A limousine is driving off, as a man in a bowl cut, wearing a white outfit, was sitting in the back seat, thinking to himself. The man was sighing in disdain, as he started to think back… He was once a married man, with a son. He hopes one day that his son will grow up to be a famous person, someone to look up to in the family, and to Italy. But one day… His son was killed by a car, running over the child. His wife was distraught and crying over their child. Because of all this, the man left his wife, only to not bear the shame. When his wife asked him, he said if she cared. She didn't.
He stepped out, as men were saluting to him. He entered a tent, as a blonde man in purple was waiting for him. Hanajima appeared by the limo, as he stepped out.
"Meet Bruno Bucciarati – Gangster Extraordinaire, and a capo to Passione. Suffering the loss of a child, and despair to his family. Lifestyle – clean. Way of life – clean. But in just a moment, Capo Bucciarati is about to experience a bizarre phenomenon, even someone like "Speedwagon" would fathom."
A man in long white hair laughed, "BRUNO!"
"Abbacchio!" Bruno called, "Hey, how you been, amico mio?"
Leone Abbacchio said, "Swell, very swell!"
"Why did you call me?"
"Apparently, that snot-nosed culo, Giorno Giovanna called you in. You weren't briefed about it?"
"Not at all. But for Giorno, I'm open to listen."
"Well, a bunch of ragazzi came in, two days ago, and this is all restricted airspace. So, he summoned you, after the discovery!"
"What discovery?"
"Look over there!"
Bruno walked up to the hill and viewed a huge grassy field, with a small white rustic home and a farm. He gasped, "My word… What is that?"
It was a huge world, all grassy and colorful. However, there was a huge window opening, all around the area. Abbacchio said, "Go ahead. Take a closer look."
Bruno looked in, and he saw a boy running through the fields. He smiled, "Amazing… What sort of phenomenon is this?"
"That's what I like to know." He threw a rock at the boy, but it bounced off, hitting an unknown invisible barrier. He said to him, "We can look, but we're forbidden to go in… either way. We can only observe."
Bruno held his hand to it and gasped, "Are they aware of us?"
"No, apparently not. It's like one of those one-way mirrors."
"It's an electromagnetic field… But they cannot hear or see us. Di molto… bene… What goes on out there?"
"You're the expert, Bucciarati. You tell me."
(Hanajima): "A discovery… too bizarre for even the simplest of mob bosses. Bruno Bucciarati is about to solve this Sphinx Puzzle… from a Story from the Dead."
A figure appeared in the rapid waters, and emerged, raising its arm out. It was female, coated in blue string, and hollered like a demon, with most of her skin peeled off and ripped apart. She reached for the 4th wall, and sunk back down into the water. String appeared and drew a message that says: "Deceased Tales Of the Bizarre!"
Tales of the Bizarre presents:
Stories from the Dead!
*-Bizarre Fanfic Tales, starring and featuring characters that are canonically deceased
Miz-K NOTE: It's 2023, and we're four and a half months since the first Story from The Dead. In the first Story from the Dead, we covered Jotaro Kujo of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", as he is canonically dead, right before Stone Ocean. Four and a half years later, another JoJo Fic. This time, another deceased character, Bruno Bucciarati from "Golden Wind". He was a handful. But he was one of the most bizarre protagonists in the series. And yes… He really was a hero, when he helped Giorno. In this Story from the Dead, we reintroduce an alternate telling (sans Diavolo, Trish, and even the whole drugs issues). We even made newer backstories for Bruno… … … and try to translate and remember how they swear and cuss in Italian.
Tales of the Bizarre #79:
Una Vista Attraverso la Finestra
Giorno briefed Bucciarati, as they showed a diagram of the house and area. Giorno said, "So… we know that it's surrounded by a gigantic cube of electromagnetic pulse. Whatever it is, it's a true discovery only Passione that found… and it's a marvelous scientific discovery."
"Affascinante." Bruno said, "I've seen a boy and his dog. Was there anyone else inside this cube?"
"As a matter of fact, there are five people in there. A boy and his dog, a man, a woman, an old lady, and a farmer. Bucciarati, I leave you in charge of this mission, to find out the discovery of this Prairie Phenomenon."
"Where will you be in this?"
