Okay! The next chapter is here!

One more thing, some of you didn't get the last part, so here's my recap:

Himeno was controlled again by Byakuran and ordered her to kill his enemies. Of course, her task was to kill Tsuna. Gokudera and Yamamoto tried to stop her, but to no avail. Julian was with Tsuna under the request of keeping him alive until the war is over and Julian tried to talk Himeno out of the control, but Tsuna stepped aside and told Himeno to just get it over with. Of course, Himeno was trying to get control of her body again, but she had stroke the katana and there was blood and her scream.

In other words, she already attacked by the end of the chapter. Just to clear things up.

On that happy note, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 24

Himeno watched as the body fell to the ground with a loud thud. "Julian!" She screamed out.

Suddenly, she regained control of her body completely and watched as her best friend bleed on his back with a long slanted slash crossing his spine from his back shoulder to his lower back. Snapping out, she ran to him, dropping her weapon in the process.

Tsuna stood there too, dumbfounded as he went to the supposed son of his most hated enemy. The boy has saved his life. It became clear to him that the boy was not corrupted as they have first thought of and was just acting under Byakuran's orders. He was clearly on Himeno's side. Being an agent trusted by Yuni and saving him has proved his theory.

Julian was turned over by Himeno, blood coming out of his lips. "That was one good blow," he joked.

Himeno now had tears on her eyes, "You idiot! Why did you take on that blow?"

The white haired boy smiled, "The only way to get you out of my father's control is to experience something that you feared to happen. And one of them was killing me," he reasoned. "Besides, you did order me earlier to keep the Decimo alive until the end of the war. And I intended to keep my promise to you,"

He was right. Himeno got out of the control of Byakuran the second she realized what she has done. To her, Julian was family, and she would do anything to keep her family out of harm. It was one of her fatal flaws. "B-But why in this manner…? I know I told you to keep the Decimo alive until the war is over…but why do you have to-"

"Because," Julian said, "I intend to keep my promises when it comes to you. You are as close as a sister to me. That is enough for me to give my life to the person who has given me a happy childhood, a best friend, a sister, group of friends, and how it is to become a family."

"You…" Himeno muttered, "Big idiot!" she shouted while crying, but Julian just smiled weakly at her.

Tsuna looked at Ryohei, "Onii-san, heal him immediately!" he called.

Ryohei, who had just tended to Yamamoto went to Julian and took a look at his wound. He frowned when he saw it. "This doesn't look good…his wound is quite long and rather deep, and he needs some stitches which can only be treated by experts and some proper medical care, more than the sun flames could heal. But for now, we have to cast it and get him to sleep so that he wouldn't be in too much pain,"

Himeno frowned. It was her fault that Julian was in a pinch for his life right now, all because of that stupid promise, and his stupid father. Speaking of the father…Himeno tore his gaze to Byakuran who was keeping his smile, not minding that his son was in a critical condition.

"You…" Himeno seethed as she returned her gaze to Byakuran, "This is all your fault…"

Byakuran smiled evilly this time. "Why? That son of mine did what he wanted, look where it got him. Almost killed by his own best friend,"

"Because you were a sorry excuse for a father," Himeno growled. "And now…you will die…" she said and too out her gauntlets. When she emitted the Sky Flames, it showed a few tints of black, saying that she is undeniably mad.

Within a second, she started to attack Byakuran with punches.

Tsuna looked at his enraged daughter, then to Julian. The boy had risked his life to save him because of her loyalty to Himeno. Now he will repay him, "Nii-san, get him away from here and send him to the base. He would need proper medical care and call for Georgina to work on him before we send him to the hospital," he stated.

Ryohei nodded as he carried the boy carefully, "I get it," he said as he ran to the base three miles away, but not before giving Julian some sun flames to heal off some of his more critical points that Himeno had hit.

Byakuran's face was unwavering even though Himeno had started to hit him relentlessly. But she had to learn that someone like him could not be defeated that easily. "My, my, some power," he praised once Himeno tore herself from the white haired man. "But you will have to do better than that to defeat me," he said and suddenly disappeared in a flash.

Himeno was taken aback by it and wondered what the hell happened. The man was completely beaten up by her right? But why does it feel like she has been hitting nothing that could endanger the man?

Her thoughts were put to a stop when a hit came from behind her. The hit sent her flying to the other side of the field with a large crater at her wake. She slowly got up, ignoring the pain shooting from her back because of the hit in the spine. "Damn it what was that?" she complained.

