Previously
Dino shrugged before giving the boy a thumbs up. "Good job!" He smiled brightly before it sank. "Time to tutor the trouble kid." He sulks as his back arched forward. Reborn felt the urge too kick him. Iemitsu then tosses his ally a ring. Dino slipped it into his pocket. Reborn hops over to Tsuna and smacked him but the latter did not respond. He sighed and looked at the ring in Basil's hand. "Pass the ring to him only when he manages the First's technique. He will be ready by then."
Basil nods his head firmly.
Chapter 14 - Was it like this? (training part 2)
Tsuna's arms flapped widely as he balanced himself in the middle of huge barrels of explosives. Dino had left for the trouble kid while his father had went off to somewhere he is not bothered about. Basil and Reborn stood far from the mines while screaming instructions to 'stay alive' at the struggling brunet. Seriously, which tutor would make their student stand on a small pitiful flat rock on one leg in the middle of hundred over explosives?! That's Reborn and the Mafia trainings for you.
"Don't worry Sawada-dono, I have reduced the amount of gun powder in the explosives." Basil chirped happily. Tsuna paled at the news. "IT'S NOT COMFORTING!" Basil just shrugged.
"Dame-Tsuna, concentrate!" Reborn shouted. For that moment, Tsuna turned his head around and shouted back. "What did you say- Ah!" He slipped. Boom! Reborn shook his head in disappointment as he went forward to retrieve his student. "He still have got long ways to go."
From the town area, Chrome stopped and turned her head over to where she could hear an explosion. She could see smoke rising from one side of the mountain.
"Is there any problem, my dear Chrome?" Mukuro asked. Chrome shook her head and smiled back at her brother. Not that Mukuro did not notice the loud sound, he just choose to ignore it. "Okay then, let's head back home and continue our training." Chrome fingered the ring she held onto. The patterns seem familiar but she could not wrap a finger around it. At the same time, she knows that the ring should not be that way, like what she saw in her dreams.
Just then, another explosion shook her out of her thoughts and a shiver went down her spine. She glanced at Mukuro and saw that sadistic smirk. Before she knew it, she was shaking her head at the childish thoughts of her twin.
Inwardly, Mukuro laughed. That skylark is not going to like his town getting destroyed by his very own boss. Good luck to both of you~
Hibari sneezed consecutively. Kusakabe handed him a clean piece of tissue. "You may take your leave now." The vice chairman bowed and left.
Just as he could sink into his beloved silence and solitude, the door of his office creaked open. Opening an eye, he saw a blond herbivore and a herbivore wearing sunglasses. Anger built up within him. Those two broke a few rules already and he does not like it. He narrows his eyes dangerously at the visitors.
Sensing a choking aura emitted from the boy, Dino mustered his courage and spoke up. "Hibari Kyoya. Am I right?"
"Who are you? Where are your visitor passes?" Hibari hissed.
"Ah? We have to carry some passes to get in? My bad!" Dino laughed and scratched his head. A vein popped in Hibari. "Anyway, I am Reborn's acquaintance and I am tasked to tutor you." Hibari smirked and took out his tonfas. "The infant's... then you must be strong." He jumped out of his sofa and launched at the blond.
Dino let out a small yelp before his hands went into action. His whip entangle into the skylark's weapons. "Let's take it to the roof shall we? We're going to damage more property if we keep up this fight here." He persuaded. The words sank into Hibari as he collapsed his weapons. Dino heaved in relief and passed the ring to his new student, not that Hibari acknowledges him as one.
He watched as Hibari's fingers clasp around the object and his eyes glazed purple violently. His fingers tightened around it as his fist shook, maybe in anger. His teeth grit and his breaths came faster. Sensing something very wrong, he grabbed the prefect's shoulders and looked into his far etched eyes.
"Here!" Giotto handed him a ring. He was about to refuse when he saw Giotto's dark orange eyes, filled with determination, urging for him to take it. "What is it for?"
"Maybe to signify that we're friends?"
Alaude snorted. "Then I'll have you take it back." Giotto seemed to panic for a moment as he pushed it back into the detective's hands.
"Then think of it as a symbol that you're someone of high ranks in the Vongola. It can proof handy in times of battle too." Giotto pleaded. "You'll get to arrest many people who stands in the way of justice. A-and I'll spar with you time to time!"
Alaude smirked at the offer and grasp it in his hand. "I'll take up on that offer then. Now go, before I arrest you due to a breach of privacy." Giotto shrieked slightly before dashing off with G 'flying' behind. "Yes Alaude!"
... Oi!
He stands in the middle of a sea of men. Not his favourite thing to do but this is war and these men are going against the rules. He smirked as he remembers the first time he got hold of the ring. He ignited his ring and fought gallantly. For a moment, he saw the insignia of the crows blaring red at him.
