Author's Note:

This particular arc is coming to an end. I know, I know, hardly any explanation is given for the turn of events. Well, I can assure you that it would be explained in the future, though. Sit back and enjoy, as the year comes to an end...

Chapter 36: A Lost Sword.

"Whoa!" I woke up screaming, bouncing up from my bed. Blinking my eyes, I see Kiera and Dino looking surprised. I think it was a dream, I saw the Vindice impaling me with dozens of chains and spike, ripping me apart. I shudder at the thought. As the edge of my vision, I think I saw a flash of light before the words disappeared from my pendant."Uh.. Hi?" I called out to the both of them, who was standing by my bed, stunned.

The resulting action was Kiera giving me a slap, before she realized how wounded I was. Dino stood there smiling, I think he's just glad I was okay.

"Well, he'll be fine, assuming he doesn't do anything crazy anytime soon..." Vito had just came in, at Kiera's behest, and finished with his check-up on my body. "... hmm, his healing seems to be kicking in faster than I expected.. Interesting.." He whispered to himself in a curious tone. I suddenly got a feeling that he wants to experiment on me, I really hope it's just a feeling. Looking around, I was glad to see the bland, white interior of my room, as empty as it was. Kiera made her way to my side, taking a seat beside me. I don't know why, but it was difficult to move, I find myself struggling just to sit up in my bed.

"Sigh.. I let my eyes off you for one day, and you got into a fight with the Vindice!" She reprimanded me as I turn to look at her. Though she tried to keep herself collected, I could see a small smile on her face, as well as how difficult it was for her to suppress it. It was fun to watch, actually. I had to try hard to push back the urge to tease Kiera as she continued on.

"So... You're feeling all right now?" Kiera whispered in a hush tone, trying to look away as she did. I couldn't help but give a smile in return, and a pat on her head, which she swatted away moments later, blushing.

"Hahahaha! You guys are alot closer than I thought!" Dino suddenly zip into the scene with a smile. His words made both of us look away from each other, red all over. The Bucking Bronco took a seat beside me as well, looking really cheerful as he watched the two of us. "Well, the Boss of the Zanna Famiglia can't die today, I came here to make sure of that." He explained with a big, warm smile on his face. "You're okay in my books, and you'll be needed, very soon.." He said those final words before casually strolling out of the room. If I didn't see him fight for myself, I would've never, ever believed he's Mafia.

"Um.. Lord Amato? There's also the issue concerning the other boy that was brought in.. I believe his name is Johann Jacapo?" Kiera begin talking after she calmed down a bit. The name popped into my mind, and for a while it was nothing out of the ordinary. The jock at school, all the girls crying out for him as he walks by, him spending time with Gina... Then the recent events emerged.

"Johann!"

As soon as I heard where he was now, I jumped out of bed despite my stiff, heavy body. Each of my steps brought cracking sounds that send shivers down my spine as I traversed through the halls of my mansion. A number of members offered to help me out as I walked, but I respectfully declined. I'm sure they have more than enough things on their hands. "Huff.. Puff.." It wasn't long before I started panting, as my hands slid across the cold, white walls, supporting my body.

The bright, afternoon sun, its rays so bright, pierced into my eyes, as I stepped into the back garden. As my vision returned, I see a familiar figure standing a few steps away, staring up to the sky as well. His blond hair scattered above his eyes, and flew with the wind. His eyes looked calm, simmered. He gazes to the sky with a calm, gentle expression, almost like he was at peace. Somehow, he feels like a different person.

"Um... Johann Jacapo? Knight of Lazarus?" I called out to him, with memory slowly coming back to me. I don't know what to say, or what to ask, even though questions flooded my mind.

"Is that who I am?" He responded with a smile, eyes still fixed on the big, blue sky.

"Wh- what do you mean?" I can't help but ask after hearing his reply. His unchanged expression made it hard to think he was pulling my leg or anything. And, somehow, I didn't want to believe what first came to my mind.

"I.. don't remember anything.." He casually gave out, as if he was peacefully content and satisfied just following the clouds. I didn't know what to say, although I understood his words completely. Whether it was urge or curiosity, my eyes followed his and stared to the clouds. Johann's memory's gone? The question brought forth more, but I can't help but feel like he's gonna be fine. His eyes showed a degree of awareness, like he already went through all of this.

... Does this mean he's forgotten everything? No way... No one can lose their memory completely! I mean.. Is that even possible? Where will he go now? What will he do? The questions surfacing only made me more nervous and guilty. I myself didn't understand why I felt so concerned and worried for Johann.

"..So, you don't remember anything? Anything at all?" I just needed a decisive answer. I look on with curious eyes, hoping for the answer I want.

Johann shifted his eyes slowly, his face glancing at me for a second, before turning back, seemingly relieved. "It's.. fuzzy.. I see images, faces, but nothing I could make sense of.." He replied, still as calm as before, with no hint of confusion or despair.

