thought again…? After collecting my mind, I knew that the man didn't care much about a mere pawn like me. So why would he be bothered to do a lame thing like visiting me in the hospital? I cursed upon the turn of event but the Cavallone only gave his stupid smile.

I didn't know how long I was guarded by Cavallone's men. When I finally able to stay conscious for a long time, Cavallone asked me about Xanxus. I remained silent and chose not to answer him. I just closed my eyes, thinking about the man that I've followed for years; the man whom I've been envied and admired. Maybe I was still drugged, but I could clearly see his back, waiting for me to follow suit. And God knew just how much I wanted to kick his ass at that time!

He was fighting with that brat when I arrived at the arena. Cavallone was still asking for the truth about Xanxus. Persistent guy, I must admit. Clumsy, yet persistent. Again, I ignored him and stared at the screen. Roughly, the brat didn't have the chance against the stupid Boss. In term of power, both had equal percentage to win. But the brat didn't have enough experience, while Xanxus didn't have enough brain to control his pride. In short, it'd be a tough fight.

From his back, I could only pray for his victory.

That didn't make me sound like a gay, did it?

I guessed things were meant to happen. We lost the fight and the truth about Xanxus's past was exposed. I got nothing to complain. He'd lost the fight (and most of his pride), not his life. To make it less gay, at least I knew that those scums were very loyal to that idiot Boss even though he didn't win the battle.

After all these years, I was still working under him, covering his sorry ass from any threat. Who cares if he took over number one seat in Varia from me? It was such a pain in the ass to be the leader of that freaking noisy group of weird people to begin with. And the hair that I never cut ever since I followed him had become longer. People always thought that I kept the hair until Xanxus was accepted to be Vongola Decimo. Hah! That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard! No one knew that I'd only cut my hair once that Decimo brat kicks the stupid Boss's ass from his chair and I could take back my position as the leader in Varia. It's not that I wanted to be a leader, but…whatever.

I'd keep the hair if people still thought that the hair was pretty and made me look cool— even cooler than that stupid Boss.

When I looked at his back, my adrenaline ran wild, and I'd do anything for him.

From his back, I vowed to swing my blade for him.

From his back, I believed in his dying will.

And from his back, I'd always be his friend.

-End-

No, this fiction is free from any yaoi or yuri. What Squalo felt was only his admiration and feeling towards a very close friend; nothing more, nothing less.

I haven't really thought about the next chapter since I'm now focusing on my original fiction. I'm thinking about Reborn x Tsuna, so I would really like to hear about your ideas and suggestions. Reviews are highly appreciated. =)