Disclaimer: I do not own KHR.
This is an update of the original chapter 1 + 2 put together.
Enjoy!
*{*}*
A tall man in a red dress shirt and black suit leaned over the desk as he flipped through the many pages in his hands. The room was very quiet except for the calm breathing of his fellow comrades. It was a bright, sunny day.
A woman sat in a small armchair; hair loosely tied back and hands tightly clasped over her lap as she waited patiently. The young man sitting in front of her had reviewed the papers twice already, not counting the meeting prior with his boss.
He set the large file aside and looked up with bright green eyes. They studied her form, her expression and her emotions. He narrowed his gaze with uncertainty.
"After extensive reviews, the boss has decided you would become a valuable asset to the Vongola. Not many people outside a Famiglia are given a promising opportunity such as this."
He paused and oversaw the approval from the other well-dressed individuals around them, nodding their heads.
"Due to your current situation, and your history, we'll make this one exception. You'll be joining our independent assassination squad. They'll provide you the protection you need, while you play your part."
"Thank you."
He extended a large envelope.
"Everything you'll need is in there."
He watched as the woman tucked it under her cloak and stood.
"Please, give my regards to your boss. Thank you again."
"They're an unruly group and don't take things light-heartedly." He noted after her. "They aren't ones to mess around with."
She returned a warm, gentle smile to the young man in response to his advice. The large doors closed behind her as she exited the room.
It was only the beginning of a new life; a new life with possibly, a former enemy but indirectly making them her new family. The woman quietly changed into drier clothing as she replayed the same thoughts through her head. It was almost even o'clock and the rain was still pattering away on the large vertical windows as the winds howled into the dark abyss.
The day's events left her exhausted. All she wanted to do was sleep. Her belongings were brought to the massive bedroom suite fitted with a king's size bed, an exceptionally large closet and desk. The furnishings were made of maple and oak, along with the usual gold decor here and there to match the rest of the household. She crawled under the many blankets, took off a pendant accented with a sapphire gemstone, and placed it on the night stand.
She allowed her mind to go blank as the soft, comforting mattress and pillows engulfed her. Exhaustion, worry and fear were slowly replaced by calm, steady breathing as her eyes shut out the lively world into unconsciousness.
*{*}*
The first week living with The Varia was definitely above normal. Way above normal. In fact, they would qualify for their own customary category if they could. Every morning was beyond crazy, no one bothered to even ask for her name. They were either too busy shouting at each other or heading out for a mission. This allowed the woman to observe their individual personalities and get to know them.
The tall eccentric man with colourful hair was Lussuria, who had introduced himself the night of her arrival. Also known as Varia's Sun Guardian, he was the most excited after finding out a female joined their little dysfunctional group. He considered himself as their big sister. She soon found out why; Lussuria was always found helping out the Famiglia any way he could through household chores, cooking and shopping. The shopping, he was most excited about that. She couldn't help but sarcastically wonder, why?
The blond knife freak was Belphegor, also known as Bel, or Prince the Ripper. He considered himself a prince and a genius, which explained the tiara, but was a dangerous one to say the least. The woman made a mental note about highly possible psychotic mannerisms.
Their Lightning Guardian was a quiet one, Leviathan, or Levi for short. Apparently, he was in love with their boss, so Bel said. She could slightly understand why after observing him constantly at the boss' side any chance he got. He lived off the obsession.
Fran was their replacement illusionist. He always came up with fun, negative remarks to use on the others while speaking in his unusually, loveable mono-tone voice. The boy rarely showed any emotion at all, even when Bel would stab him with knives.
Finally, there was Varia's Rain Guardian, Superbi Squalo. He had beautiful, long silver hair resulting from his devotion to the boss, a bad temper and a deafening voice. The swordsman avoided her presence ever since the incident upon her arrival. She hoped to keep it that way.
Point taken, they truly were an unruly group of individuals. The woman found herself sitting on a green sofa in the common room alone, quietly laughing at the small misfortunes she got herself involved with. There was never a dull moment in the mansion.
She looked out the window at the vast greenery and bright skies. It was another beautiful day. Lussuria and Fran were on a mission and due back soon, Levi was patrolling the corridors upstairs, Squalo was training some recruits, Bel was nowhere to be found and she sensed a presence next to her for the fifteenth time that week. Yes, she kept track.
