First, let me get this straight: I am not late because I forgot about this. Easter was on the first of the month, then the day after I had plans and today I had to change speech's punctuation from hyphens to quotation marks (as you guys chose in the poll).

So, Happy Easter, even though I'm late (for this, too), to the ones who celebrate this festivity!

Now, back to the main point of this...

Shiho: Ahahaha! Are you referring to Iemitsu? Weeeell... The bashing will go on, for now :) Thanks, as alwasy!

Words: 5574.

Enjoy!

Previously... Little snippets.

The boy had lost his mother at age nine.

Alex. The hitman. Unknown, clean, professional. He was called the Punisher, in his world.

'I know you are curious and that you need to know, but don't push. You've been doing a great job so far.'

"Mom… She was… Killed…" Every word was pronounced as if he had poison in his mouth. "By a…" Killing intent slipped through the tight barriers around Tsuna's mind. "Wicked, dirty, insolent mafioso." His eyes flashed orange. "He dared to… Dared to…" A flicker of pure and raging flames appeared on his forehead for an instant. "Try to… rape her." He closed his eyes and took a long breath. "Then, he understood he didn't want her…. and shot mom." The eyelids lifted, orange glow gone. "She died. They died. I killed them."

"One day, they started to lose control. After Xanxus appeared. He's Nono's adopted son, too."

"There was a man… He abused me, repeatedly."

"So, you're Xanxus. Uhm… Yeah, there's a lot more to be unveiled here. I think we may have something in common…"

"You asked Xanxus if he was okay, but not me, what's the difference? I'm curious."

"You've got yourself a fan, Tsuna!" Takeshi joked.

"It was not entirely legal. He just took custody of him." He looked uncertain whether to tell or not. "He took my place… Rightfully. He protected him and gave him a family. You're doing the same thing, more or less."

"Behave, Iemitsu."

"You're doing a lot more than a tutor usually does. You're helping me, you're supporting me, and not only because of your contract with the Vongola."

"Therefore, Sasagawa Ryouhei is the winner of the Sun Ring Battle."

09 – Lightning and Storm Ring Battle

Tsuna looked at the full Sun ring. It was a simple metal band with a shield. On it were carved three shells on the top and a sun on the bottom. He sighed and gave it back to Ryouhei, that wore it proudly.

They were currently in the hospital. The Sun Guardian's left arm was bandaged and treated. He grinned, victorious. But there was also some regret in his expression.

"It was not your fault, lawn head." Hayato grumpily said.

"They're really bad guys." Takeshi added with a frown.

"We wouldn't be in this situation if they were not." Tsuna grumpily snorted.

"Hn."

"I'm surprised the skylark is here… Nfufufu…"

"Don't irk him, Mukuro."

"As you wish, dear Tsunayoshi."

Reborn felt the teen's arms around his tiny body flinch. He smirked. The Mist Guardian was apparently able to creep even his student. He may be able to use it.

"Lussuria is in this hospital, Ryouhei." Tsuna smiled. "And you were really brave on the ring."

"EXTREEEEMEEE! It was a tough fight!"

"Tomorrow's one is going to be tougher….."

Fon, perked on Tsuna's shoulder, coughed. "I'm envious of Colonello now. You trusted him and his training."

They ignored Kyouya's disgruntled sigh. "I'm sorry, can't help it…"

Reborn smirked. "Worrywart mother-hen."

Tsuna pouted and blushed. "I'm kind of fed up of you pointing that out every single time."

"I enjoy your reactions."

"I noticed…" He sighed and looked at the clock. "Okay guys, it's three in the morning and the damn battles have only begun… Let's go home and rest." He glanced at Ryouhei. "Colonello will take care of Kyoko for you, get better quickly, okay?"

"EXTREEEEEMEEEEE!"

They all covered their ears at the yell. "And don't shout in the hospital, please?" Tsuna chuckled, making the boxer blush. "Good night!"

The group left the building, Hibari had already vanished prior through the window. Takeshi and Hayato were visibly tired but still lowly bickering. Mukuro detached from them almost immediately, bidding Tsuna a good night.

"Of course the cow brat will be alright." The silver-haired yelled.

