Author's Note:
In the midst of New Years, the Vongola appears! Led by none other than the top dog himself, the Vongola Nono! Just what is his intentions? Is his appearance a curse or a blessing to the Zanna Famiglia? All right, no time to waste, let the chapter commence!
Chapter 41: Alliance Under The Lights
I stood there, my hand, my palm, pressing against the pillars facing to the yard. The truth was, my body was frozen as my mind couldn't form any proper response to what was happening. The flash of fireworks burst off every few seconds, lighting up the dark night sky behind Vongola Nono. And yet, his presence was all I felt. All the members around him, even through their silence, faced him with respect. Their weapons by their hands, it was a very delicate situation. Immediately, the thought of what would happen to Kiera and the rest popped into my mind.
What does one do when one gets a visit from the leader of the strongest Mafia famiglia in the world? Kiera never taught me anything concerning this. The look on her face told me even she never expected the Vongola to come knocking on our door.
Instinctively, I readied myself, taking a stance as he stopped right in front of me, his scepter striking into the ground as he did. My own actions struck me as out of place. Was he a danger? I was certainly hoping not!
All of a sudden, he scrambled to the ground, his legs cracking as he fell to his knees. Holding on to his scepter for support, I could see the beads of sweat forming and flowing down his brow.
"Huh!"
A series of gasps erupted from the members, as a shocked look appeared on their faces. With the voices coming from my side, I assumed my Famiglia felt the same. As the other Vongola members were stunned by what was happening, I was already on the move. Stumbling to his side, I held him by the shoulders, supporting him with my hand on his back. Nothing came into my mind as I did, my body just moved on its own, according to what I was seeing with own eyes. At that moment, titles meant nothing to me, all I saw was an old man falling in front of the Zanna mansion, and I wasn't gonna stand there gasping!
"H-hey, old man, hang on! What's wrong? Are you in pain?" I cried out, ignoring the reactions from everyone else. My actions surprised even myself, but I continued with it nonetheless. "Kiera, open the doors!" My voice broke the shock Kiera had, and the two giant doors to the mansion were pushed wide open.
"Hey kid, who do you think you're calling an old man? Do you know who you're talking to?" The man with the metallic arm roared out once more, his rasping voice enough to pause my movements.
"Shut up! I'm not the type of person who can just stand there and watch when someone falls down, okay? Not in my City, and especially not when he falls right in front of me!" I retorted, yelling back in a slight tone of annoyance, as I finally got Vongola Nono taking the first few steps towards the mansion.
My words must have left quite the impression, as the man named Ganauche burst out laughing. Ignoring his reaction, I continued the steps into the mansion. Soon, members from both famiglias, regardless of what was supposed to happen, gave their assistance to their respective Bosses. In my mind, I didn't care if it was rude to lay hands on the Vongola Nono, all I knew was that helping him was the right thing to do. The mafia are humans, too.
In the house, I was left in a secluded room far from the main hall. An ancient room, the accomplishments of my ancestors were painted on the walls of the room, murals depicting all the crazy things they did, like manipulating fire, or lifting a mountain. Yeah, some of them were quite exaggerated. As well painted as they were, it often made me wonder why the murals were only seen the this room, buried behind the many walls of the Zanna mansion. Seated in an ornate, carved chair with armrests thick and tall, the Boss of the most powerful mafia famiglia in the world rested as his six other powerful members, or Guardians, as Kiera told me, stood vigilant.
I, on the other hand, sat there alone. It was both awkward and frightening. The whole scene was arranged as per the Vongola Nono's request, and of course, I was in no position to refuse. I watched him as the light flickered, the sight of his calm, steel eyes disappearing for a second, before flashing right back. In my mind, regret popped into place as I thought back on what I did minutes ago. Perhaps it was a bit too reckless.
"You don't have to be so nervous." Those were the first words that came out of his mouth, right after he gently closed his eyes for a moment of deep thought. "Thank you very much, Zanna Decimo." He spoke calmly, a gentle tone to his words. The air around me felt a whole lot lighter because of that. Taking another look at him, his face no longer looked so dark.
"H-huh? Uh.. yeah, you're welcome." I stuttered as the words slowly made their way out. I guess Kiera's constant reminders of how important this visit was got to my head, making me feel jittery, nervous.
"Tch. It is basic courtesy to call someone by their title. Is it a trait of the Zanna famiglia to not show the proper respect?" At the the Vongola Nono's side, his long strands of gray hair shined silver under the rays of the light, commenting as he brought his metal arm up, his fingers to stroke his chin. The joints creaked as metal scraped against metal.
"S-sorry, Vongola Nono." I replied almost immediately, snapping back to him as I straightened my back in my seat.
"Hah! I'm still amused he told you off just now, Coyote!" Ganauche exclaimed as he leaned against the wall at the side of the room, chuckling. "Not even flinching in the face of the infamous Vongola Guardian of the Storm, I approve of him already!" He joked around with a thumbs-up, his actions greatly annoying the man with the metallic arm.
