CHAPTER 9- A Tainted Flame
Tsuna's POV:
Am I not good enough for Giotto? I don't want to feel and undergo what happened 3 years ago again. Please...don't leave me Giotto.
Well...better concentrate on my job for now. I have to catch a reported spy from an enemy Famiglia who has made his way to a nearby town protected by the Vongola.
As I walked around the town to look for the spy, I heard townspeople yelling and I saw the spy running at full speed towards the direction of the forest so I ran after him.
The spy must have noticed my presence so he sped up but I never lost when it comes to speed, so I captured him. We ended up in a clearing in the forest.
` I quickly let go of my hold of him because I can always run to capture him if he escapes.
"State your mission and why you were sent", I said.
"I came here to get information about the town but you can't do anything about it because I am going to send it to the boss", the spy said.
"Well, then I'll have to make sure that will not leak", I said and activated my flames just to be shocked about what I saw.
The spy scampered away in a hurry and I was dumb founded and the only question in my mind is.
'Why?'
After the mission, I went back to the Vongola HQ. The good thing is that the spy left the information sheets and I was able to get rid of it. But what just happened at the forest?
I sadly walked towards Giotto's office just to saw everyone laughing and the center of their attention is no other than Xelia.
"Oh, Tsuna, welcome back, how's the mission", Giotto said and I just shadowed my eyes and placed the report on his desk.
"Tsuna, you should hear Xelia's stories they are so funny", Takeshi-nii said.
"Yeah, yeah Xelia-chan why don't you tell Hime-sama about what happened during your childhood days with Ouji-sama"
So they are also together in their childhood days. No wonder she pleases Giotto so much. My heart started to get painful.
"It's okay. If you need me I'll just be in my room" I sadly said and went out of the office leaving them in silence.
'Tsuna, you should rest, your stressing your body too much', Sheila said.
'I know, I'll just scan over some papers then I'm going to sleep' I said and went first to my office to sign the remaining paperworks.
I then made my way to my bedroom and didn't bother changing for bed.
I looked at the ceiling of my room and my vision blurred, because unknowingly I started to cry.
'Sheila, what happened back there?' I cried out.
I don't know why it happened. That time, when I unleashed my flames I didn't saw the usual pure orange Sky Flames, instead I saw orange Sky Flames tainted with black. My flame has become impure.
'Tsuna, just rest first okay, we'll think about that after you calm down', Sheila said and before I can protest I was lulled to sleep.
The next day I stayed in my room not bothering to do my paperworks. I don't know why but I don't feel like doing anything at all. All I wanted to do is stay in bed and look at my bedroom ceiling.
This is quite rare. It's already 11:30 and yet no one is knocking on my door and running around the whole place just to find me. Oh yeah, I remember they are totally hooked to Xelia now.
'Tsuna, if you don't get off your bed I'll yank you down myself' Sheila said. At least someone is still worried about me.
'Tsuna, you seem to be unwell, are you really really okay? I can contact Aeris to tell Giotto that you'll be staying at the infirmary'
'There's no need Sheila, I can go there by my own' I answered and get dressed.
While I was on my way down the staircase, my vision started to turn black and I find my surroundings swaying. Maybe I should just have taken Sheila's offer. Before I blacken out I heard Sheila call my name.
Giotto's POV:
We were inside my office until we heard loud footsteps outsides and the door was opened with force.
When we saw the intruder it was the First Sky Protector but she was crying.
"Decimo...please help...Tsuna is...there's something wrong with her", Sheila said and left Tsuna's body leaving a now collapsed Tsuna on the floor.
"I told her to call you so that you can help her go to the infirmary but while on the way...she just collapsed. I looked at the infirmary for doctors, but they are all on a break. So I thought about seeing the Sun Guardian, Knuckles", Sheila said and I immediately carried Tsuna to the sofa in my office.
Knuckles went near and began to do his check-up.
"Tsuna does not have any fever, nor is she overstressed or tired. However, her flames are so weak", Knuckles said.
"So what can we do for Tsuna?" Mukuro asked.
"There's a way that I know", Knuckles said and looked at Sheila.
"I know about that because Prece told me, I'll have to make her condition stable right?" Sheila said. "Don't worry just leave Tsuna in my care"
"Alright..." Knuckles said and suddenly an alarm escalated in the mansion.
"Decimo, there is a reported attack by a rival Famiglia at the nearby town", the communications head said .
"Alright, everyone let's go. Sheila please take care of Tsuna", I said and we all out of the room with Xelia.
When we arrived at the town, people are already running around the place and I ordered the Arceo to gather and protect the townspeople.
