As The NEW Gang and Kana's friends continue to sail around the canal in Venice, they are worried that the Boss may attack them, using her special guards. Last time, if you recall, Kana Koumoto figures out that The Boss of Alternativa wants Tanukichi Okuma, and kills him, herself. Kana and June did the noble thing and rescue him, but at the price of being traitors to the mafia. The rest of their friends reluctantly join them, except for Hijiri, who stayed behind, choosing not to betray her friends. Kana's goal was clear – Find the Boss's identity, and then kill her!

Nanao replied, scanning the area, "No one has been spotted, hostile. I do not think they are tailing us."

June asked, "Kana, shouldn't we leave Venice?"

Kana explained, "No. The Boss commands a convoy of bodyguards. They know all about our betrayal to the Famiglia. The next move might be someone from the inside."

Mossan said, "The worst part is that we have no idea what kind of torture they can pull out."

Kana said, "Certo. It's far too risky to leave Venezia. For now, we observe."

June nodded, "Understood." The others agreed. Until...

"Master! We're hungry!" Eros 3 cried, as Octo-Eros started to bawl and whine.

Eros 2 yelled, "We haven't eaten already!"

Nanao cried, "Octo-Eros, calm down. I'm sure we-."

Eros 5 cried, "But we can't wait long!"

Eros 1 yelled, "I'm hungry! WE WANT FOOD!"

Emily roared, "SHUT UP!" She calmed down, as she was annoyed, "Koumoto-san, seems Kashima-san's Spirit is fussy."

Nanao replied, "I am sorry, Kana Koumoto... But it seems that they cannot help themselves."

Kana giggled, "Well, I suppose we should fill up our gozzos. We'll find a restaurant, nearby, and rest there."

Episode 10 – Chapter 1: G for Gozzo (Stomach)!
The Elite Guards Enter!

They arrived at a small canal-side café, and started to eat their food. As they were eating, Nanao started a conversation. "So, I was wondering the difference between vegetarian and vegan. The former being that you cannot eat meat. But vegans concern me. Do vegans eat cheese, or is there a special cheese for-."

Emily said, "Uh, Kashima-san, I'm pretty sure they don't. Cheese is made from milk, which comes from animals, such as cows and goats. Eggs don't count, either, as they come from chickens."

Mossan added, "And since milk and eggs are from animals, cake is a no-go, too."

Beth cried, "WHAT? Vegans are banned from eating cake?"

Nanao said, "I see. So, they not eat any meat from an animal, nor anything that comes from the animal. The Health Food issue boggles my memory banks."

Pets asked, "So, no to eating animals? What about shoes and handbags? All that stuff is made with leather, right?"

Emily stated, "And that's my point, Pets! Leather is made of certain animals, such as cows, pigs, and bulls! They're vegan is because they feel bad about the animals! Vegetarian people still eat milk and cheese, but vegans DON'T! They do wear sneakers and carry around backpacks, instead of the handbags."

Beth barked, "Hey! What kind of BS is that? Aren't sneakers made of rubber?"

Emily said, "Yes, and it's fine."

As they chat, Kana turned to June, who was standing by the edge. She called, "Hey, June! Why don't you come join us?"

June said, "I'd love to, but I cannot. We all need to remain vigilant. If not, someone could easily poison our food."

As Beth was eating, a man in a white suit stepped out, but he bumped into Beth's arm, spilling a little juice onto his suit. He gasped, "Wha-? What the hell!"

Beth asked, "Excuse me? You bumped into me, sir."

He grabbed her, as he roared, "You little shit! Do you know how much that suit cost me for you to ruin it? It cost me four million Lire! Now, you're going to pay for it!"

Beth glared, and jabbed the man in the neck with her glass. He was knocked down, as Beth was angry. "Why don't you shut the fuck up, asshole?"

She snarled, punching and kicking at the guy, as Nanao cried, "BETH NEVINS!"

Emily sighed, "Here we go again."

Pets rushed off and started to beat up the guy, as well. Emily yelled, "WAIT!"

