Whoo hooo! This story has reached Chapter 10! I'm really happy! Thanks for the lovely reviews :))

WARNING: The following chapters will contain graphical violence and really bad humour!

Chapter 10

My Dad, Part II

The Prosecution of Innocenti

The only thing I could think at that precise moment was: Why was this happening? And to me, nonetheless. What did I ever do to deserve this? Was I just born under an unlucky star? While I'm sure many of you have contemplated that thought at some point in your lives when something bad happens, I was thrown back to my own current unfortunate circumstance when my head collided with the hard, concrete ground.

It was official:

I was unfit.
I was clumsy.
I was uncoordinated.
I was downright awkward.

While I wished I hadn't eaten so many donuts and drunk so much soda in my lifetime as they were seriously hindering me now, I tried to get up but stumbled over my own two feet and fell back over and onto the ground for the umpteenth time. Even babies who could not even crawl yet fared better than I was at the moment. I cut my palms, scraped my elbows, scrapped my knees, and ripped off a slight chunk off my cheek.

A part of me wanted to cradle my boo-boos and start bawling.

… it was tempting, but no.

I hadn't expected this much pain. How on earth was I meant to defend myself from this? I had nothing on me to protect myself! Hell, I couldn't even fight to save myself. I bit my lip, curling my fist. I had never hit someone before. It didn't feel like me to do something like this. But this was a life-or-death scenario and I had to –

"Tempest Wave!"

This time, Yura strummed a different note – the noise emitting from her guitar was higher, and much powerful – and whatever it was… a soundwave, I think… It hit me full on and I went rolling back to the ground. I couldn't get back up afterwards. I hurt all over; I couldn't move, and I lay, defeated. It felt like I was a player in some screwed up video game: I could imagine it….

Kotobuki Yura

HP: 1390
MP: 745

Power Gauge: MAX!

Kazama Rin

HP: 0
MP: 0

Power Gauge: 0

K.O.!

Perfect!

Win Quote:

"That's it?" A voice sneered and I opened one eye to see Yura; she lowered her guitar in her grasp.

…Continue?

She checked her wristwatch.

5…

Only two minutes had passed yet it felt as though the tremendous duration of my ass-kicking had been an eternity.

4…

She stepped over, planting her boot on my stomach and pressed down on. I groaned out in pain. "…This is seriously the best you can do?"

3…

Noticing my still-curled fist, she moved her foot from my stomach to my clenched hand.

2…

I yelped when I felt the pressure of her boot over my trembling fingers, wanting to flinch and scream loud, but when I saw the smirk on her face, I knew she revelled in moments like these.

1…

I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to cry and thrash. She pressed down harder on my hand, and pain throbbed angrily throughout my entire system. "It's a shame, really, since you don't seem to know anything."

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!"

She sighed. Then, she shrugged half-heartedly. "Oh, well, can't be helped. I guess I'll finish you off nice and cleanly." Positioning her guitar directly in front of me, I stared at death with widened eyes.

This is it.

This is really it.

But then –

Yura's chest exploded.

Really.

A burst of red, red blood shot out and splattered all over my face without warning. However, my eyes had unconsciously squeezed shut just in time and an estranged gasp of horror tore out from the back of my throat as I felt the blood slowly drip off me. I re-opened my eyes and slowly looked up, shaking. A thin, sharp point…some kind of spike, a long and thin, funnel-shaped spike, was sticking out of her side and I slammed a hand over my palm to contain my horror. Yura looked equally as confused as I did. Unsteadily, she looked down at the spike that had impaled her from behind, the guitar clattering out of her hands and onto the ground.

"…W...What…?" She croaked out as the spike slowly withdrew from her.

Black Suit Purple Shirt-san stepped in front of me with his weapons raised up offensively. With a clenched hand clutching over the hole in her side, Yura stepped back as Black Suit Purple Shirt came at her again, but –

CLANG!

The sound of steel metal clashing resonated through the woodland. I forced myself to watch the scene – and my jaw dropped when I saw a familiar figure standing directly in front of Yura. A katana had blocked Black Suit Purple Shirt-san's attack.

