A/N: Greeting everyone of all walks of life and different times, It has been a busy days for me (so little sleep…still recovering the long nights of meetings and preparations, early starts…).
Anyways, as a reminder, we're still in the Guardian Arc and so far we have: Mist, Lightning, Rain, and Sun. All that is left is Storm and Cloud. Who would they be? Soon in the incoming chapters (and this one!) we'll know!
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CHAPTER 12
Will she still be into Love?
As the Ninth slowly walked around him toward Xanxus, Federico thinks quickly to figure out what else he can do without committing treason himself while trying to save his brother from going through that.
Yet nothing came up and he began to hyperventilate.
He can feel the change within his father's flames; the pain and betrayal within the air, but most of all the despair of doing something that will be irreversible. He took in a deep breath, activating his dying will. His mind cleared and let the words flow out of his mouth in a soft murmur.
"Don't hesitate and strike hard. Feel nothing, but your resolve. Do it with your dying will…"
Suddenly Federico stands up and pivots his foot, clutching his father's staff that had activated the Zero-Point Breakthrough. He hissed when his hands froze.
"FEDERICO!" "DECIMO-SAMA!" He ignored the cries of his guardians and who knows who else and focused on the cold tone of his father.
"Decimo."
Federico bit his lip as he felt his flame core started to extinguish. As for the ice, it didn't stop as it went up his arm and felt a scream of violation in his soul, but Federico ignore it for now.
"I cannot answer your question, but I do know there is a line and I will not have you cross it!"
Their flames began give off a sharp harmony factor, trying to press the other to submit. Power began to build up, threatening to kill both sky flame users.
It was as Federico was a second away from faltering did, Enrico steps in, "He's right, Father. Everyone here are too angry and too blind that you will do things that a clear mind would regret. Now stop this nonsense, it's not becoming for Vongola to fight among ourselves."
The Ninth blinks and really looks at Federico's frozen hands in horror and immediately cut it off, "Fe—"
When Timoteo reached out to Federico, the younger man flinches back. Seeing his father's hurt face made him wish he hadn't done that.
To distract his guilt, Federico turns to see how Xanxus doing, since his younger brother hadn't tried to escape during the whole ordeal. He looked worried at the horror-stricken red eyes of Xanxus.
"Xanxa—?" Then Federico gasped as a cold grip took hold of his soul. He barely feel the familiar, constant internal warmth.
Next thing he knew, he found himself on the ground. The cold ground is nothing compared to the unnatural cold in his frozen hands.
Federico distantly hears Shamal yelled in worried, "Someone get a stretcher and I wanted it yesterday!"
"Flame…almost …gone?" he mumbles as his eyes shut while the shouting increase before he heard no more.
His last thoughts was how his flames flicker to a small ember. Maybe he should have worried more when he first learn of this technique after all.
Federico slowly opened his eyes as the dream that really was a memory finished playing in his mind not really processing it. There was a slight beeping sound and seems to go in rhythm with his heartbeat. The curtains shut off any sunlight, which the young man was grateful.
Once he was able to shake off somewhat his lethargy, he realized by the looks of the room he was in the private room within the Hospital Wing of the Vongola mansion.
Mansion….fire…XANXUS! Federico sit up fast. The Decimo quickly tried to pull out the needles off, while the soft humming changed into alarms going off.
The door slammed opened, revealing a heaving and panicked Shamal. That is until he stare at Federico's frustration, whose attention already returned in taking off the wires.
"What do you think you are doing?" Federico stopped at the dark tone of the furious doctor. Not willing to show his fear, Federico glared at him.
"What else? I have to make sure—"
"He's fine," Shamal interrupts. He had his arms crossed with a dark look.
"Who? The Ninth or my brother?" Federico glares at him, but falters when Shamal sighs.
"Physically they are both fine, as for mentally, not my specialty. Don't worry, the Varia boss on a mission. As for you in the other hand," Federico frowned when Shamal pulls the chair and sat down heavily. Shamal rubs his face with his hands, proving how exhaustion the doctor was.
"Do you realize how many times I have to pull you back from the edge? This only proves how weird is your relationship with your flames is. It was weak before, but full of life, almost as if linked to your life source or something. I stopped paying attention to that lightning Arcobaleno since someone's temperature dropped dangerously by then."
Federico froze, "You called him in and he came?!" Sure he was shocked to hear he was close to dying, but the fact of bring in the Lightning Arcobaleno worried him, especially when said Arcobaleno showed up. Verde might be the greatest scientist alive, but the baby sized Arcobaleno never steps in to people's affairs unless it interested him. Especially if it's related to Dying Will flames.
Trying to ignore the empty feeling and disconnection, Federico barely kept his panic in when he asked, "Are my…flames…?"
Shamal didn't even look up when his response was a bit too quickly for Federico's comfort, "Too early to tell."
Federico shakily swallowed his fears and put up a smile, "So how were my guardians behaving?"
