Wow, it's been almost three months. I'm crying. Dayum.

"You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun."
― Shaun Hick

Chapter 6

"Can you tell me what the heck is going on?"

My voice rang louder than their chattering that it made them shut up and look at me. I sighed then examined the people around me. Their white hair more visible than their violet eyes that are in different shades.

The girl with a sharp jawline that I think can cut fruits spoke, "I know you are an intelligent girl Minerva, so please figure it out for yourself."

"I really don't understand. Wh- Ho- I'm not even close to your appearance! I'm a brunette! You're like- white haired!"

She tilted her head to the right and slowly smiled. She stared straight into my eyes and said, "Are you sure about that?"

A weird feeling passed through me. A feeling that tingles your senses and make you feel disturbed for a very long time. Like you're stuck somewhere and you can't go on.

And the only choice you can think of is to run.

I mentally laughed at myself. Even if I don't admit it, most of my problems are solved by running. By letting time pass. But the problem I, not everything can be solved by running. You can't leave everything just like that.

I gave her an exasperated look. The other women in the room also started to smile. This time I felt creeped out. I can even feel every hair on my body stand because of spookiness. I don't want to call it spooky, but let's face it, I don't know any of them.

So it's not my fault if I don't understand. Maybe they are making fun of me?

What the hell is happening?!

Their look tells me they know something I do not have knowledge of. Like when the teacher called you and tells you to answer a question, and the fact is, you're not even listening. To put it simply, right now, I'm feeling left out. And I don't like it. This is why I hate to be left out about anything, I don't want to be looked down. I don't want to be the last one knowing. I don't want to look like an idiot. Knowledge is power, (or information, whatever do you prefer) and that's what I usually kept inside my mind.

Maris stared straight into my eyes. "Care to look at yourself?" Maris said then laughed.

At first I don't even have a fucking clue.

Then I slowly gaze at my body. From what I saw, I think I'll stay in a mental institution for a while.

Because what the fucking hell.

I froze in shock as my jaw dropped. Pale white skin that seemed sparkling before my eyes made me curse mentally. Shit. My eyes crawled in my pale shining white skin. I thought, I am Caucasian. I am very sure I am.

So what the fucking fucker fuck am I seeing?

Albino skin? Really? This is joy.

I can't even describe how sarcastic I am right now.

I stared at my skin my eyes wide. Maris only smiled. She glided in front of me like she's riding a skate board. She raised her hands and extended her fingers until it touched my neck.

"I see the heirloom has been given to you," she said softly.

I don't know how this work but I now can't move because of shock, my eyes darting to different places except Maris.

"Heirloom," I struggled to say. Nothing is currently entering my mind. It will just past like a breeze.

"Yes, heirloom. This black choker you're wearing is an heirloom," Maris said.

I tried to absorb what she just said, but my mind seems to deny everything Maris says.

Maris.

I've heard that name before haven't I?

Think. Where did you first hear that name?

"Motheeer, I don't want to eat. Can I just go to the library?"

"No," Mother sternly said. "A child needs all the nutrient she/he can get."

"But mother, I want to check something in the library," I reasoned, I clasped my hands together and my mother raised her eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"I need to find a fairy tale," I answered. Her face started to change. She seemed to struggle if she should let me go or not.

What I'm telling mother is true. I am really searching for a fairy tale. But by now, everybody must have known that not all fairy tales have happy endings. Most of them have a very tragic and gory ending. And what I am finding have that characteristics. If my memory serves me right, it's about a girl whose father cut her both hands from her arms.

"All right, I'll let you," she said as I silently rejoice inside. "Only in one condition."

"What is it! What is it!"

"You need to eat after."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

I sighed. The truth is, I don't have any appetite right now. After thinking deep about steps I should take. Like maybe going on in an adventure and accidentally meeting canon characters or maybe meeting someone new. And messing with their lives I guess. Thinking about it, I really want to meet Squalo and creep the crap out of him. Or maybe make fun of his—is his hair silver or white? Did he bleached it or not?

This world might not be the one you're expecting. Meeting him might mean instantaneous death, a voice said at the back of my mind.

I ignored the voice and acted as if it did not exist in the first place. Maybe I'm just imagining things, I murmured.