Beth roared, "YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, FUCK FACE!"

Pets hollered, "YOU GOT SOME NERVE COMING HERE, BASTARDO!"

"TAKE THAT, CAZZONE! AND THAT, AND THAT, AND MORE OF THAT!"

The others watched on, as Mossan smiled, "I think I know what. Those two are cautious as ever."

Nanao gasped, "An enemy?" as Emily facepalms herself.

Mossan joined in on the beating, as the three started to stomp and kick the guy. Emily got up and barked, "STOP!" They halted, as she barked, "He's not the enemy! This guy is just a guy who wants compensation for what Beth did. And to be clear, he deserved it, for pissing the brat off."

Mossan said, "A random citizen? Go figure."

Pets gasped, "WHAT? For real? Oh, god, what did we do?"

Beth huffed, "It's not my fault he bumped into my glass. I'm not paying for his damned suit, stain or no stain!"

Emily said, "Well, you don't have to, but by the blooded mess he received from all of you, he won't be need the Lire to pay for his dry cleaning."

Beth smirked, "Serves him right."

Pets sighed, "Thank goodness."

Emily said, "Well, I'm afraid that stain isn't coming off, anyway. That's what happens when you wear white, while drinking red."

Beth barked, "HEY! I'm not even old enough to drink wine!"

Emily huffed, "I know, Beth. Don't take this away from me!"

Mossan force-fed the guy, as she said, "Well, before we let him go, we should let him test the food, if any poison is inside."

Nanao is annoyed, "The food is safe, Man Motoyama. You know I can detect it, from within."

Kana said, "It's alright. They have no clue."

Nanao bowed her head, "Sorry."

Kana called to the others, "Alright, you guys, break it up. We have no time to mess around."

June watches on, as she was worried, "This isn't like Kana. Something's wrong. Her heart stopped, after the battle with The Boss. And she suddenly woke up. And when she pierced her hand, not a single droplet of blood went out. This whole thing is so confusing. But I cannot study Kana yet. No, there're more important things to worry about. The others cannot know about this."

As the others regrouped, Emily asked, "So, before we go from here, you sure we can defeat this weird Boss?"

Kana nodded, and replied, "Yes. The Boss has a Stand that can obliterate time, and only she can move, while time is erased. She is unstoppable. It doesn't matter the person or approach; her Stand is so powerful that all attacks have no effect on her, at least. But still… The only way to stop her is to expose her identity." She boomed, "All bets are off! We kill The Boss, once and for all, and all we need is HER true identity! We don't have a choice! It's kill or be killed!"

Pets said, "I am with you, but how the hell are we going to find her? The Boss has been erasing every single trace of her existence, until now."

Mossan said, "What about the boy? Suppose he has a connection with The Boss?"

Emily asked, "Tanukichi? I don't know… … … He's been through enough. You remembered how The Boss and those goons went at him."

They were worried, as Beth replied, "Well, it's, uh … It's my fault I let Tanukichi go into this mess. But I don't like it. It's one thing to protect him, and make him join us, but using him as a clue to your unknown Boss Bitch, I won't have it! I won't want him involved in this! It doesn't feel right! Think about it! He's the real victim here, knowing The Boss, having to go through the pain of despair, think of how much he's been feeling! It's too much!"

She turned to Kana, "Look, have a heart, Kana! Knowing the Boss's identity by using Okuma as a clue or bait is the wrong move!"

Kana was shocked, as Pets replied, "I agree, Kana-bun. But he suffered too much. I know it. The woman we blindly obey, only to see through the cracks. Kana-bun, I-."

"There's no need to explain further." Okuma said, as he emerged from the turtle, "Beth, thank you. But it's alright. I now know what goes on in my past, not just Ayame, but that woman." He stood up and said, "I know you say that there is NO trace of her existence, but you guys left out something. Something sparked inside of me. I had a talk with Sophia Nishikinomiya, before we left, and she told me everything, about him… … … My father. Zenjuro once knew the Boss, they met in Sardinia. He told me this story, when I was a boy."

