"—According to Mario, there had been a dark force within the mafia world, a family trying to take over the other families…"
The young Cavallone boss paused, looking up to see his blonde friend in a daze.
"…Giotto, we could discuss this tomorrow if you want." He told his friend. The handsome blonde snapped out of his daydreaming the second he heard his friend's words, and gave the black haired an apologetically smile, "Ah, it's alright Enzo…what did you say just now?"
He didn't even listen! The Cavallone boss sweat dropped, "Really, Giotto, let's discuss it tomorrow." He sighed and stood up, followed by the blonde.
"Ah…alright then, I'm sorry Enzo." Giotto smiled apologetically again as the two moved to the door. Enzo reached out for the handle, but paused mid-way.
"Sorellina's still angry?" He asked, glancing at his friend, and happened to see the blonde hung his head with depressing clouds forming above his head. He took that as a 'yes', and smiled nervously recalling what the maids and butlers told him when the Vongola party stepped foot inside the mansion…
~Flashback~
"Ah, Maya, wait for a moment!"
Elena cried as she tried her best to catch up with the brown black haired in front of her. The girl literally dashed out of the carriage the minute the hooves of horses stomped on the ground; she even ignored the polite greetings from the maids and butlers, and only stormed forward.
"Maya, please stop for a moment." Giotto called out seeing the young woman failed to catch up to the young girl. Luckily, she still hears his words and obediently stopped, giving Elena time to reach her side. The young woman glanced at the young girl beside her worriedly.
The once cheerful golden eyes were now filled with coldness.
"Maya…let's go see what's for dinner, okay?" Elena tried to enlighten the girl's mood, but the reply not only shocked her, it shocked the others as well:
"I'm not hungry."
The first time the party heard the food lover having no appetite…
"Ojou-chan…are you sure you're not hungry? Look, there's many food there…"Asari intervened, hoping to get the girl's mood back.
"No. I'm going back to my room."
And with that last remark the girl stormed back to her room, leaving the people behind stunned.
~End of flashback~
Enzo watched as more depressing clouds formed on Giotto's head—the mafia boss must have taken the greatest blow, considering he's the closest to the young girl.
"She's angry…she's really angry…she's so angry that she doesn't want to eat…"
Enzo swore he didn't heard what the blonde muttered.
The black haired sighed, "If you guys are so worried about her, why don't you just tell her so?" It's quite surprising seeing the infamous Vongola guardians depressed over a young girl's anger…
"…She needs to know the situation she's in," it's Giotto's turn to sigh, "This girl…I couldn't say if she's naïve or clueless, she doesn't have the sense of danger; what's worse is that she didn't even think before she act…such reckless operations could have cost her life. Really, I'm telling you Enzo, this girl is something…"
"Yes, I see that." The black haired chuckled, "But really, you should just tell her you're worried about her."
SILENCE…
Enzo deadpanned when he saw the crimson colour slowly crept up to his friend's handsome face.
"Really? It's nothing to be embarrassed about Giotto…"
"I was also trying to tell her but she became mad at a sudden—as if she's trying to bite somebody—how do you expect me to tell her!?"
Then both mafia bosses sighed as they concluded: Girls could be troublesome in some ways…
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Lying down onto her bed, Maya tossed and turned around on the soft mattress, every second she felt frustrated. She had got rid of her Lolita dress, and had changed into a plain blouse with her shorts on. Good thing the hole on her room's wall had been mended or she would be forced to change into something more 'approximate'.
She sighed, turning to a side as her hand found its way to her long hair and started playing with it, twirling around the slender fingers and releasing it. This boring little game was interrupted by a knock on the door, and the young girl sat up, ears perked on the voice of her visitor.
"Maya, can I come in?"
Elena.
Getting down from the bed, Maya went to open the door for the blonde haired beauty. The young woman gave her a small smile as she followed the girl inside.
"Ara, you shouldn't be wearing those kinds of clothes." The first thing the woman saw was the attire the girl's wearing.
"There's no one anyway, just me and you." Maya shrugged her shoulders as she sat back down onto her bed. Elena smiled, "So it seems…" and joined the young girl.
"…Did the others sent you?" Maya asked, looking at her feet.
