"MY FINAL STAND", this chapter is in Riza's perspective as she battles her own flesh and blood; her brother Alessandro.

This chapter would be the 2nd to the last of this fiction...and YAY! Kannon(Cannon)-----[looked like the brand of a camera! XD] character's are back! hihi^^ i wont tell who^^

anyways..enjoy!

It hurts. The pain in my chest hurts. It hurts much more so than the broken bones and the open flesh wounds that was oozing with the warm, thick red liquid, down my skin. With every clang of metal that the two of us creates, the pain would throb and my chest tightens. I was caught between my love and loathing for him, I suppose, no matter what the situation is; a family is a family. And it was hard to attempt to kill a family, though I don't think Alessandro and I have the same opinion in the matter.

To him I'm just a stupid little girl that doesn't deserve to live; he hated me, loathed me and wished for the day that I would die slowly by his hands. Perhaps that day has come, and now he stands before me waiting for a chance to attack me when I'm more vulnerable than I am now. I wasn't just going to stand there and wait for him to torture me to death; no, I will fight until I draw my last breath.

For now I have the advantage, but I don't know how long this new power of mine will last. I'm on the verge of using up all of my strength and still unsure whether it would be enough to defeat him. I have to defeat him, I have to and I will; for the sake of my friends.

I'm pretty sure that I weakened him enough to deal the final blow, but as I look at him from across me I still don't see him falling down on his knees anytime soon, no, he looked more determined to kill and destroy; but I know he already used up all his strength.

"Well, well…I didn't know you still have a trick up your sleeve little sister. I was pretty sure that you already had drawn your last ace…but you never told me about the Vongola box you were hiding." He scoffed as he spat on the floor. It was blood. Maybe from the blow Riza had attacked him.

"Nii-san…let's finish this, to determine which one of us deserves to live."

"Hmmm…that's a good plan. I used up all my strength and I'm sure you too." He smirked.

I felt myself tremble, but not because I'm afraid. No. I'm done being afraid. I trembled with excitement. I knew that the final moment is finally coming at an end, his blade and mine clashing for one last time.

The ground shook as we both lunged at each other. I wasn't sure whether it's because of the damaged we had caused, or if it was the same quake that kept on occurring. Perhaps it was from other battles that was happening somewhere in the base.

Clank. Our blades touched.

The impact vibrated from my fingers, to my wrist and up my shoulders, rendering my entire arm temporarily numb. But he wasn't done yet, not just yet. He came at me after the last attack, swinging his blade in line with my neck. If I noticed it a second too late, it would have been the end of me; but instead, I bent my body backwards avoiding the sharp end of his blade from decapitating my head.

I used my left hand as support on the floor, as I swung my right leg into a kick; hitting him on the side with my hardened knee. He flew a couple of feet from where he was standing but he immediately gained his balance back to his feet.

"Not bad…" he said as he winced from pain though he tried not to show it.

He didn't take his time standing around; he lunged back at me, his blade ready to carve me in half, roaring as he ran towards me. I finally felt my arm once again, and was able to parry his attack. With another swift move to the side, I swung my blade at him but was blocked by his. Our blades locked, pushing against one another; I place all my weight and strength at my lance as to avoid being overwhelmed by my brother's brute strength.

I pushed harder, putting a lot of strain on my arms and legs; but the same goes for my brother. There was more strain on his face than it has before. Perhaps he was close to his end. Tired. But I feel the same way and the longer this fight goes on, the more strength I lose.

Loud roars came out of our lips as the strain became harder. The blades slipped away from each other, as I pulled away from him. He reacted faster than I had expected as he swiftly pierced his sword below my right collar bone.

I screamed in pain as blood trickles down his silver sword, we stayed like that for what felt like hours. I reached for the blade with my left hand, holding it tightly, attempting to pull the sword out. But the more I want to pull it out, the more Alessandro pushes it further in.

I let out another howl of pain as he slightly twisted the blade and quickly jerked it out leaving a large gash on the palm of my hands.

The ground shook once more, I lost my balance as my vision started to blur into what looked like red mist. I fell to my knees, clutching the deep gaping hole on my right shoulder. My breathing became shallow and fast and I'm losing blood fast. I looked up to see Alessandro standing in front of me, his swords clutched tightly around his large hands, his cold cyan eyes staring down at me. I felt helpless.

