Kyandi: Greetings, Kyandiacs!
Roksana: We apologize for taking so long update this.
Kyandi: I spent the last month working on another story until I finished it.
Roksana: And now she plans to do the same thing with this story.
Kyandi: Yep! I'm going to work my way through every story I have that the series has a completed manga.
Roksana: So look forward to more frequent updates on this story.
Kyandi: Yes! With that said, everyone, please enjoy and review. Your reviews will help me get through the isolation still going on in my county.
Roksana: Kyandi-sama does not own Katekyo Hitman REBORN!
Chapter 22 Guardian of Rain
"Hibari...I mean it, Hibari! Put me the hell down!"
Roksana was growing more and more annoyed. She kicked her feet, pounded on his back, and shoved at the back of his head, yet he carried on as if it was just a fly buzzing about his head. Not only was the whole situation embarrassing, his shoulder was digging into a few of her injuries, making her ache. That ache, in turn, turned into anger, but Hibari wasn't listening as he carried her through the school.
"Hibari!" Roksana twisted as far as she could, glaring over her shoulder at the back of his head, but there was still no answer. She hated to do it, but there was probably only one way to get his attention. "Kyoya!"
Hibari came to a stop then. Relieved that had worked and that he was listening, Roksana heaved a silent sigh. The boy was so stubborn that she would take any trump card she could get. Even if it was a stupid one like using his given name.
"Put me down, right n-"
Roksana cut off when Hibari suddenly spun to face a door, slamming it open. It was only then that Roksana realized that he had carried her all the to the Reception Room. Hibari slammed the door closed behind him and headed across the room to a door she had never bothered to look behind. Opening the door, he carried her into a small spare room. There she saw a bed that looked like it had been dragged into there from the infirmary, though the frame looked heavier. Standing on the opposite side of the room from the bed, was the only other piece of furniture; a standing cabinet.
Hibari walked up to the cabinet, opening it to pull something out. Elbowing the door closed he carried her across the room to the bed.
"What are you doin...hey!"
Next thing Roksana knew, Hibari heaved her off his shoulder, dropping her haphazardly on top of the bed. The drop jarred her wounds, making her grit her teeth against the wave of pain that hit her. Hibari took advantage of that moment of opening and clicked something onto one of her wrists. Hearing metal click against metal, Roksana redirected her attention to her left wrist and sputtered out a curse when she saw what Hibari had done.
The bastard had handcuffed her to the bed's frame.
Gritting her teeth in an anger that instantly swelled up in her chest, burning in it's intensity, Roksana launched herself off the bed, growling, "Hibari!". Hibari merely took a few steps back and let the handcuffs do the job of yanking her up short. Roksana, being yanked back by the unyielding bed frame and handcuffs, fell back, hitting the floor with a thud. A long string of Russian curses left her as more pain ripped from her injuries.
Looking up at Hibari, as he stood there looking down at her, she found a smirk on his face. Feeling even angrier, Roksana jumped to her feet and stretched as far as she could, reaching for his throat, but came up short. Hibari's smirk only grew, making Roksana really want to throttle him.
"You asshole! Uncuff me, now!" Roksana demanded. "I'm bleeding through my bandages."
Hibari didn't say anything in reply to her, he merely turned on his heel and headed for the cabinet once more. He opened the door, collecting something from within and turned back to her. Staying out of reach of her, he held out a first aide kit to her.
"Rebandage them." he told her tartly.
"Excuse you!?"
"Unless you want me to do it for you."
Roksana stiffened at that thought. To bandage some of her wounds, she would have to completely remove the dress she was wearing and there was no way in hell she was going to let him be the one to bandage her. Gritting her teeth, she snatched the kit from him.
"I'll do it myself! Now uncuff me!" Roksana demanded.
Hibari stared at her for a moment...before promptly turning towards the door and walking away.
Roksana dropped the kit on the bed and tried to grab his shirt before he could get too far, but, once again, she was pulled up short by the handcuffs.
"Hey, wait! Uncuff me, damn it! You can't leave me here!" Roksana insisted.
"This way, you can't go anywhere near Mukuro Rukudo. Much less in that kimono." Hibari said, the last sentence said lowly, to a point where she almost couldn't hear it.
"Ugh! What is with you and that kimono? I'll wear whatever I want, around whoever I want." Roksana retorted.
