Chapter 6: Forgiveness

"What did you say?" Gelato was still numb.

"I said, the nine-headed hydra that attacked our territory twelve years ago is inside you." Mezzaluna's grin didn't fade. "Despite Delfino's kindness, he secretly blames you for killing his parents who died fighting the beast, and that's why he's after the book: to put an end to your life. Now, give me the book before he recovers."

"No, Gelato! Don't listen to him! Mezzaluna wants the book, not me! He's trying to trick you so that he can use it for himself!" Delfino cried, trying to stand up despite the pain in his shoulders and legs.

Mezzaluna paid no attention to Delfino, and continued to stare at Gelato. "See? He's lying to you so you can feel sorry for him and give him the book."

"Gelato, please, trust me! Everything Mezzaluna says is not true!"

"What are you waiting for, Gelato? Give me the book!"

"SHUT UP!" And like a rabbit in pursuit, Gelato ran away.

He leapt over the piles of trash and was heading for the train tracks just as the rumbling engine of one came closer. But he could hear the footsteps of Delfino and Mezzaluna, and so he jumped the fence and ran across the tracks, and onto the train as it passed right in front of him. He thought he lost them for a second, but then he saw Delfino on top of the train and…another Gelato? The real Gelato stayed still on the platform between the cars while the two fought each other above.

The fake Gelato was about to throw his book at Delfino and instead, he threw a knife into Delfino's right arm, revealing him to be Mezzaluna. Mezzaluna was stunned for a moment, and then he spoke, "How did you know I wasn't Delfino, boy?"

"Because I am," the fake Gelato said, changing back into the wounded Delfino he was.

Mezzaluna didn't seem surprised, so he took a Tommy gun off his back and held it awkwardly.

"You're usually right-handed, so you're bound to misfire," Delfino said, standing at an angle.

"Says the guy whose about to get his chest pumped full of lead!" Mezzaluna clicked the barrel and aimed it at Delfino. "Any last words?"

"All I wanted to say was that everything you said about me hating Gelato wasn't true, and I don't blame him for the death of my parents. In fact, I sympathize with him, because we're both orphans and had to resort to tomfoolery to get attention from others, who wouldn't have given us another glance otherwise. But that's also why I'm hard on him, because I want him to be the best gangster he can be, so that one day, he can become the greatest Boss this family will ever have!"

Gelato's eyes widened upon hearing this, and then he felt water running down his cheeks.

"A very touching story, maybe you should write a novel about it, but wait, you won't be able to, cuz you're going to die!"

The Tommy gun fired, and Delfino closed his eyes. But then something small and metallic clashed with the lead bullets, causing them to ricochet everywhere. As the smoke came out of the guns barrel, Mezzaluna couldn't believe his eyes as he saw Gelato standing in front of Delfino with a knife in his hand, holding it in a blocking position.

Gelato's face was stern. "Leave my teacher alone, or you're the one who is going to die!"

"And what will you do if I don't?" Mezzaluna asked.

At that moment, Gelato uncurled his free hand, which he cut the pentagram into, which was still visible, and clapped his hands together, holding the knife upwards. Then a red-colored mist surrounded him and spread all over the moving cars. Nobody moved, not even Mezzaluna. In the fog, the words were chanted:

"With the five elements combined, I summon thee! By the Divine, the Moon, and the Sun, I command thee to walk the earth! Centurion of Homunculi (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique), arise!"

Then the mist cleared, revealing dozens and dozens of Gelato replicas with perfect likeness standing all around them. Delfino was amazed, while Mezzaluna stuttered incomprehensible words and dropped his gun in fright. At that, Gelato grinned, and so did the others, as they all jumped on him and punched him up till he was a groaning, bleeding, gasping little man.

"You realized you could've killed him, Gelato" Delfino said behind him.

"I know, but I didn't really want to kill him, despite the things he said," Gelato said, looking down at Mezzaluna.

Then suddenly, the train stopped, and Gelato stumbled into blackness.

After a while, Gelato awoke to a voice calling his name. His eyes opened to a glittering morning sun coming up amidst the piles of trash that were in the way. He was back in the junkyard, with Delfino sitting in front of him. He was still cut and breathing in slow gasps, but for some weird reason, he was smiling.

"Look down, Gelato, I think you'll like it," he said.

So Gelato looked down, and right below his neck, he saw a forest green tie with the Foglia family crest on it. Out of disbelief, he looked back at Delfino, whose tie was missing, and looked back, and then he smiled and gave Delfino a hug.

End of Chapter 6