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Principal Office, Mafia Academy, Italy, 5 Years Ago
"Ryoji Rokudo?"
Mismatched eyes turned to pin a stare on the middle-aged man standing in the doorway to the foyer. The man flinched under the gaze, but forced himself to calm down and remained compose. He needed to be strong and show the boy who was in charge here.
"Do you know how much trouble you have done? And how bad your position right now?"
Ryou didn't answer and merely continue to stare at the principal. At the stare given by Ryou, the principal found himself felt uncomfortable and escaped from making eye-to-eye contact with the blue haired boy by walking towards his desk. He cleared his throat and once again faced Ryou who never moved from his position.
"Do you know who is the student you have nearly killed? And for no reason at all? He is from one of many Families who are allied with Vongola. You could say that his Family is one of the strongest in Italy. Do you have any idea how much trouble that not only you, but our school's reputation, you have put?"
Ryou let out a mocking sigh. One of the strongest Families? Nonsense. Furthermore, allied with Vongola? Then that will make things much easier later. He'll realize who was actually in big trouble.
"Ryoji Rokudo-kun, are you listening?"
"Yes. Yes I am. And all the while I was listening to your rambling, I couldn't help but think that you're not suit for the position as high as principal. You deserves…much lower than that." Ryou said casually, clearly showing what he meant.
A twitch formed on the principal's face. "You maybe a talented student, but I do not accept such rudeness in my school. The school cannot protect you from the punishment you will receive from the Family, so I'm afraid that you have to leave before it's getting hectic here."
Ryou was unnerved by the 'threat'. In fact, it only amused him more. He couldn't hold it any longer and laughed, earning a confused look from the principal. This man really is a trash. A trash that deserves to die painfully. He was not different from that bastard who dared to hurt his sister.
"Kufufufu… I wonder about that, principal. You don't even know what Family I come from… I will not be the one who will be punished." Ryou stood up from the couch, giving the principal a mocking look, which angered the principal even more.
"What nonsense you're talking boy? You'll be dead." The principal growled.
"Very well, I will leave. However, let me make this clear. Without any reason at all? That bastard tried to assault my sister with his underlings. He was lucky that he was still alive while his underlings are dead by now. I'm starting to regret that I didn't kill him… As far as I concern, a trash like him deserves to die…"
Unmistakable sound of card whistling to the air came, and Ryou's card buried itself hilt-deep into the principal's head. He dropped to the floor, a puddle of blood coming from the wound on his head.
"…Just like you."
Ryou exited the room, closing the door behind him. He then paused, glancing at the person who had been waiting for him opposite of the office room.
"Are you angry? If you are, I don't care. I do not regret of what I did, Father." Ryou said to his father.
Mukuro chuckled before patting his youngest son. When Ryou looked at his face, it didn't show any anger or disappointment, but if showed a sense of proud.
"I'll personally visit that brat's Family and deliver the punishment. You've done well. Go rest for a few days with your sister."
Mukuro took his son's hand and they both walked as they talked of punishment that should be used so casually, as if it was an everyday occurrence. They ignored all the looks given by passerby who had heard the news about Ryou's attack and continued to talk and walk until they reached their house, their home, their only sanctuary. The moment they opened the door they are welcomed by a devoted wife and loving mother, an adorable daughter and sweet younger sister, and dependable son and protective brother.
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Apartment, Namimori Town, Japan
Ryou yawned, awoke from his not so pleasing dream. He looked at the clock and noticed it was already noon. Then it came into his mind that it was his turn to buy and cook for dinner today. He scolded himself. He was so busy with the preparation for the upcoming Namimori Middle School Festival, that he lost sight of his schedule. Picking the shopping list for dinner, he rushed to his room to change and pick his wallet.
Finally reaching his room, the blue-haired teen pushed open the door and stepped inside, darkness immediately settling over him like a blanket. Releasing an imperceptible sigh, he turned to the windows, pushing open one of the curtains so that the weak sunlight mostly shielded behind clouds could seep in.
Turning, he grabbed a black jacket from a hook and stalked from the room and his black wallet that was placed on the desk, before hurrying down several flights of stairs, running out from the apartment to the Shopping District.
Twenty minutes later, he was standing at the end of a street, stern face giving away none of the turmoil creating havoc in his heart. The dream had reminded him of a really hateful memory that he had preferred to never resurface again. He felt to punch something to fend out his frustration. The face of his sister crying flashed on his mind. He didn't want to see it. He didn't his sister to make that kind of face again. And anyone who dares to make her making that kind of face in any way…
"I'll make sure to deliver them a pain that will never disappear even until they dies…" Ryou unconsciously murmured to himself.
