Sardinia, Italy. April 9th, 2001.
"Indeed, the enemy was already there! But I killed them, it's all good! I got them! Aerosmith screwed them up!
- Good job Nara", (Y/N) congratulated him.
Narancia gave her a huge smile, proud of his shot. At the very place of their investigation, he had just succeeded in getting rid of the enemy before they were attacked.
"Great, I'll see who it was.
- Wait, Abbacchio", Bucciarati stopped him. "We don't know how many are our pursuers. For now, I want you to replay this photo to find out who took it fifteen years ago. Better not linger here.
- I assure you that the enemy was alone up there!" Narancia exclaimed.
"So I'll go, I'm going to see", (Y/N) announced.
(Y/N) took out her Stand as protection. Just in case. She heard Bucciarati ask,
"Narancia, are they really dead?
- No, but they're not far. Their breathing is jerky and they're staying still.
- Good. In this case, (Y/N), wait for us! Narancia and I are coming with you to check!"
But (Y/N) was already going down the trail to the bottom of the cliff. Bucciarati sighed.
"Abbacchio. Start the replay with Moody Blues. We will be back.
- Understood."
For her part, scythe in hand, (Y/N) was advancing cautiously, ready to face the enemy on the ground. But she would never need it. There was a jingle of bells that she recognized immediately. And her heart stopped. Impossible. It couldn't be...
"Ris'... Risotto!!"
Her scythe disappeared and she began to run to throw herself on her knees beside the man lying in a pool of blood. She didn't even pay attention to the pain caused by her legs scraping violently on the ground. Her heart was racing.
"Risotto! Risotto, open your eyes!"
He was barely breathing, riddled with Aerosmith's bullets, one hand and one foot detached from his body. His face was completely disfigured. But when he heard the young woman's voice, he opened his eyes weakly. (Y/N) was holding her breath. And when she saw a faint red glow in his dark eyes, she screamed,
"GIORNO!! GIORNO, MOVE!!
- ... the Boss...
- Save your breath Ris', you have to hang on until Giorno arrives."
Risotto closed his eyes against his will, exhausted. He was fighting inside to stay conscious. She slowly ran her fingers over his forehead to move a strand of white hair, her throat knotted. Why did fate have to go so hard?
"Don't go, I beg you..."
But Risotto didn't answer. He showed no reaction. Then the young woman's heart accelerated a little more and tears welled up in her eyes. Not him. Not him too.
"...please...I...I don't even know your real name..."
Risotto still didn't answer. (Y/N)'s heart began to crumble in her chest. She couldn't let such a tragedy happen again. Slowly she leaned down to kiss him. But before his lips could touch hers, he whispered in a weak voice, drawing on his last strength.
"... Mercurio."
(Y/N) eyes widened. With a trembling hand, she intertwined her fingers with his, covered in blood. And finally, like an angel fallen from heaven, Giorno arrived, accompanied by Narancia and Bucciarati. Seeing the young woman on her knees, he immediately understood. He didn't ask any questions, he just brought out Gold Experience. The Stand lit up and (Y/N) held her breath. Bucciarati muttered,
"Risotto Nero, hm?"
(Y/N) raised her tearful eyes to him. And she nodded slowly. With a knot in his throat, Bucciarati continued:
"...this man has just been exterminated by someone overflowing with confidence.
- Eh?" Narancia said. What are you saying? Aerosmith is the one that cr-
- Wrong. Someone used you. There was another person. Look at his right foot. If Aerosmith had done that, we would see burns. But there aren't any at this end-
- Shut up..." (Y/N) groaned.
She glared at him. He fell silent immediately, realizing that she surely needed time and quiet to recover from her emotions, and that was clearly not all that she wanted to hear. But Narancia exclaimed,
"But I assure you there was only one person on my radar!"
(Y/N) wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Giorno gave her a look, and he nodded. So she got up, slowly. And she turned to face the boys, looking gloomy.
"The asshole who did this can't be far away. I know Risotto, his opponent must be seriously injured.
- Well, let's track our prey", Bucciarati concluded. "Narancia, do not neglect any breathing, even the small animals'. The other is around. They're obviously very dangerous for us."
Narancia obeyed immediately. And while he was trying somehow to find the enemy among all the breathing creatures around, Giorno stood up, thus attracting (Y/N)'s attention.
"He will survive. I patched all the holes from Aerosmith. I also reattached his foot and hand. But he's going to need a lot of res-"
(Y/N) had just hugged him, moved. She was holding herself back from crying. Instead, she simply whispered,
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Giorno..."
The teen smiled slightly. He hugged the young woman and closed his eyes, as if appeased by the affection that didn't last long enough for his taste. Because (Y/N) had already let go to hoist Risotto on her back with great difficulty. Then she turned to Bucciarati.
