SailorStar9: This is Chapter 3 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, will it kill you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the pairings.

Chapter 3: The Ring Conflict, Part Two


On the night of the Cloud Ring battle...

It couldn't be! Ami's eyes widened when Iemitsu sent the blueprints of the Gola Mosca and the flight schedule of the 9th''s private jet over to her after he and his team had infiltrated the Italy home base. If this is true, then... grandfather! Not bothering to keep the blueprints, she dialed a number. "Dino." she voiced.

"Astraea-sama..." Dino was surprised to hear her frantic tone.

"Listen," Ami cut him short. "Can you take me to Namimori Middle School?"

"But, the Cloud Ring battle..." Dino trailed.

"That's precisely the reason I have to go there," Ami insisted. "The information Iemitsu just sent over confirmed my suspicions. Grandfather isn't in Italy."

"The 9th isn't in Italy?" Dino echoed. "Then where..."

"He's in Japan." Ami replied. "There isn't a moment to lose. We have to stop the Cloud Ring battle right now!"


In Namimori Middle School...

Tsuna blocked off Gola Mosca's charge with one hand and powered up his flame.

"Stop this battle at once!" Ami ordered, arriving at the battered battlefield.

"Lady Astraea..." Tsuna had chopped the front of the metal casting apart. "But why?"

"Grandfather is inside the Mosca!" Ami shouted.

"Grandfather?" Tsuna echoed when the bound and gagged 9th dropped to the ground.

"A person came out of that thing." Gokudera exclaimed.

"This man..." Tsuna stammered, powering down. "The 9th..."

"GRANDFATHER!" Ami cried, rushing over.

"Why?" Basil was stunned. "Why is he here?"

"What in the world is going on?" Tsuna knelt by the grandfather-granddaughter pair. "Why was he inside the Mosca?"

"Hey!" Reborn jumped in. "Get a hold of yourself. I've seen Mosca's structure before." he looked at the broke cockpit. "It seems like the 9th was being used as Gola Mosca's power supply."

"Huh?" Tsuna echoed. "Power supply? Why?"

"This is no time to be asking 'why'." Xanxus taunted. "You attacked the 9th."

"I did?" Tsuna was stunned.

"This isn't good." Reborn removed the leg bindings. "This wound can't be dealt with using first aid."

"That's..." Tsuna was shell-shocked.

"Who mercilessly punched that old man?" Xanxus continued. "Who scorched Mosca into two, along with the old man."

"No..." Timoteo voiced., his hand reaching out.

"Grandfather..." Ami whispered.

"It was my fault." Timoteo muttered. "We're finally able to meet, Tsunayoshi. Ami," he looked at his granddaughter. "You've grown. I'm sorry, the two of you. All of this happened because of my weakness. My weakness woke Xanxus from his long slumber."

"Slumber?" Reborn echoed. "What do you mean? After Xanxus left the 'crib', he left the Family and should be placed under heavy surveillance by Vongola."

"'Crib'?"" Tsuna echoed.

"The greatest coup d'etat attempt in Vongola history occurred eight years ago." Reborn supplied. "The dreadful facts that the 9th's son was responsible and his granddaughter was forced into hiding were kept secret. Only the tops of Vongola and the elite who fought in that battle knew about it."

"For Xanxus, time has stood still for eight years." Timoteo added. "He's been asleep ever since that time, inflating his dreadful amount of hate and tenacity."

"What do you..." Tsuna stammered. "What in the world..."

"Tsunayoshi, I constantly hear about you from Reborn." Timoteo continued. "About the girl you like, about your school, about your friends. You are a child with a heart too ill-matched to that of a Mafia Boss. I know that you never once fought happily. You always have a wrinkle on your forehead and you swing your fists as if to pray. That's why I chose you as Vongola the 10th."

Didn't he choose Xanxus? Tsuna was stunned. A Dying Will Flame? He blinked when Timoteo ignited his Flame with his finger and pressing the finger on Tsuna's forehead. It's so warm and familiar. I...he realized he had met Timoteo when he was still a child. I know this person. The Flame is getting smaller.

"I'm sorry." Timoteo muttered. "But I'm glad it's you."

"Wait!" Tsuna took his hand. "No."

"Grandfather!" Ami cried.

"How dare you kill the 9th." Xanxus accused. "I take your cruel treatment of the 9th as a challenge to this true son, Xanxus, and the honorable spirit of Vongola. Don't feign ignorance. The burns on the 9th's chest are more than enough proof. The Ring Conflict is nothing compared to what you've done. This is for the sake of my father, who was the Boss, and for the future of Vongola. I will defeat you and avenge him."