"What are you whispering about young lady?" Mother's hand on her hips while her right eyebrow raised. She looked at me questioningly and I smiled reflexively.

"It's nothing Mother. Anyway, I'll go ahead," I turned and sprinted back to the library. My hands hidden behind me. A little ring placed between my little hands. I smiled as I felt the intricate design against my skin.

I sneaked inside grandpa's room and found this little thing. Even though I know how dangerous it can be for me, I did it anyway. I originally planned getting his journal, to collect information. And to know and understand what is my chances of taking over this giant chess board than someone prepared. Why do they bother to place me as a mafia boss' granddaughter? Why did they choose me?

Anyway since I felt like I'm in one of those crappy fanfictions out there, where the plot is not bad, and the protagonist is oh-so-powerful-and-intelligent to the point he or she can accidentally make a harem (maybe I should make one too, never mind, I don't want to bother with small things). I made guidelines for myself.

1. As much as possible, do not ruin the canon.

This part in (my opinion) is by far the most important part. I can't prevent myself from ruining some events, because my very existence already affected the canon. But I can (eventually) prevent myself from ruining it much further. Reading too much fanfictions helped me I suppose, knowing how situations might get dire once I let myself get reckless.

2. Control myself

Maybe I should have, you know, meditate. 'Cause I can really see myself in the future getting beaten up because I'm rash.

3. Find my niche

Hey! I have nothing listed under the "The Most Wanted Career Path for Minerva Phalanx" list. So maybe, just maybe, I can be an astronaut. Ha-ha.

Well, I made that guidelines for fun. Back to the topic, I really entered grandpa's room. I doubt he don't know that I've been there. He's smarter than me. I really want to see that journal.

However, I did not found grandpa's journal, he probably kept it in a more secure place. Instead, I found this little ring. Well, grandpa may not be even bother that one of his possessions is now nowhere to be found. He's too busy with mafia matters that he can't even play with me. (I'm not disappointed. No, really I'm not)

I sprinted through the hallway until I reached the mansion's library. The book's smell immediately raised my weird unstable mood (And I'm not even in that phase yet). The tall shelves full of books is certainly amazing. I can't even count how many shelves there are (in reality, I'm just too lazy to count them but esmating it, there must 30 to 60 shelves) there is also a huge chandelier right in the middle of the ceiling.

My blank face examined the library. "I'm not even half way through reading all this shit," I murmured. I turned my gaze to an intricately designed door, "Maybe I should finish that room first," I added then proceeded to walk to the door.

As I entered the door, a mini version of the gigantic library surprised me. Books that may seem they have been hidden in here for decades lay in the shelves, not even properly arranged.

I stared at the books that are gathering dust, I inspected some, trying to find something that suits my interest. That's when I saw a book hidden behind the stacks beside the bookshelves.

The book itself do not appeal much, with it blank maroon cover, it certainly blends with the other books. But what made it caught my attention is that surprisingly, it is lying on the floor alone. You see, books in here are arranged categorically, even though they are not arranged in the bookshelf itself. I was shock to even discover that these categories are far to inappropriate. Like cook books and a historical book in the same stack, the only thing connecting to them is that the cook book has dishes from the certain era the history book has. Mind fuckerry.

Who is the librarian in this little room anyway?

After a few minutes, I started to get bored. My eyes lazily looking at the dusty shelves and unorganized books. That's when I remembered the book I noticed earlier.

"Damn it. How can I forget about it? Guess I'm thinking too much," I murmured, my hands in my head.

I opened the book after I remembered where I last saw it. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw the contents.

A book compilation of fairytales I've never even heard before.

The first story is about a family meeting a fairy that offered some help, they did not know that she is a fairy because she is disguised. Apparently seeing and knowing that you've talked to a fairy can kill you.

Back to the story, the fairy helped them, but half through the story they died because they found out her secret.

What the-

Such a lovely ending I can't stop my tears from flowing.

What kind of crap is this? You call this fairy tale? It does not even contain any lovely pictures!

I studied the cover of the book more closely, that's when I noticed writings at the back of it.

There's a name. Maybe the name of the one who compiled it.

Maris

"So you are that Maris who compiled some fairytales?" I reluctantly asked.