Hibari glanced back at her, that annoying smirk still on his face. Loving the pissed off look on her face, Hibari closed the door on her, hearing her next curse loud and clear through the door.
"Mother fucker!"
He would let her stew in her anger for the time being. She wouldn't be going anywhere. While it meant that he couldn't sleep with her in her comfortable bed, he would settle for knowing she would be close at hand. Not that she could go near Mukuro anyway, but that didn't matter. Deciding to get some paperwork done while he waited for Roksana to cool her jets, Hibari worked the next two hours away.
For the first twenty or thirty minutes, he would randomly hear a lowly muttered curse from behind the door, followed by something slamming into the opposite side. After that, he would only hear the muttering.
Apparently, she ran out of things to throw.
After an hour, even the muttering died off.
After two hours, Hibari, getting tired and ready to sleep, got up to check on Roksana. When he opened the door, he found the contents of first aide kit, and even the case itself, scattered on the floor just inside the doorway. Hibari kicked it all aside, to pick it up later, and approached the bed. Thankfully, Roksana, having tired herself out trying to get free of the handcuffs and throwing things across the room, was sound asleep on top of the bed.
She had managed to wiggle off her trench coat, and, unable to fully rid herself of the cloth due to the handcuffs, had shoved it down the short chain and tossed it over the rail that made up the headboard of the bed frame. This left her in a simple, grey, halter top dress and stockings since she had kicked off her boots. She had clearly rebandaged her injuries, the bloody bandages piled on the floor by the bed since there was no trashcan in reach.
Hibari's eyes traveled over her form, landing on her face. She obviously had been pretty angry before falling asleep because, even in sleep, her expression was still slightly annoyed. Grinning to himself, Hibari removed his own shoes and climbed into the bed, careful not to wake Roksana who seemed to be sleeping deeply for once. Making himself comfortable, Roksana tucked into his side, Hibari settled down for his sleep.
He would deal with Roksana's anger in the morning.
-0-0-0-0-
The next morning, Hibari was awoke by a heavy weight settling on his stomach.
Opening his eyes to look up at whatever it was, he found Roksana, looking annoyed beyond belief, straddling his stomach. She looked like she was ready to punch him, and, knowing her, she probably was.
"Where's the key, Hibari?" she demanded, rattling the handcuff that still bound her to the bed frame. "I have to get home, so hand it over."
Hibari merely closed his eyes, ready to go back to sleep. Which only angered Roksana even more. Snatching up a pillow, she tried to smother Hibari, the boy easily fighting her off.
"I mean it, you little social misfit! Where's the key?" Roksana demanded.
"Wall."
That was all Hibari said as he pointed towards the door. Roksana twisted, turning to look at the wall by the door. There, hanging from a hook, was the small handcuff key. Heaving an annoyed sigh, Roksana turned back to him, moving the pillow.
"Give it. I don't have the time to play your games." she demanded.
She stiffened when Hibari's hands suddenly came up to settle on her hips. In that moment of distraction, he flipped them, Roksana's back hitting the bed as his weight settled over her. Roksana instantly pressed her free hand against his chest, the other hand pulled up over her head by the handcuffs. She froze, watching his face intently as he scanned her. His eyes made a trip down her form before returning to her face.
Then he was heaving himself up, rolling off of her, giving her only a simple, "No." over his shoulder as he grabbed his shoes and headed for the door.
"Hibari!"
Once again, the door closed behind him, leaving her trapped in the room. Letting out an annoyed noise, Takina flopped back onto the bed. At least she now knew not to tease Hibari about Mukuro. Who knew that just mentioning the other male and her kimono in the same sentence would make Hibari act like this?
The question was, what was she going to do about this?
It was then that Roksana remembered something.
Her cellphone!
Sitting up, Takina turned to her coat, digging through the pockets until she found her phone. Turning it on, she paused, wondering who she should call to get her out of the mess she currently found herself in. Of course, she could call Dimitri and Maeve, but she really didn't want the lecture and annoyance that would come with that. She would call one of her friends, but she had a feeling that would just cause more problems than it would fix.
"Oh!"
An idea came to her then and Takina opened her text app, sending a message. It didn't take long to get a reply. Looking down at the screen, she pulled up the reply.
He did what?! I'll be right there!
Roksana had to kill thirty minutes before she heard approaching voices from the other side of the door. A moment later, the door opened and, standing there, was Dino and Romario. Thankfully, Hibari didn't seem to be in the reception room behind them.