"OI! You there?" Dino shook the prefect out of his trance. Hibari clutched his head and glared at the man in front of him. Dino paled and turned to run, not before watching his student's eyes glow purple for a second. His short moment of surprise did not last long as the teenager in front of him growled. "I'll arrest you for waking me up!"
A manly shriek was heard down the halls as dusts covered the discipline committee's eyes. A blur of black and blonde flashed past together with the sound. Tetsuya just sighed and continued to patrol the school like his captain wants him to.
"CONCENTRATE!" Reborn ordered the brunet. Tsuna breathed in and out calmly. Forming a rectangle with his thumb and index finger, his flame flickered, leaking wildly and uncontrollably. Reborn tilted his fedora forward as Basil watched with awe. He turned around and faced them. Basil lit him blade and readied himself for his command.
"GO!"
Basil launched forward, his flaming tip aimed at the other. Tsuna's arms stretched out and grabbed the blade with his fingers. Blue flames began to get sucked into an unknown portal between those fingers and Tsuna's flame grew larger. Reborn widened his eyes. "Basil, you may stop." Said boy pulled away and panted slightly, his eyes glimmering in admiration. Tsuna blinks away the orange in his eyes and exhaled loudly.
"Did I do it?"
Reborn shrugged. "I've never seen the first's technique so I don't know. Instead, I think you should. What does your intuition say?"
Tsuna's brows furrowed. "Zero point breakthrough: First edition... Hm, I-I'm there... A-At the same time, I'm not. So, I-I don't really know... Sorry." Slowly, Basil walked over and placed his hand on his shoulder. He stretched his hand forward and passed the brunet an object. "I think it's fine for you to hold onto it now. After all, I think you've passed." Tsuna opened his palm, revealing a ring with a blue orb, engraved inside is an insignia of the Vongola.
The Vongola ring... Was it like this?
"Bocchan... Your aim is off again. Do you have anything on your mind?" Rosetta asked worriedly. The heir tch'ed and and crushed the empty cartridge before roughly tossing it aside. He forces a new one into the barrel. "Nothing at all."
The pink haired girl frowned. "If it's nothing, it does not explain how come your marksmanship, which is normally on the spot, is off today. An explanation young man!"
"I'm your superior so I don't have to tell you a thing!" His voice was raised. She flinched slightly though she knows not to show it. Her bangs lowered to cover her eyes. Klein walked in in time to see her shoulders shaking. He stood by the door frame and watched. "True... You are my superior... But now, I'm of higher rank than you. Your father sent us here to guide you! Not to be your servants! YOU UNDERSTAND?" Her voice raised higher than her charge's, her dark pink eyes glazing in anger. Klein cowered a little, it's rare for her to flare up like this. He decides to talk. "That's right, Alex. We're here as your guides, not your servants. We are, after all, under your father. You do have your guardians there as well. Right?"
"Ah, Klein, Just in time. Spar with me!" He took his aim at him. Klein shrugged and unsheathed a sword, lighting it with blue flames. Rosetta quickly moves to the side as a barrage of bullets started to fire. Klein sliced a few and dodged the others, avoiding the bullets.
"Bocchan... So impatient. Have you learnt your manners?" Klein mocked and laughed as he watched his opponent's face turn bright red. Using that as an opening, he charged forward and swings his sword but Rovinco leapt backwards. A small smirk appeared on their faces. "I didn't learn my manners, are they needed in our brutal and unforgiving society?"
"Really? You're going to have trouble creating alliances." Klein laughed and tilts his head, in time to dodge another bullet.
"I will? Then how do I have ten famiglias allied with me already?" Rovinco retorted.
"Maybe it's your father's influence that caused them to agree with the alliance?" He answered as he brings his sword down. Rovinco, however, dodged the blow and delivered his own into Klein's chest. Klein caught the fist and twists the boy's wrist. Rovinco winced in pain. "Too early to do that. Wait till you get more training, and remember your basics." Klein lets go of him and pushed him away, gesturing for Rosetta to leave as well.
Rovinco stands in the middle of the room. His eyebrows creased as deep thoughts flowed into his mind. "My guardians? Ha! A bunch of weaklings. I don't need them at all." The other two lowered their head in disappointment behind his back. This boy is definitely someone they don't want to follow.
"Stand up Enma!" Adelheid shouted, her battle fans close by her side. He picked himself up and continued to pant heavily. His ring glowed as a flame sprouted on his head. He puts his hands in front of him and clenched his fist. Metal fans were forced out of Adelheid's hands and flung aside. He dashes forward and punched the girl but she hunched backwards and kicked Enma by his chin.