Every time she'd look up from reading, or around the room, there was no one. It would happen at random. Fran wasn't here, so she knew it wasn't an illusion. She reminded herself to ask him about it once he got back.
It might just be her imagination after spending a good portion of every day in the same quiet room alone.
The woman turned her attention back to the book in her hands, ignoring the imaginative disturbance. A few minutes passed before she felt the same presence much closer, and this time, in front of her. Perhaps whatever it was would stop once she spoke out loud.
"I know you're there." She said knowingly, believing it was just her imagination once more.
"You really are one of them."
She cocked an eyebrow as a tiny voice responded and manifested itself in mid-air. A small baby revealed itself in the similar Varia uniform with a bright pacifier around its neck. An Arcobaleno?
"That's correct."
Her muscled tightened as her thoughts were no longer her own. "So it was you who's been giving off that presence."
"I'm surprised you picked up on it the first time." The infant replied. "I'm Mammon."
The small infant hovered down on the sofa next to her.
"And what do I owe an Arcobaleno for being blessed with his presence?" She asked.
"Normally, I would charge a substantial fee but I'll make this meeting an exception since you seem like a trustworthy ally." Mammon responded amusingly.
"Oh?"
"There are questions that need answering."
She became hesitant. The Varia weren't given any information about her past, which the Vongola uneasily respected. It was only natural for others to become curious when one knows so little of another.
"I haven't heard of a Gallante Family."
"That's because there isn't one."
Mammon eyed her under his hood. "Are there any boundaries you don't want me to cross?"
Everything. She really didn't want to go through this. It would have been much easier if she was strapped to a chair and forced to confess her life story after hours of inhumane torture with everyone present. That would be the ideal circumstance.
"You're name is Illeana Gallante, born May 5th, and 30 years old. You master in close-quarters combat, carry a specially-crafted dagger as your weapon. That's all we know."
She relaxed once Mammon finished their one-way conversation. They really didn't know anything about her.
"There's something that tells me you possess something, intriguing." He informed.
The young boy vanished as the pitter-patter of footsteps quickly echoed down the halls. Illeana reached out to the infant's last known position, only to find he was still there. Gently picking him up, she held him in her lap. Holding the infant, she somehow felt at ease.
"Mammon, may I ask you a question?"
"That depends."
"How were you able to read my thoughts?" With that, the infant pondered her question.
"I couldn't."
"Shishishi, found ya!" Bel stormed the room. Disappointment struck the young blonde's face only to find Illeana awkwardly holding a book at the edge of her knees, surprised by his presence. He surveyed the room before drawing his attention back to her position.
"Looking for something?" She asked, attempting to look as bored and uninterested as possible. Enthused, the prince inched closer, his face leaning in. He snickered at her distaste in the close proximity.
"The prince is looking for someone. Maybe the peasant can help." With that, he scooped up the book and tossed it aside as he waved his hand between the two of them. She watched him with the utmost concern. He must have left after his royal highness entered the room.
"I know you're in here you little brat!" Bel called out, "Shishishi, now come out."
Illeana sighed.
"Bel-senpai, who are you talking to you?" Fran walked in closely followed by Lussuria. The mono-tone voice presented itself with a big frog hat, bright green hair and eyes, while holding the baby, Mammon, in his arms.
The prince lunged for the little guy. Illeana could have sworn the baby smiled before the mass clasped in Bel's hands turned to mist and disintegrated out of sight.
"So the mission went well?" She asked, attempting to change the subject. Bel soon lost interest and retired next to her on the sofa and took out a few knives, hidden within his sleeve. He threw them one at a time at the wall ahead.
"We'll discuss that later. The boss has a mission for you." Lussuria responded excitedly.
"A mission?"
"Yes, isn't this wonderful?" He expressed happily. "Sadly, I won't be able to join you on your first one."
Palm to the face in disappointment, Lussuria sighed. "Oh well, you better go upstairs dear, you too Bel."
"The prince does not take-"
"My my, if you don't hurry, the boss will get very upset!"
Bel clenched his teeth and strolled away irritated as their mother-like colleague shooed them out of the room.
*{*}*
Illeana pushed open the door to the office of their boss. She walked into the lavishly decorated room and sat herself down on the opposite side of Belphegor, in front of the pre-occupied desk.
"Voi! You called boss?"
