Act Four: It Still Hurts Like Hell
Bang! One bullet shot a plant pot.
Bang! A bullet ricocheted against bullet-proof glass.
Bang! A random subordinate walking by barely dodged as the bullet zoomed by where his head previously was.
"STOP!" Someone bellowed forcibly ripping the gun out of the hazardous hands. Skull looked up, hands now empty. "Kid, what are you doing?" Screamed his new 'boss'.
" Well, Old man, I was just going along with your test to see my abilities." Skull said twitching. These people had decided to see if he was good at anything but riding motorcycles and getting A's in school.
He was put through all sorts of tests. They're still trying to figure out what weapon suits him the most. Guns, knifes, swords, some weird looking blades, chains, staffs... they tried them all so far, and all Skull has managed to do is break unattended targets and nearly kill other family members.
How he managed to do so when they stood what would usually be considered a 'safe' distance no one will ever know.
"Listen up kid all we have left is hand-to-hand combat." Vittorio's eyes became wary, "None of us want to see our lives flash before our eyes, so we're going to watch from that room over there okay? Don't want to be killed by some kid with a split personality."
"I don't have a split personality... ." Skull muttered glaring at his boss purple eyes glowing.
A visible shiver ran down Vittorio's spine and the others present in the training room. "K-kid?" Oh god he was stuttering because of some child!
Skull's eye widened his rage forgotten, and eyes returning to normal, did a mafia boss just stutter? Weird. "Yes?"
Vitorio just stared silently for a while then continued nervously, "Fuhaha, so Ramone will test be the one testing your combat skills."
"Oh, okay then." Skull said blankly. His boss looked like he just had a visit from Death. Mafia bosses sure are different from what he imagined.
Everyone walked stiffly from the room still disturbed by the killing intent Skull had released. One laughed weakly saying something about how Skull probably didn't even need to touch his opponents to win.
The purplette faced the only one left, and the guy was ripped! Skull swore Ramone's muscles had muscles.
Ramone cleared his throat. "Let's get started then." Skull nodded eagerly. It was weird how he felt more comfortable here than when he was with his parents.
The man ran forward feinting a punch, which Skull tried to dodge, but instead swept his right leg under Skull's successfully tripping the boy. Skull quickly scrambled up barely dodging a fist, but the other hand came after him and he managed to catch it. He twisted the hand behind Ramone's back before he had time to counter.
A shocked gasp escaped the man's lips, but was quickly suppressed. Ramone swiftly escaped from Skull's grasp and kicked the kid's stomach. Skull yelped in pain holding his hands to his stomach.
Ramone shot forward trying to restrain Skull to end this quickly. Skull managed to get behind the incoming man and elbowed the side of Ramone's head. He staggered and Skull swept his left leg underneath him. Ramone fell, and landed on the mat he let out a slight 'omph'.
Ramone and Skull stared at each other in shock until Ramone beamed. "Ahihi! It seems that we've finally found you fighting method!"
Skull numbly nodded. "Uh, yeah."
"Bravo, kid! That was indeed impressive." Vittorio said entering, "You have a lot of potential, but still need a lot of training. Now, let's see if we can use that noggin of yours for our advantage." Skull shifted uncomfortably, he's been trying out fighting methods all day.
"Can it wait?" Skull whined, shocking himself how different this whine sounded from his usual.
The Carcassa boss whistled walking out and turned his head, "Tomorrow. Nine AM. Ramone will fetch you." He then left, the door shutting behind him.
Skull lazily brushed his teeth. Once he rinsed his mouth he preceded to take off his make up and lip chain, it was the only piercing he couldn't sleep with on.
Without his makeup he looked... like a different person. He looked almost normal, and not like someone who was just swept into the mafia. He frowned.
From what he had gathered apparently the Carcassa family wasn't well liked because they dealt with drug trafficking and other questionable things. Even knowing this, he couldn't help but feel accepted for once. He wasn't over dramatically crying, extremely whining, or pretending in general. He was to shocked about the current events to even consider putting up his facade.
His act had become such a norm for him that he sometimes didn't know what he himself truly wanted. He also knew that he had come to rely on it, as sort of a barrier. Not to protect himself, but to see who was willing to look beyond and accept him... a barrier he always hoped his mom and dad would see through.
Dammit! I'm just making myself depressed thinking these thoughts! Skull slapped his hands on both sides of his cheeks.
Knock, knock. "Kid! It's me Ramone!"
A small smiled graced Skull's face. He used to try let his facade drop now and then at his old home, but he would quickly reapply it feeling naked. With them, he felt accepted for the first time.
"Wow, this is actually kind of fun! I would question your training methods, but I don't care!" Skull exclaimed.
He was currently being 'forced' to play games. Chess, Risk, and other strategy board games. Skull positioned a chess piece only to exclaim happily, " Check mate!"
Ramone's mouth dropped. This kid just beat the former Italy National Chess Champion!
