"Boss?" Romario said, puzzled as he passed the Cavallone boss in the hallway. Seeing that he was walking to the front door, the right hand man started to follow and asked, "Where are you headed off to?"
"You've known me since I was born, Romario." The boss said in reply as he smiled at his ever loyal right hand man he had known all that time.
The years had gotten to him though, as his previous black hair had become a little grey in some areas, and he had gained some new wrinkles. But he was still Romario, and would never retire; just to make sure things were going smoothly at the Cavallone base.
"You should know by now where I go when I leave alone." The boss continued with a smirk as he opened the front door a little.
The current Cavallone boss stood at five feet, eleven and a half inches tall, with golden blond hair with a long brown strand coming from the side, his bangs swaying in the breeze that came in through the cracked open door. He had chocolate brown colored eyes just like his father's, and his clothing was inspired by him too.
He was wearing a long sleeved red shirt, the front tucked into his pants, under a dark green hoodie vest with black faux fur trim around the hood. He also wore simple blue jeans with a belt around his waist, which had a rearing horse on the gold plated buckle. On his feet were normal blue converse shoes. This was indeed the Cavallone boss, but it wasn't Dino, for within both of this young man's eyes, was a Mezzanotte Star. This was Vero Mezzanotte Cavallone, Dino and Rosetta's only son.
"So you're going to go see them?" his right hand man asked further, knowing full well where Vero was meaning to go. "May I accompany you then?"
"You know you don't have to ask Romario," Vero replied lightly. "After all, they were your family too."
They then slipped through the door quietly and left to their destination, which happened to be out in the far corner of the garden. There in the corner stood a marble grave, with a smaller older grave standing beside it, and all around them were white rose bushes.
The two men stood there silently and solemnly, before Vero took in a breath and said aloud, "Last night, I spoke with my mom in my dream."
"Is that even possible?" Romario asked with shock apparent in his voice. "…Do you think it was…her spirit?"
With this question, the pain in Vero's heart came flooding back as he remembered that fearful night four years ago. He was safely hidden in a small alcove in his parents' closet, but he heard everything. That night, his mom and dad were murdered. But by who? They didn't know. They couldn't find their bodies, but the huge pool of blood in the middle of the room was more than enough proof.
That's where the two males were currently; at his parents' grave. There were no bodies to bury, but they still erected a grave stone for the both of them. The other one was for his stillborn sister.
"It wasn't her spirit," Vero finally stated softly, as if to reassure himself. "She was actually there." – he turned to Romario – "I made a connection with a past version of her from nineteen years ago, before I was born. She told me what I needed to hear; that she and dad would always be with me."
He kneeled down, and touched the names that were etched into the marble with a bittersweet smile. Then his gaze moved down to the ground, were a small bouquet of China Roses were left for them.
As Vero felt their soft petals, Romario said, "Those must be from Antonio. I saw him come here before he left yesterday."
"Yes, I asked him to go to China to check some things out because we've gotten some alerts from a base there." The young Cavallone boss replied. "I was meaning to go, but I have somewhere else I'm planning on going."
"Already? You just graduated from school last year and became boss." Romario asked with slight surprise. "Where are you planning to go?"
"I'll be travelling to the Vongola base in Japan to further my training to become stronger." Vero answered after he stood up. He saw that Romario was going to offer to come along and continued, "I'll be going alone." – his right hand man backed down and he started to head back in to pack – "But first, I need to go pay a visit to the Varia base…"
Meanwhile, at the Vongola base underneath Nanimori, the right hand man entered his boss' room and informed him, "Juudaime, I've just received a message from Vero saying he's on his way…" He then trailed off uncertainly, as if he had something more to say.
His boss caught onto this, and smirking he stated, "But…?"
"He's…taking a side trip, Juudaime," the right hand man replied obediently. "To the Varia base."
"Of course. It is as expected," the boss stated, still smirking. "Let him take his time. We will welcome him when he arrives."
"Very well, Juudaime." The right hand man agreed, bowing before making his leave through the automated sliding doors….
"VOI!" Squalo shouted as he barged into the room Vero was waiting in.