He tried to calm himself down and proceed to his destination before night came.
Bridge, Namimori Town
Another twenty minutes later and Ryou couldn't quite keep the irritation from showing on his face as he made his way to the shopping district. This was one of his bad habits. Once he remembered something unpleasant, he will stay in a very bad mood until the end of the day, and mostly it involved someone getting hurt mentally for becoming the target of his frustration. He began to wonder does he have mental problem.
A mewl stopped his track. He looked down from the bridge and saw a group of cats surrounding a certain blond haired girl that he knows too well.
Cats' loved ear massages. The cat sitting on Saki's lap lowered down even more, its eyes shutting close out of bliss. A deep purring sound started to emerge from his throat, sending vibrations up Saki's arms. The girl smiled. She then continued by rubbing the cat's tummy. The purring became louder as the white cat now stretched in delight on her lap.
"You seem to be having fun."
Lips thinning, Saki blinked before turning left, only for her shoe to slide out from under her, sending her crashing gracelessly to the ground as gravity dragged her downwards. Spluttering as she tried to right herself, and shaking the dirt off her clothes, she glanced towards the bridge and immediately recognize who it was.
"Ryou-senpai!"
Ryou jumped from the bridge and easily landed safely in front of Saki, keeping enough balance to prevent him from falling to nearby river.
"Seeing you with cats reminds me of my mother. She has twelve cats in the manor. She even nearly died trying to save one when she was young." He remembered all the cats in his manor in Italy. All of them were so fond of his mother and his sister, but were so…unfriendly towards him, his brother, and his father. Except of one certain black cat named Lily that was friendly and obedient to them all equally.
"Yeah. I once visited your manor. I still remembered all of her twelve cats. They were all so cute~" Saki said as she hugged the cat that was sitting on her lap, emphasizing her love for cats.
"By the way, are you going somewhere, Senpai?" Saki asked, placing the cat back to the ground.
"I'm going to buy ingredients for dinner." Ryou showed his shopping list.
"Milk, onion, carrot, potato, chicken… You're going to make cream stew?" Without her noticing, Saki was drooling at the thought of eating cream stew. She was getting hungry now.
"Want to come along?"
Ryou covered his mouth the moment the words came out. What was he saying? When he saw Saki making that kind of face, the words just suddenly left his mouth without him realizing. Now that he thought about it, lately, whenever Hide invited him on something, he mostly said yes without even he realizing. Could it be that this was a side effect of hanging out with Hide rubbing into him? This could be a trouble for himself later.
"Sure. I can buy some snacks too for after dinner. Let's go then, Senpai." Saki half-dragged Ryou to the street, after patting the cat one by one.
Ryou sighed to himself. He'll just suck it up and get over with it quickly.
"Oh, since we're going to the Shopping District, I heard there is a Japanese Sweet Festival currently being held there! Let's go there too, I heard the sweets are delicious! If we buy two special menus at the café where Mother and the others likes to visit, we can get a discount card for the entire festival."
Ryou's ears perked up at the word 'sweets'. Never mind about his earlier statement, he'll enjoy this the whole day. There's no way he'll miss the chance to eat Japanese sweets all he wants.
Café, Shopping District, Namimori Town
Five minutes later, the two reached their destination and, as Saki and Ryou stepped inside into quiet murmurs and soft laughter that blended to create a pleasant buzz, she wondered was it okay to hang out with Ryou? She never hanged out with Ryou without her brother or Arisa. This was the first time she was with the male Mist Guardian Candidate alone. Will things go awkward between them? Her brother doesn't seem awkward whenever he hangs out with Ryou. In fact, he seems enjoying it. She has to give it a try. After all, personally, she also wanted to get to know Ryou better.
"Let's sit here." The blue head told her, gesturing flippantly to a bare, wooden chair before dropping into the one across from it.
"Two Packet Cs please!" Saki watched a smirk grow on her current companion's face, feeling a thrum of wariness as she gingerly sat himself down on the offered chair. Perhaps this wasn't going to be as bad as she had thought.
"And put it on this young lady's tab."
Saki almost banged her head onto the table. Her eyes narrowed towards her upper classman for his rudeness. But as usual, and as she has expected, Ryou just smirked playfully.
