act21side

<i>That's</i> what shows you still true to your nature.

But all you wolves, don't you get bored playin' a dumbass game like this for thousands of years?

You oughta come to Lungmen. I'll teach ya to play poker.

Or mahjong. Mahjong ain't bad.

Zaaro ignores Emperor's jabs.

He takes one last, long look at Leontuzzo, then his silhouette becomes less and less distinct, until he fades away completely in the wind.

It is as though he never existed.

Thanks, Boss.

Don't thank me.

Someone woulda done somethin', even if it wasn't me.

She just delegated the job. Didn't ya, sexy?

It's been a long time since anyone called me 'sexy.'

You're welcome to spend some time enjoying Siracusa, if you like.

Just call me Emperor.

Interesting name. You're not arrogant or ignorant, like the Signori dei Lupi, Siracusa welcomes you, Emperor.

I think Siracusa's gonna like me.

Signora Sicilia!

The games of the Signori dei Lupi are archaic and stupid.

Leontuzzo, son of Bernardo.

Rest assured, he'll never trouble you again.

Leontuzzo cannot move an inch.

He realizes that everything ended the moment the old woman appeared.

Not just the game of the Signori dei Lupi, but their resistance as well.

The old woman before him looks kind and cordial, but he knows that he will die in the most painful way possible, if he makes one wrong move.

He also knows, however, that to back down now is to see all his effort, all that he believes in, fade into dream.

He looks over at Lavinia and sees the same thought in her eyes.

Pardon me, Signora Sicilia. I didn't expect to have the honor of your presence in this way.

You may already know what happened. You may already have made your decision.

But I hope you'll give me and Lavinia a chance.

A chance. What kind of chance?

A chance to talk.

Even if we're doomed to die, I hope you'll grant us an audience before that happens.

Ah.

Agenir always says I should listen to the youths more.

I think he overestimates his age.

Come with me, children. You have earned the chance.

May I have a moment first?

Hm?

I would like to take one last look at Bernardo.

Alright.

Exusiai! Texas!

You okay?!

We're fine.

...Yeah.

What are you doing here?

I was too worried. Giovanna's stable now, so I brought Croissant.

Looks like everything's more-or-less hunky-dory over here, though?

I guess so.

Whew... it still feels like something's missing, but I guess we can throw our party now?

Yeah.

You guys decide what kind of party you want.

Where are you going, Texas?

Toilet.

Toilet isn't that way.

I know.

Feel a weight off your shoulders? Like you just got over a hill?

There's still big trouble waiting, right there.

Ha. Shall we go?

We'll go.

By the way, Texas.

I got a letter from Signora Sicilia before you went back to Siracusa.

Cool.

Guess what it said?

No thanks.

Oh, you're no fun. Signora Sicilia invited me to join the Bocca al Lupo.

Bocca al Lupo...

Basically, become one of her wolves.

So I burned the letter.

I figured I was gonna get some Siracusans giving me trouble for a while.

Then you went back to Siracusa, all of a sudden.

Do you have any idea how surprised I was when I realized you were gone?

*sigh*...

So you've made up your mind?

Yes.

I'll stay and help Lavinia and Leontuzzo.

What about you?

I've made up my mind too.

I heard you made a hell of a scene with your own famiglia.

I just went to say goodbye to my father.

Texas... Do you really not get what I see in you?

Sometimes I think I do.

Sometimes I think I don't.

All I know is that you seem to have gotten over something.

Oh? Are you showing concern for me?

I just think you're kind of annoying.

The pair were walking side-by-side, but now they head to opposite ends of the clearing, as if by some silent agreement.

At the end of the day, we have to do this.

I guess so.

Do you remember?

Seven years ago, you came to me, in front of the burning mansion, looking to get away from it all.

I got hell for it that day.

Seven years later, you came to me again, in a rainy park, to issue a silly challenge to Siracusa.

I'll kill you today.

That's my line.

The sound of weapons clashing fills the park.

No tricks, no fooling around. Every attack is intended to kill.

You could call me your past, Texas.

I believed that no one could escape this swamp.

You escaped your past, once, and made up your mind to cut all ties with it, after returning to Siracusa.

You proved to everyone that you had what it took to escape the swamp.