Author's Note:

Oh yeah, it's good to be back writing my FanFiction! Although, the month spend rushing and writing has left me sore and slow with both reading and writing itself, so I'm sorry if this is coming in late. Sigh, my proof-reading has been going quite slow as well. But, no matter what, I cannot neglect my story, they must continue! Onwards!

Chapter 49: A Courtesy.

Inner Feelings.

"Kiera, looking out for the blades! One o'clock!" I hear Aria's voice cried out in worry. At her command, my shield was raised in the direction as I turned to face my opponent, dazed for a second by my anger as well as the worry bubbling within me. Amato's kidnapping was causing much stress in my mind, so much that it was getting difficult to maintain focus. When my shield was cast into its flight, the air whistling as it was cut, the thoughts kept churning forth. Amato, what are they doing to you? Why were you targeted? To think they have the gall to stage a kidnapping in broad daylight!

"Zashink!"

The impact was enough to blow sparks into the air, as bladed gauntlets struck the surface of my shield. In the struggle of strength, my body remained standing while the hooded figure whose height was short compared to mine, flinched a great deal, taking a step back. Pushing my shield down, I used it as an anchor to push my body into the air, primed for an overhead strike. The enemy wasted no time at all, however, and swung her free arm towards me once more as soon as she recovered. Catching sight of her attack seconds before it closed in on me, it came to me at no surprise.

In the air, I directed my right foot to meet step on top of her thrust just as she missed, and as soon as I felt the contact, my mind focused to gently push down on the hooded figure's arm. Even with the small amount of force I projected from my leg, it was enough to drive her gauntlet digging into the ground.

"Ah!" A cry of surprise was heard, a soft mutter from beneath the hood, but not soft enough to escape my ears. The tone of voice was strange, the cry sounding feminine.

Propelled into the air, my eyes stared down on the figure like an eagle eying its prey, unhindered by the weight of my massive shield. Though hidden behind the robes and cloth, I saw through the veil and was certain the figure was wrecked with surprise and disbelief. Pulling my shield behind me, I used the momentum of my descend to push down my weapon in an arc, bringing it down like a comet on top of the enemy.

"Thunk!"

But my shield never did crash and broke the skull of my opponent, even when a hit would have meant an instant death. Instead, my overwhelming strength cracked the earth as the sound burst into the surrounding, ringing through the district. As if struck by realization, I saw a shiver from the hooded figure, as if she knew of her own strength outmatched. No, I did not seek the death of my enemy, I needed information on where they were taking Amato, and frankly, that tiny sliver of combat was not enough to sate my anger. With my shield dug into the ground as a pole for support, I jumped towards the enemy with grace, twisting my body and kicking into the her, sending her flying and crashing a few feet back.

"Shink! Clank! Kashink!"

My mind was still drifting, even as I heard the clashing of knives and caught sight of Vito getting pushed back by his opponent, who was wielding a pair of knives quite different from Vito's. Beautifully crafted and designed, they sliced through the air in many arcs as the figure pushed towards Vito, who blocked each swing by bringing up his one combat knife.

Ba-dump.

The sound of my heartbeat brought me back to this morning, when Amato invited me to accompany him, what foolish mistake it was to abandon him to Sergio and the others. There was constant yelling and berating, of how my own excitement on a mere possibility brought forth a chance for the Boss of the Zanna Famiglia to get hurt, or worse, lose his life. At that though, I shut my eyes for a second as if refusing to believe my own thought, and angry at myself for even going to that conclusion. That was when I felt something wet flow out of my eyelids.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

It's my fault that this happened! It's all my fault! I knew I should have followed him, Sergio may have been training but no matter how much of a natural he is, he hasn't even been training for more than half a year! How can I expect him to be able to fend off any attackers that targeted Amato? My legs pounced towards my opponent, who had raised her gauntlets once more. With each burst of thoughts, each scream in my mind, I slammed my shield down on her, the assault never relenting. The figure had little choice but to bring up both gauntlets and lock them together, to shield her body from the impact of my onslaught.

"Crank! Clunk! Thunk!"

No! I'm going to bring him back before anything happens to him! Steeling my resolve, my strikes came down harder and stronger than before, ignoring how small my hooded opponent was, how stiff it felt each time my shield connected with her gauntlets. For a few moments there and then, I became nothing less than a berserker. All I could think of was seeing Amato's smiling face again. So please Amato, be safe until I get there!

"Yyyaaahhh!" My feral cry roared out just as I push all of my strength into the weapon coming down on the enemy, to just smash her into pieces.

