A/N
REBORN! UPDATE WITH MY DYING WILL! Yeah, I'm back! finally managed to finish the next chapter! (seriously this took me like three weeks to write out...) The beginning has more to do with the plot but the middle is more or less a filler... just a random idea I had... I really want the Daily Life Arc to end already! But it can't end until all the characters are introduced! T_T
Sigh, moving on...
KiraLoveless: Thanks again for reviewing! The wait is finally over! (until next time anyways...)
End Notes
When I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar dull grey sky of my, what do you call it... a "mindscape"? Yeah, that sounds about right… "The landscape of your mind" or something along those lines…
I must have fallen asleep after my "training" session with sensei. It's kinda funny when I think about it but I used to be terrified of this place, maybe because I had associated it with my nightmare. It doesn't frighten me anymore though. In fact, if not for "that guy" I'd gladly come here every night.
That kid in the fox mask… he's still here somewhere, lurking in the dark. Even after all these years he hasn't changed a bit. And even though I've grown older and taller, that guy still terrifies me… He's still here somewhere, waiting for me with his taunting and jeering. I shudder at the thought of meeting him again and run off in a random direction.
It must have been about a year ago that I discovered that this place wasn't something out of a nightmare. Heck, this dull grey desert wasn't even endless at all. There was so much more here for me to discover, and sometimes I wonder just how the diamine this place actually fits in my head. I mean, it's all just something I dreamed up isn't it?
As I walk I feel a gust of air blow past me and, like I passed through some invisible doorway, the scenery changes. Angle deep grey water surrounds me now; it feels nice and cool to touch. When I turn around all I can see is the new scenery, almost as if the desert was never there in the first place.
The sky is beautiful here; a white moon-like sun floating in a silky black sky. The whole place is like one giant shallow lake, with a few mountains and hills on the horizon. I continue on sloshing through the clear waters, until I come across a submerged train line. Hmm, well that's new. It looks really old, I wonder where it goes.
I walk along the tracks, feeling something stir within me… It feels so strange, so… nostalgic. But why, I wonder? I've never done this kind of thing before… Still, I feel something tucking at my chest… something telling me to follow the tracks to where ever they lead me. Sigh, I must be going a little crazy to dream up something like this…
Maybe I'd even dream up a train too… that'd be ironic, being run over by my own dreamed up train… If I die in a dream, does that mean I'd die in real life? Nah, that's dumb… I'd probably just wake up and find Reborn-sensei standing over me with the defibrillators again… I have to wonder just who the diamine made up all these "Vongola traditions"…
Oh, there's a train station up ahead! Not really much of a station, just a simple stone platform with a single bench from what I can see. It's kinda lonely looking. Excited to see something new here, I run towards it. Of course even in my dreams I'm still a clumsy idiot and end up tripping over my own foot. Way to go Dame Sora…
I expect to land face first in the water but instead I find myself on a grassy floor. The scenery must have changed again. Slowly I rise and take in my new surroundings; a forest of aome kind. It appears as though it is night time here, but when I look up the canopy leaves block all sunlight (if any exists in the first place) from coming through.
It's not that scary though, everything's so still and peaceful here. I dust myself off and wander off into the thick blanket of trees. Despite the lack of colour, the trees do look quite pretty and the air is fresh and clean. I could get lost in here for hours on end, just wandering around exploring the place.
Maybe one day I will; I'll just get lost in here and never wake up. I'd never have to think about anything again, no more brotherly problems, no more sadist mafia tutors, no more bullying, no more worrying about being different…
It'd be a relief to just disappear into this nothingness and never come back…
I was very rudely jolted awake by a splash of icy cold rain on my face. Ugh, hello again reality… oh, how I loathe you…
"Bad dream again?" Aigís asks worriedly.
I stretch a little and yawn, "Nah, the rain woke me up this time…"
Looks like I passed out or something, I'm sitting with my back against a tree and a bright green blanket draped over me. It's pouring with rain but it'll be so sticky and humid once it stops. Have ever I mentioned how much I hate humidity?
I stare down at the blanket; did Sensei put this over me? I wonder if it'll explode when I get up… Suddenly two big yellow eyes appear on it and stare unblinkingly at me. If I were anybody else I'd probably be freaking out right now… but this has happened to me so many times already I'm just used to it...
"Hello Leon." I murmur as he changes back into a chameleon.
I glance around cautiously searching for any sign of Sensei lurking around here with some kind of trap prepared. That's weird; I don't think he's here… He never usually leaves Leon on his own, although, lately he seems to be leaving him with me a lot. But can he still use the Dying Will Bullet without Leon?
