the

Byakuran and Dino visit constantly, mostly trying to piece together information and resources to try and unbind Kyouya from either the runes or the armband. Both problems have magics that are tied to Kyouya's blood and flesh which makes them supposedly impossible to get rid of.

The thing is, Kyouya doesn't understand that he's not alone. He looks at the binding and feels hopeless because he still thinks this is his problem to fix. Kyouya has damn near every Alpha creature willing to help him. If Byakuran and Dino don't know something, then someone else will.

Byakuran is young, even by human standards. Dino slept away the centuries, and while awake he was never interested in runes. Neither of them are even a part of a race that uses power like this. Of course they're lost when they start the research. Of course they have no idea what they're doing.

But in the moment, it frightens them. When they've poured over ancient tomes and internet forums alike, still so tense at the thought of the hunters giving up and just ending Kyouya. Panic keeps their hearts in their throats and they choke on it.

It's almost a welcome reprieve when hunters visit. Clan members drop by constantly to check in on Kyouya, and while both creatures protest being sent away, they still leave in the end because their presence would definitely alert the hunters. It gives everyone a bit of time to breathe, brings them out of their research and lets them calm down.

Unfortunately, it's not just the hunters who visit.

...

"No," Byakuran says with a smile, standing just outside the Namimori barrier.

"Move aside," G snaps, bristling next to Giotto with Asari on the other side.

Byakuran's teeth sharpen to razor points. "Make me, you glorified pigeon."

A low chuckle stops G from lunging forward. Colonnello steps out from the trees, followed by Luche and Viper. The six of them square off against each other for a long moment.

"We should catch up later," Luche murmurs.

"We should," Giotto says vaguely.

They all turn to Byakuran who tenses up, knowing he can't take on this many. "Kyouya isn't home right now, please leave a message."

Colonnello curls his fingers and water is pulled from the air, forming into a perfectly still ball in his hand. Byakuran's inhale stutters as he feels his skin begin to dry out, face heating up as his blood is drawn to the surface.

Asari turns first but it doesn't take long for the rest of them to notice.

"Ganging up on a little fox, how pathetic," Squalo sneers, the rest of the Varia forming into stable bodies beside him.

Colonnello slides a look at Viper. "That's how you want to play this?"

The other Arcobaleno floats up until they're looking down on the taller blond. "I told you to stay away from them."

Colonnello narrows his eyes. "I had a job and your pets were getting in the way."

"Fucking try me-"

"Enough," Luche cuts in. She scans the gathered creatures and then looks at Viper for a long moment. "We're going back."

Colonnello rolls his eyes but follows easily enough when Luche dissolves. Viper exchanges a nod with Xanxus before they leave as well.

"And then there were three," Belphegor snickers, knives flashing in the sunlight streaming through the tree canopy.

Giotto ignores everyone but Xanxus. "What are you doing here?"

"Pissing you off," the Alpha fallen says simply. "Is it working?"

Giotto frowns.

Xanxus just smirks. "I'll be here when you come back."

The angels flash away in a toxic ray of light, G flipping the Varia off as he goes.

Lussuria stalks forward with a too wide smile. "Look at those nice tails, sweetheart." He stops just in front of Byakuran. "Makes me want to skin you for a fur coat."

"How bold," Byakuran simpers. "Thinking I won't lower myself to kill a no-name piece of shit like you. Trust me, sweetheart, I don't discriminate."

Squalo scowls. "Luss, can you stop flirting with everything that moves?"

"So fluffy," Lussuria whispers, reaching out.

Xanxus casually slaps his Guardian away. "Tell that human we'll keep away the shitheads, but he owes us a favour."

Byakuran offers up a hollow smile. "Thanks for the offer but I'm doing just fine myself."

Xanxus scoffs. "If they were serious, if they brought their full force, you'd get eaten right up in seconds and that little lizard wouldn't take much longer."

Byakuran pauses, a little laugh escaping him. "Do you…think you're stronger than me, Xanxus?"

Xanxus steps closer. "You look exhausted. You've been using your power in ways it wasn't meant to be used, fighting something much more complex and foreign than you've ever faced." Xanxus looks over Byakuran's shoulder, to the barrier. "I don't know what they did to the dragon but I know he hasn't recovered yet, probably looks worse than you."

Byakuran bares his teeth, tails flaring. "I look like a fucking dream, thank you very much."

"Got that right!" Lussuria cheers.

Xanxus rolls his eyes. "Fine. Then the human doesn't own me a favour, you do."

Byakuran blinks and waits until the black spots in his vision fade. "I'm going to have a nap. And then I'm going to come out here and kick your ass."

"I love a good game of rock paper scissors," Xanxus drawls.

...

Hibarin strolls through the hall, admiring the architecture. It has been a while since he visited the Hibari compound. They've changed things.

He nods at another when she steps out of a side room and the woman briefly acknowledges him back with a glance. Hibarin catches the door she came from and slips inside. There is no one in the large storage room, row upon row of metal shelves reaching the ceiling, filled with small metal boxes. Each connects to a ward, an alert signal.

