Author's Note:

Woo hoo! It's the holidays for me right now! Which means, more time to draw, more time to write and more time to play! It's been difficult trying to think of a fantastical, yet believable reason as well as outcome to the arc, and I really hope the conclusion it comes to is enjoyable! I also hope that your view on some of the characters grew as this arc comes to an end!

Chapter 27: Family

"Kiera!" I could hear Sergio's voice crying out as Kiera enters the scene. Me? I was still trying to balance myself, my arms still wrapped around my stomach. By accident, I caught sight of Sergio trying to enter the area to help me, only to be blocked by Lord De Luca once more.

"You're not strong enough to survive the strikes." His words was blunt, decisive. I could see Sergio, his eyes full of confusion and anger, as he heard those words, and is forced to step back.

The sun shines a great, soft tint of orange as it's glow radiates from the sea, the shores. The light even reaching the street where the De Luca house stands.

Step. Step. Step. Soft, graceful sounds came to my ears. My eyes then caught sight of Kiera, her steps ever so graceful, slowly making her way towards her brother. "Kiera... No.. Wait!" I squeeze out the words and my body tried hard to recover from the previous strike. I could see Kiera's eyes, those that speaks of guilt and sadness, as she continued, ignoring my words. Darn. What is she doing? Is she... going back with them?

"Please.. This has nothing to do with Amato! He.. can't afford to get hurt for my sake!" Amidst my thoughts, I was suddenly pulled back into the situation by Kiera's words. No... I want to do this! Surely she don't truly mean that, right? I.. would do anything I can to protect her! More so if everything is my fault! Seeing her hurt, her body covered in wounds, black and blue, as she pull up her sleeves, is so... difficult, so painful. How could I let this happen to her?

"So you're coming back?" Fionn casually voiced out, his tone of voice returning to normal, but there was a hint of irritation.

"..." Kiera did not give her reply, and from her looks, one of confusion and emotion, I think she was still unsure. This is the first time, and perhaps the only time, I ever saw her like this. But, I also had a very strange feeling about Fionn. If everything seems to be happening in his favor, why is he even irritated? Kiera then shuts her eyes, as if trying hard to decide. Then, something unexpected happened.

"That face... Dammit!" Fionn just exploded with emotion, anger particularly, right after seeing Kiera's look.

In one swift motion, he pulled his hammer, the one in his left hand, over his shoulders, and swung it down, the hammer itself flying directly at Kiera! "Crack, Doom!" The sounded impact burst off as the hammer struck the ground once more. Kiera, as usual, effortlessly dodge the strike, jumping to the sides as right before the hammer could connect. Though she did it with her eyes closed, Kiera's eyes flew open as she landed to the side. From darkness, she come to see her brother lunging at her, already jumping towards her, the hammer already coming down. I think I can see more sadness in Kiera's eyes now. "Aaaaaarrrrggggghhhhhhh!" Fionn's anger was way past whatever line you call control, roaring and swinging his hammer in a frenzy, with Kiera just jumping back and dodging almost all of them with little to no effort.

As Fionn's assault continued, I was struggling. I could still feel the pain, and I'm continuously trying to push it away. The muscles around my waist pulses and convulses as I tried to stand upright after hunching down for so long. The pain pushes itself throughout my body as my heart pumps and the wound throbbed. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. It felt as though my vision was jumping with each heartbeat, the sound cutting into my hearing every time it comes up. Yet, the sound that was the loudest at that time, was the sound of my thoughts. Fionn's reaction has produced a lot of questions in my mind, and I believe I came up with an answer.

Well, I think it's the answer.

As I moved, Fionn strikes continue, turning the garden into some sort of a mini-wasteland, craters everywhere. The pain and the sound pulsing through me feels like they've been lessened. As I watched Kiera, I knew that she would slip up sooner or later, either her movement dulled because of she herself getting tired, or her brother catching up to her speed. "Yaaarrrrrgggghhhh!" Each of Fionn's howl came louder than before. "Ah!" Kiera's voice suddenly pulls in my attention, and there I saw her clutching her ankle, bending down on one knee. Did she just sprained her ankle? At that thought, I began moving towards her. Fionn stands once again, hammer in his left hand. His right hand limping with inaction. His eyes were ones of despair. Pushing energy to my feet, I pushed myself forward just as Fionn let down the hammer.

"Crack!" The sound vibrated in my body and my mind, and perhaps throughout the scene, as the giant, ornate hammer drove itself into my left shoulder. I'm now standing in the front, blocking Kiera from Fionn's blow. "A-Augh!" I couldn't help voicing out as the pain surged.

"Amato!" Kiera shouted out as soon as she saw me, immediately coming to my side to help me up.

"It's not your fault..." I began voicing out my words, hoping to change the situation. I could see Kiera and Fionn's eyes wonder at exactly what I was trying to say. "Whatever happened before... It isn't your fault, both of you..." Kiera and Fionn's eyes widen themselves at those words. I struggle to keep myself standing, perhaps that previous action was a bit too reckless on my part. My first answer to all this was kinda simple, unbelievable even. Sibling rivalry? A simple fact that Kiera got better than her brother even though she was younger, and Fionn didn't take that well. But, judging from their reactions, it seems there's more at work. "Please, Fionn. Kiera loves you too much to even raise her own defense against you... I'll let her go, back to you guys... As long as you can promise me you'll patch up whatever that's happened before.." I say out with a soft tone before falling to one knee. I may have taken too much damage. "Just take good care of her, all right? She's your little sister. She's family..." I tried putting on a smile as I said those words. "...She's my family." I finished my sentence with those words. No doubt, Fionn and Lord De Luca was surprised. Now, all that's left is Fionn's reaction.