What the - ? It-It's that guy from this morning!

"H-Haku?" Yura stammered out in shock, as the blue-haired male who had saved her from another impaling session gazed at her from the corner of his eye.

"…Reckless as always," Haku muttered, still holding off Black Suit Purple Shirt-san's attack with a long katana hilt; it was then I noticed that he had three additional black sheaths with katanas strapped to his back, a little smaller to the one he was using at the moment. He astutely swerved his attention back to Black Suit Purple Shirt, and smiled, "You picked a fight with the wrong person, Yura."

Black Suit Purple Shirt-san smirked, before releasing his weapon and swiftly returning back to my side. He helped me back up off the ground and manoeuvred me to stand behind him. "Stay close to me." He instructed, and I could only nod numbly in response, my hand clutching a section of his coat tightly.

Haku returned beside Yura, still smiling. "Hello, Rin." He said as he returned his katana back into a strap on his back beside the other three katanas, "Who's your friend? He's very strong."

I looked up at Black Suit Purple Shirt-san who threw a well-aimed glare at Haku and Yura.

"Never mind; I have to admit I'm a little disappointed…"

"….D-Disappointed?" I squeaked, eyeing his katana warily, "….What do you mean? Why are you - ?"

Haku offered me a pleasant smile although there was nothing pleasant about this situation at all. "Ah, I forgot to tell you: Aside from doing research on Namimori, I'm also the leader of a band. This is our Bass Player, Yura."

"Y-Yeah, I'm…I'm kinda aware of that." I muttered, as Yura glowered bitterly at me, "What's going on?" I made a step forward but Black Suit Purple Shirt-san stopped me.

Haku continued, "Your father will fill you in with the details. Unfortunately, I don't feel like fighting you now; you can't even defeat Yura yet. And she's the weakest out of all of us."

Yura's face went a fiery red shade at that point, "Hey – that's not true!" She fumed at him, but quietened down when her wound stabbed her with pain all over again, and she hissed out, collapsing onto her knees.

"Let's be on our way, shall we?" He said, sheathing his sword into a holster that was secured around his back with a white sash; he grabbed Yura's arm and they vanished through the woodland in the blink of an eye. It was too fast for my eyes to see.

To my astonishment, Black Suit had done nothing except stand and watch. I turned to him expectantly, waiting for an explanation on WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED. Instead, he silently watched the spot they had occupied previously, then turned to me. I remained silent. Then suddenly, my knees gave way and I was about to collapse onto the floor if Black Suit Purple Shirt hadn't caught me. His arm secured tightly around my back, and I blinked numbly, unable to utter a word.

"…You're in shock." He murmured, before he averted his attention to my bleeding shoulder. "…It's alright. You're safe now. I'm here."

I was shaking all over, but then I glanced meekly up at him, "….W…Why did you let them go?" I finally managed to stammer out.

"They are not my enemy."

As much as I thought Black Suit was probably this bloodthirsty monster who just couldn't get enough of beating people to a ruddy pulp, I guessed I had assumed wrong about his character. "But you could've fought them off, right?"

He nodded.

I slowly peeled myself out of his grasp to stand back up. "…I don't get it. She was going to KILL me." I said, as Black Suit Purple Shirt stood beside me. "I thought you were meant to protect me. You said it last time – my survival is vital."

"No." He replied, adjusting his tie for a brief moment or so, "…You're wrong."

"…H-Huh…?"

"You are grievously mistaken; you cannot afford to be over dependent on me." He said, as he turned to me, "…I recommend you learn to stand on your own two feet for a change."

"…. are you're telling me to fight my own battles?"

"Yes."

I bit my lip. "…I…I don't mean to get myself in stuff like this. It's not my fault…"

"Did I say whose fault it was?"

At that point, I sniffled a little. I had been stabbed in the shoulder, I was hurting all over… I didn't need to be hurt physically AND mentally.….Black Suit Purple Shirt-san, why are you suddenly being so horrible to me?

"Let's go."

