not a new chapter; im sorry. i originally took this down a while back but decided to repost because i didn't want 28 pages of writing to go down the drain, even if it was from years ago. i'm not sure if people still read or want to read this, but i'm going to try to see if i can start writing again.

in the eyes of history:

i. vongola

A little girl wearing a plain white dress danced in the garden of a worn house. Her mother sat on the wooden steps of the porch, smiling gently as she watched her young daughter.

The sun shone brightly on her, creating a halo of silvery light that reflected off her golden hair. Radiant laughter rivaling the sun echoed through the garden.

In their quaint, little town, nothing ever happened much. It was a tranquil place, one that she loved and held dear in her heart. She loved the beautiful valleys and fields that surrounded them. She loved the old, yet nostalgic cottages. She loved the fauna that grazed their pastures. She loved the flowers that bloomed every spring. She loved the freedom this little haven offered.

And her mother, how she loved her mother. The beautiful, strong woman who raised her and taught her so many things. She taught her the meaning of the flora, how to knit and sew, how to dance. How to love herself.

She once hated her hair. It was nothing like the gorgeous rose of her mother's. Her mother had silky, lustrous locks, while she had light golden brown hair that fell in messy waves. She didn't like the way it looked and how it tangled easily, but her mother had adored brushing it and braiding it. So she learned to love it as well.

She once hated her eyes. They were grayish blue and dull, while her mother's were a brilliant azure. But her mother would always kiss her eyelids and talk about how breathtaking her eyes were, so she learned to love them as well.

She once hated her skin. A warm beige compared to her mother's pale porcelain. But her mother had laughed at her, telling her that she had envied her for having such a natural color that made her look so alive. So she smiled and went out to dance in the sunlight, for she had learned to love it as well.

She once hated her name. It was an ugly name. She'd very much rather have a name like those other girls in the village. But her mother had named her Guillelmina. She had always thought it was strange and uncomfortable on the tongue. The other people in the village, mostly the children, thought the same. Some called her by her name, but others didn't, instead opting to call her 'bambina' or 'ragazza'.

But her mother always called her Guillelmina.

"It means resolute protector, so you can protect those you love."

Her mother had named her. Because of that, she learned to love it as well.

Guillelmina first met her cousin during a trip to another town.

Her mother had said that it was her grandpa's birthday, and he wished to have the family together to celebrate. They arrived at a town that seemed more like a city compared to their home. The tall stone buildings and brick walls gave her feelings of confinement. It didn't feel like home; she wanted to go home.

They arrived at a brick cottage near the outskirts of town. Her mother knocked on the door, while she stood behind her, clutching her dress. In her eight years of existence, she had never met her relatives before, as her mother preferred their home instead of a crowded town. She only hoped that her appearance was proper and clean enough.

The door creaked open to reveal an old man in a white shirt and overalls. He smiled at the sight of her mother and engulfed her in an embrace. Her mother laughed as her father went on about how she'd grown even more beautiful in the past years. She moved aside, gently ushering Guillelmina forward. But the girl stood shyly, looking down at her feet instead of at her grandfather. A squeal left her lips as large hands wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up. When she looked up, warm eyes met hers and she was embraced by the old man. She giggled as his beard tickled her sensitive skin.

"Aren't you a cute little thing? Let's get you settled inside, patatino?"

When she was inside the house, she felt significantly warmer and safer. The fireplace was lit, and the smell of burning firewood invaded her nose. Her face scrunched up and she let out a loud sneeze. Her grandfather only laughed and wiped her face with a tissue. The house was strangely empty, despite there being signs of people living there.

"Caresa and the others are buying some groceries. They'll be back soon."

Guillelmina looked at her mother in confusion. The woman chuckled and told her 'Caresa' was her aunt, and she had a husband and a son who was younger than her.

"I'll start making dinner. Why don't you sit and have some fun with Nonno, dear?"

She nodded, and her grandfather brought them over to the armchair next to the fireplace. The old man sat her in his lap and took a book from a nearby table.

"You've never seen the others, have you? I'll show you some pictures before they come back."

He flipped open the old, heavy album, revealing many photos of unfamiliar people. He pointed to a picture of a little girl wearing a large smile on her face. It was her mother at six. She couldn't help but admire how similar they looked when they were young. Her grandfather pointed to another girl, who had the same grin on her face. She shook her head, unable to identify the girl.

"That's Caresa, your 'zia'." He pointed to another picture, though this one seemed new and less worn. "And that's you, patatino." It was a picture of her as a baby. Nude. Her cheeks reddened and her small hands immediately went to cover the embarrassing photo.

"Don't look! It's embarrassing!" He let out a hearty laugh and ruffled her tresses.

"Why? I think it's cute." She huffed and turned the page, away from the photo. Her eyes landed on a young boy, and a strange feeling filled her body. The boy looked normal, but she felt drawn to him for some reason.

"Nonno, who's this?" She pointed to the boy.

"Hm? That's your cousin, Giotto. He's turning seven this year." The front door creaked open, followed by some voices. "Speak of the devil, they're back."

Her grandfather stood, while she remained seated, hiding behind his large frame. She heard footsteps enter the room, and the man eventually went forward to greet them.

"Welcome back, tesoro! Come, your sister is in the kitchen. Giotto, son, why don't you go meet your cousin?"

Guillelmina bit her lip and raised the book up to cover her face. She was scared to meet this person. This unfamiliar boy who gave her a feeling of familiarity. Light steps approached her before coming to a stop. They stayed like that for a while, neither of them wanting to speak up. Gathering her wits, she raised her head just a little to peek above the album. Her breath got caught in her throat when mesmerizing blue eyes met hers. His untamed blond hair framed his face perfectly. He stood in front of her, shy, yet confident at the same time. Her heart thumped in her chest as she felt captivated by him. The strange feeling was back, and this time, she recognized it.

Home.

For the first time she'd been here, she felt like she was home. She felt safe. It was like she was dancing in her garden, or in the arms of her mother. It was like sitting in front of the fire with someone, wrapped in a blanket and drinking hot tea during the dead of winter. She didn't know why her cousin was making her feel this way, but it didn't feel wrong. Her grip on the album tightened as she shakily breathed in and opened her mouth.

"Y-you're Giotto, right? M-my name is Guillelmina."

He blinked. "G-gui...Guillel… mina?" He stumbled on his words as he pronounced her name. "... Mina. Nice to meet you, Mina" An enchanting smile appeared on his face, and her heart started beating even faster. "Do you want to go play in the garden?" His hand reached out, waiting for her to take it.

"O-okay." A smile appeared on her face, just as radiant as his. Hand in hand, he led them out back to a small, but lovely garden.

She didn't want to go home anymore.