"Kiera, stop! You're going to kill her!" Sergio's voice rang through my ears, the word kill slowing down my action before my shield came to a halt right before it struck the enemy. When the cloud of anger, frustration and worry cleared from my vision, my shield came into sight, just a centimeter above my hooded enemy's two raised gauntlets. The crimson metal encasing the gauntlets gleamed in the sun, as they shivered in my eyes, with convulsion spreading from the body of my enemy. Though she stood her ground from my assault, anyone could have seen she would not have been able to endure anymore of my smashing.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

As my heartbeat throbbed withing me, a simple breath of wind blew down the hood, garnering little attention from my enemy, and that was when I got to see who I was fighting against for the first time. Dark, purple hair flowed down from the top of her face, glistening even as they drip with sweat. Her pale skin reminded me of a princess from a fairytale, and was further complimented by her dark, brown eyes. With my shield raised above her, the girl, with her gauntlets barely held by her hands, fell to her knees.

"The person I was fighting against... is a girl?" Sergio's voice could be heard from behind me, a cry out from the revelation. In his tone of voice, I caught a hint of irritation amidst the sea of surprise and disbelief.

"Hah... Ah... Hah..." She stared back at me with a piercing glare, seriousness in her eyes as tears flowed out slowly even as she could barely hold her body up from collapsing. With the claws on her gauntlets, she could not wipe away her sweat and tears as she suffered, and so the flowing was never stopped. Even as she rested herself while watching us in that few seconds, her body just kept on twitching, shaken up by massive shocks from her exhaustion.

A careful glance to Sergio and the others only showed me a sense of fear in their eyes. Was I really so wrapped in anger as I was fighting? The only one who seemed okay was Hinata, who's eyes were pinned on Vito after my fight was over, as if looking with great concern. It made me wonder why was she so curious. As if her desire was washing over me, my eyes quickly threw another glance at Vito.

The Angel of Life had his sleepy eyes pinned on his own hooded enemy, never relenting in their gaze. He dodged each swing of the knives with great ease, with much smoother movements than before, as if he was already used to the speed of his opponent. If put into an expression, Vito looked as though he was a predator playing with his prey before finishing his hunt. And yet, his opponent was amazing as well, not only being able to keep up with him without tiring, but he or she also seemed to be getting quicker, catching up to Vito.

All of a sudden, the situation changed, with Vito's opponent employing a change of tactics, thrusting out for his eyes. Taking a step back, Vito's expression never changed even in the face of the change, as his own dagger was raised in a flash of motion, so fast it almost escaped my own two eyes.

"Zing!" Metal clashed against each other in a burst of force and speed, which erupted in to a number of sparks blowing from the weapons. As expected, Vito stood strong while his opponent got blown back a step by the clash. One could see the figure under the hood was getting desperate, as upon recovery, he or she lunged towards Vito once more, initiating a rather reckless charge.

"Huh?" Another feminine voice came from under the hood, a soft whisper of surprise as her action was stopped in an instant. When the head turned to see what happened, her right wrist had been locked from its movements by Vito's left hand, just as she closed in before the Angel of Life. Any struggle from the girl in the hood was pointless, as I had never seen anyone besides me best Vito in strength yet. As if overcome by some form of excitement, a small, wry smile slowly stretched across Vito's face.

"Well, thought you might be able to grow a bit if I granted you some time, but it seems I was wrong." Vito's words came with their usual sense of wit and sarcasm, completely devoid of any sense of danger.

In a slight instance, Vito's eyes furrowed with seriousness for a slight second, as he threw his dagger in an arc, slashing across the robes of the girl in the hood. The slash was like a streak of light, but the power was impressive, completely cutting through the thick layers of the robes, as well as into the school uniform that came into view, of white and blue. If my eyes did not not fail me, Vito's blade actually cut into the skin of the enemy in that one attack, as the uniform reminding me of a sailor's attire dyed itself in a pool of red.

Even the hood was torn by the backlash of Vito's swing, tearing itself away from the head of the figure, opening up to batch of pink hair that seemed almost too bright to be gazed upon. The bright-eyed girl stumbled back as Vito released his grip, immediately bringing her hands to cover her wound. Eyes wide open, she fell to her knees as she was struck by the shock of the attack.

And just like that, the clashing of weapons warped into silence in that afternoon as the sun beat down in the district. We came out victorious in that little skirmish.

The orange light seemed to overflow from the window, and seep into the my hotel room as I wondered if what I was doing was the right course of action. Blinking twice, I turned my eyes back down to the two girls pushed to the corner, whom hadn't made a sound ever since we dragged them in here. Their weapons at their side, they looked as though they had accepted their fate, and was quietly biding their time even as they laid restrained by their arms and legs. So far, our interrogation had proved naught, as they refused to speak a word.

