The Vongola Christmas Party was now behind us. We had something new to take care of now. We were no longer the support to a Vongola Family operation. We were the main force in an investigation of a drug/prostitution ring located just a few miles away from the Cavallone estate.
Before the beginning of our investigation, Reborn arrived at the estate to bring us a much needed gift. He came in with a knowing smirk and waltzed up to us like he owned the place.
"Kira, I have a gift for you." Reborn gestured to the man he had brought with him, "This is Volore."
Volore was your average looking mafioso. He had blonde hair, hazel colored eyes, a decently lean build standing at... a height way shorter than Dino.
Reborn handed me a personnel file. Once it was in my hands, I glanced down. He seemed normal. He had been on the field a couple times. He had a kill count rivaling Romario's which technically isn't all that high but hey, if he's as good as Romario at our age then he's doing alright.
I looked back up, closing the file. I offered him a handshake which he took immediately, "Hibari Kira. I'm a bodyguard to our current Don Cavallone."
Volore had an attitude problem. He sneered down at me as if he was my superior and squeezed my hand savagely, "You're on the short end, don't you think?"
Insubordination already? I took a vicious hold of his hand and flipped him over my shoulder without warning. The hollow sound of his brainless head smashing into the floor was a warning to all those around me as I towered over his crumpled form.
"Now, who happens to be on the short end, herbivore?" I didn't miss the momentary fear flashing in his eyes before anger took hold of him.
"Fucking bitch." He snarled, leaping onto his feet in a split second. His fist whistled through the air harmlessly as I stepped aside.
I threw him to the ground again using his own momentum as my strength. This time, I stomped on his face brutally, "Last warning, herbivore. I repay insults with injury. One more time and I'll bite you to death."
Dino was laughing at me, shaking his head, "You should be kind to our subordinates, Kira. Well, I suppose he's yours considering Reborn marched in here and offered him directly to you. You don't want him back, Reborn?"
Reborn never lost his smirk, "No. He's for Kira. Specifically for her. If he chooses to come back, that's another story though."
As if he knew what we needed, Alpha entered after only knocking once, "Milady, we're prepared to lead combat training this morning but if you would like to join us, please do so."
"Is Romario there?" I didn't look away from our newest recruit, barely confirming that Alpha had nodded, "Well then. I think we found you a sparring partner Volore."
Sparring with Romario was not difficult for me nor was it a struggle for anyone I got to know personally but Romario was Dino's right-hand. If Volore's not as strong as Romario, I have no use for him on my nightly squadron. Well… I guess I would have a use for him—a sacrificial piece. But Dino wouldn't like that.
I sighed when they were out of sight, "He's going to have to be beaten down a dozen more times."
Dino was laughing joyfully at my expected suffering, "He kind of reminds me of someone."
It doesn't take a genius to know who he's referring to. I glared sideways at him, "You want to die?"
He just kept on laughing, "It wasn't meant as an insult."
"Except I heard it as an insult so I'll ask again. You want to die?" I snarled, jabbing him in the gut once for good measure, "I won't say we don't need him but Reborn brought us help knowing we need it. That pisses me off."
"We should accept all the help we can get, Kira." Dino was not of the same opinion as me, "We're in an alliance and an allied family gave us help. I think that's nice."
"Nice?" I grumped, "Them being nice to us is the equivalent of them putting up a sign that says, 'These guys need to be babied. Weaklings here!'"
"You're being dramatic." He clearly didn't see the issue as he was used to being the underdog and he preferred it, "You can't expect us to look good when you're always comparing us to the Vongola Family. They're the best of the best. That's why they lead this alliance."
I didn't argue with him. That mentality was the mentality of losers. Just because they're the best today doesn't mean they always have to be the best. And even if they are the best they shouldn't become complacent simply because they've been the reigning kings for a while.
Strength is limitless. Someone stronger could come along at any point in time. Hopefully, we are the stronger family that comes along and becomes their rival.
I watched Dino chatting up Reborn as if they were truly allies and I smiled bitterly when he looked back at me and grinned. Looking at these two, Reborn already knows that we won't be ripping the Vongola Family from their high horse any time soon.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Volore was an adequate addition to Dino's family. With this many people capable of fighting, we were destined to climb the ladder… But our venture into enemy territory was not made any simpler.
Volore was a loud and uncontrollable creature. He didn't take orders from anyone save for Alpha. I sighed whenever he bit back at Romario. He didn't give a shit about this family's hierarchy. He only respected strength.
Unfortunately, Dino found him amusing. He insisted that Volore resembled me and I was starting to agree. His insubordination got him beat up daily and yet he kept challenging me. Although, it seemed that he had given up on trying to beat Alpha. I wonder why he hasn't given up on me yet… Is it because he can't handle losing to a woman? Either way, he's not appreciated.
When it came time for our first raid, Volore was not very subtle. He charged right in through the front door. I groaned at a laughing Dino, ordering our units to follow our stray dog.