Kana asked, "The Boss knew your father?"

He explained, "When he was on vacation, they met. He suddenly went pervy and wanted to date her for her hot body. But she vanished, without leaving anything behind, not even her real name."

Mossan said, "It must've been right before she became The Boss! Do you think it might be there?"

He shook, "No, I'm not sure. But all I know for sure is that Sardinia is the key to the past. My past, and her identity."

Kana said, "We'll do what we can to kill her. But you do know what that means? Your father is in grave danger, too, terrorist or otherwise. He never said anything at you about The Boss."

Okuma said, "No, It's fine. Dad would never tell me anything about the woman she met. But, that's your decision on how you're going to kill her. All I want to know WHO WAS THE WOMAN THAT MET MY DAD! I'll be damned if I will be killed, without knowing who she is!"

Mossan smirked, "Well, look at that. The brat's wrong. The Okuma boy's tougher than you think."

Beth huffed, "Yeah, yeah. So, he wants to resolve his past. Whatever."

June thought, "Sardinia. That's our next stop, after we escape Venice. That's where we'll find out the Boss's past!"

Beth stirs her soup, as Pets said, "Don't get yourself upset, Beth. You were projecting too much on Okuma."

Beth sighed, "Yeah, you're right. I guess I missed the mark on him. But finally, this guy's growing some from down there."

Pets smiled, "It's that determination that Okuma just received. After the life taken him from, the love of his life dead, and the drama he suffered, he's got a ray of hope inside him."

Beth sighed, "Yeah, I guess. But given that I joined in this suicide mission, only for my sister, I have more doubt than hope, right now." She stopped stirring, as her spoon was gone.

"Hey!" Beth cried.

Pets asked, "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, my spoon's gone!" She barked, "What the hell happened? Did it slip out of my hands and sank into the bowl?"

Beth looked around, as Pets said, "Here, use my spoon. I'm not hungry, anyways."

Beth started to eat, as she scooped up some soup. But then, she heard a metallic clank inside her bowl. She scooped it up and saw a dented spoon on the end of her spoon. Beth gasped, "That's-. What the hell?"

She dropped it, as it sank into the broth. Pets asked, "What the hell? That's your spoon, and-."

"I know. Is this food really poisonous? Nanao said that it's safe."

A fish appeared and devoured the remains of the soup spoon. Pets & Beth gasped. Beth stepped back, as Pets stayed on guard. Beth cried, "What is this? I didn't order fish in my soup!"

Pets shushed her, as the fish swam in circles inside Beth's soup bowl. Pets cried, "Uh, guys, we got company! Beth's soup's got some weird shark fin on top!"

They spread out, as Beth smashed the soup bowl, using two rabbits, "RABBIT PRINCESS! SMASH THAT BROTH!" The bowl broke apart, spilling the soup on the ground, as everyone spread out.

Kana cried, "June, get Okuma in the turtle, now! Mossan, spread right! Kashima, left!"

Nanao asked, "Where is it?"

Beth cried, "In my soup! I don't know how and why, but it was swimming in my soup!"

Nanao asked, "Where? I do not see it!"

Beth said, "This is a strange predicament. I swore I saw a shark."

Mossan said, "The kid may be onto something. You don't think they found us, do they?"

Nanao replied, "Beth Nevins isn't wrong. But I'm sure she's not pulling our leg."

Pets was confused, as she held her spoon, "It's gone. Where did that little shark go?"

Suddenly, the shark appeared in Pets' spoonful, and then it leapt upwards.

GNASH!
It snagged off Pets' tongue in the mouth, ripping half of it off. Pets cried out, but couldn't speak a word. Beth gasped, "PETS!"

Kana cried, "Pets, are you okay?"

The shark fin came up, as Nanao helped Pets up, "What's wrong? Why are you screaming like that? Tomomi Hetada, you cannot speak?"

Pets pointed at the fin, but it vanished. Nanao said, "Huh? Again? Did we lose it, somehow? My optical sensors are working at 100%, as we speak."

