HI...

I've been writing a lot lately. So much that I keep forgetting to work on my actual homework. And sorry that it's a bit slow still, it'll pick up soon. I should know, I've already written at least the next three chapters. Any time I get the chance, whether it's on my phone, at my computer, or on a piece of paper.

And you all are so awesome, thank you so much for putting up with me. It's making me so happy to see how many people who have taken the time to read it. I don't really care about reviews (although I do really appreciate them and any tips or advice would be soooooooooooooooooooo helpful), but people reading it is enough for me. Seriously, the highlight of my day.

Anyways, enjoy the new chapter, and there are many more to come! *Love!*

"Where is that wanker anyway?" Arthur asked. "Usually he only takes one day for a scouting mission, but it's been three days now!"

Honda Kiku and Lovino looked at each other. Neither of them thought that he would be gone this long. Maybe something happened? Or maybe he really was just enjoying himself.

"I wouldn't worry." Lovino, much to Kiku's surprise, said. "We all know that Feliciano can take care of himself. And if something did happen, he would have sent us some sort of message. He always does."

"Even so" Mathias said, standing up. "While he's incapable of leading us on his -ahem- "scouting mission", we should appoint a temporary leader. I vote for me. Oh, I gladly accept the position!"

Lovino was a about to erupt, but Kiku laid a hand on his arm. "The Capo Bastone is the second in command." Kiku explained, as calm as ever. " And since Lovino is our Capo Bastone, he is automatically in charge." Mathias sat down, annoyed.

"Well I've had about enough of this!" Felix shouted suddenly. "I hate all this sitting around!" He stormed out of the room, grabbing his coat. Mathias and Elizabeta stood up with him, Mathias picking up Toris on the way out. Kiku couldn't keep Lovino calm anymore.

"And where do you think you're going?!" Lovino exploded, his face as red as a tomato.

"To rob a bank or kill someone! I don't know, something!" Elizabeta stressed. "But waiting around is getting us no where!"

"Just don't let the cops or media catch you." Roderich said, not even paying attention. Lovino was about to tackle the four and shoot them in the head. It took Antonio and Kiku to hold him down and stop him from getting his gun out.

"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARDS! GET BACK HERE, DAMMIT!" Lovino shouted. But it was too late. The four had already gone out the door.

"That idiot can't tell me what to do." Mathias fumed. Felix vigorously nodded his head. Elizabeta stared blankly, while Toris looked like he was about to cry from fear. "We'll show them, right Felix?"

"What? Oh, right! We'll definitely show them! uh, what exactly are we showing them?"

"That they're all idiots! And that we're stronger, and I should be in charge. Right?"

"Nope! Oh wait, I mean yep!"

"Good. Elizabeta? Toris?"

"I think I should be in charge, but I agree with you with everything else." Elizabeta said.

"Uh! I - I d-don't... B-but-" Toris stammered.

"Good enough for me!" Mathias yelled, cutting off Toris. "Let's head into town and see what we can do to prove how much stronger we are."

"You mean you said all that without even having a plan?" Elizabeta smirked.

"I'm making it up as I go, ok!" Mathias shouted.

Feliciano looked out the window half dreaming. He couldn't believe that Ludwig was so... amazing. The sun was setting, but he never wanted it to end. His family wouldn't mind if he spent another day in town, would they? Besides, scouting missions usually took at least a week. So it was settled. Feliciano decided, with a broad smile on his face, that he would stay at least four more days with Ludwig. What was the harm in that? Ludwig came back from the bathroom just as their food came in.

"Let's eat." Ludwig said.

"Yeah!" Feliciano exclaimed.

Mathias stormed across the block, the others tailing not far behind. They had been wandering around all day, and so far there was no sign of Feliciano. And there was absolutely nothing or no one to attack. Nothing interesting, at least. Mathias stopped at a window to some fancy restaurant, the others almost running into him from the sudden halt.

"What is your problem?" Elizabeta asked.

Mathias peered closer into the window. "Isn't that... Feliciano?" The other three peered into the window now, too.

Felix gasped. "It is!"

"I wonder what he's doing here?" Toris wondered out loud. "And who is that man with him?"

"Probably someone Feliciano is planning to kill." Elizabeta stated. "You know Feliciano, and that man looks pretty loaded."

Feliciano was having the time of his life. They were still laughing and having fun, all the way through dessert. Ludwig wouldn't stop getting whipped cream on Feliciano's nose, and Feliciano wouldn't stop laughing about it. Some time passed, and they ran out of dessert to play with. They temporarily ran out of things to talk about, and the laughing had died down. Both stared and smiled weakly at each other. Feliciano couldn't understand why, but his heart was racing. Ludwig started leaning closer, and Feliciano found that he was doing the same. Before he knew what was happening, their lips had locked. He was a little shocked at first, but then closed his eyes and kissed back. Feliciano could hear the blood rushing through his head as Ludwig's tongue explored the inside of his mouth. They broke, both slightly panting from the long kiss, and looked in one another's eyes. Feliciano was the first to lean in for the second kiss, and both smiled into it. Feliciano's face was red hot, but he could tell that Ludwig's also was, so he didn't care. A thought dawned on him. He loved Ludwig. And nothing else mattered.