Hibarin strolls down the aisles, reading labels and gaining a small form of amusement at how many the Hibari clan has locked away. There are empty places every so often, pieces that have been taken once the target has been...corrected. Either through re-education or death.

He stops at a larger box that reads Namimori. Hibarin pricks a finger on one of his fangs and strokes the cold, smooth lid, leaving a smear of red to disfigure the stark metallic silver. His blood bubbles, froths, grows and then sinks in.

Hibarin prowls from the room, hungry now at expending so much energy just to mute the alarm system. The clan head must be desperate to layer so many alerts, dig them so deep. He needs a drink.

Oh, the things he does for family.

...

Kawahira abruptly steps inside the room one day, registers the change in energy pitch and then gets to work, tugging at the edges of Kyouya's armband so it frays, not stuck so closely to the skin.

"You're thinking very loudly," Kawahira muses, eyes locked onto the thread he's plucking at. "How rude that you don't include me in the conversation."

"I am thinking about why this has happened," Kyouya admits.

"Do not try and find meaning in suffering," the mage warns.

Kyouya half turns to look at the man.

"To find meaning is to excuse the pain - to give it a reason for existing." Kawahira flickers a glance up and meet the teenager's eyes. "Suffering is not earned, Kyouya, it is forced upon."

"It is a consequence," Kyouya argues, more with himself than against Kawahira. "A reaction, like fire. Something started it."

"Was it a match to light a candle? Was it a lightning strike to burn down a forest? Don't try and standardise something like a reaction that is, by definition, a change in the status quo."

Kyouya scowls. "You're infuriating to argue with."

"I try," Kawahira drawls.

He pulls and it unravels.

...

With raw edges on the armband sewed to his skin, the runes can be tampered with, and since the pain spelled into Kyouya's skin is a blend of angelic and demonic, both Tsuna and Hayato work together.

(After they manage to beg their way in through the Varia, and then the Fey, and then being vetted by both Byakuran and Dino.)

They first sketch out a cancellation in anti-parallel format and then, after explaining every step in detail, delicately write it on Kyouya's back.

Tsuna actually gets along with Dino really well, which makes Kyouya throw the angel and demon out as soon as it's done because he doesn't like it when his dragon pays attention to other people.

...

Between sessions with Tsuna and Hayato, Shoichi sneaks in. Or, well, he calls Kyouya and asks if he can visit. Kyouya shoos everyone off, citing a headache, and drags the mannequin inside.

The thread writhes under Kyouya's skin as Shoichi pulls them out with his own strings.

After the armband falls off, Kyouya runs the soft material through his fingers, feels the texture of the thread, and folds it carefully into his pocket.

...

Mukuro swoops in at one point and goes on to grandly explain how he's been experimenting with his ability to shift forms -change his very nature- when he wills it.

It takes time and a lot of attempts but Mukuro bleeds it through, into Kyouya. Mukuro changes Kyouya, small cosmetic differences. He smooths away the powerless tattoos so Kyouya doesn't see it every day and remember.

Kyouya doesn't ask about Mukuro's -now two- blue eyes.

...

The three brothers sit in silence on the back porch, drinking tea as they watch the lush garden dance with the wind.

Alaude pours himself another cup. "You may as well ask." He places the tea pot down and takes the warm cup into his hands. "You've been begging everyone else for help."

Kyouya's grip spasms but he stops himself before the cup breaks. "They approached me. It is not my weakness, it is my strength to earn such attention."

Fon slides a slow glance sideways.

Both brothers had once been the centre of the storm, all the dimensions in an uproar, the entire Otherside in awe and lusting after their strength. Fallen challenging them, the kitsune coaxing, angels chasing and demons stalking.

Hunters trying to trap.

Except Fon and Alaude escaped where Kyouya was caught.

Kyouya breathes.

Fon blinks languidly and looks back out to the garden. "You will never be able to repay this attention. Do not mistake their actions for kindness."

Kyouya forcefully relaxes his grip. "It is not a transaction. If they require payment, I will give nothing but a fight."

Alaude closes his eyes, the wind ruffling his hair. "When you leave this place, know that you do not deserve freedom."

Kyouya drinks his tea.

Alaude finishes his cup, sets it down on the tray and dissolves into light. Fon stays longer, the tea going cold, but eventually stands as well.

Fon shakes out his long sleeves and walks down the short staircase to step onto the thick grass. He looks back, kind. "You are not weak, Kyouya. But do not make the mistake of thinking yourself strong."

"Yet," Kyouya murmurs. "I am not strong yet."

Fon summons a black hole that burns into the grass and Kyouya is the only one left in the house.

"Yet," he whispers.

...

Kyouya lets the bird fall from his hand, the limp body striking the disturbed dirt with a ruffle of feathers. Kyouya kneels in the garden in the soft light of dawn, sweeping more dirt over the hole with his bare hands, feeling the soft soil sink under his fingertips, cling wetly to his skin.

He stands and goes back inside to wash his hands. Byakuran and Dino are asleep on the futon beside his bed, the dragon half buried in fluffy white tails. Kyouya sits beside Dino, wraps the thin whip of a tail around one hand and buries the fingers of his other in fox fur.

He breathes and waits and hopes.