He lifted me up bridal style and began to carry me out of the woods before I could protest. I stared up at him awkwardly, completely unused to being held this way. The spike that had impaled Yura, I realised, belonged to a floating ball of other spikes hovering just beside his head. It finally dawned to me, and I panicked, "Oh my god – y-you just – and she – that spike – so much blood…eurgh, it's all over me. C-Can't get it off… so gross… ewww… Get it off me…!" I wailed, still stained with Yura's blood plastered all over me and my clothes.

"Stop screaming. You'll attract unnecessary attention."

I supposed my moment of trauma was over. "You!" I snapped, "Why are you here? You save me and then you tell me to fight my own battles?" I yelled, and I pulled at his tie and collar and his sleeve and his jacket corner and his hair... Maybe that wasn't the right thing to do. He could use his spike-balls and impale me, too.

"I was late." He said, and he stopped. We had finally left the woods and back onto the main road of Namimori, and he settled me down on my feet.

I wobbled unsteadily, stricken with a mix of disbelief and incredulity.

He added, "I am aware that she could have almost killed you." Pause. "Let go of my tie now."

My bundled fist around his tie tightened as I continued to reassess what had just happened in my mind. "LATE? But why are you – what's going on? So you knew this would happen to me?" I screeched furiously, my face going ten different shades of red. I was furious, oh yes.

There was a short pause, then he uttered out, "You didn't listen to me." A dark shadow suddenly cast over his eyes, "I told you not to go to school."

And that's why he's angry at me?

"…Well, what was I supposed to do? Look, pal, you honestly expected me to believe you? Listen here, you – you… you man… person…guy…th-thing, you - !" I affirmed, trying to sound as stern as possible even though it only elicited a smirk of amusement to grace his features, "I know nothing about you – and why you're even here in the first place, so you better start spilling the beans or else I will scream and call the police and - "

I supposed he didn't care what I was going to do, as he turned away from me then with half-lidded eyes. "You have to leave, now." He muttered, "You cannot stay in Namimori."

"…Why? Because of Yura? Who is she? And…Haku. I just met that guy this morning – he-he said he was doing research! And why was I attacked? What did I ever do to them?"

He hesitated slightly. "You must pack your belongings and move. That is your safest option."

"Are you kidding? I'm going to call the police!"

"No."

"Huh? What do you mean 'No'?"

"The Police will offer you little protection against them." He said, then - "…..Trust me."

Trust? I wasn't sure anymore. I squinted my eye and peered at him suspiciously, then said, "But….what about Hibari-san?"

"…What do you mean?"

I cringed slightly, "….I-I've been his neighbour for years. If I suddenly get up and leave, then…" I swallowed down. "….I can't do that. Besides, I, uh…kinda…Um. Never mind. I just can't leave Namimori, that's all there is to it."

"He'll understand."

"…And what makes you say that?"

"Trust me."

"Who are you really?"

"You haven't figured it out yet?" He murmured, his eyes staring right into me, "I honestly thought you would've realised by now."

I glanced to the side, then back. "I don't!"

He pondered for a few seconds, then smirked fluidly, "Then I won't tell you." He replied – and I guessed that was his final decision: not to tell me anything AGAIN.

It dawned to me how much I hated secrets… or, how much I hated secretive people. I clenched my fist and barked out, "Fine, don't tell me. But don't blame me if I don't believe or trust you."

"Even though I saved your life? …This is the third time, correct?"

"I don't know! I don't keep count - And I don't recall asking you to save me, either!"

"You'd rather I let you fall and break your neck, and let you get your face cut off, and let that homicidal girl kill you?"

His words stung. I threw my glance down, feeling extremely foolish and ashamed of myself. I knew he was right. "…." I bit down on my lip, pouting fiercely, "….No. I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry, I was just really angry and confused and I just go crazy… I DO appreciate everything you've done for me. I–I just… I'm so confused. I feel like crying, but I won't, because…um, well, I just won't." Ack! Why did I say that? What a buffoon I clearly was when in the presence of a really hot guy.

Black Suit Purple Shirt remained silent.

