Chapter 19: Ring of Sun Battle

"It's time already?" I hoarsely asked myself as I look up at the ceiling. I guess the 10 days are up. I was panting and beads of sweat was covering my body, making my clothes stick to my skin. There were also small cuts and patches of bruises covering my body. The Fukei were littered all over the floor and unconscious, their face swollen; body bruised and splattered of blood everywhere with dents on the ground and walls.

"I guess I went a bit over board." I said before placing my hand over my mouth and coughing roughly, making my eyes water. I shakily remove my hand to see it covered in blood. "Damn, I did go a bit over board." My throat was rough and scratchy, not a great feeling.

I wipe the blood onto my jeans before forcing myself to pick up the Fukei and carry them one at a time into my living room where I treat their wounds and cover them with a blanket. The room seem to sway as I stood up. My vision was blurred out and I could feel a major headache forming. I manage to head toward the showers and wash off the sweat and grim before I treated and bandage my wounds.

After that, I shakily walk into the kitchen and toward the fridge. I open the fridge to fetch a large wine bottle. My hands shook as I reach for a glass cup and pour the bright, thick, red liquid into it. I didn't want to drink it, but I need to, no I had to. I took the glass and chug it quickly, not even going to try to savor it before placing everything back. I stood still for a moment, already feeling my strength being restored before walking back into the living room.

"Sleep well you guys, and rest up, you guys deserve it." I said softly placing a kiss on everyone's forehead before walking out of the house and toward Namimori School.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"You put this here, ties this here, then you just pull it and Walla." I said to myself as I put the finishing touches on the boxing arena. You see, I was told to help out with setting up the battles and I just finished setting up the arena for the "Ring of Sun" battle.

I was pretty excited for the battles and couldn't wait for it to begin; I just know it's going to be awesome. I'm not excited for my friends to get hurt, but I know that this will help them get stronger, no matter how painful it will be to watch them. They need to get stronger so that they can survive the cruel world. Besides, they say that the younger you are, the better you absorb the knowledge.

A few moments later I heard talking so I quickly stroll up to the middle of the arena where I stood tall and host-like, I even wore a black and white suit without the jacket. The spotlight flickers on and I saw that Tsuna, Reborn, Ryouhei, Yamamoto, Gokudera, and Lambo were already there. "EEEHHH! What are you doing here Yuki?! And what is this?!" Tsuna asked.

"This is a special arena that we've prepared for the match between the guardians of the Sun." one of the judges said.

"This time we put the traits of the guardians of the sun into consideration and prepared the arena, although the different matches will be located in different area." The other one finished.

"I'm here because I was helping them set it up and did you think that I would miss these battles Tsuna?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, "I wouldn't miss this for the world; beside I'm also here to support you guys."

"Yuki…" Tsuna said looking slightly grateful, but was still nervous, "The match is going to begin…Aaahh, I'm so nervous! I envy those who have no clue what is going on!"

"Hey Yuki, where's Arata and he others? And what happen to you?" Yamamoto asked motioning to my bandaged hands and face. The other wounds were hidden underneath my clothes so that they wouldn't see them. I was hoping that no one would ask about it, but I guess we can't get everything we want.

"Oh we just did some training for 10 days nonstop." I said chuckling darkly at the memory.

"What?!" Tsuna shouted in disbelief.

"Yup, it was my Hell's Boot Camp Program. Fortunately they had gone unconscious 3-5 times in total, so we had lots of fun!" I beam at that fact, while Tsuna looks a bit pale.

"That's extremely great!" shouted Ryouhei as he starts burning with passion.

"But no need to worry Yamamoto, they're fine. They're at my house resting up. What you should do now is to stop worrying about them and concentrates on supporting Ryouhei for his match."

I heard yelling and turn to see that it was coming from the Varia.

"Hey are you ok Sharky!" I shouted over to them, asking Squalo.

"Who are you calling Sharky!" He shouted back.

