CH12 Twins and training

As Iceis lead her sister to the forest surrounding the Vongola estate, she kept a very close eye on her eyes; the warnings were coming more frequently, but they weren't far enough from the mansion yet. A movement behind Blizzard called Iceis's attention, but she immediately recognized the brief sight of camouflage, white hair, and piercing red eyes.

She sighed inwardly; they could never go anywhere alone, but it should be fine this time.

When they arrived at an open clearing that was just far enough from the mansion, Iceis attempted to let go of her sister's hand, but they were clamped firmly on to hers, her body shaking with the pressure of suppressing the anger boiling inside.

Iceis knows all of Blizzard's habits, nervous tendencies, and warning sign since they were small and Blizzard knows all of hers as well. A clear sign her older sister was upset or angry beyond words, hurting so much she can't control her emotions, is when her teal eyes where engulfed with such a deep scarlet they were almost black in comparison.

"Okay, are you ready to start? Let's keep the damage to a minimum though." Blizzard nodded, her lips pursing as she finally let go and jumped backwards into an offensive stance.

Iceis called onto her spear and spun it a couple of times for good measure and Blizzard did the same, grasping the hilt of her katana so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Their weapons glowed with power in the setting sun, reflecting all of their beautiful qualities.

Iceis's winged partisan spear was engraved with an ornate design on both sides of the blade, a design that made intricate snow flakes out of the element symbols. Blizzard's Katana had a dark black tint to it, one that reflected the souls she had cut through in her earlier days with Mukuro. Her hilt was an amazing ice-blue shade that melted into the dark tint of the sword well, but the moon-shaped guard cut the colours from ever meeting. The guardians of the blade were the wolf and snowflake that overlapped the crescent moon hilt, Blizzard always took special care of this feature of her weapon; cleaning it diligently whenever she could.

The sisters circled one and other; in sync with their movements as they watched for any unnecessary gesture that could give the other the upper hand, but neither gave one.

Finally, they both quickly stopped their circling and bolted towards each other with such aggression the wind parted to let them pass.

The three followers watched with amazement as the two guardians danced in a deadly fast exchange of blows. They came together and parted within seconds, clashing their weapons together multiple times, jumping back just to dash forward again. They did this for hours.

Fang, Snowy, and Frost hadn't seen them spar since they returned to the world from their imprisonment, but they have seen the bruises and cuts from obvious practice matches.

Neither sister could land a full hit on the other because of their enhanced knowledge of the others moves from continuous fighting.

The onlookers couldn't tear their eyes away from the tantalizing battle.

The continuous clashes seized and the sisters parted, breathing heavily, blood and sweat adorning their skin as they both fell to the floor, leaning on each other for support. Blizzard's eyes no longer held the red warning and Iceis finally let out a sigh, feeling better know that her sister was alright.

They sat in the clearing, cringing at the further exertion of their tired bodies as they leaned back-to-back, resting until the sky was painted orange and the sun began to sink behind the trees.

"Thank you." Blizzard muttered under her breath, the wind catching it like a treasure and sweeping it away.

Iceis was slightly startled, but she let the warmth of her short words settle in her heart,

"No problem, sis." She giggled softly as she put her hands behind her head, wincing in regret at the strain of her muscles, but she leaned further into Blizzard's back nonetheless.

She took a deep breath, her eyes closed as she spoke,

"If you guys are going to be here then can you at least help us up?"

Rustling came hesitantly from the tree line as three heads emerged from the brush.

Fang glared at the girls as he stalked towards them, Frost had drool on his face as he rubbed his eyes, becoming more alert as he stumbled out of the bush, and, finally, Snowy rose and gave the sisters a smile and a shy wave at being discovered peeking on their training.

Fang was about to reach Blizzard and help the tired girl up when Snowy beat him to it; lifting the girl and putting her lightly on her feet, a slight glance behind him that made Fang's upper lip raise in disdain.