"Maa maa, he's a child. Even Tsuna is worried."

"I am, and I hate having to involve him in a fight."

Fon sighed with a fond smile. The Arcobaleno getting attached to his student was something that the hitman couldn't have imagined in his wildest dream. And that brought forth another strange toddler…

"Don't worry, Tsuna-sama. We won't allow them to hurt him."

Reborn was fairly sure he heard an added 'too badly'. He scoffed. Storm and Lightning, they had a strong affinity. And Takeshi was effectively acting as the calming Rain.

"I heard that, Hayato." Tsuna chuckled. "But I guess you're right." His eyes took a bright orange hue as he looked at his two Guardians. "No one who hurts my friends will live unscathed."

The hitman had the urge to let shivers take control of his body. Not out of fear. The cause was something else. Something wilder and… oddly welcome.

Hayato and Takeshi blinked twice, a bit surprised, but both smiled. Proudness, fondness, trust… A lot could be read in their eyes, even when they went their own way. Fon chuckled.

"Tsunayoshi, you're an endless surprise."

"Is that a compliment?" He turned to the infant.

"It is."

Reborn smirked, feeling proud himself. They arrived home, where Hibari and Kair were waiting in the garden, lit by the pole of the road.

"Thanks, Kair. Were they good?"

The boy waved a dismissive hand and nodded with a smile. Without more greetings, Kyouya took hold of one of Kair's sleeves and walked away, pulling the other, that shrugged with a grin.

"I bet he's got a thing for Kair." Reborn said.

"You know, I think I agree…" Tsuna chuckled. "They're rather cute."

"I know of two that are even cuter." Fon commented.

The brunette stopped in the entryway and looked at the toddler. "Who?"

Reborn arched a brow, arms crossed.

"If you don't already know…" He gazed at his fellow Arcobaleno. "It's not my place to tell." And jumped upstairs, leaving the two alone.

Tsuna sighed, puzzled. "I don't think I've overlooked some of my friends' relationships so much…"

The hitman shook his head but kept silent. He knew too well what his friend was referring to. Was it so obvious? No, only Fon was able to pinpoint it… He was the only one who could thoroughly catch the hints and connect the dots. Colonello was too dense. He face-palmed.

"Is everything okay, Reborn?"

He looked up. Tsuna was gazing at him with concern and curiosity written all over his face. They were in their room and he was near the hammock.

"Yes, Tsuna." He jumped to rest on his bed.

"You sure?"

"You're starting to worry about me, too?" He smirked.

"Well…" He averted his eyes. "I did since the first moment, but… I see your point. A teenager worrying over a the world greatest hitman… Unsightly."

Reborn's heart squeezed at that remark. From the very beginning…? … Why?

"It's not." He almost bit his tongue in retaliation.

"What?"

He glanced up from his hands. Tsuna was half-dressed and he averted his gaze, even if it was too dark to see anything. Pitiful.

"It's not… Unsightly." With that, he changed in a split second and laid down, Leon on his fedora on the windowsill. "Goodnight."

It was a lightning storm. Tsuna face-palmed.

"Are they using the money to control the weather, now?"

Takeshi laughed. They were on the roof of Nami High. A web net of metal pipes was built, creating a hexagonal base for a total of seven tall and big lightning rods, one central.

"This battleground is called Circuito Elettrico. (Electric Circuit)" The Cervello girls said.

A thunder hit the central rod. The floor shone as the electricity ran through all the metal base.

"It's been coated with a special conductor."

"It increases the strength of the lightning several times."

"I want to do that! Tsu-nii! Tsu-nii!" Lambo grabbed Tsuna's sleeve and jumped excitedly.

The brunette glanced at the horns on his afro, one of which had the word 'dumb' scribbled on, and sighed. "Are you sure, Lambo?" He asked, crouching down to the child's eye"level.

Reborn observed from the hairy nest as the child turned serious and looked straight into Tsuna's eyes. He nodded and promptly hugged the brunette. That literally melted in the show of affection, hugging him back.

"Then be careful, okay? And…" He whispered. "Don't forget your surprise weapon."

He let him go and Lambo approached happily the battleground. Leviathan was already waiting there for his opponent. The other members appeared suddenly behind him, grinning deviously as always.