"Watch it, Ganauche." The man named Coyote warned him as he clenched his iron fist. I watched as they exchanged words with each other, throwing names and insults as the other Guardians and the Vongola Nono tried to break it up. It came to me as a very close bond that they have with each other, and somewhat reminded me of my own Famiglia. The sight was calming.
"All right, all right. We're here on business." The words brought my attention back on. His finely crafted scepter in his hand, he looked towards me after solving the little incident that happened. "Amato Zanna, Tenth leader of the Zanna famiglia. I bring to you a proposal, I want you to affiliate yourselves with us." He declared, with a serious look in his eyes.
"Huh? A proposal? You, you want us to ally ourselves with you guys?" The notion struck me as strange, and the words just came out automatically. After all, if we remained alone for ten generations, why do the Vongola need us now?
"And here I thought he would be excited when we told him..." The man with the darker skin tone voiced out from the shadows. For a moment, his presence actually melded with the shadows in the room. It was a bit creepy. Was it too much to ask for reason behind their words? My senses were screaming out in the secluded room. The situation just kept feeling more and more suspicious.
"Observant, cautious. Impressive." The next thing that came out of Vongola Nono's mouth was an unexpected compliment, before he grimaced a little. His eyes shifted to the murals painted wide across the walls, and to my surprised, he had eyes of admiration, fascination. His look reminded me of someone impressed with a movie. "Looks like you were right, Bouche." He replied to the exotic man as his eyes scanned the stories written out on the wall in paint.
"Let me ask you a question, young man." Vongola Nono asked out, the light in his eye dimming even more. "What do you know of the Cradle Affair?"
Varia.
That was the first thing that came into my mind, and multiple images erupted next. I had heard of the incident, a coup d'etat within the base of the strongest mafia famiglia in the world, staged by their very own. Kiera's own version of the story sent shivers down my spine as she described it a few years ago. An arm of the Vongola, the Varia were highly efficient killing machines, bred to the bone with the knowledge to kill. The missions they were said to accomplish were beyond the scope of human standards, demonic even.
But the one who inspired the terror in the story was none other than the leader of Varia, Xanxus.
He was utterly fierce, devoted to his cause and beliefs. Kiera went on to say how he could strike down others without a tinge of emotion or even attention. Through his leadership, he nearly took over as head of the Vongola. But the horrifying event was stopped through mysterious circumstances. And the man named Xanxus disappeared from the face of the mafia world.
Vongola Nono watched me with serious eyes as silence filled the room after his question. His Guardians' eyes stared back at me, arrows piercing into my body, waiting for my reaction.
"Xanxus is coming back..." He declared once more, blowing my eyes wide open. The news was so shocking, I felt a tinge of fear flow throughout my body even if Xanxus had no real business with my Famiglia. Such a monster rearing his face back into the underworld, it couldn't be any good news. "That is the true reason I'm here today." The man, with scepter in hand, continued as he saw my frozen face.
"The Vongola needs your help. Do you agree to give it?" He spoke out calmly, stretching his palm, yearning for a handshake.
I could told you about the million things going through my mind at that moment, when we were sitting in that room. All the fear, the questions that kept popping up in my mind. The decision I would make could drastically change my Famiglia forever, or it could lead them to a path of destruction. Does this mean I would have to fight Xanxus in the future? I still didn't understand why the mighty Vongola famiglia needed my help. It was difficult, but the sight in front of me did little to help. All I saw, was a man, beloved by his friends, his family, stretching out his hand in a plea for help.
"Yes, I agree. The Zanna Famiglia will ally itself with the Vongola." I declared, certainty in my words. I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid anymore. But I didn't want to see the smile they had on their faces just minutes before, disappear.
"Oh? No, you're not forming an alliance with the main famiglia." The Vongola Nono says out in a surprised tone as he heard my words, bringing his hands together after the handshake, with a calm smile on his face. My own face shot up as confusion took its hold. What? One moment he was asking for one thing, the next he declares the opposite?
"The group you're forming an alliance with is.." The leader of Vongola slowed down his words as if drumming up anticipation, his smile stretching just so much wider.
"CEDEF."
It was an uncommon name, but not one foreign to me. The Consulenza Esterna Della Famiglia. The independent arm, the secret organization that specializes in intelligence gathering and cover operations. There were rumors that they are related to the Vongola famiglia, but the rumors led to nowhere, as far as records went.
"The External Advisors?" I blurt out the first thing that came into my mind. "So it's true, they are a part of the Vongola..." I tried to give out the assessment as calmly as I could, trying my best not to look too surprised.
"You knew?" I could hear the man leaning on the wall behind Vongola Nono voiced out in slight surprise, shifting his sunglasses up, placing them on his head.