Damn. I'm all bark but no bite.

I guess this is it for me; I'll die alone in the hands of my brother. Haha! I didn't think I would give up like this, but there's no other way for me to fight him off. I'm at my last straw and I could barely move anything, let alone the arm with my weapon.

"You put up a good fight, Riza. I'm proud of you as a member of the Mezzanotte family…but that doesn't help your situation at all. I'll still kill you, nice…and slow." He lifted his sword, what came after was all a blur; I felt a sharp piercing pain on my left arm, followed by something very warm and thick.

Tsuna…minna-san…Gomene I can't even be a proper friend and a guardian. Hibari-kun…I wish I could have fought longer…better. I want to see them again, so badly.

"I'll bite you to death!"Hibari's favorite quote rang in my head, as I saw Alessandro's blade come at me. I don't know what I would call it, but my hand reflexively moved and caught his sword. I didn't feel any pain, just his cold and sharp blade. I yanked it away from him as he was caught in surprise, heck I was surprised myself. I didn't think I would have any strength left to do anything, yet here I am standing firmly.

Alessandro looked at me, his eyes wide in surprise. I wasn't sure myself but when I realized what it was he was staring at, my breathing stopped a second.

A dying will flame, blazed brightly on my forehead. The dark colored flame; the same flame as it was the day when I took the experimented liquid that I used when I attempted to take the life of the future 10th Vongola boss. It was my own dying will flame.

"This is not possible!" Alessandro exclaimed in anger.

It was finally time to turn the table, though somewhere inside me, I knew that this flame and strength will not last long. So I felt the need to end this fight as soon as possible.

I lunged myself to Alessandro, swung my fist as he didn't see it coming, the punch was strong enough that he flew backwards. I didn't wait after, as he was in midair I shot myself above him, stretching my legs upwards and with a strong force, my leg swung down, hitting him as it pushed him on the floor with great force and strength.

Alessandro lay in what looked like a crater created from him hitting the hard metallic floor. Blood spurted out his mouth, eyes rolling backwards as it left nothing but the white of his eyes.

I panted, wheezing and finally thankful that the fight ended. The flame on my forehead disappeared and my weakened state finally came back.

"Stay down…"I muttered, hoping that he wouldn't get up, my strength has faded and only an empty shell remained. My body hit the cold hard floor; I was already unable to walk.

Damn. I should have left enough strength to walk back and find Tsuna and the others. Unfortunately I can't, my body felt numb, heck I don't even feel anything at all. My eye lids were heavy, but I fought the urge of falling asleep in fear that I might, just might, completely sleep and not wake up at all. The red liquid continues to ooze out of my flesh wounds, and there was no way for me to stop it, I'll just lay there and do nothing.

Not long after I gave in to the sleepiness, I felt a slight vibration from the floor followed by a violent quake. But I soon found out that it wasn't a normal quake, as I saw (In what seemed like in a slow motion) the wall exploded.

Slowly entering the room I was in was a gigantic figure of a spiked ball. Though I wasn't really sure what it is, I just watched it as it grew bigger and it slowly came closer to where I lay still.

"Tanakuse-san!" I heard something. Maybe someone is calling my name. Haha! I think I'm dying now; I'm starting to hear voices of people I knew. But Kusakabe? Surely he wasn't killed in here? But why the heck am I hearing his voice?

"Tanakuse-san!" his voice became clearer and louder. Seriously, I'm dying this fast? Haha, oh well.

"TANAKUSE-SAN! Are you still alive?" he sounded like he was right next to me. Oh, he is right next to me. His black shiny shoes are right in front of me, but there are other's too. I moved, myself, forcing to look up if this Kusakabe is actually the real thing and not some kind of angel of death that came to get me.

"She's alive…" a firm and a deep voice soon came after him. A voice so familiar that I couldn't help but cry; the tears just came running down on its own and I couldn't stop it. Hibari is here, and I don't think I'm dreaming all this as I can see the big spiked ball coming in a fast pace.

Hibari was carrying Gokudera, I don't know what happened but Gokudera seemed like he was out of commission for now. But I didn't expect Hibari to be carrying him at all. A smirk formed on my lips, couldn't help but smile at this. It might even be the last thing I would see, better to savor this than none at all.