"Don't know, it has been days since I last saw them," Shamal stands up and fiddles with the wires and tubes connected to Federico.
Federico's eyes narrowed as he felt something was off, "Wait, how long I've been out?"
"Go to sleep Vongola."
Federico isn't in the mood of the doctor's invasive answers, "Shamal, you will tell me how long—!"
"A week and a half, Decimo-sama," a grim voice responded. Suddenly Genkishi appeared next to the doctor.
Shamal jumps, dropping his clipboard. There was a buzzing sound around Shamal, no doubt that being one of his mosquitoes.
"Don't do that whenever I am in the middle of something!" Shamal growls out.
Ignoring Shamal messing around the equipment that has been keeping him alive, Federico asks, "Shamal, when I am free to escape here?"
Shamal eyes him with an unreadable look and sighs, "Once I finished checking, you are good to go, but nothing strenuous and no training!"
Federico barely contains himself as Shamal finishes up. He couldn't believe he was actually being let out at the first begging! Maybe his old pouting, but not really cute look is working? The Decimo looks back at Shamal's tired look in guilt.
Hopefully everything will work out. He frowns when he couldn't sense anything, not even lingering mist flames of Genkishi. Federico shakes his head, Nah, I must be more tired than I thought…
"Alright then, I guess it's time for me to finally take those bandages off your hands," Shamal spoke rather clinical that it took a moment for Federico realize what Shamal meant. He looks down and wondered why he hadn't notice this before.
Without further ado, Shamal took his moment of surprise to quickly take them off. There was a silence as the trio stared at the crisscrossed dark scars on Decimo's hands.
Federico's mind went blank as he stared at his hands. He slowly close them and open his hands, feeling the faint feeling of skin being stretch too thin. Before his thoughts went to a dark turn, Federico felt a sudden weight on his lap. There were brown felt gloves.
When he looks up, Genkishi was gone.
"I guess he went to tell the others of your condition," Shamal leans against the wall, "Now get out, I need to decontaminate the male patient germs from this room."
Federico didn't even notice when Shamal disconnected him from the machines, but he didn't need to be told twice to leave. Better leave before he changes his mind, Federico thought as he quickly changed clothes.
After putting on his gloves on his "healed" hands, Shamal spoke up while looking at his clipboard, "Glad you're back, boss."
Federico stopped turning the doorknob of the door and turned.
With a small grateful smile, Decimo responded, "Thanks for your hard work."
Federico went to his office to see what he needed to do and hopefully catch one of his guardians.
When he looked at his desk, there was only a handful of files, but not as many as it should be by the time he was gone. I guess they finally pick up the slack or more like Genkishi and Lancia, since Basil is still learning and Romeo is…well Romeo.
"Oh! You have awaken, Decimo?" Lussuria looks at him in surprised from the doorway. Federico leans over his desk to see if the Vongola sun guardian came with anyone else. He was disappointed that Xanxus wasn't there. In order to cover up his true feelings, he focused on what Lussuria was carrying. It was a couple of folders and a USB drive that contains mission Intel, but that wasn't what was strange.
"Since when you turn in the reports? Isn't that Squalo's job?" Lussuria was silent for a second before laughing it off.
"Let's just say little Squalo is busy with watching Varia while the Boss is out having fun!"
"Shame. I wanted to mess with Squalo since it's rather frustrating how Genkishi keeps avoiding him. Like I wouldn't notice," Federico muttered the last part to himself. He hears a distant thump. Before Federico could look what it was, Lussuria giggles.
"Ah, just the Vongola intuition that sees through all. Are you sure Squalo isn't related to you? He can see through all tricks. It drives Mammon crazy."
"Speaking of intuition," Federico mutters as he sees a report that catches his eye, "Seems like the CEDEF boss left for Japan."
"Oh really?" There was a strange tone in Lussuria's curiosity. Federico didn't dare to look up to show he caught on.
"Yeah. Hopefully he realized his son might be in trouble. I think he should have arrived halfway there by now."
"Oh dear, you mean he just left?" Decimo raises an eyebrow when he heard Lussuria's dramatic gasp.
"Is there something I should know, Lussuria?"
"Mou! That's mean Decimo! I am a loyal subordinate, but worry not, soon you will be seeing your cute little brother."
Federico tried to ignore the part of loyal, but then he caught the last word. His shoulders slumped, "If he doesn't hate me…"
"Aww!" Lussuria cooed, leaving Federico blushing.
Federico looked up in surprise, when Lussuria spoke in a rarely somber tone, "Decimo, on behalf of the Varia, thank you for saving for our stubborn boss."
Decimo stared at the sincere look of Lussuria even with his sunglasses on, "I…I just wish it didn't have to go that far…" or at least trusted me to tell me why he did it.
"Don't we all…" his eyes lingered on the gloved hands of the boss. Feeling self-conscious, Federico's hand twitched at the lack of warmth.
"If I may?" Lussuria whispers, reached over, but stops before getting near Federico's hands for permission.
