Rattle rattle
Skull sat on a wagon filled with stacks of hay. He was lucky that the old man was passing somewhere near to his destination. It would've been impossible to travel on foot. Next time, he better ask his client some travel money. He, or she, was the one requesting anyway! The wagon gracefully came to a halt.
"Okay, sonny! Your stop is here." Skull got off and ran to the driver's seat.
"Thanks a lot oji-chan. You saved my feet!"
"Anything for a moping purple kid!"
"Wha-?!" The man laughed out loud as he rode off, leaving Skull in the dust. Skull cried out in dismay. "Am I really that easy to tease?!" (Yes, you are.)
He strode around town. Damn. He was seriously broke. Vlad and Skull used to split the apartment bills, each making money their own way to pay half of them; now it was just Skull. He returned the money Vlad sent doing his "mafia" job every month. He knew it was a foolish thing to do but he was too stubborn to yield to logic. He sighed.
"Stop that brat!" He jerked. There was a yell of some lady in a bustling crowd and saw a boy jumping into the street just in time to meet the upcoming car.
Shit!
"Life just sucks. Why should I waste my time grocery shopping when I have better things to do?" The same old city with the same old market he had seen more than a millionth time already;really, why was he here again?
"Stop yapping and move your feet, young man. You need some life experience to survive in this place: It is war." Oh yes: Aunty. Why is it that every time she has an idea he is always dragged along? This was pointless.
"What can a bunch of old ladies do in a market?"
"Well they put food in your plate while you, young man, laze about in the living room. You won't last a second I bet." He got a little irked.
"Now what makes you say that?"
"This place is all about the experience; without it, you're as good as a donkey with a carrot on a stick."
"Feeling philosophical huh?"
"This is just a good advice; whether you use it or not is your choice."
"Hai~ Hai~" The speaking boy winced at a ruff bump against a passing lady. His aunt carefully observed him and spotted a purple bruise peeking under the shirt he was wearing.
"Pete, where did you go yesterday?" He perked up at this, irritated.
"And why should you care? Stop bugging me."
"You have to change your attitude for your elders, Pete. A rude man isn't girls' type, moreover a precarious man. Don't go off wandering at night."
"I don't have a girl I fancy and you're not even my mom—don't tell me what to do!" Pete dashed into the crowd away from his nagging aunt.
"Pete!" The direction he was heading to was dangerous. "Someone grab him! Stop that brat!"
Screeeecchhhh!
The sickening sound of tires excited the crowd to build a human wall, making it harder to push through in her angst and frustration. Her eyes began to water.
"Pete!"
Thunk!
"Oh my God!"
Shit. He was really stupid; and thanks to that he was going to die without doing anything to his one hell of a father. Ah- what a short life he lived, and single too. Wait wait wait- stop: It's not the time to be depressed dammit! He felt a rush of wind blowing toward him as the blurry yet vivid outline of a car. Something wrapped around him, minimizing the impact of what would have been a broken bones to bruises. Crack! That was definitely not from him. The world around him was spinning with a painful headache and nausea aggravated by those annoying noises around him. There was a grunt under him when he finally cleared his foggy mind.
"He is alive!"
"How can this happen?"
"Unbelievable!"
He looked down to see... violet red?
"Um, would you get off me?" He jerked up. A stranger who just saved him got up and dusted himself. "Ha~ your weight alone will crush my bone."
What's up with this dude?! Just looking at the amount of blood loss- wah! and he was covered in it too!- contradicted every way he acted: steady; composed; aloof; and, incredibly, even sound a little bored. Was he human?
Skull carefully examined the damage he took. Few broken bones-it'll heal in a few hours, so minor-, five gashes- three of them already stopped its bleeding-, few other cuts, terrible bruises on the back- which can't be helped-, etc. and etc.s... He wasn't in the worst condition, so yeah. He was pretty happy. He then scrutinized the boy he saved: Few cuts, bruises... Thankfully he was better off than him; one time he ended up getting all the blame which sucked. He looked at his incredulous face again. His has a faint resemblance to Yuno's. Ah. I wonder how she is doing… He strained a smile. He noticed that the crowd was slowly gathering around him. Better leave; he's in tight schedule after all. He straightened himself and bowed.