"Thank God!" Roksana said in relief upon seeing them.
"Kyoya really handcuffed you to a bed...why?!" Dino asked.
"I'll explain later. The key is there on the wall beside you. Please hurry. I have to use the bathroom." Roksana urged.
Dino grabbed the key and picked his way past the objects scattered on the floor. Reaching the bedside, he quickly released Roksana from the handcuff, the girl rubbing at her sore wrist as she heaved a sigh.
"I don't know what's with that boy and my kimono, but I'm never threatening to wear it in front of another guy, again." Roksana remarked, snatching up her coat as she got to her feet.
"That's all you did? Threaten to wear a kimono in front of another guy?" Dino asked as she pulled on her boots.
"Yes. Ridiculous, right?" Roksana asked.
"I don't know. Sounds like Kyoya's...jealous." Dino suggested.
Roksana stopped for a moment, turning to look up at Dino. He could tell, just by her expression, that the thought had never crossed her mind. Just as quickly as she started thinking about it, she dismissed it.
"Hibari? Jealous? Now that's laughable." Roksana said, patting Dino on the shoulder before she moved towards the door.
She was going to find a bathroom, quick, and then head home. Thanking Dino and Romario for the help, she rushed off. She really didn't want to stop and consider why Dino thought Hibari was jealous. She could leave those thoughts for a time when they didn't have hitmen trying to kill them.
Then again, that might be never.
...That worked for her.
-0-0-0-0-
That night, the match was set to be Yamamoto verses Squalo.
Yamamoto, Tsuna, Basil, and Reborn were the first ones in their group to show up. As usual, Yamamoto looked unconcerned about the whole thing, despite all he had heard about Squalo and his reputation as a swordsman.
"Yamamoto...what are you planning to do? Yamamoto's father said that there's no way to transcend style." Tsuna said.
"Who knows." Reborn replied.
"Nn, looks like no one's here yet." Yamamoto remarked as they walk.
"Heey!" The sudden yell had all of them looking upward where Squalo was perched on the roof over their heads. "So you didn't run away, katana brat! I'll make fish kebab out of you!"
While Tsuna freaked out at the sight of the man, Yamamoto was calm, swinging the bamboo sword he was carrying, the thing transforming into a katana.
"I won't let you, Squalo. I'm going to take you down with this katana." Yamamoto declared.
"In other words, you're not going to try to transcend style, but with the Shigure Souen Style..." Tsuna started.
"If Dad says it's invincible then why wouldn't it be?" Yamamoto replied.
"Invincible? Idiots who call themselves invincible...I've already buried countless hundreds of them!" Squalo snapped.
"Hiii! No way! Yamamoto! It was the wrong choice after all!" Tsuna squealed, freaking out about the safety of his friend.
"It is really the wrong one...it feels just like standing in the batter's box with the last chance to score...you're so worked up you're getting chills." Yamamoto replied.
"Yamamoto-dono...what is he saying at a time like this?" Basil asked.
"I see...that's right. I forgot...That's Yamamoto. Yesterday, when we heard about Squalo, I could still manage to stay focused on my own training, because, if it's Yamamoto, he'll be able to find a way." Tsuna said.
The Cervello showed up then, telling everyone to make their way to the school's B building. Squalo followed them, leaving Tsuna and his friend to follow.
"Sorry for being late!" Tsuna and the others turned as Ryohei approached them, a mummified Gokudera with him. "I brought this guy with me."
"Pharaoh!" Tsuna gasped.
Gokudera pulled at the bandages until he revealed a part of his face.
"That Romario-ossan said something like, "This is a man's treatment". Then he clumsily wrapped me up in bandages like this!" Gokudera snapped.
"Are your wounds alright?!" Tsuna asked.
"Apparently he's supposed to rest quietly, but he wanted to come no matter what. So I lent him a hand." Ryohei told Tsuna.
"I never asked you to! Aren't you the one who dragged me here?!" Gokudera snapped in response. "I wasn't going to go down without even knowing how the match went."
"You're such a worry wart." Yamamoto replied.
"You're the one who's too carefree!" Gokudera snapped back.
"And your're too loud."
All of them turned as another voice joined the conversation. Walking towards them, wearing an over-sized, off-the-shoulder black top over a dark purple tank top and short, black jean shorts and purple stockings, was Roksana. Bandages still peeked out from under her clothes, but, unlike Gokudera, hers were neatly wrapped.