"Levi showed up two hours early again? Can't believe him.." Belphegor snickered.

"Unlike you, he sometimes gets overzealous." Mammon countered from his perch on Gola Mosca's hand.

"VOOOOIIII! Just finish this shit already!"

Tsuna sighed, making Takeshi laugh and Hayato growl. At that, Squalo turned towards his counterpart and smirked.

"You… Have you bought your coffin?"

"Nope." Takeshi answered happily, then narrowed his eyes and unsheathed his sword. "I've been craving yours. It will suit you nicely, with the words 'loud' and 'weak' on either side."

Squalo growled loudly, but was ignored as Tsuna's group snickered playfully. Even Hibari 'umph'-ed, but the brunette quickly regained his worried expression. Reborn and Fon tightened their grips on his black shirt. Unconsciously. They didn't even notice they did.

As the Cervello announced the begin of the brawl, Lambo and Leviathan were looking at each other. Ignoring Varia's comments about instant death and unrealistic battle, a thunder struck. Tsuna watched in apprehension as the boy was electrocuted but relaxed soon. He visibly tuned out the illogical sentences spoken by the Cervello and observed Lambo.

Although slightly burned and face-first down, the boy started to move and sat up, teary-eyed. "That… hurt."

Reborn smirked at Tsuna's relieved smile. "Being struck continuously as a child by lightning does this… I don't know if I want to destroy his Famiglia or thank them…" He frowned. "I still want to destroy them."

The hitman held a snicker and glanced at Varia. The men were talking about Leviathan, being serious, dedicated, punctual… and jealous? Of Lambo?

"Jealous of the cow brat? Seriously?" Hayato voiced, unknowingly, Reborn's thoughts.

Tsuna smirked, but it was short-lived. "Jealousy is problematic."

As on cue, the opponent ran forward and attacked with his sword. Lambo was able to evade some slashes, but was hit by a sideways kick. Regaining his feet, the scramble began again. This time, Leviathan successfully sent him on the floor and was about to stab him.

Tsuna's breath itched but seeing the ten-years bazooka, he relaxed again. Before the hit, Lambo was engulfed by smoke as the bazooka shot him, sending his hidden body away from the sword. The rain and the wind helped the smoke dissipate and the older Lambo came into view. Reborn almost sighed at the relieved breath taken by his student.

"Worrywart."

"Sue me."

"I didn't think that dumplings would be my last meal…"

"Cow brat!" Hayato yelled, gaining his attention. "Lightning Ring Battle."

Lambo blinked but nodded, training his gaze on Leviathan. He dropped the chopsticks and the handkerchief. Obviously, Varia got angry.

"VOOOOOIIIII! That's an outsider!"

"No." Cervello wearing pants said. "He's the same person from ten years in the future."

"Therefore, we recognize him as the candidate and the battle may go on."

"That's interesting… shishishishi."

"What's that bazooka…" Mammon caressed his chin.

"Don't stand out more than me." Leviathan muttered.

"That's kind of impossible. I'm star material, after all…" He gathered the horns from the floor and wore them. "Thunder Set."

A lightning struck right him, charging the body. He bended forward and targeted his opponent. He resembled a bull.

"He's more and more like a real cow." Hayato smirked.

"You stand out too much." Leviathan muttered again. "The one who'll fulfill the role of Guardian and gain the most trust from the Boss… will be me!"

Tsuna sighed, mumbling again about drama queens. Reborn could relate, again.

Seven umbrellas shot up in the sky from the Varia Guardian, opening. They caught the electricity of thunders and got charged, striking Lambo. He visibly suffered the hit.

"Too much voltage…" Reborn commented.

The boy was on the floor again, teary-eyed. "That hurt."

"He won't change one bit…" Hayato face-palmed.

Takeshi patted him on the back, reassuringly. Reborn, and Tsuna if his arched brow was anything to go by, found it strange that Gokudera only whimpered and didn't brush off the hand. But Lambo's fight drew again their full attention. He was using the bazooka.

Engulfed once more by the usual smoke, he successfully avoided another stab. Lambo was taller, with longer hair and seemed a lot more mature and collected, with a few long and thin braids.