Well, I guess it's the bullet that's special and it shouldn't matter much if he uses a normal gun. It's just that he always used Leon for the Dying Will Bullet… Masamune really relies on the bullet to get him out of all the trouble Sensei causes… Oh, maybe he's trying to get Masamune to be more independent or something…
Well, it's none of my business… I shouldn't really be reading too much into it…
Leon climbs onto my shoulder as I stand. Wow, it's really coming down; maybe I should wait till it stops. At least it's finally holidays and I don't have to worry about school for a while (minus all the "schooling" from Reborn-sensei). It'll be Kai's birthday soon, I have to get him a present… but I'm pretty much broke…
What would he even want anyways? I'm not very good at buying gifts for others… mainly because I've only really had like what, four… maybe five people to even give presents up till now.
Katerina was easy: just a card or, if he's feeling generous, a box of chocolates. He didn't have to worry about Masamune either; he's happy just getting money. Padre was a little tougher but he's usually happiest with something home-made, like that photo frame I made out of papier-mâché and macaroni in the fourth grade.
"And what a work of art that was~."
"Oh, shut it you cazzo!" It was only because Kyoko-sensei had helped me make the damn thing that it actually came out semi-decent…
Sometimes I'd even get something for Tsubaki and Yuuka Kaa-san; Tsubaki collects china dolls and Yuuka Kaa-san loves any kind of tea. Most of the time, Kai goes overseas to be with his father for his birthday anyways. So I'm used to just sending him off some of his favourite snacks and a cheap music related video game for the flight… He never really cared what game it was so long as it was music related.
Apparently he can't go this year though… It just doesn't feel right to do the same thing. I could get him something music related, but he already has a huge collection of CDs and stuff… Maybe I should get him some weapons or something, except I'm fairly sure I'd get arrested…
Ugh, my head hurts just thinking about it, maybe I'll just go window shopping and if I see something he'd like then I'll get it. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan… I'll ask the girls if they wanna come with me.
With that thought in mind I turn my attention to my surroundings. Merda, the whole place is full of craters (now filled up with rain water)! Sensei just doesn't hold back, does he? Today's lesson was back to standing in a mind field and having to keep perfectly still, or get blown up. Something about improving my concentration, he said.
Well at least I've finally managed to master the art of lighting candles! I hope I never have to see another candle as long as I live… It was so hard to make a flame small enough to light the damn things without melting them in one go… but I can do it pretty much instantly now. If only I knew why the diamine I had to learn how to do such a pointless task…
I'll be very useful should we ever have a black out at night… and any other oh-so-important occasion that may involve a candle lighting expert…
It's raining harder now, I should have left earlier… Screw it, I'm gonna end up getting wet even if it does stop raining, whether it be from the sky of from falling over…
I tuck Leon safely away in the hood of my jacket and dash down the path through the woods. My sneakers are full of water and my jeans are splashed with mud up to my knees by the time I reach the foot of the mountain. I'm pretty much drenched as I run by the park near my street.
Maybe it was that tingly feeling in my gut nagging me, or maybe it was because I happen to fall over at the right spot… either way I somehow managed to hear this tiny mew in the bushes. When I searched between the bushes for the source of the noise, I found a soaked cardboard box covered in mud, twigs and leaves. It looked like it was about to fall apart…
I could just barely make out "To a good home" written on the side of it. If you wanted whatever was inside to go to a good home then why the diamine did you hide the damn box in the bushes like this!? Irresponsible cazzi! Carefully I pulled the flaps aside and peered inside; curled up in the corner, shivering from the cold was the smallest cat I'd ever seen.
"It's probably just a kitten." Aigís observed as he hovered over it curiously.
I wonder how long it's been here for. Its fur is all dirty (and soaked), I can't even tell what colour it's meant to be, it's so tiny and scrawny too. The poor thing must be starving and so scared too, being left here all alone in the dark and cold… I can't help but feel a stab of pity for it, but it'd be irresponsible of me to bring it home while knowing I can't keep it…
Katerina won't allow pets and Masamune utterly hates all animals (he hates kids too). While I don't really know about Sensei and Leon, I'm sure I'll never be able to keep it… But I can't just leave it here all alone; it'd never survive by itself! Slowly I reach my hand towards it, stopping when it whimpers in fright.
I let it sniff my fingers a little before lightly stroking its ears. They're surprisingly soft despite being wet and dirty. After a few minutes of petting it I pick it up; wow, it's barely bigger than my hand!
"Ow!" It bit my thumb! And it doesn't look like it'll let go any time soon either!
The tiny claws sink into my hand as it clings to me for dear life. Well, it doesn't actually hurt that much… We make eye contact; bright sky blue eyes staring into my own mismatched aquamarine and orange eyes. It sheaths its claws and it let go of my thumb too, probably trusts me not to drop it.