Blizzard simply shrugged at the hostility in the air, but let a smirk grace her lips at her brother's protectiveness.

Frost looked wearily at the two boys, sparks flying around them, and decided to sneak around them and to Iceis. She smiled and lifted her hands up to him, tilting her head to the side when he simply stood in front of her. Frost, slightly taken aback at the cute gesture directed at him, looked away, face flushed as he finally lifted her steadily to her feet. The warmth of her hands sinking into his only for a moment before they let go, he immediately regretted letting go of the soft touch, but before he had the chance to take her hand up again he felt heat on his back.

Frost stiffened as he looked towards Fang, his eyes warning him to keep his distance, a full snarl stretched over his lips. The twin's brother gave each a thorough glare before turning on his heels and stalking away.

Blizzard raised an eyebrow at Fang's back as she tenderly patted Snowy's shoulder, letting the touch drag in thank you as she walked away from the clearing. She shot Snowy a sublime smile, a smile that dug an arrow in his chest. She spun to face the way her brother did and headed on her way with out turning around.

Iceis mused over Snowy's enamored gaze as she reached for Frost's hand, showing a tight, cheery smile as she squeezed his hand momentarily. She let go as she skipped forward and turned back to him, her hands clasped behind her back as she leaned slightly forward,

"Come on, they won't wait for us, you know." She gave a radiant beam and spun gracefully around to follow her sister in suit.

The two boys walked next to each other as they watched the two captivating females in front of them.

"If they keep this up Fang and Kyoya will kill us." Frost murmured in a daze, smiling to himself when he saw Iceis trip over nothing and catch herself with a swivel of her arms, laughing as Blizzard punched her forearm lovingly.

"If they keep this up I might go insane." Frost nodded in agreement to Snowy's statement, but after a moment the two friends laughed at each other and their predicament, Snowy pushing Frost away playfully when he waggled an eyebrow at him.

Laughter filled the shadowing forest as the five headed back to the mansion, a feeling of peace surrounding them.

As Fang opened the front door to the building, his frustrations making him throw them open more than anything else, made Tsuna jump back in surprise. He and Kyoya had been walking through the main hall when the door all but crushed the small boss, but he became more startled when he saw the missing Snow users bruised and bleeding bodies. He began to stammer, flustered as he went towards them,

"What happened? Were you two attacked? Are you okay?" His eyes began to swim with worriment when Iceis waved him off, a giggle relieving some of the tension,

"No, nothing like that. We're fine, Tsuna."

He still stammered for answers on their small, but still significant injuries, but Blizzard folded her arms before rolling her eyes,

"Just some outside training is all. Now, who would like to show us to our rooms? Unless you want Iceis to sleep in the medical ward forever and me in Kyoya's room?" She raised her brow at Tsuna when she spoke the last part, smirking when she saw the small boy blush at what she was trying to imply.

She knew Tsuna wanted to be alone with her brother and the other way around, even if they didn't fully recognize it themselves.

Tsuna spotted a maid turning into the main hall from one of the many branches connected,

"Excuse me?" She was slightly started when she realized she was being addressed.

The timid woman bowed her head to Tsuna, never meeting his eyes as he asked her to take Blizzard and Iceis to their assigned rooms. She bowed deeply once again, much to Tsuna's discomfort, as she smiled plainly to the girls and gestured down the fall.

Blizzard nodded her farewell coolly to the others as Iceis simply waved, heading off towards their rooms, exhaustion not touching their face but their sluggish bodies revealed everything. Fang left with a grunt as Frost and Snowy looked towards the girls direction, but Kyoya's glare and Tsuna's concerned look made them sweat, some how feeling guilty for not stopping the sparring session from escalating to the level it did. They nodded to the older boys quickly as they escaped, heading to their rooms as well.

The next morning, the twins came drudging down stairs for breakfast, all eyes on them in horrid stares.