She smiled brightly. "You read the compilations?"

"No." I'm too busy to be reading one. Or I'm just too lazy.

She pouted, "Aww, it's hard to compile the stories in that book you know." She recovered quickly then smiled at me. "Anyway, that's not the topic I want to discuss," she continued.

"Then what is it?" I asked as I gaze around me. The women around me is now looking at me. (did they all decided to look at the same time?) Their stares making me feel weird.

"What I want to tell you Minerva is.."

"Is what?" I impatiently asked.

"That I'm your grandmother!"

When I opened my eyes, it is surprisingly annoying. The sun is shining directly in my face. The heat it radiates prickles my skin. As I gaze around me, leaves getting blown by the wind is everywhere. And the air seems the cleanest air I've ever breathe.

But where the hell am I?

That's when the memories flashed back. Streams of images that I could easily comprehend in just a glance. While the flash back is nearing its end, that's when I remembered why the hell am I in the middle of a fucking forest.

I know I'm supposed to cry and mourn, but surprisingly, my brain can't seem to handle the emotional strain and decided to go blank. At first I think controlling emotions might not be that hard, but that's where I fuck up.

Even though you think that you should be moving on and should get over with it in the fastest way possible, there is this heavy feeling that makes you wish you were buried six feet underground.

Well, I'm human and I make mistakes. As long as I am not royally fuck up to the point that it can get me killed.

I studied the place around me. Having Maris run a serious discussion for about hours is not really helping me understand things easier, let's say, she messed up my head a little.

Taking in new information and making sure to remember it once in a while is a real pain in the ass, especially when you also need to remember a certain plot of a manga where a baby hitman slash tutor starred. Seriously thinking about my luck in this life or the other, I think I don't have much of it. Maybe I drained it all in my other-other-other life. Where perhaps I'm a simple country girl decided to live life at its fullest.

The sun is now settling down. Maybe I slept for a few hours the most, and spend a little time in my other life then that's when Maris tried to crammed information containing 400 years of knowledge in my brain for a few hours. But that's not my problem, my problem is I hope time is not a bitch and decided to change pattern, and suddenly decided that 'Oh! Maybe I should skip time! Maybe a few hundred years?'

Looking into it, whenever (every two years maybe) I slept through my bedtime, I will wake up as my other self then will ponder a little. The fact that it only happened once doesn't make it a pattern, but I'm sure as hell that it if doesn't happen in another two years, my head will seriously ache.

Because if time is fucking unstable between that world and this, I might as well time jumped for a few years right now.

I stood up and brushed the dirt stuck in my clothes, as well as the annoying leaves which I don't know why but I really hate right now.

Maybe checking out the burnt mansion will be the best idea I can think of right now. And maybe controlling the water works will help my emotional control.

That's if, I find my way inside this fucking forest where I failed to do so earlier.

I stared at burnt up mansion.

It does not look like it burnt a few hours or days ago. It seemed as if the fire happened years ago.

I can't think of-

"YUAAAAAN! THERE'S A LITTLE GIRL IN HERE!"

A scream caught my attention.

"AND SHE'S LIKE TWO OR SOMETHING! WHAT THE FUCK I'M GOING TO DO WITH HER?!" The person screaming continued.

My instinct is 100 percent sure the 'little girl' the anonymous person is talking about is me. I could even barely identify the gender much less their location. So before I could even process of what exits are available, the person screaming's ally responded.

"Nyx don't scream. Knock her out," it said.

That's what I last heard before I black out.

"Why the hell did you brought her in?!"

"Because I'm pretty sure Sen said to bring everything we scavenge in that burned building?"

"Can't you see she's human?! What kind of idiot are you?!

"Hey hey. Atleast ask 'Are you an idiot?' rather than 'What kind of idiot are you?'. It hurts my feelings you know."

"Because that goes without saying idiot."

"Oy, the brat's waking up."

The noise's is really forcing me to wake even though I don't want to.

Anyway, what the hell is going on?

It took me awhile to realize I don't really know where I am or what the hell I'm doing here. When my eyesight finally adjusted, there are 3 faces near mine. I immediately backed off, half out of shock, half out of pure creepiness.

