Journey
She used to ask Fran what he would do if she were to disappear someday. The boy, however, did not take her seriously.
You will walk alone one day.
Of course he wouldn't, he chided the girl in his quiet voice, she would walk with him, and he would never let go of her hand.
A smile, of bittersweet loneliness.
But Fran didn't understand what that smile meant. He was young, far too young, to understand the meaning of being left behind; he was going to lose everything he had ever treasured, and then he would regret.
It was going to hurt him, but that was better than being killed on the battlefield.
All he ever wanted was to have her stay close to him. Fran didn't need her to protect him, because when he got bigger, he was going to be her shield. All she had to do was to wait for him.
Soon, you will walk alone.
This time, he held her close. He didn't like to hear words like that. He didn't like the idea of living a life without her next to him.
But you see, they walked on different paths.
She walked upon a winding road filled with traps, a road where death lingered. It was a road she never wanted a boy as kind as Fran to step into.
And then, like a fragile blossom whose petals have scattered, she was gone.
The papers said nothing about the murder, but Fran knew then, what had exactly happened; what she really was – stricken by grief, he had visited her home the night after her death, and came across a gun in one of her previously locked drawers.
It bore the Vongola crest, and the acronym "CEDEF".
He was beginning to understand her words now – from the very beginning, she had known that death awaited her.
She had been protecting him.
She did not want him in her world. For Fran, a peaceful life was best.
But he walks alone now.
And he could decide for himself, just which road he wanted to take.
The straight path he had been leisurely strolling on for the past 17 years of his life now forked into two.
And without any hesitation, Fran pocketed the gun that had belonged to his lover, and ran towards the road she had perished upon.
He will continue her journey.
And then, someday, he will reach the end as well, and she will be waiting for him right there, with a smile.
Just something I came up with while wondering how Fran got entangled in all this mafia business. And also because I wanted to try writing something solely on Fran.
It will be a one-shot for now, but might become a series if I manage to develop this a little more. :)
Hope you enjoyed it!