Backyard, Namimori-Middle School
A deep voice that followed by murderous intent that sent shivers throughout Vongola side breaking the ruckus into silence. A gust of wind interrupted their visions. Once the wind stopped and they reopened their eyes, four more people appeared on the top of old school warehouse in front of their eyes.
The moment they saw the man with slicked black hair and a stern face with noticeable cheekbone wearing long black jacket with Disscordo Famiglia emblem on its pocket, Hide, Saki, and the others knew that he was the most formidable amongst the enemies and they doubt they could beat him with their current power.
"Pleasure to meet you all. I am Abele, the boss of Disscordo Family." Abele smiled and greeted politely at them. "Now, I officially challenge you into a battle that would end this long-time war."
The Vongola candidates gasped hearing the declaration from the Disscordo Boss. None of them move a muscle.
"He's the boss?" Haji shouted. "And not to mention…" Haji turned his glare to Volvo and Azarel who had dropped their disguise. "Sonohara and Saeki…so both of you are one of them. I already suspicious of both of you but I never thought-"
"You actually only suspicious of me since I had flirted with Kareha-chan, right?" Volvo teased.
Haji shuddered and immediately spat out a retort. "Grr…shut up you…you womanizer brat!" Haji shot back.
"Don't call me brat you idiotic red head!" Volvo countered immediately as his sensitiveness being pressed because of the word "brat" as same as "kid". Volvo ready to spat out another insult but Yakumo paralyzed him before he could do so. "What are you doing Azzo?"
Yakumo only pointed his thumb at his boss. Abele smiled at him that Volvo translated as the order to shut his mouth and Volvo did so.
"First of all, before I explain what I meant, why don't you come out, the strongest Arcobaleno, Reborn." Abele looked at bushes.
"Sharp aren't you?" Reborn revealed himself from the bushes. "Now would you explain the meaning of this second war declaration? What are you scheming?" Reborn questioned.
"I only want to end this war in order to achieve our goal, nothing more and nothing less." Abele said calmly.
"That's why I thought I should give you some hint that would be a benefit for both my Family and yours."
"Hint?" Takashi uttered.
"Yes, a hint. We have another main base that stationed here, in Namimori Town. You could say that this base is as same as our main HQ in Italy. This base holds our wide-ranging industrial activity, including the production of ordnance, military equipment, and other materials and researches. It's the center of our Family's military significance, which means it's a very vital place for us if it were destroyed."
"It's quite similar with Millefiore Family's main bases in the future." Reborn murmured.
"But we won't just give the location to you. Find it yourself. We currently reside there so if you want to finish this battle, we will be waiting there." Lottie informed.
"So, how about it? Vongola Candidates…" Abele grinned at Hide and Saki and then threw a piece of paper in front of them.
Hide and Saki switched glances as they're deep in thought. Their minds were distrustful of the Disscordo Boss, but their intuitions said otherwise. Both looked conflicted, eyes darting from their friends to the Disscordo Boss. As much as they didn't want to take a huge risk, this might be the only chance for them to end the war. Also, this might be better than waiting for being ambushed by the enemies. Finally, after weighing all of their possible outcomes, Hide picked the paper, wordlessly accepting their challenge.
"Hide, Saki, we cannot trust them! It could be a trap!" Haji said, looking at the Disscordo side with suspicion and doubt.
"For you to know, I never tell lie." Abele answered. "Whether you believe it or not, it's up to you. Well then, we shall be waiting for you."
Azarel covered themselves with his Mist Flames as their bodies slowly dissolved into Mist and disappeared from the backyard.
"Wait a minute!" Hide jumped forward, straight towards the Disscordo Boss.
When his hand was only a few meters from the Disscordo Boss, he was stopped by a hand that was grasping his wrist. The grasp was neither weak nor painful, but Hide, for reasons he couldn't understand, couldn't move away from the grasp.
If Hide had to describe the man in front of him with one word, it would be… deadly. The Disscordo Boss was stunning to say the least, and the frigid killer aura that hung around him could compare perfectly to that of any seasoned assassin's. But it was not the man's demeanor that made Hide pause, nor was it the slender face, or the grin, staring amusedly back at him that made the Vongola candidate wary.