"What?" He demanded. "True that I was the one who asked you to come, but you're the one who invited me to go to this festival, so it's your treat."
"…Fine, but for the sweets you have to pay yourself, Senpai." Saki sighed in defeat.
Eyes flickered up when two steaming mugs of coffee and four medium apple cheesecakes were placed on the table in front of them, the server casting them a critical eye before voicing brusquely, "Are you two on a date?"
Saki almost blurted out her coffee. Staring at the server blankly before shaking her head. Ryou on the other hand merely shook his head calmly.
"I see. It's too bad, I think both of you suit for each other. Oh well, sorry for the interruption, please enjoy the foods." The server bowed before going back to her own work.
"If Hide knows about this, he'll surely set on hunting me down." Ryou stated, remembering and knowing how similar Hide was to him regarding their sisters.
"You're probably right… In that case, we have to keep this a secret from him…" Saki said as she ate her cheesecakes.
Ryou stared at the girl from the corner of his eyes. This was the first time he was alone with Saki. He usually hanged out with her along with Hide or his sister. He never hanged out alone with her. He didn't really know her that well personally, mostly it was Hide who enlightened him about his story with his sister. Sometimes he cursed himself for letting Hide's influence rubbing him this much. Though, he was actually also curious what kind of person she is other than what Hide or others has told him. Arisa also seems fond of her.
"Are you sure you can finished those two cakes? Won't your stomach get full before you can even enjoy the sweets?" Ryou asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Don't worry. This won't be a problem for me. I can eat four cheesecakes if I want to." Saki said proudly. "You're also doesn't seem to have a problem with it Senpai." She noted, pointing at Ryou's cheesecakes that were already half-done. It was even only three minutes!
"I am a Rokudo. Sweets are crucial in my life." Ryou answered, indirectly telling her that all of his family have sweet tooth.
"I see…"
A silence.
Saki inwardly sweated. What should she say now? Talking about weather? Boring. Hobby? She had already heard all of them from her brother and Arisa. Family? Too personal. Love life? She highly doubted that he has one. What to do? What to do? What to do? Arrgghh! Great, she was having a headache now! For the first time in her life that she was this nervous! Why?! She could talk to him so casually when in school, but why not now?!
"Come on Saki, think of something! This silence is suffocating…!" As if on cue, something clicked her mind. She remembered. She always saw him and Arisa visiting Namimori Cemetery at noon whenever she was buying ingredients for dinner. Whose grave they were visiting? There are only two people that she knew who were buried there. First was her oldest brother, and the second one was…
"Umm… Ryou-senpai, if it's okay to ask, why you and Arisa always go to the cemetery? I always saw both of you going there at noon whenever I'm buying ingredients for dinner…" She flinched when Ryou stopped eating and stared at her. She wondered has she screwed it up.
"Eat, talk, joke, with death people."
"Do I know these death people?"
"You know two of them, but don't know the third one. Speaking of which, you also often visiting their graves. Although, unlike me, you're mostly alone, not going with your brother."
Saki smiled sadly, fiddling with her straw. "Because unlike Brother, I'm still lingering with the past. I still cannot let go…"
The scene of her oldest brother's body covered in blood flashed in her mind. How could she forget about it? She was there, yet she could only watched, unable to do anything to save her brother.
"In the end, I can only talk and stared at the tombstones until the time to go home."
"Do you ever just sit around and listen to the sounds? Like the cricket chirpings, or the rustling of leaves when the wind blows? Or do you ever just lie down and stare at the stars?"
"No. Because, sometimes, it was too painful…" Doing that only reminded her of that day again. Because, when she went to the garden with her brother, those are what they were exactly doing at that time.
"That's what we are doing whenever we go there other than talking with the dead."
This whole conversation struck Saki as strange, but she didn't press it. She was able to know something about her senpai and Mist Guardian Candidate, and that was a nice first step. Another silence in few minutes, and they have finished their cheesecakes, receiving the cards, and exited the café.
"Alright, now that we have the cards, let's eat sweets until we're stuffed!" Saki looked around the sweet shops at the district. She was so excited that she didn't know which one to start.
"Quit drooling and start eating already." Ryou flicked her forehead, his left arm already carrying bag of sweets that he has bought.
"Since when you bought all of them?!" Saki pointed at the plastic bag incredulously.
"Just hurry up and buy or else it'll sold out." He said as he ate an anmitsu.