Flung by the outrageous force the girl has, he rubs his sore chin as he clears his head. He pushed himself off the floor and charged again. Adelheid sighed harder and throws him again. The others winced at the harsh training while Julie just tried to flirt with the girl, not that she attended to him. Enma hits his fist against the rock he leaned against. "What am I doing wrong?"
"If you're going to charge head on like that on the battlefield, its suicide." His trainer barked. "It does work at times but it doesn't last long. Your style is too typical!"
"Unless you're an illusionist. Right, Adel?~" Julie flirted, not minding the fact that he got punched in the face hard. He just pouted at the unfair amount of attention showered on that red head but Enma is boss so... Julie decided to watch the brutality with the others with a pout.
"But that flirt is right. As they trap their victims in illusions, their victims do not have a clear grip on reality and thus they can charge head on. However, we can't say they charged head-on since they used illusions beforehand." Adel smacked her forehead when the flirt returned. Enma shies away from the disgusting scene and crawled to a corner, deciding to think about what his friend said. Shitt. P floated over and tapped lightly on his shoulder. "Don't fret over it. Fight for yourself, you have our support even though Adelheid-chan seem to like punching you." Enma sweatdrops. "We care about you so don't give up." A rare smile surfaced on her face. Enma could not help it but return the favour.
Don't worry Cozart, we will always be there for you. His eyes glazed that earthy red as he smiled to himself.
That paper plane is gone. Charred. Burnt. Whatever word you use to call a paper that came in contact with fire. The ashes floated away in the breeze as the thoroughly-wrapped -in-bandages teenager panted away. Excitement boiled unsteadily within him as he burst into loud cheers. His efforts had paid off! His tutor smirked as he picked his nose and threw the green muck away, his student watched in disgust despite his happy moment.
"Don't just flick your dirt on the grass! It may be an UMA in disguise as grass!"
Shamal just grunted. "If it is, then wouldn't it had attacked?"
"NOT ALL UMAs ATTACK HUMANS!" Gokudera huffed. Shamal just shrugged and waved the scolding off like a breeze in the wind. "What's next, Shamal?"
The assassin kept silent, ignoring the constant huffing from that student he is teaching, sinking deep into his thoughts. He could not think of anything more to teach because...
-Before tutoring Gokudera-
"You don't have to teach Gokudera how to use the gun or the crossbow or an arrow. Neither do you have to give him the mosquitoes even if he begs you on the knees." Reborn said. Shamal cocked an eyebrow. All he could ask is,
"Why?"
Reborn narrowed his eyes for a moment, as if thinking about something. "He has the blood. Give him a gun and he'll show you miracles. His family handed him a gun once and required him to shoot at targets. You can say the results are surprising."
-End of flashback-
He fishes out a gun that was hidden at the lower calf of his leg, under his white pants and tossed it to the bomber. He caught it out of reflex. "A gun? You're giving a 14 year old a gun."
"I thought you've held one when you were five?"
Gokudera shuts his eyes and thought hard. "I guess I did. So why did you hand me a gun?" He started to spin the weapon. Shamal picked up the remaining few paper planes and throws them forward. "Fire." The word seem to click into him as his eyes turned red. His fingers shifting nicely over the grip as he pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each airplane drifted down, their wings carried a burning red hole exactly in the centre. The passion burning behind the boy's eyes died down as they turned back to the usual emerald green. Shamal just stood there with his straight face but inside, he was shocked. His student shot down moving projectiles. Seems like that Sun Arcobaleno is correct. He does not need guidance for such. He is a natural. A genius like, he dares to say, him.
"You're on your own now!" Shamal stated and waved, forgetting to reply what Gokudera asked. The silver head grunt and shouted, "Hey! Why did you pass me a gun?!"
"To check your abilities. Guess I don't have to teach more anyways." He flings a silver object to him. Gokudera fumbled and caught that small item. A silver ring with a symbol of the storm. "I've got nothing more to teach you. Bye!"
"H-hey!"
"Ah! Spending one week with a guy. Nevertheless, a guy without girls! I need a girl!" Shamal shouted and drained the many protests from Gokudera. In the end, he gave up trying to call the flirt and stared at the familiar object at hand. A ruby like ring flashed across his mind.
"Was the ring like this?"
Lambo is still carefree, roaming the noisy streets like a typical child with no parents. The place is simply too crowded and noisy for his taste. His eyes scanned around and he found a green patch of land, suitable for him to run about. He started to skip towards his destination when...
Click.
"Turn around and your head will be blown off." A cold voice rang. Bathing in fear, he froze. Suddenly, that cold voice transformed into a hearty laugh as the little boy turned around hesitantly. A gruff land plopped down on his afro, ruffling his hair like an overgrown kid. Lambo's eyes zoned out on the blond idiot-looking adult, who has a smile albeit too bright, his eyes watery. He swats away the hand and pulled out his favourite, yet forbidden, device.