Two years had passed since she moved into town with her mother. It was a sudden change. Giotto's mother had passed away due to illness, and his father could not take care of him, so he was left with their grandfather. A small funeral was held, and that was it. Giotto was heartbroken. He had loved his mother like she loved her's. When she looked him in his red eyes, she saw anguish and melancholy. She had enveloped him in her arms then, nearly breaking down into tears as well. She couldn't stand seeing him so broken. They refused to let each other go that day.

She had stubbornly refused to go back home, steadfast in her decision to stay with Giotto. Though reluctant, her mother allowed it. But they returned to their hometown every once in a while, just to visit friends or to take a break.

She decided it was all worth it when she finally saw his brilliant smile once again.

They had met a boy in town. Some nasty kids had been throwing old tomatoes at him, when Giotto had gone up and told them to stop. Naturally, they didn't, and he had ended up being pelted with the mushy red fruit as well. When Guillelmina had arrived, she found two boys sitting on the ground, covered in red pulp and juice. Giotto was talking, while the other boy just listened quietly. They only moved when she demanded that they go home to wash up.

The boy was an orphan, and was often pushed around by others because of his rash attitude. His strangely colored hair and tattoo didn't make things any better. But Guillelmina thought otherwise. 'A pretty rose', she had told him. It was fascinating to see his blush match the color of his hair. When they asked for his name, he simply told them to call him, 'G'. She had wondered if it was coincidence or not, with all three of them having 'g' as the first letter of their name. The three of them quickly became friends, and she had the amazing idea of naming themselves 'The Three G's', though both boys rejected the idea as soon as she voiced it.

Pity, it would have been a nice name.

"Ballet?"

"Mhm!" A pair of ballet shoes sat in a small box. "The teacher said I could start tomorrow, too."

G. looked at her incredulously. "Can you even dance?" Guillelmina gasped in shock, hand pressing to her chest in mock offense.

"Can I dance? Of course, I can. Why else would I want to do ballet?" The redhead rolled his eyes at her dramatics. She stuck her tongue out in response. "You probably dance like a pig!"

Giotto facepalmed when G. stood and challenged his cousin to a dance battle. They were obviously ignorant to the fact that they were outside and people were starting to stare. Sometimes, he would forget that Mina and G. were older than him.

"G."

He was ignored as G. performed an impromptu dance routine that ended with a flamboyant flip of his hair.

"Mina."

He was ignored as Mina did multiple pirouettes until she stumbled out of dizziness and steadied herself on G.

This exchange of awkward dancing continued, and he couldn't help but notice the much unwanted attention the two were attracting. Too absorbed in beating each other, they didn't see Giotto slip into the crowd and away from them, all the while muttering, 'I don't know them. I don't know them. I don't know them'. He loved them, yes, but he did not love their constant need for competition.

Giotto was later found running from two angry individuals. If anyone squinted, they might have seen flames emitting from their bodies in pure humiliation and fury.

"So did you bring Paolo the food from the other day?"

The three of them were walking home after picking Guillelmina up from her ballet lessons. It was a daily routine by now. Waking up, eating breakfast, meeting up with G., walking her to ballet, etc. Recently, they noticed that one of their neighbors, Paolo, was being abused by his master. While they couldn't do a thing to stop it, they decided to help his family by occasionally dropping some money or food in their home. It wasn't much, but it was all they could do.

"Yea, we dropped it off when we were coming back."

"Hm.." Guillelmina took a bite of her apple. "Poor guy... He doesn't deserve this kind of life."

"No one does." She held it up to G., who grimaced in disgust and pushed it back to her smiling face. "There's nothing we can do to help, either."

As they neared their neighborhood, her eyes trailed to the figure of a young boy walking by Paolo's house. She saw his hand drop something in front of the door as he passed. Tugging on Giotto's sleeve, she pointed them to the boy and the small object on the doorstep. G. walked ahead to pick up the small bag, and when he opened it, they saw a bit of money inside.

"A wallet?" Giotto looked towards the direction of where the boy went. "Did he drop it on purpose?" She hummed.

"Most likely. Let's return it anyway. Paolo has the rations, so it should be fine."

The three of them walked around the neighborhood, eventually finding the red haired boy.

"Hey, you there! You with the red hair." The boy turned around in surprise. "You dropped your wallet."

He smiled. "Ah… That's too bad. I dropped it on purpose. I couldn't stand seeing Paolo and his family starve to death."

"I see. But there's no reason to worry for Paolo's family." Giotto pointed to them. "We dropped some food we bought in his storage, too."

His eyes widened before laughing. "Haha! You too?"

"Yeah." Giotto smiled in response.

"I'm Cozarto Shimon. I'm here visiting my aunt."

"This is my cousin, Guillelmina, and my companion, G." Guillelmina gave a smile and a wave while G. gave a curt nod. "I'm Giotto." Giotto extended his hand, and Cozarto took it with a firm shake.

"Say," They turned to look at Mina, who was looking up at the darkening sky in wonder, "What time is it right now?"

"Almost five. Why?" She blinked slowly, before looking Giotto straight in the eye.

"Didn't Mama tell us to be back by four or else?"

The three of them froze, remembering the last time they had been late going home, while Cozarto blinked in confusion. Curses left G.'s mouth as he made a mad dash towards their home. There was no way he was getting on the woman's bad side, not after last time. Guillelmina followed suit, grabbing Giotto and Cozarto by their hands and running after G. Her hair whipped behind her as she laughed despite their impending doom. Cozarto was about to say something, but decided against it as she looked back with a big smile.

"Mama won't yell at us as much if we bring a friend!"

He raised a brow at her statement. Next to him, Giotto chuckled, and he felt his lips stretch into a smile as well.

He could use a few friends in this lonely town.

Guillelmina hugged the child close, their tears soaking into her already sopping clothes.

She was shivering, not just from the cold, but at the sight of the body in front of her. Her voice shook as she whispered words of comfort to the child who was wrapped in her coat, even though she was just as afraid. Cozarto was kneeling besides the man, Franco, while G. stood next to her. Giotto had gone off to find help, but knowing this town, she knew he would come back alone.

Flowers were strewn across the cobblestone, his shop destroyed. The rain kept falling, turning the blood a pale pink. She felt the urge to turn away and hurl, but the firm hand on her shoulder calmed her down a bit. The child was still crying, having witnessed their father being attacked. Disgust and anger filled her mind. To have done such a thing to an innocent man. It was despicable. Unforgivable.

"How's Franco doing!?" Her head turned slightly, seeing Giotto running towards them. As she thought, there was no one with him to help.

Cozarto shook his head. "...It's no good. The doctor didn't come after all."

Giotto clenched his fists, anger and frustration radiating off his person. "Why did this happen to Franco?!"

"...He didn't discount the merchandise by 90%."

