SailorStar9: This is Chapter 20 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, will it kill you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the pairings.
Chapter 20: Primo's Will
One by one, the first-generation Guardians appeared in front of the Namimori Shrine.
"So the Guardian of the Sun Ring and the Guardian of the Cloud Ring also passed, eh?" G snorted.
"I suppose." Alaude shrugged.
"They embodied the duty of a Guardian to the extreme." Knuckle nodded.
"What, a group meeting and I wasn't called?" Sienna joked.
"Yo, Sienna." Knuckle greeted.
"However, the Guardian of the Mist Ring's inheritance is next." Asari pointed out.
"So, it's finally that guy's turn." Sienna noted.
"Daemon Spade, huh?" Knuckle mused. "Will this be okay? He..."
"Bah." G snorted. "I haven't forgiven him."
"G!" Sienna chided. "You know what happened!"
"I can only hope that this inheritance process proceeds smoothly." Asari remarked.
"Giotto..." Sienna blinked at the Primo who had appeared on the steps.
The next day...
"Bah, he's still spewing that crap." G snorted, the rest of the first-generation Guardians listening in on Daemon's speech to Tsuna's group.
"Damn Daemon." Knuckle cursed. "He's out of control to the extreme."
"Should we not stop him?" Asari looked at their leader.
"No, we're just going to watch." Giotto confirmed.
"What?" G demanded.
"This is a problem for Decimo and his Family to solve." Giotto explained.
"Should you be saying that?" Knuckle chided.
"We will not interfere." Giotto insisted. "They must overcome this trial with their own power."
"However..." Asari voiced.
"They're up against Daemon." Knuckle reminded.
"That's right." G agreed. "He once betrayed you."
"We wait." Giotto asserted. "We will now determine the true mettle of Vongola X's Family."
"You do know my current self won't take this lying down, Giotto." Sienna warned.
"If she's anything like you, I won't doubt that." Giotto smiled.
"What do the stars tell you, Sienna?" Alaude inquired.
"My present self has awakened a new weapon." Sienna let out a mysterious smile.
"Sienna-nee, you're being cryptic again..." Lampo took a step back.
Outside Kokuyo Land...
Fong and Colonello had gathered the remaining Arcobaleno.
"Well done." Reborn noted. "And it looks like Skull managed to succeed too."
"Reborn!" Skull dashed in, Hibari's prefect badge in hand. "I did as you said! So save me!"
"Okay, let's do this." Saori nodded and brought out her new weapon, the 'Star Bell'
The Arcobalenos' pacifiers glowed their respective colors in response.
With a tap using her 'Star Bell' on Daemon's Mist Flames, Saori neutralized the first-generation Mist Guardian's power.
That's right. Giotto smiled. I have witnessed Decimo's resolve. That's why he will be able to walk a different path from mine.
Inside Daemon's illusion...
"I'm not alone." Tsuna told the Mist Guardian when Hibari's Cloud Hedgehog broke though a hole, followed by Yamamoto, Ryohei and Lambo.
"You guys..." Gokudera gaped.
"Saori scattered the illusionary space." Yamamoto supplied. "And Hibari went on a rampage."
"Looks like everyone's safe." Ryohei noted.
"I didn't expect my illusions to be broken." Daemon admitted.
"Kyoko!" Ryohei shouted.
"Everyone's here now." Saori stated.
"Saori..." Tsuna turned. "Reborn... and everyone else."
"Yuni, you helped by answering my bell." Saori smiled. "It was a big help."
"No, Saori." Yuni corrected. "It was thanks to everyone.
"That's right." Skull concurred. "It's all because I brought Hibari from Namimori."
"How dare you take one of my possessions?" Hibari was behind the Cloud Arcobaleno, toufas at the ready. "I'll bite you to death."
"I was just doing what Reborn told me to do" Skull hid behind Fong. "Take your complaints to him!"
"This won't do." Daemon sighed. "I hadn't planned for such a development."
"You've already lost!" Gokudera snapped. "Pass on your inheritance!"
"It appears that I underestimated you a little." Daemon mused. "I will have to get serious about this too. To be honest, I'm quite surprised. You hold a great conviction in your childish prattle. That is why I must shatter that conviction. It seems that I must beat you senseless to change your minds. Though this isn't how I prefer to operate. Vongola Decimo!" he materialized a baton. "You and I shall engage in combat. For two generations, I devoted myself to expanding the Vongola's influence. All for the sake of the Vongola Family!"
"For two generations?" Tsuna echoed, blocking off Daemon's attack. "What are you talking about?"
"He..." Saori started as Astraea manifested. "Daemon also served as a Guardian for the Secondo after Primo left."
"So he remained behind himself?" Gokudera blinked.
Daemon and Tsuna took the fight to the air and Tsuna was prepared to fire his 'X Burner' when Daemon cast his illusion and tricking Tsuna to release his attack on Chrome and the girls.