"Th-then what will you do now!" I can't help but yell out in protest, before clamming right up. It felt weird, I'm more concerned about his well-being way more than he himself is.

"I don't know.." He gave back casually, beaming me a smile. He looked really peaceful. Digging through his bag, he presented me a familiar object. A black, leather cover bounded stained, or rather aged yellowish pages, as thick as the width of my palm. It's withered edges and dulled color gives off an ancient feel, as if the object has existed way past its time. It gave me a rather odd feeling of there being knowledge written inside, particularly those that should not be known. It was the same tome the Vindice was so desperately after. "Maybe this'll tell me more about my past.." He wondered out loud, curious eyes looking to stare beyond its cover.

"A leaning tower?" Suddenly Johann just gave out as he stared at the tome, his tone telling me it was another of his images in the mind.

Looking down to the green, swaying grass, I ask something I never thought to ask. "How about you stay here.. at least.. until you remember something...?" I offered him a place to stay. He's gonna have to continue school too, right? I know I disliked him before, but maybe that was just jealousy on my part, he's certainly been kind enough to me all this while. Or was that a ploy as a Knight? No matter, I know that whomever he was before, whatever he was doing, he's not the same guy anymore. His eyes told me that much.

"I don't think that's such a great idea, Boss." Dante's voice cut into our conversation from above. Looking up, I saw him standing on the rooftops, presumably scanning the area from the high point above. In one swift second, he hopped off the tiles of the roof and landed beside me. His stood with his rifle to his side, his lithe figure something I haven't seen in a while. "If you let him stay here, he might become a target..." Dante made no attempt to sugar-coat anything, and I don't expect him to. He's right, I'm Boss, I'm a target. This whole mansion is. Still, I don't want him wandering the world without a purpose. That's just.. so sad..

I look on to Johann for his reply, my eyes now focused onto his. I'm standing by my declaration, and I hope he realizes that. One look at my face, and he gave out a chuckle, looking down to the ground.

Kiera came out through the doors as well, calm and poise as she is, but upon seeing Johann, she stepped back as if she understood what was happening immediately."So you're Mafia?" He called out to me after a while of silence, looking away from me. "You're.. really not what I expected.." He told me slowly, walking towards me. The statement drew a smirk on Dante's face, and a sigh from Kiera's.

"Uh.. so what do ya say...?" I ask out once more, stretching out my hand as Johann got in front of me.

Shutting his eyes for a moment, he seemed to immerse himself with thought, before rushing to grab my hand. "All right!" He gave his reply with a smile, shocking me with the amount of trust he's willing to place in me. "Um...?" He asks awkwardly, before I realized I had to introduce myself again.

"My name's Amato Zanna, Boss of the Zanna Famiglia." I declared with as much formality as I can.

"You're a very interesting guy, Amato Zanna." Johann exclaimed, giving me a friendly slap on my back. He certainly looks happy because of the decision.

"Hm..You said it." Dante replied to Johann's words as the smirk remained on his face, before walking off back into the mansion.

"Yes! All right, time for a celebration, guys!" I suddenly yelled out, all cheerful and excited. Bouncing around, I felt happy and relieved all at the same time. With the wind blowing, it felt like the perfect day for a celebration. Kiera, Johann and Dante only looked at me with a surprised and confused look on their face. "Hey, c'mon! I fought against the Vindice, and lived!" I declared, boasting what I accomplished as if it was the greatest thing in the world. In my mind back then, it probably was. "Which other Boss in the world can say that!" I called out to their shaking heads and wry smirks, walking back into the house smiling and cheering.

Elsewhere, atop the rows and rows of tiles and rooftops, at a high point overlooking, a pair of masked ladies, fashionably dressed but skillfully blending into the background, looks on as I walked back into the mansion. Their pink hair flew with the wind, marking them out amongst the populace. Not making a sound, the Cervello kept their watch. "Interesting..." One of them spoke out, the tone almost mechanical. The two of them dodged back to the shadows as Dante flicked his head, almost catching sight of the pair. As he returned to the mansion, the two slid back out. "He survives, even when faced with the hands of justice, the law of the Mafia. His role is secured." Their voices came out in perfect synchronisation, their tone perfectly blended with each other.

"For everything that is about to occur, conflict and danger will arise at the other side. Just as there is two side to a coin, or that light cannot exist without shadow, a change is coming, and challenges will present themselves as the consequence of change. Unknown and unseen to the world, He will have to play his role." The two of them recited in unison, their voice lifeless, the words eerily resembling a prophecy of sorts. "The role of Savior, not just to his Famiglia, or to the City of Venice..."

"But also.." The two of them stopped, as if afraid or unsure of themselves. "The Savior of the Future." With those final words, the two disappeared in a flash of pink hair, light and shadow...

Oh yeah! The end of this Arc as well as an ominous forewarning of the future! Did it surprise you that the Cervello had kept their watch? Just a few more chapters before the new year. Watch out, change is coming!