This is the third arc! If you didn't read the first one, you can't understand anything!
Hi everyone!
I'm italian and I'm translating my story in english because some not-italian people ask me to do it, so please forgive me for this poor and basic english!
I accept any advice because I really want to improve my english and I know there are many mistakes, SORRY!
Thank you for reading ~
Target 10 - Vongola Compact
The girl stares in disbelief, she wasn't expecting a fast shot and she couldn't dodge or block it in time, this is why she was thrown backwards.
The impact with the solid laser is still shaking in her body, preventing her from moving. She is already waiting for the crash with the ground, yet she doesn't care about it at all.
After all, she is still the girl who used to smash herself against the walls, during the first flight training with her flame.
She remembers the times when she used to fly fast on her Sky Rod, then realizes that she can't do it anymore. She no longer owns that weapon and doesn't know how to use the flame with her fists, like her father.
She waits for a moment, as long as two arms don't take her. She opens her eyes instinctively, listening to Haynes's voice in the distance, he's moving away quickly.
Has he escaped? Why?
She observes in front of her, as if trying not to meet the eyes of her savior. Instinctively blushes, trying to figure out who the man is and understanding the unpleasant situation in which she is ended. Actually, she already knows who is the poor guy who has found himself with the girl in his arms, she has recognized his scent, this is why she's trying desperately not to look up. The situation is really unpleasant, she should have apologized a thousand times for making a fool of herself.
- Nono-chan, are you okay? - a male voice asks, it's deep and sweet.
Nozomi: Y-yes, thanks Cris-kun ...
She responds instinctively, making a bit of courage and looking up. The blue concerned eyes are watching the young girl.
Three months have passed since the last time he came to visit them, spending ten days in Namimori. He can't afford to stay long away from the Neveria's headquarters, now he is the boss and has much work to do. Precisely for that reason Nozomi visited him in Alaska last summer, she loved that place and the White Tower, it's a particular and charming structure. The immediately got close and their relationship became deeper, they get along well and Cristal gives always good advices that she follows them with a great desire to learn. However, the young man also has deepened the relationships with the other members of the eleventh family, they has become very fond of him also because of his occasional visits. Sometimes they even contact him through videochat programs, to greet and chat about this and that.
Lately they have decided, by mutual agreement, to work on a project, the Vongola was anxiously awaiting his arrival hoping for good news about their new equipment.
Meanwhile, however, the girl would have to shake off her embarrassment, because she is still in his arms.
Nozomi: Uhm ... could you ... put me down ... please?
The albino man puts down the Vongola, who turns immediately in search of Luca, who has approached the two with great discretion and smiling like an idiot.
Luca: Juuichidaime, thankfully you're ok!
The two children, followed by Arashi, reach the three guys, the redhead looks at the poor conditions of her boss and the guardian, then she looks around trying to find the culprit of the misdeed.
Luca: Haynes fled.
He rubs his hips, still a little sore. Surely the battlefield is not a suitable place for him, but as a guardian he can't avoid those clashes.
The brunette asks to herself how long everyone would be with her. How can they continue to follow someone who attracts only problems?
Instinctively, she turns to the newcomer, bowing in a respectful manner.
Nozomi: Forgive my inexperience, I was inept.
She is very embarrassed.
Cristal: Uh? Why are you apologizing?
"I was defeated by a child and I landed right on you ..." thinks, but the concept is somewhat difficult to explain.
Nozomi: Well ... here ... In short, there was a child and I ... then ... you're not even arrived here and I have fallen on you...
Cristal chuckles, looking away.
Cristal: Nono-chan, don't apologize for this nonsense. In addition, shamans are equipped with incomprehensible skills ... or perhaps, we are accustomed to fight in a different way.
Explains, meeting Lilium's eyes. She and PonPon are hiding behind Arashi.
Arashi: Have you failed to fight him?
She suddenly asks, turning to Nozomi.
Nozomi: More or less, but he was very fast ...
Lilium: The speed is his dowry.
She tries to avoid the look of the newcomer, in fact he approaches the young girl, leaning slightly forward.
Cristal: You are Lilium, right? Nozomi told me about you.
Lilium: Mh ... yes ...
She nods slightly.
Lilium: ... And you? Who are you? The "special person"?
Luca turns embarrassed to the sky, exclaiming random words not related to the discussion. Anyway, no one cares about it.
Cristal: Special? No, I'm not special at all.
The young man smiles to the child
Cristal: My name is Cristal, I'm the current eighth boss of the Neveria.