But what am I going to do with it now? Sigh, I suppose for now I'll just take it home and get it cleaned up and dried off. I can figure out what to do with it afterwards. I gently place the tiny kitten in my jacket pocket and slowly trudge home through the rain. I'm already soaked so there's no need to rush…
Luckily for me, Katerina was out all day at one of her clubs and Masamune would be at Basketball practice (as well as dealing with whatever Sensei has planned for him). So I was free to bring the kitten in without having to hide it.
Hmm, now that I think about it, "Is it still breaking and entering if it's your own home?"
"I wouldn't think so… besides it's not as if we actually broke anything to get in."
I lost my keys in the river on the first day I got them, and never got a replacement. Not that it matters to me since I have Aigís who can unlock pretty much any door. I don't think I've ever actually used a key to get in anywhere before. Padre used to get so angry at me back when we lived at our home in Italy.
I used to just go where ever I wanted, not giving a damn whether the door was locked or not. It must have driven him nuts… It's not like I actually do that kind of thing now though, I don't want to get caught up with the police and stuff… Oh, I guess that doesn't really matter much now since my dad's in the Mafia…
The pitiful mewls of the kitten bring me back to reality. I make my way upstairs to the bathroom (Katerina would flip if she could see the trail of mud and water I left). Placing the kitten down by the sink, I rummage through the cabinets. I think I should give it a wash but I don't know if I should use soap or shampoo…
Cats have sensitive skin right? So should I use some baby shampoo or something? I think Katerina has some in here somewhere... Finally, found it! I started filling the sink up with warm water while I read the all the warnings and instructions on the bottle. The kitten just sat there shivering the whole time.
Now, how am I going to get it in the water without getting scratched and bitten? Ah, fudge it… I'm gonna get attacked to no matter what I do. So, I just lowered it very slowly into the water and carefully rinsed it off. It didn't seem too bad at first, only got bit twice, but once the shampooing started it kicked up a huge fuss.
In the end I somehow managed to get it sparkling clean. Then I dried it off with a nice warm towel, it gave up fighting me by then and fell asleep right then and there. I wrapped it in another dry towel and set it down in the empty sink while I went and had a nice hot shower.
About half an hour later, washed and dried (and hands covered in band aids) I took the sleeping kitten down to the living room and set it on the couch. Then I went ahead and cleaned up all the water on the floor. Katerina would kill me if I just left it after all… heck, she'd blame me even if I wasn't the one who made the mess!
I'm so damn tired… I've already slept today though and I don't want to sleep anymore…
I slump down on the living room floor in front of the couch. The kitten looks so peaceful curled up asleep like that… Now that it's clean the colour and pattern of its fur is clear again. It's white with black and orange splotches; I think that's called a "calico" pattern or something… and I think it also might be a she, but I honestly have no idea.
Since it's raining now (and I'm too tired to go out again) I'll just take her to the vet tomorrow. Maybe they can even find a home for her too. That'd be better than just leaving her in a dirty cardboard box all alone. I bet it was some idiot kid who did that; bringing her home and then dumping her in that box when their parents said no.
I jump a little when she suddenly opens her eyes. We just stare at each other for a while before breaks eye contact by yawning. I start petting her ears again with her half-heartedly batting a paw at my hand. She's so tiny and soft… and kinda skinny too… maybe I should feed her something…
But what would she eat? She's only a kitten right?
"How about some milk?"
"Yeah, I guess that'd be okay." Carefully I pick her up (feeling her teeth again…) and take her to the kitchen.
I place her on the bench and get a bowl and some milk for her. At first she just sniffs it suspiciously but soon starts lapping it up greedily. Geez, how long has it been since she last had something to eat? It's really cute the way she drinks like that. I kinda wish I could keep her… She wouldn't be that much of a bother, and I bet Katerina wouldn't even notice!
When she finishes eating I put the bowl in the sink and carry her up to my room (argh, again with the teeth and claws!). She curls up to sleep on my bed almost instantly. I watch the steady rise and fall of her flank as she breathes for a while. Yep, I'm gonna try and see if I can keep her!
So she bites and scratches a little, big deal! It doesn't actually hurt much, I can handle it. Heck, if I can handle living with Reborn-sensei then one little kitten should be no problem at all. Leon doesn't seem to mind her, as he's burling up to sleep beside her and she doesn't seem to mind him either
Only issue now is Katerina and Masamune. Well, I guess Masamune doesn't actually have to know, so that just leaves Katerina then.
"You think she'd actually go for it?"
"…" Would she…? "No… probably not…" I sigh, feeling even more tired than before. "But Padre might!"
I'll ask him later since he might be busy now… There's no telling how busy he'll be with all the Mafia business… For the time being I'll look up some stuff online. At least so I can learn a bit more about how to look after a kitten. The vet is bound to know more, so I'll ask them tomorrow when I take her there.