"I'm going to go back to Napoli, and inform Mr. Pericolo about this. But if they speak, and we cannot listen, we suggest you try and study what they're saying."
"I see… So, a lip reader is out of the question? None of my men can read lip, especially from mammonis like these guys I have."
"I asked Mr. Pericolo, and he forbids it. Most lipreaders come from the other side of Italy. But we're forbidden from asking them for their help."
"Then, one lipreader is all we need. Make a call to Risotto, and establish one, right away."
Giorno scolded, as he slammed his hand down, "Bucciarati, even I cannot ask Risotto for help. Mr. Pericolo said that we cannot ask for outside help, especially from the CIA, MI6, or the police. For all we know, the enemy could know about this, too."
Abbacchio said, "You're aware that this is our problem, only?"
Giorno said, "That's correct. You have a problem with that?"
"Yeah!" Abbacchio barked, "Who died and made you leader of this group?! Bucciarati is in charge, and what he says, goes! Not from a pezzo di merda like you!"
Giorno softly said, "Are you evading orders? Because I can briefly forward this to Pericolo, and have you stripped of rank." The phone rang, as he called, "Hello? Yes, sir."
Bruno said, "Is that Mr. Pericolo?" Giorno nodded, as he talked with the boss. Bruno could only watch and see the view of the prairie. Abbacchio snarled, "That Giorno pisses me off. He acts like he knows, but he's always right. I can't say that I disagree with him."
Bruno suddenly saw a woman in red hair, walking down the garden, as she was calling to his son. The boy ran off to her, and his dog followed. Bruno was amazed, as Abbacchio cried, "Bucciarati? BUCCIARATI!"
He snapped out of it and he asked, "What the hell? Are you even listening to me?"
Bruno moaned, "No… I just…"
Abbacchio said, "Oh, that. Yeah, that's one of the people inside. Five, to be exact."
Bruno was perplexed. He then agreed to have this looked at, for further study.
XXXXX
Inside his tent, he was able to file a report of the huge area.
"Learning of this bizarre case, I was ordered to lead the team in this discovery. It's like looking through a window; a one-way window. Maybe some reality that exists along parallel lines. According to what I know, the people, the prairie, the house… it doesn't exist."
Abbacchio called, "Bucciarati!"
Bruno said, "Oh… You called me?"
"Any news?"
"Not so much. I have to look at this, in another angle." He and Abbacchio went to work, studying a bit. "This isn't any ordinary sand. But the kids would have a park day for this."
Abbacchio asked him, "So… How's Eliza?"
Bruno sighed, "We… don't talk much, anymore."
"I'm sorry about your son."
"It's alright… It's my fault I made him slip away from me."
XXXXX
As they continued their studies of the huge prairie, a man in blonde hair, in a green suit, said to a boy in black hair, "This is quite a bizarre predicament. So much electromagnetic power."
"Look at this…" Narancia said, "Fugo, do you see that?"
The old man was reading a book to the boy and the old lady. Fugo said, "Either it's a story book, or a Bible. Makes you feel warm inside, huh?"
"Modern life went too fast, or did we forget to be happy?"
"I don't know. They do look happy. It's like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life."
Narancia said, "Look at the babe. She's single and happy."
"Idiot! She's obviously divorced or widowed." Fugo barked.
"Yeah, but there's no wedding ring on her."
"You don't even know the girl!"
"Same as you, you asshole!"
PSSH!
Fugo groaned, as the generator popped, emitting smoke. "Shit… There's goes our generator."
Narancia called, "Get the backup generator! MOVE IT!"
"THIS IS THE BACKUP GENERATOR, YOU CAZZO!"
"OH, FUCK! YOU'RE RIGHT! HEY! GET SOME HELP HERE!"
They ran to the generator, as Bruno watched on. Suddenly, the boy walked to the edge and looked around. Bruno thought, "That child… What is he looking at? Could it be he knew, as well? If only he'd give us a sign."
The boy ran off to the left, following the line between grass and dirt. Bruno followed, as he was on the other side of the barrier. He arrived at the corner and was perplexed. Black smoke wafted in the sky, and it went into the barrier. But seconds later, the smoke faded away, and the smoke only stopped at the barrier to where it was.