"You Sharky!"

"Who do you think you are?!"

"Eclipse!" I immediately reply. Instantly everything was silence. The Varia was staring at me in slight disbelief.

"Ok then….This is getting really awkward now." I said slowly.

"Excuse us, would the guardians of the sun please come to the center of the ring." The judge said while I mentally thank them for breaking the silence.

"I'll go now! Leave everything to me!" Ryouhei said.

"B-Brother…" Tsuna said in wonder.

"Hey Tsuna, we're not going to form a group circle?" Yamamoto innocently asked, stopping Ryouhei from his track.

"That sounds passionate! I've always wanted to do that at least once!" Ryouhei agreed.

"EEEEHHHH?!"

"You moron! Why would we do such a lame thing?!" Gokudera shouted.

Despite that, Ryouhei and Yamamoto manage to drag the two together into a circle. "Hey Yuki, why don't you join us?" Yamamoto asked.

"Me?" I asked in confusion pointing to myself, "But I'm not even fighting or part of the team?"

"It doesn't matter; you're our friend aren't ya?"

I blink in wonder before smiling warmly, feeling all fuzzy inside. Sure, I knew they were my friends and I had friends before, but just hearing them say those words makes me so happy. I quickly join them and close my eyes to keep unnecessary tears from leaking. Damn, why do I have to be so emotional sometime?

"RYOUHEI! FIGHT!" Ryouhei shouted while Yamamoto and I replied with a loud, "OH!"

Gokudera and Tsuna didn't say anything, they were too embarrassed to. I have to admit that it was a bit embarrassing, but I didn't care. When you live a life full of seriousness, you just want to be silly and act like a kid for just once in a while.

"Alright, my ultimate power is emerging now!" Ryouhei said heading toward the arena.

"So what do you think Yuki?" Reborn asked as he hops onto my shoulder.

"I have to admit that he's strong, but even with the training he had, I don't think he will win. In fact, he probably has to be brought to the hospital after this," I paused for a moment to look at Reborn, "But… His strong positive attitude, determination and will to fight and win may be strong enough for him to pull this through."

Reborn nod in approval, "Indeed, now all we have to do is to wait and see." He smirks while I turn back to the battle.

"As a rule, we will have you hang the ring around your neck, "The judge explained while Ryouhei took off his shirt, "and upon defeating the opponent and taking the ring, the person will be declared winner."

"Oh? OH DEAR!" Lussuria interrupted, "From up close, your body look mighty fine! You're totally my type~!"

"What?!" Ryouhei shouted, confused. I don't know whether to find this amusing or just disgusting.

"What…did he just say?" Gokudera said with stress mark.

"I don't know." Tsuna replied, ghostly white from horror and disbelief.

"I'm SO~ taking you home." Lussuria said all girl-like. Ok now I'm just plain annoyed.

"DON'T HARRASS MY FRIENDS YOU PERVERTED OLD MAN!" I shouted.

"Oh hush you! Why do you always get surrounded by such hot guys! There'll eventually be none left for me~." (A/N: Sorry, but I didn't know if Lussuria like the same gender or something, I just assume he does. So I'm sorry if I got it wrong. Also I have nothing against those types of people; I find them to be awesome!)

"Hey don't blame me for being popular!" I shouted angrily, but was blushing slightly. I mean it; it is really not my fault that they seem to be drawn to me.

"I don't get what you're talking about, but I'll just fight fairly, that's all." Ryouhei said, getting into a boxing stance.

"Oh my~ is that a pose for boxing? Now, isn't that pathetic?" Lussuria said taking off his coat, "I, Lussuria, shall go ahead and play with you with the ultimate standing martial art, Muay Thai."

"So, Varia's Guardian of the Sun was a fighter too, just as I thought. Looking at the previous family members, the Guardian of the Sun all had a strong fist or foot." Reborn said.

"Just as you thought? Foot?" Tsuna questioned.