The swordsman joined moments later and approached the seating area. He remained standing, arms crossed and awaiting further instruction.
Xanxus examined them with beady, red eyes before throwing a classified file at the strategy captain.
"There are a few pieces of trash that need to be taken out."
Bel relaxed in his chair, arms stretched over the frame, "Ushishi, sounds fun."
His eyes narrowed at the optimism, "You're going to Turin."
Illeana blinked in confusion. Turin. It's such an odd place, at the North-west coastline of Italy.
"...family...collect information...eliminate hostile presence..." Squalo mumbled, reading the file in his hands.
Xanxus' eyes began to fume with rage as always. It was part of who he was but was never a good sign. His crimson eyes were lying upon her frame with eliminating intents. Her body grew tense in the silence.
"Voi! What kind of mission is this?" Squalo demanded.
Ignored, the swordsman stepped closer, waving the file in front of his boss. Without taking his gaze off the young woman, Xanxus threw his glass effortlessly at Squalo's head.
"VOIII!" Rubbing the area of impact he readied himself to retaliate.
"Trash, you're leaving in one hour. Get ready." Xanxus commanded, darting a homicidal glare at the trio. Illeana remained speechless. There was no doubt that they would definitely find long lost secrets exposed to their greedy curiosity. She was afraid of what they may find, for her uncertainty slowly grew into fear.
*{*}*
A prickling feeling shuddered up Illeana's spine as their destination slowly came into view under the setting sun. The short flight to the small city left her whole body tense as she tried to connect the dots with the semi-familiar location. However, she retained no solid memory of the place but it wasn't a good feeling.
The black car pulled over on the side of the road, away from a mansion-like estate ahead. The two Varia officers got out, followed by Illeana. She quivered at the sudden change in temperature. A cool breeze brushed past them, sending shivers through her body. No, it was the nervous feeling one got when someone found out something that wasn't supposed to be found.
While the estate was deemed abandoned, it was still best to proceed with caution. It was located on the edge of a cliff, next to the ocean just outside of Turin. The many windows were barred shut and natural overgrowth dominated the many walkways and stone-crafts leading to the entrance. There were no gates or brick walls surrounding the property either, just trees and shrubs that have since long become untamed. Hostile presences were reported around the area. The Vongola believed it had to do with a famiglia that disbanded decades ago, so the trio were sent to investigate.
They moved to the front doors in silence. Something doesn't feel right.
"Ushishi, is the peasant scared?" Bel inquired. He monitored her timid movements from behind as they neared their destination. She returned a deathly glare, mutely warning him.
"No." And why do you keep calling me that?
"Don't lie to the prince." He said wittily. A grin plastered his face as he brushed past her, purposefully leaving her at the rear. It wasn't that she was afraid; her conscience was just setting off red alarms in her head. Get a grip Illeana; you're part of an assassination squad now. Don't let something so foolish sway your thoughts and easily interfere with your work.
"Voi, keep your voices down! I want to get this over with." Squalo hissed impatiently as he kicked the rusted doors open with his boot.
"So much for being quiet..." She mumbled.
He stepped through first, never letting his guard down. The remaining sunlight bathed the interior with a soft golden glow. Webs and dust overlaid the walls and scattered items that have remained in their current location since its abandonment. They swiftly and quietly surveyed every room on the main floor, retrieving little information. It was a quick process since most of the rooms consisted of large, ravishing furniture for seating areas, which has succumbed to decay after the many years, and a kitchen. Broken glass and wood splinters littered the floor, making it difficult to move undetected.
Out of disinterest, the two Varia officers retraced back to a staircase near the entrance, leading up to the next level. Illeana trailed behind. It definitely wasn't the kind of mission she had hoped for. Crushed glass and debris echoed through the silent hallways. Squalo pushed through the first door closest to him on the left. Shelving units crossed the walls on both sides of an exceptionally large desk and a floor-length window over-looking the ocean. Despite the wrecked room and aged furnishings, the view was quite nice.
"Looks like our luck hasn't run out after all," she said, maneuvering around the desk.
"Only peasants need luck." Bel smirked as he lightly shoved papers and any other junk around him, clearly not entertained in the petty task.