Volore was a good vanguard. I don't deny his uncanny ability to draw fire. His weapon of choice had been revealed to be a shield during sparring sessions. Interestingly enough, the shield made him the best partner for Alpha who's choice of weapon was a gun. Maybe that's why he didn't bother with trying to defeat him anymore.
Alpha had impeccable aim but with Volore as his new shield he was reaching new heights. Volore, despite his attitude, was unbothered by their collaboration. I thought a guy like Volore would be against teamwork but it appears he was a teamplayer when he needed to be.
Our usual formation was now shifting. Romario took to Dino's side, Dino became the center of our formation, Alpha remained in front of him but behind Volore, and Koge continued to be the buzz in our ears. But me? I was cut loose to wreak havoc. I didn't have to worry about protecting Dino or anyone else. My strength was shining brighter that day than any other day I spent in the service of the Cavallone Family.
The act of being at the peak of my current capabilities gave me an indescribable high. I broke more noses that day than I had ever done before.
Looking around, I breathed in the success of our first raid and took pride in how thoroughly corpses lined this facility. These assholes would never sell drugs to unknowledgeable minors ever again. I thought this was for a good cause but when I turned and glimpsed the broken look on Dino's face, I didn't think we were the good guys anymore.
"Do you regret it?" I said quietly as our men celebrated their victory here. I didn't want to disturb their high like Dino had ended mine.
He looked so sad but he shook his head, "I was just thinking… Did we have to kill them all? These people have families too."
I had always known our philosophies were different but I sighed at his kindness each time.
"When a person steps onto a battlefield willingly, they are staking their lives for a cause that they believe in. Just like them, we are here putting up our lives as collateral because we believe in your cause. If you stand here thinking these thoughts about our enemies, you are disrespecting our fallen comrades." I murmured softly as I watched Volore offer Alpha a handshake, "Our strength, our convictions to fight for you… were stronger than that of our opponent's today. You should be happy."
"But I'm not. Some of my men aren't going to make it home tonight either." He could find the bodies of his fallen family even in the mess created by our raid. It was something only he could do, "They had families. Jasper… and Mike… Torin…"
"Well… They knew the risks when they joined the battle." I must've sounded heartless but this was my way of respecting our fallen allies, "This is their victory as well."
Dino was getting more and more upset, "Victory?! They're dead! They didn't win anything here, Kira!"
His outburst startled the men celebrating around us. I sighed as their mood sank and guilty faces started appearing around us. Volore was sneering at us through the crowd. He looked like he had something he wanted to say but Alpha shushed him.
Dino's issue was clearly rooted in the fact that he had now personally led these men to their deaths. Before, we were the underdogs. Everything we did was in self-defense and absolutely necessary. So when his men died, he knew they had been murdered. When we were beneath the Vongola, everyone who died was on orders from Vongola elites. Today, everyone who died had laid down their lives for Dino's beliefs. To Dino, it was as if he had murdered them himself.
If I had been more mature, I might have told him they died happily fighting for their beliefs—the beliefs that closely mirror Dino's sense of justice. Everyone here had come to fight because they, just like Dino, believed that we were saving young women from experiencing the sufferings of date rape drugs and keeping minors from becoming addicts.
But now, these people were ashamed for being proud enough to celebrate their heroism. Our allies were beginning to doubt their convictions. If we wanted to continue this crusade, we needed to raise morale immediately. But again, I wasn't mature enough. Instead, I was furious.
"I came all this way to fight with you because I believed in our victory." I snarled, "Don't be such an herbivore!"
On this night, three men quit and walked away. They left the Cavallone Family saying they no longer wanted to lay down their lives. They were too scared to fight anymore. They were no longer interested in becoming heroes.
Dino smiled his best smile and let them walk away. A normal mafia family would have had them slain but Dino was much too kind. He walked them right up to the door and wished them well. I will never forget their names and faces.
Sean Manovic and Nolan Manovic. The twins with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Their cheeks were spotted with freckles. Innocent young men not older than Dino.
Then there was Theo. He was a strange one from the start. He had joined the family a long time ago. Dino's father had taken him in when he was a child. He was now just a little older than Dino. He was always scarred. One eye was blind and crusted over and the other was bright blue. He had dark brown hair buzzed so badly that he looked bald.
He was a quiet guy. He never spoke unless spoken to so I thought it must've taken him a lot of courage to speak up about wanting to quit.
Once they were out of sight, I muttered, "If you act the way you did tonight, we won't just have 3 quitters."
Dino was still upset from earlier in the night so he didn't care much for our future in combat, "Anyone who wants to quit should be able to quit."
"So you don't want me to have them dispatched?" I had to be sure even if I knew Dino's response.
"Are you crazy?!" He was furious as I expected him to be, "I cannot believe you! What's wrong with you?"