"Yes Tsuna," I said, "Destroying the misfortune that attacks the family with their own body, they become the sun that brightly shines upon an area. That is the purpose of the Guardian of the Sun."

"Well, the wielders of the ring of the Sun, Lussuria vs. Sasagawa Ryouhei," The Judge said while I reach into my shirt and pull out black sunglasses, just like the ones in Men in Black. I place the glasses on and got ready.

"Begin the battle!" The judges finished. Immediately the stage's extra lighting light up, blinding almost everyone in the area. It was so bright that people can barely see what is happening on the stage.

"The sun ring was re-modelled for the battle of the Guardian of the Sun. It's a sun coliseum lit by a fake sun." One of the judges explained.

"Here you go you guys." I said handing all of them extra black sunglasses I had kept for this occasion. I knew this was going to happen, heck I was the one who help build it so I got prepared and brought sunglasses for everyone except for Ryouhei. That would sort of be cheating and he wants a fair fight, so yeah. Well, it's not really a fair fight because Lussuria is already wearing shades, but we couldn't interfere once the battle had start.

"AHH! The person from the Varia is wearing shade, so he can move freely. This isn't a fair fight then!" Tsuna shouted, "Let's give big brother some shades as well."

"Sorry Tsuna, but that's against the rule. You cannot interfere or help out once the battle had begun. If you do then it will consider a disqualification and they will take the ring away."

"No way! That's not fair!" Gokudera and Tsuna shouted.

Ryouhei was getting beaten up real badly and not soon after he got to experience the wrath of the electrical metal wire around the ring.

"With an electrical metal wire, the rope is heated up to several hundred degrees." One of the judges explained as Ryouhei collapsed to the ground, steam ascending off him.

Next, Lussuria start talking about how Ryouhei is his ideal body and such which makes me quiver in slight disgust. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against people who like the same gender or such, but he's talking about my friend's body like a piece of meat and that pounding it will get it right to his ideal body. That's just wrong.

Out of frustration, I guess you can say, Ryouhei manage to hit Lussuria. Well that what everyone had thought, I had seen Lussuria fighting seriously and I know that he had gotten hit on purpose. Poor, poor Ryouhei, hopefully he can win this. Lussuria ascend down in a kneeing position and Ryouhei pull back his arm and punch the guy's knee, but in result got hurt instead.

You see Lussuria had metal plate where his knee is so apparently Ryouhei's fist doesn't work. Well that was what he thought. While Ryouhei cradle his arm, Colonello arrives and talk Ryouhei to not hold back and to show them his real strength.

His real strength was his right fist apparently, but despite that his body is still damaged and weak. Will he be able to make it? Lussuria decided to take it up a notch and add in some fancy foot work making him seem slightly blurred. He even got a hit at Ryouhei, but he got back up and into position.

Ryouhei did an upper cut and manage to hit Lussuria, but it was not that effective, it just manages to crack his shades, but apparently that was not what Ryouhei had been aiming for. Not a second later, all the stage's extra lighting shattered letting Ryouhei gain his eyesight back. Lussuria explained for us that Ryouhei had uses the salt that he had created on his body and sent it flying towards the lights.

Ryouhei seem like he has the upper hand, but he didn't. Lussuria used his fancy footwork and manage to graze the salt off of Ryouhei's body.

"He grazed the salt off of his body." Gokudera exclaimed.

"He used the same trick." Tsuna said.

"No, it requires more technique than that." Reborn said as he started to explain, "He blew the salt crystal off Ryouhei's body with the power of his fist. That's what you call Varia quality."

"Varia quality?" Tsuna questioned.

"The Varia takes on missions that are said to be impossible for regular person to do. They are a group of genius assassins that would complete their missions to perfection, regardless of the situation they're placed in."

"They're so-called demonic works or high-leveled skill in killing is considered Varia quality by the people who are astonished." I finished for him.

