Author's Note:

Gotta ride on the wave of inspiration! All the ideas I had planned for T3BFG is coming onto paper, because I really want to write it all out before I start to forget! I hope you guys enjoy the many arcs to come! Right now, a cute little side-arc focused around an oh-so-important day...

Chapter 70: The Venetian Brawl.

The announcement called forth a wave of activity, as people scrambled their way across the streets. The sea of figures were mired between that of a modern day clothes and people in robes and masks. It was quite the sight, and the surge of warmth coming from everyone enjoying the event was something I never could have imagined. Music gushed forth at every corner of the streets as I paced my way down into town, drawn by the sheer bustle of everything that's happening before my eyes.

"Wow..." My eyes marveled at the many colors that now littered the streets, decorations of all kinds hanging from roof to roof. Giant tents popping up at every turn. The smell of food wafted through the air in a flurry, as carnival treats of all kind were available from the droves of stalls set up all over the streets.

Is this a usual scene for a carnival day? I didn't know the Carnevale was this popular!

I can't help but feel more and more excited as each second passed. I want to try out everything, the games the children were having fun trying out at this one stall. The many different flavors of popcorn I just passed, there were over ten flavors! Everything just feels so grand, so loud! This is a rare side of Venice, one I haven't seen for a long time...

The usual gushing of waves hit my ears as the main plaza came to sight, a grand spectacle of light and sound that puts all others I've seen to shame! Various street performers were piling their craft, some dancing on stilts while others breathed clouds of flames, all while a main stage took the center of attention!

"Whoa..awesome, ha ha!" My eyes couldn't find a single thing to focus on, and I ended up backpedaling around the plaza just to get a better look at all the unbelievable things the performers are pulling off!

Thud.

Suddenly my steps backwards was stopped rather abruptly, but before the loss of balance brought my face to the ground however, a firm grip held me tight by the shoulders. Overshadowed by someone taller, I turned only to catch sight of familiar strands of dark, navy blue hair flowing down the sides.

"You should really watch where you're going, Boss." Dante gave me the warning looking slightly crossed. I could do little but smile and awkwardly laugh it off before pulling myself away from him, rearranging my overshirt and hair back into place. Turning back towards him, my words were cut off as Vito appeared, with nothing less than a mountain pile of candy in his arms.

"Yo Blue, I'm back!" He cried out, seemingly unaware of my presence. Probably because of the fact that his eyes are glazing over the treats he had with him.

Hm, should I call out to him? Surprising Vito wouldn't be such a good idea right now. Don't want him dropping all of that and making a mess...

"As expected, there's tons of candy out for sale today! We've got minty Golia, anice and salvia e limone Mera and Longhi, wintergreen Fernet Menta, milky Galatine, gummy Mou, those diet Dietorelle, honey Ambrosoli, coffee Patieglie Leone and many more! Italian candies! These are the genuine articles they're selling, none of those mass-produced crap that you find in on the shelves these days!" With excitement in his eyes, Vito started picking out and naming each and every brand of candy he had in his hands in detail to Dante.

Taken aback by the outburst, the poor guy could do little but nod while breaking out a stiff smile. Tearing open a piece, it only took seconds before the urge to have one overcame Vito, and he gobbled up the tiny piece with delight. The instant reaction left him grinning in bliss, slowing sucking down on that one piece of candy.

"Wow..you're quite a maniac when it comes down to candy, huh Vito?" Before I knew it, the thoughts slipped out of my mouth as my eyes widened at the sight surprised.

"Yeah? Well I prefer the term 'Candy Connoisseur' myself..." He retorted, his gray eyes flashing up at me as he did. "..w-what?" Then, he blinked, not once but twice, seemingly in disbelief. "Amato? What are you doing here?!" All of a sudden he started lashing out at me in surprise, almost tossing his treats into the air!

"Whoa! I..uh..I just wanted to talk a walk around town. Did I..uh..do something wrong?" So shocked was I by his surprise that I ended up flinching back, stammering with my reply. As my heart calmed, I looked back to Vito only to have him flash me a confused look.

"You never come out of the house on this day!" He answered, before sinking back into his own thoughts. I tried to argue back but no words came to mind. As Vito started mowing down on his candy seemingly as a way of boosting his thoughts, Dante stepped in, pointing towards the right side of the plaza.