"Bel, hurry up and help us with these files!" Squalo hollered with irritation. He scanned through the mountains of financial assets and documentations pertaining to a former family from the estate. Nothing of interest or equal importance presented itself so he moved on to the bookshelves along the wall. The prince left the room out of boredom, hands resting behind his head and continued a sweep of the higher levels.
Illeana pulled out a wooden chair and sat down behind the desk. She sifted through paperwork scattered before her, organizing it into piles as she went. Many pages were faded, possibly from the constant sunlight exposure. Something caught her attention beneath the many files.
"Hmm?"
She lifted a light folder, freeing it from the debris and dust before looking inside. A letter fell into her lap. She opened the envelope and carefully took out its contents. A distant squeal momentarily filled the silence before fading into the ruffling of papers. Illeana looked over at Squalo, who remained focused on the search for anything valuable. She figured it was a small animal or her skeptical imagination, and then returned to the letter held in her hands. I really need to stop worrying.
The letter too, was mostly faded. Only a few words and sentences were visible here and there.
...Saveria Family...a new weapon to secure mafia standings...flame-testing...retreated...Frederico eliminated...new threat...Vongola...June 3rd...
She stared at the writing, overwhelmed. What is this?-
"What the..."
Illeana turned to face the swordsman. He was gripping the papers, reading its contents extensively.
"Did you find something?" She asked. Rolling her eyes from lack of a response, she took a deep breath.
"SQUALO!"
"VOI! What the hell woman?" He threw his arms down in a huff beyond content after losing concentration. She sighed at the outburst. There was no getting anywhere with this man. He suddenly raised his hand holding the papers, as if he forgot or was about to say something important.
"Are you related to Frederico Gallante?" He asked, not looking away from the papers.
"Excuse me?"
"ARE YOU DEAF? I ASKED IF YOU'RE RELATED TO SOME GUY CALLED FRED-"
"I heard you the first time." She interrupted. The swordsman paused before facing her, temper rising.
"DON'T get me in a bad mood and answer the damn question." He growled in response. His voice attempted to remain steady.
"Perhaps you should learn to control yourself." She taunted. He noticed her hand resting firmly over the dagger on her right thigh. A smirk curved the corner of his mouth. She had nerve to have unvoiced a challenge with the Second Sword Emperor. Squalo was more than glad to take her on a second time. He refused to be stopped again.
"Ushishishi, the prince can hear you from the basement." Bel exclaimed through their transmitters. The signal cut off as the floor began to shake. Several explosions resounded through the halls from the lower levels, collapsing upon impact from an unidentifiable force.
"Bel? Voi, BEL! What happened?" Squalo yelled through the transmitter as he walked out by the staircase. Smoke filled the air from below as part of the stairs caved in. There went their escape route.
His intuition told him to turn around. As he did so, his sword came into contact with two bodily masses; their clothing glitched for a moment before falling down the steps past the shark, immobile. He sensed a strong presence surrounding him thus raising his sword, ready to attack the newly invisible foe.
Illeana had remained in the office room. She too, sensed a strong presence within the estate. Dagger in hand, she carefully made her way around the desk, attempting to remain quiet. She peered out the door before entering the hall. Squalo was nowhere in sight. Faint sounds of metal clashing against each other and thumps reverberated from above. She suspected he was above her. The other side was completely blocked off by the floor from the next level. The ceiling posed for a sturdy ramp from the cave-in. However, she needed to get out of the building which meant going down, not up.
There should have been another exit near the end of the corridor, but she was introduced to a dead end. Another explosion rung through the air, this time the wall burst and sent Illeana flying through the opposite wall into a parallel room. Her body ached as she tried to squirm her way out of boulder-sized chunks of wood, brick and concrete reinforcement. She squinted, trying to rid herself of the haziness after her head made contact with the hard surface. Her vision remained a light blur. She blinked several times trying to clear her surroundings, only to stumble through the rubble on hands and knees.
A cold aura draped over the room.
She paused, lowering herself as close to the ground as possible. A memory of a tall, dark man with an outstretched hand, hidden behind shadows flashed through her mind. It felt like someone was reaching out to her, for her. She steadied her breathing as a cool, foreign object gently slid behind her. The dagger was lost beneath the rubble so she had to rely on hand-to-(hopefully) hand combat and prayed whatever was present, would be taken by surprise.
In a second, Illeana gathered her wits and pushed herself to the side of the room.