He was still the same height, but his hair had grown out to his waist and he no longer had bangs. He was wearing the standard issue Varia uniform, which was a black coat belted at the waist with light yellow accents on the sides and the arms, the Varia patch on his right shoulder, and white faux fur around the collar. He also wore black trousers with yellow accents on the outside legs and black knee high boots. Attached to his left wrist was a long sword instead of a hand, and he wore his Varia rain ring on his other hand.
He continued to shout in his outdoor voice saying, "What are you doing here, you rotten brat?"
"That's cold, Uncle Squalo." Vero said in reply with a hurt expression as he stood up. "I come to pay you a visit and you just treat me like I'm an annoyance."
"That's because you are!" Squalo stated with anger before going a little wild as he continued. "And didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
"I guess that makes us even." Vero said casually with a grin.
This in turn caused Squalo to lose it even more, and he would've chased Vero out of the base, if it weren't for another three members of the Varia, who were popping their heads through the open door.
"Shi shi shi. Looks like Squalo's having a good time." One of them stated with a slightly creepy grin. He had feathery blond hair that stuck out a little on the ends and also wore a small silver tiara that tipped over the bangs that covered his face.
The next one to speak had his head covered with a huge round black frog like "hat", except for some of his bright teal bangs. He said in a slightly indifferent and bored tone, "Senpai, I don't think you want to get involved."
The third stepped into the room. His head was shaved, except for his Mohawk, which was dyed orange, and the neon green colored bangs that framed the right side of his face. His eyes were covered by a pair of glitzy red sunglasses. "Squalo," he scolded in a motherly tone. "Is that any way to treat your nephew?"
"VOI! We aren't even related Lussuria!" the long silver haired man shouted as he faced the one who scolded him. "You shouldn't even be here! It's my business, not yours, so leave!" – he noticed the other two peeking in – "Bel! Flan! You scum, in on this too!"
Squalo became even more infuriated, and started to chase them down the hall with his wild swinging sword. Once they were gone, Lussuria came closer to Vero.
"You know he may act this way, but he doesn't really mean it," he said before leaning in, as if to tell a secret. "To tell the truth, he's been behaving a little differently since your parents' deaths. I think he misses them as well."
"VOI! I do not, Lussuria you trash!" Squalo yelled at them from behind. "They were weaklings who were mushy to each other so don't go saying that I miss them."
He then slashed his sword to cut Lussuria, but missed because he dodged out of the way and left the room before Squalo could make chase. A moment later Squalo turned to Vero with an angry yet serious look on his face and said, "What are you still doing here? State your business and scram!"
"You fought my Uncle Nero a couple of years ago, right?" Vero asked, and Squalo narrowed his eyes in response. "I want you to teach me everything about swordsmanship."
"No way." Squalo said quickly, turning his back on the young boss.
"Alright then." Vero stated in response with a shrug.
The silver haired man turned to him with a shocked expression on his face and asked, "What?! You ask me for help and then turn around and let it go when I say no?"
"Yeah, I sort of saw it coming." Vero replied. "Might as well have tried though, right?"
"Heh. That's so like your father…" Squalo mumbled before raising his voice. "I'm not going to help you, but I'll at least tell you what happened, and I know someone who will help you with your sword skills."
"Yamamoto-san, right?" the young Cavallone boss said, catching the man by surprise. "I'm heading over to the Vongola base next, so I'll be seeing him there."
After Squalo had told Vero of his encounter with Nero and what to be wary of, Vero said his goodbyes and started to leave, but not before Squalo said one last thing as he was leaving.
"VOI! Don't get yourself killed over there, brat!" he shouted after the son of his old friends.
Vero turned, flashed a smile, and then casually waved before strolling out the door…
Me – "Aww, Squalo! You really do care!"
Squalo – "VOI! I DO NOT!" *goes chasing after me with his waving sword*
And there we go! First future chapter. In the next one, we'll meet most of the Vongola guardians all grown up (you'll see why most of them). As a forewarning, please don't bash me for any "incorrect" way that I might describe Tsuna to you. After all, his TYL version wasn't really shown and I'm going to describe him the way I want!
Anyway, chapters might be submitted a little slower, considering that I'm starting up on another fanfiction, but I'll do my best to put them up every week or so. Don't get mad if I don't!