CHAPTER THREE: THE NEW GENERATION OF VONGOLA
Narita International Airport
'What am I doing here?', Kobayakawa Sena asked as she fidgeted as she stood in the airport lobby.
Sena had always thought herself as ordinary. Her mother is a simple housewife and her father is a normal salaryman. She grew up in a small but comfortable house, not unlike the houses surrounding it. She goes to a normal high school (ignoring the numerous gun silos inside it and the slavemaster ruling it). She is a normal teenager if you would not include the fact that she is the Eyeshield 21, the ace runner of Deimon Devilbats. And then last night, after she went home from the victory party of Deimon for winning the Christmas Bowl, everything fell apart. At least, half of her life is a lie. Suddenly, she learned that her father was-is- the son of a Mafia Boss. She listened dumbly as her father explained that he abandoned his Famiglia to be with her mother (with her grandfather-the boss-'s permission). But despite not being in a more visual role, Shuuma had decided to work underground. In an instant, she learned that the paper mill company that his father was a legal consultant on is not a paper mill company.
("But why?", Sena wailed. "Why are you telling this to me now?"
She can now understand the proverb that ignorance is bliss.
"Because Chichiue wants to meet you", Shuuma said smiling a little sadly. )
That's why she's in the airport. Her father told her that his grandfather (Sawada Tsunayoshi-sama) is ill and told the Famiglia that at least before dying, he wants to meet his only granddaughter. Something about this pricked Sena's marshmallow heart and before she knew it she agreed. His father told her that he'll take care of the school and anyways the winter break is coming. Her mother meanwhile was already packing her clothes. Her father couldn't-wouldn't- accompany her because in his words 'I have no right to face the Famiglia that I betrayed.' Sena had never considered her father as a warrior-type but at that moment her father looked incredibly cool.
"Are you Kobayakawa Sena?", a tenor voiced asked and Sena was interrupted from her thoughts. She looked up and blushed. The young man was incredibly beautiful; he's even more beautiful than Hakushu's Kisaragi Hiromi. He had long silky black hair that fell to his back and his ice blue eyes showed warmth. He was wearing a tailored black suit and matching slacks.
"I-I am Kobayakawa Sena", she stuttered and blushed. Uwaah… so beautiful. His face was really feminine but his body had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. She took a long moment to stare at his face and it would've been rude if the man (it seems) was not used to it.
Suddenly the man smiled and Sena can really see sparkles surrounding him.
"My name is Sawada Hideyoshi", he introduced. "I'm your cousin", His Japanese was accented and have a sexy tint to it.
"I-I am in your care", she blushed and bowed deeply. The man extended his hand and she timidly took it. Then to her surprise, the man didn't shake it instead he kissed the back of her hand. Her blush intensified. What kind of man at this age still does that to a girl?
"Nice to finally meet you, may I call you Sena?", he asked politely.
"O-Okay", she said being overwhelmed by the sparkles. So there are people like him in this world, a face that can render you speechless. Not that she's too eloquent from the start.
"I'm sorry to rush you like this but we have to go now", Hideyoshi said smiling.
"S-Sumimasen", she said blushing.
"No, I don't mind. But Nonno and the Ladies are really eager to meet you",
"Nonno?"
"Our grandfather, Sawada Tsunayoshi. I must say I can understand why, your photograph didn't do you justice. You're more adorable in person".
Photographs?
"Come on, let's go", Hideyoshi said as he took her hand carry and her luggage bag.
"H-hai",
Sena looked at the magnificent private jet in awe. Her mouth was open and her eyes wide. The jet was pure white with orange designs.
"You like her?" Hideyoshi questioned amused by her reaction. "She's called La Reina. The Queen. Nonno is really showing off", He chuckled as though enjoying his private joke.
"Are we riding her?", Sena asked. She thought that they'll board a passenger plane, a Boeing or something like that.
"What? You're seriously thinking that we'll let the princess ride a passenger plane?" Hideyoshi asked as he went up the stairs to the door of the jet. He gallantly extended a hand and Sena shyly took it. Sena was really surprised to feel that it's really rough and have various calluses in it.