Lilium: Oh ... Mafia ...
Cristal: And this other child ... PonPon, right?
Arashi: Mh, so it seems that Nozo is keeping you updated on the news, right?
Nozomi: Well, yes ... I tell him all the important things ...
She says, shrugging and pretending indifference.
Arashi: At this point you could start a blog on the web.
The storm sighs, resigned.
Cristal: Nono-chan was right, thanks to her I was able to get some useful information.
He nods, looking at the Vongola.
Cristal: I also have what you've been waiting for.
The brunette had forgotten that particular, when she hears the news she turns to the boy with a smile.
Nozomi: Do you have them here? All of them?
She starts to bounce and the albino man smiles tenderly, in response to the expansive behavior of his friend.
Everybody sit around the table, they are all anxious and excited. The only one who is on the sidelines is Cloud, who is sitting next to the balcony to smoke in peace, listening to the discussion.
The albino guy places seven small devices on the table, they resemble chronometers.
They are in a shape of a circle and greyish, with a black screen in the center and colored buttons around of it. On the left side there are buttons for settings.
Kaito: Wooow!
The sun observes them with curiosity. From his look it seems that he wants to dissect them to find out how they are made.
Cristal: These are your Compacts.
He turns on one of them, the screen displays the symbol of the storm in pixels. He passes it to Arashi.
Cristal: The Vongola Compacts. They have been refined with our current knowledge, they are better than the one I used in the battle against Clover.
The Neveria hands one to Kaito and another to Haname.
Haname: Uhm ... only gray? It's a very dark color ...
Cristal: I'm sorry, but it's a standard design. We have added the words "Vongola" on the bottom, but only to differentiate them from others.
Luca: So ... how these things work?
Cristal: They are made with flames and our current high-tech. Thanks to the flame of mist they can recreate the objects, while the flame of the lightning harden them and the flame of the storm make them more durable and effective. It's covered with the flame of the sky, which harmonizes the elements together. It has three slots, but the last one is still empty. Our scientists are working on this, but I won't tell you more. It will be a surprise ~
Kaito: Nooo I want to know what will be there!
Cristal: For now, you just need to know that in the first slot there is the armor, while in the second there is the weapon. Obviously there is no need to tell you that you can choose any type of armor and weapon. It's important that you choose carefully, because you can no longer change the design once you've imagined it.
Shinji: So anything that appear in our first use ... it will be our weapon?
Cristal: Exactly. So be sure of what you want.
Haname: What kind of weapons or armor can we choose?
Cristal: Anything.
Kaito: Even medieval armor type?
The albino man chuckles.
Cristal: Yes, that will be also fine. An armor made of iron, or even a swim suit. They would have the same qualities, the composition is the same and it wraps around the entire body, although a swim suit can seem tiny. Moreover, you can imagine up to three weapons. There is no problem, then, for those who use two guns or CDs and a musician's wand.
He looks at Cloud, who continues to smoke.
Nozomi: I may get my Sky Rod back...
She blushes, happy. Yet a doubt continues to haunt her.
Nozomi: ... Or maybe I should create a new weapon ...
Kaito: Why would you like to create a new one? The Sky Rod was super cool!
Cristal: You should do it. despite the particular design, it wasn't very practical. You should focus on something that may be more useful and easy to use.
Nozomi: Yes ... I thought about it ...After all it was a random idea, I only wanted something cute and particular...
Cristal: Oh, I've to discuss about another thing, before I forget it.
The Neveria becomes serious, he looks at all the boys.
Cristal: We have discovered that Stanford is working on a new project, similar to the Clover's one. And it seems that he hasn't given up on the Vongola and Simon's experiment.
Luca: Another Clover experiment?
The lightning is scared.
Arashi: So, the boy we saw was really him, Clover?
Cristal: No, the old Clover was destroyed in the black hole. I suspect that what you have seen is a substitute, they imported the old Clover's memories in him.
Nozomi: ... You speak as if he is a computer ...
Cristal: More or less ... Clover II is only one replacement. I'm sorry, but it's not a living being, after all.
Arashi: Either way, he can be first or third but it doesn't matter. From what we know, he was interested in the seven flames of Lilium and Haynes.
Haname: It could be a problem if he knew that they are shamans.
The rain looks at Lilium, the child is frightened.
Lilium: Maybe ... he could find the village!
Nozomi: Then it's better if we go to talk to your boss.
Arashi gives her a positive look, even Cristal seems to agree with her.
After all, she needs to speak with the chief anyway. She must roll up her sleeves, before the situation degenerates.