"…Why won't you tell me who you are?"

I didn't get a response, but a hand suddenly landed on top of my head. I gawked up at Black Suit Purple Shirt-san dumbly, my face flushing all over again. He smiled at me briefly – not smirk – smile. I wasn't sure if it was a smile; actually, it just looked different than his usual expressions… I swallowed down and shrunk away from him, thoroughly embarrassed.

"How is your shoulder?"

I glanced over to my bleeding wound. "…It's nothing serious." I moaned out loud, as I sighed and rotated my wounded arm to ensure it was still functioning properly.

"Here." Black Suit Purple Shirt Guy tore a strip off the end of his lovely mauve shirt and pulled me towards him, then forced me to turn away with my back to him.

"I'm okay, really," I said, as he lifted my bleeding arm and then began to wrap the thin strip around my wound, before tying it into a neat knot to stop the blood. When he was done, I turned back round, inspected the new homemade bandage. "…Thanks…I don't get anything at all. What do I do?"

"…Talk to your father." He replied, "He'll tell you everything."

I hesitated for a brief moment. "Okay." I said, after the long pause, "…I trust you." In response, he did that 'smile' again at my response, and I returned an awkward smile back. I supposed what we had was mutual, perhaps even reciprocal at some point.

All of a sudden, he collapsed; his legs gave way and he stumbled forwards, his eyes fluttering closed. My reaction was automatic – my arms shot out - and I caught him just before he completely tumbled to the ground. But his weight stifled me and I dropped to the ground onto my knees. A memory flashed through my mind just as he fell into my arms.

"…Hibari?"

He looked up at me; unexpectedly, his hand on my arm gripped tightly and I winced slightly. "….What did you just call me?"

I was at a loss of words …Why did I say that? Why was I thinking about Hibari now? Oh, yes, the last time something like this happened… it was Hibari. He got hurt in the back, and I took him home… I blushed, then quickly shook my head. "Ah…! N-Nothing. it's just, well, when you did that… you know – fall… and stuff, er… it kinda reminded me of someone who did that to me before, I mean… he was hurt too." I stuttered out, and I looked down at the man in my hold, his head over my shoulder, after realising that he had not replied. "…What's wrong?"

"…Ngh…" He grunted out, as a thick stream of blood dripped from his nostril. Black Suit Purple Shirt re-opened his eyes wearily and slowly pushed himself off me, struggling back to stand on his feet.

"EEK! You're hurt!" I squeaked, my eyes widening at the sight of the blood dripping down his chin.

"No." He replied, as he wiped away at the blood and adjusted his suit, frowning. He was bleeding but he still looked so cool, despite his exceptionally weary and pallid demeanour. "….This is the effect of the Round White Machine."

"The white what?"

"…I must go." He said, and immediately, he tore himself away from my grasp and fled into the woods and out of sight, even though I called for him to come back.

…..

I was worried about Black Suit Purple Shirt but something told me he would be fine; he was a man and so he will deal his own things in the most manly way possible. Plus, he was an adult so he will also handle this in the most adultly way possible, too. Ahh, whatever; I'm not thinking right. I must've hit my head too hard back there. I rushed home and threw my fists against the front door. A few seconds later, and dad emerged. "…Rin, you're home – " His eyes promptly widened at the sight of the dried blood all over my attire and the bandage on my shoulder. "What happened to you?"

"A girl who transferred to my school today tried to kill me. With a GUITAR." I grumbled angrily, "And there's this guy called Haku, who-who… oh, never mind…Dad, what the hell is going on?"

Before he could speak, a voice piped up from the sidelines: "Ciaossu."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, I looked down to dad's foot where the baby from this morning was, standing, and dressed in a black suit and fedora hat. The lizard beanie toy sat on the hat brim, staring at me with its strangely realistic and glossy, amber eyes.

I gawped at him in astonishment, then turned to dad for answers. "…W-What's going on?"

"Innocenti, it'll be wise if we talked about this inside."

Instantaneously, I turned to the baby with my jaw hanging open. "…..You spoke…in a perfect sentence?"