"...This town is a paradise to radicals… They extort money and take advantage of the townspeople." Giotto knelt down, picking up a wilted flower. "If you don't listen to what they say, they won't hesitate to beat you. The police won't even do anything about them." Guillelmina's lips quivered. The child in her arms stopped sobbing a bit after Giotto arrived. "I love this town… We may live in poverty… But it's the energetic smiles that beam from everyone's faces like the sun that I love." He slammed his fist against the brick wall, yelling out in frustration. "They just want us to sit quietly, watching out town get taken away from us… I refuse!"

G.'s grip on her shoulder tightened, while Cozarto looked as if he was contemplating something.

"...We could become vigilantes, Giotto."

"Vigilantes…?"

Cozarto nodded. "If no one else will help us, then we've got to defend the town ourselves. However, to govern that kind of group will require great leadership. And nor storm, or rain, or sun will be able to keep us away. Just like the skies." His red eyes met blue ones. "There's no one else but you… Giotto."

She supposed that Giotto was a social butterfly.

He attracted people from left to right. It was fascinating, really. She had asked a few of them why they so willingly and easily agreed to join their cause. Their answer was surprisingly simple, yet relatable.

'It felt right.'

Was the most frequent answer. Perhaps it was his charisma that caused others to take to him so well. Or maybe it was because he was so… Well, she didn't quite know how to explain it, the way Giotto made people feel. Safe and warm. That was how she felt when she first met him. Though, it was nice to know that she wasn't the only one who felt that way about her cousin.

She hadn't expected their vigilante group to grow so quickly and become popular with the townspeople. Again, she supposed it was all thanks to Giotto and his social skills. Although she did help him with many things, her main focus was ballet.

Ballet made her happy. She felt free whenever she slipped on her shoes to dance. It allowed her to tell stories and tales that words simply could not express. Giotto understood her passion. It was identical to his dedication for their vigilante group. He told her that she didn't need to participate in their activities, instead, she could help with less menial tasks, like sorting out papers and proposals when she had the time. For the most part, she did, though she quickly found that she despised having to sort through stacks and stacks of papers. She did it anyway.

She wasn't there when it happened, but Giotto had been invited to a formal party by a rather affluent man who was interested in their group. And apparently, at a formal party, it was standard to have a date of the opposite gender.

'I don't want to ask G." He said sheepishly. "It's a bit embarrassing, to be honest."

She rolled her eyes. "A bit, I'm sure." She looked at the invitation on the table. "Maybe if we cover up that tattoo with makeup… And put him in a wig… And a dress…"

"...Mina."

She cracked a lopsided grin. "Yea, yea. I'll go with you." Giotto smiled back. "Actually, maybe you should be the girl instead of G."

"..."

Her laugh echoed through the halls as she left an exasperated Giotto, who again wondered how in the world was she older than him.

"I didn't expect there to be so many people."

Guillelmina tightened her grip on Giotto's arm, unnerved by the sheer amount of people in the room. His other hand gave hers a light squeeze, and she felt a calmness wash over her.

The man who invited them had decked them out in formal outfits after seeing they had none. Giotto was wearing black suit, while she wore a simple royal blue gown. It was nothing too fancy, because Giotto had politely turned down the more expensive ones in favor of the more plain ones. A wise choice on his part, she decided, as she saw noblewomen prance around in heavy dresses.

"Giotto, my friend!" An old man dressed in an ornate suit walked towards them. "I'm glad you made it tonight."

"Likewise. This is quite the impressive party you're hosting."

"Haha! You think so?" He looked at Guillelmina with a kind smile. "And this young lady is?"

"Guillelmina." She curtsied. "I am Giotto's cousin. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"The pleasure is all mine, miss! Now, why don't you two go meet some new people? I'm sure many are interested in your cause."

"Of course." The two bowed as the man left to greet the other guests.

"...So, what now?"

Giotto hummed, scanning over the crowd. "Do as he suggested, I guess."

She raised a brow. "So just go up to a stranger and promote? Like that guy who tried to get us to buy his spoons the other day?" He shrugged. "...Alright then. Let's get this over with."

Giotto led her through the crowd, trying to find someone who seemed approachable. But most were snobby nobles and aristocrats. The arrogance and 'holier-than-thou' aura they exerted didn't sit well with either of them. It was suffocating, really. But Giotto had been adamant about talking to at least some people about their cause. So she was forced to listen to men boast about their wealth and power while Giotto attempted to mention their vigilante group.

A tall black hat stole her attention as it moved through the crowd. Her eyes moved down to see a foreign man dressed in strange clothes. Somehow, he seemed lonely. Her gaze remained on him as she lightly tugged on Giotto's arm. He looked away from the aristocrat, who didn't seem to notice, and followed her gaze, a curious expression on his face.

"...Your accomplishments are very impressive indeed." The man beamed in satisfaction and pride. "I'm sure that you will be very popular with the people. Now, if you may excuse me. There's someone I'd like to greet."

With that, Guillelmina dragged Giotto towards the man, who was standing quietly next to the window. He turned in surprise when he saw them approach, but bowed in greeting anyway.

"Good evening. How may I be of help?" He had an accent, with a strange way of wording things.

"I was hoping to introduce ourselves. I'm Giotto, and this is Guillelmina."

"Ah!" His brown eyes brightened in recognition. "Are you the ones who protect this town?"

Giotto nodded and smiled. "We are a vigilante group. The people are our priority."

"Then it is an honor to meet you, Giotto, and… I apologize. I seem to have forgotten your name."

"No worries." She smiled. "My name is Guillelmina. If it's a mouthful then you can call me Mina."

He nodded. "Mina, then. Please, call me Ugetsu."

"Where are you from?"

"Japan. I am visiting because an old friend invited me to this party."

"You speak Italian so well!" She remarked, impressed by his linguistic skill.

"Thank you," he smiled. "Though I still have much to learn and improve."

This man, Ugetsu, made her feel calm. It wasn't like how Giotto made her feel safe or anything. With him, it just felt calm and peaceful. Almost refreshing. Giotto had taken to him rather well. G. would probably have no problem with him, despite their clashing personalities. She turned to look at the rest of the ballroom. Everyone was socializing and eating and such. She looked back at the two men, a large smile on her face.

"Say, how about we ditch this party and go get some dinner?"

They wouldn't notice a few missing people anyway.

"A name?"

"Mhm." Guillelmina poked at her steak. "Just calling ourselves a vigilante group doesn't really capture people's attention, you know. And it gets annoying repeating that phrase every single time."

"I suppose that's true…Do you have an idea then?"

She gave a scrutinizing look at the bloody meat. "I was hoping you'd have some. Knowing G., he'd probably make up some weird name. Ugetsu would probably make it long and poetic and cheesy."

A waiter came and placed a plate of spaghetti alle vongole in front of Giotto. "That I can imagine."

She pushed the steak away and took a bite of her potatoes. "But knowing you as well, you'd probably make it something extra cringy."

His lips stretched into a lopsided grin. "Is my naming sense that bad?"

Her eyes wandered to his plate, fork reaching over to steal a clam. He moved his plate forward, allowing her to take it easily. "If you had a child, you'd probably name it Pickle or something."

