Landing in Italy for the first time, I was stunned. Everything was so different. The language, the people, the customs all seemed completely bizarre to me. I had to be educated from the very beginning but I was only interested in combat.
So, Reborn gave me the same spartan treatment he had given Dino. He beat me into submission with his seemingly infinite strength and sat me down for a quick Italian lesson and told me he would be enrolling me in the same high school as Dino.
Much to Reborn's surprise, after just a month of tutoring, I was the top of my class in all subjects right from the get go. In the year above me, Dino was struggling still and he got the iron fist of discipline from Reborn immediately upon discovering how badly he had done on our placement exams.
Around the same time, I formally met Romario. Where Dino could not hear, Domenico introduced me as Dino's friend and a potential ally. Romario was Domenico's right-hand man and the Cavallone Family's primary intelligence officer and Dino's bodyguard. Romario assessed me in silence and whispered to his boss. Domenico frowned and shook his head.
I knew that look. Romario had judged me just on my appearance and told Domenico that I would not be useful. In the weeks to come, I proved otherwise. Sparring with the weak members of the Cavallone Family, I proved right away that I was the strongest fighter in the building. I was thrilled. This is exactly what I came to do. I wanted to prove that I was the strongest.
And as a result, Romario began to use me for all my worth. With me on the "business" end, the Cavallone Family began to gain some long, lost attention.
Dino found out I was doing work for his family after a while. The information on the Cavallone Family's new brutal enforcer was bound to get out somehow so it was no surprise that people had already heard about me at school. They just didn't know it was me.
Our classmates came to the conclusion that someone amazing enough to bring the wind behind the sails of an already dying family must be a man. The only information they had was "it's a foreigner from Asia" and they concluded it was a big, burly, yakuza member.
I frowned each time they gossip reached my ears. I came to find strength and prove mine not become some strange obscured legend.
I sighed loudly.
Dino stopped mid-bite of his sandwich and raised an eyebrow at me, "What? The fame is stressing you out already?"
"Fame?" I scoffed, "They don't even know who I am."
"That's good!" He exclaimed, "In our world, if you're strong, people will send hunters after you. Especially if you work for a no-name family like mine. We don't have enough manpower to protect you. If rival families start hunting you, you're basically going to have to fight them alone."
I took a bite of my sandwich and realized that for the first time since I had arrived in Italy, the chef had put expensive meat between fancy bread. The Cavallone Family was no longer dirt poor.
"I don't need protection." I told him firmly, "I came to fight and test my strength. I can't do that if people are trying to hide me away."
He frowned at me, putting down his crust, "I know but if something happened to you, your dad would kill me so…"
That's true. My father would've been very upset if something had happened to me.
"I'll protect you, Kira." He declared, expression dark and solemn, "I swear it."
"Don't be stupid." I scoffed, "I'm not even a member of your family. Don't bother."
He kept quiet. He didn't like the sound of those words but he couldn't deny what I had said.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Half a year had gone by and I realized something important. Dino was often bullied.
I grinned at the sight. It was pitiful but he was trying so hard to fight back and I was proud of him. Not once had Dino asked or even mentioned needing help against bullies. He was bravely trying to prove to the world that he had gained strength.
I assumed, before he met Reborn, he was beaten up even more but the Dino I saw on this day was holding his own against three older boys even if it was only for a few brief moments.
I stepped in without warning. One boy went flying into another as my fist sank into his jaw with a sickening crunch.
"K-Kira?" Dino was shocked. He had never been saved before.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, stomping the third boy into a puddle of mud beneath my feet.
Picking himself up, he looked embarrassed, "I mean, it's lame… How could I tell you?"
"Even Romario comes to me when he needs strength." I told him, "If a grown man can come ask for my help without feeling an ounce of shame, you can too."
He shook his head vigorously, "It's embarrassing because it's you…"
"What? We've known each other since we were children! I've seen you wet your pants during training with Reborn!" I snorted at him derisively when he tried to protest, "There's no point in hiding this but if you don't want my help then you can just get yourself beaten up some more."
Dino's face turned a dark shade of red. He was filled to the brim with shame but what's the point? I was serious. We've known each other nearly a decade now. We had nothing to hide from each other.
I rolled my eyes and reached for my cell, "I'm calling Romario. I've got an assignment today so tell Reborn I won't be joining in on sparring today."
"M'kay…" He responded dejectedly and we went our separate ways for the day.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Six months into the school year, I met Superbi Squalo for the first time. He was in Dino's class, so one year above me. I had been pulled from class after receiving a message from Romario. This was a mafia school so if I was being pulled from class on "official Cavallone Family business" everyone knew it meant I had an assignment.
I went to tell Dino to find his way home alone. I reached the door to his classroom and the door opened and a boy bumped into me on his way out. I have no idea why I was surprised because, like I said, this was a mafia affiliated school but the boy who had bumped into me was immediately letting out a killer's aura.
My spine stiffened and my fist clenched automatically. Naturally, his aura drew my own murderous intent out and then he was glaring me down.
It only took him an instant to determine something in his own mind.