"It can be used twice…?" Tsuna asked Reborn.

"So it seems… But, the time-limit, how's it going to be affected?"

"Aah… This situation… If I'm not dreaming, I must be in the past…"

"That's right, cow brat." Hayato snorted.

Lambo turned to them and smiled. "Hey, Tsu-nii… This is really nostalgic… Don't worry too much, okay? Everything will be okay." Tsuna blinked in confusion as the man faced his opponent. "Oh, Levi-n–… Leviathan? This will be strange…" He chuckled.

Reborn tilted his head. Strange? How so? He felt Tsuna tighten his embrace on the tiny body and brushed a hand on the other's arm.

"It doesn't matter who you are, I'm going to kill you."

Leviathan used his umbrellas again and charged electricity towards Lambo. Coupled with that, a thunder hit the central rod and an impossible amount of power hit the man from twenty years into the future. Ignoring whatever comment about 'he's done for' or 'poor soul' or 'he's won', Tsuna watched in apprehension and relief as Lambo used the Cuoio Elettrico to discharge all the electricity into the ground.

… Well… Not exactly the ground… But into the whole building… Windows shattered and Reborn observed Kair put a calming hand on Hibari's shoulder.

"They'll repair it, Kyouya, their expense. Don't worry."

The skylark grunted and went back to his napping place. Tsuna sighed and turned again to the battle. Ignoring Iemitsu's arrival. The coward…

"I'll kill you no matter what!" Leviathan suddenly yelled, probably in a burst of jealousy. "Watch me go straight for the heart with my electricity."

Lambo wore a different pair of horns and charged them. Running against the enemy, he projected the power forward in a wide blade"like form, hitting Leviathan. The foe was overwhelmed and showed several gashes on his visible skin.

"You're still not good enough." Lambo said. "Go home and practi–"

Smoke engulfed the man's frame. The 10-years old Lambo appeared and Tsuna's breath itched. Leviathan didn't lose a moment, immediately charging against the boy, going for a stab. Reborn had only a fleeting moment to process what was going to happen.

With a sigh, he jumped out of Tsuna's grasp and watched as his student all but melted down the whole battlefield. The lightning rods crashed down on Leviathan, that was forced to jump back. The Cervello took a whole minute to understand what was going on. And, by then, Tsuna was already shielding Lambo, taking the Ring from his neck. He urged the boy to go back and stood.

The bright orange flame, to which Reborn was getting more and more attached, was burning, unwavering, on his student's forehead. Leon flickered his tongue at seeing his gloves used so marvellously. The leather and the metal Xs' were engulfed by the orange hue, glistening in the heat.

"This is a violation of the ru–" One of the Cervello started.

"Yeah yeah, right." Tsuna rolled his eyes, now finally visible through his hair. "I violated the rules, now I give Xanxus my half." They were glowing and threateningly scary. "I don't care, as long as Lambo is okay." He looked at his tutor. "Sorry, Reborn."

Tsuna took his Sky Ring's half and launched both the bands in the respective Guardians' directions. They caught them with a quirked brow. While Leviathan simply wore the whole Ring, Xanxus jumped down from his place on a far-away roof to right in front of the brunette. Reborn quickly landed on Tsuna's shoulder, growling, while the Guardians tensed and were ready to fight.

"Any scramble outside of–"

"Oh God, I understood, damn it!" Tsuna burst. "What do you want, Xanxus? The damned babysitters are annoying."

As a surprising answer, the other laughed. "You are interesting, trash." He composed the ring and wore it, proudly. "You remind me of someone…" Reborn was startled to see his student hide a flinch. "I guess you won't die. I'll keep you."

Tsuna arched an unimpressed brow. "I'm not a pet, Xanxus. But…" He broke the retort. "I'd fancy seeing you try. It's bound to be exceptionally entertaining, considering all the worrywarts I attract."

"Tche. No matter saying that, I've already noticed." Tsuna rolled his eyes. "I could well order your assassination now, with the Ring. But that would be no fun at all."

