Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. All credits to their rightful owners.

A/N: Yippee~no more slow internet connections and typing on the phone because I'M HOME! So updates will be a little faster...until school opens again anyways. I don't want school to open...:( *sniff sniff* Well, anyways, thank you for all of your support and I really do, literally, LOVE YOU GUYS! :D I think this story is going to be...REALLY long...but whatever. :) Official Thirty-Fourth chapter coming right up!

Important! - I will set up a poll in a few more days, asking whether you guys want Akane to end up with Hibari or Yamamoto. THIS IS ONLY ROUND 1. There will be three rounds, just because it's still early in the story. I just want to know which side you guys are leaning towards now so, click on my profile to see if the poll has already been set up or not! BUT...read this chapter first before voting. :p

The poll should stay for about two or three weeks.

Release Date: July 27th, 2013

Next Update: In a Week or more

Chapter 34-The Rain Ring Battle Part 1

I stood there in front of the school, watching the scene in front of us unfold. Tsuna, Yamamoto, Reborn, Basil and I were the only ones at the school as of now. Squalo appeared later on the top of the clock, yelling about how he was going to beat the crap out of Yamamoto. But Yamamoto was calm today, saying that he was going to beat him with his Shigure Souen Ryuu style. But I just had to wonder...will it work?

"So, shall we go?" I said as Squalo and the Cervello headed towards the South Tower of the school, disappearing from our sights.

"Yeah," mumbled Tsuna as he started walking forward, only to be stopped by a certain familiar voice.

"Sorry for being late to the extreme!" We all turned around to see Ryohei, waving at us with a huge grin plastered on his face.

"Onisan?!" exclaimed Tsuna in surprise.

"I brought him along with me!" said Ryohei as he shifted aside, giving us view to whatever was behind him. And...is that...a freakin' mummy?!

"MUMMY?!" screamed Tsuna in horror. The mummy started to wiggle in protest.

"No, it's me! Romario said that this is how a man gets treated and wrapped me all up!" explained Gokudera as he ripped some of the paper off, showing some of his face. I sweatdropped. How a man gets treated, huh?

"Gokudera-kun?! Are your wounds alright?" asked Tsuna.

"Yes! They're not much to speak of! They look bad but they're all just scratches," said Gokudera with a bright grin.

"Actually, he was told to stay still but he insisted, so I helped him," deadpanned Ryohei.

"I didn't get any help! I walked here on my own," argued Gokudera. I rolled my eyes.

"Right...more like you jumped here," I said bluntly as he growled.

"Shut up."

"Yes, sir!" Tsuna sweat dropped.

"Akane's comment aside, I can't die without knowing how things went down! I can't stay in bed without watching this match," yelled Gokudera in Yamamoto's face.

"You're a worry-wart!" commented Yamamoto with a grin as I sweat dropped.

"You're too worry-free!" yelled Gokudera, voicing my thoughts.

"Tenth, where is the combat field today?" Tsuna blinked before answering. "Oh, it's in the South Tower." Gokudera nodded and tried to walk forward, telling us to follow him but then he tripped on the bandages that covered his body and fell flat down onto the ground like a dead frog. I facepalmed.

"...You really are an idiot," I said as he mumbled something back that I couldn't understand.

I rolled my eyes and made my way towards the South Tower along with the rest of us. Once we were standing in front of the South Tower, I was confused. Why were the windows sealed with glass? And the entrance door too...

"Oi. It looks like we can get in through here!" said Reborn as he pointed to an unsealed door. We opened the door and was surprised by what was shown behind.

It really didn't look like the school anymore. There were huge holes everywhere as waterfalls poured out of them from the upper floor. Piles of broken cements and rocks were scattered around the floor that was covered with water that went up to our ankles Somehow, I wonder how Hibari would have reacted to this...

"HIE! What in the world is this?!" exclaimed Tsuna.

"It doesn't even look like the school anymore..." muttered Gokudera.

"This is the combat field for the Rain Battle, Aquarion. It features a three-dimensional structure and a massive amount of water that flows without end. The water that is being introduced begins filling up the tower from the first floor up. As time passes, the water level will continue to rise. The water that has pooled will gain the traits of sea-water through the use of a special device and once a certain water level is reached, a certain ferocious sea creature will be release, " explained the Cervello.

"What?! A ferocious animal?" yelled Tsuna in surprise.

"Sounds interesting." All heads turned towards the new voice who standing on the second floor along with the other members of the Varia.

"I woke up this morning and had a ring. I'm amazing, right?" laughed Bel as he showed his ring to us. Gokudera growled.

"Damn that bastard..."

"Hayato, there's no need to get reckless. Stay calm."