"Sergio and the others are over there, Boss." He gave out as calmly as ever. There they are, laughing ad chatting up a storm as they looked to the performers with eyes of admiration. Even Yoko seemed to be enjoying herself, grinning like a child as she looked to the sights and sounds with anticipation. As the wave of activity started riling up again, and the music and cheering got louder, another question popped into my mind.

"Oh, Dante, I have to ask. You guys here to enjoy the Carnevale as well?"

"Well, that's partly true-" He replied, only to have his words cut off mid sentence.

"Yoko? Hey..where are you going?! wait up!"

A familiar voice called out in distress! As our eyes turned to our right, Yoko came into sight, politely pushing her way through the crowds with furrowed brows as Sergio and Johann were chasing after her. The next thing I knew, she had stopped herself before Dante and Vito, shooting them a piercing glare for some reason. That snapped Vito back to reality.

"What are you guys doing here?" Yoko questioned with a harsh tone to her words. She certainly doesn't seem pleased in the slightest. In response, Vito and Dante only looked into each other's eyes before straightening their backs and turning back to the girl.

"Well, it's carnival day, and they have all this candies for sale in the stores so we-"

"You're here to spy on me, isn't that right?!" Just as Vito and Dante loosened their stance towards Yoko did she cut off Vito's reply with an even more overwhelming presence, her eyes now even more annoyed than before. It feels as though she just saw through a ruse, and was no less angry at their deception.

"Again that is only partly true, Miss Hayashi. In fact, the other objective is to-" Dante pitched in to the explanation as Vito's words were silenced. Even Dante was taken aback Yoko's intent.

"I don't care! Why can't you guys just leave me alone?! Who put you up to this, Kiera?!" Things were heating up, and Yoko's voice had gone from sharp words into full blown yelling.

Has Kiera ordered Dante and Vito to watch her at all times ever since she arrived in Italy? If so, I guess I can understand how someone can get so disturbed when they start losing their privacy like that. So thundering was her voice that the crowd and music seemed to die down around us. So intense was the exchange of words that Sergio, Johann and I felt we had no place to speak. If anything, I knew there was one thing I needed to do, and that's to assuage Yoko's fuming emotions.

My body moved on its own, making my way to Yoko's side. She was so distraught she barely noticed my hand pressing down gently on her shoulders.

"Yoko...just bear with it a little longer, all right? I'll speak with Kiera about this." With sincerity I gave her my word as she looked to me with eyes of anger, before they changed into worry and finally resignation.

"..hmph, if you say so, Amato."

As if right on cue to break the awkward tension a fanfare came upon us, capturing the attention of not just us, but everyone else present in the plaza. Obviously something big was going on. Within minutes of the music's start, a stage was set up, streamers popping open everywhere. It might have been my imagination, but the crowd seemed to grow as more eyes looked to the stage, as well as the emcee now turning his welcoming gaze down.

With a glint in his eyes, he spoke after a deep, dramatic breath!

"It's finally here! The highly anticipated Venetian Brawl is about to start! As before, I expect everyone knows which segment gonna be the wildest: the youths' segment! All you hot heads out there who think you got what it takes to challenge your peers and come out on top, here's your chance!" With his robes flickering in the wind, the guy gestures wildly with every word, nearly tossing aside his top hat and monocle. He certainly seems pumped up for the event!

For some reason, his enthusiasm felt contagious, and before long the crowds started cheering. I look around and saw that it wasn't just me who got distracted; Sergio, Johann, even Yoko's eyes were glued to the stage, eager to see what's gonna happen next!

"So!" As if to shock me back to reality, Sergio gave my back a tight slap, grinning somewhat as I turned to him. I don't like the look of this... "You gonna sign up for the brawl, Amato?" He asks, as if it was the most natural thing to do.

"Ooh! I always wondered how well Amato fights without going into his Awakening, you said he has a black belt in Taekwondo, right Sergio?" Too absent has Johann's voice been, that when it came it hit my ears like a truck. With a haughty smile, Sergio nodded to his question. That piqued everyone's interest, even Yoko's.

"W-What? N-No! These contests are meaningless, I am not fighting anyone just to show off like some buffoon!" I panicked, the words spilling out as my reply. Truth be told I just don't want to go up against anyone, and I never found it satisfying when practicing the martial art. Just a lot of painful memories...

"The winner gets a golden mask!" Sergio crept to my side, giving the suggestion enticingly while pointing up to the stage. There, in a glass display case embroidered with all sorts of décor, is the fabled golden mask. The bearer of the mask is said to achieve success and become the envy of others...