Federico wishes to trust Lussuria, but ever since his father broke such an oath, Federico isn't sure he can fully trust people. He hides his hands under the desk, "Please forgive me for my paranoia. I just recently been released and who knows what side effects with that technique might do if it mixes with other flames."
Lussuria froze and sighs, "For what is worth, the boss gave specific orders to not attack you. True, it would take time for everyone able to trust again. Especially since I can't help feeling we were expected almost as if…"
Federico frowns and looks through the reports, "Someone rat you out? Well as of late there has been an increase of leaked information and the mission are becoming almost dangerous."
"Why are you telling me this?" Lussuria looked taken back by this information.
"Although I don't fully trust you, I know that you guys are not the type to work underhandedly in a subtle manner," Federico's mouth twitched almost into a smirk.
Lussuria froze for a minute and giggles, "My, my. Aren't you a cutie?"
Federico blushes again as he picks up a separated file, "There was a note for you guys' house arrest, partially lifted. Here's the missions with the new requirements. It should be easy and a good stress reliever. Those Gospella have been too quiet as of late. Figure out what are they up to."
"Gotcha boss," Lussuria winks and sashays to the door, "I will put in a good word for you to see our dashing boss, Decimo~!"
Federico's mouth twitched up, "Get out, Lussuria."
Federico's back popped as he stretched from sitting on his office chair all morning. He decides to take a break by finding something to snack on.
As he got near the kitchen, he hears Enrico talking, "—love knows no bounds and—"
Suddenly his words were cut off by an unfamiliar screech and things dropping. Worried, Federico runs around the corner and stares.
Romeo looked horrified, while pointing a trembling finger at Enrico. There were a couple of arrows on the ground around him.
Enrico's eyebrows were almost lost up in his forehead, not that Federico blames him. He never seen Romeo unhitched like that before, maybe worried or even furious, but never terrified for his life.
"Is it something I said?"
"D-depends," Federico stood there frozen and unnoticed as his frightened guardian stutters, "H-have you met a girl with p-pink long hair, proclaiming Love is life and nothing stands no chance before its w-wonders?"
Federico opens and closes his mouth wondering how in all that is pastry did Romeo said the word "love" with a capital "L"?
Enrico in the other hand snickers for a moment, but stops when he caught Romeo's serious paling face, "Er, no?"
"Good." He went back being nonchalant and grinning mood. He casually picked up the arrows from the ground as if he purposely dropped them. Federico only shakes his head in amusement. The lightning guardian isn't fooling anyone.
"Greetings Decimo-sama," someone spoke behind Federico.
Federico jumps and turns to Genkishi, "Y-you surprised me, Genkishi. How is everyone doing?"
Genkishi was also carrying something, but quickly hid it behind his back before Federico could see. There is something fishy going on here and Federico is going to figure out what.
"What are you guys up to—?"
"Please excuse me, Decimo-sama, I need to oversee our Rain's training with our Sun," Genkishi disappears in a mist.
Great, this means he already left and I was talking to his illusion self. So there ARE up to something! But what?
Federico narrowed his eyes and turns to see if he can ask Enrico or Romeo, but he found himself alone in the hallway.
"Huh? I'm alone…" He frowns before a grin blossomed in his face, "I'm alone!" He slaps his mouth when he heard himself echo in the empty hallway. He has been waiting for a chance like this for years. Federico ran to his room to change into something casual before jumping out his window, running for freedom.
Federico breathes in some air he walks around town and his eyes catches a tattoo parlor. Maybe I should get a tattoo, he debated with himself on what kind and where he is going to put it. When his eyes catch a glimpse of his gloved hands, his eyes shadowed at remembering his flames' fate.
Shaking his head, he looks up in time to see dark pink haired young girl with her arm bandage came out of the Tattoo parlor. She seems to be looking for someone. After a minute of searching, she gets on a scooter and leaves.
For a long minute Federico stares as if remembering something, but then it was gone. I'll remember when I remember. It shouldn't be that important, he shrugs and goes on his way to get a tattoo.
Before doing so, he sees a young man that looks around Xanxus' and Squalo's age hiding behind a pole. He had somewhat messy blond hair and looking a bit freaked out.
"What are you doing?" Federico asks. In response, he gets a scream from the teenage boy.
Federico clutches his chest in shock as he stared at the younger teen who stuttered out, "Is-s she g-gone?" Before the Decimo could respond, a baby came in and kicked down the freaked out teen.
"Pipsqueak Dino, you're embarrassing yourself!" Noting the signature fedora and yellow pacifier around his neck, Federico's eyes widen in recognition.
Dino groans, "What do you mean, Reborn?"
Reborn sighs in disappointment, "Seems like you need to read your Who Is Who? Which Mafia Bosses and Heirs To Spite Or Suck Up again."
Federico chuckles. He already read that bigger than all the encyclopedias in his library, "Don't worry about it, Dino. Hello Reborn, the Ninth has spoken much about your talents. Are you tutoring the Cavallone heir then?"
