The Harmonic Ring Master

Daily Life Arc

Chapter 14

Reborn lands easily, keeping a sharp eye on his opponent.

It had been years since the last time he'd gotten into a true, go-for-the-throat fight with any of the other Arcobaleno. Both he and Colonello had spent three long years confined to the hospital wing in the Giglio-Nero mansion under Luce's tender mercies afterward, and the hitman knew the accidental Rain still complained about back pain and numb legs from one of Reborn's stronger hits. The Sun himself still had trouble seeing and hearing out of his left ear and eye on his worst days.

This fight, though, was not like any others he had been dragged into. No, this one was much worse.

For one, Fon was not holding back. It was all Reborn could do to just stay alive. The waves of Storm Flames that charged at him took no real shape, not even the dragons the Chinese Arcobaleno preferred. They were simply pure, raw Power – yes, it deserved the capital letter – that had no other objective then to annihilate It's target that had so wrong It's wielder.

Second, every physical strike from Fon was clearly made to be the last. If Reborn had been any slower or resilient, he would have already been in a body-bag on the way to the morgue.

Third, despite his distraction on... other things, the Sun could sense the change, slight as it was, to his comrade's Flames. See the thin threads of orange woven through the brilliant red.

Which led him to the final point and gave all the explanation the hitman could ever need.

Fon would not let him within thirty yards of the restaurant he's future student resided.

The battle had started with the Storm forcing him away, all shots clearly being killing blows, but still holding back just enough that nothing would touch the little sushi joint. Once the distance had been deemed appropriate, that small measure of ease had disappeared, and Reborn had found himself in the first life or death fight he had been in for over a decade.

Despite all this, he was having the time of his life.

The danger, the Adrenalin, the thrill, the brush with death, THIS was what he had been missing ever since had claimed the title of The World's Greatest Hitman. The whole in his chest (not from the inability to find a Sky strong enough to pull him in and hold him, never from the inability to find his Home) that he tried to fill with taking harder, impossible hits, the never-ending energy from his – slightly out of control, to strong, to strong - Sun Flames being burned off by childish, more then somewhat destructive pranks, always holding in the urge to fidget, thoughts always swirling to fast to truly tract, even for him; this all came together now, letting him take every little detail, every movement of his opponent, pick up and discard strategies as quickly as their motions, keep just that inch ahead to stay alive.

But even he could not continue at this pace forever.

He knew this.

So did Fon.

After all, nothing could stop a Storm protecting their Sky.

Reborn pushed himself up off the road, finding himself lacking the strength to stand. Leon had been knocked out of his hand, and all the weapons he'd had hidden on his body had become dust. He tilts head so he could tract the Storm, his left eye giving out on at the worst possible moment, allowing the other Arcobaleno to connect.

Despite being the obvious victor (and wasn't that a surprise?) Fon was just as injured as the Sun, Flame burns and open cuts visible across his body.

"It seems," Fon says, serene smile still in place, "that the sun is having trouble dissipating the storm."

Reborn coughs, not bothering to wipe the blood that dribbles from his lips, then chuckles hoarsely. "No," he admits, still in shock. "it does, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps," the Storm Guardian says, summoning red around his hand before kneeling and reaching out to the hitman, "it is past time for the sun to set."

Reborn closes his eyes, knowing that he was past his limit, and wasn't that a shock. Iemitsu's son was sure to be great, to bring such a reaction out of the mild Storm Arcobaleno. His only regret was he wouldn't be able to see C.E.D.E.F. Sky's response to this development. It was sure to be a sight to behold.

"Stop."

The voice is young, yet so authoritative it causes Fon to freeze in place. The sound of footsteps comes closer. Then, over Fon's shoulder, Reborn sees him. The very boy he had been sent to train.

Sawada Tsunayoshi.

The most amazing part is his eyes. Pure orange, like the sunset, or the purest of amber, looking down at calmly.

Behind him, Reborn catches a glimpse of three others, but he can't bring himself to draw his gaze away from what has to the strongest Sky he has ever seen.

How could anyone expect someone to train such a pure Sky? No one would be able to say no to such a majestic future King.

Not even Reborn.

His last student, Dino, a Sky King in all his right, was like looking through a tube as a pretend telescope in comparison.

Tsunayoshi comes up to kneel next to Fon, a slow, gentle smile spreading across his face. "It's alright." He says, and grabs Fon's still Flame charged hand without fear. "He didn't know."

Then, the Sky reaches out to Reborn, and picks him up, without setting off any of Reborn's instincts, to cradle the hitman close.

A gentle brush of those pure Flames against Reborn's is all the invitation either of them need, and suddenly the hole in the Sun's chest is filled with warmth.

"Welcome Home, my new friend."

It is with these words ringing in his ears that Reborn drifts off into a soothing, healing sleep.

~! #$%^&*()_+

(AN)

Okay, then. Uh, yeah, I said try to get back to my schedule, right?

But, really, it my own fault. I got myself catapulted straight into the Miraculous Ladybug x Batman crossover trope while browsing, and found myself addicted. Don't be mad?

Anyway, reviews:

ACasualPotato: (Blinks) That's pretty cool. You'll have to forgive for not wanting to get into it though. The cursed sword thing is cool, but I'm not the best with undead things. And don't worry, I don't mind ranting. Everyone does it at some point. Your not being pushy either, I love reading the comments. Unfortunately, I was not asleep when I read this. Ever have one of those days when you're so tired you feel like you could fall asleep standing, but then when you lay down you can't even close your eyes? Yeah, not fun. But I got to sleep in that morning, so it all turned out good.

mikanMD: Cool, another multiple review. Let's see if I can answer them.

Nana... is not all there.

Reborn is indeed, and Iemitsu should not be in the vicinity of children, like, at all.

Nope.

I mean, yeah, they definitely have.

Shiho-Akemi: Your fine, no worries, but I'll accept your apology, even if I don't think it necessary. I'm glad you liked it, and hope this one is a bit more up to stander.

madknightofthebrush: The songs still get stuck in my head all the time, so I can understand that. foxchick1 came up with an amazing idea, and thank you, even though I kinda feel like I'm not quite doing it justice. Yeah, it is a bit confusing, but Tsuna isn't going to spell Danny's name the English way, and since it's from his point of view, it needed to be the Japanese spelling. Sorry about that.

To the rest of you, thank you, and here's the next chapter.

Thank you for reading. If you have any comment, ideas, constructive criticism, or spot any errors, please leave them in the comment box below.