Byakuran chuckled at the girl, "Oh let's just say that your hits wouldn't work on me." He informed. "Your father had a hard time in defeating me last time, so I revolutionized myself," he said. It was sudden, but Himeno had seen some faint white scales forming on his arms and body, and Byakuran's canines were getting sharper that of a dragon's.

Her eyes widened in realization, "You merged yourself with your white dragon box weapon just like the funeral wreaths!" she said in surprise.

The white haired man smiled at the girl, "Pretty smart eh? And because of the dragon's almost impenetrable skin, I'm as invincible as Achilles getting dipped in the Styx," he informed. His eyes then turned to slits, "Now, shall we dance?"

Without another word, Byakuran fired some sort of beam to her, but Himeno was quick to dodge it. But she knew she was a wreck. She could feel the pain in the back that she has experienced, but she had no time to heal herself. She has already used up her Sun Cloth that can only be used once every twenty-four hours, and the only healing box weapon she has takes a long time to completely heal her. She was running out of time. At a last resort, she decided to power up her gloves to make her airborne, and started to concentrate at the white haired man alone.

Byakuran smiled at the girl, "Tell me, what makes you fight? What is your resolve?" he asked. "For you to set aside your hatred to your father for abandoning you like that, why do you still insist in fighting alongside him?"

Himeno stopped her tracks for a while, but then returned to her normal reserve, "As an agent of Vendetta, I have the obligation to fight alongside the client that had asked for our service. But now that this little war had turned into a personal conflict after finding out who I really am, then that changes. You're right when you said that I hate my father until now, but still, I don't know the entire truth of why they left me like that. Coming from you, I know that some of them were a lie, but I have no idea which ones exactly. That's why I had intended to keep him alive until I know the truth." She answered.

Byakuran's eyes opened and looked at her, "What about your resolve?" he wondered.

Himeno smirked, "That's an easy one," she said, "Ever since I found out about me being adopted, I had vowed to myself that I would live my life no matter what. I was blessed to have a foster family and friends beside me. I had thought once that my whole life was an entire lie after I found out a part of the truth, but there was something I missed. I had made my life through them, and I had felt alright afterwards. And through examining my life, I had discovered my resolve. To live my life without regrets, no matter what happens. Even if I am not a true Suiri, I was still given a life that I could not replace. I wouldn't go anywhere if I mope around and plot some kind of stupid revenge and drown on it. I just had to keep moving forward and lead my own life without looking back!"

It was then when her flames had intensified. The flames became pure and crystalline, her eyes fiercer than ever. "And I will take down anyone who gets in my way with no regret!" she said as she lunged at him again, aiming for the face, and hit the man. This time, he took some damage, but nothing that could endanger him.

Byakuran laughed, "You have to do better than that,"

But just as he had said it, Himeno had begun her relentless approach and attack, not giving the man much time to block, increasing the damage on him no matter how small she is giving in at every punch. But the fact remains that she is doing some damage, and that is saying something. If the damage is that small, then she will have to punch him more and more until it becomes great of a damage.

"I will kill you!" she shouted as she gave him more punches.

Byakuran was taking his damages quite seriously. What started as a harmless hit, turned out to be a greater thing than he imagined when the punches came one by one on each of the girl's fists.

He needed a plan to get her out of his vicinity of space so that he can attack her with something. He then spotted her circle of friends below and a smirk appeared on his face when he saw Tsuna fending off his remaining funeral wreaths. This will be his last attempt in using the girl's father to get rid of her. After all, that was his main goal fourteen years ago. Tsuna didn't know that he had another child besides Julian, and the kid was barely five when the said kid died after Tsuna had set fire on the original base of the Millefiore.

For him, his child was the most precious thing to him that he has spoiled to an extent, but the kid had died because of Tsuna. That was why when he heard that the Decimo will finally have a child; he decided to get revenge on him.

Tearing himself away from the girl for a while, he took out his main box weapon. Out came a miniature dragon that seemed to morph into a white metal stake with the dragon's head at the top of it. "I see that you are stronger than you had let on, little Vongola…but I still stand on what I want. I still have to fulfill my main task of revenge…" he stated.

Himeno stared at the man, "For what? For destroying your precious throne of power?" she spat out.