Emily looked around, "Hang on! If we're in danger, I'll watch Okuma. June, where's the turtle?"

June said, "Right here."

Emily & Okuma went in, as Beth looked around, seeing the shark in a glass of water. She thought, "So, that's it. Pets' tongue was hacked off, because it travels in any fluid." The shark devoured her tongue, as Beth gagged, "Ewwww, it's eating it!"

She cried, "Everyone, I think we were attacked! Pets cannot speak, because someone yanked her tongue out!"

Kana realized, "You're right! Pets might not be able to speak!"

Nanao examined her mouth, as Pets grabbed onto a bottle. Nanao said, "This is bad! Tomomi Hetada's tongue has been slashed off! Beth Nevins was right!"

Emily appeared, as she gasped, "WHAT?" She approached Pets, and looked inside her mouth, "My god... Half of it is gone! I don't know what happened, but she lost her voice, losing half her tongue!"

Pets coughed out blood, as Emily cried, "Not good! Pets lost her tongue, and to make matters worse, she's suffocating!"

June said, "I need to create a new tongue for Pets, but I need some time!"

Nanao requested, "Maybe you borrow one of my spare parts for the job, June Nevins?"

Emily roared, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! We are running out of time here! Pets is going to suffocate to death!"

June cried, "Then, can I borrow your pen, Emily?"

Emily asked, "Okay… but I don't see why you want it."

She gave her a pen, and then jabbed it onto Pets' neck. She removed the pen's innards, and then Pets started to breathe. Emily sighs in relief, "Thank god. That was clever of you, June."

June replied, "I'll imbue the pen with the life force, and then create the replacement tissue."

June went to work, as Pets was eventually fixed up. But little did they know, someone was watching from afar, viewing their actions.

A man in wavy black and white hair, wearing a black jacket and purple scarf, watched on, standing over the balcony. "So, the blonde in glasses that jabbed Pets' neck is the one we are to watch out for. SHE must be June Nevins." He said, as he held a glass of water with a small grayish shark fish.

A huge man in pointy hair and a goatee, wearing a black tracksuit, responded, "It all makes sense. This is very interesting. It explains the intel we have from the Boss. So, the greatest threat to the famiglia is this blonde-haired deadbeat newcomer."

The man in the scarf said, "I have to admit, with that kind of power, the brat keeping Hetada alive was clever. Never had I expect this failed assassination, courtesy of the Dark Lord, Lockjaw. But apparently, killing all seven of these reprobates will ease our leader, Nekomaru. And I hope I require your assistance, as well."

Nekomaru chuckled, "Is that right? Lockjaw may have severed Pets' tongue, and the brat was able to save her, but I guess I can play around with you, Gundham. As The Boss's Elite Guard, we won't stop, until our targets are as good as dead. We'll make sure that these turncoats perish here, as Venezia will be their grave."

He turns to Gundham and said, "So, what is your plan to end these brats?"

Gundham stated, "Do I even need to tell you, Nekomaru? Once they are closer to any fluid, Lockjaw will strike. It is unstoppable. Our plan is fullproof, as foretold from the fires of Hell; that, and the Boss, herself. I, Gundham Tanaka, will smite down all of them, one-by-one!"

Nekomaru smirked, "Gladly. Our little Pets here will be big help, while we're at it. You leave this task to me! NEKOMARU NIDAI!"

These are Gundham and Nekomaru. They are The Boss's Elite Guards. And they plan to eliminate The NEW Gang, one-by-one.

Pets sat back up, as she regained speaking. She moaned, "Ungh… my god…"

Beth asked, "You okay?"

Pets nodded, "Yeah. I'm fine."

Kana asked, "What info can you give us? Did you see anything?"

Pets coughed, "It was in the soup bowl. Some kind of shark."

June said, "Pets, don't speak. We'll find it."

Pets coughed, "It's fine. I can talk."

Nanao asked, "If it was the enemy, which way did it go?"