"I sincerely apologize for all the ruckus; please be assured that no one is hurt! I, the Undead Skull, reassure you." With that he strode along and disappeared into a corner as if nothing happened. Pete sat there dazed until his aunt rushed over.
"Are you alright?! What were you thinking!" The crowd looked at where the self-proclaimed "Undead" retreated in awe; it wasn't everyday to see such noble act.
Getting hit by a car was very painful, but why should express it when he had sustained harsher pain? Such pointless thing to do- wasting breath when I can analysis how much damage was done. I took out a small box Denis literally shoved into my pocket. I clicked it open to see a bottle of alcohol, a roll of elastic bandage, some cotton, and six painkillers. I popped two painkillers in my mouth. Seriously, how does Denis know the exact thing I need? I slid on the wall feeling a little dizzy. Feeling nostalgic, I slept in the calm embrace of the alleyway.
.
.
.
A cold wooden floor tiles...
Sound of water droplets falling from the faucet...
A shivering body...
A light splash below me...
I slowly gaze at the moon... so big and glowing... so mystically...
I'm not sure if I should cry...
I can't comfort her... despite she is... in front of me...
I don't know what is going on inside me...
I feel... transparent... like a glass...
Ne..
Yuno...
Um...
...
I...
.
.
.
I opened my eyes in cold sweat. The same pale, blue moon shining ever so brightly. Ha ha... is this what they call déjà vu?
.
.
.
I sat on my bed. Finally aunt's melodrama ended. It gets on my nerves how aunt acts normally while that bastard of a father is around town, breathing. He's not even fit to be called a "father", not when he left my mother alone with a bunch of bills. I can't understand aunty: My mother was her sister! Why isn't she angry?! Mad?! Why isn't she like me?! He left her sister! Curses! Working to the bone to pay the bills that wasn't even hers- constantly working enough to drive her to her deathbed! Mom died because of him! How are you so composed?! I don't get you aunty, but if you're not going to do anything about it, I will.
I heard the soft sigh right next door. My mother's room… where now my aunt sleeps.
I looked at my watch. It was well past midnight. Plenty of time to look for the weird stranger.
Growl~
Ah- Harahetta- completely forgot about food. I think I'll die in starvation.
Growl~
I guess this is a good bye. Don't miss me too much, Denis.
Oh, it's kind of ironic how all-mighty Skull, hated by the Grim Reaper himself, surviving all ruthless stunts you can think of dying from something so boring like starvation. Sorry ma fans!
"What are you mumbling to yourself about?" Was I thinking out-loud? I've got to stop this habit- wait wait what?
Skull turned around to see a boy he saved earlier. He totally didn't notice him sneaking up behind him.
"You look like a murderer on a run, you know that?" He looked at his once-white-shirt now dyed in somewhat reddish black.
"Now I know. What do you want? You wouldn't search out for your saver so late would you?"
"I've heard there is a secret meeting down that block where it is hidden from most people's eyes, mainly for shady stuff which I suspect it to be gambling. No doubt my father - being the fool he is - will go to try his luck."
"And what makes you think I'll willingly help you go visit that 'shady' place?"
"I've heard of you-a stuntman who survived all the impossible. My request is fairly simple compared to the previous ones."
"What is your assurance?"
Growl~
Pete smirked and brought out a french bread with a jar of milk and cheese. Skull clicked his tongue.
"Deal."
Dull tap tap tap. The air vent was so narrow it surprised him that he could fit through. Though the metals were icy like the air outside, Skull was huffing and hot for crawling for about thirty minutes. Good thing the security was loose than he thought seeing no lasers blocking his and the kid's path. Guess Pete knew what he was doing; Skull didn't mind his various precautions for many scenarios going to waste.
"Skull," Pete whispered as he halted. There was a light and some noise coming through an opening. Through the narrow vent he observed five people in his line of sight and focused on their conversation.