"...fine."

"Ah...Xanxus!" said Tsuna as he saw that Xanxus, the boss of the Varia, had come to watch as well.

"The dog that loses will be erased. Either the lot of you..." Xanxus glared at Squalo. "Or this trash here."

"VOI!" yelled Squalo as Xanxus turned his back towards Squalo. Hm...I wonder what happened? Did they have a small fight or something?

"He's serious, you know," said Reborn. Tsuna gulped.

"Don't scare them so much, Reborn." I blinked and turned around to see Dino.

"Dino-san?" He smiled. "Yo, Akane!"

"Dino-san is watching our match?!" yelled Tsuna in surprise.

"Yamamoto, I'll be watching your match," said Dino. Yamamoto blinked before answering. "Okay!"

"That guy from yesterday suddenly started paying attention to the Ring Conflict, so he's probably around to watch," said Dino as my eyes widened. Hibari...is here? Then there's only one place where he'll be watching from.

"EH? He just knew since yesterday?" exclaimed Tsuna.

"Pushing that aside, this is a critical match in many ways," said Reborn as I nodded. If we lost, then our whole team would have no chance of winning. A draw could be possible but that is also a bad option for us.

"THEN LET'S PULL HIBARI INTO THE CIRCLE!" screamed Ryohei as he pumped his fists into the air.

"That's probably impossible," deadpanned Gokudera.

"Haha! Yeah," added Yamamoto with a playful laugh.

"He'd punch us," said Tsuna with a gape.

"I think so too," muttered Dino with a bitter laugh.

"Not likely to ever happen," I added with a sweatdrop.

"Well, not as a replacement but how about we let Basil-kun in?" asked Tsuna with a smile as Basil blinked.

"Eh? I can too?" asked Basil. I smiled.

"Of course you can. You're one with us too, right?" I said.

"If Juudaime says so, then it's fine," said Gokudera.

"Our fates are going to be the same anyways," added Yamamoto with a grin.

"And of course, Lambo too..." said Tsuna sadly as he held up Lambo's cow tail. Then, we all surrounded eachother and created a circle. As usual, Ryohei was the only one who yelled 'Fighto' the loudest.

"May the participants gather in the center? Everyone except the Rain Guardians please exit the building," said the Cervello as Yamamoto nodded.

We all gave our good-luck speeches as he just laughed and thanked us. As soon as we were out of the building, I started walking off. I heard Basil and the other's voice yelling my name, asking where I was going but I wasn't going to tell them.

I didn't need to anyways.

"...Where is Akane-dono going?" asked Basil as everybody watched Akane's retreating figure as it disappeared into the darkness. Gokudera scoffed.

"Where else other than to Hibari?" Basil blinked. "Hibari-dono? But why?" asked Basil.

"Hn. It's something you'll never understand, newbie. Right, Juudaime?" said Gokudera to Tsuna as Tsuna nodded.

"Yeah...Basil-kun wouldn't understand...atleast for now, anyways," said Tsuna with a light smile. Dino stared at Tsuna, observing his actions.

"Reborn, did something happen while I wasn't here?" Reborn turned towards his former student who was whispering something to him. "Yeah, something did. But it's none of your business." Dino frowned. Reborn smirked.

"Besides...the family has already taken care of that."

On the School Rooftop...with Hibari

He yawned as the wind ruffled his hair, caressing him in it's embrace and calming him down. He did sense a hostile presence that brought along fog and mist but decided to ignore it for today, knowing that he'd get his chance with him later on...that is, if the infant kept his promise. But of course he would. That infant would NEVER lie.

Steel-like eyes stared at the huge screen pasted onto the school walls, watching each and every of Yamamoto Takeshi's movements.

He wanted to bite them to death. ALL of them. Actually, he should have done that a long time ago. After he heard of reports saying that these troublesome students were sneaking around late at night in his beloved school, causing havoc and destroying school property, the first thing on his mind was about how he wanted to bite them all to death and make sure that they NEVER do it again.

But he didn't. For some reason, he felt too irritated and annoyed to care about that matter. The reason itself was very clear.

He closed his eyes and laid down on the cold ground floor, listening to the annoying commentators of the battle and the wind as he drowned himself into his own thoughts. He couldn't help but think back to her words...

"You're not the same Hibari that I know. Stop. Now."

"Yes, I am."

"You're clouded with lust. You want me as your slave and property. You're acting on instinct. If that is true, then I shall not comply to your commands."

"No I'm not."

"The only herbivore here is you."

"No, I am not a herbivore."

"You let yourself lose to your own inner desires."

"No."

"Don't make me laugh."

"...hn."

