Chapter 2! Woo!

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If this ever happens to you at a Subway, something is seriously wrong with the world. But, hey, I gotta put in some form of insanity, right? Might as well make it a fast-food worker. They're always a little... off. I mean, who is actually that polite? WHO THE HELL SMILES THAT MUCH? GAH! JUST READ THE DAMN CHAPTER!

~Panther-chan

When I finally completed translating the documents and sent them back to Xanxus, I gazed at the bottom of my screen to see that it was almost five o'clock.

"Shit! Almost time to eat dinner, eh? Cloak, you hungry?"

"…A little, yeah."

"Alright. What do ya feel like eating? Tonight's your night to pick."

"Uh… sushi."

"Awesome! I haven't had sushi in a while!"

An odd look flitted across her face for a short moment before her features settled into their poker face.

"You can pick something else you know. We can have sushi tomorrow night, anyway. My night to pick, remember?"

"Yeah. Sushi."

I bit my lip as she followed me out the door, slipping into the sweater. There was an edge to her voice I didn't like, but she had already confirmed her choice. If I pursued the matter she might become uncomfortable, and go back to the room to go to bed instead of eating. God knows she already skips enough meals with the excuse of not being hungry. Half the time she did eat it was because I forced her.

Still… that tone was close to anxiety. If she was nervous about sometime I'd like to know. I might even be able to help.

"Hey, Cloak. You got a big project you're working on?"

"No… why?"

"No reason. You just seem a bit nervous. Oral, maybe?"

"No."

Shit. Now she's cautious. Distraction, please?

"The guys at home are pretty fucking stupid sometimes, ya know? I mean, I know for a fact that at least one of them knows Mandarin, but the boss just had to send me the fucking documents right when I got a shitty prompt due the next day. I'll probably be up all fucking night now."

"Heh. You sound angry."

"Psh, please. Me, angry? Seriously?"

I gave her a bored look with a raised eyebrow. She chuckled quietly. "Yeah. Good point. But even you can be irritated. Remember Cecile?"

"Huh. Point taken."

"Point approved."

"Exclamation point!" I shouted at the top of my lungs and pumping my fist in the air, earning us more than a few strange and wondering glares. "Heh. You people suck! You need to liven up a bit before the Bogeyman gets you!"

Cloak laughed out loud when she saw the other students stare at us at the word Bogeyman, and I joined her. We ended up leaning against each other as we walked off campus and into the town surrounding it. "Man, we're crazy, aren't we?"

"Yeah… Uh… Acer…"

I didn't like the tone that she had now. It was like she was waiting for something bad to happen. It crossed my mind that she might be leading me into a trap prepared by enemy Mafia, but is shrugged it off almost immediately. I would've noticed something going on by now. "Yeah, Cloak?"

"Can… can we go… to Subway's instead? I feel like… sandwiches."

"Sure. There's one down… uh… that street."

"Park Avenue?"

"Yeah! What you said!"

We kept coming up with jokes as we walked down the streets, eventually coming to stop at the Subway's. We opened the door to find everything normal, and a special for two foot-longs for the price of one and a half. "Yo. We're gonna take you up on that special, 'kay?"

"Yes, ma'am. What would you like?"

"I want… an Italian BMT. Totally! And, toasted please."

"Coming right up." The guy behind the counter smiled pleasantly, and took out the bread selections.

"Italian, please."

"Sure."

I heard Cloak speak quietly with the other guy behind the counter. Mine was a bit pimply, but seemed like a nice guy. The other one struck me as egotistical, mainly because of the way he seemed to look down on my roommate.

"Yo, Cloak. You know what you want yet?"

"Um… Yeah."

She ordered her own and the guy didn't even ask if she wanted it toasted. He just started to put stuff on it. I took a step to the side and whisper in her ear. "Tell him you wanted it toasted if you want it toasted."

"But…" she muttered, trying to reason me out of it.

"Just do it."

I returned to my previous place just as my server took the bread out of the oven. I ordered everything heaped on and he cheerfully followed the order, piling it all up and covering it with mayo.

"Hey! You didn't tell me you wanted it toasted so I didn't toast it! Now tell me what you want on it!"

"Chill, man." My server called out. "If she wanted it toasted, just-"

"You stay out of this!"

I could feel a growl building in my throat as Cloak's guy pointed a knife at his co-worker.

"Put that down before someone gets hurt, eh?" I joked, putting my hands up near my face as the knife swung to point at me. The other patrons were muttering and one stood up. She shouted over the hubbub.

"If this is how you treat your customers it'd better stop before we leave!"