Vets are kinda nerve racking… sitting in that quiet waiting room, the only noises coming from whimpering animals. Total strangers staring you down awkwardly... and a creepy receptionist chick, who clearly doesn't want to be there at all… I don't think I'll be going back there for a while.
The vet guy seemed pretty nice, if not for the freaky doctor's outfit and the mask thingy over his mouth and nose… His eyes were really beady… At least there's nothing wrong with the kitten (aside from being undersized and undernourished). He said she was about four months old, and he also gave me some tips on how to look after her.
Last night had been pretty successful. After about fifty pleading messages to padre he finally relented and said I could keep her! Of course I got the whole responsibilities lecture… Announcing it to Katerina had gone surprisingly well too.
I just offhandedly told her at dinner: "Oh by the way, I found a kitten and dad said I could keep it."
I think she was shocked into silence but she looked so pissed off. Masamune pretty much exploded demanding I get rid of the "horrible smelly fuzz ball" (he should know better than to insult a lady). Sensei just sat there smirking in amusement. I get the feeling he already knew about the new addition to the family.
He offered to give me a few lessons on taking care of pets. I said I was fine without them.
She seems happy enough to ride around in the front pocket of my hoodie. She still bites me when I pick her up though. I spent almost all my allowance on all the stuff I'd need to take care of her; food, her own dish, a little basket bed for her to sleep in and a litter tray (plus litter). Dang this stuff cost a lot… I hope I still have enough money left to get Kai a present…
I should give her a name too… what would be good?
"Why not just call her 'Tama'?"
"No." She pokes her head out of my pocket and I poke her nose a lightly, she bats a paw at my finger playfully. "…Celica. I'll call you Celica." The name just popped into my head. She looked up at me and purred I'll assume that means she likes it.
When I rounded the corner to my street I spotted Kai and Sumi-chan having their usual glaring contest outside my house. Wonder what they're doing here?
I run up to them, trying not to drop my bags (Celica ducks back inside my pocket), "Kai, Sumi-chan…? What's up?"
"Hello Cielo-kun! I don't know about Skylark-san," Kai snorted in annoyance at the nickname. "But I came to tell you about this." She rummaged through her handbag and pulled out a poster. "Been shopping?"
I nod placing down some of the bags so I can take the poster, "Just a bit…" I murmur while reading the poster. It's an advertisement for the Circus! "There's a circus coming here?"
Sumi-chan giggled, "Hehe, yup! Do you want to go and see it?"
I haven't been to a circus since we left Italy. "Sure, it'll be fun!" I turn to Kai, suspecting he was here about the circus too. "Are you taking Tsubaki to see it?"
He shook his head, "No time…"
Ah, that's right; he'd be way to busy patrolling the area looking for troublemakers to bite to death… Which means the reasons he's here is… "Do you think she'd mind coming with us?"
He eyed Sumi-chan distrustfully but nodded nonetheless. "Hn…"
Sumi-chan smiled her usual impassive smile, "We can ask Yuki-sempai and Azusa-chan too."
"Yeah! Let's all go then!" Wow, this is kinda exciting! A muffled mew from Celica reminds me she's still in my pocket.
"…Ara? Cielo-kun, did your pocket just meow?" Sumi-chan asks while Kai narrows his eyes suspiciously at me.
"Ehehe… Well…" I reach in and pull her out (why must she bite me every time?), holding her up for them to see. "I found her the other day and, well you know, kinda adopted her."
"Aww! She's so cute and tiny!" Sumi-chan swooned adoringly. "What her name?"
"Celica." I mutter and she reaches out to pet her, but Celica recoils hissing. "Woah!?" She wriggles out of my hand and claws her way up my arm and onto my shoulder (which was quite a painful experience…). "Owow… Erm… you don't dislike cats or anything, do you Sumi-chan?"
She shakes her head in disappointment and sighs, "I love them, but it seems like a one-sided love on my part."
Celica liked Kai a lot more and gladly let him pet her (he's a sucker for anything small and cute like her). I think he was rather smug about it. Actually it kinda pisses me off that she always bites me but she let him touch her with no problem… Sigh, I guess I should count myself lucky she doesn't outright reject me like Sumi-chan.
I wonder why she doesn't like her anyways… Oh well, I guess she'll warm up to her eventually. As the two of them left I was vaguely aware of the fedora wearing shadow watching the whole exchange from a distance. I get the feeling Sensei might be cooking up another one of his little schemes…
The cat was really just a random idea i had for an omake where Cielo is walking around with this kitten in his pocket and everybody's like "WTF!?" I might still write that...
BTW I made an actual cover poster thingy for the Prelude! Full size version is on DA~! Oh, and I also made a random Poll cause I was bored and kinda curious... is on my profile so go check it out if ya feel like it XD
I love reviews! XD
-love NyanNyan-suru