"What the hell?!" I muttered.

"Why did she backed off?" A blond boy, probably between 8 to 10 years old said. He is holding a particularly worn out teddy bear that seemed to have been endured decades of hugging and throwing.

Beside him, a red head girl, probably in the same age bracket replied, "Because our faces are only inches from hers? You're really an idiot, that will creep anyone out," she has surprisingly, charcoal black eyes. Her staring makes me feel quite unwelcome.

"Haryuu, she's not creeped out, haryuu. Is that a good thing or a bad one?" A boy much younger that the ones spoke first stated. He has a jet black air and a pair of dark blue eyes that makes me think of the ocean. The deeper part of it where only few people can explore.

"It's both," a new voice said. "It's a good thing because she's safe, and a bad thing because you involve her with us." A boy with a curly green hair appeared. His hair shade is more like a moss than leaf green. Which made me rethink if that is cool or not. It's cool if your hair is not particularly like the others, but if it's like that? Then I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Sen ordered to make the girl go to his office as soon as she wake up. About Yuan, he ordered you to go die somewhere but here. He said he's pretty sure you're gonna die early because of your idiocy so now, you are out of the group."

The blond stiffened. "He's joking right?"

There a pause before he replied. "He is," the boy called Yuan seemed to sigh in relief. "But you'll be punished, he said. You're stuck with your master for a week."

"Ouch," the red head commented. Her face seemed vexed.

This made me a little curious. Who is these children and how come they're a little weird?

The blond started to pale as if he's getting hanged the next day. "But!" The moss haired boy continued. "You'll be accompanying him in Mafia Land."

There's a long silence.

"And that's supposed to be the good side?" The blond asked sarcastically.

"No," the moss haired boy answered. "But atleast you're not going to be kicked out for doing a halfhearted job," then he looked at me, the moss haired guy's sea green eyes (I guess that makes up for the hair) bore into mine. "And messing up," he continued.

Okay, what the hell is going on?

"Anyway, wake Nyx up," the moss haired boy pointed at a girl sprawled out on the floor. Surprisingly, this is the first time I noticed her even though she seemed like she's been sleeping on the floor for hours. Don't even mention her eye-catching violet long hair.

"And you," he pointed at me.

"Me?" I asked my expression blank, because I don't know what I've gotten myself into.

"Yes, you."

I followed him and made some twist and turn in this place. Strangely, I have feeling that I've been here before. Then I haven't. I continued to follow him until he stopped in front of a wooden door and knocked.

"Sen, here's the girl," he informed.

Sen? I pretty much heard the name before. Where the hell...

The wooden door opened a man that must be in his fifties is seating on a swivel chair. He's staring at me, no expression or anything. Just- pure staring. Like he knows me. Which is pretty funny because I swear to god, this is the first time I'm meeting this man.

"Hael go out," the man said with authority.

"But-"

"I said go out!" He repeated.

The moss haired boy named Hael did not utter any word and got out. Then, that leaves me and the man the only person in the room. I started to feel awkward so I let my gaze wander around the room. I felt like I've been here before. And then feels like I haven't. I don't know what is happening to me but I recognize this place, at the same time I don't.

"Who are you?" The man asked in a deep voice. Unlike before, he seemed unauthoritative.

"Why should I tell you?" I replied. My hands in the pocket of my short. My white long hair swaying at my back as I spoke.

He raised one of his eyebrows. Which I found amusing. "Because you're in my territory and I have the right to know," he answered. His face unmoving from the sudden changes of the temperature in the room. This man can kill, I can feel from the atmosphere of the room, it's not only intimidating, it's also suffocating. So if I can't hold my bearing, I will seriously faint in the middle of this conversation.

"But I did drag myself to be in this situation mister. I merely checked out a burnt house which was destroyed a couple of days ago," I answered. "The blond boy is the one who dragged me in here if I recall," I continued.

There was a sudden shock coming from him then he hesitantly asked, "Please repeat what you just said."

"The blond boy dragged me in here?" I hesitantly said. Because I know for a fact that he already knows this, and if he doesn't, why give that damn brat a punishment going into Mafia themed park?

"No. The other one, the one you told me before that," he unsurely said.

