"I-it's you! The man in the suit!" Tsuna gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Still thick as ever, Sawada." Lal Mirch smirked. "LAL? From the future? And all of you are...So THIS is what you all looked like before the curse?" "He finally got it." Fon said, amused. That means..." Tsuna slowly turned his head in disbelief. "REBORN?"

"Yep."

"Wh-WHAAATT? Reborn! You were that guy?" Tsuna exclaimed. "His stupidity amazes me sometimes." Lal commented, putting a hand on her forehead in exasperation. "How dare you insult the 10th! He was the one who thought of the flame transfusion idea!" Gokudera growled weakly from his position on the floor, who had somehow had enough energy to defend Tsuna.

"Indeed." Everyone turned to the impassive Checkerface, looks changing into loathing which were apparent on the Arcobaleno's faces. "Stay back, Uni." Reborn said quietly. "O-ok uncle."

"I must admit, I'm amazed. You've actually discovered a way to extend the Arcobaleno's lives and physically cure them of the curse. Not even the geniuses of every single era I've been in realised." Suddenly Checkerface's voice hardened. "I suppose now I have no choice but to kill you all."

"I'm afraid I can't let that happen." Reborn answered. "Tsuna." "Y-yeah?" "When I first got cursed..I didn't know what to do. I thought of every possibility, considered every solution. One day I came to accept it, but I never really did. It was wrong of me to tutor you to help others when I couldn't even help myself." The room grew silent, as Reborn had never admitted to being wrong before. "Nothing is impossible if you do it with your dying will. You taught me the meaning of those words again."

"When the time comes to protect those who are truly important to you, you will have a power that fears nothing, not even a curse."

Even if I was the one who said those words, never did I think I would be saved. I was always under the pathetic notion that I never needed to be saved, that I could do everything myself..

I always knew that Tsuna would go to all lengths for the people that were precious to him. But I never knew I was one of them.

"I couldn't say this before, but.."

The shadow that normally covered his eyes lifted.

"Thank you, Dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna's eyes widened. "...Reborn...

Oi wait why are you still calling me that?" (such a mood killer he is XD)

"Let's go, you guys. Let's show the man with the Iron hat that he's picked the wrong generation to make into his human sacrifices." Reborn remarked, loading his gun. The Arcobaleno smiled. "Right!"

"Viper Mirage R!" Mammon unleashed his strongest illusions, the uroboros aided with Verde's flame and equipment. "Bakuryuu enbu!" Fon shouted. The sleek yet monstrous dragon engulfed the room, and roared. The room shook, and threatened to collapse. Checkerface remained calm, and the curve of his mouth indicated he was slightly entertained. Mammon frowned, surely he had been paralyzed by his illusion? He shook it off.

The uroboros sped to Checkerface, and the spot where he stood exploded violently. "Fon!" he yelled. "On it!" The dragon lunged at the throne were the enemy stood through the smoke violently. Suddenly the smoke retracted, dragging in Fon and Mammon's illusions with it.

"Foolish..." Checkerface emerged from the smoke unharmed, brandishing his staff. "Those low level attacks won't work on me." He swung it and a ball of light shone from the top of his staff, and their attacks came hurtling back.

"Get out of the way!" Fon gasped. Uni, (who had been tending to everyone's wounds) quickly summoned her sky flame, forming a barrier which deflected the attack which rebounded into the never ending darkness of the cavern.

"Tch."

Lal's centipede spiralled around the man bearing the iron hat, gripping him firmly in place. "!" Skull kicked away Checkerface's staff from his hand.

Colonello readied the sniper and powerful shots were fired rapidly at Checkerface. "Chaos shot!" Reborn's flame covered bullets headed directly to the mastermind's vital parts.

A grin formed on the usually inscrutable face. His checkered gloves flew off to reveal his hands that were coated with an inky black flame. The flame of night! Reborn recognized instantly. To their horror, Checkface caught every single bullet fired in his hand, which promptly incinerated. "Everything you do is futile, Arcobaleno." "Ugh!" "Gahh!" Lal Mirch and Skull both collapsed to the ground. "You did put up a good show, it was most entertaining. But to oppose me? Your future will be nothing but darkness..!" The black flame manifested around him and engulfed the cavern. The Arcobaleno fell to their knees as unbearable pain spread through their bodies. Old and forgotten memories resurfaced and stabbed at their hearts. The unconscious convulsed in pain as Uni's warm protection barrier shattered.

"Stop..!" Tsuna said weakly and staggered to his feet. "Tsu...na...don't.." Reborn grounded out. He ignored him and ignited what was left of his over exhausted flame. A small flame flickered gently...

FWOOSH!

His flame exploded, the cavern lit up as if there was a million suns within it; The flames began to materialize. A cloak brimmed with flames flapped within.

"Ah!" A cry from Uni. Flames began to erupt from her sky pacifier, blinding and also began to solidify into a figure. A woman wearing the Giglio Nero uniform appeared from the spiralling flames. "M-mother?" no... "Grandmother?" that wasn't her either. "...Sepira?"

"You!" Checkerface's expression changed instantly. "What are you both doing here?" The caped blonde eyed him with disdain. "We're here..." He clenched his gloved fist, igniting it. "To end you."

Hey everyone, hope you all enjoyed it!

I've been reaaalllyyy reeeaallly lazy recently eheh ^^" sorry about that!

Can't really think of anything, the manga is being really secretive and it's getting hard to predict.. Well anyway see you at the next chap ;)

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