So here we are- the next chapter out. (That I actually wanted to release a day earlier… if it hadn't been for my cold.)

So anyway (- I say that a lot, no?) hope you guys enjoy it. I apologize for confusions or mistakes.

Disclaimer: Don't own KHR, just my OCs.

Lost Before Light 14

Home Tutor Dino

"Dino-san!" Tsuna seemed really relieved seeing him. Squalo on the contrary knew that he now had serious problems. His eyes twitched as he faced Dino.

"Bucking Horse Dino…"

"If you insist on continuing your tasteless little game," Dino narrowed his eyes, "I'll take you on."

"This is going to be a hassle if I take on the Bucking Horse," Squalo thought, but right after that, he spat: "VOI! It'd be fun to fight you here and now, Bucking Horse! But the brass won't like it if I take on the Family Alliance. So I'll go home quietly…" But in the next second, Squalo grabbed Tsuna by his hair and yanked him up. "There is no way I'm gonna do that!"

"Let go of Tsuna!" Dino shouted and swung his whip at the Varia member. But Squalo was prepared; by shooting several small amounts of gunpowder from his sword, he took the sight of Dino and the others.

The young mafia boss tried to find his way through the dustcloud, as he hissed: "Damn him!"

As he finally saw a little more again, he was able to find Tsuna and Basil, asking if they were all right.

Nike meanwhile threw a kick at Squalo who jumped past her to escape. However, he swung his sword once more, and Nike had to jump back not to get hit. "Che!"

Squalo then managed to jump on a building, preparing to escape.

"As soft as ever, Bucking Horse! For your sake, I'll leave their lives in your hands. But I'll take these with me!" He showed them the box that contained the Half Vongola Rings.

"Wah!" Dino's and Basil's eyes widened, while Nike noticed the cut in her leather jacket, furiously grabbing it. Squalo had streaked her after all. "AH! That bastard!"

"The Vongola Rings!" Basil meanwhile shouted in shock, while Squalo managed to escape. "See ya!"

"Come back here you…!" Nike was about to go after him. Now this was personal! Basil tried to go after him as well, but his injuries forced him on the ground, making Nike stop. She turned her head around, then looked into the direction Squalo had jumped off too, noticing he managed to get away. "Oh, c'mon..!"

"Don't push yourself!" Dino warned Basil.

"Pursuing him wouldn't be smart," Reborn told them.

"Cutting my jacket wasn't smart either," Nike huffed under her breath and crossed her arms, as Tsuna asked Reborn why he didn't help him.

"I'm not allowed to attack him. He's in the Vongola Family as well."

"A Vongola almost killed me!? What's going on?" Tsuna shouted frantically.

"… A picture of misery like always," Nike thought almost speechless at how pathetic someone could seem to be, leaving aside the fact he stood there in his underwear...

Meanwhile Romario and Dino's other subordinates took care of the injured Yamamoto and Gokudera, "Boss they're in bad shape." Dino nodded and picked up the unconscious Basil.

"Tsuna, let's talk later. We need to take care of their wounds first."

Tsuna ran up to them, asking if they were all right.

Yamamoto and Gokudera however, were determined to fight against Squalo again instead of worrying about their wounds. But Reborn put this idea out of their head right away. "You two can go home. You must have realized it. The way you are now, you'll just get in the way."

That was harsh, but definitely the truth, Nike thought and shrugged her shoulders. Tsuna tried to shout at his home tutor, the latter however simply turned Leon into a rope that wiggled around him to drag him along. Nike ignored Tsuna's complaints and looked at Dino.

"Hey, we should get outta here. The cops are coming."

He returned her look. "Let's go."

…

Back at the Nakayama Surgical Hospital, they brought Basil into a room where Romario took care of him. "How's Basil doing, Romario?" Dino asked.

"His life isn't in danger. Looks like he's been well trained. His wounds are shallow, boss," Romario answered.

"Um, who is he? Is he also a Vongola?" Tsuna asked confused. Dino looked at him. "No, he's not a Vongola. But he's definitely on your side."

"Wha..!? A Vongola is my enemy, and someone who isn't a Vongola is my ally?" Tsuna asked, but soon realized his words. "Besides, I don't have enemies or allies!"

"Idiot. That's no longer the case. Or do you need a slap in the face to realize that?" Nike asked cynically, leaning against the wall at the side of the window.

"Nike's right. It's because of those rings," Reborn continued, starting to explain about the Vongola Rings Basil had mentioned.

"The official name for them is the 'Half Vongola Rings'. They were supposed to be held in secret for three more years. They are the treasure of the Vongola. An untold amount of blood has been spilled over those rings in Vongola's history. They have a dark past."

Naturally, that totally freaked Tsuna out. "Really!? Thank goodness that long-haired man took them."