Pets moaned, "It was… It went…" He responded, "It was really small, like a huge pebble! And it ran to the back of the restaurant!"

They gasped, but Nanao asked, "Eh? What are you saying? How can a pebble be huge? If a huge pebble was here, it would be a rock. And did you not say you saw a shark?"

"Huh? I didn't say that! Did I?"

Nanao asked, "Then explain. Was it this big?" She widened her hands, as Pets shook her head no. Nanao said, "Then, is he this big?" Pets shook her head, as Nanao cried, "So, it's bigger, like a huge tuna!"

Pets nodded, but gasped, "NO! WAIT!"

Nanao asked, "So, a huge thing appeared from inside Beth Nevins's soup, and ran off? This does not compute."

Beth was silent, as she watched on, uneasy. She thought, "My ass, it was huge."

Kana said, "Sorry, but we do not understand what you're saying. Does it move at high speeds?"

Pets replied, "Yeah-! NO! I mean, it was very slow, like turtle slow!" She covered her mouth.

Beth nodded, "Bingo. So, you're saying that it's a Stand, and it's big and slow, but you said it was fast! Did you actually see it?"

Pets cried, "I DID! NOT SEE ONE!"

Beth glared, as she thought, "So, that's it." She turned to June, "Sis, we need to talk! It's about Pets."

June said, "Hold on. Maybe Pets is trying to figure out where it went."

Emily yelled at Pets, "COME OFF IT! Are you trying to break my android? FESS UP! You didn't see the enemy, did you? You were hiding the fact that you lost to the enemy, did you?"

Pets gagged, "Of course I… did!" She contorted, "NOT!"

Emily cried, "WHICH IS IT? Stop mucking around!"

June gasped, as Beth nodded, "She's not dicking around." She turned to June, "I saw the fish, too. The bastard ate my soup spoon, and then disappeared, and then it lunged onto Pets. Something doesn't add up."

Mossan returned and said, "I don't sense anything nearby. But whatever it is, it's a long-ranged Stand."

June added, "Agreed. And if we stay here, the enemy may show up, no matter what the range is. Come, we have to leave!"

Pets cried, grabbing onto June, "YES! Let's leave! Let's hurry and go!"

June then turned to Beth and nodded at her. She turned to Beth, "Yes, Pets, we should be going." She then whispered to Beth, "I'm not buying it. Something is wrong with Pets. Beth, watch over her. I'll let her talk for a bit."

Emily called, "Hold on! We can't leave now! Not after Pets wanted to leave. I say something is rotten in Denmark!"

Mossan said, "She's right. Kana, should we leave?"

Kana said, "No. we're not heading down the canal, just yet. This is our chance. Whether or not Pets knows the enemy or not, we have to eliminate the enemy."

Mossan said, "So, you're saying that the brat knew?"

Kana replied, "She saw the shark thing, too, which doesn't add up. But luckily, our boss knew that our little betrayal, from the start. She had sentries comb the area, everywhere. But it's safe to say that she hasn't mobilized all her troops, at once. Meaning, if we take down this foe, we'll escape Venezia and head to Sardinia."

Nanao nodded, "Understood. I'm all in."

Mossan said, "Yeah, me, too."

June said, "Then it's all settled. Kana, take the lead."

Kana requested, "Mossan, send Prog Tech out to replay the event."

Mossan said, "Right. It happened, after Okuma talked, and the brat saw the Stand. So, where do you want to start, the soup on the table?"

Kana nodded, "Worth a shot."

Pets rushed to them and cried, "WAIT!"

The shark appeared from the canal, as Beth cried, "THERE IT IS!"

"IT'S OVER THERE!" Pets pointed at the shark, but her arm jerked towards the bathrooms.

Pets gasped in fright, as Beth growled in anger, "No! NO! NO!"

Nanao said, "I swear, you better have seen it, this time!"

Pets nodded, "I did!" She covered her mouth.

Kana said, "Let's get on it, then! We'll settle the fight, here and now!"

They departed, as Beth snarled, "Damn it."

June called, "Sis, let's go!"