"Reborn and Eclipse said it so well. Don't you understand there is a gap between our skills, that this will be a game not a battle?" Lussuria said.

"Say whether it is a game or not after you accept my right fist." Ryouhei said seriously.

"Geez get a clue boy. I just copied that punch of your just before didn't I? ...Oh I get it now." Lussuria said.

I don't know what Lussuria had founded out, but I can see that this is not going so well. Ryouhei didn't give up and they start to fight again. Again Ryouhei punch Lussuria's knee, but instead with his right fist and in result injured his right arm.

That metal knee of his is starting to get on my nerve or it might be because of the fact that the battle is dragging on and I need to go check up on the Fukei. I know it's a bit mean and a bit selfish of me to want the battle to be over with when my friend is injured and in danger, but I have people who are close to me who is much more damaged than the one I'm cheering on.

Anyway it seems that I wasn't the only one impatient because Squalo is yelling off at Lussuria to get it over with. Ah always the loud one Squalo, always the loud one.

"Big brother…..?"

I gasped as I quickly turn around to see Kyoko and Haru. What are they doing here?! Why are they here? Don't they know that it's dangerous for them to be here? "Kyoko, why are you here?" I asked worriedly yet frantically.

"The girls were looking for Colonello so I escort them here." Iemitsu said while I eye him suspiciously. What is he up to?

"Big brother why? You're cover in wound."

"Oh my, are you this boy's little sister? Your brother is going to lose a battle against me and will be killed." Lussuria announced happily.

Kyoko became quiet and I start to worry about her. "Big brother, stop! ...You promise you won't fight anymore!" She said while I face planted. She thought that this was a normal match? Oh Kyoko, you're so naïve.

Ryouhei groaned as he tries to get up. "Yeah, when I cracked my forehead….I made a promise not to fight again…But I also said this 'I'm still a man….So there will come a time when I just have to fight…but if you'll continue to cry like that then…' I won't lose!" He said as he got up.

"Well said Ryouhei." I praised as I got off the ground. I pat the invisible dust off my pants before straightening up and continue to watch the match. Both of them charge with their signature stance, but this time it felt different.

I took a quick glance to the side and saw Colonello with a small spark in his eyes and immediately I knew the outcome of the battle. To confirm it I turn to the battle just in time to see Lussuria's metal plated knee shattered into tiny pieces while also destroying the skin, showing us his muscles. I wince at the sight.

Sure, I had worse injury than that, but everyone have different pain tolerance than I do so I sort of pity him. I mean he is an enemy, but before that the group was acquaintances and a client to the Fukei and I so we bonded slightly over the time we had spent with them. But even if we had bonded, they're not as close to me as the Vongola. Anyway before I go off topic, let's get back to the battle. Almost everyone was surprise at the outcome.

"Colonello, why don't you go home? You must be all tired out from all the excitement." I said smoothly.

Sensing the hint, Colonello nods before turning to Kyoko. "Let's go home Kyoko."

"Ah, but big brother is still…"

"The battle is over. I'm kind of sleepy."

I watch as Colonello successfully drag Kyoko away toward her home. I turn back to the battle and notice that Lussuria was panicking. Seeing his panic, my eyes darken slightly.

Not a second later, his whole back practically exploded and blood gushed out of it. I knew this was going to happen when I saw his panic face. I didn't really care much about the Varia's rules, but that was a long time ago. Now I dislike even thinking about their rules, but knew that I can't do anything about it.

"He…" Tsuna said speechless, "His own ally!"

"What's going on?" Yamamoto asked.

"'Erasing the weak,' one of the reason why the Varia is the strongest team of all." Reborn said.

"That's why Lussuria was so anxious to continue. He knows that this was coming." I said darkly.

"Erasing the weak…N-No way..." Tsuna said, scared.

"Hey wake up!" Ryouhei shouted as he took a step closer.