Nike snorted amused, while Dino started grinning, knowing he was about to destroy Tsuna's hopes.

"Well the thing is…" Dino held up a box with the Vongola crest on it. "I have them right here."

Reborn twitched shortly, while Tsuna almost fell unconscious because of the shock. "Why? I thought they were stolen!?"

"These are real," Dino simply answered, then smiled. "We came here because of these." He nodded over to Nike. "A certain individual asked me to give these to you."

"Why me… those scary rings…" Tsuna started sweating, having an ominous feeling.

Dino grinned. "Because you are the 10th Vongola–"

"STOP!" Tsuna threw his hands up in the air. "I have to study! See you later, Dino-san!" Tsuna said, and threw the door shut. "HIIIIII!"

"Oi, Tsuna, wait!" Dino called after him, but he was already up and away.

Nike just stared doubtingly after him. "… Wacko."

"And if he knew just how dark the past of these rings is, he'd probably die of shock…" she thought.

"Does he still think he can run away from his position?" Dino asked a little amused, still holding onto the rings. Then they turned around to look at the sleeping Basil.

"So, Basil was the bait," Reborn mumbled. "Yeah, he probably didn't even know," Dino said. "I think Iemitsu knew this would happen, so it wasn't an easy decision. But he could have just given Tsuna these rings directly."

"Yeah.. he came with us to Japan, after all," Nike commented, thinking of the rather unpleasant thought with Iemitsu's annoying suggestions about her and Dino.