"H-hime?", she asked.
Hideyoshi flashed a toothpaste commercial-worthy smile that accentuated the beauty of his face.
"You are my only girl cousin. You are the granddaughter of the Vongola Boss. If Italy is a Kingdom, then Vongola is the royal family and by default, you are the princess", Again with that heart-stopping smile, how can a man be this perfect?
When they entered the plane, she was even more surprised by the luxury of the inside. The floor was covered by cream carpet, the seats (there are only eight) were covered by vanilla colored leather with gold linings and the walls were white. Between the windows were a strange crest of two guns and a bullet. It looks so clean and elegant that Sena felt out of place with her brown jacket and dark tight jeans and red sneakers.
"What are you waiting for, Sena-hime. Your carriage awaits…", Hideyoshi smiled.
"P-Please d-don't call me that"
But Hideyoshi ignored him. Sena had a feeling that her plea for him to stop calling her Hime would fall on deaf ears. It's like asking Hiruma-san to stop calling her 'fucking shrimp' (not that Sena ever told him that or Sena minded being called that) but being called Hime is something else. From the start, Sena never had confidence in her looks; she doesn't have Mamori-neechan's natural beauty with her rose colored hair and angel blue eyes. She is plain with her brown hair and brown eyes. Her personality is not that much to boast about. She is timid like a little mouse; she doesn't have Suzuna-chan's exuberance that attracts many people to her.
Her only pride is on her running. Take her out of the gridiron and she turns into a stuttering shrinking violet. Thinking about her physical looks only made her sigh in disappointment so she never really ponder on her looks but as she sit next to this ethereally beautiful man, she can't help but dwell on this.
She sighed and smiled to herself. There's no used to burying herself to these disappointment, it's not like she care (too much) about it, beauty is not required and is useless in American Football.
"Wake up, hime, we're almost there", a voice whispered gently. Sena closed her eyes tightly and tried to ignore the voice. Her body ached because of the Christmas Bowl and she didn't get too much sleep as she had to wake up early because of some flight. Wait? Why did she have to go to the airport? Yeah, she has to meet her Mafia Boss of a Grandfather…
"UWAAAH!", Sena suddenly bolted awake and nearly hit Hideyoshi as her back straightened. She found that the airplane seat was lowered so she can sleep better. Sena wasn't even aware when she fell asleep. Hideyoshi was calling someone in Italian and Sena didn't want to interrupt him. Moreover, her body was still aching from the previous game (the best and toughest game of the tournament). So she closed her eyes and drifted to dreamland.
Hideyoshi was looking at her with amusement and asked "Did you have a nice sleep?"
"Y-yes, thank you very much", she said blushing (again). She feared that she will never get used to Hideyoshi's ethereal beauty.
"You looked so cute when you were sleeping, I really would've wanted for you to take a rest.", Hideyoshi said, looking really sorry as though her sleeping was the most fascinating show he had watched.
"Ah-how long did we travel?", she asked. She turned her eyes away from her cousin and looked at her hands folded on her lap. She suddenly felt ashamed and conscious. She knew how people look when they sleep and she knew that a person's sleeping face is not their best.
"Three Hours", Hideyoshi said simply.
"T-Three H-Hours?", Sena exclaimed. Sena might not be the most frequent flier in the world and she might not be the smartest but she knew that's simply impossible. Italy is miles away from Japan.
"La Reina is equipped with the latest engine designed by Shouichi-jiisan and Spanner-jiisan". He said this like it would explain everything. Perhaps it did explain everything. "Even the cabin was designed for comfort and relaxation because normally the Vongola Boss would travel in it with his guardians",
"Oh, look out of the window, hime. And welcome to Palazzo di Vongola",
Palazzo di Vongola stood at the top a hill, surrounded by the most beautiful garden Sena had ever seen. From the plane, Sena could see the large building with white washed walls and red terracotta bricks. In front of the main entrance is a large fountain. It was a magnificent building.