"Oh, no. I merely come with my own concern…the others are worried about you too, since you said you doesn't have the appetite." Elena quickly explained and smiled.
"I don't." Maya pouted. Not when she's not in the mood.
Elena smiled a little. Reaching out her arms she gently pulled the girl into her embrace, her fingers softly brushed the girl's hair, "Maya…do you know why the others are angry?"
The girl shook her head, golden eyes staring at Elena's for answer.
"They are worried about you. Yes, you are strong, even stronger than them, but because they cared for you and concerned about your safety…because you are precious to them."
Maya slightly blushed at Elena's words, "B-But they are also precious to me…why am I do wrong?"
Elena chuckled slightly, "Well, I can tell you that you have become their most valuable treasure—you've earned their trust; despite they didn't show it to you. And every thoughtless act of yours could send them a heart attack, didn't want to see that happening do you?"
Maya blinked and stared at the young woman, having heard the keyword of the whole thing, "…Could I have been…acting thoughtlessly? Is that why I'm scolded…?"
"Like barging in the middle of an enemy discussing their plans and making a great havoc? I wouldn't say that to be thoughtless, more like reckless." The young woman smiled sweetly, but Maya could see the dark aura surrounding her.
She's angry…Elena's angry…And she's scolding her…
"I-I-I-I'm sorry…" Maya apologized as she shivered with cold sweats.
Elena smiled, and she patted the girl's head, "You should be apologizing to someone who really deserve the apology."
Maya watched in confused as the young woman headed straight for the door and turned the knob, her eyes widened when she saw a glint of blonde the moment the wood creaked open.
"Eavesdropping is not good, boss." Elena smiled sweetly at the new visitors.
Giotto scratched his cheek, embarrassed to be caught red-handed; Enzo who's beside him only laughed nervously. Maya tore her gaze away from the blonde, fidgeting on her seat.
"I'll leave you two for a while." Elena told the men and gave her boss a light push, enough to startle the blonde and he stumbled forwards into the room, the door was closed as soon he stepped foot into the space.
Giotto stared at the closed door, then to the young girl.
SILENCE~~~
Giotto scratched his cheek again, unsure what to do—no, he knew what to do, but all his plans were threw into the deepest part of his memory where he would have a hard time to find them the second he faced the young girl.
This is not like himself; he knew that, he never loses his cool, then why did he found it difficult to stay calm in front of the girl? He liked the girl, but only as a family, as a brother…right?
"Sorry."
As Giotto was still head-aching about his own problem, he heard an apology as soft as whisper, and looked up to see the young girl hung her head even lower than before.
"I made everyone worried…I didn't mean to…I-I just…"
The last part Giotto was certain he heard sobs and he frowned, his heart aching as if it was going to break any minute. He went up and tilted her chin; golden eyes now with watery pearls rolling at the corner of her eyes. The young girl swallowed her sobs as she tried to say what she wanted to say:
"I-I just want to p-protect…"
"Shh…"
Giotto knelt down in front of her and embraced the young girl; his hand drew circles around her back, comforting her, "It's okay, it's okay, I understand. Don't cry, I'm not mad."
Maya blushed, still sobbing, "Y-You aren't? You're not angry?"
"No, now dry your tears signorina, or Alaude will be going to have me arrested for upsetting you." The blonde laughed softly as he reached out a thumb and wiped off the tear.
Maya raised a brow; why does this have to do with Alaude…why would he arrest Giotto just because he made her cry…
Holding her hand, Giotto stood up and sat beside her, his smile was the one he always had on his face; the calm and heartwarming one, "Now Maya, I hoped you have understand why we are crossed with you; we don't mean to criticize or anything, but no matter how tough you are, you're still a girl—please take good care of your own safety next time." He paused, and reached out a hand, cupping the young girl's face, "Though Elena had told you…but I also wished to tell you personally, you are important to us, Maya. So please, don't do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, which would danger yourself; it could be a major heart attack for all of us don't you think?" Brushing the strand of hair blocking the girl's vision aside, the blonde laughed half-heartily, didn't realize that he had already set the poor girl's face on fire.