He'd try to argue with those sentences but he knew that he'd lose...because they were saying nothing but the truth. Her words haunted him. He hated it when someone else could peer deep inside of him and jerk anything out of him while he couldn't do so. It was irritating, annoying, and definitely something he despised.

Losing was another subject. He hated losing. A LOT. Not only had he lost to her words and to his own inner desires but to that annoying baseball guy that just wouldn't leave her alone in his embrace. He'd always pop by, snatching her away from him and that, he hated more than anything.

But he had to stop acting like she was her property. He would never admit it...but...

He hated to see her cry.

In truth, she hadn't cried yet in front of him but he knew that every single time he'd let his eyes wander somewhere else, she'd break down into pieces...and then that guy would come and glue the broken shards all back together. But he knew that she'd break down again. Soon.

Because the only one who could fix it back up was HIM.

If he broke her heart since the beginning, then the only person who should be able to heal her heart would be him. Only him.

He still couldn't understand. He had lots of questions that he wanted to know the answers to. Why? Why does it have to be this one carnivore? Why does she make him feel this way? Why does she annoy him so much? Why does she have to make her way into his life? Why does he himself act this way?

Acting like...like...like he cares for her.

He wanted to laugh at that but he couldn't. He couldn't even manage a smirk or scoff. Hibari Kyoya, for one, never lied to himself. He knew. He knew that in reality...he did care for her. And a great deal too.

He really was getting weak in the heart.

He really was acting like a herbivore.

He really wanted to see her again.

And then, he heard the door creep open...

With Akane...

I dragged my feet along, heading towards the rooftop. If there was one place in the whole school where I'd find him, then it would be the rooftop. Either that, or the his committee's room. But more likely, it would be the rooftop. Afterall, today's wind was nice and soothing.

I reached the front door of the rooftop in no time. I reached for the door knob but suddenly froze before I could even touch it.

...What was I doing here?

I thought I told myself that I wouldn't associate with him anymore. But my legs just dragged me here by itself without knowing...oh well. Now that I'm here, guess I should just...pop by and say...what? Screw this, I don't care.

I opened the door as wind gushed out.

He was nowhere to be found.

I was about to walk back out and head towards the reception room when I almost forgot that there was a second floor to the rooftop.

I took a deep breathe before closing the door behind me and walked towards the ladders, leading up to the top floor. I climbed it quickly and poked my head up.

Then, I saw him.

I blinked. His eyes were closed...was he sleeping? I just made sure not to wake him up and slowly walked towards the edge of the rooftop and sat down, legs dangling down as I focused on the huge screen, watching Yamamoto's fight.

The fight had already started and Squalo just used that explosive technique on Yamamoto again.

Luckily, Yamamoto dodged and managed to regain his balance, but he wasn't able to rest for long. Squalo was already sneaking up behind him. Yamamoto whirled around and their swords clashed. Yamamoto's sword was still in it's bamboo form.

Squalo didn't waste time and immediately dispersed more explosives right in front of Yamamoto's face.

He couldn't dodge easily from that distance...the bombs exploded. I wasn't worried because I knew...that Yamamoto had THAT technique. You know what I'm talking about...afterall, I know all the defensive techniques.

Just as I thought, a huge cloud of water bursted up. I smiled, knowing that technique myself.

"...Defense move Shibuki Ame," I muttered to myself.

Squalo looked surprised for a bit but immediately attacked once again.

He leaped towards Yamamoto like a blood-thirtsy shark as he slashed his sword once, letting loose the explosives once again. The explosives sunk into the water and exploded, causing Yamamoto to be caged by water pillars.

Then, to escape, he slashed his sword twice, causing two water pillars to cross over eachother and block Squalo's way of path as Yamamoto disappeared behind a water pillar that Squalo originally created.

"Defense move Sakamaku Ame..."

Then...surprisingly, Squalo smiled.

My eyes widened a bit before returning to it's normal state.

Why?

Why was he smiling? I knew the answer to that question once Yamamoto took his first move.

He ran towards Squalo with his sword in his left hand. Then, he pretended to slash with his left hand but he let go of the sword and grabbed it with his right hand as he switched to the blade-less side and attacked Squalo.

Squalo was slashed as he fell back...No wait.

"...He wasn't slashed...he-"

"Jumped back on purpose."

I froze as my eyes widened. That voice...I gulped as I slowly turned my head to the right. There he was, up and awake, sitting right next to me. Hibari Kyoya.

Oh shit.

I cursed in my own mind. How could I have missed him?!

I immediately shot up on my feet and whirled around, trying to run away for no reason but on instinct, but I was stopped when his hand grabbed my wrist and tugged me back down on my butt. I turned towards him with a glare, ready to yell at him for his actions but stopped myself before I could utter a single syllable.