With that said, Varia left with no more words. Reborn patted his head as a way to say 'good job' and his student smiled. The flame vanished, leaving the mittens to be seen. Hayato fawned over Tsuna for eventual wounds and Takeshi just chuckled at the show of affection, bringing an arm around the Storm Guardian's shoulders. That the latter didn't brush off. Lambo ran to hug Tsuna and thank him for the help. Hibari and Mukuro disappeared. As did Iemitsu, that, differently from the day before, had lingered on the boundaries a little more.

Cervello announced that the battle for the day after would be between the Guardians of the Storm and all but vanished.

Without further ado, they decided to head back. Hayato and Takeshi separated from them and Tsuna took Lambo in his arms. The boy was sleepy and who could deny him the needed rest… No one, with his student antics at being a mother-hen. He was currently laying the boy in his bed.

Tsuna closed the door and thanked silently Tetsuya for keeping watch over the other two children, then entered their room and fell on the bed. Reborn jumped in the air and landed on the brunette's back, cross-legged.

"Sorry, they took two halves." Tsuna said, muffled by the pillow.

"It's okay. Nothing has been decided yet."

The brunette lifted his upper body, leaning on the elbows, and looked sideways at the infant. "You sure?" The hitman nodded. "As you say… Though, I'm a bit surprised."

"By what?"

"Xanxus." Reborn hummed. "He's got this… Rage… This untameable wrath that's always flickering around. But… I feel like… I can understand why…"

"Try to explain, Tsuna."

The teen grunted and messed up his hair. "As if I can relate, Reborn. And he felt that, too. That's why he's… Ugh, I don't like how this sounds… Interested."

Reborn smirked, despite his insides churning. "Is that so…"

"Don't tease me, Reborn…" Tsuna whined. "You like that too much."

"Maybe." This time, the smirk was truer.

"And, why didn't he… I don't know… He has the Sky Ring now, so he has basically won… Why does he want to go on, truly?"

"That's a good question. I think he has something hidden in his sleeve and the scramble is a way for some plans of his to go his way. We can only watch it unfold."

Reborn held back his desire to ask clarifications. The off-handed comment given by Xanxus was worrying. Who the hell could resemble Tsuna? Nono's adopted son had many encounters and no one, literally, could have been like his student…

Tsuna sighed. "Worrying over it won't change anything."

"Right. Now, go take a shower, you smell."

"Ouch, Reborn, that's not true!" The teen pouted in mocking hurt.

The hitman only smirked.

"Indoors today?" Takeshi smiled.

"Seems so… Kyo-san is still overlooking the other building…" Tetsuya sighed.

"He'll have to see this, too, after the scramble is finished." Tsuna added. "But Hayato is late today. Do you know why, Reborn?"

The hitman shrugged. "Shamal is training him. If he deemed Gokudera unable to win the battle, there's no way he would send his student to die."

Silence fell over them, tensed by the notion. The Varia was on the other side of the alleyway, Xanxus nowhere in sight. One of the Cervello saw fit to speak another rule…

"Once the clock strikes 12, Gokudera Hayato will be disqualified and Belphegor will win by default."

Reborn snickered at his student mimicking the beak of a duck with his hand while rolling exasperatedly his eyes. Even the foe for the night laughed.

"So funny, I'll make you my pet."

Tsuna had the decency to shiver. "I'd prefer not, thanks."

Belphegor licked his upper lip. "Uhm…. Shishishi… Yep, I'll turn you into a fine toy."

The infant found Leon gun in his hands before processing what he was thinking. Tsuna blinked at the hitman cradled in his arms. He patted the fedora lightly with an amused smile.

"Strange…" Fon mused, hiding a smirk of his own behind a sleeve.

Reborn tilted his hat with the gun and Leon swished back to his usual place. He didn't even want to wander about the stray thoughts. Not the right moment. Not now nor ever. Damn. He tuned out the small chuckles of his fellow Arcobaleno.

As time ticked by, it was almost twelve when Hayato made the clock explode. He was smoking, making Tsuna twitch, ring hung at his neck. His belt had several sticks, as the belts around his legs.

"Sorry to make you wait, Juudaime."

Tsuna arched a brow. "Good evening, Hayato. I'll overlook the cigarette for today. Should I see one again, I'll turn it off on my palms."