"Who are you?" Dino looks at him in wonder. Is like he never seen someone speak normal with the hitman. Which is silly, Federico respects the talents and hard work the Sun Arcobaleno had to do to get where he is now especially about the strange curse that made him shrink from an adult to a child sized body.
"Sorry I'm kind of a hurry since…" Federico looks up and sees the shop was closed for lunch, "Aww I wanted a tattoo."
"Bianchi works fast," Federico frowns at the familiar name, but Reborn jumps on Dino's head, "So Decimo, who are you running away from?"
Federico sighs. There is no way he will lie to the self-proclaimed hitman. The truth is that he just wanted space from his father. He still feels bad at feeling some kind of hatred toward him.
"You are lucky I cannot beat you unless I want your family after me." Federico looks up in surprise to see the shadowed eyes of the hitman. Who knows what the hitman could be thinking, so Federico looks away and sees Dino's eyes shine in hero-worship. Not again!
"But I can tell your guardians your location," Reborn casually comments as he drank his expresso.
"No! I mean, not yet, please! I can…help you train him!" He isn't going to figure out why everyone seemed to be busy as of late, but he would enjoy any respite until then.
Reborn jumps off Dino's head and raised his hand to shake Federico's gloved hands, "Ok, welcome to the Protection Program for the Pathetic."
Federico sweat drop as he watched Dino's protested, "I'm not pathetic!"
"Of course not, you're Pipsqueak Dino."
"Right! I am—! What?! Stop calling me that!" Dino pulled his curly blond hair in frustration only to be hit via green slipper from who knows where.
"You may begin now. Distract her," Reborn tugs his fedora with a smirk and a green rope magically appeared out of nowhere quickly drags off a protesting Cavallone heir.
Federico mentally sighs, since it won't do to act un-boss like especially in front of someone of high caliber such as the World's Greatest Hitman. Actually he wasn't surprised Reborn expected his offer especially with the way Reborn agreed quickly. Then he remembers what the hitman said.
"Wait, her?" Federico looks around, but realizes, "They're gone!"
Federico decided to let whoever she is come to him and sat outside of the nearest cafe.
A familiar young girl got off of her scooter and opened a pizza box, "Hello, may I indulge you in one of my special pizzas?"
Must be one of the sample girls who is opening a new pizza parlor or something. I am rather hungry since it's already past lunchtime, he thinks, but out loud, "Don't mind if I do."
Before he reached for the slice, she asks, "Just one question, where did the Dino of Cavallone go?"
Federico froze and mutters to himself, "Really, Reborn?"
"You've seen him?!" Federico leans back at the lack of personal space thanks to the love-struck younger girl. And was that sparkles and heart shapes behind her?!
"Well, which question you want me to answer?" he asked warily.
She froze before grinning at him, "Ah, aren't you a sweetheart? Do you by any chance have a girlfriend?"
"Again, which question? You asked me three now," at his response, the young girl smile turned into laughter.
"You're funny. I like you, but don't worry," Bianchi pats his cheek in sympathy, "I already have my true love and that is Reborn~"
At the name of the world' greatest hitman, she gave a forlorn love sigh. Federico isn't sure what to make of this girl and decides to slowly back away.
"I have to go and by the way I am single since I am busy learning my duties. When the right girl comes, I might ask you for advice, Poison Scorpion," Federico waves at her as he quickly takes off.
Then he backtrack to get the pizza box, calmly walking until he went around the corner, while the girl was in dreamland. Once he was out of sight, he ran like demons were after him.
If she wasn't dangerous by her blooming poison food skills, I would had pecked her as another crazy fangirl.
He looks down at the box he carried, The pizza might come in handy for later.
Distantly there was an explosion, but Federico paid no heed to it.
Federico isn't sure if he should be surprised to find himself almost crashing into Dino and Reborn again.
"You bought pizza! Hurray!" Dino rushed toward Federico, but the latter sidestepped and watched how the younger man tripped and rolled to a stop in an awkward angle.
"Eat this and die. And I meant it literally, its poisoned," Federico was glad he had thick gloves, even if they are bulky, or else his hands will be even more damaged by the escaping fumes from the box.
Dino shoots up and hits the corner of a store window before shouting in surprise, "Poison food? Wait! You talk to Bianchi and survived?!"
"She seemed nice, although her name sounds familiar…Bianchi….Bianchi," Federico taps his chin in thought, trying to remember. He heard of Poison Scorpion from passing reports of upcoming dangerous Mafioso, especially with the fact she was a female. He wouldn't be surprised he would hear more about her.
Reborn lifted his hand up and showed four fingers, "You know, she was my fourth lover. We just broke up last week."
Dino turns to Reborn in horror, "How is that possible?!"
Federico in the other hand, raised an eyebrow, "Isn't she a bit young for you, Reborn?"
In response, the baby only smirks while Dino gaps at them before passing out from the mental breakdown.
Reborn tsks, "Idiot, she's actually an admirer. Maybe in a couple of years I might think again my response."