" I merely checked out a burnt house which was destroyed a couple of days ago?"

He seemed quite surprise about what I just told him, but he quickly masked it with seriousness. "What makes you believe it was burned just a couple of day ago?"

Where is this conversation going? Is he trying to get some information off me?

"Because I was there when I saw it burn and everything." I did not saw it burn because I can't even reach there in the first place. But it's not gonna hurt to lie a bit. "Oh, it's our mansion by the way," I added.

It's okay to give that kind of information, because the mansion is now in ashes now anyway. And maybe... just maybe. If my family is alive, this guy can help me.

I don't know where to start. I don't even have a home. And mother, grandpa and Reborn is in god knows where. I'm only two and I can't travel that much- correction, I can't travel at all. I have no money, and had no knowledge to find out how to get out of here. And I don't give a damn if selling my soul is the only way to find them.

"Brat, what's your full name?" The man asked. His hands now under his chin, his face in a deep thought.

"Minerva Phalanx," I answered.

He stared at me more in more intense way that makes me choke. "You sure?"

"Yes."

He palmed his face and breathed hard. He noisily exhaled from his mouth which got my attention. I raised my eye brows. "Why are you asking me if I'm sure about my name?" I asked.

"Because you should have been dead."

I stared at him idiotically. "Why?"

"Because you burned to death," he studied me waiting for my reaction.

"Well- I don't know what to say. I'm not actually in the fire. I... I was lost in the forest because I sucked at directions, trying to see our mansion get eaten by fire," I confessed. "So... can I ask you if anyone made it alive?"

"No one," he answered straight forward.

"As in... no one?" I slowly asked. "Not even Mom? Or Grandpa? No one?"

"No one," he repeated.

Saying I was quite shock will be my understatement of the year. Even if prepared myself, I- I can't react about it. Sure, I was preparing for the worst. I am living two lives and all, but, death really shocks people. I hoped that maybe, they survived that goddamn fire. Hoped that maybe, they knew someone wanted them dead so they evacuated. But no, I'm just, just trying to console myself. That there maybe a silver lining in my despair.

I hoped, then hoped. Because that's all I can do. But this hope made the truth a little too sharp and a little too painful. Now I don't even know if the hope under Pandora's box is good thing or a bad thing. Maybe it's the worst thing that can happen to a human.

"Well... shit." I cursed. Staring at the marbled floor made the tears restrain from falling. The emotions surging inside me makes me want to go slash my own throat and die.

"Well that's not what troubles me," the man said suddenly.

I glared at him, "I don't care about what trouble you. Where's the funeral?" I asked in the calmest way I can manage.

"There's no funeral brat," he answered. His eyes still not moving. I shot him a what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about look.

"Why?! Because our money burned with them?! What the hell!" I shouted angrily.

"No that's not the case. There's a funeral," he stated.

I glared at him. "Are you playing with me?! What is up with you?!"

"Shut your trap brat and listen," he said. Strangely, I followed him while I silently glared at him. "I told you there's no funeral because you can't possibly come," he continued.

This time, I can't even control my own restraints and I screamed at him, "WHY? TELL ME WHY?" My hair is all over my face. I don't care what kind of a mess I am now, and I don't want to see. Somehow managed not to cry, but my anger rose to new heights I don't even know I can reach.

He gave me a blank stare. "You can't possibly come because you're too late. They already buried the bodies," he stood up from his swivel chair and stood before me. He sat on the marble floor to reach my height then continued.

"There's one more thing, the funeral was held eleven years ago. The house was burned eleven years ago and lastly, you died eleven years ago."

"Wai- what?" I was truly astounded.

"Reborn, Nono is calling for you," a man in his thirties informed a baby wearing tux and a fedora while sipping espresso while in the middle of the garden.

The baby slightly raised his head and nonchalantly asked, "What is it about?"

"About training a certain boy named Dino Cavallone."

"Tell Nono I'm coming," that was the baby's last word before finishing the last of his espreso and proceeded on exiting the large maze like garden.

He silently made his way into the front door of a certain room inside the mansion. He knocked three time before opening the door.

"Reborn." A man in his fifties greeted him with a nod.

"Ciaossu."

Okay, EEEEEEEND. Reviews please.