"Roksana! You're alright!" Tsuna said in relief as she joined them.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Roksana asked.
"Well, Hibari did drag you off last night." Gokudera remarked.
"Oh, that. Yeah...he handcuffed me to a bed all night, but that was it. I swear, he's getting weirder and weirder." Roksana replied. Her friends couldn't help but think that the weird one wasn't Hibari, but her. After all, she was the one that was willing to put up with it. "Why do you look like a mummy, Hayato?"
"It's Romario-ossan's fault!" Gokudera snapped.
Not sure that she wanted to ask, Roksana just lightly shrugged her shoulders and turned to Tsuna, pulling one of her many lollipops out of her pocket.
"We should get going." she told him.
They headed out, Gokudera shedding the bandages wrapped uselessly around him along the way. Arriving at Building B they found that all of the windows and the door had been sealed up, air tight.
"Looks like we go in from here." Reborn said, standing at the door.
"What's that sound?" Roksana asked, tilting her head. "It sounds like...running water?"
Turning to a nearby window, they all peered inside. The inside of the building, much like when it was Roksana's turn, had been completely rearranged, some of the floors and walls partly demolished. Pipes had been broken, leaving water to spill into the sealed off building.
"What is this?!" Tsuna asked.
"It doesn't look like the original school building at all." Gokudera remarked.
"No, it doesn't." Roksana agreed.
"This is the battlefield for the Battle of Rain: Aquarion. Its special features consist of the three-dimensional structure and the large amount of water cascading through an enclosed space." Cervello One said, as the two women showed up.
"The flowing water from the tank on the top floor will deepen from the first floor upward. So long as the battle continues, the water level will also continue to rise." Cervello Two added.
"Just like a sinking ship." Ryohei remarked.
"Little by little, finding footing becomes harder as well." Basil added.
"Forget about footing. If the battle goes on for two long, they'll run out of air and space and will be crushed against the ceiling by the rising water." Roksana retorted.
"Furthermore, the collecting water has been specially modified to match the consistency of seawater. When the water level reaches a predetermined height, a ferocious sea beast will be released into the arena." Cervello One told them.
"Ehh!? Ferocious beast?!" Tsuna exclaimed.
"Isn't that interesting?"
Roksana and her friends looked upward when they heard Squalo speak. The man was standing on a ridge over their heads with the rest of the Varia. Bel's annoying laugh drew attention to his bandaged form.
"The amazing prince woke up in the morning with the ring in hand." he said, grinning down at Gokudera's frustrated expression.
It was then that Xanxus stepped forward, smug look on his face as he looked down at them.
"Well if it isn't the drama king, himself. Hello, golova chlena." Roksana greeted.
Apparently, Xanxus was capable of speaking Russian and knew Roksana had just called him a dickhead, because the look on his face turned sour. Or perhaps it was the fact that she had called him a drama king. Either way, he knew she was being insulting. As far as he was concerned, though, she would change her tune or regret it when the Varia won and she was forced to become his Moon guardian. Instead of replying to her insult, he shifted his attention.
"Pathetic dogs should just disappear. You worms can get rid of this trash for me." Xanxus said, his attention turning to Squalo.
"Wha...! Hey!" Squalo snapped as Xanxus merely turned on his heels and walked away.
"What was the point of him coming if he was just going to be an ass to even his own men?" Roksana asked.
"Xanxus was serious." Reborn told her from where he had climbed up onto her uninjured shoulder.
"That begs the question even more." Roksana replied.
"Don't scare them before the match has even started, Reborn."
Roksana turned when Dino spoke from behind them.
"Hey, Dino." Roksana greeted. "Thanks again for earlier."
"Of course. Though...Kyoya wasn't too happy." Dino told her.
"I bet not." Roksana agreed. Seeing the questioning looks on her friends faces, she explained quickly. "I told you that Hibari handcuffed me to a bed, right. Dino and Romario were the ones that came and set me free."
Dino gave her a smile before turning to Yamamoto.
"Yamamoto, I hope you don't mind me watching your match." Dino said.
"Got it." Yamamoto replied.
"That Kyoya suddenly decided to listen to my explanation of the Scramble Battle for the rings yesterday." Dino said.
"He didn't know until yesterday?!" Tsuna asked.
"He'll probably come watch." Dino said.