"Ah, ah, ah..." She froze, not that she had a choice. Something or someone grabbed hold of her neck from behind. She felt a subconscious change. Her dazed mind grew dark as memories were easily injected into her conscious brain. Is this an illusion?
"How could you possibly misinterpret, let alone insult such lively recollections!"
Who's speaking? The grasp around her neck tightened. Her airway slowly and desperately sought fresh, crisp air to fill her incapacitating lungs.
"You possess something of great value dear Illeana, something which belongs to us." A bitter, clammy hand rested lightly over her chest, barely touching her exposed skin from beneath her coat. Her blurred vision intensified. Ignoring the visual sensors, reflexes kicked in as she swung her leg behind her captor and yanked forward with all her might. The dead weight crashed to its knee, loosening the grip around her neck. She took the opportunity to elbow the unlucky bastard above the diaphragm, freeing herself completely.
"Not bad."
A sharp pain jolted up her leg as she attempted to stand. Without a clear sight, Illeana wouldn't be able to fight let alone find a safe place to hide. Where's Bel and Squalo at a time like this? They should have wiped out the rest with no problems.
She turned the feeling over like an unnatural emotion. She was part of the Varia, an elite assassin. Why was she dismissing her own skills without thought? Confidence? Pride?
Illeana mustered any remaining strength and stood, ignoring the aches and pains throbbing over her body. She had to prove not only to everyone around her, but to herself that she could take on at least one enemy alone. She wasn't weak at all, her current situation just so happened to be a bit challenging and unexpected, that's all.
She drearily fixed her attention on the shadowy figure as strong arms lunged around her body ruthlessly. The force staggered the two into the back window, overlooking the water. Glass shattered upon impact as Illeana tried to free herself from his grasp. It was only in the setting sun that she was able to vaguely distinguish a middle-aged man with dark hair and menacing eyes before turning her around; hands held behind her back as another set of icy fingers forced themselves into the back of her neck like claws.
Her upper body was forced over the stone railing. Pain soothed all affected areas into numbness. She was beginning to drift into unconsciousness.
Waves crashed into the rocks below. One wrong move and you'd fall to your death.
"Now, where is IT?"
Unsatisfied, a surge of afflicting pain swept up her body as the man released her neck and focused on an open wound to her upper thigh. She clamped her mouth shut, refusing to show full signs of agony. This only amused him to grab hold of her neck once more and jerk her forward, pushing her body further over the edge.
Gravity took its toll as a necklace she wore around her neck freed itself from the confinements of the coat and swung back and forth. The man was suddenly drawn to it like a bird to bright, shiny objects. The purple sapphire pendant sparkled in the diminishing light across the horizon.
The stunned man loosened his grip in awe as he reached for the small, fascinating necklace only to lose focus on balance. The dead weight of the woman slipped from his fingers. Without hesitation she grabbed the man's clothing and the two fell off the railing, crashing with incoming waves as they broke the water's surface in a blinding light.
For a brief moment, the cool waters soothed her aching form only to transition back to painful stabs as she drifted further from the surface. Signals alerted her of the danger and carbon dioxide rising in her lungs but her limbs were unresponsive.
A dark shape slowly drifted in the distance. The crimson-tinted waters faded out of sight into the black abyss. She couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. The last glimmer of light reflected off her pendant as she gave in to unconsciousness, forever.
*{*}*
Faint footsteps paced in the darkness. Small whispers filtered through attentive ears recounting their unique stories. It was difficult to distinguish what was being told as they meshed into one single tone. Eyelids flickered open, scanning the area. Where am I?
The room was dark except for a stray light bathing the corner on a nightstand. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, foreign surroundings told Illeana that she wasn't back at Varia headquarters.
She scanned the room, intent on solving the small mystery of her current location. A plain, white bed set covered her frail body, a metal tray with unidentified objects rested on top of a cabinet on the other side of the bed and her Varia jacket was folded over a chair with one crutch leaning against the arm.
With a small stretch to check her condition, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. A jolt of pain raced up her left side. Dark eyes widened as the covers receded with a quick gesture from her hand. She examined thick bandages bulging around her upper thigh. It was an unfortunate reminder of the previous battle despite the little memory that was retained.
What was more troubling was her current attire; a white, frilly cotton dress that came down to the knees. She never owned such a thing before and wondered where it came from.