And the grumbling sound coming from the girl's tummy doesn't help to ease her embarrassment.
Maya face-palmed while Giotto laughed, this time whole heartily.
"Seems like someone have appetite after a tantrum." The blonde grinned as the young girl glared at him. Her glares only lasted for a second when a shiny, metal thing dropped in front of her eyes.
"Here." Giotto smiled warmly as he landed the round metal onto the girl's palm.
A…pocket watch?
Maya clicked on the shiny metal and it opened as any pocket watch should be, there was a line of Italian words carved on the inside of the lid.
"Givro eterna amicizia…"
"I swear eternal friendship."
Maya turned to look at the blonde who had translated the text for her.
"It's actually a prototype; I'm making for each guardian you see," Giotto explained as he held up the silver round object, staring at it adoringly, "It still need some time, Talbot had actually made one as a reference…it would be better if it had a loving master like you."
Maya blushed at Giotto's compliment as she took the pocket watch back from the blonde, "Are you sure its fine? Giving it to me…"
"I don't see anyone suitable than you." The blonde grinned and ruffled her hair, making the girl pouted and hit his hand lightly, earning another laugh from the mafia boss, "Ah, and, please keep it as a secret to the guardians." He leaned forward with a wink, and Maya blushed furiously at the close distance they had.
GROOOWL~~~
…
"Pfft…"
"G-Gio-san~~!"
"Alright alright, let's go have dinner then…" The blonde barely held his laughter as he reached for the door with the young girl following behind, pouting and whining and hitting him on the back.
As soon he turned the knob and opened the door, he quickly grabbed the girl and moved away from the upcoming storm.
Four grown-ups all piled up due to unstable balance once the door swayed backwards.
"…Eavesdropping?" The brown black haired girl asked as she cocked her head to a side.
"Yes, eavesdropping." Giotto answered as he ruffled her hair lovingly.
"You're eavesdropping earlier too Gio-san…"
"Uhum."
The blonde faked coughed with a faint blush on his cheeks, glancing at his guardians, he gave the most dangerous aura they had yet encounter.
"Umm…we're just checking on the ojou-chan!" Asari was the first to talk once he's aware of the current situation they were in.
"Y-Yeah! We were going to ask if she's hungry." Lampo added.
"I'm hungry." Maya admitted.
The four guardians were surprised.
"Y-You are?" Knuckle asked, hoping his ears didn't deceive him. And they didn't.
"Hungry~Food~~~" The young girl whined as she snuggled up to Giotto. The latter chuckled and patted her head, "She's fine now." He told his guardians.
"Tch, then she doesn't need this." G. said holding up a familiar brown packet, too familiar for the food lover…
"MACAROONS!"
Without second G. was tackled onto the ground, with Maya cheering and snuggling up onto the pink haired.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou! G-san's the best!"
"Ah, so that's why you went out just now, you're buying treats for signorina."
"…Shut up Lampo." G. glared as he sat up, his faint smile froze upon seeing the position he was in, what's worse was the damn modern clothes on the young girl…
"Get up."
"Hmm?"
"Get up, change your clothes."
Maya cocked her head to a side, confused with G's sudden orders, and also the crimson on his face. She turned to the others for answer, only to find that they had a dark expression.
What the girl didn't know was her plain blouse and extremely short shorts (in the guardians' opinion) which showed almost all of her white milky legs plus her straddling on G…
"Neh~why are you all making scary faces?"
"GET UP AND CHANGE SIGNORINA/OJOU-CHAN/MAYA!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
And in the end the clueless girl was forced to change her clothes despite her protests, but the looks on the guardians told her that if she didn't get another attire soon, her dinner could say bye-bye.
"Just what is their problem…?" She pouted. She finally found a dress which only got a little lower from her knees and happily put it on.
At least it won't restrict her movements.
Having tied her ribbon, her eyes set on the silver pocket watch sat on her bed. Picking it up, she took a look on the line engraved on the lid again and couldn't help but smiled.
May the friendship of guardians maintain for eternally.
"Haah~I should be joining them now…but why do I feel so sleepy…?"
Rubbing her eyes with a yawn, Maya found her visions became blurring and the next second she was eloped in darkness.