"Well, we had some suspicions from the scouts we sent out, we needed to see if they're a danger to us.." I gave out my reason, scratching the back of my head as I realized I just admitted sending people to spy on them.
"...Impressive." He muttered that one word before going back to his vigilant position, leaving me slightly baffled.
"A few months later, the head of CEDEF will be here for a visit. I need you to form an official alliance with him, and do as he says." The Vongola Nono exclaimed in his usual calm demeanor, his white hair bright in the light from the room. Immediately, I perked up to carefully listen to his each and every word. No doubt they were vital information meant for my Famiglia. "I'll also need you to hand him this.."
His eyes furrowed slightly as he pulled out a box from his coat. It was an ornate box, a simple design with golden linings. Smacked in the middle, was the crest of the Vongola, A unique design of guns encircling a single bullet. A winged clam hangs above the picture, the tile of Vongola stretched across the bottom. In that moment, everyone's eyes fell on the one, small box, which was only a bit larger than my palm. Handled with extreme care, it was gently placed in my hand.
"Uh, sir, can I ask you a question?" My voice was the first thing to break the silence. He gave me a nod I response, curious about what I want to ask. "Why did your legs fail you just now?" I carefully ask out, unsure if it was too much of a personal question or not.
Another smile, this time gentle, happy, appeared on Vongola Nono's face, his laughter coming off a second later. "Thank you for your concern, actually this is one of the reason why the Succession is happening. My legs have been failing me.."
"I told you not to visit the bazaars on foot before you come here, but you just wouldn't listen..." The man with the lizard tattoo shook his head, upset over what happened. "You need to prevent your body from failing further!" He exclaimed, his tone of voice raised to emphasize the point.
"All right, I got it, Brow Nie." Vongola Nono raised his hands with an apologetic look on his face. It was a strangely a comforting sight to see the leader of the strongest mafia famiglia in the world so friendly with his Guardians. "But the canal city, with its crowds, cheers and fireworks, has one of the most festive New Year celebrations in the world, I just had to see it for myself." He gave out his reasons with a smile, laughing.
"Gah, the fireworks!"
I cried out in between the laughs we were having, as the realization hit me. The next thing I knew, I was pushing my legs and running through the doors, bursting out of the room.
The doors flew wide open as I burst out of the mansion, my eyes frantically looking to the skies. Behind me, my Famiglia appeared, their faces confused at what had happened as well as what was happening. Slowly, they got to my side in the front yard of the mansion, confused as they were. Aria slowly made her way towards us as well, after her disappearance when the Vongola showed themselves. With wary eyes, she carefully tread her way to my side. The yard itself were still littered with the Vongola members, the sea of mafia almost covering up every last patch of green grass I could see.
"Wait, so what happened in there? Lord Amato!" Kiera yelled out at me, losing her composure for the first time in months. I turn my eyes to see her in her winter maid outfit, thick coats covering up most of her body, accompanied by the usual frills on her apron.
"Let me get this straight, you ditched the leader of the strongest mafia famiglia in the world for fireworks?" Sergio cried out in disbelief, but as he did, he had this smile on his face.
"Hey, this is much more important!" I yelled back in protest, as the flash of the grand finale for the fireworks bobbed up into the air as a small, shooting star. In a burst of light and sound, the one spark split into a dozen others, a flower forming from the explosion. The hissing rang through the air as the night sky lit up the brightest I've ever seen that night. Pushing away the thoughts of consequence, all I wanted at the moment was to watch the fireworks with my friends.
As I watched on, I could feel as though everyone, even the Vongola, turned and watched the shower of sparks and light. Suddenly, a gentle hand placed itself on my shoulder.
"Truly, your love knows no bound. All my doubts were cleared the moment you helped me when I fell."
Slightly shifting my eyes, I realized the Vongola Nono who spoke those words, after having made his way to my side. I tried my best to focus on what he was saying, but my eyes couldn't move from the sight of the colors in the sky. As the shadow of the sky brightened by the flash, it became a memory that would last forever. Before I knew it, I was watching the New Years fireworks with the Ninth Generation by my side. Blinded by light and sound drowning out everything else, it took me a second before I saw the Vongola Nono, as well as his Guardians, walking out the gates.
As my eyes shifted from the array of light and colors to them, I saw them walking back to their limousines with an assured smile on their faces, the rest of the Vongola behind them. Under the New Years lights, the promised I made to the Vongola remained fresh in my mind, but I made it a point to push it away, at least until New Years was over. I just wanted to spend the day, or what was left of it, with the rest of my Famiglia.
Ha ha, this came late by a day! It took me a while to get writing, but once I did, the sentences just formed one after another! I hope my portrayal of the Ninth Generation is acceptable to you guys! If you readers think it feels too out of place, then tell it to me in your reviews! The visit from the Vongola left Amato with a heavy mind, and a new responsibility! Just what is in store for the Zanna Famiglia? Follow the story to find out!