Federico shakes his head in amusement. He then pokes at the twitching, foaming Cavallone heir, "Your work is pretty much cut out for you, huh?"
"You have no idea," Reborn kicks his student and frowns when Dino still doesn't wake up, "but it's like coal: with the right pressure and stress, you'll get a wondrous diamond."
"Huh? That's an interesting philosophy," then he flinches when Reborn electrocuted Dino. That woke him up. Dino screamed profanities at the smug tutor who smirk widen, promising pain. Too late did Dino realized this and tried to beg for mercy.
Good thing the Ninth isn't into those crazy Vongola traditions that he accidently told Reborn about.
He decided he had more important things to do than watch Dino get shot by a barrage of bullets from a green gun and left to explore town.
Federico sensed he was being followed, but didn't call on to it. After all, he was barely out of the hospital wing and is the Vongola heir, so of course he wouldn't be left completely alone. It's only best to pretend he didn't notice.
For all I know, it could be Genkishi. He does have a tendency of being there when I need him…when he isn't busy fighting with Romeo. His kidnapping incident with the Todd famiglia came into mind.
Speaking of Todd famiglia, Federico was surprised to see the heir and his underlings limping out of an alleyway at that moment. He heard the tell-tale signs of a sword being drawn. So I was right, Genkishi is here, but better not let him try to kill them.
Although Federico feels the same since there are days Basil gets nightmares either from Iemitsu abandonment or Todd's interrogation (If he hasn't been passing by his guardians' wing on the night before the Cradle Incident or the time Xanxus lost it, Federico wouldn't have seen Lancia trying to calm the upset boy).
Before he debated if he should call them out or not, the Todd heir stops his tracks and looks to his side. Federico couldn't see what caught his attention, but took advantage of it and decided to walk off.
"Well if it isn't pitiful Paulo," a familiar voice drawls.
"The Lovely Poison Scorpion, don't you look—" Paulo began, unfortunately, Bianchi interrupts him.
"Cut the pleasantries, your father isn't here for you to please."
Federico is not getting involved in that. After all he still hadn't had his lunch and it was getting late.
"Who bombed you?"
There was a silence that left Federico uneasy. When he felt Genkishi's presence disappear, Federico rushes to hide behind a wall and strains to hear what is going on.
"—same eyes, of course we should've known," finished Rossie.
"It's going to cost you," the drawl voice of Enzo.
"Whatever, just tell me," she sounded desperate.
The pizza box he was still holding was slightly crushed with the tight grip he had. The way she carried herself, he had forgotten Bianchi is still young and has yet perfected to not to show all her cards when getting information. He isn't willing to leave her alone with someone like the Todd famiglia. Sure they are a joke at times, but there is a reason why they still one of the powerful famiglias.
Before he can think twice of what he is going to do, Federico steps out.
"What are the chances for our paths crossing once again, even though we had yet exchange words?"
The trio looks back at him. They were covered by bruises and rope burns as well as soot.
"Vongola," the Todd heir glares at him.
"Did you get caught up in some impromptu demolition again?" Federico casually walked toward them with his gloved hands in his pockets, showing no weakness.
"Says the guy who already got kidnapped," Rossie crosses his arms.
Federico's smile turned sharp, "At least, I look better off than you."
Paulo growls, but then his eyes flickered to his hidden hands. He smirks, "At least our Famiglia isn't going through what is it call again, Rossie?" Paulo looks at Mohawk haired subordinate.
"Internal dispute, sir," grins the black Mohawk young man.
Federico really needs the update of how the information leaked especially this soon. Something must move to cover such danger, since if it's bad, then there is a possibility that even going to the bathroom, Federico is going to be stalked by bodyguards.
"Is that what the rumors say? Speaking of, last I heard, you were under house arrest for the letting the prisoners escape under your watch," Federico didn't put in the fact that the main boss was there too.
"Shut it! For your information, that is old news. What about you? Did you guardians got tired with your tendency of getting into trouble? At least I am not as troublesome as you. For one thing, I can control my subordinates, but all you do is cry like a little baby!"
Federico's face turned red and growls, "Takes one to know one."
Paulo froze and jumps to attack Federico who already was prepared for him. He ducks down and whirls a kick from the ground, but Paulo jumps up to dodge it. Unfortunately, the Todd heir yet to learn to defend while in the air, so Federico punches up, hitting Paulo's chin as the latter was pulled down by gravity. This caused Paulo hits the ground on his back.
Suddenly, Rossie grabs him and Enzo punches him in the stomach, which proved futile with Federico's hard muscle from all the training he had to do to be good in combat training. This left Enzo holding his bruised knuckles, jumping around in pain as another bruise was added to his collection from an earlier fight.
"Seriously? I do fight hand to hand, you know?" Federico only raises his eyebrow at Rossie's tighten hold of him. Unfazed, Federico turns to Bianchi, "By the way, when you are interrogating someone for information for self-interest or otherwise, don't be obvious about it. Just do your thing or show indifference in your responses. You can even threaten them with a poison food. "
Bianchi blinks at this, "I'll keep that in mind. By the way, do you have this under control?"