"Hmmm… we're a little late. Everyone should be there now." Hideyoshi was looking at his gold wristwatch.
"E-everyone?"
"The Famiglia is eagerly waiting your arrival",
The first thought that entered her head was HIIII! but she tried to comfort herself of the idea that she is a relative, they couldn't possibly hurt her or kill her. That would count for something right? And Hideyoshi-niisama had been really friendly and kind to her.
They landed on a private runway and as soon as Sena went out of La Reina, she noticed the people waiting for them at the end of the stairs. Hideyoshi wasn't really surprised to see this as he motioned her to follow him. The first person Sena noticed was a tall man wearing a pinstripe black suit and matching slacks. His hair was raven black and was swept backwards and tied to a low ponytail. He looked remarkably like Hideyoshi that they must've been brothers or cousins except he had a squarer jawline and his eyes were narrower. He was also taller and his shoulders were broader. If Hideyoshi had an ethereal beauty, this man epitomized a warrior in all its glory and the small scar in his eyebrows added to the rugged Y-chromosome appeal.
"Welcome, Sena", he said and just as Sena expected, his voice was a deep baritone kind of like Shin-san voice. Sena didn't know why she thought this but the idea made her blush nevertheless. His mouth was set on a straight line as though he was frowning but Sena had been around this type of people to know that he had no intention to harm her and he wasn't displeased with her. It's just simply his personality (which kind of reminds her again of a certain linebacker back in Japan). "My name is Nobunaga, your cousin", he added.
"I-I'm Kobayakawa Sena. Y-yoroshiku O-onegaishimassu", she said bowing deeply before noticing the hand extended towards her. She took the hand with a pounding heart and blushing face. She was always weak against this kind of men. She was expecting a simple handshake but the man-her cousin, Nobunaga-brought the hand to his lips like Hideyoshi did on their first meeting. Sena's face turned from pink to red.
"It's an honor", Nobunaga said and his lips twitched a little as though amused by her reaction.
"That's unfair, Aniue. Charming the princess as soon as she stepped to Vongola, Nonno would never forgive you." Hideyoshi chuckled.
"As if you aren't doing it since you met her", Nobunaga turned to his brother and spoke in a tone that exudes familiarity without changing his expression.
"I can't help it, hime is just adorable", Hideyoshi sheepishly scratched his cheek and turned to Sena with a wink.
"Sena-chan, ignore them. It's just the way it is in this country. An Italian man who doesn't flirt with a woman is not an Italian man", a voice said at the back of Nobunaga. Then, Sena noticed the woman. She was a tall woman with an elegant figure and classically beautiful face. Her eyes were ice blue and her hair was a beautiful shade of blonde. She looked remarkably like Hideyoshi but her face had more maturity. She was wearing a lovely red dress with a double breasted open black coat and a pearl necklace. Her eyes were really kind and gentle that Sena relaxed immediately.
"Mother… I didn't notice you were there", Hideyoshi walked to the woman and leaned down to plant two kisses on both her cheek.
"Typical, in the presence of a beautiful woman, sons forget their mothers", she said smiling gently as she opened her arms. Hideyoshi hugged her and said "Don't be jealous, mother, you're still the best woman in my life", "Welcome back, my son", she asked gently, her eyes were warm as she put her hand on her son's cheek. "You're too thin. Was the journey so hard?"
"No, hahaue, it was tiring but worth it because in the end, I got to play coachman for the princess", Hideyoshi said glancing towards the still blushing Sena and giving her a wink. The woman smiled (her smile is really sparkly, Sena can see where Hideyoshi got his smile) and approached her. The woman seized Sena's two hands and said "Hello, my dear. I'm Vittoria di Vongola, your aunt",
"H-hajimemashitte", Sena said lowering her head awkwardly. Why? Why are there so many beautiful people in the mafia?
"My, you're really adorable~" she said and suddenly Sena was engulfed on a tight hug. Sena felt the warmth of her embrace-like it was her mother or Mamo-nee who was embracing her.