"Eh?" Skull's opponent exclaimed, "That was... Brilliant! I never saw that coming! It was an honor playing against you, sir. I've learned a lot, maybe now, I'll have a chance at beating that Reboyama*!"
"Reboyama?" Skull asked Ramone as the former champion was escorted out. Ramone looked at him and shrugged.
"Someone named Reboyama has been making his name known in the Chess World." Ramone scratched his chin, "I don't know why, but his name sounds familiar... Well, if it's important I'm sure I'd remember." He laughed.
"This is fun and all, but what does chess have to do with the mafia, do you play chess instead of killing each other?" Skull asked thoughtfully. That wouldn't be bad.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw Ramone shaking. "Ramo-one? Are you oka-?"
"AHIHAHA! HAHA! Hihihi!" Ramone slapped Skull on the back. "Sorry kid, no. That was damn funny though! Mafia settling fights with chess! Hihihi... ."
"What Sir Ramone means is the point of all these games was to test your strategic ability." One of the subordinates present stated timidly.
Skull rose an eyebrow. "I see."
Ramone looked up struggling to keep his laughter down. "Yes. Seeing your performance has proven that you can become an excellent strategist! Maybe even our best, but don't let it get to your head! Oh, and just 'cause you'll be focusing on becoming a strategist doesn't mean you'll get to slack off with your fighting skills, all right?"
Skull nodded. Thank god, I won't have to kill anyone!
Skull's days were spent sparring and working on strategies. His few breaks were spent either riding his motorcycle or sleeping.
During one of the sparring sessions a bullet, that Skull failed to dodge, ripped through his shoulders. He screamed when he felt the searing metal rip through his flesh.
Ramone, who was now officially in charge of his training, ran to him and inspected him wound. He then called for someone to bring Skull to their medical center.
When they arrived Skull's wound had already scabbed over. If he wasn't in so much pain Skull would've laughed at their dumbfounded faces, especially Ramone's.
Skull resisted to itch his arm to not reopen his wound. He stared at his now irritated skin, fingers twitching as it slowing, really slowly, healed. Once healed, Skull tore his eyes from the repaired skin.
"Is that supposed to happen?" He asked nervously, but he wasn't dumb enough to actually believe what just happened was normal. He knew that such an extreme healing rate wasn't physically possible. Well, I guess it is possible now, he thought numbly trying to think back.
He never got hurt often and he never got sick, so he never noticed that when he did receive a rare cut disappeared almost immediately.
Ramone sat their dazed. Holy shit. Not only was this kid a genius, but a mutant or something. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Skull looked at Ramone who was struggling to find words. "Maybe..." the muscle man started.
Skull leaned in.
"… you have super powers."
Skull nearly fell off his chair, but quickly regained balance.
"OI! I know it sounds crazy, but that's some crazy shit that just happened. You must be super human or something!" Ramone sputtered blushing. As a side note, pink did not suit the mafioso's face.
The doctor, Gerard, who was looking at him adjusted his glasses. "This is the first time I've seen anything like this. Because of the rapid rate of healing it almost looked as if you're body absorbed it." He thought for a moment, "If you could do something like that you wouldn't need much of a defense, as your body would heal almost immediately."
I guess that be cool, but it still hurts like hell, Skull mentally whined. He felt someone ruffling his hair.
"That's amazing kid."
"B-boss! Shouldn't you be working?" stuttered Ramone. Vittorio smiled. "I needed a breather and wanted to see how our newest recruit was doing."
Skull looked up, "Hey, Old Man." A vein popped on the Carcassa bosses forehead and his smiled became more strained.
"Must you call me 'Old Man'? I'm only in my 40's ya' know."
Skull smirked, "Must you call me 'kid'? I'm technically a teenager ya' know."
Vittorio sighed defeated. "Fine, I'll call you Skull if you show some respect and call me boss or Terzo*. Okay, Skull?"
Skull mock saluted, "As you wish, boss."
"God dammit! Stop trying to kill me Ramone!" Skull shouted running.
"Kid- I mean, Skull get back here! We have to improve your absorption rate!" Ramone shouted chasing after Skull.
"Why would I willingly let someone break my arm?" The purplette screamed back.
"For training, ki- Skull!" Ramone yelled raising a sludge hammer. Skull's eyes bulged.
In his office the third boss of the Carcassa family spilled his pen ink when he heard a resounding scream of "NOOO! YOU'RE INSANE!".
Did he mention that his chandelier fell? No? Well it did. The fragile crystal broke into little shards.
One million dollars gone.
(A/N) Why did you have to kill the chandelier Skull! Why? TT_TT
* I can't remember Reborn's chess alias, - or if he even had one for that matter - so I went with Reboyama. If anyone knows please let me know!
* Terzo is third in Italian.
I ended this chapter on a lighter note, so hope you guys enjoyed!
Ciao~ Ciao~!