"I doubt it. Knowing Hibari, he'll probably decide not to come for no other reason than your here and he's unhappy with you for setting me free." Roksana said. "That, and he's probably thinking something along the lines of, "Wouldn't it be faster just to kill them all?"."
"You probably know him best out of everyone here, so you're probably right." Dino admitted.
"As sad as it is to admit, you're more than likely correct." Roksana said with a sigh.
"Now that we're at two wins and three losses, we are out of options. In more ways than one, this is a battle worth watching." Reborn claimed from his perch on Roksana's shoulder.
"Alright! Since that's how it is, let's have Hibari join the huddle! Where is he!?" Ryohei demanded.
"Ha! Yeah, no. Good luck with that. You'd have better luck getting the sun to rise in the west rather than the east." Roksana told him.
"Yeah, she's right. It's impossible." Gokudera remarked.
"Haha, yeah." Yamamoto agreed.
"We'd definitely be killed." Tsuna added.
"I think so too." Dino agreed.
"I won't allow exceptions!" Ryohei insisted.
"Alright, alright...I don't mean that we should replace him, but..."
Tsuna trailed off, looking to Roksana for a little help. Roksana heaved a silent sigh, her hands going to her hips.
"How about we just leave the social recluse alone to his self brooding and include Basil this time around. I'll even join in if you'll just drop the idea of having Hibari take part." Roksana suggested.
"Yeah!" Tsuna agreed, grateful for Roksana.
"Eh? This one...?" Basil asked, surprised. "Is that okay?"
The boy was obviously surprised to even be thought of.
"I'm fine with it if the Tenth and Roksana agree on it." Gokudera remarked.
"We're all in this together, aren't we?" Yamamoto added, a big smile on his face.
"Of course, Lambo too." Tsuna said, holding up the little tail from Lambo's onesie.
"Whether you're a guardian or not, you're one of us for the time being. You shouldn't be so reserved, Basil. After all...you and I are fellow pupils, aren't we?" Roksana told him, giving his shoulder a pat before she moved to join her friends, Reborn jumping down from her shoulder for the time being.
All six of them huddled up, giving a loud cheer of "Yamamoto fight!" before they broke up.
"Then, would the Guardians of Rain please gather in the center. In addition, due to the submersion, the audience area will be outside the school building. The match will be projected onto a giant screen set in the wall. All persons other than the guardians should vacate the premises." the Cervello announced.
"Well, go get 'em, Yamamoto!" Ryohei told the other boy.
"Don't you dare lose." Gokudera added sourly.
"We-well...do your best." Tsuna told Yamamoto.
"Yeah! See you after." Yamamoto replied.
"Be careful, Takeshi." Roksana warned him.
"I will."
With that, Yamamoto turned and head for the center while Roksana ushered her friends back outside. Once everyone was outside and Squalo and Yamamoto stood in the center of the arena, the Cervello called a start to the battle.
Roksana stood with her friends, watching the screen with Reborn on her shoulder. Squalo was the first to attack, Yamamoto ducking under the swing and quickly darting to the side as gunpowder stored in Squalo's blade, went off. Squalo then pulled off a disappearing trick, attacking Yamamoto from behind. Yamamoto caught on to where Squalo would attack from and whipped around to block the hit with his own katana.
"What was that just now?" Tsuna asked.
"He's fast!" Basil replied.
Too fast. Roksana had seen few people in her life who had speed anywhere near that of Squalo's. To the untrained eye, it looked like the man merely vanished. To eyes with a higher sense of kinetic vision, like her own, it was still a little difficult to track the man. And then the man released more of the gun powder right in Yamamoto's face. A large pillar of smoke exploded outwards as a result.
"Wh-what?! The shape of the smoke?!" Tsuna mused.
"Yamamoto has drawn his sword. This is the Shigure Souen Style's seventh defensive form." Reborn told him.
As the smoke cleared, it showed Yamamoto, the boy wet from the water around him, but no more worse for wear.
"Awesome! He dodged longhair's blast!" Tsuna cheered.
"That's Yamamoto's Shigure Souen Style. It's still a little rough around the edges, but to have come this far in such a short amount of time..." Dino mused.
"Maybe, but there's a big difference between learning a form and using it in actual combat." Roksana remarked, Reborn agreeing with her.
"Let alone during this kind of life or death struggle. When an ordinary person can fight fearlessly when suddenly plunged into the midst of battle, other than the fact that they are a remarkable idiot...it also means they are nothing less than a natural-born assassin." Reborn remarked.