"I see… so he came…" Reborn said.

~~~The next morning~~~

"Something weird happened this morning. This was in my mailbox!" Yamamoto told Tsuna, holding up one of the Half Vongola Rings, Gokudera doing the same. All three of them were back at the hospital Dino and Nike were staying at, waiting at the entrance hall.

"This is bad, they'll come after us if we have them!" Tsuna freaked out yet again, holding up the Half Vongola Ring that hung around his neck on a necklace. "But why did they go to you two?"

"Because they were also chosen," Dino told him, finally showing himself, Reborn next to him. Nike walked after them, yawning. After all, she had been the one delivering the rings to Yamamoto and Gokudera in the middle of the night.

"There are seven Vongola Rings. They only have meaning when Family members have them. The six other rings have been delivered to people who are worthy of protecting the next Vongola boss, Tsunayoshi Sawada. This ring is proof that you are the successor, Tsuna," Reborn explained.

"Why are you making choices for me? Besides, why are you dragging the others into this!?" Tsuna complained. Gokudera however, seemed happy like a little abandoned puppy that just found a new home.

"Gokudera's ring is the Ring of Storm. Yamamoto's the Ring of Rain," Reborn continued, while Tsuna wondered if this was a weather report.

"The first Vongola boss had a variety of unique members. They helped to shape the rings. The first boss was said to be like the sky, engulfing everything. So his Ring was the Ring of Sky. The other rings were named after various kinds of weather that colour the sky. The shower that washed all away, the Ring of Rain. The wind that fiercely whirls about, the Ring of Storm. The floating cloud that won't be caught by anyone and walks its own path, the Ring of Cloud. The sun that illuminates the Sky, the Ring of Sun. The illusion that prohibits knowledge of its own nature, the Ring of Mist. The thunderbolt that holds a harsh strike, the Ring of Thunder."

"Stop, stop! I just don't want mine!" Tsuna's head spun already, and searched for help by his friends. Yamamoto actually agreed, saying that he didn't get what was going on. Tsuna seemed delighted. But as soon as he mentioned that Squalo would come after them if they held onto the rings, Yamamoto and Gokudera suddenly looked serious.

"What's the matter?" Tsuna asked them.

"This is mine, right?" Yamamoto looked at the Rain Ring with a determined smile. "I don't think I can stick with being the loser!" The next second, he already ran out of the hospital. Gokudera followed after him. "I won't put this ring to shame!"

Tsuna looked after them with wide eyes, and even Nike couldn't help but be surprised. Those guys weren't as wimpy as she had thought…

"Maybe they have some guts after all."

Meanwhile Dino grinned a little teasingly. "Good job, Tsuna! Thanks to your words they are willing to train."

Tsuna ruffled his hair in frustration. "I didn't intend to do that!" Then he turned around to look at Reborn. "And what are you doing!?" he asked his home tutor, who was changing into different costume, which he called 'Master PaoPao', a hat in shape of an elephant adorning his head.

"The remaining four guardians need to train in 10 days or they won't be able to beat Varia," Reborn told Tsuna.

"You can just hope that Varia won't notice that those rings Squalo stole are fake. I don't really think it will take them 10 days to realize it, though," Nike noted with a side glance to Reborn.

"Well, then they can just go bury themselves," Reborn said with a somewhat amused tone.

"I don't want this!" Tsuna cried. "And anyway! Who are the other 4?"

"You know all 4 very well. The one with the Ring of Sun will be coming soon." As soon as Reborn had said it, they already heard a voice. In the next seconds, Ryohei Sasagawa, Kyoko's brother and Captain of Namimori's boxing club, ran into the hospital, already wearing the Sun Ring.

"Is it true that you will train me!?" he shouted excitedly. Then he saw Tsuna. "Hey, Sawada! We're taking on an enemy, right!? I heard about what happened, and about the rings as well…"

Nike looked at him. "Is this guy actually useful?"

As soon as she thought it, Ryohei already shouted: "BUT I'VE FORGOTTEN IT ALL!"

Nike almost fell over. "…. No, he's not."

Suddenly, Reborn's pacifier started glowing, the sign that another Arcobaleno was near. It turned out to be Colonello, a former Comsubin member.
"Why is Colonello here!?" Tsuna asked, rubbing his cheek were Colonello had kicked him for a greeting, as both Arcobalenos started arguing. Tsuna had enough. "Explain!"

"I don't have time to train everyone, so I arranged personal home tutors," Reborn answered, while Colonello started poking Ryohei with his riffle.

"Hey! Is he really that weak?" Colonello asked.

"Yeah, out of the 7 chosen members, he is the weakest," Reborn said, making Colonello chuckle, much to Tsuna's surprise. Then Ryohei accepted Colonello as home tutor, and both ran outside to train.

"Then I'm going to go train as well," Dino finally said.

"You're going to be a home tutor, too?" Tsuna asked. "Aren't you going to fight with us?"

"Unfortunately, because of the alliance's position, I can't do anything," Dino explained.

Tsuna started feeling sick. "That's too much! I was counting on you!"

"Sorry, Tsuna. This is all I can do for you now," he apologized.

"So are you leaving to train Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto?"

Dino shook his head. "Nope. I got some other problem child."

However, Reborn assured Tsuna that both of his friends would find home tutors on their own…

"Well anyway, let's get going?" Nike stretched herself and looked at Dino. He nodded. "Yep, let's go."

…

Dino, Nike and Romario were on their way to Namimori Middle School.

"So Reborn said this guy is really that troublesome?" Nike asked Dino while they entered the school, referring to the one Dino was supposed to train.

"Well, he said he is a problem child. But he's needed for Tsuna's family, so…"

"Oh well, you'll handle it somehow," Nike said. Dino noticed that her presence next to him faded, despite her still being there. He grimaced.

"So you really don't plan on doing anything, right?"

Nike grinned. "Well, I did say I could kick that shark's ass, but you said no. So nope, I will lean back and enjoy the show."

He sighed in return. "Yeah and if I don't do a good job, who know what reborn will do with me."

"I can pretty much guess what he'll do" she retorted, thinking about all the stunts Reborn had already pulled. A cold shower went down Dino's spine. "Don't talk about scary stuff."

Shortly after, they reached the reception room and Dino opened the door. Inside he found a boy with black hair looking aloof and sharp as he coldly glared at Dino.

"So you are Kyoya Hibari."

"Who are you?" he asked sharply, but Dino wasn't imitated by it.

"I'm Dino. I'm like Tsuna's older brother and also an acquaintance of Reborn." Now the boy seemed interested.