The whole place is in ruins, gun shots and bombings can be heard.
"Well, well, well. It's a pleasure to meet the infamous Vongola Decimo", the boss of the enemy family said. "And with his Guardians too"
"What do you want from this town?" I said and he just laughed.
"Don't get me wrong Decimo, I don't need this town I just want to see DISASTER", the boss laughed like crazy. I can't believe it.
"And to think, the Arceo are here too, but I guess someone is missing, isn't it the Sky Protector?"
"What do you want from Hime-sama?" Hayate said.
"Well, I just found out a little secret about your beloved Sky Princess of the Vongola"
Tsuna's POV:
I awoke and find myself lying on the sofa of Giotto's office with Sheila in her ghost form beside me.
"Good thing your awake", Sheila said. "Everyone was worried"
"Where are they anyway? Where is everyone?"
"They went out to fight someone. The rival Famiglia who sent a spy on the town", Sheila explained.
I immediately stood up and began to tidy my clothes.
"Hey, Tsuna you haven't recovered yet so don't do anything drastic", Sheila said.
"Sheila, I am supposed to be the Sky Protector. I have to be in the frontlines in every fight", I replied.
"You're not in the condition to fight, and also your flames..." Sheila said.
"I still have to fight for them...because that is my duty in the Vongola", I said and ran out of the room and drove towards the town.
When I arrived, everyone was fighting a lot of Mafioso. Everyone was teamed up together and I can see they are on the winning side.
I can't fight using my flames, so what can I do?
Then the person across Giotto which seems to be the boss of the rival Famiglia noticed my presence and gave a smile.
"If it isn't the Sky Protector of the Vongola. Have you come to save your friends?" the boss said and everyone looked at my direction. "But, I found out a secret about you from the spy I sent"
I widened my eyes. So now, this boss knows about the current condition of my flames.
"Sky Protector of the Arceo and Sky Princess of the Vongola, why don't you tell and show everyone the current condition of your flames...show them how tainted they are right now"
"Tsuna, is what he said true? You're flames are tainted?" Giotto asked and the others continued to stare at me.
I felt my knees gave down and I knelt down, crying. The only thing left, my pride as the Sky Protector finally disappeared.
"To think that one of the two flame users of the purest flame would have her orange Sky Flames tainted with black. People with tainted flames are not right to be part of the Vongola more or less be one of the higher ups", the rival boss said. "But you know, someone like you would be beneficial in a dark family such as ours"
"Shut up, even if my flames are tainted and I won't be welcome in the Vongola family anymore, I'll still be in their side", I said and shouted at the boss.
"Well, I guess we'll end this fight then. Everyone, kill the Vongola and the townspeople", the rival boss said.
"I won't let you", I said.
But now I think about it, what can I do? My flames, I can't bear to show them to the others. What can I do to help them then?
'Guess I'll have no choice. I'll help you then' , Sheila said. 'Let's join forces Tsuna so that you can use my flames'
'But wouldn't that use a lot of your flames?' I said.
'Don't worry, you and I will work together as one, scientifically speaking, you'll be using your flames but I'll be purifying them' Sheila said.
'Alright then, let's do that Sheila' I said.
"Planning something Sky Protector, you can't fight you know"
"Let's see about that. Passato e presente si fare in una sola, lasciare che le fiamme si uniscono lasciare che la nostra volontà sia fatta.(Past and present make into one, let the flames unite let our will be done).
Suddenly a ball of orange light enveloped me and I can see Sheila directly in front of me. She extended her hand and I also did the same.
The light disappeared and I found myself standing on the ground wearing Sheila's dress when she visited for White Day. But instead of a dominant white color and outlines of orange, it was the other way around. The dress is dominantly colored with orange with outlines of silver, white, and gold. Around my neck is the same cloak I always have in my Arceo costume.
Here is the good thing, on my forehead is a very pure Sky Flame which also covers the gloves in my hands. My hair is still the same but with streaks of orange. My eyes are also in a fierce orange glow.
"You dare, attack the Vongola Famiglia?" I said with my voice sounding like Sheila's.
"Pure flames, but I thought..."
"I will give you a taste to what happens when people try to step on the Vongola", I said and flew FAST, and I mean fast. It doesn't even took a second and I was directly a meter before him and our distance at first are over 200 meters.
I summoned a large ball of flame and fired it at him and his comrades direction.
"Not even a minute and they're all out. Tsuna I thought your flames are..." I hear Elena said but suddenly I felt myself separate from Sheila and the transformation was lost.