"It's better than 'The Three G's'." Ignoring her offended look, he glanced at his plate, and then at his cousin. "I think I have an idea."

"If it's anything cringy, I'll stab you." She raised her silverware to prove her point.

"How about Vongola?"

She blinked, staring at him, then at the plate of clam pasta, and back at him. He stared back, an amused smile on his face. She sighed in resignation, obviously done with him and his naming sense.

"I feel really, I mean really, bad for your future child."

"But it does have a ring to it, doesn't it? The Vongola Famiglia."

Her lips quirked up despite herself, and she stole another clam from his plate.

A few years had passed since the creation of their famiglia.

The Vongola Famiglia had grown larger than they ever anticipated. Giotto had become their boss, G. was his right hand man, and she was their advisor. Ballet was still her main priority, though. A few more had managed to worm their way into their small circle, including Ugetsu. G. had been skeptical of the Japanese man at first, but had warmed up to him quickly. They often bickered about the most casual things whenever the man visited, though it was mostly on G.'s part.

They had met one of them, Knuckle, while they were visiting the homeless. He had been offering them bread and water, all the while preaching about the lessons of the Lord. The people liked him as well. He was sincere about his teachings, but did not push anyone to convert. When Giotto introduced them, he had lit up in joy, praising the Lord for his goodness. Apparently, he had been aware of their deeds for the people, and was hoping that he'd meet them one day.

He was a former boxing champion who had resigned to serving the Lord due to an accident during a match. A strong and honest man, she had thought. Giotto must have felt the same, having invited him to join their family on the day they met. There was only a few moments of hesitation on his part, though it was quickly relinquished by the end of the day.

The next one was a more interesting case, to say the least. His name was Lampo, the barely teenage son of the lord in charge of the area. They had met when his father invited them to a ball, wanting to meet the man who was for his people. Their first impression of the child was 'spoiled'. The servants were at his beck and call, and he demanded attention from everyone.

A difficult child, but not impossible. It was nothing that a gentle, patient smile from Giotto couldn't fix. A basket of homemade sweets and a conversation over chocolate with Guillelmina later sealed the deal. The lord had been impressed by their ability to tame his child so easily, and was quick to ask for Giotto to take Lampo in after he threw a tantrum the next morning, demanding to see them. It was an easy decision, though G. had his annoyances in dealing with Lampo.

The next was a woman named Elena, the daughter of a duke. Guillelmina had been so ecstatic about a woman finally joining their ranks that she almost cried. She had then proceeded to ignore the males, much to Giotto's offense and Lampo's horror (G. had scoffed at her and looked away -she swore he was pouting; Knuckle had laughed and waved her off; Ugetsu had went back to Japan a week before), and kidnapped Elena for the day.

She had found that they were similar in many ways. For one, they both shared an intense love for apple cinnamon pie. Giotto had always prefered peach cobbler. G. simply didn't like sweets. Ugetsu thought it was too sweet, and prefered traditional Japanese confectionery. Knuckle had a dislike for cinnamon. Lampo was too obsessed with his candy to care about anything else.

It was nice interacting with other girls her age. The only other women she knew were her ballet teacher and the other students, but even then, she barely talked to them outside of lessons.

One day, during one of their outings, Guillelmina noticed something about Elena. She hadn't been acting different or anything. Something was just a little off.

"...Elena, you're acting strange."

The tell-tale flinch and blush on her face confirmed her suspicions. A teasing smile appeared on her lips.

"So~ Who's the lucky man?"

She later met him with Giotto during another party. Daemon Spade was his name. According to Elena, he had shared her ideals and dislike for the corrupt aristocracy, and according to her observations, it was plenty obvious that both were infatuated with each other. They were still strangers, but she had a feeling that they would get along fine.

"Say, Daemon, do you like pie?"

"Pie? I don't dislike it, but I do enjoy an occasional cinnamon cobbler."

Yea, they'd get along just fine.

There had been one more person who had joined their inner circle.

Well, 'joined' wouldn't be the right word to describe their situation. And he was no way as integrated with their family as the others were. The man's name was Alaude, and he was the head of a secret intelligence agency. They had first crossed paths after ruffians had attacked some civilians involved with their family. Towards them, he had been cold and indifferent. But Giotto had told them he wasn't emotionless, because he had seen his expression lighten when he talked to the injured old man. Guillelmina wasn't convinced.

Their second meeting was during a party. She had spotted him standing in the corner, glaring at anyone who tried to approach him. So while Giotto spoke with others, she walked towards him with a glass of cider. Like he did to the others, he shot her an icy glare, daring her to try and talk to him. Unfortunately for Alaude, she considered herself quite the daredevil.

"Aren't you going to talk to the other guests?"

She received no answer.

"...You could at least give me a 'no'."

Again, he didn't answer and instead closed his eyes. At this point, she was questioning why he even bothered showing up at a social event if all he was going to do was stand there.

"...Are you just going to stand there all night?"

The fact that he yawned in response made her want to hurl the glass in her hand at his head. But a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Mina? Oh, is that you, Alaude?"

The blond man cracked open an eye to acknowledge Giotto, which irked her even more.

"Mina, why don't you take a quick breather on the balcony? I have something I'd like to ask Alaude."

A quick breather from him would be lovely. She stormed off to a nearby balcony, huffing at the rude excuse of a man. How Giotto could stand someone like him baffled her to no end. He clearly did not care for others, and only did things for himself. On top of that, he didn't even bat an eye when she attempted to strike a civil conversation.

She could only wonder why Giotto would ask Alaude of-

Oh.

Growling under her breath, she quickly hurried back to where the two stood, only to be met with a smiling Giotto and a scowling Alaude. Her eye twitched in annoyance when she saw the victory behind Giotto's eyes. He held out his arm, which she took begrudgingly.

"You didn't."

"I did."

"How could you?! He- He's so…"

"Infuriating?"

"Yes!"

He chuckled, obviously amused at her vexation. As much as he knew how Guillelmina felt, he also felt a strange connection to Alaude. It was similar to how he felt with the rest of his friends. It was a long shot to invite him to the family. His loyalties lied with no one. Alaude had not readily agreed to join, rather giving him a disgruntled look. It would probably take a while for him to wholeheartedly participate in their activities, but it would be fine. He just hoped that Guillelmina would be able to put up with him for the time being.

Another year had gone and passed since then.

The date was January 1, Giotto's birthday. He had first intended it to be a small thing, maybe a dinner party, and that was it. But unfortunately for him, Guillelmina had other plans.

Her ballet 'career' had been going swimmingly well. Ever since she was a child, her teacher had told her she'd shown much potential in ballet. She was barely eleven when the teacher gave her a pair of pointe shoes and started dancing en pointe. Even the headmistress had shown interest in her prowess, a 'virtuoso', she had called her, which led to the current situation.