"Ga...Ma...N... I CAN'T!"
He aimed the device at himself, in front of the panicking adult. He looked at the adult, the eyes speaking another volume. That man... he expected this. Poof! Pink smoke appeared and vanished, a young man with extremely dark green hair stood there. "Yare yare... Ore-sama wa doko(1)?"
"The ten-year bazooka really works... You must be Lam-"
Electricity spiked off the teen in front of him, green sparks rubbing off his static-like skin. "Po. It's Lampo." The man is confused, haven't the lightning guardian of the first generation died? It has been 400 years after all. Why is this boy, clearly the Bovino family's Lambo, claim himself as "Lampo?" The teen nodded. "I'm Lambo. At the same time, I'm Lampo." The eyes sparked electrifying green. Iemitsu widens his eyes, it was the same phenomenon that is reflected in the boy's file.
Ignoring the shocks he was accidentally given, he took out a silver ring and a pair of rusty-looking horns. Lambo accepted the ring without question, knowing exactly what was expected out of him. He clasp the ring slightly and looked at his fist. Sparks glowed from within as the boy gets entranced by the motion. Iemitsu slipped the horns into the pockets and walked away slowly, allowing the boy to mesmerise himself until the time is up.
The five year old sat there with a wrench-like lollipop in his mouth as he looked at the huge 'bangle' around his wrist.
"I'm selling this brat to you Vongola Primo. He really doesn't deserve to be here. Useless Child!" His father berated in front of Giotto. Kneeled on the floor, Lampo's fists clenched and unclenched over and over again on his knees. He grit his teeth in anger and he tried to blink away the hot tears in his eyes. He is not going to show that he is weak, neither would he show that he is strong.
After all, he is just a coward, a brat. Everyone knows that.
Small sparks of electricity ran through his skin as uncontrollable tears rolled down the side of his cheeks. He muffled his cries and lowered his head more, trying to avoid people from seeing his red puffy eyes. "Stupid Old Man," he mumbled in between his sobs softly. His 'old man' heard it and kicked him in his stomach. He continued his crouched position on the floor, only bending more to push down his aching stomach. Tears flowed out even more as his sobs turn into violent soft cries. Sparks of electricity began to touch everything it meets, including the people in the room. His 'old man' then saw light in the boy. His eyes glint evilly as he cackled. "OOH! THAT POWER! I WANT THAT POWER!" His eyes glowed in greed as he began to laugh maniacally. "I need you in the family Lampo. I want you to help conquer the world with me with that power!"
Fear was written all over the boy as he began to ignore his pain and shifted further from the mad man. He began to shake in that feeling. Who would not? You are talking about a mad wanting you for power. His shrunk down and covered his head. "Ah-haha...ha ha. I need you Lampo."
"You have enough power and you still want more? Your desire for power is too much, it's greed. Plus, you've already gave him to me so it'll be rude to return your gift." He lifted the boy to support him. "So I'm taking him away from this family." Lampo's eyes widened. "YOU'RE KIDNAPPING ME?"
"Even better than that." Giotto smiled brightly. Lampo paled slightly but his instincts told him to trust him. Giotto's smile spread even wider as he yanked the boy out. Screams and shouted of protest closed could be heard behind the close mahogany doors. The blond lets go and started to laugh. Lampo just stared, confused. "You're really strong you know, Lampo? Against that old man. Attracting trouble to oneself to keep others from harm like a lightning rod. You've really proven your worth." He handed him a ring and gave an assuring nod. "Join me in keeping the town safe. I welcome you into the family." Lampo accepted it with tears in his eyes. At that moment, he gained a brotherly figure. "Thank you! Primo."
"Not you too!"
"Why?"
"Everyone else at the Vongola mansion calls me 'Primo'!"
"Oh that's good. I'm not lonely!"
"NO!"
He started to chuckle a little at the memory. His eyes then flashed green as he looked at the ring. After all, that object was what he possessed long ago, the lightning Vongola ring. The only thing is that...
Was the ring like this?
(1) 'Ore-sama wa doko' means 'Where am I'
Tadaima! How's the chapter? Honestly, I had fun writing out the different flashbacks and plots and I hope you can leave a review on the chapter. Reviews make me really happy and I really don't mind reviews that are meant to criticize because they help authors improve. I like guest reviews too as all kinds of reviews make me happy. Next month would only have one update so if you wait for too long, please don't mind too much. Please be patient with me. Thank you!
P.S. There'll be an omake coming up very soon so leave a comment on what scene would you want to see. If it's romance, I doubt I can write one so please suggest stories surrounding family or friendship. I am horrible at writing other genres.
P.S.S. Please review on the grammar mistakes or improvements for this chapter. I think there's a lot.
Ja-ne!
Published: 27/3/15