A few others followed her example, but sat down when a gun was waved in place of the knife.

"I'm the fucking boss here, you got that?"

"I'm sorry, don't you have a manager or something?" I intoned, an innocent expression on my face. He snarled and shot the ceiling.

"Are you off your meds?"

Where the hell did that gun come from? But... I need to get him to fire a lot of warning shots. If I remember correctly that model holds 8 rounds. I put my hand in my pocket and… voila.

The phone in my pocket beeped once and the guy growled at me. "What the fuck're you doing, bitch? Huh?"

He came around the counter and grabbed my arm, yanking it out of my pocket with my cell phone in it. It went flying towards the other people. Good thing I already pressed the Call button.

"Relax, would ya? It vibrated, so I thought I had a text. Then it beeped, and I knew I had a text. Okay?"

"Shut it!"

He used the butt of the pistol to hit my skull, making it reverberate with pain.

"Oi, oi! What's with this mess?"

I turned to the doorway to see one of Levi's underlings. The three assigned to the area to protect me were thouroughly versed and knew what to do. Right now this one blended in perfectly: weapons were hidden and the civilian clothing looked natural. "I came for a sandwich and you're waving that thing around, bro?"

I sent the other people a look and nodded towards the door. Only one person got the message but ran out as fast as he could, and soon the place was empty except for me, Cloak, the Varia member, and the two Subway workers.

"I'm sorry, I don't quite know what's gotten into-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

A shot rang out and what was my server a moment ago dropped to the floor, blood spraying over the counter and walls and more and more rounds were unloaded, the entire clip emptied into the corpse.

"Now look what ya did. You went and wasted all your ammo!" I giggled a bit, and Cloak looked down, horrified. "Cloak, c'mere." I commanded gently, pulling her into a hug and hiding her face in the shoulder of my sweater as one final shot echoed, dropping the criminal in one moment. I looked up at the guy and he gave me a salute.

"Thank you." I said, acting the part of a "fellow" civilian.

"Yeah, no prob. You girls alright? I should probably call the cops, but… Man, I don't want a court case."

"You run, then. We'll stay and explain what happened. Put your hood up. We'll act like it was a hit and run or something."

"You got it."

He jogged out the door and down the street, stopping and giving me a final bow through the glass walls. I smirked, then turned to the shivering Cloak as I let her weight sink me to the floor. I sat cross-legged as she started to bawl into my shoulder, soaking my sweater. I didn't really care about the tears. After all, this must've been her first time seeing a murder, or death of any kind.

After four or five minutes, I spoke. "Cloak, we gotta get outta here now. The cops might be on the way and it'll look really suspicious if we're here and no one else is. C'mon. You can cry in the dorm."

"B… but…" Sobs wracked her body between words, and tears streamed down.

"Leave it be. Let's just go, okay?" I told her mildly, a calm smile gracing my features as I stood and pulled her up by the forearm. "Remember this: you're crying because your grandmother died earlier today. We were out to get some comfort food, but you broke down and we left to head back to campus. Alright?"

She sobbed, her shoulders shaking in silent sorrow as she stifled her cries in my shoulder, not letting go. I felt her nod, though, and gently wrapped my arm around her shoulder to guide her, the other grabbing my dropped cell phone and opening the door and gently pushing other people away as we headed back the way we came.

As soon as we re-entered the room and I guided her to her bed, I knew she was exhausted both physically and emotionally. Right now, to help her, I had to be calm and collected, and it wasn't an effort. This wasn't my first murder, but I wasn't exactly used to it either.

I had only seen a few, the first when I had met Xanxus, Mammon, and Squalo for the first time back in Japan and the next in my house, right after the same people had sent a hitman at my request to kill a perverted old man. The other two I had witnessed their actual deaths: when the Varia Officers fought each other and destroyed their base, they were seriously trying to kill each other. The cadavers had been the result of that particular quarrel.

"Acer…?"

Cloak's tear-soaked face and sleeves brought me back down to Earth and I glanced over at her. "Yeah?"

"Why… are you so… calm? And why did… that other guy… bow to you?"

"You saw?" I raised my eyebrows, surprised. My calmness was weird, sure, but she was at the wrong angle to see the guy salute me!

"Yeah."

"Well… I'm calm for two, no, three reasons. One, I'm me. I'm specially calm. Two, you are hysterical, so to keep us focused I gotta be the opposite. And three, that wasn't the first time seeing a corpse. Or a murder."

"When… did you see it before?"

"With my Family."

"I think… I think our definitions of family… are different."

"They might be." I shrugged, letting her read it how she wanted.