Their next ballet performance would be a celebration for the new year. It would also be the premier of the 'Swan Lake' at their theatre. And coincidentally, the headmistress had appointed Guillelmina as a principal dancer. She would be Odette and Odile, She would be lying if she said she didn't burst out in tears when she got home (it was fascinating to see the usually calm Giotto freak out when she couldn't stop crying). It had only been seven years since she started ballet. Seven. She had known a girl who had been dancing for ten, yet had always remained in the corps de ballet.

Giotto had been surprised and reluctant when she told him of the performance. All he wanted was a small dinner together, not a ballet performance. But he inevitably lost and gave in when she frowned and pulled out eight front-row-seat tickets. She had even gotten a ticket for Alaude, much to the man's displeasure. The others' smug faces did nothing to smother his irritance.

So, there they were. Sitting in the front seats of a large ballet house, waiting patiently for the first act to begin. 'Patiently'.

G. was whispering harshly to Ugetsu, who had told him to quiet down. Knuckle was trying to wake a snoring Lampo who had dozed off. Daemon and Elena were immersed in their own little world. Alaude was exerting a dark aura, obviously not pleased to have been dragged into being with them. Giotto could only sigh in relief as they simmered down when the lights dimmed and the curtains drew back.

Orchestral music filled the theatre as dancers appeared on the stage. The resonant chorus of the instruments jolted Lampo awake, who blinked as a jester pirouetted and pranced around. But he dozed off again after remembering that Guillelmina would not appear until the second act. A man dressed in a decorated black top appeared, dancing joyously with his subjects. A regal prince loved by his people.

While Giotto expressed mild interest in the ballet, Ugetsu was enamored by the performance. He had never seen a ballet before. The closest things to ballet his culture had to offer were probably kabuki or Noh Mai. But neither were as expressive and flamboyant as ballet. However, it was the music that captivated him the most. Rather than a single melody, there were countless tunes flowing together to create a magnificent harmony.

Seeing the man's enchanted expression, G. scoffed. Ballet was something that he didn't care for. It was only because of Guillelmina that he knew about it. To him, ballet was dancing in tights and jumping around like frogs. To put it simply, he thought it was plain weird.

The first act soon came to an end as the stage dimmed and the dancers left the stage, leaving the prince for himself. A sweet, yet almost haunting melody began, swans appearing in the backdrop. A man dressed in black with wing like adornments on his arms and a silver helm appeared. The music became almost malevolent, but returned to a light-hearted tune as the prince reappeared with a crossbow in hand.

Knuckle nudged Lampo, who groaned in response. A pinch to the cheek woke him up just in time to witness Guillelmina come forth. 'Pleasantly surprised' described the seven men, six excluding Alaude, who watched with indifference. Elena clasped her hands together and watched on with excitement.

She was dressed in a white ballet dress embellished with silver linings. A white, feathery headpiece adorned her head, and a silver crown laid on top. The usually lively and animated Guillelmina was replaced by an elegant and dignified woman. Her steps were light and refined. Her poise screamed beauty and grace. A stark contrast to the young woman they knew.

Even as more dancers appeared on the stage, they could not take their eyes off of her. Even as she blended in with the other 'swans', they still followed her movements. She had bewitched them all with her melancholic and ethereal dance.

The prince appeared on the stage, and began to accompany Guillelmina in her dancing. Their pas de deux was hauntingly beautiful. Not a single step was missed. They were in harmony.

As the second act came to an end, the curtains began to draw, and the lights slowly flickered on. A short intermission was placed after the second act.

Elena immediately broke out into hushed chattering, ranting on about how beautiful their Guillelmina had looked while dancing. They found themselves unable to disagree. Giotto turned to Alaude, who was tapping his foot in impatience. He was about to tease him, but decided against it when the blond shot him a glare saying, 'If you say a word, I will leave and never come back'. He looked back at the rest of his friends. G. was listening to the others talk with a bored expression. Ugetsu was eagerly talking to Daemon and Elena about the composition of the ballet, with Knuckle giving an occasional input. Lampo looked as if he had dozed off again.

A few moments later, the lights dimmed yet again and the curtains drew back, revealing a castle like set. Dancers dressed in formal costumes and gowns came forth as a lively waltz began to play. It was like those parties and balls that they've been invited to over the years. Animated music and dancing filled the theatre.

Then, once again, Guillemina entered the stage. This time, she was in a dress similar to the one she wore before, only it was in black. Her dancing was not melancholic as it was when she was Odette. Now, she was Odile, the one who would deceive and steal the prince. Her steps were bold, almost flirtatious. The expression on her face was sultry.

Knuckle slightly slapped Lampo's cheek when he saw the drool dripping from his slacked jaw. Elena sighed dreamily, adoring everything about the dance. They all watched on as the performers took turns with their dances. A few danced to a lively Spanish waltz. Ballerinas dressed in gowns danced around the prince, trying to catch his attention. But the prince only paid attention to Odile, just as they only paid attention to Guillelmina.

They watched as she performed her fouettes, the ones that she had always talked (never complained) about. The ones that made her legs burn and ache. But she did them so flawlessly and confidently, head held up with a smile on her face.

Giotto leaned his cheek and his fist, a soft smile on his lips as he watched his cousin. She seemed so happy to be on stage. She shone with a brilliance that could blind. To him, she was beautiful. To him, she was one of, if not the best things that happened to him. He felt undeserving of her. Some days, she'd come tired and ready to crash into bed, but she would still come by his room to make sure he had eaten before going to bed. Other days, she'd come home late and go straight to his room. Then, she would pull a chair close to his desk and plop down with a sigh. She never whined about her sore limbs, but would help him in his work instead. He was not undeserving, no. He was completely unworthy of her. But if he ever voiced his thoughts, she'd just roll her eyes at him and tell him to go take a nap.

The third act came to an end, and the white swans came back onto the stage.

To see her doing what she loved, he wished she would be happy forever. He wished that she would forever remain on the stage. But, he had been told by others the dangers of his ideals. He knew, deep inside, that sooner or later, they would make enemies, and maybe even get involved in less… noble acts. And because Guillelmina was basically one of the founders, there would be no doubt that she would be dragged into the mess. It would be just like how Von Rothbart cursed Odette to a doomed fate. He didn't want that. He knew nobody in their family did. So he did and would do anything in his power to keep her safe. He'd be damned if she ever got hurt on his behalf.

An ending chorus echoed through the theatre as the ballet reached its finale. The prince embraced Odette once more and the swans surrounded them, the evil sorcerer laying dead on the stage. A round of applause filled the theatre as the curtains drew back.

He swore to himself that she would get her happy ending.

"Mina."

The said girl turned around to face them. She was in a coat, having already changed from her costume. Her face was wiped fresh of makeup, and her hair was released from her bun. A large smile appeared on her lips and she walked up to meet them.