It was the eyes.
The mismatched eyes that stared back at him, a gleaming crimson red, seemed to penetrate through the teen, stripping away any falsities the brunet might be trying to hide. Biting his own lips, Hide forced himself to move backwards before striking again.
"Goju-Ryu, Kaishugata: Seiunchin!"
Hide spin his body, coating body with his flames. He strikes Abele with his elbow, and as he had expected, the black haired man easily caught his elbow without any problem. Already expecting this, Hide quickly lifted his arm, delivering a strike with his back fist that hit Abele's face.
"Impressive. That's a kaishu kata of Goju-Ryu karate, right?" Abele commented, not budging a bit from Hide's attack.
"What?!" Hide stared in disbelief at Abele. He punched him with all his might, and Abele merely laughing at it?
"Seiunchin is a unique kata because only hand techniques are used. Seiunchin uses shiko dachi and incorporates strikes such as the back fist and elbow." Abele continued while caressing his bruising cheek, the way he caress it was like the way people stroke a mosquito bite.
Before Hide had a chance to react further, he received a shockwave that roughly slammed him onto the ground. Hide held his stomach as he glared at the one who slammed him, who was none other than the so-called right-hand man of the Disscordo Boss and its Cloud Guardian, Neo Kohrak.
"Safe that glare for our later battle." Neo replied.
"Hold on a second!" Fuuhaku shouted, attempting to halt them.
Azarel gave the Foundation leader a smile. "There are still times to hunt me down, Fuuhaku. I will wait for the day we fight again."
And the Disscordo Family disappeared from their view along with the mist, leaving the stunned Vongola Family.
"Brother!" Saki immediately fled to her brother's side, placing her hands tenderly on the spot he was just struck.
"It's alright. I'm fine, Saki." The boy whispered reassuringly back.
Hide must cover his mouth and hold his breathe to prevent himself from throwing up. The shockwave was so strong that it felt like everything inside his stomach was blowing up.
"Let's go to the infirmary. You're not looking good. Fuuhaku-san and Shinogu-san too!" Saki suggested while helping her brother to stand up.
"No, let's all go to our house. I'm sorry to ruin your school festival, but with this you know that we can't be so relaxed."
A Few Hours Later, Hibari Residence, Namimori Town
Fuuhaku sat on the couch with his mother and two Vongola Decimo Guardians stood across. He presented the paper that given by Abele to Saki.
The letter was written in Italian, yet when they translated it, it's a whole mess and has no meaning whatsoever that led them to the location of the base's whereabouts in any way.
"What the heck is this? Is this some kind of code of the location of their base or they just making fun of us?" Gokudera questioned.
"Its either seems so. But I cannot understand it to the extreme." Ryohei rubbed his chin all the while he looked at the letter.
"Why only the first and the last words written properly and understandable?" Ryohei pointed at the last words at the end of the letter.
寺院 =5, Jia Ji da scimmia
"But even though it understandable it doesn't make any sense. I mean scimmia? Monkey? What does that mean? This word too, why it's the only word to be written in Japanese with equals sign?" Gokudera started to get a headache from thinking about the code.
"This Kanji has many meanings...but what does this 5 means?" Akihisa thought.
Fuuhaku took the paper back into his pocket. "I'll try to find out the meaning about it with the help of my subordinates. This is the only clue we have at the moment."
"Tell Shino to stay at home for tonight because I intend to clear this code at school." Fuuhaku asked his mother. Akihisa nodded and went to restroom so she could hear clearer since the sounds of trains coming were noisy and interrupted the conversation.
"We have to call Yamamoto and everyone in Italy too." Ryohei already clicked Yamamoto's phone numbers as he walked to restroom like Akihisa to get clearer hearings with Gokudera who called Hibari in Italy followed.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the room, Hide and Shinogu had their bodies checked, and fortunately, didn't find anything fatal, though Hide was given a medicine to ease his stomachache after he rushed to the rest room and threw up once they arrived at the house.