"Merda… Did that happen? Did the barrier open up, suddenly?" He thought, "The smoke went into the barrier, but it was blocked, seconds later. Strange… The boy, he saw it, and was confused as I was."
The boy ran off, as Bruno was confused. Abbacchio said, "The generator's down. A fuel line leak. It should be up in minutes."
"Abbacchio, I need you to do me a favor."
"Name it."
"I want you to build a cannon, one that shoots ice."
"Come again?"
"Welding torch, metal tubing, and lots of ice. And make the ice unlimited."
"What? You think ice will solve anything?"
"Only one way to find out."
XXXXX
The cannon was set, as Bruno ordered, "Fugo, Narancia, the ice will fire at the barrier, every three seconds, automatically. You two will make sure that the ice is filled up, at all times."
Fugo nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Turn it on!"
"You got it!" Narancia turned on the cannon, and it fired ice at the barrier.
Bruno said, "Make sure to keep this on, and stay on, until we find an answer. If the barrier somehow opens, do not go in. Once an ice cube's in, record what time it passed. Measure how long the barrier opens and closes, then inform me of it."
Fugo agreed, "Understood."
Abbacchio said, "So, that's your plan. Why the ice cubes?"
"It'll melt. And it won't alarm the prairie people."
"But that solves nothing."
"It does. When I looked up, the black smoke from our generator went into the barrier. Then it sealed shut. My guess is that if the barrier was open, then there's a chance it would open again."
"Smart theory. But how will you be sure if it opens again?"
"I am not sure."
They waited, as the ice kept firing. Fugo kept watch, as a man in a red cap and blue shirt said, "Hey."
"Mista, take over for me."
"Right." Mista asked, "What'll I do?"
"Ice fires every three seconds. If an ice cube goes through the barrier, record the time."
"Jeez… That's it? Alright. I have nothing to do, right now." Mista kept watch, and he said, "Man…" He gasped, as he saw a meter that says 40. He cried, "WAIT! This… This is bad luck! The ice is firing at 40 kilometers!"
"Would you relax? That's how much pressure is needed to fire." Fugo growled, walking away.
Mista was waiting, annoyed over the ice shooting. "Alright, but the minute four ice cubes went through, I'm quitting!"
XXXXX
Hours later, a pile of melting ice cubes were in a pile. Mista was snoozing, as Fugo cried, "MISTA!"
Mista moaned, "Ungh… I'm up…"
"Did ANY of the ice went through?" Fugo roared.
Mista said, "Hmm… … … No, not yet… I don't see any cubes go through. And I lost count of how many ice cubes we fired."
Fugo groaned, "Mista, would you stay awake?"
"Nah, screw you! I'm not waiting hours for–!"
Bruno appeared and said, "Any luck?"
Mista gasped, "Bucciarati!" Fugo said, "Apparently, no luck. Not ONE ice cube went through… especially under his eye."
"If I'd know that, then I'd be with one eye open!"
Bucciarati said, "That's a shame. I was certain that the ice would work."
The woman appeared, stepping out of the front door. She walked around, and Bruno was stunned, "No… She's here…"
As they watched, an ice cube went through. Mista yelled, "HEY! BUCCIARATI! IT WENT THROUGH!" Fugo grabbed the notepad and cried, "Hang on! Time…" He looked at his watch and recorded the time. Mista yelled, "HEY, BUCCIARATI! ARE YOU LISTENING?" he rushed to the barrier and watched, seeing the ice fall onto the grass. Bruno was stunned, as Mista said, "Four ice cubes…" A cube bounced off, as Mista was shaken in fright.
Fugo gasped, "Bucciarati… The barrier's up, and… I counted." Bruno put his hand on the barrier, and was very stunned.
Days later, Bruno filed a report.
"Day Five – the barrier dropped down again. And this was the fourth time. Every time the barrier opened, it stayed open for fifteen seconds, each time. The intervals were random, but I hope to predict when the next one occurs. Each time it opened, it happened around 11am. I kept the data for myself, since Giorno and Passione are still on alert about this, which is all ridiculous. Most of my time, watching these people… this loving family… this prairie… It feels like a warmth inside of me… something I had once… something I wished for. I know what it feels like to have a family."
That evening, Bruno saw the woman swinging on the tree, relaxing. The woman vanished, as she swung, and returned, on her way back.