"Where is he? Where did you take him?" Sergio's voice had gotten hoarse over the few hours of yelling, as he took the initiative to start the interrogation with fervor. He must be feeling responsible for what happened, and though I do not want to blame him, I cannot say he is not of fault.

The two girls, much to our surprise, looked no younger than the most of us, still in their school uniforms as the one whose hair was in a deep purple shivered slightly, her breathing loud and painful as her body was slowly recovering from the weight of my attacks, while the other, whose hair sparkled in a tint of bright pink, looked genuinely scared, shutting her eyes instinctively every time Sergio's voice boomed. The one afraid hid behind the stout one as she shields her comrade from the onslaught of anger, showing a sense of unshaken loyalty even as they laid captured.

Johann, Aria and Hinata were with us as well, watching our actions as they stood with worry and concern for Amato. Though I wanted them to return to their rooms and await any news, my idea was met with objections, particularly from our new friend Hinata. She seemed really worried, more so than what I thought someone we met for less than a week would respond, but seeing her so eager to help my Lord only served to give me a slight reprieve from my own conflicted emotions.

"Dammit! Why aren't you saying anything?" Sergio cried out in frustration, raising his arm to hit the two girls into submission, much to everyone's surprise. But, as his palm was pushed above his head, his movement was locked.

"Ugh... Hngh..." Sergio's own emotions held back his attack, as what he was doing went against his own code. The fact that he was even going with the interrogation with the two girls must have torn him up on the inside. Seconds later, his action would be the same which had been repeated for the past hour or so, as he pulled back his arm and relent on the violence. I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the minutes passed. Perhaps the knowledge that he lost in both skill and strength to a girl was too much for him, as chivalrous as he is.

"We can't say anything. You have your rules, and we have ours. You won't be getting anything from us." The girl with the dark purple hair recited without shifting her eyes to look at us, a response after seeing Sergio and his reactions.

"Enough!" My own frustration snapped. Though I calmed myself down when we returned to my room, the anxiety and tension never left my mind, and all the failure in our effort to obtain information from these girls only got the feelings rising. As much as I trust in Dante, nevertheless I cannot say he would be completely successful in tracking down those who picked off Amato, so we need as much information as we could gather. My voice garnered a different reaction from the girls, as they immediately jerked their head towards me with caution.

With a sharp glare, my mind contemplated on what should be done, what can be done. It was obvious that these girls were strong in their values and their will, so they won't break under the usual torture procedures. I didn't want to break any part of their body if possible. When the thought of Amato popped into my mind again, my arm was instinctively raised to slap the girl with dark, purple hair before a grip stopped it.

"Hold on there, Valkyrie. We don't want them dying just yet." Vito cut in from his silence out of nowhere, stepping up from the back where he usually leaned against the wall and took on a more passive role.

"Now, as a doctor, their injuries are getting on my nerves, perhaps we can continue this chat after I patched them up a bit? If that is okay with you?" Vito blatantly gives out with a smile as he walked towards the girls, eyes scanning their bodies and checking out their injuries. Indeed, though hours passed, the two of them did not seem to be recovering at all from their wounds, it would be disastrous if they died, for I did not want blood on the hands of the Zanna Famiglia, not like this.

"Fine." My reply was stern and cold, for I could not show anymore kindness for these hooligans after what they did to my Lord. A amalgam of emotions appeared in the eyes of the two girls after hearing our words, of mostly confusion and disbelief as they looked to each other. Vito only took out white, rubber gloves and put on them on as he approached them.

"Now then, ladies, I'll need you both to take off your clothes for a full body examination." Vito calmly gave out his advice in a caring tone, just like a regular doctor, in contrast to his usual, sarcastic self. At times like this, it made me wonder why Vito never took up the mantle as a doctor as his profession, but stayed with the Zanna Famiglia.

Of course, as expected, the two girls flustered at his words, inching back towards the walls with emotions flushing out onto their faces as Vito took one step after another towards them. As sincere as Vito was, even I would be hesitant if he approached me with his hands raised like that, wrapped in white rubber. He looked genuinely menacing, to give a comment.

"W-wait! Is this another one of your interrogation methods? We'll talk, w-we'll give you the information, so just leave us alone!" Breaking out of her previous stoic demeanor, the girl in purple hair flustered harder as each second passed, throwing her arms to shield her fear-ridden comrade while panicking herself. The subject of touching their bodies must be beyond what they expected. In my eyes, they seem really sensitive for a pair of girls who were trying to take our lives a few hours back.