Federico only gives her a blank smile. This gets her to laugh, catching on.
"What?! What's so funny?" Enzo snaps.
"Such low class," Bianchi walks to her scooter, "Until we meet again, Vongola."
Federico nods, which irritates Paulo more so, "No one makes fun of me, even a small tramp!"
Suddenly a gun went off.
Everything froze, but just as quickly, Federico saw red after seeing Bianchi casually touches her arm, where the bullet grazed it, almost in shock. Federico simultaneously step on his captor's foot and head-butt Rossie's chin.
"MWOU TWOE! MWOU TWOUG!" Rossie jumped on one foot and his hands going to his face.
Meanwhile Federico easily dodges Enzo's attempt to shield the Todd heir and jumps at Paulo. Catching him in surprise, Federico punches Paulo in the face, who once again falls on the ground. Federico grabs the gun and aims it at his face.
"Pretty coward of you to attack someone behind their back," Federico growls. Warning signs went off when he caught Paulo's smirk as his nose bled.
CLICK.
There was something cold and hard against the back of his head. Federico mentally cursed.
"Better a cowardly move to live another day than an honorable death today, don't you think?"
Federico said nothing, but didn't move away the gun from Paulo's face.
"My, what an impasse, don't you think Poison Scorpion?" Paulo asked without looking away from Federico's furious face.
When he didn't get a response, Paulo narrowed his eyes, "Don't tell me she's your other guardian. Then again that other brat was pathetic in being easily captured."
Still he said nothing, but Federico is wondering whatever happened to his bodyguards or even Genkishi in not stopping this fight. He knows for sure by now his Mist guardian would have already sliced these guys.
Bianchi decided then to speak up to Federico's despair, "He is nothing, but an acquaintance if you must know, which more than can be said about you. Such a brat being followed by his goons to watch his back. At least Vongola here is braver than you and fights head on. Foolish yes, but more of a man than you."
Why must she goad these guys while the gun is still against his head? He can almost hear the finger pressing the trigger when suddenly the cold metal was gone. Taking advantage, Federico shoots at Paulo who screams and passes out.
"Idiot," the Vongola heir mutters. He only shot next to his head in warning, but Paulo thought he actually killed him, fainting in shock. Federico knows better than make an enemy of Todd for something as dumb as shooting its heir.
"I did it!" someone cheered and Federico was amazed to see Dino had Enzo tied up with a whip. As for Rossie, he was unconscious by a sniff of Federico's pizza that Bianchi grab hold off. He mentally slap himself wondering why he didn't use that earlier.
"Do faster next time," Reborn cuts it.
Dino stomps his foot, "Nothing ever pleases you!"
Bianchi's eyes sparkle when she caught sight of the Sun Arcobaleno baby and runs toward him.
"Well done boss!" Federico turns to look at the owner of the unfamiliar voice. Fortunately it wasn't a Todd subordinate by the proud look the older man with a thin mustache under his nose gave toward Dino.
"Thanks—don't call me boss, Romario!" Dino whined at the end.
Federico looks at Dino fondly especially watching the young teenager walked to him without tripping. He makes a comment that left the Cavallone heir blushing, "That was a good show of using your whip."
"I see," Reborn, who was in Bianchi's arms, somehow dressed up as scientist with large glasses and took out a large notepad. He wrote with a green pencil, "Pipsqueak Dino can fight much better when his famiglia is nearby."
"Re-born! I've already told you I don't want to be boss!"
The Vongola heir asks confused at Dino, "Then what do you want to be?"
"I—?" the younger boy frowned, but then looked at a Bianchi who was busy enjoying her close contact of her crush for a minute then glares at the Todd famiglia.
"I just want to stop guys like him," Dino kicks the knocked out Paulo, "from picking on other people with no reason. Just because we have power, doesn't mean we can do whatever we want."
Federico smiles as he pats Dino's head, "You have the right idea. You're already halfway there to be a good boss, Dino."
"Not you too!" Dino cries out before Reborn jumps from Bianchi's arms to kick his head. Bianchi sighs dreamily at the sight.
"Stop embarrassing yourself in front of the Vongola heir, Pipsqueak Dino!"
"V-vongola heir?!" Federico flinched at the high pitch screech of the Cavallone heir. Although he was wondering why the boy sound so surprised. Didn't Reborn mentioned it earlier?
Reborn jumps on top of Dino to shut him up, while the Cavallone subordinate winced in sympathy.
Then the Sun Arcobaleno baby smirks at Bianchi, leaving Federico feeling a strange déjà vu, "Bianchi, the Vongola Decimo has a slot for storm guardian if you're interested, but you can apply another job like a cook, if you wish."
"Oh, I cannot do that, Reborn. My true place is with you at my side and together take the darkness to make this bloodied world kiss our feet."