He quickly bent down to me, grabbing a hold of my left arm and yanking me up. I screamed in pain, at least that's how it was for me, but I guess only a moan escape from me. I felt the rumbling of the ground and the debris started to fall on us.

We ran and ran, though I was more dragged than running at all. But then, everything halted in place. It was somewhat quiet, only a few rocks came falling down. The spiked ball stopped growing, as I made an effort to look back, the ball disappeared leaving a large hole on the wall.

Hibari and Kusakabe stopped for a rest, Kusakabe slowly placed Chrome, I-pin and Lambo on the floor and Hibari did the same way to me and Gokudera.

I winced in pain as my wounds throbbed, my left eye started bleeding and the cloth I wrapped around it was soiled with blood and dirt. I guess my flame only temporarily healed my old wounds. My eye, my arm and my body ached in a throbbing pain.

"Tanakuse-san…you must take this, this should give you enough." Kusakabe came to me, holding a small red pill with his index finger and thumb.

Damn. Even just opening my mouth hurts like hell. I swallowed the pill dryly, no water or any kind of liquid to help push it down. I guess the pill worked, I can feel a sliver of strength, but I can still see blood oozing out of my left arm. Soon after Kusakabe noticed that pill took effect, he pulled out a small bottle of blue liquid and took the cap off.

"This will hurt a bit…" he muttered with a sad look on his face.

A drop. It took only a drop of that liquid on my wound to make me howl in a piercing scream of pain. The wound on my left arm was instantly covered with what I describe as white ice; it wasn't cold or anything, just painful. It stopped the bleeding, but that wasn't the only thing he would do. He did the same thing with the wound below my collar bone, like before, I howl in pain.

I sighed in relief when it was done. The pain was excruciating, almost passed out in the process. Kusakabe then left me and made his way back to check on Chrome and Gokudera…and Yamamoto? I guess I missed him before, didn't see him right away with all the commotion and all. But he looked out of commission too like Gokudera. I moved my head around, to see Hibari a little distant away from us; looking out with Hibird perched on his shoulder.

I forced myself up to my feet; I didn't feel pain at all, just the sound of rickety bones and the weight of my body slowing me down. Slightly limping, I made my way to Hibari. I knew Kusakabe saw me got up, but he didn't do anything to stop me. I think he knew that no matter what he does or say, he won't be able to stop me at all.

Hibari looked my way, glaring cold eyes on me. I didn't care what he thinks right now, I just want to talk to him.

"Hibari-kun…" I muttered as I finally came close to him. He shot a quick glare before turning around, away from me.

"Go back to Kusakabe and rest…I'll bite you to death if you continue to stand stupidly like that." I let out a sigh, and approached him once more.

"I just want to talk to Hibari-kun, that's all." I waited for him to turn my way, but he never did. I sighed again, but this time it was heavy and there were hints of defeat. I turned back from where I sat and slowly made my way to Kusakabe who was tending to the others.

"When we return, you can talk to me all you want, you damn woman!" it was loud and angry, though not loud enough for Kusakabe to hear. I smiled as I heard a slight truth in it, though it was forced, I still felt the truth in them.

I slowly walked, but something had made me stop on my tracks. A strong killing and hostile intent chilled and froze me. I turned my head to left, to see a figure of person, standing angrily and in a weakened state, sword in one hand and the other clutching his own rib cage.

"RIZAAAA!!" he roared. It was Alessandro; running his way to me, ready to pierce his sharpened blade right through. It's as I feared, there was no way for me to fight or defend myself from him…and the rest…the rest is but a blur.

A sharp, agonizing, pain shot from my chest and past my spine. I looked down, to see a blurred figure of what I think was a sword but I'm not quite sure as it was covered with blood; my blood. My face twisted in pain as I watch Alessandro's lips form a grin before collapsing on the floor. I took a hold of the blade on my chest, staggering as I turned to face the distant Hibari. A blur, I can't see him with nothing but a blur. My hearing hazed and everything seemed muffled, only to hear Kusakabe's distorted voice call out to me.

Then there was nothing.

AH! This chapter is finally done...

I'm happy at the outcome, probably one of the better ones i wrote.

anyways, please do review and tell me what you think^^

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