"That baby's… So you're strong."

"I want to talk to you about your ring with the cloud mark."

"I don't care about that at all," he responded and stood up, bringing out his tonfas. "As long as I can bite you to death."

Nike blinked with a blank face. "Wow, this is gonna be a pain… for Dino."

"A problem child, indeed." Dino had to grin and brought out his whip. "Fine, that will speed things up."

…

Dino's whip cracked, Hibari's tonfa blinked. Both faced each other. Nike and Romario watched from a distance, leaning against the wire fence that confined the rooftop of the school.

"I haven't been on the rooftop of a school in a while. I like this place," Dino told Hibari with a confident smile.

"Then I will let you stay here forever," Hibari responded and didn't hesitate to attack. He swung his tonfas at Dino, which the latter evaded without losing his confidence. When Hibari tried to uppercut him, Dino stretched his whip and held the tonfa back with it, the leather making noises as the metal pressed against it.

"You're pretty good for your age," Dino told him.

"What are you saying? I'm going easy on you," Hibari responded and swung his other tonfa at him. Dino ducked himself, but still felt the weapon brushing his hair.

"He's a fearsome brat. That's why he is needed for Tsuna's family," Dino thought without leaving Hibari out of his eyes.

"Hmm… Dino's going easy on him…" Nike murmured. "Seems that way," Romario agreed as Nike thought:

"But that still doesn't change the fact that this kid is pretty talented…"

"I have no choice!" Dino swung his whip again, which Hibari evaded. However, he didn't notice Dino's actual plan…

His whip wiggled itself around the gutter behind Hibari, than shot forward and wrapped itself around one of Hibari's tonfas, preventing the boy to move.

"You're still a frog in a well. I don't want you to be satisfied at your current level. I'll make you stronger, Kyoya."

"No," Hibari simply said, launched forward and managed to graze Dino's face.

"Idiot. He let down his guard," Nike grumbled, then shrugged. "But at least he avoided a direct blow."

"So, how should I tame him?" Dino thought, seemingly still enjoying their little fight.

…

The next day seemed to be worse than the one before. Yet again, Dino and Hibari were about to 'train' on the rooftop, and Hibari wouldn't listen to a word Dino said. All he cared about was fighting… And the story with the rings didn't interest him at all. It was fairly amusing for Nike, but for Dino, it was just nerve-racking.

"Hey Kyoya! Before we start fighting today, listen to what I have to say about the Rings," Dino said.

"That's fine, though I'm not interested in anything except tearing you apart," Hibari replied.

Dino started rubbing the back of his head, starting to get a little annoyed. "What a pain."

"Hey!" Hibari called out to him. "If you don't fight me seriously…." he walked over to the wire fence and held his hand with the Cloud Ring over it. "I'll throw this ring away."

Dino's eyes widened in shock and he started waving his hands desperately. "Ah! Wait! You Bastard!"

"This guy… he's either proud or just obsessed with fighting," Dino thought, his eyes glancing embarrassed yes slightly irritated to Romario who started laughing at his flustered boss, and to Nike, who even had to hold her stomach as she tried to stiffer her laugher.

When they started attacking each other again, Nike leaned back against the fence out of boredom.

"This will be such a long day again…"

"I guess so," Romario agreed. Then the 18-year old got an idea. "Hmm… maybe we can speed things up?"

Romario looked at her, already thinking of the worst outcomes. Her ideas were sometimes a bit… unusual. "Didn't you say you wanted to stay out of this?"

"Don't worry. I'll just bully Kyoya a little bit." Her voice somehow hid a bit of mischief. She had hidden her presence for the time they had met Hibari, just as she had learned, but now, to speed things up, she had another idea…

Within the next second, her face became serious, releasing a killer intend she usually directed towards Rika when she was angry at her.

Hibari immediately noticed it and now, the second day after meeting Dino, looked at her. He turned on his heels and ran towards Nike with his tonfas prepared to attack, ignoring Dino completely, who still seemed a little confused that Nike suddenly decided to intervene.

"Oi, Kyoya! Wait!" Dino tried to call him back, even hauling his whip after him to draw him back. But Hibari had already reached Nike and swung his tonfa. To his surprise, Nike had already jumped on the wire fence behind her.

He looked up at her coldly as she folded her arms behind her back and looked down on him with an expression of amusement and even worse for the boy – hidden mockery.

"Man, that was kinda close." A grin appeared on her face. His calm face turned into an icy glare.

"Get down there so that I can bite you to death."

Nike leaned her head to the side as her face turned blank. "Don't wanna." Then she pulled down her eyelid and stuck out her tongue. "Come get me if you wanna fight. Bleh~"

Something within the boy's eyes flinched as he reached out with his tonfa to strike her feet. She jumped again, only to land at the same spot. The wire fence wagged somewhat, making clattering noises.

"If you wanna fight me that badly, how about you listen about the rings?" she asked him a little bored.

"No," was the only thing she got to hear as a response.

"Hmm… What an interesting fellow." She squatted down and pointed at Dino. "You know, this guy is going easy on you the whole time."

Hibari jerked around, making Dino flinch as the boy looked at him as if he was his prey.

"I told you I'd throw the ring away," Hibari said coldly, yet Nike had the feeling he seemed to be really angry. Dino just send Nike look of disbelief. Romario gaped at her as well.

"Is this how you wanted to help?"

"Well maybe things will speed up now," she responded with an implied shrug.

And so Dino gave up, preparing his whip, again rather confidently. "I got it. Then it's a deal. If I win in a serious battle, you're going to be part of Tsuna's family."

Hibari smirked almost unnoticeable. "If you can."

LOL I like Hibari XD Pissing him off would be my pride and joy... I'd probably end up in a hospital though…. Nike will have her problems with him too *muhahaha*

And I like how Hibari never listens to Dino XD This guy is just a class of his own haha XD Though I don't understand why he doesn't want to be tutored by him… I would TOTALLY want that *starts daydreaming.. starts drooling… snaps out of it again* A-anyway… *sweats*

And thank you sooo much for your kind words! *gives cookie* :D Always happy to read them :3

And for everyone that wants to throw something at me for the almost non-interaction between Dino and Nike in this chapter *takes cover* I have my plans for the next chapter... Maybe. *runs away*

Hope to see you next time! Ciao! :D