The soft material slid freely as she stood, carefully balancing her weight on the right. She hopped on one foot to the leather chair and slipped into her jacket. The drawers and closet hid no other garments from sight except her black boots. Luckily, the injury didn't swell below the knee which allowed her to tie them with ease.
Grabbing the crutch, Illeana opened the door stealthily. A flash of light spilled through the crack, lighting the dark contours of the room. She observed both ends of the long hallway. Light fixtures lined the walls in a soft glow as they reflected off the dark wooden floors. Praying no one would spot her in her current state, she began her search down one end of the hall.
Not a living soul was present.
The last thing she wanted was someone seeing her in nothing but a dress and jacket. Or was it a nightgown? She pondered the mysteries while in search of much needed answers.
After several minutes had passed limping, a loud voice interrupted the quiet expedition. Illeana stopped in front of an open door to a tall man in short, white hair and a fancy black suit, back turned and yelling, "...but my flames were rejected to the EXTREME!"
The ecstatic man seemed frustrated over an unknown issue as he raised his fists in the air. Behind him, a young man and woman sat on a luxurious sofa, attentive to his concerns.
The two looked up at the new presence. Lack of attention from his colleagues focused the white-haired man's attention to the Varia assassin standing whimsically behind him.
"I don't think all you're flames went to waste, Ryohei." The young man occupying the sofa stood. He sported an olive-green trench coat and had beautiful blonde hair parted to one side. The swell of emotion relieved some tension from her chest at a familiar sight.
"Dino..."
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" He responded with a gentle smile all too common. "This is Ryohei Sasagawa, Vongola's Sun Guardian. He aided in your recovery which we'll discuss shortly."
The white-haired man straightened his stature, gave a stern nod as he offered his hand and lead Illeana to a seat next to Dino and the female accomplice. It appeared that they were expecting her. She turned back to Dino to begin the end to all of her questions.
"If you'd like to know what happened during your leave, I can tell you." The new voice was sweet and friendly. Eyes settled on the feminine silhouette next to the Cavallone boss. Her eyes were a serene blue and deep, straight crimson hair framed her face perfectly while wearing the same garments as the Vongola Guardian.
More importantly, how long was she out? Illeana clenched her teeth, preventing any sound from escaping. Her new acquaintance reassured their current situation with another warm smile.
"As Mr. Sasagawa tended to your wounds, it appeared that the Sun Flames reacted with your necklace, resulting in an unexpected and unfortunate circumstance." The woman paused, allowing Illeana to absorb the reality of her words. "You fell asleep for three days. You're body somehow rejected the flames and all other treatment provided."
The Sun Guardian folded his arms across his chest, nodding in agreement. Illeana extended a hand to her neck. Her pulse quickened. She was asleep for several days, big deal. The necklace wasn't present, so what did they do with it?
"That pendant seems to be very important to you."
Illeana studied the woman. Her face shared no expression other than the same gentle smile as Dino. She figured this would turn into a lovely cross-examination.
"It was a family heirloom." She responded evenly.
The woman observed the Varia jacket for only a moment as she carefully worded her next phrase. It didn't suit the one wearing it. Eyes flicked up from the emblem on its sleeve.
The so-called assassin appeared too innocent like a lost child to ever be considered a killer. One must possess a skill that rivals the Varia's in order to receive acceptance amongst their squad. Everything happened for a reason, so there must be a reason why this person was classified as a top-level killer among the Vongola Family. Determination pushed the woman to voice reality.
"You're being hunted like a stray dog." She reached down to her side and tossed several files on the table between them. "These are remnants gathered from your mission. Apparently, a valuable weapon disappeared from a small family along with their boss sixty-three years ago."
The Sun Guardian however, stood impatiently trying to remain focused on the petty conversation. He and Dino exchanged quick glances at the Varia assassin's irritation. They all knew her attentiveness was on high alert upon waking up to an unfamiliar sight, separated from her comrades and being partly interrogated by people she never met before.
"The files also mention the execution of a man which took place approximately twenty-five years ago outside his home in southern Italy." Dino added.
"That man," the woman began, "was supposedly your father."
Claustrophobia clouded Illeana's thoughts as the air around them thickened. She reminded herself it was just a trick of the mind, but the truth was beginning to spread like spilt milk.