"I mean family, like blood relatives. When you say family, do you mean… like… a Mafia Family or something?"

I blinked, caught slightly off guard. "What makes you think I'm in the Mafia?"

"Well… you're pretty loaded. I can tell because every time you need something it's in the mail the next day. And, every time you say Family you're talking about brothers, cousins, and people who obviously aren't related to you by blood. Please, tell me the truth. Are you in the Mafia?"

I looked at her anxious, tear-ridden face, and tried to summon the willpower necessary to lie a little longer. I opened my mouth, and shut it again after realizing it wouldn't work properly.

"I'm in a very awkward position here, Cloak."

"I just want the truth."

"The whole truth?"

"Yeah." She nodded, determination replacing some of the anxiety in her expression.

"Alright… yes. I'm in the Mafia. Happy?"

"Not really…"

Her voice was quiet. Just a bit too quiet, actually. I looked at her again only to see her eyes trying to hide horror, fear… and wonder.

"What are you giving me that look for?" I demanded, looking away and pretending to be hurt.

"Oh… well… Don't Mafia people kill…?"

"Not all of us. Only the combatants. I've never even held a gun, actually. Well, not a loaded one. I'm only a strategist."

"Oh. What about non-combatants?"

"Either they're under protection and unaware, or they know but they're not fighters, or members of the Family that weren't trained to fight, instead finding another purpose. Like, record-keeping or press or something."

"Were you really born in Italy?"

"Nope. Japan. I moved because of necessity and changed my name."

"Oh. So, Aisoku was your little brother… by blood?"

"Aisoku…"

"Yeah. Ai. You were really protective of him, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Aisoku! Yeah, he's my bro by blood. Squalo is my brother because we're in the same Family, and he looks more like me than the others so I borrowed his last name and came here to get a normal education."

There was a somewhat awkward silence between us, and suddenly she gasped and scooted way from me. It startled me enough to jump up and she cried out, almost a scream.

"Whoa! What is it? You see a fucking ghost or some crazy shit?"

"No! Why are you telling me this?" she screeched, grabbing her pillow.

"Cause you asked!" I shouted back.

"So? You shouldn't have!"

"Why are you screaming?"

"Cause now I know and you gotta kill me!"

"What the fuck are you talking about you crazy moron!"

"You're Mafia!"

"SO? STOP YELLING!"

"Okay…"

The sudden quiet was just too strange and I laughed, falling onto my own bed this time. "Jesus Christ! I thought I was gonna have a fucking heart attack and die young from that scream! And what the hell are you talking about, I gotta kill you? There is no such rule, and I'll have you know there is no Omerta right now keeping me from telling you this!"

She blinked owlishly, looking quite surprised. "Huh?"

"Shit, man. Just cause I'm in a Family doesn't mean I'm a killer. I leave that to my brothers."

"So…" Her voice quavered and she shivered a bit. "So, you don't have to…?"

"Nope. Not gonna."

Beep.

"Ah! That's my cell!"

I took it out of my sweater pocket and flipped it open to see a new message from SKYVOV, aka Xanxus. "It's from the boss."

"Your boss?"

"Yep."

"Of your Family?"

"Well, not the entire Family. Just our little part."

Oi. You planning on bringing her in or some shit? You just fucking spilled everything, Bratty Scum. You fucking stupid? We might have to kill her now.

I felt my eye twitch. "I'll be right back, okay? The fucking idiot wants me to work all fucking night."

"He's not gonna… call a hit… or something on me?"

"God, no!"

I exited the room and jogged down the hallway to the door that leads outside, the garden empty. I dialed the correct number and waited two tones before he picked up.

"You hurt her and I will get revenge, alright? You don't touch her."

"I got that, Twerp. Why, though?"

"Because. By being her friend I've placed her in danger, and she deserves to know why!"

"Che. The Omerta, remember?"

"I memorize that shit a week after I was officially an Officer, remember?" I mocked his tone at the last word, and continued, plowing through his retort. "Listen. She's got potential as a doctor. When she's treating someone she's calm, collected, and could probably drop people dead if she felt like it. Plus, she's my friend. You mess with her and you're messing with me. And you don't wanna mess with me. Remember?"

"Shut the fuck up. You don't give me orders, trash. I'm the fucking boss here."

I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose, walking. "I know. I know, Xanxus. Look, let's just both calm down and think. Okay?"

"Che. Whatever."

I took a few deep breaths and tried to restart. "I didn't break the Omerta. I know it. So, there's no reason to hurt her other than the fact that she knows I'm Mafia. But, she's doesn't know anything else except for the fact that I borrowed the name Superbi and I'm really from Japan. How can that hurt us?"

