Author's Notes:

Hi, guys. I'm back again with the continuation of yet another chapter. Not much else to say besides that, though...

Chapter 11: Pull through, Amato!

A Sacred Code.

In a second, all the peace in the Zanna mansion erupted into chaos as the doors flew open and we charged in, with Amato in tow. As we charged in, members all around was shocked to see Amato in the state he is now.

"Please, Amato needs help!" Regina cried out before any one gave a word. That command drove everyone into action, as they snapped back to their senses and begin doing all they can to save their boss

"Oi! Don't just stand there! We need supplies, now!" Some random adult yelled out to some others.

"He's bleeding from the wounds again!" A girl in a suit cried out with a tone of surprise.

"We need to lay him down! So much moving for him is definitely not good!" Another voice yelled out from the crowd. I find myself following their orders and doing my best to contribute.

In the grand white halls of the mansion, the Mafia looked like ants in their black suits, though most of them is still panicking over the sudden news, their actions are co-operative and well-managed, moving together efficiently as a group. This is not what I expected. This does not seem to be the Mafia that people have to to know. It feels more like... Family. Not as in a Famiglia, but, as in a real family, one which you can sit down and talk to, to work and laugh together.

They all gave no indication, but the look on their faces tell me that they are just as worried about him as I do.

"Shouldn't we get him to the Hospital?" Regina asks out to the members, not showing any signs of fear in her tone or eyes. I guess she must be really worried.

"We do not know if moving him will make his condition worse, and we are certainly not equipped with the knowledge to make such decisions ourselves." One of the members stopped what he was doing to explain to us. "Doctor Rosalia and the Hospital of Venice has already been informed. All we can do is wait." He finishes his words before going back to attending to Amato.

Soon, Regina and I find ourselves waiting and looking after Amato, who was still unconscious, lying in his bed, in his rather empty room. Besides a cupboard, a bed, a clock and a bookshelf, the rest of the room was still bare, almost as though it was new. I find myself slowly pacing across the room to rid myself of having to wait through this. I only stopped when I took a look at Regina.

"Hey, Regina, you okay?" I called out while moving to her side. She spoken a word ever since the members did all they could to stabilize Amato's condition, and even then they said that it's still deteriorating. As I move my eyes towards Amato, I was slightly blinded by the deep orange ray shining into the room.

"It's getting late, maybe we should go home..." I gave out as I realized how late it was already.

"How can you still think of that?" Regina cried out suddenly, anger in her tone. I went a few steps back, surprised at her reaction, but I knew what I did wrong. "How can you leave when they said that he might... he might.." Her words stopped there. I think it was too hard for her to say it to my face. Her face was red with emotions and tears started streaming down.

"I'm sorry, we'll wait." I muttered, looking down towards the ground. I find myself trying to comfort her. I don't want to see my friend like this. A ringtone sounded across the room. It was Regina's cellphone.

The only reaction she gave was to ignore it.

A few minutes went by, and no voice, no words was given. Once in a while, a member of Amato's Famiglia would come and check on him, his wounds and his overall condition, but nothing else happened. Amato's white room was deeply saturated by the rays of the setting sun. Regina was sitting by Amato all the while, and I found myself taking a seat by the wall, the chairs given by the members.

Suddenly, a commotion can be heard from below. The ground floor, I think. I could hear chatter between the members before the doors into the mansion was pushed open, rather loudly. A few seconds later, the girl in the robes and maid outfit burst into the room, together with a handful of members.

"Kiera." I say out in surprise to her entrance.

"What's his condition?" Kiera say out in an almost desperate manner. The look in her eyes tell me that she knows what's gonna happen to Amato. "Two sniper bullet shells are lodged in his flesh, one near his left shoulder and another in his right arm. His condition is still going downhill without proper medical help." A member told her.

"Clank!"

The doors to the room suddenly burst open and smashed against the walls a second time.

"Valkyrie! I brought grave news! Doctor Ines Rosalia has left Venice upon request, she'll only return two days later!" He yelled out at us, unable to hold back what he was feeling. Everyone of us, Kiera, Regina and me included, stood with our eyes wide open with disbelief.