"That guy is there~" Reborn vaguely points out. Federico has a bad feeling about this…
"Boss, I will happily be one of your guardians," Bianchi tried to get his hands, but Federico leans back. She only chuckles, unfazed by how uncomfortable he is.
Dino in the other hand, has his mouth dropped, "Reborn! You can't just chose Decimo's guardians! They must be chosen by Decimo himself!" Federico nervously laughs. Funny, all of his guardians straight out offer themselves in their own way.
Reborn dramatically sighs, "I do a favor for someone and this is the thanks I get? Ungrateful kids these days."
Federico finally remembers something that has been eluding him all day and looks at Bianchi, "Wait a minute! Now I remember where I heard you! It's from my Lightning and I think Shamal too…?"
"Shamal, eh?" Bianchi leans on one leg and raises her eyebrow, showing little interest. She is learning fast, "By the way who is your Lightning?"
"My lightning?" Federico isn't sure if he should tell her, especially when he now fully remembers Romeo's look when someone mentions her. Then again, he has been messing too much with Genkishi and wouldn't be surprised if because of him, Genkishi didn't help out earlier.
"That would be Romeo. He still insists for me to care for my fan club, which I still see no head or tails of…"
Federico remembers back at Valentine's Day when he only had a couple of chocolates, while Genkishi looked very tired, was carrying a large bag of something. Federico had asked if it was his, but Genkishi looked blank (more so than usual) and didn't answer.
"Hmph! Rather hypocritical of him," she glared a bit too darkly. Federico is having second thoughts in letting her into the Vongola. Maybe he can turn her down gently?
"There is a man I want to kill for the humiliation I had to endure," Then she takes out her small bag from her scooter, "I will follow your orders…as long as it isn't against my policy."
"Policy?" Federico really needs to find Enrico or even a book about being a boss. So far, he is the one pulling the weight and his guardians being the demanding. Shouldn't it been the other way around? He really isn't that desperate for guardians, no matter how excited his brothers and…the Ninth is.
When Federico turns to Reborn, he realizes it was only himself and Bianchi without including the knocked out Todd subordinates and heir. Before he can think of a way of telling Bianchi off, Genkishi suddenly appears with a car. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was alone.
"The others are waiting for you Decimo-sama. Also we have dinner with the rest of the guardians," Genkishi had an amused glint in his eye when he looked at Bianchi, "So we can get to know each other better."
"Guess I'll leave the scooter here," Bianchi pushes the scooter at the edge of the street and leaves the keys at plain sight.
"Wouldn't someone steal it?"
"Oh, it isn't mine. Maybe the owner will find it again. Not my problem," Bianchi shrugs. Federico wonders if he should not only worried about his food, but some of his stuff as well.
Hopefully she gets put off by the craziness of the mansion life?
He can only hope.
They took the back entrance to the mansion that led to the large Vongola mansion's forest.
This happened to be the location of the Vongola Tenth generation guardian dinner. It was more like a large picnic with many kinds of sandwiches and desserts. All the food were spread out on a very long wooden table with the red and white checkered tablecloth. He wondered about that instead of candles there were lightbulbs, lighting up the small clearing for this banquet. The seats were long benches, which was too much since it's just five—six now–of them.
Unfortunately the formal like dinner air lasted a couple of minutes. They all sat down on the benches when Romeo finally made eye contact with Bianchi with a squeak. Suddenly there was a flying beef sandwich that transformed into a purple mess of blob toward the Vongola tenth generation Lightning guardian. Lancia sighed and pulls in Basil closer to him as if trying not get involved in their food fight.
Then to Lancia's and Federico's horror, Basil took a bite of said beef sandwich that landed on his plate when Romeo hits it back with his plate.
"It's rather spicy, but not bad, you want some Lancia?" Lancia looks pale, but gives a shaky smile.
"No, but if you starting to feel sick, don't eat it."
"Nah, it's better than the food here. She must have the chef's touch." Lancia shakes his head and goes back to eating, dodging when a couple of food flew his way. Basil imitated him.
"What did Romeo do anyways?" Federico thinks out loud as he watches Romeo, who run out of food to throw that was near his reach and not contaminated, screaming in terror around the clearing.
He immediately regrets his question with the way Genkishi had an unholy glee look as he watched the lightning guardian run from the new storm guardian, "What I glimpse on Romeo's letter (Federico thinks to himself more like he read all of it) is that he would no longer have time to visit the annual Handsome and Romantic Romeo Fan club as her date. I believe she took it…personal."
Right then Federico decides to wash his hands out of their chaos since he has not eaten since lunch and dang it, he wants to eat that dessert before Bianchi thinks of doing her poison touch thing. Besides the only damage will be the forest and there had been talk about clearing up this part of the forest anyways.
That is until Romeo trips over a cupcake. Federico cries out in horror, almost choking on his drink "Blasphemy! The cupcake was innocent!"