"Wha!? Yamamoto's an assassin...what are you saying, Reborn?" Tsuna demanded.
"Calm yourself, Tsuna. I'm pretty sure that Takeshi is just an idiot with skills honed by his obsessive love for baseball." Roksana said.
"Well, either way, aren't I, as the one who noticed Yamamoto, the best?" Reborn asked.
"In the end, he was just praising himself!" Tsuna snapped.
"However, it's dangerous if he continues to rely on the Shigure Souen Style." Dino told them.
"I don't know about that. Takeshi might be an oblivious idiot most of the time, but he has good instincts and reflexes." Roksana remarked. "I think, in this case, it's Squalo what doesn't know what he's gotten himself into."
They watched as the fight continued, Yamamoto going through more and more of his forms. Roksana watched as Yamamoto switched from defense to offense, showing just how fast he could be, too. His speed took Squalo off guard and there was a moment when Yamamoto though he had managed to land a blow to Squalo, but the Varia man wasn't going down so easily.
While her friends had seen it, Roksana had. Right at the moment of attack, Squalo had read the trajectory of the sword's swing and had moved back at the last instant, saving himself from taking any damage.
"Wh-why?!" Tsuna asked. "He was definitely hit!"
"No, he wasn't." All eyes turned to Roksana who was watching the screen intently. "You might not before able to see it, but I did. It was in an instant, but...Squalo read the trajectory of the sword swing and moved back at the last possible second. It looked like he was hit, but he wasn't."
"How is that!?" Tsuna demanded.
"The only explanation is that he completely read the move before hand. But as far as this one could see, there was nothing unusual in the motion when Yamamoto-dono switched hands." Basil said.
"Then...then why?" Tsuna asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Roksana said, her tone solemn. "Squalo has to already know the Shigure Souen style. How else could he possibly read the move before hand?"
While it was a thought they didn't want to think about, they knew she had to have a point. They just hoped she was wrong. They turned back as Squalo begun to talk to Yamamoto.
"Other than that, there's something else I'm not getting, and that's that, during that swing just now...why did you use the back of your sword instead of the blade?" Squalo asked.
"Well, that...I did it to win against you, not to kill you." Yamamoto replied.
Roksana heaved a sigh as Gokudera fought not to slap himself in the face.
"That baseball idiot actually said that kind of optimistic thing." Gokudera growled.
The comment didn't go over too well with Squalo who attacked again, using one of Yamamoto's own moves against him to block his field of vision. This allowed Squalo to land the first real blow, drawing blood as he sliced open Yamamoto's left shoulder.
"How's that! Hurts, doesn't it?! Let me tell you one last piece of bad news that'll make you despair. I've completely seen through all your techniques." Squalo told Yamamoto. "This Shigure Souen style of yours...is one I already defeated long ago!"
Sometimes, Roksana really hated it when she was right.
"To defeat the man called Emperor of the Sword, and his mastery of the sword, I searched for strong opponents. Then, I heard of a vanishing style in the east, a sword of murder that was said to be completely flawless. That was the Shigure Souen style. I found them, the successor to the style and his two apprentices. They used the same eight forms as you. But it was just some imitation of ancient sword technique! I experienced each and every form! It didn't do them any good! I sliced them to ribbons!" Squalo told Yamamoto, smirk on his face.
"How can...how can he do that kind of thing!?" Tsuna asked.
"I'm afraid those words are all true. Squalo's ability to see through techniques is even faster than his ability to deflect them." Reborn replied.
"What a guy...even Yamamoto-dono's Shigure Souen style was..." Basil trailed off.
"Th-then...are all of Yamamoto's techniques completely useless?" Tsuna asked.
"Don't give up on him yet, Tsuna. You know Takeshi. He'll pull through somehow." Roksana assured him.
On the screen they watched as Yamamoto got to his feet, defending the Shigure Souen style his father had told him about, even as he bled from the slice on his shoulder. Annoyed with Yamamoto's persistence, the two clashed again. Among the exchange of blows, a shard from a column Squalo smashed, flew up to hit Yamamoto in the right eye, blinding the boy on the right side. With half of his vision now taken from him, Yamamoto's movements slowed down, but Squalo wasn't going to have that.