"Nonsense." Vito casually tossed out his reply with an out of place smile, and ignored their pleas. Somehow, I felt as though he was enjoying himself. We watched as Vito pulled back his glove over his fingers with a snap, and everyone of us looked away as he started on the procedure.

"As a doctor, it is... but a courtesy."

Though the whole procedure only lasted no more than half an hour, we nevertheless heard the many cries, screams and moans from the two girls. Even without sight of what was happening, I could roughly piece the images together based on their cries as well as Vito's replies, which did nothing to calm them down.

"Hm... Bone structure seems okay, no fractures..." Vito's calm observations gave off a sense of professionalism which I rarely pick up from his voice.

"Uw... How can you say that so calmly... while feeling down my.." The serious girl from before had all but lost her resistance, her voice breaking down to a soft mumble.

"No, don't touch my...!" A new voice cried out, this one sounding much younger and higher than the other girl's. It must be the one with the bubbly pink hair.

"I'll need to close that up, stitch it if I must. We don't want a scar to form, correct?" Again, Vito did his job with most focus, I sense no distraction in his mind even as he examined the naked bodies of the girls, though I worry for his mental state as I wonder if he was really completely ignoring two girls so close to his age.

When it was all done, we turned to see the two of them in the same corner as they were, their eyes stunned by what happened, their faces turned bright red. As they stared at the floor, they looked as though they had seemingly forgotten about their situation. Vito looked satisfied as he did the few final checks on their bodies by their side, his eyes as sleepy and laid back as ever. Their robes in their hands, they now completely look the part of innocent school girls if not for their vicious weapons at their side. The magnificently designed gauntlets for both hands and feet, as well as the dozen finely crafted kunai daggers lay at their reach, though I don't think they'll be wielding them against us anytime soon.

"...I can't believe you touched our bodies... and you never even reacted at the sight..." The girl with the long, purple hair was the first to break out of her shock, giving off the comment. The tone sounded more of annoyance and disbelief than anger or spite, as though it was more of a complaint than anything else. Was she upset by Vito's performance?

"Meh, I've seen better..." Vito spoke out his mind with little care for the feelings of the girls, returning back to his blunt, witty self. That caused the receding flare of emotions on the face of the girl to erupt once more like a volcano, causing her to raise her hand in reflex, before bringing it down.

"Slap!"

"How can you say that?" It seemed she reached the peak of her chaotic emotions, screaming out at the top of her voice as she threw a slap at Vito's face just as he got close to her. That act left the rest of us stunned as well the girl's comrade, who just snapped out of her shock. When she finally realized what she done, how she had been acting, she quickly pushed back her emotions, and turned away to the corner, immediately calming down.

"Sigh... All right, I promised to tell you what I know, and so I will." The girl closed her eyes and spoke out after a heavy sigh

That was when a sound rang across the room.

Just as we pushed ourselves forward, eager to hear where Amato had been taken to, my phone's ring-tone broke the silence of anticipation. When the name 'Dante' flashed across the screen, my eyes blew wide open as I quickly flipped my phone open and pushed it to my ear. The sudden change of the situation was enough to cause shivers running through my movements, causing me to nearly drop my phone to the floor in excitement.

"Valkyrie, They've stopped. I've tracked them down to a warehouse near District Ten." Dante's muffled voice through the phone was like the voice of an angel, filling me with hope and keeping that dying flame within me alive. "Should I initiate?" As with any careful spy, Dante quietly asked out for directions, keeping his messages short and concise.

"Hold on, it may be a trap, we're coming!" I declared through my end of the phone.

"No way, that guy managed to keep up with Rei?" The girl spoke out in shock, her purple hair swaying to the sides. Her eyes blew open with disbelief, and her comrade behind her was struck by utter confusion.

With only a glance, I rounded up the members of the Zanna Famiglia. Even those not affiliated to us, namely, Hinata, urged me to let her follow us, despite the potential danger she might get into. As the sun set in the distant horizon as I looked out the window, my eyes sharpen with conviction. Pulling the two girls up, we ordered them to follow us as we begin the rescue mission. In a few minutes, we were geared for the job, lengths of chains wrapped around Sergios's body, a dozen daggers hooked up with Vito's attire, a metal bat swung around in Johann's hands and I primed my ornate shield, the wings in its design spreading out from the center, as we begin moving through the lobby and out of the hotel.

"Let's go save the Boss!"

Oh man, this came late, really late, by a few weeks! The Famiglia primes themselves to save the boss, but just what are they going up against? Will Amato be okay after everything that's happened? I'll be pumping out the chapters to make up for the lost time, keep your eyes out for the updates!