"Congratulations," Giotto held up a bouquet of flowers. "You were amazing. Right?" He turned his head to look at the rest of their friends.

"Yes! Your performance was beautiful and enthralling-" Before Ugetsu could finish, Elena took her hands and squealed out.

"You were so incredible up there! It was- You were- I-" She gushed on. "Just wonderful!"

Guillelmina smiled sheepishly at the praise and covered her blushing face with the bouquet. The others continued to compliment her, but she couldn't help but notice the two that didn't.

"So?" G. and Alaude looked at her. "Did you like it?"

The pink haired man scoffed and crossed his arms. "It wasn't bad. I've seen better."

Her lips twitched. "I'm pretty sure this was the only one you've ever seen." She stuck her tongue out. "And why don't you try doing those thirty two fouettes in a row? I'm sure that it'll be so much better than what I did." G. let out a huff and muttered under his breath. She looked at Alaude, who seemed to be itching to leave. "And you?"

She received no reply. Like always. Typical.

Her hand reached for Giotto's arm. "Let's go eat dinner then. It's your birthday after all."

But she was happy anyway.

Guillelmina sneezed. Her hands came up to rub her red nose.

It was late January, but it continued to snow without end. It was freezing at this time of the year, and she couldn't help but envy Ugetsu, who had returned to Japan a week after Giotto's birthday. According to his most recent letter, it had stopped snowing at his home in Japan. He also often talked about how the cherry blossoms started to bud around early spring, and how beautiful the wintry landscape was. Perhaps one day, she'd visit Japan and see the sights for herself. The city they lived in was plain and boring after all.

A shadow blocked her view for a second and she found herself being wrapped up in a large wool scarf. When she turned, Giotto stood behind her, dressed in a long trench coat. Instead of his regular, amiable smile, a frown graced his face. He looked almost disappointed in her as he looked her up and down.

"You know, you were complaining about the cold in the morning, yet you're barely wearing anything to protect yourself from hypothermia."

She looked down at her outfit. A white cravat blouse with a black, tea length skirt, along with a thin jacket. She supposed it was a somewhat inappropriate outfit for such weather. Her eyes looked back up to Giotto. He, on the other hand, was decked in warm clothing. A thick trench coat, wool scarf, and black gloves. Her hands adjusted the warm scarf around her neck, burying her nose into the fabric.

"Then you'll just have to be my personal heater." She pulled him to her, taking off his right glove and grasping his warm hand in her cold one. Giotto flinched at the frigid contact, but didn't pull away. A cheeky smile played on his lips.

"If you keep doing that, people will think we're a couple." She rolled her eyes.

"Gross, like half the town doesn't already know that we're cousins." She squeezed his hand. "And is there a problem with us being together? Do you think I'm too ugly for such a handsome and good-looking man like you?"

Giotto hummed. "Yes, it's quite embarrassing really." He chuckled when she dug her nails into his hand in response. "Actually, I'd consider myself extremely lucky and undeserving if I ever find anyone as beautiful and gorgeous as you."

"I guess you're going to be forever alone then."

"Will you not be by my side forever?"

"That's G.'s job."

"Your rejection pains me deeply, dear Mina. My heart is wounded by your cruel remarks."

"Mhm." She glanced through the windows of the shops on the street. Colorful fabrics and sparkling jewelry were displayed through the glass.

"Anything catch your eye?" Giotto followed her gaze, eyes traveling over the windows.

"Not really. There's nothing really worth buying."

They continued walking down the snow ridden streets, occasionally stopping to greet acquaintances and friends. Giotto suddenly pulled her towards an old shop. It seemed worn down and shabby, but something seemed to have caught his eye when he pulled them inside. The interior of the shop was ancient and smelled of firewood and dust. Guillelmina let go of his hand, her own gingerly grazing the antiques that were lined on the tables and shelves, drawing dust and dirt. From the corner of her vision, she saw Giotto pick something up from the display by the window.

"What did you find?"

"Nothing much. Just a small thing that I saw." He looked around the store and frowned. "Is the shopkeeper not here?" She shrugged.

"Maybe he's in the back somewhere."

She walked towards the rear of the shop and towards a doorway. There were many trinkets and strange things held up by strings hanging down from the frame. She parted the strings with her hands and walked through. The door led to what seemed like an old kitchen. Giotto joined her in the dusty room, looking around with interest. A loud creak caught their attention, and both of them looked towards the stairs on the other side of the room.

An old man emerged from the wooden steps, dressed in strange, tattered robes and ornaments. He didn't seem to notice their presence, as he simply walked past them without sparing a glance (but his eyes were covered in a fabric anyway). It wasn't until Giotto spoke up that he looked their way.

"E-excuse us?" The old man perked up immediately and his head snapped towards them.

"Who are you?"

"W-we saw your shop, and I'd like to buy-"

"No, no, of course I know that! Why else would anyone be in this old shop of mine? I want names!"

Giotto looked a bit perplexed, but told the man anyway. "My name is Giotto, and my cousin is Guillelmina."

The old man hobbled over to them. Somehow it seemed as if he were looking them over. "Ah, yes. Wonderful, wonderful! The Vongola, am I right?"

"How did you-"

"The skies told me! Yes, they told of your arrival!"

Guillelmina blinked. She was definitely... unnerved by the old man. He seemed nice, but too eccentric for her tastes. Giotto really did have a knack for finding strange people. The said man seemed to think the same, as he stuttered over his response, something he rarely did.

"I-I see. T-then, may I ask your name as well?"

The man stopped his parading and looked at him. "Mine? Why, it's Talbot. But nevermind this silly old man! What is it that you would like?"

"Well, I found this on display," Giotto held up his hand to show whatever he held to the man. "And I'd like to purchase it."

Talbot grinned. "Ah, yes, that. Excellent choice! But no worries! Take it! It's been sitting in this shop for years. No reason for it to not have a home."

"But-"

"Take it as a gift of generosity! Surely it will see better days with you than if it stayed here."

Giotto hesitated, but seeing that the man wouldn't give in anytime soon, he nodded. "Then I thank you for the gift."

"But it's a one time thing! Next time you come, it'll be full price! Now, now, off you go! This old man has sheep to feed!"

He ushered them through the doorway and out to the streets. With a jolly wave, he closed the door behind them. Guillelmina blinked.

"Um… "

"That was…"

"...Strange..."

They both stood there for a moment before Giotto stepped back behind her. "Giotto?" She turned around, but his hands prevented her from doing so. A cold chain settled on her neck, sending shivers down her back. She heard a small click and looked down. Around her neck was a simple pendant hung on a thin silver chain. The pendant itself was a silver ring with a small, single gemstone hanging in the middle. She held it up to see it closer, marveling at the simple beauty of the stone.

"It's moonstone. I read about it a few times. It's supposed to protect you."

