Friendly warning, this chapter has spoilers too. If you haven't read this far and don't want to know then don't read. For those of you who know what the story is already, I summarized big time. I just gave the big idea for people who just want to ready my story without being lost for not reading to real thing. If it really bothers you that much tell me and I will go back and not summarize.
Chapter 9: Practice Makes Perfect
While Yamamoto was with Annalisa, Reborn and Dino were talking to Tsuna. As the three watched over a beaten Basil, Tsuna couldn't help but think to himself how lucky he was to have avoided a dangerous situation like the Vongolia half rings.
"If they are something that dangerous, then the Varia can keep them!" he exclaimed.
"Hehe! Well," started Dino as he pulled out an identical box as the one Squalo took.
"No! Nope! I don't want to hear it! Bye Dino, see you at home Reborn!" Tsuna shouted as he ran out of the hospital.
Later that day
Tsuna came home to see a man sleeping in his under clothes snoring,a drunk Futa, Lambo, and I-Pin. Yup, his dad was home.
"I know that stupid face," he thought with dread. "Oh no! My no-good dad really came home! my life's just gotten messier!" He thought as he went wobbling to his room.
As Tsuna left, Reborn walked in. He saw Tsuna's dad on the floor, and unknowingly to Tsuna talked a little. "Your here, and gave your son the Vongolia half rings. That means that you come from a place where something terrible is happening," he said.
After several interruption from his dad, Tsuna finally woke up to hear his dad in an attempt to give Lambo more sake. When he rushed to save Lambo, his dad pointed out the necklace he was wearing.
"Reborn! Did you put this on me?!" yelled Tsuna. He did not want this dangerous thing around his neck.
"No, I didn't have anything to do with it," said Reborn. Tsuna didn't believe him, how else would it have gotten on his neck, but he knew better than to argue with Reborn.
"Don't you have somewhere to be right now?" asked Reborn.
"Right! The hospital!" exclaimed Tsuna as he ran off. "Maybe there I will find some answers," he thought to himself.
He rushed to the hospital to find out about the rings, Basil, and Annalisa. When he arrived Gokudera, Yamamoto, Dino, and amazingly Annalisa were all there waiting for him. "Annalisa! Are you okay to be here? I thought that you were hospitalized!"
"Haha! No worries," said Annalisa casually. "The doctor said that I could be released. I just need to rest a lot, plus I took pain medicine earlier. It should take effect soon." She said. Tsuna wasn't too assured. After all, she was looking a little weak and pale. It seems that Tsuna wasn't the only one either. Dino and Yamamoto were both looking at Annalisa worriedly. "Anyways," started Annalisa again, she could tell that she wasn't convincing them. "I'm fine!" she said.
"We have things to discuss," said Reborn. He forcibly made the others focus on the problem at hand.
"Oh, yeah! 10th we got these in the mail," said Gokudera as he and Yamamoto pulled out rings.
"Those are the Vongolia rings. There are seven in all. It's a Vongolia tradition to distribute the rings to the seven core members of the family, the boss and his guardians. Each one is a little different. Gokudera has the storm ring and Yamamoto the rain ring," informed Reborn.
"Now that you mention it," said Gokudera. All three of the boys looked closer at their rings.
"Like weather forecasts?" asked Tsuna
"Each of the rings were based off of particular characteristics of the first generation. The first boss was like the sky that color and engulfs everything, thus his was the sky ring. His followers who protected him were said to have attributes like the weather. The shower that washes away ever thing the rain ring. The wind that fiercely whirls about the storm ring. The floating cloud that won't be caught by anyone and goes it's own way the cloud rings. The sun that illuminates the sky the sun ring. The illusion that cannot be captured the mist ring. The lightning that holds a harsh strike the lightning ring. But the rings you have-" while Reborn was talking, Annalisa suddenly swerved.
"You okay?" asked Dino.
"Yeah, I'm fin-" she didn't finish. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted. Yamamoto moved quickly to intercept her. He caught her, and carried her princess-style to a nearby bench. She started coming too.
"Sorry, I'm good now," she said. Even thought she said that; she was sweating, grimacing, and leaning heavily on Takeshi for support.
"No! I don't want to hear! These rings are seriously bad news," said Tsuna.
"Yeah, sorry but I can't wear rings during baseball," said Yamamoto.