Reborn barely held in a snicker. That expression of a kicked puppy was priceless, as always. Not counting that his student had just used self-harm as a mean of a threat… Marvellous. And he couldn't even be hurt by a burnt like that.

"Since you arrived at the designated time…"

"… You're permitted to participate in the Match."

Tsuna almost face-palmed. "You don't say…"

"Tonight's battlefield will be the entire 3rd floor of the school building."

"Kyo-san will throw a fit…" Tetsuya muttered.

"However…"

A sudden strong wind blew some chairs and desks from the closed classroom against and outside the corridor's window. They crashed on the floor of the courtyard.

"At various points in the battlefield."

"We have installed hurricane turbines."

"More than a fit, he'll kill anyone from the Cervello." Tsuna said, loudly enough.

It was amusing to see the two girls sweat drop. "We'll, as always, take care of the rebuilding."

The brunette simply nodded with a shrug.

"As we were saying…"

"The hurricane turbine has four wind vents."

"They are storm devices that can generate extremely strong winds at random in all four directions."

"Rather violent…" Takeshi commented.

"As a Storm." Tsuna glaced at him with a knowing smirk.

The swordsman blushed lightly and rubbed his nape. "Is that so obvious?"

"For me, maybe Reborn and Fon." His eyes lit. "Oh, were you hinting at them last…" The martial artist shook his head, smiling. "Is that so…" Tsuna pouted.

"Additionally, this round has a time limit."

"If within fifteen minutes of the battle's start neither side has managed to obtain the Storm Ring."

"The hurricane turbines have been outfitted with time bombs."

"They will go off sequentially, destroying the entirety of this floor."

"No winner means they will both die."

"Well, is it only me, or this seems orchestrated?" Tsuna asked, suspicious.

No one answered, but Reborn noticed a slight flinch in the Cervello's frames. Suspicious, indeed.

"Is anyone injured?"

They only had time to witness Shamal, behind the girls, hands clenching on their breasts. The two lifted their middle arms and punched him in the nose. Yes, someone was injured. The man flew into a wall and sheepishly scratched his head with a bleeding nose.

"Veryyy weeeell… That flexibility is a sign of good health."

He stood up and walked to the group.

"Trident Shamal…" Mammon said. "According to rumors, he is the man who was scouted by Varia two generations ago… And refused."

"What the hell, old man?!" Hayato yelled, disgusted.

"Hey hey… I heard the sound of glass shattering… Thought there might have been someone injured and rushed over." He smirked. "Thought I might have a look at your match, now that I'm here."

"Keh."

"He's on the other side, what a waste…" Mammon commented.

"Voooiiiii… Dino, I can understand… But Fon, Colonello, and now Shamal… Why? What's going on? Is it all that chibi's doing?"

"Oh my, has the shark understood that we can hear him all too well without shouting?" Tsuna teased with a smirk.

Takeshi laughed and Hayato smiled. Fon and Reborn snickered, Shamal was caught off-guard. He was not used to it, after all. Tsuna gave his Storm Guardian a strong shove forward and winked at him.

"Be careful. As I said before, the Rings are not as important as your life. If you put yourself in danger because of it, I won't forgive you." He finished in a dark tone.

Enough to make the teen shudder and blink in astonishment. A cocky smirk adorned the silver-haired face and he nodded excitedly, turning to his opponent.

"Kinda reminds me of Lambo." Takeshi murmured.

"I'm glad he didn't hear you…"

"God forbid…" They both laughed.

"Due to the expansive nature of this round's battlefield, we have installed video cameras in each classroom."

"The monitors at the boundary of the school building will transmit the battle's progress."

"And, to prevent interference, we have installed infrared-triggered lasers between the audience area and the battlefield."

The two parties retreated and got to the audience area. The lasers activated instantly. Reborn patted Tsuna's arms when he felt the teen stiffen a bit. They observed the two opponents on the screens.

"It's obvious from the first glance… You use bombs, right?" Belphegor patted Hayato's left shoulder. "You're stiff."

The teen narrowed his eyes, gazing over the foe, then at his hands, and smirked. "I'll defeat you."