Mathias, Elizabeta, Felix, and Toris felt their jaws drop. Not only did their leader kiss this strange man, but they kissed twice! And Feliciano wasn't even holding a gun to the man's head like he would if it was a girl he wanted something out of.

Mathias suddenly started laughing. "This is great! Now I know exactly how I'm going to bring Feliciano down! Once word of this gets out, his reputation will be ruined! And Lovino, that stuck up bastard, will be so embarrassed, that he'll be forced to step down! And once he does, I'll take Feliciano's place! My plan is fool proof!"

"So, what, are you just going to tell everyone that Feliciano kissed another man? Who would believe you?" Felix asked.

"No one. They only believe what their eyes can see. Once something happens to this guy, Feliciano will come to his rescue. Then our little "Don" will be forced to don the truth!"

"And how can you be so sure something will happen to the other man?"Toris nervously questioned.

"Oh it will." Mathias replied darkly. "I'll make sure of it." He grinned, an evil glint in his eye.

The room remained cold, the fire unlit. Ivan surveyed everything with a trained eye. Everything was more or less in place. The dart board had two darts hanging from it. Gilbert, the Capo Bastone, always left his place in total disarray. The chair out from under the table, trash on the floor, scattered poker chips and cards. Ivan sighed. He would have done away with Gilbert, once he found out his motives. But Gilbert had made too many connections. And Ivan had no proof. But he might, after this latest development. Just then Francis Bonnefoy, the Consigliere, walked in, interrupting Ivan's thoughts.

Ivan stared at the strange French man. He dressed flashily, talked strangely, and always had a creepy interest in other men. Ivan smiled. They made the perfect match. Francis had no idea what the Russian was thinking, but he went along with it and smiled too.

"Bonjour, Don Ivan. How goes this splendid day?"

"Same as ever, da. And how are the things going with you?"

"Ah, I have news. It really is intéressant."

"Go ahead with the interesting news, da. I'm curious."

"Well, mon ami,* I have good news and bad news. I have confirmed what Gilbert is planning. Apparently he tried to get a few of the other Sgarrista to join him. But since he hasn't acted yet, that isn't proof enough to punish him for treachery. And yet while you are in command, he is still under the laws of the mafia."

"And the good news?" Ivan asked.

Francis smiled. "Ah, you know me so well. I went into town in one of those ugly outfits that you told me to wear on stake-outs."

"And?"

"And it is confirmed. Feliciano is in town. Too bad we have to get this information from Gilbert, the traitor."

"I will be handling Gilbert. You take Wang Yao and a soldier or two to deal with our little friend in town."

"And if he is with someone?" Francis asked. Ivan slowly made his way out the door, his aura going crazy dark.

"Then take them too. We shall be showing them the proper Braginsky greeting." Ivan opened the door "For our enemies." he added as he went through the door. Francis shivered, hearing Ivan's laugh through the now closed door. Man that guy was seriously scary. Francis wondered how anyone dared to oppose him. They had to have some real guts. Francis thought about Gilbert.

"Or," Francis said to no one. "They're just really really stupid."

Gilbert just got a major scolding from Ivan. Wait... could it even be called that? All the crazy leader talked about (calmly, yet terrifyingly, if that's even a word) was telling Gilbert to remember his place, reminding him of the five rules of the mafia- the second one in particular -and saying that if he was to try anything reckless or do anything that could mark him a traitor, then he would get the proper "punishment". Which, Gilbert knew well since he was usually the one to execute traitors, is torture from Ivan, which no one can survive. Gilbert almost lost hope, when suddenly Francis, who was apparently going to lead a mission in town, called in sick. Ivan turned with a sigh to Gilbert.

"I am too busy to be running a mission on my own. Do you think you can be doing this for me? The Vargas leader, Feliciano, is in town. Whether it is for important purposes or personal, I do not know, and frankly do not care. But I want you and Wang Yao to capture him and bring him back here so I can settle a score. Can you do this?"

Gilbert forced himself to remain completely emotionless. "It will be an honor." Without another word, he walked out of the room. Once outside, he grinned. Everything was finally falling into place. He ran to his room to get prepared.

*"mon ami": France says it a lot, and everyone I'm sure is smart enough to guess what it is (except for me, lol. For the longest time I thought it meant "my brother"), but then I actually looked it up and found that it meant "my friend." Which makes sense.

Lol, devious Gilbert. Just wanted to quickly say, I love ALL the characters, even the ones that annoy me like Turkey, or France, or even America sometimes, but the roles just seemed to fit. Gilbert and Ivan are some of my favorites (and you can already begin to tell whats going to happen to those two), but it just seemed right to make them the bad guys. And you'll see why more and more later.

See you all later!