Beth nodded, "Uh, right." She dashed off, joining the others, as the shark went to Pets' tears.

Gundham giggled, "Thank you for the help, Pets. You played your part beautifully. Now your friends have no idea that my Stand, Lockjaw, will never find my dark lord!"

Nekomaru added, "Yes, and I, Nekomaru Nidai, will make sure you lead them to your demise, all thanks to the power of The Mouth Smasher! Especially since it latches inside your tongue, and it forces you to say the exact opposite!"

Pets panicked, as inside her mouth, a small reddish creature appeared inside Pets' new tongue. This was Nekomaru's Stand, The Mouth Smasher!

Gundham called, "Well, my itch to kill isn't going away soon. My condolences to you, Tomomi Hetada."

Pets thought, "SO, THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT? DAMMIT! Whoever this asshole is used me to get the guys to the water, one-by-one! Beth knew, but she didn't utter a word! She obviously told June, did she? NOBODY MOCKS ME!"

They looked around the bathroom, as Pets rushed inside. Beth caught her, and then said, "Hold on. You're not trying to stop them, are you?"

Pets called, "No, I'm not! The enemy is here!"

Beth called, "Enough of this shit! Pets is only playing you! Listen to ME! The shark was in MY soup, so we're starting there!"

Mossan said, "I hate to say it, but she's right. If we're to pursue the enemy, then we must head back to where the trouble started – at the table."

They departed, as Emily said, "Pets, you need to get a grip. If you don't stop this, everything we worked for will be ruined!"

Beth smirked, "They're gone." June realized, as Beth asked, "What are you planning on doing?"

Pets asked, "Beth. June." Her tongue slashed on her hands, cutting from her fingers. Pets gasped, "Cazzone! You're trying to travel to my blood, aren't you?"

They turned around, as June said, "Pets, you're bleeding! Here, lemme heal your wounds!"

Beth called, "HOLD IT!" She halted June, and then nodded, "And next you'll say: "No thanks, thanks for the offer." NOW!"

Pets thought, "NO! June, Beth, stay away!" She responded, "Sounds great! Thanks for offering!" Pets covered her mouth.

June gasped, "Beth… … … You were wrong!"

Beth grinned, "Nope. I was right. She doesn't want her to heal her, just for her safety, and yet she was about to say it, but something inside her made her say the exact opposite." She winked, "Checkmate, Dear Tomomi. I figured out your game of Girl who cried Wolf."

June nodded, "So, it seems. Beth was right, all along about you, Pets. The enemy was inside your tongue, was he? Is it connected?"

Pets moaned, as she thought, "They… They figured it out!"

Beth responded, "June, whatever she says, make sure she speaks opposite."

June agreed, "Not good. We have to take care of the bleeding, first. Let me see."

Pets thought, "NO! You can't touch my blood!"

Beth cried, "Don't go near it, Sis! Pets is trying to make you stay away!"

June cried, "That's the point. I have to stop the bleeding! If the enemy does travel in wet places, I'll stop her wounds!"

Pets cried, "GALAXY TRAIN!" Her Stand emerged, and it clasped its heated hands onto her wounds, healing it.

Beth nodded, "Well, that's one way to heal yourself."

June said, "Listen, I've not known you for long, but there's something forcing you to act this way. That's why you don't have a straight answer. Beth was right! It was the enemy!"

Pets smiled, as she thought, "Thank god! These two are lifesavers!"

June said, "But still, I want to know what's inside that mouth. This power, makes you say the opposite of what you say."

The water suddenly dripped, as Pets looked behind her. She gasped, "SHIT! There's water leaking from the pipe!"

Lockjaw emerged, as the puddle was closer to Beth. It leapt up, as she cried, "BETH!"

June saw, and cried, "SIS!" She shoved her out of the way, and then…
GNASH!
Lockjaw bit onto her neck. June coughed, as she was being bitten, as Beth shrieked, "SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!"

Pets gasped in horror, "NO! JUNE! JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNE!"

To be continued…