Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update. I intended for this to be for you guys Sunday morning, but it ended up being Monday. This chapter is pretty sad, and I'm glad for the two reviews I got the previous chapter. Thank you guys! Enjoy!

Giotto's Memories

"Hey you boys! I need some help!" Elena called out. She was currently picking some extra vegetables, for the meal they were preparing.

"Sure mom!" G. called out. Him and Giotto were running along the dirt path, collecting flat stones and broken sticks.

Sweat ran down the blonde boy's forehead, and he grinned. The sun had gone down a bit, but the sky was as blue as ever. Butterflies floated about, flying above the trees and the garden. Both the boys walked up to Elena. "Ms. Elena, G. and I collected the things for the fire. Here you go." Giotto dropped the stones and sticks on the ground.

"That's good. Today we're going to have a feast!" Elena responded. "We normally don't get fish, because well… I can't catch anything, and G. is well, he sometime-" G.'s face turned red at this. It was true. He normally didn't catch a single fish. Today was one of those better days.

"Well, anyways!" Elena continued, changing the subject. "Once a month, G. and I head out to the farmer's market. It's pretty far away, so we don't go there often. Since our garden is full of vegetables and flowers, we trade them for some salt and Italian spices. The herbs are saved for special meals." She pulled out a package with a thin piece of rope tied around the top.

G. rubbed his hands together in excitement, and Giotto felt the need to smile too.

Elena paused for dramatic effect and continued. "You guys start the fire, and we'll use vegetables and spices to give the fish some flavor." She untied the bag, and went inside the cottage. Moments later, she appeared with a worn-out steel pot and three long sticks. Two of the sticks had ends sticking out, making it look like a "Y" shape. The other stick was longer, but more rounded and sturdy.

"Those are for-" G. was about to ask, but Elena cut off. "I need to make a fire, so these sticks will work. Now you guys… Hurry up and try to start the fire." Giotto and G. nodded, gave each other a brief look, and sat down on the dirt ground. They tried bashing the rocks together, scraping them against each other, and even slashing them.

They kept at it for 10 hard, long, sweaty minutes. After more of this hard work with no results, G. threw down his rocks in frustration, and sighed. "I give up…" Elena was inside busy cutting the fish, and preparing the ingredients.

The red-haired boy stood there in disappointment, and looked at his friend. Giotto was busy hitting the rocks together, a determined expression on his face. Eyes tightly closed together, he continued to hit the rocks against each other, sweat running down his brow.

They both sat there. G. watching the blonde boy try and fail, and try again. Giotto's hands were numb from his work, and his skin began to peel. It was a while before G. stood up in aggravation. "This probably isn't going to wo-" In that moment, a spark popped out from the rock in Giotto's hand. Both of them gasping, the blonde boy quickly hit the rocks together harder, until a larger spark appeared. Throwing it down on the ground, he quickly surrounded it with some dry grass. G. collected some broken twigs and leaves and rushed over. By now, the fire was larger, and the two of them dumped on the things. The flames licked the earth, satisfied at it's meal.

Elena came out, holding the sliced fish in one hand, and the ingredients in the other. "You guys finally got the fire! That's-" G. interrupted her.

"It was Giotto who did it! He's so amazing. After I gave up, he kept on hacking away at the rock, his hand bleeding. But he did it!" the red-haired boy announced. Giotto looked down at the ground, his face as red as a tomato, embarrassed by the praise.

"That's great! Come on, G. help me with the pot and sticks. Giotto you can take a break for now." Elena said. G. helped her shove the sticks into the ground with the "Y" shape. Then, placing the longer stick on those sticks, Elena tied some rope onto it, which was also connected to the pot. Afterwards, they placed the fish in, slowly adding things onto it.

Diced tomato, a sliced onion, a clove of garlic, and also some salt, pepper, and paprika were tossed in for taste. Soon, the smell of fresh fish wafted into Giotto's nose, making his mouth water. It wasn't long before the boys' stomachs growled, and everybody laughed. A group of ants were also attracted to the crumbs of food on the ground. They walked in a line, picking up grains of salt and pepper.