Mukuro suddenly took Chrome's place, blocking off the fire blast with his trident.
"You're Decimo's Guardian of the Mist Ring." Daemon demanded.
"I despise that form of address." Mukuro corrected. "But more importantly, you must be the one who's been torturing Chrome for the past few days."
"Oh, you noticed?" Daemon inquired.
"I was observing for a while." Mukuro replied. "But you've pushed me too far."
"And what do you intend to do about that?" Daemon questioned.
"I could deal with you directly." Mukuro chuckled. "But I suppose I'll let him handle this."
What? Daemon mused, defending himself against the charging Tsuna. He's moving at a completely different speed now.
"This is my resolve!" Tsuna declared. "I'll never become the person you want me to become."
"This could be a problem." Daemon noted and released his illusions.
"I won't let that happen." Astraea ignited her Heavens Flame via her 'Star Bell', the bell's drone negating Daemon's power.
"My mist..." Daemon gaped.
"X Burner!" Tsuna released his attack.
"This is the ten-generation Vongola Family..." Daemon was stunned.
"I know you're here." Astraea voiced. "Show yourself, Daemon."
"Good grief." Daemon sighed, manifesting before her. "I no longer intend to fight. Since it appears that anything I have to say would be wasted on you. Anyway, I have a question for the Guardian of the Mist Ring." he turned to Mukuro.
"I would prefer that you stop addressing me by that title." Mukuro reminded. "I did not assume that role by choice; I merely swore an oath to Lady Astraea."
"Oath?" Daemon echoed. "I see. And what will you accomplish by protecting her?"
"The purity of her heart has assured the radical change in the Mafia." Mukuro replied.
"The radical change in the Mafia?" Daemon laughed. "Is that even possible? You show more promise than the other Guardians. But I fail to understand the reason you saved those girls. You're not foolish enough to allow emotions to sway your actions."
"Chrome would be sad if they were hurt." Mukuro replied. "Personally, I don't care what happens to them."
"I wonder how sincere you are." Daemon was not convinced. "Befitting the elusive quality of illusionary mist. I suppose I could deem you worthy of my inheritance, and observe as event s unfold."
"Inheritance?" Mukuro echoed. "I have no interest in that. If you don't intend to fight, you're free to do as you please."
"Chrome!" Tsuna hurried over after Mukuro gave Chrome's body back.
"So he's gone." Daemon noted. "A very fascinating man."
"This is..." Tsuna's attention was diverted when Giotto appeared.
"Primo." Daemon started.
"Daemon." Giotto greeted his wayward Mist Guardian. "I appreciate your help in evaluating the Guardian of the Mist Ring."
"There's no reason for you to thank me." Daemon corrected. "I simply acted for the sake of my ideal Vongola."
"However, you tested them and deemed them worthy." Sienna pointed out as she appeared. "You fulfilled your duty."
"I see you two haven't changed." Daemon remarked.
"Now, let's get this over with before our time runs out." Sienna reminded.
"In any case, I deem the Guardian of the Mist Ring worthy of my inheritance." Daemon declared. "Are you satisfied now, Astraea."
"Thank you very much." Saori nodded. "Chrome," she turned to the girl. "He deemed you worthy. Bring out your Vongola Box."
"You may resist if you like, but one day, you will realize that I am right." Daemon voiced. "This power will serve useful when that time comes." and sent his power into the Mist Vongola Box.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same." Sienna noted amusedly. "Your turn now, Giotto."
"What am I supposed to do?" Tsuna turned to his ancestor.
"You have already fulfilled my expectations." Giotto replied. "It appears that you're still hiding a wealth of potential. I was watching you while your Guardians struggled to overcome their trials, and I could tell from your behavior and actions that you were always putting them first. And that didn't change when Daemon set his trap. I witnessed your resolve to protect your Family and I was impressed. You Guardians also responded similarly. Sawada Tsunayoshi, I deem you worthy as Boss of the ten-generation Vongola Family."
"Tsuna, bring out your Vongola Box." Saori instructed.
"That's right." Tsuna held out his Vongola Box and Giotto sent his power into the cube.
"Proceed down your chosen path, Vongola Decimo." Giotto stated. "I'm handing Astraea-sama to you and your Guardians."
"You still carry that with you?" Sienna asked as she and Giotto approached Daemon.
"The words on the back of the lid," Giotto added.
"A vow of eternal friendship, was it?" Daemon replied.
"My feelings hasn't changed." Giotto insisted.
"Forever a fool." Daemon remarked, shutting the timepiece. "That was why you disappointed me in the end. I doubt our paths will ever cross again. Farewell, Sienna, Primo." and vanished.
"Good work, everyone." Sienna turned to the rest of the first-generation Guardians. "Now, let's return to the Rings."
With that, the seven went back to their respective Rings.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.