A few seconds went by, but immediately after that, Fionn again showed despair on his face, his eyes. In a swift motion he brought up his Hammer once more!

"Enough!" A booming voice, deep and low, powerful in its presence, rang across the scene. Kiera and Fionn, knowing the voice too well, turned and look towards their father. "Enough." He repeated, turning and walking back into the house. Strangely, all of us followed. I guess they didn't want to disobey their father. "Kiera... This young man.." The Lord speaks to Kiera as his eyes slide to Sergio.

"...He has potential."

After a waiting for what seemed like an hour, Kiera walked out into the main hall together with Fionn, who was looking rather apologetic. Sergio and I could only wonder what happened. "..." They just kept giving glances towards each other, not saying a word. "So... Is everything okay now?" I say so with a smile. I could hear the sound of a facepalm behind me. Hey, nothing wrong with a little smile, right? "C'mon, make up!" I pushed the two of them together. Fionn gave me a sharp glare but didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry... Kiera.." I could barely catch what he said, but he sounded like he's apologizing. Kiera then jumped and gave Fionn a big hug!

"It's okay... I'll never blame you for anything you did! I understand!" Kiera say out giving off a wide smile, surprising me and Sergio.

"Sniff..." I could suddenly hear sobbing.

"Ha! Are you crying?" I couldn't help but point it out to Fionn.

"Shut up!" He replied while we all burst out laughing.

A few minutes later, Sergio, Kiera and I are all back together in the Zanna mansion, main hall. I find myself standing in the hall, staring at the sunlight, the rays shining into the hall through the windows. I wonder what was decided back there? I think Kiera's safe from any more hurting, right? "Uh... Shouldn't you be getting back to your revision?" Sergio's voice cuts into my thoughts. Sergio was standing right there beside me.

"Just... Cut me some slack all right!" I complained. "Crack!" A sound resonated out from my body. "O-ow!" The reaction alone made Sergio take a step back, eyes widened and arms raised, looking sorry. Though, I think it's all exaggeration though.

"Um... Amato?" Her soft, cute voice a change from what I usually hear, I turn to see Kiera, looking the same as before. Well, with a bit more emotion on her face, at least. "Papa... wanted you to have this..." She meekly say it out as she presented a letter to me. As my hand grabbed it, Kiera's face flushed with red. Strangely, the seal had been torn off neatly. Was it opened before?

"Okay..." I voiced out as I wondered what Lord De Luca would want to say to me. Taking out the letter, I was surprised at what was written. The words go something like this:

Dear Zanna Decimo,

You are... a man worthy of these words. I do not know if you knew, but the situation has been better, thanks to your efforts. Fionn can be a handful, a young man so prideful and full of emotions, that sometimes it clouds his thoughts and decisions. Kiera is an angel, but her upbringing may have resulted in her not being able to speak her mind or what she is truely feeling. Today was the first time I saw her do and say what she wanted in a long time.

Truly, these situations you witnessed have been going on for a long time now. A clash of emotions and memories, and I cannot say that I am not responsible for it. I wanted to seek help, but, my personality had prevented any progress from being made. Strange that a stranger was all it took to help us, the De Luca family, back together again. Correction, you are not a stranger. You did something I could not do for seven years now. Your words changed Fionn when mine was pushed aside.

I know I'm not one of emotion. And, we didn't exchange many words even though we met on several occasions, but, nonetheless, I am grateful. Please, I ask of you, take this letter as an official message of appreciation for what you have done. I am sure Kiera's courage came from her time with you as well. Honestly, I did not think I would see Lucciano again, but today, I saw his image in you. I was not sure if I could trust Kiera to you, but you have proven yourself capable enough.

As of today, my view of the Zanna Famiglia changed. With your hands at the helm, I'm sure the Famiglia will rise as one of fame, reputation and honor. And so, I end this message today with joy as the image of a bright future for your Famiglia can be seen in my mind, as well as a future for both you and my angel.

Your Father-in-law,

Lord Gerald De Luca

P.S. If anything happens to Kiera, I will hold you responsible.

"Gulp." The sound came out as I read the last line. I was surprised, to say the least, but happy. Then my eyes focused on the words he signed off with. "Wait, Father-in-law?" I asks out loudly, as I came into realization of what this would mean. Turning to Kiera, I saw her flushed and blushed even harder, before feeling it myself. I think she read this letter beforehand. Before I could say anything, Kiera was already trotting away. As I looked on, Kiera turned to give a small, happy smile, before disappearing behind a wall.

"Well, today certainly turned out better than you expected, huh?" Sergio gives me his thoughts as I begin walking him towards the door.

"Yeah..." I replied, pushing the main doors aside. "Well, thanks for today." I say out together with my goodbyes as Sergio did the same. Walking back in, I can't help but feel like there's something more to this situation I help resolved. Well, I'm just glad everything happened the way it did, no one getting hurt and Kiera being able to stay. Seeing Kiera and Fionn when they made up felt warm, is this what they call 'Family'? Maybe Kiera might tell me the story one day, and I've got a feeling it's not exactly a pleasant one. "Crack.." Another cracking sound gave out from my muscles and bones. "Ow..." I whined to myself, making my way back to my study.

Wow, this took way longer than I planned. I guess I'm not that good at all these emotional stuff, mainly because I never went through it myself, so I feel it may be too unbelieveable to be used in a story. Hey, the end of this arc also means some changes coming to the story, I'm going back to the one chapter per week quota, cause I have to start working on my school projects and stuff. As usual, keep you eyes out for the next chapter, and maybe a few surprises along the way!