"No. Let me tell you something you don't seem to know." I growled in his face, fisting my hands into his collar, "If we lose this war that YOU began, the lives lost tonight will have been for nothing. You are doing those men the ultimate disservice! If I had died tonight and this was your attitude, I'd be sorely disappointed!"
Tearing up, he slapped my hands away and stormed into the estate. He knew I was right but it was too hard for him to swallow.
I looked up and sighed at Alpha who was leaning down over the top of the roof with a sniper rifle in his hands.
"Koge." I whispered.
"Yes, boss?" Came the staticy response in my earpiece.
"They left the grounds, right?"
"Three guys went straight out." He confirmed that our deserters left the premises.
"Alpha, you can come down now." I sighed, "I knew he was too soft."
Alpha's voice cut out during the transmission but I patched it together as "If I catch up to them and off them, he would never know."
"Yeah but it's not our decision to make. He's the leader of this family." I headed into the building, "Koge's on night watch. Alpha, you're off for the night. Oh… And get Volore an earpiece."
"Really? I thought you didn't like him?" Koge's laughter sounds distorted over the com, "These aren't cheap, you know!"
"Could have fooled me." I snorted, "I can barely make out what you guys are saying. These are ancient."
"Yeah well… we don't exactly have a budget. Romario said we can't afford to get one for everyone so no one gets one."
"You let me take care of Romario." I huffed and proceeded to do just that.
We would 100% get the funds to get an upgrade.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
The night following Dino's outburst, I gathered a small group in the driveway. It was just my usual selection—Alpha, Koge, and our new addition Volore. Romario met us by the limo, handing us our new equipment. Koge, with a sparkle in his eyes, was immediately working on getting us hooked up.
We were thrilled but now Romario was telling us to suit up for a raid.
"Are you kidding me?" I growled, "Just us?"
"Is that an issue?" He was extremely knowledgeable about my personality by now so he quickly added, "Is it too difficult for you?"
"Hell no!" Was the first thing my team heard through their new in-ears, "You know damn well we're more than capable but that's not the problem."
"What's the problem then?"
"We are NOT going it solo so that Dino can sit here and sulk more." I was in a worse mood than I had been the previous day, "He needs to grow up!"
"Yes… I can agree with you on that one but Kira, we both work for the young master so we should take into consideration what's best for him." He took a scolding tone with me that set me off again.
"Then we have different opinions on what's best for him." I said sharply, not raising the volume of my voice, "How long do you intend to baby him? A week? A month? A year? Until he becomes a puppet leader?"
"That's enough!" He snapped, "I was not making a suggestion. Ultimately, you work for this family. I am your immediate superior as the right-hand to the boss. These are now orders. Get in the car. I'll brief you."
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and a shiver rolled down my spine as I tried to hold down the building fury. My superior? Romario? Apparently, my chosen group appreciated the comment even less than I did.
Alpha was sneering into Romario's face looking like a wild beast with his snarl.
Volore was surprisingly the first to speak, "How fucking dare you!"
"I never thought we'd see eye to eye, you noisy thing, but it looks like we agree for once." Soft-spoken and emotionless Koge was bristling. He had never looked more ready for combat, "If you're so keen on being her superior, why don't you test your strength? I'm even willing to bet my life in a fight against you, Romario."
Romario took us for granted. He thought he could control us and that was true until now… And it looked like it would remain true for a little while longer.
He sighed, "Look. If you guys take this mission solo, you'll be rescuing real people this time. This location is where they keep their 'other products.'"
Koge faltered. Originally a member of the Japanese Secret Service, he had a very strong sense of justice. He was against human trafficking with every fiber of his body. He gritted his teeth as he waited. As much as he was a man of justice, he was a man of loyalty and that loyalty was for me.
I grasped Alpha's shoulder in my left hand and Volore's in my right, "Get in the car, Romario. We'll go on your little mission but remember this. This is the last time you talk down to me. We respect strength above all else. Unless you can beat me, don't you dare assume you are my superior."
Koge looked visibly relieved as Romario stiffened and got in the car. He would have probably been devastated if I had refused.
Romario got in the car without another word. He knew he shouldn't press the topic of superiority anymore.
"The rest of you are welcome to join me." I grinned when they looked to me for a reason, "I'm more than enough alone. I'm just going to show Romario exactly why he shouldn't name himself my superior."
They got in with me. Volore was already saying he could beat up more guys than me and I welcomed him to try it.
I learned something about Volore that night. He was pretty much in it for the competition. He valued strength above all else like the rest of us and like me, his whole world revolved around strength. His conviction to fight was just that—a desire to test his skills against like-minded foes. I guess that, at my core, I was the same.
Somewhere along the way, I had lost sight of my real self. Seeing Volore, I remembered why I had come to Italy in the first place. I didn't come here to make the Cavallone Family strong. I came here to prove my own strength and I have yet to do so.
I guess someday I would get to it but today is not that day.