"Stop! Don't come any closer." One of the judges said and they both appear on stage. One of them checks on Lussuria while the other stood in front of Ryouhei, blocking him from getting closer.

"At this moment Lussuria is unable to continue fighting. Therefore, Sasagawa Ryouhei is the victor of the scramble battle for the Ring of the Sun. This is the end of tonight's battle. But from now on we shall announce the next battle's participants."

"EEHH we find out now?!" Tsuna said.

"Hey! Let me go next!" Squalo yelled.

"Shut up Sharky!" I shouted.

"Make me!"

I narrow my eyes while raising an eyebrow. Squalo scowl, but made no movement to move.

"Please allow me to continue." One of the judges said gaining back our attention, "Tomorrow evening's battle will be…The match between the thunder guardians."

I clench my teeth once I heard the news. Damn it, why does it have to be Lambo? He's still a damn baby for peep sake! I growl in anger and worry. My stomach churns at the thought of Lambo getting hurt. I know he is stupid and everything, but he's a kid and I always have a soft spot for kids and babies even thought I don't show it.

"We will meet tomorrow evening." The judge said as she presses on a button immediately destroying the stage, erasing the evidence that it was even there.

"Tsuna!" Kyoko called as she ran toward us. I wonder why she was still here; I thought she went home with Colonello.

"Kyo-Kyoko-chan!" Tsuna stuttered.

"Tsuna-kun will you please tell me the truth? What is my big brother doing?"

"Um..." Tsuna said not knowing what to say.

"Will you tell me Yuki?" Kyoko asked as she turns to me next.

"Sure." I said smiling while Tsuna's jaw drops. He looks at me in disbelief before panicking.

"You see Kyoko," I said, "It's….."

"Yuki stop! What are you doing?!" Tsuna whisper/shouted.

Ignoring Tsuna I continue, "A sumo wrestling match."

In the corner of my eye I saw Tsuna staring at me in surprise. "It's called a hybrid match that's done on a ring." Gokudera said catching on.

"It's secretly becoming popular. It was a pretty good match today too, wasn't it kid?" Yamamoto asked Reborn as he played along.

"Yeah." Reborn agreed nodding.

"I told you it was a sumo match. Let's go home, Kyoko!" Ryouhei said smiling at his sister. Everything went well; Ryouhei put together the ring before giving it to Tsuna who place it into the Vongola Ring box where it originally belongs. Everyone said their goodbyes before heading home and waiting for tomorrow to arrive.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

I sigh as I open the gate to my property. I took my time strolling down the path towards my house. Instantly after I slide the door open, I was tackle to the ground. "YUUUUUKKKKIIII! Why did you leave us?!" I groan before cracking my eyes open to see Kazuo and Arata hugging my waist with a pout on both of their lightly bruised face.

"I see that you have taken your medicines." I said bored.

"Don't change the topic!" Arata whined.

"So did you?" I asked ignoring the two's whining.

"I made sure that they did." Shoshi said leaning against the door frame, "Now, get of her you idiots before I make sure there will be no food for the two of you."

The two scramble off me before bolting toward the kitchen where I can hear Ken yelling at them to stay away from the food.

"I swear the two acts more like twins than Arata and I." Shoshi sigh heavily.

I chuckle lightly, amused at the ridiculous yet true statement he spoken of. "You know that's not true Shoshi," I said getting up off the ground, "you two are connected by a special bond, an unbreakable bond. Kazuo and Arata might act like twin, but they're not. You two will forever be twin and can never be separated."

"Thank you Yuki." Shoshi said giving me a small smile, "You're hungry? I'll go make you some food."

"Thank you Shoshi."

"No problem." I watch him walk away with a smile on my face before I frown. They do have a deeper bond than any sibling bond or twin bond have. I'm just sad for them. I don't know how they would act once they know the truth about their bond. I just hope it won't change the fact that they're still two different people and that they're both equally important to all of us. Sighing I smile lightly before walking into my house and sliding the door shut.