Elena passed out three broken plates, with some rusted forks. She also gave out some bread pieces. "For the soup," she said. The two boys could hardly keep in their excitement, and even Elena seemed to be happy. The three of them dug in the "fish stew", and ate it happily. "So… Giotto? How did you manage to make the fire?" Elena asked over a mouthful of food.

Giotto could only smile, and look at the ground. He finally responded. "I don't know… I felt the need to keep trying. I mean, after all you two did for me. First Ms. Elena letting me stay, and G. caught a big fish. I think it was… I think it was resolution that kept me going."

G. slurped up some of the hot fish broth. "Resolution, huh? Whatever it is, I've got to thank you. This fish is delicious!" the red-haired boy wiped his mouth, and licked his lips, using the last bit of bread to mop up the soup, leaving his plate so clean you didn't have to wash it. "I'm full, but there's a lot of leftovers. Let's save it for some other day, mom!"

After they enjoyed the meal for the last few minutes, Giotto decided to say something. "Um… Thanks so much Ms. Elena and G. for your hospitality. You've done so much for me. Please forgive me for not being able to give anything to you, but I will come back someday and repay you guys… I have to go though."

Elena and G. exchanged a glance and both of them nodded. "Giotto," Elena started to say. "We've decided you've become part of our small family. You're welcome to stay here. And this is also the first time G. has made a friend, so you don't have to go." The red-haired boy could only nod his head in agreement.

"Thank you so much Ms. Elena," Giotto responded. "I know if I really worked hard for you guys, I would be able to stay. But I also want to experience the new world. It's one of the reasons I left the adoption home. I want to adventure everything that is out there. Everything I've missed all these years." They could tell the blonde boy was trying not to cry.

"We understand," Elena said, but G. hesitated. He had never made a friend before, and now when he finally made one, they would have to depart.

"Thank you so much for understanding. I'll have to go now." Giotto said.

G. was about to ask "What's the rush?", but Elena hushed him. The two of them could only watch in sadness as the first guest they've ever had left their home.

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Giotto walked down the rugged dirt path. Rocks littered the edges of the trail, and brown grass grew near some trees.

He didn't want to do it. He never wanted to leave. Everything they had done. Nobody had treated him as well as Elena as G. They were like family to him. It was true that his family had passed away and left him. But it wasn't their fault. He… he Giotto wanted a family of his own. Someday…

Pacing himself along the road, the blonde boy bit his lip and frowned. He had experienced pain already with his parents dying. Giotto never wanted to feel it again.

All of a sudden, a sound could be heard in the bush behind him. It was dark, and there was no moon this night. Scared Giotto muttered out a sound. "W-who's t-there?"

A boy in tattered clothing appeared behind him. The blonde boy immediately thought it was a ghost and screamed. "Calm down! It's me!"

That voice. It was familiar. Giotto smiled. "G.! What are you doing here?"

The red-haired boy's grinned from ear to ear. "I followed you. I decided to follow you on your journey. After all, we're friends, right?"

The blonde boy smiled. "Yes, we're friends."

The two of them walked together down the dirt path, each one of them not saying a word, but thinking the same thing.

Friendship

Good? Or not? I kind of liked this chapter, but mainly because it talked about food. I thought the last part was a bit short for my liking, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please Review! I also have another story called "Hitman Reborn Interview Swap". Some of you guys might like it. You get to ask your own questions, and I'll write them down on the story. You will be making an appearance in my story. Oh yeah! Surprise! I am accepting… yes… wait for it… OC's! Yep. The mafia thing will only happen a little later, but I'm creating a new family. I'm going to probably make a Sky boss. The reviewers get to say the name, flame, type of person, age, and stuff for the family. Remember, I will only be taking six guardians. The best description, and the one I like most will go into the family. Your pen name will be mentioned so they will know it's your character. If you see someone else that already named a flame you want, then if you write your description, there's a lower chance you'll get in. Oh yeah. This family might go in another story, and might make a minor appearance in this one. Remember, I might make a sequel. The OC family will be an evil family. I need some OC' s people!

Thanks,

xDarkTempest