"I can put him in the turtle, can't I?"
Bucciarati nodded, and she didn't hesitate for a second to climb into the turtle. Inside, Mista and Trish gave her panicked looks.
"Who is it?!
- Everything is fine??"
But she didn't answer them, she simply laid Risotto down on one of the sofas. And as she was about to get out of the turtle to help others, she felt his hand cling to her wrist. So she crouched down beside him, a faint smile on her face. She ran her fingers through his white hair, her throat tight with emotion.
"... I have to go back, Ris'...It's alright, you're out of danger. Rest, you need it.
- (Y/N)..."
Her heart stopped and she felt her cheeks suddenly boil. It was the first time he had called her that. And hearing her own name roll off his tongue like that gave her shivers. She bit her lip, before whispering.
"... Mercurio?"
Silence. He too seemed to want to take a break to properly record the delicate voice of the one he liked to pronounce his first name. Then he cleared his throat to refocus.
"... I saw the Boss."
Any smile quickly disappeared from the young woman's lips to be replaced by an expression of surprise.
"The boss? Did you fight him?"
He nodded slowly, before muttering hoarsely,
"... hurry up, you're in danger.."
She blinked several times, trying to figure out what he meant by that. The enemy was hurt, right? They had nothing to fear-... Her (E/C) gaze scanned the room. Mista. Trish. Outside? Giorno. Bucciarati. Narancia. One was missing. She jumped out of the turtle without waiting a single second. And she began to run from where she had come, up the path in the cliff, ignoring Bucciarati who was calling her. She tried to breathe as she ran, but her panicked heart was holding her back and she gasped for air.
"ABBACCHIO!! ABBACCHIO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"
She was screaming, still far from where her lover was, just hoping he could hear her. But the only response she got was happy children cheering.
"Thank you sir!
- So cool!
- Have a good day!"
Out of breath, (Y/N) finally covered the few meters that separated her from the meeting place. She passed the children, who were proudly wearing big smiles. They parted ways, and she reached the end of the path. But there... She wanted to scream. Except that Abbacchio did it for her. Because a fist pierced his chest in an effusion of blood. (Y/N) attempted to stop time, so at least she could attack the enemy, a boy with pink hair, but there was a time jump before she could do anything. And Abbacchio was falling backwards. She didn't let herself be overwhelmed by the shock and started to run as fast as her legs could.
"Leone!!"
Leone looked at her, his teeth clenched, his brow furrowed in pain and rage. His mauve-tinted lips only had time to utter a single word, as his features softened at the sight of her.
"Amore..."
And his eyes lost their color. Even as he was making every effort in the world to stay seated, his strength left him and his head sank. (Y/N) scraped her knees again, throwing herself at his side. She put both hands on his shoulders to shake him slightly, completely panicked.
"Leone!! Leone, look at me!!"
But Leone stared blankly. She had to face the truth, his life had already left him. But (Y/N) shook him a little more, unable to accept that such a thing could happen so quickly. Not yet. With a trembling voice, she continued:
"Leone, it's not funny!!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her bottom lip quivered. And she screamed for the second time that day:
"GIORNO!! GIORNO, THIS WAY!!"
But Giorno did not arrive. Not immediately. Not in time, anyway. Taken by violent sobs, (Y/N) sat down beside Abbacchio. She put an arm around his waist to bring him closer to her and the young man's head rested on her shoulder. She had to cover her mouth with her free hand to keep from screaming out in pain. She forced his eyelids closed so he wouldn't have to stare into space. And then she laid him down, being very careful, gently resting his head on her lap. The rest of the group took several long seconds before arriving. It seemed like an eternity to her. And when they finally appeared, (Y/N) was staring into space, her hands mechanically stroking Abbacchio's long gray hair as his blood drained onto her clothes. Her companions stopped, the shock too great to speak. (Y/N) slowly looked up at them helplessly. And Narancia was the first to break the silence, running alongside (Y/N) to check on Abbacchio's condition.
"I don't believe it... H-He... Why? It's not true, huh? Heal him Giorno!! Fucking hurry up!! I-I... I'm going to destroy the jerk that did this!"
Giorno gloomily mumbled between his teeth.
"... he is dead. He was killed quickly, and very closely. It's too late..."
He knelt beside the young woman, approaching a trembling hand to the gaping wound in their companion's body. But he changed his mind, his fists clenched, in a cold sweat.
"... we are too late."
There was a heavy silence. Which Bucciarati broke, in a deceptively calm and composed voice, ordering, without looking at anyone.