"Yes, I did." replied the baby, blinking his large, black beady eyes at my bewildered form. "I am quite adept at speech."

"B-But you're…"

"A baby? Yes, well, looks can deceive."

I threw my shocked gaze to dad in response, expecting answers. Dad looked extremely u-n-c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e. "Rin, just come inside and I'll – "

"NO! Tell me right now! Why did he call you 'Innocenti'?"

Dad paused for a moment, "…..Because that's my other name, Rin."

"Wha - ? What do you mean that's your other name…?"

As I did a double take, dad closed his eyes, and let out another shaky exhale. "...I think it's time you learnt who I really am."

I merely stood, looking silly and lost on the doorstep; I swallowed down a growing lump in my throat. "W...Who you really are…?" I stuttered, "What the…What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm a member of a Secret Society that belongs to the mafia, Rin. And you're my daughter, so - "

"WHOA. Wait, hold it – The MAFIA? Now it's got something to do with the freaking mafia?"

"…Yeah."

"As in, pinstripe suits, godfathers and guns? THAT kind of mafia?"

"Well, no, not really. Times have changed, but…"

"Are you kidding me?" I said, although I was on the verge of yelling if I wasn't careful… and the last thing I needed was Hibari storming over to see what the ruckus was about. "….You are kidding, right?"

Dad's response was solemn. Very solemn. And serious.

"No."

He wasn't kidding.

"So….what? Does this mean you've… lied about yourself the entire time…?"

"I was protecting you."

I intervened immediately. Nothing was making sense. Dad was part of the mafia? He belonged to a society that 'secret'? His name was…. His name was Innocenti? I had no idea what, or why this was happening. All I knew was…. I was suddenly very angry. I hurt all over. My head hurt. My freaking shoulder hurt from that crazy attack earlier on. "Protecting me?" I seethed out, my fist clenching at my side, "Protecting me from what? This?" And I gestured angrily to my bleeding shoulder.

"….Yeah."

I wasn't sure why I was furious all of a sudden. I shook my head at him, taking a step back away from the door, back to our open front gate. "I don't believe this… I….I need some time alone…" I muttered, and I took off running out of our front garden, and back down the street.

"RIN!" Dad yelled, leaping out of the doorway and taking off after me - but I was too far down the neighbourhood block.

He turned to Reborn, who let out a sigh. "…That was subtle, Innocenti. Now hurry up and get your daughter back here before she gets killed…"

…..

Meanwhile, at the abandoned textile shop on the suburbs of Namimori, Yura finally succumbed to her wound and dropped to the floor of the corridor before she could make it to the door, blood spilling around her. She gasped out, her fingernails scraping off against the floorboards. "…Can't…let Kazama Rin go…" She croaked out. "Hurry…"

"Just take it easy, Yura." Haku said, as he opened the door and stepped in. "…Evie?"

A girl looked up; she was sitting at the window, previously engrossed with staring inquisitively at a pigeon that was strutting around the windowsill, its head bobbing up and down as it pecked at a few breadcrumbs which were purposively scattered around. Rai was sitting on the sofa with his feet propped up on the table, chewing on an unlit cigarette, his nose stuck in a manga book. He was surrounded by a vast amount of empty beer bottles and cup noodles.

"…Haku-sama." The girl said, getting up from her seat and bowing respectfully.

Rai looked up from his manga book, peering over his sunglasses to Haku, "Who's dying this time?"

"Shut it, Rai!" yelled an irritated Yura from the corridor, before she broke into a coughing fit. "I'm not… dying!"

As Rai sniggered and returned back to his manga, Haku let out a helpless sigh at the situation and said, "You know what to do, Evie."

Evie nodded and quickly scampered to the corridor, helping Yura up off the floor. "Hai, Haku-sama. I will make sure she is back up in no time..."

Evie is a character featured in my KHR one-shot, The Road Trip - I don't think this story is a prequel or directly linked to The Road Trip in any way, but to those who have already read it, she is supposed to go with Gokudera, although that wasn't entirely the case…