She looked up. "During pregnancies and childbirth, yea." Giotto blinked. "But it also means unconditional love, peace, and femininity, so I'll let that go. What? I read, too, you know." She let her hand intertwine with his once more. "You spoil me too much." He smiled.

"Anything for you, cousin."

Giotto had recently met a woman named Sepira at a party. She had offered them an alliance between their famiglias, despite them being relatively new and inexperienced. But the woman just smiled and waved them off. She had also given them gifts.

'To commemorate our new friendship.' She had said.

It was a box of eight rings. Seemingly invaluable gemstones in colors of the rainbow were encrusted onto the rings. Giotto had immediately attempted to return them, unable to accept due to the improbable value of the rings. But Sepira had refused and said she would only take them back if she felt that the Vongola were no longer worthy of an alliance. She had also recommended Giotto wear one of them and keep the others away 'until the time is right'.

'The one in the middle belongs to you, and the others,' she glanced at Guillelmina. 'Well, they won't be needed until a bit later.'

They also moved into a new building, kindly given to them by one of their wealthier supporters. It was massive compared to the small house they once used. They were nearly finished with moving and redecorating the building. While it was mostly a place for work. Giotto also made sure that there were bedrooms, a dining room, a small living room, etc. It wasn't as fancy as the mansions of the nobles, but it would do for now.

From their few years of existence, they've also managed to make a few enemies. They weren't big mafia famiglias, no. They were just smaller groups whose business occasionally interfered with theirs. Their 'businesses', were often thwarted, and their connection to the police via Alaude didn't make it easy for them to continue doing whatever illegal acts they did.

Guillelmina ran her hand through her hair, sighing deeply as she walked down the road. They had gotten a lot busier now that they've established themselves as a legitimate group. The stress was there, though no one ever said anything about it. It was expected, thus no one complained, with the exception of Lampo, who was annoyed that he was ignored more than usual. Today was her free day. She had planned to go pay a surprise visit to her mother and grandfather with Giotto and G., but they had some business to attend to, so they decided to go the next day.

The sun had started to go down by the time she headed towards their old home. She quietly hummed to herself as she neared a familiar neighborhood. It was just as she remembered. Children were running here and there with some adults to supervise. There were a few shops around, mostly selling food and cloth. As she walked down the street, she felt something bump into her legs. Looking back, she saw a small boy sitting on the ground rubbing his back. Extending a hand, she smiled.

"Are you okay?" The boy looked up, and then at her hand. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." He took it and she pulled him up. "Where are your parents?" He pointed to a man who was sitting on a crate near the alley, and she walked him back to the man."

"Excuse me," he looked at his child, and back at her. "Please, if you will, keep watch on your child." His eyes narrowed and scoffed, roughly pulling the boy away from her grasp.

"I don't need you to teach me how to look after my kid. Scram."

She frowned, but turned and left anyway. The neighborhood definitely hadn't changed. The people were still rude and unwelcoming. Her eyes caught a basket full of strawberries in one of the shops nearby. Her mother's favorite. Her fingers dug through her pocket, pulling out a bunch of coins. It would be rude to drop by without a present. When she went up to pay, she noticed some peaches. Giotto's favorite.

'He hasn't had any in a while…'

So she left with a basket of strawberries and peaches.

Giotto stretched his limbs, sighing in satisfaction when he heard his joints pop. He had finally gotten around in finishing up the paperwork that the duke had given him after they moved into the new building.

He looked at the clock. 11:26. Guillelmina should have arrived at their old home yesterday evening. He supposed he could go now that he was finished with his work. Standing up, he walked over to his cabinet to grab a few things before leaving to get G. He found him lounging on the couch with a book over his face.

"G." The man shifted slightly, the book slipping down to reveal sleepy eyes. "It's about time we go." G. grunted in response and sat up.

"Did Mina go already?"

"She left yesterday." They started walking to the door. "I was planning to go with her, but I had to finish doing those papers." He would usually never let her go out on her own nowadays, but seeing as they were just going home, he let her go without a problem. Though, he slightly regretted not getting someone to escort her.

The two walked out of the house and into the cold streets. Snow was lightly falling down from the gray skies. Giotto wrapped his coat tighter around him and looked over at G., who was only wearing a thin jacket.

"Aren't you cold?" He received a shrug.

"Not really. It was warm as hell inside, so it doesn't feel that cold out here."

"If you say so."

The two ventured into the streets, walking towards their old neighborhood near the outskirts of the city. Familiar houses and shops came into view, and the two greeted familiar faces of the past. They soon arrived at the house, a bit worn and ancient, but still standing in good shape. Giotto knocked while G. stood to the side. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing a middle aged woman holding a dishcloth.

"Giotto! Dear! It's been so long since I've seen you! Oh? G., honey, is that you? Come in, come in!" She gave them both a hug and ushered them in quickly, bringing them into the warm living room. "Nonno is taking his afternoon nap, but he should be up soon. Would you two like something to eat or drink?"

The two sat down on the sofa, relishing the warmth of the fireplace. "Tea will be fine, thank you, Zia."

"Anything for my dears!" The woman hurried off into the next room. "I still have your favorite, chamomile. It's been sitting in the cabinet for so long now."

Giotto smiled at the his aunt's enthusiasm. He looked around the small room and couldn't help but notice the emptiness. A glance at G. told him he noticed as well. The woman soon came back into the room holding a tea set. The fresh aroma of chamomile filled the room as she poured the tea into cups.

"Here you are, dear."

Giotto took cup with a smile and brought it to his lips. He took a small sip, letting the familiar taste seep into his senses. He only ever had coffee nowadays. It was more effective than tea, but Mina occasionally brewed her favorite for them whenever they were too tired or stressed. Speaking of which.

"Zia, where's Mina?"

The woman paused. "Mina? What do you mean?" His hand stilled. Next to him, he felt G. sit up. "She hasn't visited since last month. I thought she'd be with you. Is she busy?"

The tea cups clattered against the tray as Giotto shot up, G. following right after.

"Zia, please stay inside. Mina… She… Just stay here, we'll be back."

The two rushed out of the house, not even bothering to see her reaction. Giotto's heart was racing, his mind already imagining the worst. Where had she gone? She would have told them if she wanted to go anyway beforehand. What if she was kidnapped? What if she was- No. He wouldn't think of it.

But Guillelmina was not like them. She had little to no experience in fighting. There was no way that she could defend herself if anything happened to her.

"G." His friend turned to him, looking just as frantic. "Go back to headquarters. Tell the others, get people out to search for her. Get Alaude to send out a search party. I don't care how, just find her. "

"But Gio-"

"Now."

The imperative tone in his voice left no room for argument and G. immediately ran back to their building. Giotto's hand clenched, his new ring digging into his skin. A fire burned in his chest, willing to be let ablaze.

He ran. He had no particular destination in mind, but he ran. There was no time to stop and think. She could be anywhere, and if he found her a step too late- No. He would find her. She will be safe.