In addition, she wants to catch Stanford at all costs. The problem isn't Clover, but who manoeuvres him. He is just a replacement, that creature was created for the sole purpose of carrying out the orders of Stanford and not only that, he must also replace the old Clover, destroyed by Nozomi and Caesar. Probably he is only used as a toy, no one thinks of him as a living being, but as an object of which they can get rid of when they want.
She pities him a little, after all it seems he also owns feelings. She wonders if he already knows to be just the hologram of a boy who died years before and another hologram which has been destroyed.
Luca: Cristal-kun, how is Bianca-chan?
Luca dares to ask, changing the subject. In fact it's been a while since they have heard from Biancaneve, Luca and her have also a deeper friendship.
Cristal: My sister is busy with her new boyfriend.
He shrugs.
Luca: Another one?
Arashi: You Neveria are always busy with your lovers and stuff, right?
She chuckles.
Cristal: Like every other person in this world. ... Have you perhaps discovered the rumors about our family? In fact we are only ... a little more passionate, but I don't see anything wrong with that.
He explains, joking
The brunette raises an eyebrow, Lilium remains to observe the newcomer with curiosity and PonPon, meanwhile, continues to drum on the table.
The young maestro lights another cigarette, walking under the night sky and away from the Sawada house. He pocketed the compact that the albino handed to him and has no idea of how it works, but doesn't care. He has more important issues to think about, after all.
In fact, he isn't really interested in his parents' madness, they are always the two usual wacky with a dissolute life who had left Cloud to his grandparents when he was just a child. His father, first of all, is a crackpot musician who hates to bond to anything and loves to go in search of unlikely fortune. The bespectacled continues to wonder how his mother had to fall in love with someone like him.
After returning from the United States, some years earlier, they had dragged the young boy like a pack, reaching their new home in Namimori and the music store they wanted to open. He doesn't hate it because Cloud loves music too, rather he considers it a good place to stay away from boring people. However, what he really doesn't like is the presence of the two parents who are now thinking to move back to the West, bringing the poor maestro with them.
Although the two are very convinced of their project, Cloud came of age and he's an adult, so he decides to ignore them, as they now don't have any right on him.
Despite everything, however, the situation continues to bother him terribly, and he is annoyed by the presence of other people when he tries to do complicated considerations.
For this reason he turns behind him, watching the young dark-haired boy who is stopped and uncertain.
Cloud: I bet you have to do the same road.
He says, ironically.
Shinji: Mh ... yeah ...
Cloud: I thought you was staying at the Little Shell's home. But I can understand you, tonight they have a guest. I suppose Miss Storm will be quite furious.
Shinji: No... I don't think so. Rather, she's more relieved ... it's better him than a ghost ...
The bespectacled boy exhales a little smoke, becoming more nervous. If there's anything that he can't stand, it's the company of useless people.
Or being stalked by brats.
He turns around again behind him, annoyed, Shinji is already looking at the blond shaman, stopped behind them and with the outstretched hand towards the mist boy.
The child is still a bit battered, probably because of the clash occurred in the afternoon.
Haynes: Why are you with her? You're one of us! Come with me, I'll show you what you really are!
He looks very serious and Shinji observes him with concern.
Shinji: ... No.
He responds, self-assured.
Shinji: You want to kill Nozomi, I can't follow you.
Haynes: Why? Don't you want to know more about the eye? Don't you want to find out something about yourself?
The child is incredulous.
Shinji: No. I won't betray my friends for this reason.
Cloud: Tsk. You'd do anything to get what you want, don't you, little guy?
The blond child lowers his arm, glancing angrily to the cloud.
Haynes: You ... you are the guardian of the cloud, uh? It's said that you are unreliable, you are never bonded to your boss. Why don't you ally with us? It's for the common good, after all. So you wouldn't be forced to follow her.
Cloud throws down his cigarette, stepping on it.
Cloud: I never said to be a guardian and no one forces me to follow her.
He slowly approaches him.
Cloud: She's important since she can get me what I need, I like using her. And, anyway, I don't need to ally with anyone, much less than with a kid who hides his thirst for power behind a fake respectability.
Haynes startled, confused.
Haynes: Thirst for power?
Cloud: You want to kill one person to get the leader's title. Isn't it thirst for power? You'd do anything to win it, even kill children and destroy a city. You don't care of people, anything justifies your purpose.
He smiles with satisfaction.
Haynes: Are you kidding me? I have to kill the Vongola to avoid the world's destruction!
He is furious, obviously those words have hurt his pride.