"... been now days."
"Yeah. Vongola is dangerously rising steadily. It may be a upturn for the present dominants. I presume they will make a move near-future."
"And we'll just sit back and enjoy the show. That will teach those baboons out of their fantasy of moral. Mafia was never - or ever will be - about decency."
"They never stood next to each other that's for certain. How's Battallo Familia going?"
"Not well. Cavallone Familia is being so stubborn on giving over the minuscule part of their territory, and I thought the new heir would be more undiplomatic too."
"Seems the heir is fond of that particular place. I heard he hid from the family around that area for almost ten years."
"Oh the irony~"
What?
Skull processed what he had heard just now. So Vlad..? Wait, wait. They talked about Cavallone... Familia... Mafia... Yabe! This could be more dangerous! Skull looked at Pete who seemed puzzled and disappointed. So his father isn't here... He tapped for attention. We should really get out of here. Pete nodded. Just as he moved his body to a turn the eroded metal below them gave away.
He has been cussing now days. That was pretty sad.
Crash!
"The fu** happened?!" (It says fudge. Really. Mafia love them.)
"Who goes there?!" Dust flew everywhere, mostly from the vent itself, slowly revealing the uninvited guests. Everyone aimed their guns.
"Uh, hi?"
"Fire!"
"The..f-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Skull immediately rolled to a side and gave a hard kick against the wall. Surprisingly, it made a hole where he quickly got through-with the kid of course.
"After him!"
"Who was that?!"
"Verify him!"
Shouldn't you do that before you shoot? Skull grumbled. He ran, pulling the kid along. He must be in a state of shock, poor kid. It was a cat-and-mouse chase, only that the cat multiplied at every corner. Yeah, pretty bad. But! He never lost at cops-and-robbers game with Vlad and Denis, so he was managing. A bullet barely missed his head. Er- maybe not. By his awesome intuition -some might say- he was at the border of this run-down place. A lone moon in the black void above and the cool night breeze welcomed him outside; he would have been captivated by them if he wasn't on a hot chase.
"Here," Skull clasped his hands together, "I push you up."Pete shakily placed his foot and managed to grab the edge of the metal storage. While he was struggling to pull himself up, cluster of panting and footsteps got louder. "Hurry!"
By the cue he got himself up on the storage and stretched out his hand which Skull gladly took. Skull tried to go up but his shoes were keep slipping against the metal and he can literally feel the other's hyper impulse in its great tremor along with the sour scent of sweat clasped between their hands. His weight was too much for the boy. They made no progress in what they felt like eternity. Pete's eyes featured were trembling apprehensively by the minute. 'Ah- his eyes. Angst? Fear? Perhaps both?' Skull thought, 'How will we get out of this?'
Bang! The bullet missed its target. Their hands slipped a bit with a flinch from above. Skull looked up. 'Those eyes...' In the mix of denial and fear Pete furrowed his eyebrows and...let go of his hand. He had a strained smile as if trying to delude himself with false beliefs. 'For what?'
Thump! Clutter-! Tap tap tap tap!
'Ah-'
"The immortal stuntman Skull, aren't you? For what reason are you here?"
"The name is that now? Man... and I here thought 'Skull from hell' was extreme..."
"Answer the question, stuntman! Was it the Cavallone Familia who sent you here?"
"No- just looking for the kid's dad and for your record I didn't join any Mafia Familias and don't plan on to so can I go about my business now?"
"Once sucked into mafia, you can't get out- you've heard too much, stuntman, sorry to say but you'll have an eternal sleep. Fire!"
Multiple bullet whizzed to him. With an ear-piercing sound of gunshots Skull's body was full of holes-cloths tattered, blood dripping. His hair glowed purple under the angry moonlight. He was still standing.
"Mon... monster! F-fire! Fire!" Shouted the frightened figure. Skull was approaching them in idle motion.
"Itetete... It still hurts you know?"
"The head! Aim for the head!"
Bang! Splatter!