He pushed Yamamoto, moving in, and used a concussion-type attack that would use a shock wave to numb Yamamoto's body and make the boy freeze up. When Yamamoto's body froze up, refusing to move as he wanted it to, Squalo moved in with a death blow. To get his body moving again, Yamamoto hit his own arm to disperse the effect so he could guard himself
The down side was that he probably wouldn't be using his left hand for a while.
Not that Yamamoto would let that stop him. Deciding to put some distance between them, Yamamoto started climbing, getting up to a higher floor. Thinking that the boy was just running away, Squalo attacked from below, piercing through the floor under Yamamoto in a series of attacks that really cut Yamamoto up. Yamamoto fell into the water below making Squalo think he had won.
"What...what an attack...F-forget stabbing...it's more like he tore into the air itself!" Basil exclaimed.
"Zanna di Squalo...Boss..." Levi said, turning to Xanxus.
"Ha. The bastard doesn't change a hair no matter how many years have passed." Xanxus remarked, looking bored.
"That's Squalo, after all. In the end, he fulfilled his role as the Guardian of Rain perfectly. Squaring the accounts of battle; washing away the blood spilled. The Requiem Rain." Mammon remarked.
"Tch...you're all fools."
All eyes turned to Roksana who was shaking her head, as if she was truly put out by the foolishness of those around her.
"You got something to say?" Xanxus demanded.
"To arrogant divas like yourself? Always." Roksana retorted, turning to look at him. Xanxus met her stare with a glare of his own. "You and yours are talking like you've already won, when you haven't."
"Have you not seen the kid. He's done for." Levi told her.
"Things aren't always what they seem, and my eyes are never fooled." It was all that Roksana said as she turned her eyes back to the screen. "If you want to fool yourself in believing something, only to be disappointed later on, then be my guest."
"Roksana!" Tsuna hissed, really wishing that the girl would stop saying things to tick Xanxus off.
Roksana ignored him, turning her eyes back to the screen.
"See...he's alive." Roksana pointed out, making everyone turn back to the screen.
"Yamamoto!" Tsuna exclaimed when he saw Yamamoto laying all cut up on piece of flooring not covered in water.
"Dammit...isn't it just one-sided like this. If Dad knew I lost, he'd probably be mad." Yamamoto remarked.
"Heey, you still wanna go? With that Shigure Souen style you're so proud of. How about it! Since your'e the successor, how about I show you all eight forms. In the end, when the eighth from, Autumn Rain, is released, you can just tragically disintegrate!" Squalo told Yamamoto.
"Huh..."
Tsuna and the others turned to look at Roksana as the noise left her, the girl perking up something everyone else had missed, caught her eyes. It had only been brief before another smile had curled his lips, but Roksana had seen the look that passed Yamamoto's face. Tsuna and the others tried to question Roksana when a small smirk curled her lips. Roksana didn't say anything though.
She had a feeling that something had just become obvious to Yamamoto and that it would be what brought about Squalo's downfall.
"You brats!" Squalo called, looking into a camera. "This katana brat's ugliest last moments...you'd better burn them into you mind!"
Roksana heaved a sigh then.
"The only thing more dangerous than ignorance, is arrogance. Too bad for him...he has both." Roksana remarked.
Before anyone could question her, Yamamoto got to his feet, still claiming that his sword style was flawless and invincible. Squalo didn't look too happy with Yamamoto's persistence.
"How stubborn." Bel remarked.
"Those words are nothing more than pure bluff." Mammon added.
"As I said," Roksana said, making the Varia members look at her. "If you was to be a fool, then by all means, be one, but be one on your own."
"With his body in that state, there's absolutely nothing he can do." Mammon argued.
"You're mistaken. It's not the hunter nor the weapon that guarantees the kill, but the fact of whether or not your determination can match the hunger of your slayer's will. You'll see...you're in for a surprise." Roksana retorted.
Roksana's eyes fixed in on the screen as Squalo attacked once more, Yamamoto riding out the waves kicked up by the attack. Yamamoto moved then, getting up behind Squalo, taking his stance. Thinking he knew the stance, Squalo turned, ready to put Yamamoto down.
He found out quickly that was he thought it was, wasn't really what the form was.
The blow Yamamoto landed had Squalo coughing up blood as he hit the water. Pissed off, blood trickling from his mouth, Squalo jumped back to his feet, surging up out of the water.
"You! Did you use a style other than the Shigure Souen style!?" Squalo demanded.
"No. That just now was also the Shigure Souen style. The eighth form, Pouring Rain, was created by my dad." Yamamoto told him.