Seeing the crowds, Saki quickly joined in. With what it seemed like light velocity speed, Saki visited and bought each sweet in each shop. From afar, Ryou was watching with his brow raised. His father was also that way whenever there's chocolate-related event. Once, he even used his illusion so he could enjoy the chocolates alone.
After around eight minutes, Saki came out from the crowds and fell on ground out of exhaustion. Her usual beautiful long hair was messed up almost like a broomstick, there were some bruises on her legs and arms, her cloth was dirty because of dust, and so does her face. It was as if she just came back from a battlefield.
"You okay?" Ryou poked the blond girl with nearby stick he picked.
"What does it looks like to you?" Saki said before standing up, tidying herself in the process. "I really cannot miss to taste these sweets. These Purin Daifuku, Kuri Dango, Sakura Mochi, they all came from a famous brand!"
"You really know much about this, huh." Ryou commented. Both were taking a seat in nearby bench as they enjoying their sweets.
"Yup! I want to become Vongola Boss, but I also want to open my own sweet shop! Once I graduated high school, I'll enter a cooking school and later built my own shop!" Saki squealed as she tasted her manju.
"…I'll be that you and the others are excited about going off to college or finding jobs." Ryou remarked.
"I'm sure you and Arisa will get into good college if you want to. Both of you are the two best students (Arisa is the first, while Ryou is second) in the whole school after all. Though, looking at you, you must be prefer to be a full time mafia in the later future."
"If I am still alive in the future…" He said matter-of-factly.
Saki was taken aback by the answer. She then noticed that Ryou has placed his hand on his chest. That's right. His heart disease. Even with illusions, there's no guarantee that he'll live that long. And with the current situation, a slightest mistake, he could die soon. Every human could die any time soon, including her, but uncertain. But Ryou, it was certain that his life won't last long for next few years. While everyone happily talked about their futures, Ryou could only think what he should do for the remainder of his life.
"…Oh well, I don't mind about it that much. Though, I admit that sometimes I envy people like you. Sometimes it's better to remain ignorant. That way, you can dream all you want without having to worry of dying the next day or next year."
"Is it…really alright to give up just like that?"
Ryou stopped whatever he was doing and turned to face the blond girl with her eyes telling him that she disagreed with him.
"You don't have a will to live longer any more? You given up just like that? I understand that you think it's inevitable, but is it really okay to give up just like that? Although you have serious disease, you never forget how it feels to be happy. Given up just like that, aren't you just being selfish?"
Saki didn't know what she was even talking anymore. The words just came out from her mouth, but strangely, she didn't even seem to regret saying each word. She didn't know whether what she was saying was true or not, right or wrong, but one thing for sure. The thought of Ryou tried to kill himself like what Arisa told her, the thought of Ryou dying, leaving his family, Arisa, her brother, to grieve for him… She didn't like it in slightest bit.
"Instead of giving up, why don't you try to find the cure so that you can dream of future and reach that future? That way you won't leave anyone behind."
Death might be terrifying thing, but losing someone precious is more painful than the death itself.
"What about Arisa? What about Brother? Have you ever considered how they will feel if you die? Can't you be more optimistic? Trying harder to find the cure and live longer, not only for yourself, but also for people who are important you, don't you have many things that you want to do with them? For them?"
The scene of her oldest brother killed and died right in front of her flashed into her mind made her didn't like the thought even more. That was the last straw.
Saki felt her surrounding close in on her, suffocating her and cutting off her air supply. Her surrounding swam before her eyes. It was suddenly so hard to breathe. Saki grabbed at her chest and coughed violently into her hand.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Sensing the pain from the girl in front of him, Ryou held Saki's shoulders with both of his hand to support her.
"Don't leave…don't leave…"
And with those words, Saki slumped unconscious into the illusionist's arms. Ryou sighed before lifting the girl into his arms.
"You're just like your brother. You're really are siblings…"
Takashi's Room, Yamamoto Residence, Shopping District, Namimori Town, Half an Hour Later
With Saki suddenly collapsed, instead of taking her to a hospital or her house, he decided to take her to the nearest residence that he knew and will be quick to examine her. And thus, he took her to Take-Sushi where Takashi lives. Seeing Saki unconscious on her back, Takashi wasted no time to call his grandfather to check on her.
Placing her on Takashi's room, Tsuyoshi examined Saki as Ryou told her what happened, of course, not including the conversation that they had and just simply told him of Saki's behavior before she suddenly collapsed. Although Tsuyoshi might be not an expert of medical support, he knows the basics and those are enough to conclude what happened to her.