His eyes were staring right into mine, holding me into place.

I couldn't move even if I wanted to. My eyes were wavering as his was pinned down onto mine with confidence. His eyes looked so cold yet something inside of them said that he was...angry? At who...me? Or is it himself?

"...Stay. Or I'll bite you to death," said Hibari as he broke me out of a trance. I glared at him.

"I don't listen to orders," I said as he glared back.

"..."

"What, have nothing to say anymore?"

"Why are you acting like this?"

"...what?"

"I don't repeat my questions...HERBIVORE."

"I'm not a herbivore."

"Then whose are you?"

"What is wrong with you today?!"

"What is wrong with YOU, herbivore?"

"What is wrong with me?! More like what the heck is wrong with you!"

"There's nothing wrong with me."

"Yeah, right...like you weren't acting weird that nigh-"

"Are you scared?"

I froze, eyes wide as I stared at him in shock. What did he just say? Me? Scared? Of what, him? No, I'm not...right?

"I...w-well-" I stopped myself there, noticing that my voice was shaking like nuts.

"Herbivore."

"I-I'm not a h-herbivore!" I yelled out trying to sound normal but as you can see...epic fail.

"Herbivore."

"N-no."

"Herbivore."

"I SAID I'M NOT A HERBIVORE!" I yelled with a hard glare as he stared blankly at me.

I saw from the corners of my eyes that Tsuna heard me yelling at Hibari because he was sweat dropping while Gokudera face palmed. Dino was poking Reborn continuously, asking for an explanation as to why I was mad but he was silenced by an annoyed Reborn with a Leon hammer. Basil was just standing there with a confused look and a question mark on top of his head.

"...Took you long enough," Hibari said with a smirk as he turned his attention towards the screen. I gaped. What the hell?! He was just angering me for FUN?! Damn you, bastard!

"...I seriously hate you," I muttered as I threw a small pebble overboard in anger.

There was no reply to that.

Though, the small pebble did somehow hit Tsuna in the head as he gawked and fell forward to the ground. Gokudera facepalmed again and helped Tsuna up on his feet. Dino sighed, seeing that he was not going to get any answers out from Reborn without getting a few injuries. Basil just sweatdropped at the scene below.

But after we heard a small grunt from the scene, all of our attention turned towards our dear friend who was fighting for his life...

By then, Yamamoto had been slashed by Squalo once.

He was sitting on the ground, clutching his throbbing wound. Squalo just laughed maniacally at the poor guy and told him that he knew all of Yamamoto's attacks already because he had defeated the person who used all eight attacks before.

Being Yamamoto, he probably didn't understand the situation and just laughed it out, saying that his style was perfected.

He was proved wrong.

Squalo charged towards Yamamoto with explosives again as Yamamoto dodged around the whole fighting area. Then, he tried to use the same attack as before. But after he grabbed the sword with his left hand, Squalo hit his sword hard as I saw Yamamoto's hand quiver.

Electric Shock?

Yamamoto froze as his eyes widened.

Squalo was about to cut him in half but Yamamoto noticed and hit his arm hard with his other fists to help relief the stress and leaped away in time. Each time he was about to attack, he would freeze.

I could see Tsuna's wary and nervous face from all the way up here.

His arm shouldn't be able to move until a few more minutes...Yamamoto!

"VOI! Let's finish this!" yelled Squalo as he roared and ran towards Yamamoto.

It seemed like Yamamoto had other plans because he spot a huge rock and used it as a ladder to the second floor of the arena.

"VOIIII! I won't let you escape!" screamed Squalo as he positioned himself underneath the grounds where Yamamoto was blowing his arm to calm it down and used one of his attacks.

It was an amazing one. He would continuously 'peck' at the air and cut away strips of wind using the tips of his blade. Part of the second floor crumbled down as Yamamoto felt himself fall.

His eyes widened as Squalo bared his teeth in happiness.

I watched as Yamamoto's body dropped into the water, sinking deep down. My eyes widened a little as I stared at his body, flinging itself up onto the same rock he used earlier.

He panted for air as he raised an arm and placed it on top of his eyes, shielding them from the lights.

I wanted to yell at him for acting like he gave up on hope.

I wanted to cry, seeing him in this state.

He was about to disappear.

He was about to lose.

~•~•O•~•~

The Greatest test of courage on earth

is to bear defeat without losing heart...

- Robert Green Ingersoll

~•~•O•~•~

The end of chapter~! Thank you for reading! :) Please vote in the poll! Sorry that this was short...I am busy so I just posted part 1. Next Chapter coming soon!