Chapter 54: Signs of Madness

A few days later, Megara told Scar Face about the increased success of the operation and asked if Beni Niro would be willing to undertake it. Without the slightest hesitation, Beni Niro nodded. Meanwhile, Rosa had decided to visit Tony who was recovering from a Mission they just finished in the hidden Wine District (Land of Tea). It involved escorting an athlete who was participating in a race that would settle the dispute between two family run businesses that had subcontracted members from the Foglia (Konoha) and Pioggia (Rain) families respectfully to sabotage the race. Like the Riva District (Land of Waves) one, this Mission was originally considered high-ranked. But due to the lack of Capos (Captains) in general, Gelato Tony and Rosa had to take care of it while Spauracchio was assigned elsewhere.

"Hey, Tony," Rosa said, carrying a brown paper bag in her hands. "How are you feeling?"

Tony didn't respond.

"I brought some apples." Rosa held up the paper bag. "They're fresh from the Market."

"And I helped pick them," Gelato gloated, standing behind Rosa.

"Pipe down, Gelato," Rosa snapped, bopping Gelato on the head with her fist. "I'm talking to Tony right now."

"So what? He's not saying anything," Gelato noted.

While Tony gritted his teeth, Rosa hit Gelato again causing him to fall onto the floor. She then sat in a chair next to Tony's bed and proceeded to peel an apple with one of her throwing knives (Kunai). Once she was done, Rosa cut the apple into slices and placed them all on toothpicks she had in her pocket.

"Here," Rosa murmured, presenting Tony with an apple slice. "These should be easier to eat, since you're still recovering."

At that, Tony waved his hand knocking the apple slices away. Surprised, Gelato got to his feet and stared at Tony who only glared back.

"What the hell is your problem?" Gelato asked. "If you don't like apples, you could've—

"Shut up, moron!" Tony snapped. "I want you to fight me."

Gelato blinked. "Right now?"

Tony nodded. "Unless you're too scared to."

While Rosa glanced between the two nervously, Gelato smirked. "No way! I've been waiting for this a long time."

"Then let's get it over with." Tony quickly got out of bed and followed Gelato outside while Rosa was too shocked to follow.

Conveniently, the hospital hallway was empty allowing Tony and Gelato to head up the stairs onto the roof where clotheslines hanging hundreds of bedsheets lay. The two created some distance between them and stared at one another.

"You're not acting like yourself, Tony," Gelato observed. "Is there something going on that I'm missing here?"

"If you want to find out, then beat me in a one-on-one match," Tony responded cryptically.

"All right, but put on your tie first," Gelato agreed while straightening his. "That way, we'll be on equal terms."

This made Tony laugh sharply. "I don't need that silly thing to prove how strong I am!"

"If that's the case, then why bother fighting me in the first place?" Gelato argued.

"Sounds like something a coward would say."

"I'm not a coward! I'll beat you, and prove that I'm better!"

Then Gelato charged forward, while Tony did the same. The two exchanged blows, but no matter what they couldn't knock out the other. So Gelato resorted to the Centurion of Homunculi (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique) but Tony merely caused them to dissipate with his punches and kicks. While Tony was distracted, Gelato prepared to do the Vortice Combo (Uzumaki Combo) but Tony evaded him at the last minute using the Prometheus Fire spell (Fireball no Jutsu) to burn the remaining Homunculi. Exhausted, Gelato summoned one more Homunculi and was able to create the Spiralis (Rasengan). Surprised by this, Tony clenched his left hand forming the Mille Aquile (Chidori). As the two leaped toward one another, Rosa suddenly appeared on the rooftop.

"Please, stop!" Rosa shouted. "Both of you!"

Neither seemed to listen to her as they prepared to launch their respective attacks, but then Spauracchio suddenly appeared and knocked the two away. As a result, they both crashed into nearby water towers with the Mille Aquile rupturing one while the Spiralis completely destroyed the other. Tony noticed this, and grimaced.