But even as he tore through streets and alleys, he could find nothing. Nothing. His heart only raced faster and faster as he grew more desperate, nearly demanding the nearby townspeople to tell him if they had seen her, but to no avail. Some had said no, others had shied away nervously at his pressing tone.

He did not notice nor care when the sun slowly descending and the moon rose. The cold night did little to deter his search. He had nearly ransacked the whole area trying to find her. It wasn't until G. and the others found him that he stopped.

"Giotto!" He paused in his running, turning around to see two of his friends running towards him. G. was frowning, but there was an underlying distress that laced his expression. Next to him, Daemon stood, an uneasy look on his usually amiable face.

"G. Daemon." Giotto tightened his jaw, itching to continue looking for Guillelmina. "Have you sent people out?"

"We did." G.'s frown deepened. "But it's nearly midnight now. They've been out for a while and still haven't found her."

"We also managed to convince that Alaude to assist us. Knuckle went out to ask the townspeople if they've seen her, but he came back with nothing."

He turned around. "Then we keep looking." A hand grabbed his wrist before he could leave. He turned to see G. staring at him with a hard look. "G., let go."

"No."

"G."

"Giotto, you've been out here all day long. You need to come home."

"I'm not going home without her."

"Which is why we have people out looking for her right now."

Giotto glared at his friend, something he never did. He shook his hand off. "G. Guillelmina is missing. She could be being sold into slavery right now and this is what you do?! Leave others to search for her?!"

His aggressive voice surprised G. and Daemon. He never snapped at them, ever. Even if they made a mess of things, or ruined some important work.

"I know she's missing! I'm fucking worried like hell, too! But there's nothing else we can do, can we?! You've been out here the whole day, and did you find anything!? No. So cut the damn crap and come home!"

"I refuse to-"

"Fucking idiot."

Giotto suddenly felt a someone behind him, but before he could turn around, something struck the back of his neck. His vision blurred as he fell forward. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes were disapproving faces and black clothes.

The second day passed and no one found her.

When Giotto woke up, he found himself tied to his bed with Knuckle by his side. Despite his command to let him go, Knuckle refused, telling him that he needed to rest and calm down.

G. and Alaude were leading an investigation, while the aristocrats of their group, namely Daemon and Elena, were using their power to look for Guillelmina. A letter had been sent to Ugetsu, though it was uncertain when he'd receive it and come. Despite their efforts, they could not find any leads regarding her kidnapping. Although, according to G., some of the townspeople seemed antsy and nervous when asked about suspicious activity.

The third day passed with one tiny success. They had found a basket of fruits (strawberries and peaches; he refused-) tossed carelessly aside. Its location was where Guillelmina would have passed by, but they failed to find any other leads.

The fourth day arrived, and a child came to them.

He was a young boy, battered and bruised with dirt all over his body. His clothes were ripped and he looked as if he hadn't eaten in ages. When others approached him, he would flinch and hold his arms up. His eyes would flicker up at them fearfully. They didn't approach him any furthur. When asked what he wanted, he replied.

"Papa tol' me to come."

When asked who his father was, he would visibly shudder and lower his head. When asked to come inside, he would shake his head violently and say.

"Gon' yell at me 'gain if I don' go back."

When asked why he had to come, he looked up and said.

"S'a pretty lady at home. Papa tol' me to give 'im this."

He uncurled his small bony fingers and showed them a silver chain. They stopped moving when they saw the familiar necklace in his hands. The boy looked at the sky in worry.

"Papa gon' get mad soon. Bet'r hurry. I dun' want the pretty lady t'get hurt no more."

Giotto grasped the boy's shoulders, making him yelp in shock. G. and the others behind him stood up in alarm.

"Where did you get that necklace!? Where?!"

"Giotto! What the hell are you doing!? You're hurting the poor boy!"

G. and Knuckle hurried over to pry Giotto away from the shuddering boy who looked close to tears. Knuckle held the boy close while G. had to physically restrain Giotto from doing anything rash.

"I did'n do nothin'! I swear! Papa tol' me to give'm here!"

Knuckle turned the boy to face him, smiling gently. "Who's your father, little one? Where did he get the necklace?"

"I-I don' know! 'E came home with'a pretty lady an' hurts her e'ry day-"

Giotto seethed. The once calm and collected young man had been overcome by anger. None of the occupants of the room noticed, but the strange ring on his finger had begun to dimly glow. The owner of said ring was too focused on the situation to feel the warmth radiating from the ring.

"Where are they?"

Her body ached against the cold stone floor.

Tight ropes chafed her wrists and feet. A blindfold obstructed her vision and a piece of cloth was stuffed into her mouth.

She did not know how long it had been since she was taken- she had lost track of time after a while. She barely even remembered how it happened. But during the short time she had been here, damage had already been done. Whoever it was that took her, they were not hesitant to hurt people. The injuries on her body said plenty. As she lay on the floor, she prayed silently for someone to come.

Giotto, where was Giotto?

Surely, he would've noticed that she wasn't home by now, right? Was he worried about her? Was he coming to bring her home? What about the others? Were they worried about her as well?

A loud bang caught her attention and she stiffened. She heard the loud creak of a door opening and a small breeze of air flow in. Her body trembled slightly as footsteps approached her. Was it time again? It seemed as if only a few hours had passed though. Her question was answered when she was roughly kicked in the stomach and into the wall behind her. A hand grasped her hair and pulled her head up with force, not caring the slightest when she whimpered in pain.

"Don' seem like he's comin' for ya', eh?"

The man slapped her already bruised cheek. She let out a small muffled cry in response. Suddenly, the cloth in her mouth was pulled out and calloused hands grasped her face.

"Them filthy pesks think 'ey can jus' go around doin' whatever. Fuckin' bitches. Ya' oughta teach'em a lesson."

She unconsciously licked her cracked lips, letting out a croaky cough. The man let go of her hair and dropped her back down. She heard more footsteps moving towards her. Although she wanted to scream out for help, she could barely hold herself up, let alone talk. All that came out of her mouth were harsh breaths.

She was suddenly doused in icy water, causing her to flinch hard and curl up. Her teeth chattered as the water soaked through her clothes. The place she was in was already cold enough, the water only made it worse. A hoarse cough left her mouth when someone stepped on her torso, putting pressure on recent bruises and wounds.

"Sent 'em that necklace of yours. But if 'ey don' come, well." Someone's hand wrapped around her neck. "Ya' know what's gon' happen."

Did she? They could do many things. Use her, sell her, kill her. If no one did come, she'd prefer the third option though.

"Say, ya' dance don' ya?"

She instinctively brought her legs closer to herself and away from the man. Her body was still trembling, but with more fear than from the cold. Her mind went blank when she felt fingers dig into her calf.

"Be a shame if ya' can't no more."

There was nothing else she could feel at that moment... but she supposed it would be nice if she could see her family for one last time.

"...Mina?"