"We're really sorry calling you out like this. But it's just… Papa wants to see you badly", Vittoria said rather tearfully. From Sena's viewpoint, she could see the grim faces of her cousins.
"Is… Is Ojiue better now?" Sena asked using the formal Japanese title to refer to her grandfather. Vittoria released her and her plump lips lifted. "Si, he's better now that he knows you're coming",
"Ah… thank goodness", Sena breathed deeply. Even if she had never met him, Sena knew from the way her father speaks about him that her grandfather is a kind, gentle and loving man. Sena knew that her father would be really sad if something bad would happen to her grandfather.
"You're a good kid", Vittoria said gently patting her head. "I wish I had a daughter like you",
Sena dropped her head lightly and can't stop the blush from spreading to her ears because of the glowing affection the beautiful woman was showering her.
"Oi, don't monopolize the princess attention, Ane-san", a loud voice exclaimed. Sena turned and saw a man about his father's age. He was rather on the short slender side and his hair was black. His eyes were a shade of dark blue bordering to purple. He was smiling roguishly that reminds of Sena of a mischievous school boy. He was not wearing a suit instead he was dressed in dark jeans and white shirt with black suspenders. He was also wearing a tweed coppola hat.
"Yo, hime. I'm Ieyoshi, your uncle and Ienobu-niisama's younger brother", he said bowing as he removed his coppola.
"Welcome to Vongola",
Character Details
Name: Sawada Hideyoshi (Japanese Name) aka Clemente di Vongola (Italian Name)
Age: Early twenties
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Specialty: Diplomacy and Marketing
Flames: Sky
Weapon: Whip
Family: Father (Sawada Ietsuna)
Mother (Sawada Vittoria)
Older Brother (Sawada Nobunaga)
Character: A true Italian man. Charming, suave and a gentleman. He is an expert smooth talker with enough charm to make anyone say yes to whatever he's offering.
Name: Sawada Nobunaga aka Celio di Vongola (Italian Name)
Age: Middle Twenties
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Specialty: Leadership and being able to think rationally no matter what happen
Flames: Sky
Weapon: Flame Thrower
Family: Father (Sawada Ietsuna)
Mother (Sawada Vittoria)
Younger Brother (Sawada Hideyoshi)
Character: A consummate hard-worker and responsible individual. Even if he's a little aloof and cold, many people follow him. He's the third in line to the Vongola Throne and the Future Twelfth Boss of Vongola. He's rather weak towards anything cute (a trait he got from his mentor, the tenth generation cloud)
Name: Sawada Vittoria aka Vittoria di Vongola nee Cavallone
Age: Ask her not this questions and she'll tell no lies
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Specialty: Incredible taste on beauty, ability to turn any man's heart
Flames: Sky
Family: Husband (Sawada Ietsuna)
Sons: (Sawada Nobunaga)
(Sawada Hideyoshi)
Character: A kind and dedicated housewife whose greatest joy is to stand beside her husband. She supports many charities and work hard to help people in need. She may appear defenseless and sweet but she had an iron will and the ability to make her sons be ashamed of themselves (while keeping a smiling face). An iron lady to the core. She is the only daughter of the famed Cavallone boss, Dino. She was also childhood friends with her husband but she never dreamed of marrying him (she thinks he's like an older brother to her). Until one day Ietsuna invited her to take a walk with him in the Vongola Maze, when she agreed, Ietsuna looked at her and said "Choose your answer carefully, princess. If you say yes now, I would assume that we will walk the same path from now on", Vittoria finally appreciated the vagueness of Japanese men.
Name: Sawada Ieyoshi aka Ernesto di Vongola
Age: Early Forty
Hair: Black
Eyes: Purple
Specialty: Spear Fighting
Flames: Sky
Family: Father (Sawada Tsunayoshi)
Mother (Dokuro Chrome)
Brothers (Sawada Ietsuna)
(Sawada Ienobu)
Character: An easygoing fellow at a first glance yet he's really a scary person when you threaten his family. He's always smiling but his skill with the spear is legendary. He never got married but he was rumored to have a relationship with the handsome Simon boss.