Seven
Giotto found the Duke and his Famiglia on the Lounge room discussing the request the Duke has asked them. G., Asari Ugetsu, Knuckle and Lampo are all sited firmly across His Lordship. His two other guardians were not present but then they never were. Daemon Spade who knows Corleone by heart disappeared right after they've set foot in the town. Alaude on the other hand, well, he really doesn't like crowded places; and for him, two is already a crowd.
The Duke saw him and bid him the empty chair.
"I guess you've told them already the details of your request?" Giotto asked the Duke.
"Si, but not all. We were waiting for you."
"Forgive me to have caused you waiting."
"Mi e indiffirente." The Duke waved his hand in a regal fashion.
"Before we accept your request I would like to clarify some things first." Giotto said.
The Duke nodded in agreement then he signaled the Military Advisor – the one who delivered the Duke's request all the way to Milan– to leave the room. The Military Advisor obeyed.
Giotto shifted to his seat and got down to business.
"From what I gather, you want us to conquer the town of Bisacquino and Ficuzza. Is that right?"
"If you have the same definition of 'oversee' and 'conquer', then that is right. I want you to conquer the towns that border Corleone."
"Just to make it clear, we are not one of your soldiers that would have us do that." Giotto said frankly. Conquering territories don't appeal to Giotto at all. And it is not his style. He doesn't like taking what is already owned. And conquering, well, that's a very complicated request.
"I know."
"And I know that you also know that we cannot do that. We are not the right people for this job, Your Lordship."
The Duke was silent. Giotto was expecting that they will be dismissed and even banished for not following the Duke's order but then he spoke.
"Tell me if I'm wrong but, I believe that your organization is created to protect and promote the welfare of the people."
"Yes, you are correct. We are vigilantes."
"Then that is exactly why I called you."
"I'm afraid I do not follow."
"I explained to your comrades why the two towns concern me so much. Bisacquino and Ficuzza don't have a government. They are anarchist, the only ones in the entire Italy. They don't acknowledge the King and don't believe in monarchy or any other diplomatic form of ruling. And unfortunately I 'own' these two towns and I am responsible for them. Ungoverned, groups were formed in these towns, guided by their beliefs and principles. Different as they are, chaos eventually subdued these places. But recently, there is this group – a faction that united all the others to one common goal and purpose."
"But wouldn't that be better?" Knuckle, the former Priest asked.
"Yes it would be except for the fact that this faction that united them and their stated purpose concerns me to a great extent. 'Freedom for Italy'. That's a very broad aim, don't you think? What is freedom? What is patriotism? We have a common definition, but how each one of us interprets it varies differently. And for this reason, I believe that by freedom, they meant making Italy a government-free country. No rules. No ruler. No limitations. Entirely governed just by the free will of each individual. That would be completely tyrannical. It wouldn't be good for the country. For our country."
"You're problem is political, where does we come in? With this kind of problem, I'm sure you have much more capable men to do that."
The Duke smiled.
"Primo, why are you here?" He asked out of the blue.
"Because you asked for us. We couldn't possibly deny the man whose position is second to the throne of Italia." Giotto answered him honestly.
"Ah, but I did not ask for you to come here. I merely send in my request which is subject to your discretion. I was truthful enough to say that I will have you to 'conquer' Bisacquino and Ficuzza. However, it is at your option if you'll accept it or not. If you don't want to do it, then you could have said no from the very beginning. Is it not?"
This time Giotto smiled. The Duke is cunning. He never asked them to come to Corleone. He is right that the request is at their discretion, but do they really have a choice? The Duke's messenger is his own Military Advisor, who by body-built alone is already intimidating. He exhibited the impression that did not give them any option to say no at all. The request is an order. It is true that the Duke is honest enough of what he asked. For this reason alone, he would definitely reject it; however, he felt that the Duke wants more. He felt that there is a story behind all this and he must act upon it, and what he felt is always right. If there was one thing that Giotto learned in all his escapade, then that would be to trust his instinct. And so, he decided to go and discuss the matter to the Duke himself. Giotto made his organization to fight for justice. He made sure everyone knows that. If it's just a matter of conquering, Giotto is sure the Duke could have done it a long time ago.
"Of course. And I'm under the impression that whether you asked for us or not, you are expecting us to come anyway. By coming here, that would affirm that we will do what you've requested. So let's cut the chase and tell us what we really came here for."
"Very well."
The Duke stood and got a medium-sized box and a map in a heavily secured cabinet in the far corner of the room. He settled it on the center-piece table between them, and then lay what apparently is the map of Sicilia.
"I have to ask you all to eliminate the faction I was just talking about. Basically I need help and you are the only people who could."
"By eliminate, you mean…?" Asari Ugetsu, the Japanese man asked.
"By any means possible."
"Why do you want them to disappear?" G. asked.
"The faction's true purpose is to get Italia's throne. To have Italy as their own. I cannot possibly allow that. And besides, this faction didn't even originate from Bisacquino nor from Ficuzza. This group is from Corleone. They are the mafia of my own town, the only black in my all white persona - the Corleonesi."
"How come you know about them so much? Mafias are supposed to work in secrecy." Knuckle asked.
"I had them under surveillance by my own trusted people for quite a while and also because my son is a member of that group. And it is not far that they would go against me. I have to be cautious myself and get to know the threat."
"Your son would like to overthrow you?" Lampo asked, being the son of a rich land owner.
"No. My son is not that bright. He wouldn't have thought of that. The man who founded the group, now, he is the one who would do that."
"And you know this man." Giotto stated.
"Yes. You all met him already. My Military Advisor, Mario Riina."