"So you're the one then." He said it more as a statement than a question. The dark grey orbs went up and down my body twice and no more. He had concluded I wasn't worth it, "Feh."
I didn't know what he was talking about. The one? What does that even mean? I scoffed at his backside as he walked away, entering the room to relay my message to an extremely nervous Dino.
"Are you alright?" He asked before I could speak. He was eying the door warily, "Did he hurt you?"
"Who was that?" I demanded, my senses were tingling. I knew he was strong. I could feel it.
"You don't know who that is?" Dino said it as if I was asking about a celebrity, "That's Superbi Squalo. He defeated the Varia's Sword Emperor-Tyr. No one dares to go near him. He's terrifying. Avoid him if you can."
My lips naturally tugged upward, "Perfect."
I heard Dino groan and try to dissuade me but if this Superbi Squalo was strong then he would be my next opponent. But I didn't have time today. I told Dino what I came to say and I took my leave. Romario was waiting for me.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Superbi Squalo knew I was coming for him. In fact, if I hadn't gone to challenge him, he would've come for me.
He wore an expression of utmost confidence when I followed him into the empty hallway, "Just one question before I cut you down. How much are they paying you?"
I had no idea what he was talking about but I came for a fight and I was sure to get one, "I'll answer your questions if you win."
"VOI!" He roared, a sword popping out of his sleeve?!
I had never seen anything like it. His sword was attached to his hand?! Where did it come from?
His reach was longer than mine so when he came at me first I was surprised. Normally, if your opponent has a shorter reach than you, you would bank on their mistakes and cut them down with a counterattack but Squalo was an offensive fighter.
I had to stay within range if I didn't want to be cut down before I could even touch him. But he was certainly a professional fighter. When I came in too deep, his foot stomped on my chest and sent me flying back out just far enough to take a swipe at me with the tip of his sword. I nearly lost my head.
This fight wouldn't last long. Either I would subdue him or be cut down in an instant. He swung again and I did the only thing I could do. I grabbed his sword with my bare hands and pulled him in. Just as I was about to smash my knee into his face, we were interrupted.
Two men came in through the windows on either side, I heard the click of a gun's safety measure and Squalo's voice calling out for me to run. It was all instinctive from there.
I got up and my feet carried me in through the window at lightning fast speed and I grabbed the gun, pushing it up as the first shot went off. The bullet embedded itself into the ceiling with a loud clanking noise. The shooter gasped in fear and I slammed my fist into his mouth and shoved half my arm down his throat.
He bit down on my arm.
I growled and literally, bit him to death. I bit down on his neck and tore out a rather large chunk of skin and an artery.
He was dead.
Everyone saw it but no one said anything. They just blinked and kept walking like it was a normal occurrence at this school but it was a mafia school so yes, this was a common occurrence.
The freshly killed body slumped to the floor and I pulled away, staring at my blood soaked arms.
"VOI! You alright, scum?" Squalo observed me carefully. A corpse was lying at his feet so he had obviously cut down the other attacker.
I've never killed anyone before. There's a certain thrill to this but I know that the thrill came from the pure danger that I was in at the time. I'm not a crazy serial killer.
Squalo's eyes narrowed, "These guys were definitely after me. You were just unfortunately caught up in it."
My eyes narrowed right back at him. Was this his way of apologizing? And how was he so sure they were after him?
Squalo turned to go, coming to a halt at the end of the hall. He turned, expression showing mild embarrassment, "I'll patch you up. Come on."
That was such a suspicious offer. He was trying to kill me a moment ago and now he was trying to patch me up. Why bother?
"Kira!" Dino came running down my way, flustered by the amount of blood everywhere and the two corpses on the floor in front of me, "Oh no… Are you hurt? I'm calling Romario!"
Squalo's expression was cold and fearsome once more, turning to leave without looking back now. I snickered at his retreating backside. He was definitely not the terrifying beast people made him out to be. There was more to him. How amusing.
At Dino's call, Romario came to patch me up. Romario benched me for the time being, saying I needed to heal before he would put me on the battlefield again. I shrugged. There's no way I could possibly be satisfied by tepid fights like the ones I've been in. I wanted to settle the score with Squalo. I wanted to find more monsters like him.
But the Cavallone Family needed me. I was in Italy thanks to them and so… I allowed myself a time period of patience just to repay my debts to them. Just a little while longer.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
After meeting Squalo, I never joined in on sparring with Dino's family anymore. I left that to Reborn and in my spare time, I went to find Squalo. Squalo was the same. He often stayed after school, meeting me on the rooftop to spar with me.
One day, after a particularly vigorous session, he murmured, "You never told me. How much are they paying you?"
Sprawled out on the floor and gasping for breath, I didn't know how to respond. I didn't even know what he was talking about.
He turned, eyes observing me with genuine curiosity. He sat directly to my left and smirked when he realized I needed a moment to recover, "So you tire after all?"
Huh? Irked, I sat up and glared, "I'm human too."
"Oh? So you want to answer my questions now?" He snickered when I clicked my tongue in annoyance and smacked his arm, "Well? How much is Cavallone paying? We'll double it. I doubt a small family like that would be able to pay you much anyways."