"Some time at night, it gets lonely and dark. But it feels like mid-evening in there. When I saw this woman… there's a deep loneliness in my eyes. Like she wants to get away from her family. I was once like that. My father divorced my mother, and I chose to stay with him. My heartache, is her heartache."
He watched on, as he smiled a bit, seeing the girl so lonely. He believed that he'll do anything to make her happy.
"If only I can meet her… maybe find answers. I wish to learn more about them, and introduce them. But I want to know what they're saying."
Bruno decided to call Risotto and said, "I have to know… Pericolo will hate me for this, but I have to do it." He nodded, looking up, "If I want to learn more about what goes on, behind the window, I must do this… aloooone…" He echoed, as he looked up at the barrier.
He dialed the number and said, "Hello? Risotto?"
"Who is this?"
"Bruno Bucciarati. I want a favor from you."
The next morning, Mista was sleeping, while near the ice cannon. Bruno said, "Abbacchio, we're expecting a visitor, soon."
Abbacchio said, "Who? I'm curious if you found a lead."
"I need more information. I called Risotto."
"WHAT? You called him?" Abbacchio cried.
"I have no choice. Pericolo will chew me, but I cannot stand it. There's something going on in there, and I want answers."
"Bucciarati, wait. You can't do this. You cannot put your feelings aside, just for those Prairie People!"
"It's not just them! I want to know where they came from!"
"Yeah, but call Risotto for help?! You're asking for trouble!" Abbacchio snarled, "Not only that, that bastard, Giorno, will lecture you, again! And god knows what limits I have against this stronzo!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, ABBACCHIO!" Bruno yelled, and paused. He turned away, as Leone asked, "Wait… It's not about the people at all… It's…" He gasped, "It's about the girl, isn't it?"
A huge chopper arrived, as Bruno smirked, "Ah, he's here. Abbacchio, go greet him."
He looked out and snarled, "Aw, shit… Bucciarati… You might wanna look."
Bruno looked out and gasped in horror, "No… that limo!"
Giorno stepped out, and he was furious, "Where's Bucciarati?"
XXXXX
Giorno started to argue with Bruno, "Bucciarati, I got a call from Risotto! He was under strict orders of NOT to send lip readers to our discovery!"
"Who says?" Abbacchio barked.
"I did! And that was two days ago! I made the order, and I cannot jeopardize the mission!"
"Who asked you, you fucking brat?" Abbacchio cried, "He had no choice! He's our capo, and he makes the orders!"
"I'm the Boss of this operation, and I say he cannot use Risotto's men! OR ANY MEN!" Giorno argued.
Bruno cried, "You don't understand! Giorno, listen to me! Five days, and I made some discoveries about the barrier! I'm close to a breakthrough, but it's not enough!"
Giorno said, "I admire your work, but it's far too late. I warned you about calling Risotto, and when he called me, he immediately canceled the order."
"He did what?" Bruno gasped. "What are you saying? I wanna know what they said!"
"I don't care! You're risking your lives! ALL OF YOU!" Giorno yelled.
Abbacchio snarled, grabbing his shirt, "You shut up, you son of a bitch! Who says you can order our capo around? Bucciarati doesn't listen to you! YOU listen to him!"
"Not anymore!" Giorno barked, "Bucciarati, I'm sorry. But I'm relieving you of duty. I cannot let you continue."
"What?"
Abbacchio let go, and Giorno barked, "Lay another hand on me, and you can join him."
He said to Bruno, "Please, forgive me. Mr. Pericolo gave me the order, last night. I'm shipping you back to Napoli."
"You can't! I'm close to finding out what's going on here."
"Bucciarati, listen to me! You're this close to being sent out in a stretcher, if you don't behave!"
"Well, what am I supposed to do? I have something for this, but I don't know what, why, and how–!"
"BUCCIARATI!" Giorno yelled, "You have a grip on this… Let us handle this." he turned to Abbacchio and ordered, "And you keep your fucking mouth shut!" he said to Bruno, "You had your chance, and you disobeyed my orders! ONE PHONE CALL, AND I'LL STRIP YOU OF YOUR TITLE AS CAPO, AND SEND YOUR ASS IN THE SLAMMER, IF YOU GET OUT OF LINE AGAIN!"