Iceis's hair was shorter in some spots from obvious close calls with a sharp instrument, her left arm was stiff and she held it close to her flank, and her obvious cringes at every motion signified a possible broken rib. Blizzard, on the other hand, sported a black eye, multiple bruises on her arm, and a slight limp in her step.

Iceis saw the looks they received as they took their seats next to Frost and Snowy, the boys getting accusing glares from Kyoya and Mukuro.

"It looks worst than it is, really. We sparred a little too roughly yesterday and the marks finally set in, but we're well rested and healthy, truly." Tsuna gave a skeptical look as he glanced between the girls, one smiling persistently and the other scowling, arms folded.

"Well, today I was planning on all of the tenth generation spending the day with their ninth generation counter parts; learning their wisdom. So, you guys would have a free day anyways, but I want you to rest." Blizzard looked at the boy with a deep frown and her scowl increasing, but before she could speak her protest Tsuna continued,

"You can still go outside of the mansion, but I don't want you two to spar till your wounds heal, got it?" His voice rang with absoluteness that Blizzard couldn't match, so she curled her lip momentarily then looked away, resigned.

With everyone leaving with their designated, older flame users, all that was left was the Snow users to sit alone at the dinning table. How they wished they weren't the only Snow guardians, but it can't be helped; their only true ancestor was the first generation Snow user Icey.

Snowy perked up suddenly as remembrance struck him,

"Lal and Colonello should be back right about now. I believe they're training in the garden, let's go visit." His eyes were gleaming with excitement as he stood, leading them all down to the garden.

Colonello and Lal flattened themselves to the ground, peering through their scopes at the target below the rise. Colonello's vision cleared and he focused squarely in the middle of the target among the flowers, his finger slowly squeezing the trigger of his Mauser SP66 sniper rifle, but a shot sounded off to his right. He jerked his head away from his scope and scoffed when he saw Snowy standing near the edge of the rise, his L96a2 pressed to his cheek, smoke coming out of the barrel.

The young boy let the rifle drop to his side as he gave a grin up at his master,

"You're getting too slow, Colonello." The master-sniper clicked his tongue in slight irritation,

"You're getting too cocky-kora." Lal began to laugh behind them, calling their attention,

"Well, you have the speed, but you still need some training." She gestured to the target; the bullet hole was one centimeter off the bulls-eye mark.

She straightened her arm and shot out a bullet from her arm mounted gun, landing straight in the middle with speed and accuracy.

Colonello whistled as he shaded his eyes from the looming sun while Snowy blushed in embarrassment at his blunder and cockiness.

The pupil and his masters talked and laughed as they all lay in a line, practicing together.

As for the others, Blizzard and Iceis rested near a shady tree, watching the three snipers practice. Fang went further into the forest and began to target trees with his S-Guns, practicing his speed more than anything else as he ran across the forest while shooting. Frost, much to Iceis's concern and disapproval, stood in front of the targets that Snowy, Colonello, and Lal were practicing with; dodging the bullets that wisped past him and onto the center markers. He would jump and twist all at the same time in order to dodge the on coming bullets that the three never hesitated to shoot.

Iceis rubbed her thighs as she watched Frost duck from a bullet that would have hit his heart.

"Stop that. You always do that when you're nervous." Blizzard, reading a book on supernatural creatures of the ages, spoke while casually turning a page.

"I can't help it," She whined as she rubbed her thighs faster in rebellion,

"He makes me so worried when he does things like this." Her sister smirked as Iceis frowned in perturbed concentration.

Blizzard laid her head on her lap in a successful attempt to stop her from rubbing down her skirt, Iceis groaned in acceptance.

Frost looked her way in the middle of the barrage of bullets, winking at her before lying on his back and rolling his way out of the fire zone, laughing the whole way. Iceis let out a relieved sigh as she waved to him, he walking up the hill to meet her, but the thunderous noise of a helicopter called his, and everyone else's attention.

CEDAF had returned.