"She has gone into shock." Tsuyoshi Yamamoto announced.
"A shock?" Takashi looked at Saki worriedly.
"She's probably had this condition for such a long time, but it was most likely provoked by outside stress factor or a very strong trauma." Tsuyoshi explained as he wiped a sweat from Saki's face.
Hearing the word 'trauma', it didn't take a minute for Ryou to understand what it means. The cause of her collapse was none other than a trauma. His Boss Candidate's trauma that caused her to be in such a state…
"I'll leave her to you. I have to go back now Arisa is waiting for me. Don't forget to call Hide, Takashi." Ryou excused himself, nodding at Takashi who wordlessly saying to leave everything to him. He took once last glance at the unconscious form of the blond girl before he closed the wooden door.
Takashi sat by the bed and watched as Saki's eyes slowly fluttered open. "How are you feeling, Saki?" He asked.
"Takashi-san? I'm feeling okay now. Where am I? And where is Ryou-senpai?" Saki replied softly.
"This is my room. Ryou brought you here, but he already went home just a while ago. Grandpa said that you collapsed because of a stress or a trauma." Takashi patted her head, trying to make her feel better when he saw her started to feel pain.
"Thank you Takashi-san. I'm okay now." Saki smiled gratefully.
"Hide will pick you up soon. I'll go get some water for you. Until then, go get more rest."
"Okay." Saki waved weakly as the older teen left the room, leaving Saki to herself. Saki stared at the ceiling as tears formed and fell from her eyes. The memory of that night came back again. The memory of her oldest brother. Her biggest sadness and regret to this day.
However, when she dreamt about it, she remembered. It was only a glimpse, but she was sure. The person who killed her brother, other than the eyes, she now remembered another thing. On the right side of the killer's neck there was a tattoo. The color could be black or brown, but she was sure that the words of the tattoo were…
"Dhuos…01…?"
Ryou's Room, Apartment, Namimori Town
It was very quiet and dark in Ryou's room. The only light within the room was the moonlight that came from the opened window of the room.
Ryou tossed and turned in his bed and would cough periodically. The pain caused by his sudden relapse and his constant agonizing over what things he should have or shouldn't have done; have made it harder and harder for him to get a good night's rest. Constantly switching from being burning hot or freezing cold and the nightmares, both new and old, have a strong hold on his psyche.
"Instead of giving up, why don't you try to find the cure so that you can dream of future and reach that future? That way you won't leave anyone behind."
Ryou stared at the photograph on his desk. The photograph of him with his family. With every single one of them. His mother was carrying Arisa in her arms. His father was holding his hand with his left hand while the other one was holding his mother's hand. His older brother was standing next to his mother with his arms crossed.
"Don't you have many things that you want to do with them? For them?"
Of course there are still many things he wanted to do. He never wanted to be apart from his family. He wanted to remain by their side as times passed. Imagining him getting married and have children, playing with his parents and siblings at their manor. He wanted to experience all that, even if it's only once. Also, he wanted to be by their side, always protecting them.
Ryou tried to reach for the photograph, stretching his arm to reach it. However, another coughing fit attacked his nerve and he felt his vision blurry. Before he knew it, he passed out, his left arm fell limply, dangling on his bed.
Then one of the windows slid up just a bare inch and in poured the creeping mist; slinking soundlessly into the room. Its tendrils stretched to encroach around Ryou's bed, causing its occupant to unconsciously shiver at its chilling touch. A thick column of mist swirled beside him to slowly reveal the form of a purple haired man with unique fruit-shaped hair. He was wearing black coat with black jeans and black shirt beneath it. He sat with one leg crossed over the other and his hands in his lap, and quietly watched the sleeping young man for a couple of minutes.
He noted the discomfort distorting his features and moved to lightly place a hand over his forehead. He focused his mist to construct pleasant images into his mind's eye until his face finally relaxed. He moved to slowly ruffle his hair.
He fixed Ryou's position on the bed to make him more comfortable. He pulled Ryou's blanket higher up on his shoulders before slipping back out into the dark night. Ryou snuggled deeper into the warmth of his bed, filled with a calming peace that left a small smile on his face. Before disappearing completely, he left a few parting words as he placed the family photograph beside Ryou.
"I'll never leave both of you, not once. I'll always remain by your side, even if you don't realize it. Until the time comes, stay strong, my beloved younger brother."