No way. The Head of the Venice Hospital and one of the best doctors in Venice is not available? I know how difficult it is to remove bullets from the flesh, and I don't think a sniper bullet makes it any easier. I can feel my heart beating faster just thinking about it. No, without help, without proper medical procedures, Amato's gonna.. gonna..

"Crash!"

Our silence was only cleared when Regina pushed a vase off of the cupboard beside the bed by accident.

...

"Everyone, the boss's life is in jeopardy! We need to do all we can to help!" She declares it like a true leader, in front of what I think is every member of Amato's Famiglia. Kiera was the first one to move when we were all still frozen in fear, surprise and disbelief. Giving out a sigh, she gathered her strength and pushed on with tenacity.

Wow. I wonder how she's still so strong.

"Wow." Similar words is given off by a familiar voice beside me. Regina stands, her eyes, though still showing concern, was at the same time glowing with admiration. "She's amazing..." Regina gives out with an impressed look on her face. I guess seeing Kiera so strong has calmed her down a bit.

That's right. There's no way that Amato's gonna die so easily. I've seen how he fights. He'll pull through.

Although, I might have let that confidence go to my head.

"All right, even without Doctor Rosalia, we still need to get him to the Hospital!" I said it out loudly, my words sounding a lot like an order. No wind blew through my hair as I saw the bulk of the Mafia Famiglia turn and look at me. It was strange, but I thought that they were going to be angry at my sudden order. I figured it was rude coming from a teenager like me.

"Yeah, the kid's got a point." A voice came from the crowd, dispelling the silence.

"We still need the medical facilities and proper medical knowledge on how to deal with this." A rather analytical point came from another.

I gave a quick glance as relief came to me, only to see Regina smiling and a smirk appearing on Kiera's face.

"All right, we'll follow his lead, began preparations, we're moving out!" Kiera declared soon after. The Famiglia roared as they moved now that they have a clearer objective.

I watched as the members changed Amato'a bandages, tidy his clothes and even gave him a bath. Well, not literally, I didn't actually see that. All the while I'm still surprised how it is all happening.

Is this what the Mafia really is? I just... don't understand it. It just seems so.. different. Regina soon find herself familiar enough to help them side by side, and I could feel her fear lessen bit by bit. As I was returning to help out myself, Kiera walked to my side.

"Uh.. Sorry for that order just now... I know it's rude.." I try to give an apology. That was when I found out that it wasn't needed.

"Do not fret, Mister Endoh. Nobody here wants Lord Amato to die." She says on with a smile as we continue our small observation. "I don't think things would be any different even if Lord Amato wasn't the boss. We care about him, it's as simple as that." The girl in her maid outfit gives me her explanation as she walks away with her eyes closed, proud and headstrong.

"Ah! Amato!" Regina's scream bought my attention, and I turned to see a horrendous sight. We were in the main hall now, ready to bring Amato out of the mansion. I saw from a distance, Amato falling off the stretcher he was in. The members scatter to give Amato some space as he started moving. I couldn't see it clearly. As I pushed my way through the members, the looks on their face was grim and in pain, but they were all looking at their boss. I could hear snippets of thrashing and tugging.

That was when I got right in front of him, and saw what was actually happening.

Amato looked like he was having a seizure, or at least, I think his muscles are twitching, particularly those near his wounds. Could it be that his senses suddenly returned and is now reacting to the wounds?

I watched as he struggled and twisted his body side to side, and was paralyzed by the fact of not knowing what I should do. In a few steps away I could see Regina shocked and afraid of what was happening. And I guess the rest of the members are feeling something similar. No one approached Amato as he continues his struggle, cause we don't know what can or cannot be done, especially in a situation like this. Amato's face show little emotions and his eyes were never opened. Is he.. still unconscious?

"He's bleeding again!" Regina's voice cut through us like a knife, and true enough, I could see his bandages getting soaked in a dye of crimson red.

"We need to help him!" I yelled out in reflex as I began moving towards Amato. Behind me, I could hear the members mobilizing. Most of them followed my footsteps while a few dash off to look for more supplies.