Lal and Colonello watched as Iemitsu got out of the helicopter and went straight into the mansion, obviously going to report to Nono. The two decided to take a break, and wasn't surprised when they saw Snowy was no longer with them but next to Fang, betting he was a better shot then him; his cockiness returning after the much needed practice.

Colonello smiled at Lal as he went towards the two boys, already yelling how he was the best shot out of all of them.

Lal shook her head as she decided to head towards the other teens near the high resting tree. Frost was already sitting next to Iceis, receiving reparation for his reckless actions, but instead of looking despondent he looked blissful, perhaps even ecstatic. He didn't even seem to notice the sleeping Blizzard on her lap, the book she had been reading lay on her chest, raising softly with every shallow breath. To Lal's puzzlement, a Lynx laid at Blizzard's feet, flicking its ears at her as she made it to the tree. Her box weapon perhaps?

"Oh, Lal, if I'm correct, please join us." Iceis stopped her reprimanding as she looked up to Lal, all possible anger gone from her face as she spoke softly and gestured to the empty spot next to Frost. Lal nodded and took the seat she had been assigned,

"How are you feeling, Iceis? You look like a different person than when I first saw you." Her tone was passive and merely a question of custom that blatantly confused Iceis, before realization donned on her.

Frost scrunched his face as Iceis blankly looked at the ground, a smile that showed no emotion slipped on her face unconsciously as she petted Blizzard's silver locks; easing her sister who had begun to grumble in pain,

"Ah, right, let's keep it that way and make sure it never happens again." Her voice held no melancholy but simple resolve that reflected her physical presence; strong, calm, and calculating, but it all melted away in a moment as she covered her mouth to hide a friendly giggle.

"You don't have to put on such a disconcerted face, Lal, I understand you're not accustomed to speaking with others." Lal's face relaxed slightly and the sight of Colonello heading up to the tree helped as well.

Iceis saw Fang's aggressive pout and had to press her hand even harder over her mouth to stop herself from letting out a laugh,

"Brother, did Colonello beat you at your little game?" Fang looked at his little sister and let his pout erupt into a snarl,

"Shut up." She faced the growl with a guileless expression, giving him a look that said he couldn't faze her with rude words.

He stepped forward, but his words were cut off by Tsuna calling to the group of people half way through the garden,

"There you all are. It's time for lunch." Hayato followed Tsuna in suit and beckoned them in with a hand.

Blizzard stirred in Iceis's lap, grumbling as she opened one eye. Iceis flicked the back of the girls head,

"Now, be nice. You get food right now, so be grateful." She sighed and sat up, rubbing her head before stretching her limbs and yawning. She rose and headed in for lunch, Iceis and the rest following.

Nono looked up from his half eaten lunch as Tsuna and his followers walked in,

"Ah, I see you managed to find your missing members, Tsunayoshi." Everyone sat down, Blizzard already consuming the plate of food presented in front of her.

"I wanted to discuss something with you and your guardians while we all ate. Now that the Snow guardians have been released, is it safe to let them return to their homes or should they remain here for safe measure?"

The image of Kyoya's two-story, Japanese styled home appeared in both of the sister's minds at the mention of home. The warm bed that belonged only to them, Kyoya's mother and father that took them in all those years ago, and their own personal touches that made that house their one and true home made their heart ache with longing.

Tsuna gave a warm smile to his grandfather,

"Nono, I don't believe it to be wise to send my family home without sending all of us back. Nor is it fair to keep my Snow Guardians from their home when I'm sure they've missed it so much." Blizzard and Iceis looked up to their loving boss, a pool of orange caressing his eyes as he waited for the ninth to speak.

"It was only a suggestion, my boy. I'm glad you'll be returning home tonight, but I will be lonely. This old mansion hadn't been as lively in decades as it was when your family was here." He chuckled at the remembrance of all the chaos the small family had created in their short time in their temporary home.

"Tsuna, are we really going home tomorrow?" Iceis asked, eyes wide in disbelief, but they held a sparkle of excitement.

He nodded to her and then addressed the rest of his guardians.

"We're going home."