Xanxus was silent for a moment. I could've sworn I heard him sigh, but then again, it might've been my over-active imagination. "If you can keep her quiet and if you could somehow keep the secret and not tell anyone else, then you'd be right. But, I know this type. She'll panic and see hidden meanings where there are none, and under the pressure of her own mind she'll break down and tell anyone that might be near just to make it stop."

"You're underestimating my friend, Xanxus," I growled, my tone getting more and more dangerous. His followed suit, but I cleared my throat and tried to clear the building irritation. "Okay, calm. We need to be calm."

"Don't tell me what I fucking need, Brat."

"Okay. I need to be calm. It is suggested that you remain calm."

"Whatever. When's your next vacation?"

It was so tempting to giggle and say Aw, does Xanxan miss me? But I knew it would practically sign my death warrant so I resisted and replaced the words with something different. "I'm pretty sure it's a full week in two months. A spring break. I'll have to check to be sure, though."

"Do it. You're coming home the next chance you get. And bring the girl."

"Cloak, you mean?"

'Get her real name. None of this "Cloak" shit."

"If she wants to be called-"

"I. Don't. Care. If she's in my base, she's gonna give her real name. And she will be coming to my base. Got it?"

I sighed. He was in Boss Mode again. "Yes, sir. I'll get her real name and send you the schedule for the next few months. Is there anything else, sir?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"…"

I waited for about three full minutes, wasting time as I waited for him to speak.

"Nothing. Now go."

"Yessir."

I snapped it shut, knowing that Cloak probably shit herself waiting for her demise, and sprinted as fast as I could back to the dorm room.

I knocked then entered without waiting for a reply and quickly snapped my customary calm smile into place.

"Heya Cloak."

"That was a long phone call."

"Meh. The Boss is the Boss. Actually, he wants you to come with me to the base next vacation. He also wants your real name."

Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. I laughed and patted her on the shoulder, feeling her freeze up.

"No worries. He's got no reason to hurt you, as long as you don't go spreading it around that I'm in the Mafia. He wants your real name 'cause he doesn't feel like saying Cloak!"

"Oh. Um, well… I won't tell anyone and… my real name?"

"Yepo."

"…dra … mers."

"Sorry, didn't catch that. What?"

"CASSANDRA SUMMERS!"

"Youch." I stuck my little finger in my ear and turned it, copying cartoons. "No need to shout."

"Sorry. I just… don't like my name."

"I noticed. Where are ya from, anyways?"

"…Australia. My sister sent me here for school."

"Cool. Well, I'm pretty tired after tonight so… I'm hitting the sack. You?"

"I think I'll stay up a while."

"Kay. Don't be afraid to wake me, alright?"

"Yeah."

I was soon fast asleep, and Cloak didn't wake me at all until the morning, to get to class once more.

Voila! Chapter 2 is up. And my brother was and is being a tad childish... First, he declares in a "pompous and arrogant way" that I am WRONG. then, he repeats that I am WRONG and he is RIGHT. Yes, he spoke in capital letters. (How the hell does a person speak in all caps?) Now, he insists that since he has already apologized, and I "didn't accept it", that he is longer sorry. What actually happened was that I went to my room, sat against the door, he insisted he wanted to enter my room, and I said I didn't want anyone in it. So, he said through the door that he was sorry he was a tool (at the time). Even with twenty other people, I can't count on all twenty-one pairs of hands (mine included) how many times he's apologized for being a jerk/tool/bastard etc. So, I said, "Either way, you're a tool". I shouldn't have, but I was crying, I was upset, I was remembering my shitty childhood in my personal Hell, and he was annoying me. He was also insisting on speaking to me when I quite clearly DID NOT WANT TO. So, now he's angry at me, my mom is almost angry at me, I'm in my room, and I don't want to apologize because I don't feel like I should have to. What the hell? HE STARTED THE WHOLE DAMN THING!

But that's just my opinion.

~Panther-chan

{Edit~!} Hey, in case you didn't quite notice:

Cloak was really nervous, right? Well, later on it's explained that she was in a nameless gang because she had nowhere else to go, and that she left suddenly. Well, that scene where she asks for sushi then changes her mind? That's her, deciding not to lure Acer into a trap meant to capture her and hold her ransom. Since the gang didn't really find out until a few days later, it gave Dino and his Family (Chiavarone) time to act and keep them seperted. Cloak never did find that out...

Lol. There are a lot of little things like that going on that it takes REALLY DEEP THINKING to figure out. Look for the others and tell me about them!