"Buddy, you should've just let it all out instead of holding it up. No one would blame you." Haji patted his best friend's back when the latter showed a sign of wanting to throw up again.
"Ugh… I think my organs are in a mess…" Hide rubbed his stomach.
"Hey, guys…" Kareha called out, earning everyone's attention. Kareha opened her mouth but closed it again, hesitating to say what she wanted to say. But she finally spoke,
"Do you really think we can win…against that Abele…?"
"Being pessimistic aren't we?" Ryou quickly commented at the question.
"I-I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but you should've realized just by looking at him! You should've realized…that with our current power, our chance of defeating him…is slim…" Kareha said hesitantly, the words were almost stuck in her throat.
Everyone frowned. As much as they hated to admit it, what Kareha said was right. The difference in their strength is immense. Even if they didn't fight him themselves, they knew that the man is formidable opponent just by watching the brief clash between Hide and him. Hide, who had experienced himself beforehand, understand it better than any of them. What is it that is necessary for them to surpass him and his Guardians? What do they need to do aside from training hard?
But that was not currently bothering Hide at the moment. Hide's mind was not full of how strong Abele is or what should he do to defeat him, but rather full of who he actually was.
Sinking down on one of the chairs in the room, Hide ran a hand through his hair, frustration pounding at his head. His mind cast back to he Disscordo Boss and a flash of frigid rage rushed through him.
Abele.
The name meant nothing to him. Neither did the black hair or angular face or crimson eyes.
But the way he talked and his gestures,
"Why do I feel that he is familiar…like we've met before…?"
Prisoner Quarter, Disscordo HQ, Italy
In almost pitch-black room, a man who looked to be in his late twenties with messy dark brown hair and sharp eyes the color of spring grass was sleeping soundly. He was wearing a casual pair of jeans, a simple, slightly worn, white shirt and a jacket thrown over it as if the piece of clothing had only been a last minute thought.
Sound of knocks assaulted his ears, urging him to wake up. Yawning, he turned towards the wall as he listened carefully to the knocks from the room next to him.
(._) (._...) (…) (…) (..) (_ _ _)= Alessio!
Mismatched eyes turned to pin a stare on the wall beside his bed. Alessio rose, actions smooth as he moved to the table near him to read manual of morse code. Finally reaching his manual book, the brown-haired man knock back to the occupant of the room beside him.
(…) (_ _ _) (_ _.) (._) (_ .) (._) (._ _) (..) (_._..) (_._..) (._) (._.) (._.) (..) (…_.) (…) (_ _ _) (_ _ _) (_.) = Someone will arrive soon.
Several seconds later, Rei gave a quick reply.
(_ _ _) (_._) (._) (_._ _) (._..) (._) (_).(_.) = Okay, later then.
Releasing an imperceptible sigh, he turned to the windows, pushing open one of the curtains so that the weak sunlight mostly shielded behind winter clouds could seep in. Dropping into a nearby chair, the movement graceful even if it's in an imprisonment room.
As if on cue of what he told Rei before, someone enter the room. Mismatched eyes turned to pin a stare on the middle-aged man standing in the doorway to the foyer, carrying a cushion that balanced a phone on top of it. The man flinched under the gaze, hastily bowing to avoid the piercing gaze.
"A call from Raul-sama…sir…" The man said, voice trembling under Alessio's gaze.
Wordlessly, Alessio picked the phone. His eyes narrowed as he heard the voice from the other line of the phone speaking so familiarly at him.
"Hey! How are ya, Alessio Felix?"
Alessio snorted. He replied calmly yet bitterly. "What do you want with little o'l me, Disscordo Rain Guardian? I don't remember you have any time to waste on a mere prisoner like me."
"What's with that voice? I called you because the Boss told me to tell you good news and bad news."
"You mean a good news for you and your Famiglia and a bad news for me? If that's the case then I'll end the call." Alessio tepped his right foot impatiently, wanting no more than ending the conversation with his enemy.