Bruno roared, grabbing his shirt, "YOU LISTEN TO ME! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! I HAVE A GRIP ON THIS!"
Abbacchio cried, "Bucciarati, that's enough!"
Giorno yelled, "Get your hands off me!" he swatted him away and barked, "Get your hands off!"
Bruno screamed, "I'm not letting go of this!"
Abbacchio yelled, "Yeah, you can't order Bucciarati around!"
Giorno shoved him off, and Fugo restrained Bruno, "CAN'T I?"
Fugo cried, "That's enough! You three are screaming and yelling that the whole goddamn desert hears you bitching and complaining!"
They stepped back, and they all calmed down. Bruno stated, "If I'm gone, you'll never find out… If you want to continue, be my guest. But you're not dismissing me from my duty."
Giorno said, "Sorry, Bucciarati… Pericolo's orders." he ordered, "Fugo, put him in another tent. And guard him. Once we're done here, we can discuss this, later."
Fugo agreed, "Right away."
Abbacchio yelled, "This is bullshit! One call to Risotto, and you grounded him from duty?"
Giorno leaves, as Abbacchio yelled, "GET BACK HERE! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU, YOU FUCK–!"
"It's alright!" Bruno hollered, "IT'S ALRIGHT!" They stopped.
Abbacchio pleaded, "Come on, man… You take orders from him?"
Bruno sighed, "He is the Primo Mafioso, after all…" Fugo said, "Come on…" And he escorted Bruno away. Abbacchio was stunned, as he said, "What the hell's wrong with this Famiglia?"
XXXXX
Mista and Narancia were at the ice cannon, as Mista said, "Aw, man… Bucciarati called that prick? Sucks to be him."
Narancia said, "I know, right? Giorno said that calling him is not allowed. Glad I almost did."
"Yeah, well… Every day it's the same dreaded day. Four ice cubes, after each 15 second intervals… and I have a strong feeling that some whacked out shit is about to go down!"
"Yeah, but nothing happened yet, right?" He was reading a comic book, as Mista sighed, "Whatever… Just wake me when the next ice cube passes."
"Ohhhh, no!" Narancia barked, "I'm not playing lookout for a bunch of melting ice for eight fucking hours!"
"Just lemme nap! When I'm awake, you can leave then!"
"It's boring!" Narancia complained, "You're just lazy!"
"And I didn't want this job! FOUR is a bad premonition!"
"This again? GROW UP! It's just ice! Melting ice…"
"Hey, you don't know how I feel! THEY DO! Whoever they are, they'll know!"
"FINE!" Narancia barked, "I'll watch your stupid ice shit! Just don't tell Fugo that I said all that!"
Mista moaned, "Whatever! Just wake me when the ice passes!"
Meanwhile, Bruno was lying in a cot, as he was upset. He was pinched over the fact that Giorno caught him. Abbacchio appeared and said, "Hey. Sorry it had to happen."
"That's alright." Bruno said, "Sorry I snapped. But he was right. If I didn't call, I'd still be here. But I was desperate."
"Hey, come off it. So what if there's no answer? It's been a week or two, and we only learn that the barrier opens, once a day. And in the morning, too." Abbacchio then said, "You're facing court martial for this… Did you even find anything about this? Tell Giorno everything you know, and they'll go easy on you."
"No thanks…" Bruno lied down and said, "Just let me be. If I ever figure out anything, you'd be the first to know."
"And not Mr. Primo Boss Giorno. Who the hell does he think he is? In any case, he's right. You shouldn't have called that prick." Abbacchio left, as Bruno relaxed, feeling upset. He then looked at his watch, and nodded, "It's almost time. I have studied that the barrier opened at around 11am… Or to be precise, 11:16am. Two minutes left. I'm left with no choice."
He got up and packed up. A soldier appeared in the tent, looking around, and Bruno knocked him out.
Fugo roared, "DAMMIT, MISTA!" Mista snarled, "UNGH! Shut up! Lemme catch a few snoozes!" Narancia smiled, "No worries, Fugo! I'll take watch!"
Fugo cried, "WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH–!"
SHOOP!
They gasped, as Mista cried, "One… One ice cube."
Fugo cried, "Narancia, warn Abbacchio!"