"Mista. Keep Trish in the turtle. She will surely be the next target. We have to leave as soon as possible... I'm the only one responsible. You won't find anything about the Boss here.
- What are you talking about?" Narancia asked, forcing a playful tone. "Abbacchio will wake up soon! It's just a bit long. Give him time! Right Giorno? It's not the first time!"
It was as if thousands of small needles pierced (Y/N)'s heart. Because at exactly the same age as Narancia, she had displayed the same denial about a loved one's death. Her eyes filled with tears again and she looked down at Abbacchio's peaceful face so she wouldn't have to look at anyone.
"Come on!
- Narancia!" Bucciarati barked. "It's dangerous here! Get Aerosmith out and watch the surroundings.
- Is this a joke, Bucciarati?" Narancia asked in a desperate voice, forcing a smile on his lips. "You're saying nonsense!!" he growled suddenly. "If the enemy comes, I will fight! If they're close, we have to kill them! Right? Mista! Giorno!... (Y/N)?"
Nobody dared to answer him. No one dared look at him. And Narancia felt extremely alone. He clung to Mista's shoulders, hoping for an answer.
"Tell him Mista!
- ... we have to leave, Narancia", Giorno finally announced in a deep voice. "Bucciarati is right.
- W-What? Are you serious?! Giorno!! Since when are you a jerk?!"
Narancia grabbed Giorno by the collar, shaking him around trying to bring him to his senses. But he was surely the more reasonable of the two.
"Revive him!! Put your fucking mind on it!!"
He was about to punch him in the face but Mista grabbed him under the arms to force him back and stop him.
"That's enough Narancia!!"
But Narancia struggled, screaming with all his might. Until (Y/N) finally deigned to look up at him and meet his gaze. A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds to illuminate her face and Abbacchio's body, which she was still holding in her arms. Narancia's eyes filled with tears. And (Y/N) understood immediately that it was no longer Abbacchio who needed her.
"A-Abbacchio..." Narancia whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek.
Sternly, Bucciarati turned on his heels so as not to look back. Bruised, Narancia screamed at him, suddenly sobbing.
"We're not going to leave him here, Bucciarati, are we?! We can't leave him alone!! I don't want him to be abandoned!!
- It's an order, Narancia!! Abbacchio knew the risks coming here!!... We're leaving.
- Wait, Bucciarati!!"
Trying to follow him, Narancia stumbled and fell face down. He didn't get up. Caught in violent sobs, he hit the ground with his fist. Bucciarati was still not looking at anyone, he continued to walk away, Mista following him. Giorno put a hand on (Y/N)'s shoulder, his jaw clenched.
"... we must go.
- ... I know."
Narancia uttered a heartbreaking cry and (Y/N) had to quickly swallow back her tears. Giorno whispered to her, hoping to bring her some faint consolation.
"... I'll care of it.
- ... thank you."
One last time, she leaned down to place a delicate kiss on Abbacchio's forehead, who was smiling in death. Her heart sank. And she finally made up her mind to leave him behind. Her legs were shaking as she pulled away from his body, but she pretended to be able to keep her composure. She crouched down as she reached Narancia's level to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, Nara...
- It's not fair!!" the teenager screamed through his tears.
"I know how you feel, caro... But we really have to move forward..."
Narancia didn't answer, and his crying remained incessant. So she grabbed him under the arms to lift him up and force him to get up. He let himself be pushed around, his legs shaking. And then he suddenly clung to her to cry all the tears of his body against her chest. Without another word, she wrapped him in a motherly embrace and gently rubbed his back to bring him little comfort. But that was all she could do. She didn't have the heart to speak. Suddenly Giorno exclaimed:
"Bucciarati, one moment! He's got something, that's got to be a clue."
Bucciarati stopped, Mista did the same. And all together, they watched Giorno transform the small rock that Abbacchio held in his hand into a ladybird that flew away to find its way back to a stone stele. Mista exclaimed,
"Hey look! It looks like Abbacchio had finished his replay!"
A glimmer of hope was born again in all the companions' eyes who examined the death mask left by Moody Blues with its last energy.
"This is the last message left by Abbacchio," Bucciarati announced in a deep voice. "The Boss' face.
There was a minute of silence without anyone daring to speak. The death mask was photographed, and they all resumed their journey without a sound. (Y/N) brought up the rear with a heavy heart. She turned one last time to cast a glance at the one whose only thing he had wanted to do before his death was to confess his love to her. Ironic, for two souls who had always claimed to hate each other. But there was no more body. There was only a carpet of dandelions illuminated by the rays of the sun. And seated in this very precise spot, his translucent fingers caressing the little yellow flowers, Abbacchio was admiring the sea to forget that he was no more. A smile on his lips.