Cloud: Because a trivial prophecy? The little girl has already explained, the probability that's going to happen are equal to the probability of winning the lottery by buying one ticket. You rely on a stupid vision that probably doesn't even exists. People who follow orders without using their brains are the worst. That brat was smart and started to ask herself a couple of questions, you should also begin to think outside the box.
Haynes: This is not true ! I ... I ...
He bites his lip, unable to answer .
Haynes: I ... I just want to prevent something bad from happening in this world! I'm doing it for all ... I'm doing it for Lilium ... and for me ... for the two of us ...
Cloud: Of course, the famous cousins complex.
He settles his glasses, smiling mockingly.
Haynes: Stop talking like you know everything!
Cloud: You know nothing too. If I dreamed the world destroyed by you shamans, then would I be allowed to destroy you all for the sake of humanity?
Haynes: Don't talk nonsense, you can't predict the future.
Cloud: Who knows? The Little Shell made some interesting dreams a couple of years ago, which proved to be true. If I was sure of my dreams, I could murder you all. In the end, I would act only to protect the future, don't you think?
Haynes backs away, shaking his head. He doesn't know how to fight back, he seems to have exhausted his arguments. What would he do? Even his eyes are fill with tears, maybe he would have run away in tears.
Perhaps Cloud managed to insinuate a doubt in his head.
Cloud: Anyway ... we have a score to settle.
He takes some CDs from his jacket, the bluish surface reflects the clear satellite in the sky.
Cloud: You have destroyed my wand.
The shaman hesitates a moment, certainly doesn't seem to want to escape.
The cloud is almost touched by a solid green laser, the same who defeated the Vongola a few hours before. He moves with a speed higher than the shaman's, throwing his CDs multiplying around him.
When Haynes tries to dodge them, however, two huge human arms emerge of two lamps at their sides, blocking the young boy in a grip.
Shinji is watching him with intensity, but Haynes knows how to counter his illusions, he seems more determined and trained then him. He easily creates white wings, they're growing behind his back and with a superior strength they destroy the cadaverous hands and open up.
He isn't very much inclined to smile, at least not in such a delicate moment, but he lets out a victorious groan, while avoiding a couple of CDs. He feels something pass quickly next to his left cheek and it starts to bleed due to a cut.
Haynes: Cd?
He is furious for his imprudence, but when he turns he sees a card stuck in the ground.
Cloud: Uhm, you copied me.
The cloud turns to the mist boy, his look is very serious.
Shinji: ... Well, since he can destroy my illusions, I thought to attack him with something concrete ...
He doesn't look away from the shaman.
Cloud: Yet you copied my idea, tsk.
He crosses his arms, looking at him sideways.
The shaman puts a hand on his cheek, sore. He looks sad, he's wounded physically and psychologically.
Haynes: Why do you fight me? Why don't you just follow me?
He asks, watching the mist with pleading eyes.
Shinji: ... Even if I were like you ... I don't like what you do. ... you aren't doing what you want, you're not yourself. You don't follow your heart.
Cloud turns around and looks at him, curious.
Cloud: The heart?
Shinji: My grandfather ... he always said it. No matter what happens, we must act following our heart.
The shaman sighs, distressed.
Haynes: My heart ... I'm following my heart!
Shinji: I doubt about it. ... In fact, you are doing the opposite.
The child seems quite confused, he shakes his head and is about to turn around.
Haynes: ... If I'll follow my heart, Would you follow me?
Shinji: Probably.
He shrugs.
Haynes: Good. So I'll try to please you and follow my heart, if you insist.
Shinji: ... the day after tomorrow, at the airport ... at ten in the morning. ... it could be a start ...
The shaman remains to observe him for a moment, thinking. He nods, turns and runs away, to the opposite side of the dark alley.
Cloud: Mh, the day after tomorrow. We have to go talk to this famous leader of the shamans.
Cloud puts his cds in his pocket, looking sideways at the boy.
Shinji: Lilium is afraid that the new Clover can find his cousin... she wants him to join us for the trip ...
He turns to the maestro.
Cloud: He could really follow us, as he seems interested in you. Excellent trick, you're not all bad.
He adjusts his glasses, satisfied, and the mist visibly blushes, looking down.
Shinji: T-thank you ...
Cloud's interested look suddenly becomes more serious, approaches the boy's ear.
Cloud: Next time, however, try not to steal other people's ideas.
Whispers to him.
The cloud ignores the reaction of the brown-haired boy, turns and walks briskly toward his house, the Perfect Harmony music store.