They ignored the usual announce of the beginning of the scramble. Hayato threw a lit stick against Belphegor. It blew, creating a thick smoke screen. Suddenly, as the dust was settling, Gokudera found himself at the centre of a knives' circle. The weapons were frozen high above the floor. The Storm Guardian barely had the time to jump away from the several stabs.

"I suggest you stop the pointless little circus tricks. Do you know who you're fighting?"

Hayato ignored the other and used the Triple Bombs technique. Belphegor simply took a step back. Before the sticks could detonate, a hurricane turbine went off, blowing them outside the shattered windows.

"The Storm Guardian naturally has a keen instinct for wind movements."

The silver-haired crouched down as another gust blew over him. Just as he was standing again, Belphegor threw him a knife. Visibly sure that the weapon couldn't reach him through those winds, Gokudera stayed still. But the weapon did, and slashed his too late retreating legs.

"It's rather simple to read the movements of these strong currents…"

Another knife was thrown and scratched his cheek.

"Really…." Tsuna mused. "A genius, uhm…"

Minutes ticked by with Hayato repeatedly dodging the knives. It was strange, however, how he did not use his own weapons. The teen suddenly crouched down, hiding in a classroom.

"Running away, little rabbit?"

The room wasn't visible on the screens because of the smokes. Tsuna cringed and frowned, anger spiking. An explosion went off in the space and Reborn grunted at the tightened arms around his tiny body.

"Sorry…" He didn't seem sorry, though… The hitman rolled his eyes.

"So, you want to use the bombs as cover to go into hiding… shishishishi… Hide-and-seek is my faaaaaavorite…."

The brunette scoffed at the wink directed at him from the screen. The self-proclaimed prince laughed again and threw ten more knives, still making beneficial use of the gusts of winds. Through the camera on the alleyway, they could see a shadow on the indoor window, stabbed. Reborn expected his student to stiffen and let free his killing intent. Instead, his eyes were flashing orange and looking attentively at the screens. This reaction seemed to put at ease the others, too.

The stabbed body crashed against the glass and shattered it, falling backwards… and revealing a model of human body from the science lab. The head moved and they could finally see Hayato coming out of the smoke, holding onto something invisible.

"This is your technique's true nature." He said, holding high the model through a thin wire. "You attached this on my shoulder just minutes before, right?"

Tsuna smirked, somewhat proud. Reborn matched the grin, as did Takeshi. Fon chuckled.

"You tried hard, but only that gets you 50%. Shishishishi… If you want to feel good about getting that far, fine, but… The wind still hinders you, hum?"

"At least." The brunette said. "This one doesn't play the drama queen."

While Mammon, from his perk on Gola Mosca's hand, scoffed, Squalo snorted. Takeshi simply laughed jovially.

"What will you do?"

Hayato took his bombs, ready to light them. He dodged one more gust.

"Those again?"

"To make it so that bombs, that can't hit their target, will hit…" Shamal smirked. "… I myself, someone previously called a genius, gave up flirting to teach him."

The bombs were thrown through the corridor and, while Belphegor fell into the same illusion in which he couldn't be hit, the sticks suddenly burst up and diagonally. Several mini explosions on their bottoms granted them the necessary power to pass through the winds. They blew right in front of the opponent.

As the dust settled, the bloody figure of a mad Belphegor stood. "It's flowing oooouuut! The blood of the Royal Clan!"

"There goes my hope for no more drama queens…" Tsuna muttered.

"Once he sees his own blood, his true skills arise." Mammon said. "He just lost his temper."

Belphegor suddenly jumped forward to avoid another group of bombs and threw some knives. His student tensed and gritted his teeth. The weapons were avoided by the Guardian, but a few gashes appeared out of nowhere on Hayato's body. The teen narrowed his eyes and retreated to avoid another group of knives. As he did so, he threw a little stick right into the face of his enemy.

"Shishishishishi… More bloooooood!"

"What a madman…" Takeshi frowned.

Tsuna turned to him and gripped reassuringly his shoulder. He smiled and, not letting go, looked once again at the screens.

Hayato evaded a hurricane turbine and another, running towards a classroom. Again, the two clashed in the launch of their weapons, dodging and getting hit. Suddenly, Gokudera stayed still, eyes hidden by his hair.

"Strings." Tsuna said.