Byakuran frowned, "There is more than that. Fifteen years ago, when the Millefiore had its downfall…there was an explosion at the main base caused by the Vongola to annihilate all connections and resources we have. And the one caught in that explosion was my five year-old son…"

Himeno's eyes widened at this, "Y-Your son…? Isn't Julian your firstborn?"

The white haired man scoffed, "No one told you that he is the second child? Figures. I had Julian from a former acquaintance. But I had my first child to the person that I had held dear the most. And you know what? Your own father killed him!" Himeno couldn't take it all in at once, but she had to know why he had gone to these lengths to seek revenge on the Vongola. "I would have let it pass if they just destroyed my bases and resources…but killing my child…my Lennan…that crosses the line!" he then turned to Tsuna's direction, and prepared to shoot. "And I will exact my revenge into the same person!" he said as he shot the white dragon-headed stake towards Tsuna at an alarming rate.

Himeno gasped, "Decimo-sama!" she shouted as she went to the said man as fast as she could.

Tsuna turned around to see the white stake with a dragon head coming at him in such an alarming speed that he couldn't even move. 'So this will be my end huh? Dying by the hands of my nemesis and without gaining the forgiveness of my daughter…what life…' he began to think.

The people around him shouted his name as the stake had gotten nearer and nearer to him. He was accepting his death in the hands of a tyrant. Well, it was far better than almost getting killed by your own daughter.

As he closed his eyes for the expected eternal slumber, his eyes shot open again when he heard the cries of a name that he wished so well that his fears would not come true.

But was he so wrong…

"Himeno!" he heard everyone shout.

By the time he opened his eyes, there was her daughter, taking her place as the target of the said white stake, her chest pierced by it and blood began to trickle, albeit slowly, but surely if continued, it would lead to her death.

Himeno's back fell down at his father's chest. Tsuna's legs felt like jelly as he kneeled to support his daughter. Byakuran smiled in satisfaction, thinking that his revenge was complete. This was his perfect plan. He knew that Himeno will keep her father alive until the end of the fight, and that was one weakness that he dared to explore.

"Himeno!" Tsuna shouted as tears fell from his eyes, fearing for the life of his precious daughter.

Himeno looked at her father and smiled at him. Opening her trench coat, she found out that the stake had only pierced in a fourth of it, but still dangerous to ignore. It was pouring blood rather fast, and she could see a tint of poison on it. The reason for that miracle lies on the ring that Tsuna had given her when she as a baby. It shocked Tsuna to that extent.

Everyone went near to the two, especially Himeno's foster parents.

But Himeno paid no heed to that. She held onto the stake and took it out of her bleeding chest and threw it on the ground. She coughed a bit and a small amount of blood came out of her mouth. "Well that was close…I thought I was a goner," she joked.

Tsuna didn't get it, but still he worried for his daughter, "W-Why did you do it? I thought you hated me?" he complained.

Himeno smiled, "When Byakuran was controlling me, and it not only placed me under his control but also intensified my rage to the point of screaming for blood. I was not mad to the point of killing you anymore…Giotto-san and Ieyoshi-kun had made sure of that…" she assured.

The older brunette was shocked to say the least in hearing the name of his ancestor and departed son. He began to wonder what happened to her while she was in her cylindrical barrier. "But still…"

Himeno cut him off with a smile, "Kill the bastard for me," she requested.

Tsuna didn't need to be told twice. He gave Himeno to her foster father to take care of and went to Dying Will Mode again. His eyes were screaming murder.

Byakuran smirked, "Now you know how it was to loose a child in the middle of a battlefield, Tsunayoshi-kun…"

Tsuna glared at him, "I will kill you!" he shouted as he went after the white haired man.

Himeno watched in wonder as his father fought the man that had destroyed their lives. For once, she felt proud of her father in the battlefield having equal grounds with the enemy. She had wanted to stay awake as much as she could, but sleep was overcoming her. No matter what she did, her eyes kept on forcing themselves to close.

The next thing she knew, his father performed the famous X-Burner at the man, and her eyes closed, giving into slumber.

And that's it! I'm finally done with the war thing. As for the revelation thingy that Byakuran had a kid before Julian, well, I'll give that info in the next chapter.

We're nearing the end! Review what you think!

Also, I apologize if you guys have been waiting for at least a month for this, I was just so busy with projects and all, and I don't know where to start. And another thing, my exams are exactly twenty-four hours due to be done with for three days, and I will not be able to begin the next chapter anytime soon.

Advanced Happy Chinese New Year!