"No! No, I will not be tempted! No matter what you guys do, I am not getting on that stage!" I declared, shaking away the alluring thoughts. Pushing away even Yoko's expecting gaze. As Sergio and Johann laughed and brushed off the idea however, Yoko started gently pushing her way towards the stage, much to our surprise.

"Where are you going now?" Sergio asked out, after chasing after her again and catching up. The brunette only pulled a smile on her face as she replied, before continuing.

"Just..giving him a bigger incentive!"

The stage was set. Two fighters, lifted up above the crowds. The objective? To knock and throw the opponent out of the ring. Anything goes, but the usual rules apply, no foul play; no hitting between the eyes or under the belt. As the crowds cheered, the air sizzled with excitement. The rays of the afternoon sun grew strong, as if the spotlights of an in-door ring was pounding down on us. Few times has Venice held events so grand, so...celebrated. Still, there's just one little problem with this picture...

Why am I one of the two people fighting inside the ring?!

"Hragh!" The hulking beast of a man came charging! His howl was so piercing it pulled me right out of my thoughts, just enough for me to awkwardly throw myself to the sides!

Darn it, how did they managed to get me up here?

My eyes glanced to the crowds, and sure enough, within a few distance stood my Famiglia. Sergio and Johann was cheering like there was no tomorrow, their cries melding with the crowds, while Vito, Dante and Yoko focused their sights on me with unwavering eyes.

Well they certainly seem to be enjoying themselves!

"Stand still!" He roars, as his two arms came clamping down around me, looking to lock me down with his immense strength! With no footing behind me, I couldn't do much. Shutting my eyes I let my instincts and reflex take over!

"Whoa!"

The crowd gasped in unison. Even after seconds passed, there was still this silence floating around the plaza.

"No way, the dunce lucked out again! And what the heck is with that move, just seeing it makes my back hurt!" A couple of guys were the first to break the ice. It seemed a majority of my school is among the sea of people, and those guys of my class were watching me as well. I tend to hear the familiar names from class whenever they speak up. Before anything else, my eyes flew open to a scene all topsy turvy. It looked as though the world had been flipped upside down. Only it wasn't that at all.

To dodge that grip it seems my body fell backwards on itself, bending by the knees. It looks something like a fallen inverted 'L' shape, my back only inches above the crowd. At that instant, I could feel the pressure strangling down on my legs, growing more numb by the second.

"What the hell, get up, you freak! I'm gonna throw you off the stage, win this damn contest and get that girl!" He declared, amidst his grunts and yelling. The guy seemed twice my size, is he really the same age as myself? Riling up for another assault, he plunged downwards, going after the only thing keeping me balanced: my legs! "Oh, and when I win, I'm gonna do more than just get a kiss out of her!"

...right, this is why I entered this brawl.

Yoko, why'd ya have to do that? Going up onto the stage and offering a kiss for the grand winner. That got all the contestants riled up. Naturally, it's a contest of strength, so whomever who's signed up would have had the confidence to win. And that means they're either twice my size, or filled to the brim with muscles.

When they started leering at you like that, any girl would've been frightened, even you.

..but I'm not gonna let them touch you!

In middle of my thoughts, I need only focus to see right through his moves, and somewhere from my memories, the voice of my Master speaks as I reacted!

Be wary of motion. Know where the power flows. Always try to use it against your opponent!

As soon as his shoulder neared, I only needed a good grip to free my legs, and propel myself to the other side in an instant, flying over the guy's head with elegance! This time, the move was too fast for any reaction, from both the crowd and my opponent.

And always apply restraint!

"Tap."

Directing the power of his charge into the ground, a single back kick from my right leg was all it took to send him crashing down the stage. No more, no less.

"Smash!"

"Augh...what happened?" The guy asked out as he picked himself up, peeling his body off the ground. In the sweltering heat I realize I'm sweating bullets from the intense concentration, something that shouldn't happen, and marveled at the impression I left in the crowd. As wind grazed against my cheeks in the face of the carnival bands, the emcee finally started moving, scrambling for his microphone.

"W-We..we have a winner! The underdog of the first round, Amato Zanna!" The gentleman declared even as he pushed away his disbelief.

"Yeah!"

It took seconds, but when they did, they crowds cheered up a storm!

Everything after that was smooth sailing. There weren't many contestants to start with, about ten of them I think. I guess it's a good thing to enter after all. My body hasn't trained outside of the Awakening for a while, and when under stress, the adrenaline served as a refresher for all the things I learned in Taekwondo!