"Razor-sharp." Reborn added.

The Storm Guardian was blocked by a net of them. They were surely the cause of his appearing-out-of-nowhere gashes. But, at Hayato's feet, lines of gunpowder were lit, making the libraries crumble down with the following explosions. The strings were rendered useless, in that room.

Then, he used hooks and attached the bombs to the wires, making them slid to Belphegor, where they detonated. Like a damn zombie, the other was still standing, bloodier and more hurt than before. He was laughing again.

Once more, Hayato launched him a handful of explosives, that hit right on spot. Belphegor was on the floor, seemingly passed out. Gokudera approached him and crouched down, taking the Ring. Just when he was about to break the chain, the other punched him. Hayato dodged the hit and kicked his stomach, making him splutter.

"3 minutes until detonation." The Cervello said on the speaker.

Reborn gripped Tsuna's sleeve while Hayato fought for the Ring with punches and kicks. Though he was landing every hit and evading every counter attack, Belphegor took two whole minutes before letting go. At that, Gokudera took the Ring and united the halves.

Declared victorious by the Cervello girls, they added that the detonation would occur eventually. In fifteen seconds. Hayato took a grip of Belphegor's black jacket and started running like mad towards the exit. The prince was dragged with so much force that, when they arrived, just in time for the explosion to go off, he was scraped all over, clothes torn and bleeding profusely from many wounds.

Tsuna had ran to them, with Takeshi and Tetsuya in tow, and was met with Gokudera's puppy eyes and victorious smirk. He had discarded his opponent on the side and was showing his Boss the Storm Ring. The brunette shook fondly his head and patted Hayato's, that happily wore the band.

The Varia arrived, Gola Mosca took Belphegor's twitching body and, again without a word, they walked away. Tsuna huffed when the Cervello announced that the next battle would be for the Rain Ring.

"VOOOOIIIII!" Squalo turned a bit. "I've been waiting for this moment. I can finally have some fun!" And disappeared.

"Maa maa, now I'm too excited… I won't be able to sleep."

"Herbvores…" Needless to say, the new voice was laced by venom.

Tsuna sighed and turned to Hibari. "I'm sorry, Kyouya. They will repair everything. How's the other building doing?"

"Hn."

"That's good. You'll see, in no time they'll take care of this, too."

Reborn was starting to understand the minimal changes in Hibari's expressions. And he seemed relieved, even if still irritated.

"How's Kair? He's still at home?"

The skylark blinked and jumped through the window. Tsuna smirked when Tetsuya chuckled and followed him.

"I got him…"

"And I am the evil one?" Reborn arched a brow.

Tsuna smirked. "This is your fault, you know? Your bad behaviour is affecting me."

"I'm your tutor, that was bound to happen."

"Not exactly."

The brunette shrugged and started walking back, Hayato and Takeshi behind him. When they parted ways, Tsuna stopped behind the corner and observed the two.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Reborn inquired.

"I'm making sure…" Takeshi ruffled Hayato's hair, that didn't shook the hand off. "Yep, that's it. He's falling." The teen chuckled and walked to his house. "Isn't it my duty to take care of them?"

Fon coughed. "I thought it was the other way around."

Tsuna shrugged. "Well… It can be mutual."

"Though, it doesn't seem so at all." Reborn snorted.

The brunette frowned. "Can't help worrying, I already said this."

"Of course, mother-hen." The hitman smirked.

"A-anyway…" He pouted with a light blush. "What's this thing about 'pet'? It's creepy…"

"What a sorry half-assed way to change topic, Dame-Tsuna."

Fon chuckled at the darkening blush. "Mafia people likes to take pets… Be it as sex slaves or fighting ones. Even to tidy up the place or to torture…" He blinked at the suddenly irking of killing intent.

"Tsuna." Reborn called. "You're already fighting them."

He calmed down. "I think this is all a farce, Reborn. No matter what, they're outside the usual flow of Mafia laws, right? Why are they following these ones?"

"I agree. It's strange.."

"We already assessed that. What's your point, Tsuna?"

"I have a bad feeling… Not about tomorrow.. But…"

"We really have to work on you expressing your Intuition."

"Hey!"

Reborn smirked, amused.

See ya!