how long he was out of commission this time...

hears a device somewhere go off. He's sure it wasn't the alarm, because he already took care of that.

sees a flashing button near a monitor on the panel. Presses it.

sees Sawada Iemitsu's face come on the screen.

notices that Iemitsu is formally dressed. He must be at the Vongola mansion.

also notices that Iemitsu has not changed much since the last time they saw each other, before Xanxus was sealed in again.

this means not much time has passed. Good.

listens as Iemitsu greets him with a stone-faced "Glad to see you're up and about. I wasn't expecting you to answer this, though."

grunts.

hears Iemitsu ask "What happened to your guards?"

They were useless. I took care of them.

Iemitsu sounds alarmed as he asks "Did you...?"

Don't get worked up. They're just unconscious.

darkly amused with Iemitsu's silence.

The next time you send snot-nosed kids to guard me, warn them I don't like to be touched.

even more amused with the bite in Iemitsu's voice as he says "Of course."

listens as Iemitsu formally briefs him on the situation - where he was, why he was taken there, why he was brought back.

the Ninth must so very badly want his precious successor off the Vendici's hook. That's just too bad.

I'm not doing it.

hears Iemitsu answer "You don't have a choice."

Or what? You're gonna fly the old man all the way down here to freeze me again? Go on then, do it. I'm not obligated to you fuckers.

hears Iemitsu say, with absolute calm, "We're already sending someone over to pick you up. It'll be useless to put up a fight, Xanxus."

raises an eyebrow in inquiry.

hears Iemitsu say "You won't be able to defeat him easily in your state."

grunts again. Once more, Iemitsu fails to intimidate him.

told "He might be there in a few hours. Or days. You really shouldn't have taken your guards out, Xanxus. You'll get lonely waiting."

turns away from the panel. If he only knew how to turn the damn thing off, he would, but short of smashing it, he has no clue.

hears a final "Freshen up. There should be food, medicine, clothes and clean water accessible to you. And a place to rest, if you need it."

nothing until the comm goes off. That's only when he realizes he should have told Iemitsu that he doesn't want to see the old man.

if anyone forces him to face the Ninth, he's definitely going to snap a few necks.

who they're sending. It sounded like just one person, not a whole squad.

it doesn't matter - whoever it is, it'll just be his ticket out of this godforsaken place.

leaves to further explore his island prison, and hopefully to find another way out that won't involve waiting.