"Otto, hey that's dangerous. You could've really sent me to hell or whatever awaits me." He was holding his head while blood was dripping from his face with his purple eye glowing ominously. Men struggled to make a sound, words were stuck on their throats like their feet on the ground, unable to move. "Now I'm pissed."
Mystical puffs of purple began seeping out from the corners in alarming speed. The frozen man squeaked out a scream. Whatever the thing was, it was closing into them, fast. No sooner they were covered in a thick mist of purple. What awaited them was a pair of wild, glowing eyes slowly approaching. The atmosphere around them was so heavy it literally chocked them:They were barely able to hold their ground, some were already down even. A wave of killing intent splashed against them, sending all but one to unconscious. The man was struggling to breath under such high pressure, first time encountering such killing intent. Skull stepped in front of the man on the ground, still ominous. He breathed out.
"You know? Cloud is like a mist when it settles on the ground. I don't know why I'm saying this but just wanted you to kn- are? You already fainted?" He sighed. "Guess I'll leave now."
As he turned back to leave, he saw a glimpse of a white bullet gleaming under the moonlight. "What's this?"
It had rolled out of an expensive ring box. A weird drawing of a fire was imprinted on it. "Looks cool. I'll keep it. Now for the exit..."
Panting.
Pete was sitting in the alley where he and Skull made a deal.
"Oi." He turned around nervously in anticipation.
"Hieee!" he screamed seeing bloody Skull behind him.
"Just... one question and I'll leave you alone." He stopped trembling as if gesturing him to continue. "What made you leave me there?"
Maybe he was pushing the boy too far, but he had to know this.
"W-when you were hit by the car, you seemed unaffected like nothing happened! Like... like... an alien!" He looked at him credulously: As if those words were the justification for leaving to what could've been his deathbed.
"Is that so? Bye kid. Don't do anything rash like this time."
"O-okay..."
He watched Skull go with a sack on his back, disappearing into the empty street.
-Morning-
Somewhere in Europe, a well-known hitman was having his daily espresso. The female attendant blushed as she handed the handsome young man his check.
"Thank you."
Upon hearing his resonating voice, she squeaked a reply and scurried to the kitchen. It was his free-day and honestly had no idea what to do with it. Most of the time his schedules were packed with missions and getting information. In his rare free-time he would read the latest theories and findings to entertain himself, but he ransacked the whole thing for his last mission so nothing new was coming up for a long while. Sighing in his mind, he casually opened his Mafia newspaper for anything interesting.
"Ho, what's this?"
.
Headline: The Underground Black Market at XXXX Annihilated!
- Only five mafias from XXX Familia, XXXXX Familia, and XXXX Familia survived,
all others sent to their deaths. No physical harm nor poisoning were done. How
they died remains a mystery. The survivors were severely traumatized and
professed that it was done by one man, the well-known stuntman named Skull.
It was revealed that despite his connection with Cavallone Familia he had yet
joined one.
.
'Killing without physical harm... The only explanation would be the killing intent... For a stuntman to have enough to kill... He may be an interesting opponent for a spar,' the hitman thought with a sly glint in his eyes.
Skull felt a shiver down his spine. Was someone thinking about him? Woah, that's creepy...
He thought back to Pete. '"hit by the car...seemed unaffected like nothing happened...like an alien!"' He mused at that. 'I'm an alien now?!'
He frowned. 'seeming unaffected...'
The new wagon he was currently riding was stacked with fire woods. He was sitting on the edge thanks to the generous old man going to his destination.
He remembered the the eyes Pete had before letting go of his hand.
A block of wood tumbled over at a bump of the wheels, landing straight onto Skull's head.
"..." Skull looked up at the sky, "Ow."
(Platina1499) - Hiya guys~! Thanks for those who read this so far(hope it is interesting enough!) Sorry for the slow update and I jumbled up the timeline..! XP
Next Chapter is going to take on the Vongola's conflict where the Melon head (Diamon) betrays Primo and Enma is tricked (kind of) to go to the dying battle. What will happen? See it in the next chapter in a year or sooo... (JK!)
XD
(Pretty much gave up on getting comments!)