"Hey, if you don't listen, both of us will be in trouble. The Boss might move you to another room faraway from your friend."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No. It's merely a warning. Anyway, the good news is, our seven years war will soon be over within several weeks. The bad news is, we will be the one to emerge victorious in the end. That's what the Boss said."
Now Alessio wanted nothing more but to break the phone into pieces. His hand already gripped the phone tightly and he has decided to throw the phone once he ended the conversation.
"Figures. Though, you're very wrong on one thing, and tell my message to your Boss."
"What is it?"
"Prepare for one ticket to hell once the battle start."
And with that, Alessio threw the phone to the wall, breaking it to pieces as he has promised himself to. The Disscordo subordinate who has delivered the phone rushed to gather the pieces and immediately retreated from the room once Alessio gave him a murderous glare.
Once the man was gone, Alessio lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling with annoyance. He really wanted to get out of here! He was surprised himself that he hadn't lost his mind even after being imprisoned within the enemy's territory for almost six years. Perhaps because of his intense hatred and desire for revenge against those who had murdered his friends? Or was it because of the thought that Rei is also with him despite being in separate room.
"Nah, it doesn't matter anymore… It's not like me…thinking so hard like this…" He muttered to himself.
He knew that there are people who wonder about him when he said this. They looked at him strangely as if trying to fathom what could have happened back then, though he seldom bothered to explain. Because didn't feel that he has to unless it's on his terms, and that would take more time than most people are willing to give him. His story can't be summed up in two or three sentences; it can't be packaged into something neat and simple that people would immediately understand.
His story in some ways is their story because it was something that all of them lived through.
It was him, however, who was closest to it. He is seventeen years old now, but even now, he could remember everything from that year, down to the smallest details. He relived that year often in his mind, bringing it back to life, and he realized that when he did, he always feel a strange combination of sadness and joy. There were moments when he wished he could go back in time and take all the sadness away, but he had the feeling that the joy would be gone as well.
He glanced around. The sky was overcast and gray. Spider lilies bloomed beside the cold river outside. The temperature is cold, though he didn't mind about it. It always gave him nostalgic feelings that warmed his heart despite the coldness that he felt on his skin. With a sigh, he felt it coming back to him. He closed his eyes and the years began to move in reverse, slowly ticking backward, like the hands of a clock rotating in wrong direction.
As if through someone else's eyes, he watched himself reverted younger; he saw his hair and his height shortened. He opened his eyes and paused. He was sitting on a swing, and when he stared at a paintbrush in his hand, he knew exactly who he is.
XoXoXoXoX
12 Years Ago, Under Cardè Bridge, Piedmont, Italy
A 15 years old Alessio Felix, wearing black coat with white shirt underneath, darkish brown gloves, and black boots, stood silently in front of the wall under the bridge. His grass spring eyes shifted to the wall as he finished coloring the half part of his graffiti. He looked at the graffiti that he made, and he found himself satisfied and proud.
His masterpiece is almost finished.
"That graffiti is so cool."
Alessio jerked back before reaching to his knife on his waist and pointed it towards the person behind him. The moment he suddenly pointed his knife towards him, the person stumbled back out of shock. The shock caused him to lose his footing and he fell on the ground.
Alessio studied the person in front of him. From his small stature, Alessio could tell that he was around his age, only several months younger him. He has unusual spiky brown hair and golden eyes, wearing white sweater and pair of green mittens.
"W-what's wrong with you? I only complimented your work!" The stranger said.
"You snuck behind someone without being noticed, who wouldn't be cautious? Who are you anyway? One of the gangsters around here?" Alessio asked, walking closer to the brunet, knife still pointing at him.
"Rude! Does this face look like a gangster to you?" The stranger showed him his best imitation of what people usually called the puppy-dog-face. Then again, even without that face, there's no way someone this…feeble could be a gangster.
"I don't know what you're actually thinking, but my intuition screamed at me that you're thinking something rude about me." The stranger said, slowly standing up.
Alessio removed his knife. "Whatever. You…your accent is different, are you a foreigner?"
The stranger nodded. "Yup! I'm originally from Japan. I'm on vacation with my friends."