Genkishi raises an eyebrow at him making Federico feel defensive, "What? It's a waste of cupcake, although by the damage it did to Romeo's shoes, Bianchi must have baked it herself."
Romeo threw his shoes at Bianchi, who dodges it before slamming a pie to his back.
"AHHHHHH! I NEED A DOCTOR!"
Basil looks up from eating a purple frosted cookie in worried for Romeo, but Lancia kept reminding him to eat his food. Federico is rather thankful for Lancia's common sense…
"Serves him right," someone mutters behind him. Federico turns to see Shamal watching in cruel amusement at Romeo's terrible luck.
"Shamal, what are you doing here?"
"I heard you picked up a lovely lady and behold, an old flame."
Federico groans and still debating if he should interrupt such a bonding moment, "Geez, what is going on with today? Is it Pedophile Day or something?"
"Ped-dophile?! And who is this person you put me under the same category?!"
Federico pales, realizing he just insulted the world's greatest hitman and the one who knows everything. Federico whimpers and wonders if he should start writing his will. Then again being the boss of all bosses usually means a shorter lifespan, in exception of the Ninth. He really should get around to writing one then.
"You didn't hear it from me. Nope I didn't NOT call him of all people a pedophile."
Then Federico realizes as he sees Bianchi grinning down at Romeo who was crawling and whimpering in pain, yet Shamal had made no move toward the teenage girl (not that he wants Shamal to do it, it is rather…disturbing especially if she is now his guardian and responsibility and the whole fraternizing thing).
Even though the man now is in charge of the Hospital Wing and had somewhat mellowed out in treating men, he still goes after any woman or anything with a skirt. So he wondered why he isn't actively going after Bianchi yet. Maybe with her in her killing mode, Shamal isn't eager to get involved in that.
"PERVERTED DOC! SHAMAL, MY FRIEND! SAVE ME!" Romeo rushes to them at full speed. Federico curses when he sees a rain of purple fumed cake coming toward them.
Fortunately Genkishi grabs the Decimo and finds himself transported behind Bianchi. She suddenly comes into a halt and the temperature dropped before killing intent exploded around her.
"YOU! WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!"
Shamal turns pale and looks around in guilt, "Oh, you have a brother?"
Federico vaguely feels he is watching those soap operas he seen the servants watch whenever they think no one is looking.
"Shamal…"
"Well…you see I've been chosen to be in charge of this rather large Hospital wing," something must of shown on Bianchi's face because Shamal sighs, "He ran away a couple of weeks ago. I've been keeping tabs on him though. Got himself a nickname, the feared Hurricane Bomb Hayato."
"That street brat is your brother?" Romeo speaks up from one of the bushes that Federico knows for sure was destroyed earlier. Federico face palms when Bianchi returns to killing Romeo again.
Maybe I should intervene now, Federico thinks as he finishes the last bite of tiramisu
Federico took a step forward, but pulled back by Genkishi, who shook his head.
"She won't kill him, I will make sure of that," Genkishi promised. Federico crosses his arms and not believing him, "I will!"
Federico sighs, "Bianchi! We need to speak with the…Ninth for you to formally joined Vongola," His guardians who seen that incident must have caught his slight hesitation when he called the Ninth by his title, then again the present boss did indirectly hurt their boss.
"Decimo sir! Can we join you as well?" Basil shouts, barely finished with his dinner. Lancia looks up in askance as well.
Federico stares all his guardians that even Bianchi stops to look around in curiosity. She probably trying to figure out what they are truly asking. I wouldn't be surprised by the end of the day, she'll know.
"Fine, let's go, only after Bianchi and Romeo finishes eating. You can go back to messing around after the meeting," Federico sits back down and watches them with his arms crossed. Somehow the two sat on either side of Federico.
When Romeo looked around something to eat, wincing at his slightly burned back (it burned through his Hammerspace Sleeveless Jacket 2.0), he whined, "Boss-Man! You ate all of the tiramisu!"
"You shouldn't be too surprised Romeo-nii!" There was a silence at Basil's words.
"Eh?" Romeo looks confused at Basil.
"He called you brother in Japanese, idiot," Bianchi picks up her utensils.
"You know Japanese?!" Basil stands up excitedly. Bianchi looks up and smiles fondly at the child. Federico narrows his eyes. He does remember earlier she mentions about her brother and turns to Shamal to ask more of it. Unfortunately he was gone.
Well I guess there will be hunting soon, Shamal and wonders if offering a job to Shamal was what had the child runaway for.
He sighs wondering another mission is in order. Which reminds him, didn't he had another mission about someone being targeted? He would have to ask Genkishi about it after the meeting with the Ninth.
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A/N: Thank you everyone for holding on until the next update and to any new readers, thank you for reading :)
Little Federico sure missing his little brother. Someday, little Federico, someday… Question: Does anyone want me to bring back the invited guests or have special interviews?
Upcoming up next is the explanation of the earlier explosion that Federico distantly heard; Soon the beloved trio of sky, rain and storm will be formed!
LaniAhava out!