"Huh?" I was stunned. He thought I was a mercenary? For Dino's family?
"Not interested?" He was making me a genuine offer, "I told the guys about you. They told me to bring you if you're interested."
"Look." I said, "I honestly have no idea what you're saying to me right now. I'm not being paid by anyone. I'm just here because I wanted to fight. Dino's an old friend."
"Don't lie!" The volume of his voice was naturally loud, "If you're fucking with me, I'll kill you!"
"I'm serious! I came to Italy just before the beginning of the school year with Dino and his father. They promised I'd be able to fight against strong people if I came here and I got just what I wanted."
Something on Squalo's face changed that day. His expression would've frightened anyone else but to me, it looked so much like one of my own. We were kindred spirits at our core.
"Then it's perfect." He said, "Let me formally extend an offer to you then."
I watched as he got to his feet and reached down to offer me a hand. I stared up at him curiously, not grabbing his hand right away.
"I'm Superbi Squalo. I joined the Varia at the beginning of the year after killing their previous boss, Tyr. The Varia is the Vongola Independent Assassination Squad. Our current boss is someone even stronger than me." He said, smirking slyly when my eyes lit up, "Our goal is to make the Vongola Family the strongest mafia family in history."
I thought about it a moment. This was it. This is exactly what I came to Italy for! I wanted this kind of chance. I wanted to compete against the best of the best!
He extended his hand once more, "As the second in command of the Varia, I'm extending an offer to you. Join us! You won't regret it!"
I reached up to take his hand but as fate would have it, Dino came bursting in with an emergency.
"Kira, my father's in the hospital! Come quick!"
I turned, staring at my only friend and I stood without taking Squalo's offered hand, "I need some time to think about it."
Squalo was only quiet until the door closed behind us on our way out and then he let out the most angry scream, "VOII!"
Dino jumped, nearly tumbling down the stairs on our way back down into the school building, "Why is he angry?"
"It's nothing." I snickered, "Did Romario send a car for us?"
Dino frowned, "I didn't know you've been hanging out with Squalo all this time."
I shrugged, too young to know that Dino was jealous.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
At the hospital, Dino was told that his father was fine. He simply fell and put out his back. Two minutes later, Dino went to buy his father a drink from the store down the street and I was given the actual prognosis.
With a sad smile, Domenico told me, "I don't have much longer to live."
I didn't know how to take it. Domenico had a disease caused by poor medical treatment and impoverished living conditions. It was not a disease that manifested all at once. It was something that had developed over his entire life due to repeated injuries and lacking medical care.
"So please take care of my son." This was the only time I heard Domenico say such a thing with so much resolve, "I know he is lacking at the moment but he will grow. Reborn will help you so…"
He didn't have to finish. I knew he couldn't finish that sentence. He was trying so hard to put all of his feelings and wishes for the future into just one statement but it was impossible.
"How much longer?" I asked quietly. My chest suddenly felt heavy. I wondered if my mother knew yet. How long had Domenico known?
"Maybe a year. Maybe less."
I nodded, looking up at Romario who just watched us in stone-faced silence. It was implied that only the three of us and the doctor knew of Domenico's fate. I felt sorry for Dino just the smallest bit. His father was dying and he didn't know yet. How sad.
"But don't mourn my passing just yet." Domenico was now rising from his position to sit up. His expression was quite professional for someone in bed, "I have a mission for you and Romario."
I waited for him to speak, narrowing my eyes in a semi-glare. He went from "I'm dying" to "you have orders" in an unexpected time frame. I had to doubt his life expectancy a little bit.
"Take Dino to dinner with the Forza Family."
Romario stepped up with a file containing the details of my mission. It was a job that suited Dino's personality. For a first job, it would be just fine for Dino.
After giving me a moment to review the details, he finally met my gaze, "This would make you publicly acknowledged as one of our upper echelon."
He was asking me to become an official member of the Cavallone Famiy. I would no longer be able to hide under the guise of the Cavallone Family's mysterious "big, burly former-yakuza member." The people would now be seeing my face.
Would they finally witness my strength?
"I accept." I declared, closing the file, "Only issue is the matter of guards."
"Yes, you'll be one of three guards. Currently, Romario has been selected and we have one more." Domenico had clearly thought this through.
Mr. One-More's name was Amatsuki Koge. He was apparently a "gift" from my mother. He was meant to be one of my father's spies in the secret services but… my father deemed him an herbivore and a waste of time so he was removed. Mother had him sent to Italy to better himself for the future.
I could see why father removed him. He had zero presence. I was staring right at him and he was just an empty slate. Was there even a soul in that body or was he just an empty shell?
"What's he good for?" I asked Romario rather scathingly, "You and I are enough, aren't we?"
Romario chuckled, "Are you judging him based on his appearance?"
I paused. Yes. Yes, I am. I had no right. Often people are not as they seem. I hate being judged on just my appearance so I shouldn't judge others in a similar manner.
"Fine." I said, "I understand. Let's suit up."
Satisfied, Romario took Koge away to change. It was time to go.