"Hah!" I cried out in a short jab as I started another round with a front snap kick!

"Guh!" In the face of such a powerful move, the captain of Venice High's boxing club could do little but dodge. That brought him out to the open, though, and with two sharp jabs from my elbows, I loosened him up enough for me to push him into the air with my right foot, before throwing him out the ring!

"Crash!"

Of course I made sure it was just enough force to send him rolling and not break any of his bones...

Some rounds were...a lot harder than others, though. One had a fencer who could hide his intent well enough to land a few good jabs at my ribs. Another was an observant guy who overwhelmed me with his grapples, enough for me to rush a victory out of that round!

Here comes the final round, and I'm up against...?

The masked guy wore robes that touched the ground, and behind the cloth I could barely see his form. The Bauta mask, with its prominent nose and a thick ridge, shone gold and white as it hung from his face. Even the eye-holes seemed so dark I could barely make out his expression. As the emcee announced the start of the round and the bell was struck, he broke into a dash towards me at a speed so fast it carried with him the wind. Just like a human bullet!

"Crack."

Just as I expected a blow coming at speed that made me doubt whether I'm fast enough to dodge, the masked man stomped his foot into the stage, and the sound of wood splitting could be heard. Ripples of force could be picked up from my feet, just by standing on the same stage as him! In sharp motions, a wave of force surged as his two arms stretched out towards me!

"Thud."

"Graugh!" They were too fast, and though it felt no more than a tap, I was sent reeling back even as I held my stance! When the force died down, I realized I was already at the edge of the ring. One more inch and I would've lost!In a slight panic I sought to return to more even ground, charging and leaping into the air faster than I could think!

"Hrah!" Twisting my body, I aimed my heel towards his body in a reverse side kick!

He made no sound even as his arms stretched out once more, taking a hold of my leg. In swift, precise movements he twisted off trajectory, whisking into the front before clamping down on my neck, all while I was still in the air! The next thing I know I'm tossed around like some rag doll, my vision spinning all over as my face slammed into the ground!

"Crash!"

"Guh! Augh!" His weight pressed down on me like an anvil. Even as he towers over me right now, his hand crushing down my neck and locking down my leg, I still can't make out his face behind the mask!

No way, I didn't expect such technique from someone in Venice! At least, not outside the underworld! His form and movement...is he using a particular Chinese martial art? Kung Fu? For some reason those large concentrated strikes reminds me of someone...

Still, now isn't the best time to be contemplating anything, not when I'm at his mercy pressed down like this! A glance to the side showed me a scene of the plaza held in suspense, everyone's eyes were glued to the stage. Even the street performers had stopped whatever they were doing and turned to the stage. Desperate to free myself, my fingers came together as I aimed for his elbow, launching towards the joint a heavy chop!

"Kuh!" That worked, and with a pained grunt beneath the Bauta, he staggered back. Seizing the chance, I threw my arms and neck back while swinging my legs free! After what felt like a sharp thud on my shin, I pushed with all my might and flipped back on my two feet, stumbling a bit as my vision recovered from the inertia.

Wait a minute, that's..

The mask. The Bauta mask lays flat on the ground. Did I somehow knock it off the guy's face in my attempt to recover myself? Tracing back up to the guy in robes, he just stood there at the opposite side of me, rubbing down on his jaw. His face came into view at last, and that made me wonder why I didn't think of him in the first place! Besides the neat, tapered blond hair and the wild smile there's only one other person I know who fights with moves like that...

Even the crowd weren't immune to his reveal, chattering up amongst themselves the instant his face came to light. Though they seemed more excited than not. That's not good.

"Oh ho!" Out of nowhere the emcee started talking again, the voice cutting into my ears from the P.A systems. He seemed thrilled, but the words that came after was what made me doubt my chance of winning this thing. "It seems the mysterious challenger 'Anon' is none other than our grand champion four years in a row!" He declared, the few words enough to make my jaw drop.

"The champ is back! It's the underdog against the reigning champion! Amato Zanna versus Fionn De Luca!"

Huh, it seems the story planned came out longer than I thought, and I'll be splitting it up into two chapters instead. I guess I like cliffhangers and reveals at the end of chapters, for a stronger impact if nothing else. As before, give me your thoughts on the chapter in your reviews below, I'd love to hear them! As for myself, can't wait to write out the conclusion of the brawl in the next chapter!