"I'm not sure what started this fight, but it ends here," Spauracchio stated bluntly. He then turned to Tony. "I'll talk with you later once you've healed up. As for Gelato…"

He noticed the decimated water tower and looked surprised. Then he quickly masked it, and retrieved the two boys from their respective water towers.

###

The next day, Tony was released from the hospital due to his destruction of the clotheslines with the Prometheus Fire spell. He was taken by Spauracchio to the same tree where Squad 7 began the bell test and tied to it by a thin metal wire that emerged from Spauracchio's sleeve.

"Am I in trouble?" Tony asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes," Spauracchio answered. "You should know better than to attack your fellow Soldiers."

"I did it to prove I was better than Gelato," Tony explained, and looked down. "But the destroyed water tower…"

"Proves he's just as strong as you, nothing more," Spauracchio finished.

"That's not possible! I'm supposed to be the better than him!"

"People change, Tony. Sometimes for the better in Gelato's case, but in yours not so much."

"How so?"

"You've grown more obsessed with getting revenge on Donnola (Itachi). I know he killed your family, but this obsession has made you less rational and more prone to hurt others. It has to stop, for your sake and everyone else's."

"Then why teach me something as deadly as the Mille Aquile?"

"That was an oversight on my part. I had hoped you would use it primarily for self-defense, not as a tool to harm your friends."

"Gelato's not my friend," Tony growled. "Nor will he ever be!"

"Think what you want, but he's clearly working hard to gain your approval. That's got to count for something, right?"

"You'll never understand how I feel. Day by day, living with the pain of losing those you've loved..."

"I deal with that all the time."

Surprised, Tony looked up at Spauracchio.

"I've been around a lot longer than you have, and seen my fair share of tragedy. It made me feel powerless, and want to walk down same path you're starting to. But I didn't, because there were people in my life who cared about me and so do you, Tony. Remember that."

Then Spauracchio released Tony, and left.

###

Meanwhile, Rosa decided to keep Gelato occupied by taking him on a walk around town.

"Gelato, I…" Rosa hesitated. "I'm worried about Tony."

"It's no surprise, given the way he's been acting lately," Gelato shrugged.

"Yeah, about that," Rosa stopped walking and turned to face Gelato. "Do you remember what happened in the Dead Man's Sewers? When Typhonragazzo showed up?"

"Um, yeah, though I was knocked out for most of that encounter."

"Well, did you ever notice a black mark on Tony's body which resembled three swirls?"

"Sort of, but I didn't pay attention to it."

"That appeared after Tony was bitten by Typhonragazzo, who called it the Vampire's Curse (Cursed Seal of Heaven). That's what made him go crazy and break a Suono (Sound) Soldier's arm before passing out."

"Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me about it. And he did have those weird flame marks on him during the fight against Tarma (Gaara)."

"Those were visible signs of the curse, even though Spauracchio supposedly took care of it."

"Maybe whatever Spauracchio did didn't work."

"It would seem so, since the mark's starting to affect Tony."

"How?"

"Through his mind. It's making him more emotional and not as level-headed as he used to be."

"So what are we supposed to do about it?"

"I don't know, but we need to think of something or we'll lose Tony for good."

"I'm not sure if we have to," Gelato said, which surprised Rosa. "Tony is already powerful. He wouldn't let some stupid curse a weird snake guy gave him take over, even though Typhonragazzo is pretty strong."

"You've met him?"

"Yeah, when I was looking for Megara with the Pimp Tamer (Pervy Sage)."

"Oh, you mean Hercules (Jiraiya)?" When Gelato nodded, Rosa sighed. "Let's hope you're right about Tony, though."

"He'll make it through," Gelato assured. "Trust me!"

As Gelato grinned, Rosa couldn't help but smile back and the two decided to go to a nearby bistro for dinner.

End of Chapter 54