"What are you saying?" Gokudera demanded. "You captured the 9th!"

"So, this is what you were after." Ami realized. "Even if he won the Ring Conflict and become the Boss-in-waiting, the ones who know about the 'crib' would object to his appointment and resist him, especially since I'd returned. But he avenges the 9th after framing Tsuna, it would be different. He would gain the absolute trust of many in the Family. And if he's stronger than Tsuna who was meant to be the 10th, he could prove that he is the true successor. If that were to happen, it wouldn't be an issue to deal with those who oppose him."

"Then, Xanxus did this to become the Boss and create a dictatorship." Basil concluded.

"Yeah." Ami agreed. "This was a trap. Were Mosca was to go out of control and put Tsuna's friends in danger, he predicted that Tsuna would come to rescue them."

"That..." Tsuna muttered. "Just for that..."

"Everyone, please refrain from conjecture." the Cervello warned. "We are officially recording all statements."

"They're..." Yamamoto growled.

"I knew it." Gokudera hissed. "Cervello has always been on Xanxus' side."

"Do as you wish." Ami declared.

"We've already snapped." Reborn finished. "But I will keep my promise to the 9th and won't raise a hand. Not in my student's fight. However, even as I say that, I don't know what my student' who doesn't like fighting, will do."

"Nii-sama, you are no longer important." Ami materialized her Command Staff as she stood up. "I am reclaiming my birthright." her Holy Aura ablaze.

"Xanxus," Tsuna added. "I'll be taking that Ring back." "I won't let you succeed the 9th."

"Well said, Astraea-sama, Tsuna." Reborn nodded.

"I'll carve you into the history of Vongola." Xanxus snorted. "Shouting that there was a pathetic wimp who revolted against Xanxus."

"They're not alone!" Gokudera declared, dynamites in hand. "Astraea-sama and the 10th's wills..."

"Are our wills." Yamamoto finished, Chrome and Ryohei stood ready to fight.

"Personally." Hibari flashed his toufa.

"You brats want a fight?" Levi growled.

"Sounds fun." Belphegor grinned.

"Eradicate the traitors." Xanxus ordered.

"Please wait a moment." the Cervello put a stop to the pending fight. "The fight to avenge the 9th will be controlled by us. We have a duty to watch over the Vongola Rings."

"What are you saying, dogs of Xanxus?" Gokudera demanded.

"Watch your mouth." the Cervello warned. "We have the 9th's direct order. We cannot allow the Rings to change hands without our approval."

"How dare you!" Basil barked. "You must have forced the 9th to make that Dying Will Flame Seal."

"As we said earlier, please refrain from conjecture." the Cervello cautioned. "This battle, which will determine the next Vongola Boss, shall be called the Sky Match. In other words, it will be the final battle of the Ring Conflict that we've held. How does that suit you, Xanxus-sama?"

"It's not bad." Xanxus grinned.

"Then, tomorrow night," the Cervello declared. "Would everyone please gather at Namimori Middle."

"So you've given them a stay of execution." Belphegor was confident of Xanxus' victory.

"This is good news." Reborn remarked. "Tsuna was exhausted from his training today."

"Tomorrow is going to be this comedy's last act." Xanxus snorted. "Struggle with all your might." he tossed the Half Sky Vongola Ring to Tsuna. Erupting in a ball of Flames, he vanished.

"He disappeared..." Ryohei gaped. "Those women too."

"Grandfather!" Ami powered down, turning her attention back to her adoptive grandfather.

"9th!" Basil hurried over. "Please hold on!"

"Were we too late?" Dino asked.

"Bucking Bronco!" Gokudera exclaimed.

"You, take the 9th and any injured." Dino instructed. "We received word from the External Adviser team." he added, as his men cleared the battlefield. "I couldn't have imagined this happening. Are you all right?" he turned to Ami and Reborn.

"The damage we received was too great." Reborn answered.

"But still..." Ami looked at the other Guardians.

"Are you all right, Hibari?" Yamamoto asked.

"You were surprisingly well behaved." Gokudera joked.

"If these incidents are drawing out that herbivore's power, then I can't intervene yet." Hibari stated.

"Hey, we're going home." Reborn kicked Tsuna on the back. "We're going back." he jumped on Tsuna's back. "You need to recharge for tomorrow's match."

"Why do you always kick me?" Tsuna whined.

"I felt irritated." Reborn retorted.

"What kind of reason is that?" Tsuna exclaimed.

"And he's your sensei?" Ami gave Dino an amused look.

"Well..." Dino trailed sheepishly. Hope isn't diminished yet, Reborn. He mused.


SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.