"That's right! Yamamoto is on my side! These rings are dangerous. That sword guy will come back and in just ten days!" He said looking at Annalisa. "If he could do that to someone as skilled as her, we don't stand a chance! Forget ten days, they wouldn't be ready in ten years!" he thought. This got Gokudera and Yamamoto's attention.
"This is my ring right? I think I'll keep it after all!" he said. He settled Annalisa gently besides him and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be back," he said to her.
"I'll leave it to you," she said smiling through the pain. The scene almost broke his heart. His resolve steeled.
As he left, Gokudera said to Tsuna with tons of enthusiasm, "10th I promise that in ten days I will become a man worthy of this ring!" He ran off too.
"Why to motive your men Tsuna!" said Dino happily.
"But I was trying to tell them not to fight," thought Tsuna dejectedly.
"The other four need training too if they are to beat the Varia," said Reborn.
"Who are the other four?" asked Tsuna.
"They are people you know, the guardian of the sun will be coming very soon," answered Reborn.
"MASTER PAOPOA!" someone shouted extremely. "IS IT TRUE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TRAIN ME?!" screamed Rohei as he ran in.
"Kyoko's big brother!" Tsuna said shocked. "Please wait, Onii-san! do you understand the situation?" he asked Rohei.
"We're taking on the enemy, right? Looks like there's a lot of tension! I heard all about what happened yesterday, about ten days later and about the rings as well," answered Rohei.
"He understands it all?" thought Tsuna.
"BUT I FORGETTEN ALL ABOUT IT!" He shouted.
"THEN IT ALL BECOMES MEANINGLESS!" Tsuna shouted as well. "Why must it be Kyoko's big brother! She will be worried!" asked Tsuna.
"He has a role to play," Reborn stated flatly.
"Leave it entirely to me!" said Rohei.
"He's definitely the sun, he's totally flashy," thought Tsuna.
"By the way Master Paopao I heard you invited your childhood friend for me," said Rohei.
"It's a fatal bond. He's close," said Reborn as his pacifier started to glow.
"Hey, it's been a while!" someone said.
"This voice!" said Tsuna with dread. "Colonnello! Why is he here?" asked Tsuna.
"We are short on time, so I can't train everyone. That's why I have arranged a private home tutor for everyone with a ring," Reborn said.
"Where's the boxer kid you spoke of?" asked Colonnello.
"THAT'S ME!" shouted Rohei.
Colonnello poked Rohei with his gun in various places, testing him. "Is he really this weak?" he asked Reborn.
"Yeah, out of all of the chosen seven he is the weakest," aswered Reborn.
"Puhkuku," laughed Colonnello. "Hey, looks like you've found me an interesting one! Hey, if he can keep up with my training for the next ten days, he can beat the other 6! It's tough training thought. Hey, you want to do it?"
"Of course I do! I won't lose!" said Rohei and they both ran off.
"Will they be okay?" asked Tsuna worried.
"Yeah, Colonnello trained a couple thousand students and Rohei was able to make him snarl, if all works out, then he will come back a couple times stronger," Reborn speculated.
"Well, then I'll go and train one, too," said Dino.
"Eh? Dino-san you're tutoring someone too?" asked Tsuna.
"Yeah, since I can't fight with people in the alliance this is the least I can do to help," he said.
"Who are you tutoring? Gokudera? Yamamoto?" Tsuna asked.
"No, it looks like this kid is even more problematic," said Dino.
"And Gokudera and Yamamoto will probably find their own suitable home tutors," answered Reborn.
"Alright! Since I got to rest a while, I think I'll go ahead and pick up my student! Dino can you give me a lift?" asked Annalisa.
"Huh? Annalisa you are tutoring someone too?" asked Tsuna.
"Well, I am tutoring her but she won't be in this fight. Ash wasn't chosen to be one of the seven and neither was I. But from what I can tell, we will be needed later, I promise that she will be strong enough when you need us," said Annalisa solemnly to Reborn. He nodded and Dino carefully escorted her out.
Everyone made the absolute most of the time that was provided. Takeshi learned and parcticed the eight Shigure Soen Ryu stances, Gokudera somehow manages to convince Doctor Shamal to tutor him, Rohei learns the true nature of the sun with Colonnello, Hibari went on a world wide training session with Dino, Reborn had Tsuna follow the training program of the 1st generation Vongolia boss, all while Lambo slacked off and the Mist Guardian remained hidden. Everyone trained hard, until...
Hehe this is the first time I have ended a chapter on a cliff hanger. It's fun! Should I do it more often?