She hoped for an end to the mentality of it all. Too bad it was wishful thinking.
She couldn't help but stare at the documents. She wanted to congratulate them on their findings. However, it was old news and information she already had access to. Not that they knew that.
"What does that have to do with my current situation?" She asked.
"Everything."
"Something extremely important must have happened for you to be under the Varia's care."
Everyone turned to Ryohei. The attention didn't damper his assertion in the slightest. In fact, he became more persistent.
"While I don't remember all the details, octopus-head and Sawada were stunned by your predisposition of somehow remaining undetected by enemy radars...for years."
"If the enemy doesn't know who or what to look for, they pose no threat." Illeana responded.
She was growing tired of this nonsense. These three resembled your best friends trying to encourage verbal communications as the primary solution to all your problems.
So far, anyway, but Ryohei didn't budge.
The Cavallone boss vacated his seat. He too grew tired of the tension that was starting to get them nowhere. He knew she wanted answers, they all did.
"Tests were run after the failed treatment in order to find a solution to help you medically."
Shadows cascaded over his face as he titled his head down from her watchful eyes. He let out a calm sigh before continuing, still unsure if his actions would retain any value at this point.
"You emitted a flame Illeana, one that we never thought possible."
He walked over to her and held out his hand. From the loose grasp, he opened his palm as a crystal-clear blue jewel dwindled from the thin, silver chain before her eyes.
*{*}*
Hearing about the report was no surprise to the Varia boss, Xanxus. In fact, it was quite amusing. He enjoyed sitting in his over-sized chair, arms and legs crossed while listening to Squalo recount the mission's details with a hint of annoyance.
A change of atmosphere was always welcome. Especially, since it involved the fanatical swordsman.
Well that was the only exception; Squalo's misfortune.
Regardless, they'd managed to retrieve valuable Intel from a small, disbanded family. Soon after, the trio were ambushed. The abandoned mansion was not so abandoned after all.
Bel went on a blood-infested killing-spree and wiped out most of their foe. Squalo even fell silent as he tried to explain something about a bright light, a disintegrated body turned to ash and their newest member almost drowning. Almost.
The image of her lifeless body drifting away will forever remain embedded in his mind.
She got lucky.
He looked away from the wide screen trying to understand the logic of what had happened. Connecting the details reminded him of a jig-saw puzzle with those small pieces. He hated puzzles.
"Squalo, are you alright?" Lussuria's voice rang through the integrated speaker system. "This isn't like you."
The swordsman cringed in response. He barely heard the worried question as he contemplated the possibilities of their situation with a half dead girl. Rather, his situation with a half dead girl. Bel was lucky enough to head back to headquarters while Squalo was stuck baby-sitting.
"Shishishi. Looks like our Strategy Captain is worried about someone."
"The hell I'm not!" Squalo waved his sword in disagreement. No, he was worried but not about her. He would rather die than admit something so weak.
"I hope she'll be alright." Lussuria leaned his palm into his cheek with worry. "If only I were there..."
"VOIII! Weren't you listening? Flames. Don't. WORK!"
Xanxus leaned further in his seat as the corners of his mouth curved upwards. A witty idea struck the Varia boss.
"Five days."
All communications came to a halt. He had their full, undivided attention.
"In five days, she better be ready." He clarified with a quick display of one of his guns.
"But Boss! There's no way she'll be able to-"
Menacing eyes cut Lussuria's concern short. No one else dared to defy his motives.
Irritated that he now had more work to deal with, Squalo cut the conversation even shorter.
"Fine." Damn, shitty boss.
A memory filled the emptiness in the dark corners of her mind. Small, glassed eyes widened in the tight embrace. The closet doors provided poor vision between the slits from the outside. A tall shadow had crashed to its knees with a grunt.
A voice echoed through conscientious ears, rebounding off every wall and object, never to be forgotten again. Warm, wet fluid streamed down her cheeks as she held her breath. The grip around her body tightened, placing a gentle hand over her mouth.
Two steps forward. The wooden floors never lied. A metallic clink replaced the deep breathing of the shadowed figures. Silence awaited its breakthrough long enough.
One shot broke the unspoken stability.
The past was forgotten. History would soon repeat itself.
Illeana stood as still as a statue for just under an hour, contemplating the idea of leaving the crazy mafia world behind. Slender hands loosely encased the doorknobs to the main entrance.