Narancia ran off, as the ice cube went through the barrier. Bruno cried, "The barrier's down! I'M GOING IN!"
He dashed off, as Narancia told Abbacchio what happened. He cried out, "BUCCIARATI!"
Mista yelled, "HE'S HEADING FOR THE WINDOW!"
Fugo yelled, "STOP HIM!"
"BUCCIARATI! STOP!"
Bucciarati jumped into the other side, just as the barrier closed. Mista cried, "Four! Four ice cubes through!" Fugo called out, "Never mind that! What the hell possessed him to go in there?"
Mista cried, "I don't know!"
Abbacchio said, "I know what…"
Bruno looked around, as he was in the prairie. He whispered, "I made it…"
Mista yelled, "BUCCIARATI! GET OUT OF THERE!" Abbacchio called, "WAIT! He can't hear us!"
Fugo added, "He can't see us, either."
Giorno asked, "Abbacchio, was this his plan?" Abbacchio cried, "YOU TELL ME! I didn't know what he was doing! Until now…"
The girl stepped out, as she saw Bruno, and she smiled at him. They approached each other and held hands. Bruno was relieved, as he whispered, "You…"
Narancia gasped, "Wait… He did all this… for a girl?"
Fugo said, "I'm so confused…" Mista moaned, "Ditto. And I'm getting some shitty vibes from behind that barrier. What the hell's going on here?"
Abbacchio smiled, "You did it… I don't know what… But I'm proud of you… Bruno."
He and the girl leaned closer. Bruno closed his eyes, and the girl leaned closer. His lips pursed, and then…
RAWR!
The woman's mouth opened, revealing huge razor-sharp teeth.
"WAAH?" Bruno gasped, "MIERDA!"
GNASH!
The woman gnawed onto his shoulder, and he screamed in pain.
"HOLY SHIT!" Narancia yelled, "SHE'S NOT HUMAN!"
Abbacchio cried, "DAMMIT! I knew it was too good to be true!" He called, "MISTA, SHOOT AT IT!"
Mista yelled, "OPEN FIRE!" He fired at the barrier, but it bounced off. He roared, "SEE WHAT I MEAN? I KNEW SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED!"
Abbacchio cried, "BUCCIARATI! GET OUT OF THERE!"
Bruno was being mauled to death by the girl. The boy, girl, old lady, and dog appeared, and they started to maul, mangle, and devour Bucciarati's corpse. The old man appeared, as Narancia cried, "It's the old man! He's a demon, too!"
Giorno yelled, "Mista, fire!" Mista cried, firing his gun, "What do you think I'm doing?"
He pulled out his book, and turned to the gangsters from the other side. He saw what transpired, and was worried.
Giorno cried, "When does that barrier open again?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Abbacchio yelled. "Keep shooting!"
Fugo cried, "No, look!"
He spoke inaudibly, chanting from the book, and the huge cube vanished from existence.
Abbacchio gasped, "It… It's gone."
Mista gasped, "Okay, what just happened?"
"The old man… He closed the window." Abbacchio stated.
"This window… The old man closed it with his book." Fugo said.
"These windows… They are more common to them, than in our world." Giorno said. "The old man must've used his spellbook, when he saw Bucciarati. So, he closed it."
Mista gagged, "Good! I say let him keep it closed, for all I care!" he added, "A bold move… but a stupid one. But I told you so!"
Fugo said, "Who knows when it comes back. If it does, we stay away from it."
The others walked off, as Abbacchio said, to where the prairie once stood, "God rest you, Bruno… Wherever you are."
He walked off, joining the others, but then… a huge bone slammed onto the barrier. The boy was pounding the barrier, using one of Bruno's bones. He started pounding every three seconds. The family watched on, as the old man held his pocket watch, and he nodded to the boy, every time. Pounding away on the barrier. Every three seconds, hoping to open their way into the barrier. This time, they can see Bruno's men. Only Abbacchio stayed behind for a bit. But he walked away, as Passione departed, leaving Bruno Bucciarati behind… Dead.
(Hanajima): And now, the window looks out onto us… and it's only a matter of time before the window opens again, and joins us… for dinner. Like Bruno Bucciarati – the main course.
As one window closes, another is planned to be open again… in the "Tales of the Bizarre".
Good night… wherever you are…