"Now that you know, are you going to report it? This is a public place after all, even if it's under the bridge."
The stranger blinked twice before smiling brightly at him. "Nope! I just happened to passing by. Besides, this is very beautiful! It'll be a waste to be erased so soon. You'll become a great artist one day!"
"It's just a hobby. Nothing more than that." Alessio started packing his painting tools. It's almost noon. He must go back home to prepare dinner.
"Hey, it's incomplete, are you going to finish it tomorrow?" The stranger called him out, halting him from leaving.
"If tomorrow no one erased it, then I'll continue-"
To his surprise, the stranger suddenly grasp his hand in his and staring determinedly at him.
"Don't worry! I'll make sure it won't be erased, so tomorrow come back here and finish it! I want to see it complete! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please-"
Alessio used his other hand to cover the brunet's mouth until he stopped. Once he did, he sighed as he removed his hands from the stranger. "Fine! Fine! Geez…You're so pushy… I bet anyone around you having trouble because of it."
The stranger only scratched his head, embarrassed. "Aww…it was really nothing."
"That's not a compliment!" Alessio interjected firmly.
XoXoXoXoX
Alessio chuckled before ending his reminiscing. He sat up and turned to the wall, continuing the communication with his friend that was left out a while ago.
Dining Room, Disscordo HQ, Japan
Raul placed back the phone on the table before facing his Boss and his fellow Guardians not far from him, doing their own activities. Volvo was shouting at Azzo, who dutifully ignored him and opted to eat his snack. Lottie was fixing her make up. Azarel was having a conversation with their Boss with Neo accompanied him by his side.
"Boss, I have told both Alessio Felix and Rei Ariana about the news. Do you have anything else?" Raul approached.
"No need. Thank you Raul, I appreciate it. I just want to tease him a bit." Abele gave his Rain Guardian a grateful smile.
"Say, Boss, are we just going to wait for the Vongola to find our base? In fact, do you really think they can solve the code?" Raul asked, taking a seat beside his Boss, his arms behind his head while his feet on the desk.
At the gesture, Neo pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and pierce it toward Raul's feet. Feeling the danger, Raul immediately removed his feet from the desk, a second before the dagger could reach his feet. Raul stood up from his seat and faced the Cloud Guardian questioningly.
"What was THAT for?" Raul asked, clearly annoyed.
"Show some respect in front of the Boss. Remove your feet." Neo simply replied, putting back his dagger into his sleeve.
Raul rolled his eyes before pointing to the other Guardians. "Why don't you tell the same to THEM? At least I'm not as noisy as them!"
Abele raised his hand, silencing the Rain and Cloud Guardian before bickering further. He then clapped his hands, earning attentions from the other Guardians who stopped whatever they are doing to listen to what their Boss are going to say.
After making sure that each one of them has their attention fully toward him, the Disscordo Boss stood up from his chair and walked to the center of the room.
"As you all know already, my only order from now on until the battle start is for each of you to stand by, including myself. No one is allowed to make any move toward the Vongola Candidates. I would love to defeat them once their potential has blossomed. We are clear, yes?"
All the Guardians nodded obediently. They all know too well what will happen if they defy their Boss' order. No one in right mind would dare to defy his order unless that person wished to receive the fastest way to the afterlife. Satisfied by his Guardians' response, he concluded the brief meeting and allowed them to go back to their own activities.
"Azarel, Lottie, a word please."
He called out his Mist and Sun Guardian who were about to leave along with everyone else. He motioned them to stay and come closer to him. Once the two were standing in front of his desk, he brought out a black box from his bag and placed it in front of them.
"Boss…! This box is…" Lottie stared at her Boss unsurely.
Abele smiled. "This is only a prototype. But, I would like you to test it out in our upcoming battle. Don't let the other Guardians know. If this box succeed, we can officially commence 'that' plan."
Azarel picked the black box. As he was looking at the box, smirk started to form on his face. Seeing her partner's expression, Lottie quickly knew what he meant. She couldn't help but smile as well.
"The H-Box project is reaching its completion."