Ω
Tsuna can't believe that there is actually a house in Namimori like the one in front of him – a three-floor storey building with a wide front lawn equal to the backyard. It could match up to the size of an amusement park. No wonder Vitteli and Luca have the guts to invite all the students in their school. There were people and foods everywhere and music was heard all over the area. The party was apparently a birthday party for a little girl. She was Vitteli Corleone's neighbor. What she did was admirable but Tsuna felt there's more to it than that. He hasn't really decided to go tonight. He wouldn't have come at all. Tsuna knew something is bound to happen. But then again, the oppressive baby made him go. Reborn received an invitation from the Corleone to attend the party tonight. And he made sure Tsuna must also go. And, oh, he suffered. Why does he have to be stuck in the never ending tutor-tutee situation with Reborn? He was rubbing his back – the part where Reborn always hit him – when he heard his name.
"Tsuna-kun!"
Tsuna don't have to look who that voice came from. He knows it like the back of his hands. He whipped around and saw Kyoko and Haru in dresses. Tsuna realized that he just wore pants and a hooded sweatshirt – what he saw first on his closet. And he felt underdressed. Well, he is underdressed; for heaven's sake, this is a royal party!
"Kyoko! Haru! What are you doing here?"
"The princess invited me. She told me to bring some friends so I asked Haru-chan to come with me." Kyoko explained.
"Tsuna-kun, you are so lucky you are classmates with the Princess!" Haru said excitedly. "Hagee~~ I should have enrolled in your school a long time ago!"
"If you know who they really are, you wouldn't say that." Tsuna want to say to her, but kept his mouth shut. He can see how the two girls admired Vitteli.
"Where are Gokudera and Yamamoto?" Kyoko asked.
"I haven't seen them yet." Tsuna said. He did not have the chance to tell them that he'll come and he doesn't really expect them to come, unless of course, Reborn blackmailed them or bribed them like what he did to him. You'll never know what that baby is up to.
"Tsuna!" Lambo called holding a plate full of foods together with I-pin.
"Eh, why are you here?"
"Hehehe! That Reborn cannot go to this party without me so he begs me to go too. Since Lambo have nothing to do, I accepted his pleading." Lambo boast which obviously is a lie. And then seconds later, he received a kick from Reborn who appeared out of nowhere. Lambo dropped the plate, but thankfully, I-pin saved it with her Kung-Fu catch.
"It's bad to waste foods." I-pin said to no one in particular.
"I do not beg, you stupid cow." Reborn remarked.
"Ciao-ssu!" The baby greeted.
"He's not technically a cow anymore, you know." Tsuna reminded him. Lambo is already almost ten and got rid of his cow costume.
"Iyaa! Reborn! How can you do that to me! I'm much bigger than you now!" Lambo said angrily.
"Shut up or I kill you now!" Reborn threatened and Leon, his chameleon, is starting to transform into a green gun.
"Waaahhh!" Lambo started crying, being the cry-baby that he was. He was running forward without care to anyone until finally, he bumped into someone.
"Careful there, Thunder." Vitteli said while holding Lambo in place. Lambo looked at her and then blushed and then he ran again away from them. I-pin followed.
"Princess!" Kyoko and Haru uttered in chorus.
"Hey! I hope you are enjoying the party!" She greeted them with all smile on her face.
"Yes, we are." Kyoko and Haru said, still in chorus.
"That's good to hear, Tsunayoshi, Kyoko and…"
"Haru." Haru supplied.
"Haru." Vitteli finished.
Kyoko and Haru look like they'll melt from total star-struck of Vitteli's presence. They seem to be happy from hearing their name said aloud by a princess. And then, to Tsuna's shock, Vitteli stooped and kissed Reborn on the cheek. They greeted each other in Italian.
"It's good to finally meet you Reborn." She told him.
"The pleasure is mine." Reborn said with respect.
"I'm sorry but I have to ask you a favor right away." Vitteli said. Reborn just kept quiet so she continued.
"Can you tell me where Tomas Buscetta is?"
Reborn smiled but his eyes are sharp. "I'm sorry Princess, but I cannot do that."
Vitteli pouted. "I'm making it a lot easier for both Families, you understand, no?"
"I'm sorry." Reborn said.
Tsuna felt the tension getting heavier. He did not expect that Vitteli would ask that question, especially in front of Haru and Kyoko. Although they already know about the Mafia business, he makes sure they are as far as it as possible. But it's more of a shock that Vitteli seems to know Reborn – a lot. And the way Reborn treats her. There's something going on and Tsuna doesn't know it. Just what in the world is happening? Vitteli averted her eyes to him.
"Can you tell me where Tomas Buscetta is?"
"Uh…." Tsuna was literally stupefied. For one thing, he did not expect she'll ask him next. Why does everything he does not expect happens to him? For another, because he really doesn't know where Tomas is. Vongola still works with half of its operations unknown to him – the Decimo. And lastly, even if he knows where Tomas-san is, the hell would he tell her. He already decided to protect the man and his family. For all he knows, it's already a war. When he failed to answer her question, she said something that again would drive him crazy – and would not let him sleep.
"Give me Buscetta and I tell you how to break the Arcobaleno curse."
"Princess…" Reborn warned. But Vitteli ignored him.
"You can save Reborn from eventual destruction and help me finish my job."
"Destruction?" Tsuna asked. The Arcobaleno Curse is still a puzzle to him.
"Yep. If you tell me where the man is, I can help you free the babies. With that, we'll both win. At the same time, we've settled the conflict in peace without causing a disturbance or worse killing innocent people. It's a win-win situation."