"Stop, Amato!" I find those words pushed out of my mouth as I try to stop the spasms. Holding down his arms proved more difficult than I imagined, gauging his strength as he struggled, it felt like he could throw my whole body off with just one hand. All the while, fear spread within me like a disease, my heart pumping quicker than I ever felt. Immediately, as I used both arms to restraint his left side, Kiera appeared to help hold down the right.

As she got close, I got a glimpse of her face in detail. Smooth, pale skin with golden hair, and tears slowly flowing down her eyes. She.. She was holding it back. That was when I decided that I must remain strong, stronger.

"Sigh... My, oh my, what's with all the ruckus?" A lazy voice suddenly fills the room, alerting all of us. The tone was that of a guy who could not be bothered. As confused as I was, I was still having a hard time holding down Amato, even with Kiera's help. Amidst the struggling, my vision caught sight of a guy lying on one of the beams high above supporting the roof. The guy was wearing a plain, dark-green flightjacket as well as a pair of blue jeans, lying on his side in a rather care-free position.

"Vito!" Kiera suddenly cries out.

"Vito's back!" A multitude of voices called out from the members, strangely sounding relieved.

"Vito! Get down here!" Kiera yells out as we both continued to hold down Amato and his erratic movements. The strange thing was that in her tone of voice, there was that same small hint of relief. The guy just casually hopped off the beam, which was almost two stories higher than us, by the way, and landed beside us, without as much as a soft 'thud'.

"My, oh my, first day on the job and he's already gotten two sniper bullets lodged into his flesh. Quite the boss, huh?" He says it out loudly and obnoxiously, almost like it was on purpose. Maybe it was.

"Just help him!" I can hear irritation from Kiera's voice.

"All right, all right, geez." He complained as he walked towards us in slow pace. "Hold him up." He gave out, drawing out a dagger of sorts. It had this metallic color all over, with a a clean, sharp blade as well as serrated ones. I don't get it. What is he trying to do? "Let go." He commanded, and immediately at those words, Kiera and I jumped to the sides.

That was when I saw the impossible, the unbelievable. In a swift motion, he slashed once at Amato's back to cut off the bandages, and twice once his bare back was revealed. I could hardly see his arm swinging. It looked like he was slashing Amato's back with a knife.

"What the hell is he doing?" I screamed out, unable to hold back my emotions.

"Wait." Kiera instructed me as she raise her arm to block my way. That was when I heard two faint clinks resonating from a spot near them. And in an instant I saw how he bandaged Amato's body as soon as his slash was done. I stood, confused and shocked at what was happening.

"Operation, complete." The laid-back guy announces with the same uninterested tone to his voice. I stumbled my way towards them and I was shocked once again upon seeing what made those sounds on the floor.

There, still covered in blood, was two metal bullets, expanded and deformed.

Soon, after we got Amato back into his room and into his bed, Regina and myself find ourselves back to where we were. The guy named 'Vito' was with us together with Kiera. Most of the members was told to return to what they were doing. That was when Kiera explained that the guy's a doctor, or at least, a doctor-in-training, and what happened.

"What? That was him performing an operation?" Regina and I cry out in unison.

"Yo, keep it down. I did all I can. Whether or not he pulls through now will ultimately depend on his will." The guy says so as he strolls out of the room, almost as if he don't care about his boss.

"Vito!" Kiera yells out as he left the room, before shaking her head.

"Uh, that guy's..." I hear Regina asking, slightly confused.

"Don't worry, he's part of the Famiglia." Kiera say out while walking towards and looking at Amato. Still covered in bandages, what was different is that he now looks a lot more peaceful as he lied in his bed. Turning towards Regina and myself, Kiera gave out a bow. "I thank you for what you have done for us today." It was highly formal and dignified.

"Um, can we stay just a bit longer?" Regina asked out, and I find myself following her. A nod from Kiera gives us the consent.

"Pull through, Amato!" I hear Regina whispering, almost like making a wish.

"I know he will." I barely hear Kiera whisper as she turned and looked at us and Amato one last time before leaving the room.

Well, this chapter certainly turned out more differently than I had planned. Was it interesting? Did it confuse you guys at some point? Well, same as always, praise, comment or criticize in your reviews!