No, that would be too easy.
The Vongola knew all her secrets and it would take little effort to catch her if she tried to run. This was her family now, whether she liked it or not. Guilt engulfed stray emotions the more she permitted her conscience to take over. Sacrifices have already begun.
Three steps strode forward.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Annoyance filled the man's words. Illeana cautiously looked over her shoulder to the tall man in Varia uniform with long, silver hair. Squalo.
"Why do you want to know?"
A nerve twitched. The polite sarcasm in her tone threw him for a loop. He moved himself between her and the door, forcing her hands off the handles.
"I have the right." He said, irritated.
"Is that so?" She reached for the handle only to be stopped mid-way.
"You're not going anywhere."
"You're not my boss."
He took the words into short consideration until the click of a door opened to his right. The cool, night breeze gently blew past him. The girl was fast for someone with a leg injury.
"Voiii! You little piece of trash—"
"Call me that again and you'll be trashed."
Illeana swung the crutch at him as fair warning. He grabbed the end unconcerned and pulled it closer, causing her to lose balance.
Her body was thrown into him from the force. One strong arm caught her before hitting the ground and the other held onto the opened door handle for support.
Why he reflexively prevented her body from falling, he didn't know.
Once again, he was faced with questionable dark eyes and a tight grip on his upper arm. A strange sensation washed through him as time pressed on over the few seconds they shared. Relief swept over his muscles, a relaxed feeling. He could have sworn his body felt lighter, but only for a second.
"Umm...Squalo?"
He blinked back to reality, staring her down a few seconds longer before hoisting her body over his shoulder.
"H-hey! Put me down!"
"Not happening."
Within minutes of brisk steps up the lavished staircase and down the halls, he opened a door to a small room. Quickly, but carefully he placed Illeana on the nearby bed and headed back to the door without hesitation.
"You start training tomorrow."
She looked at him, slightly shocked. "Excuse me?"
"Orders, from the Boss." He responded with aggravation before shutting the door behind him, not wanting to continue.
Illeana threw her head back onto the soft pillows in a huff. The whole day was full of stress for everyone but to begin training in less than 24 hours upon waking up just wasn't ethical. She cursed herself for seeing it coming. Still, she'll have to prove not only to her boss, but to everyone that a simple injury won't keep her down.
She raised a hand in the air above her face and studied the small jewel dangling back and forth. A smile curved her mouth at the accepted challenge.
"Let the training begin."
Six days later...
A pen continuously tapped the wooden surface of a polished desk. Dino paused, watching the young, crimson-haired woman gaze out a window next to him before resuming the taps. A private jet left a short while ago. Both were nervous.
"Could you please stop that?"
The shattered silence scared Dino out of his seat, dropping the pen in the process.
"Sorry about that." He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment before reaching down to retrieve the pen.
"Do you think she's ready?" The woman asked, not breaking her gaze from the window.
"Why do you ask?" Dino went to stand up but crashed to the floor after hitting his head on the underside of the desk. "Ow, ow, ow!"
The young woman sighed at his adversity. "Five days isn't enough time. Her training was incomplete."
"Heh."
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. You just worry too much." He eased himself back in his chair. She turned to him.
"She's not a fighter."
Dino looked down at the papers in front of him. There were various Vongola files, invoices sent from the Cavallone family and other information neatly piled on top of each other.
"No, but she could change the tides of this new war." He stated.
She watched him scan the top file. The Vongola have been persistent when it came to collecting information and organization.
"I just don't understand his motives at this point."
Dino strayed from the documents in his hands. "Who? Xanxus?"
"Yes."
"Enrica, he won't kill her." He reassured.
She got up from her seat and moved next to the Cavallone boss.
"Besides, she's protected. Even if Xanxus tried to kill her upon arrival, he would be stopped before he even had the chance to break through her skin." A smirk crossed his face at her disbelief.
"I guess I'll never fully understand that man." She said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. You know him better than most, next to Tsuna."
She chucked a nearby book at him in amusement. Dino ducked just in time as it grazed the top of his golden hair. He couldn't help but laugh.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed reading this so far! (Especially my poor attempt at humour, haha!)
Translations that will come in handy in the near future:
Illeana = Italian meaning "Pure"
Enrica = Italian meaning "Home Ruler"
Saveria Family = "New House"