"So that was what his expression earlier meant." Roksana remarked, attention turning to her. "When Squalo said the name of the eighth form earlier, Takeshi's expression shifted for just a moment. I think I know what's going on...eight generations, eight forms. To be passed on is to under go change."
"Change?" Tsuna asked.
"She's right. It's likely that Yamamoto's father and successor that Squalo defeated learned the first seven forms from the same master. Afterwards, they each created their own eighth form." Reborn said.
"But they used the same style name?" Basil asked.
"The successors to the Shigure Souen style carry on the forms handed down by their predecessors. They then create new forms to pass on to their own apprentices." Reborn explained.
"But...but this way, if each instance of succession branches off like that, wouldn't there be countless new forms created?" Basil asked.
"It's exactly the opposite. The fact that the style hasn't died out by now is something of a miracle. It's an all-or-nothing, severe type of form succession. Change consist not only of progression but also of regression. To become the strongest of them, you become the target of those who are strong. It's just like pursuing yourself. Therefore, the Shigure Souen style is a style that, when successors with the requisite spirit and talent can no longer be found, is fated to disappear from this world. It is a sword of ruin." Reborn told him.
For the moment, though, Roksana didn't think the style was in danger of disappearing. After all, Yamamoto was strong.
"Hey! Brat...I really didn't think you'd get this far. So I don't get that pathetic strike with the back of your blade just now. You're making a mockery of a genuine match. Or do you have some other form that I haven't seen before?" Squalo demanded.
"Mn...? Hahaha. It's a pity but the first through seventh forms are the same ones you know." Yamamoto answered honestly.
"Idiot, you're too honest!" Dino snapped.
"That's Takeshi for you." Roksana remarked.
"Looks like you're dead for sure after all! Having tasted that Pouring Rain once, I've already seen through it!" Squalo snapped.
"You're really something else. I guess there's nothing for it. Then, I'll show it to you...Shigure Souen style ninth form." Yamamoto replied, Roksana raising an eyebrow.
"That Yamamoto...intends to unleash a new form of his own." Reborn said.
"I see, a style that transcends style...provided this succeeds." Dino added.
"No, this is a bluff."
All eyes turned to Roksana, who actually looked amused, a smile on her face as she watched the screen.
"Roksana?" Tsuna asked.
"Granted, he probably does have something up his sleeve, and still might be able to pull something off, but...yeah, this is definitely a bluff. He doesn't have any idea on whether or not this is going to work." Roksana remarked. "And that stance proves me right."
Roksana pointed at the screen, drawing their attention back to the screen. Yamamoto had shifted into the same stance that he used when he was batting.
"What the hell is that ridiculous stance? Are you planning to play baseball?" Squalo demanded.
"Unfortunately, I'm not much good at anything other than baseball." Yamamoto replied.
Roksana gave a shake of her head, Reborn ducking to avoid the swing of her pigtails.
"That boy...he'd really get along with Orsel." Roksana remarked.
"Who's Orsel?" Gokudera asked.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, it looks like Takeshi plans to end this with this strike." Roksana said, waving Gokudera off.
"Bu-but that bamboo sword! If it's not the Shigure Souen style, then it's no use, is it?" Tsuna asked.
"That's why Yamamoto's father is having him use it." Reborn replied. "If he can't get that bamboo sword to transform, then Yamamoto isn't worthy of becoming successor to the ultimate sword style."
"Eh!? Taking that kind of dangerous risk...!" Tsuna exclaimed.
"Squalo is moving!" Basil said, redirecting attention.
Gearing up to his own ultimate move, Squalo attacked Yamamoto. Ready for him, Yamamoto seemed to vanish before his very eyes, the boy dodging the attack, only for Squalo to redirect the attack. Yamamoto blocked it with his sword. Squalo attacked again, trying to end Yamamoto before he could use his ninth form, but Yamamoto quickly got behind it. It was then that Squalo revealed that his left hand was a fake and could be bent back on a hinge which he used to stab Yamamoto through the gut.
Roksana let out a laugh as a smirk curled Squalo's lips.
"Honestly...things aren't always what they seem." Roksana remarked as the image of Yamamoto burst into water, Yamamoto appearing from Squalo's exposed side.
"An illusion projected onto the surface of the water." Reborn remarked.
Squalo knew, just a moment before Yamamoto's sword landed, that it was his defeat. Yamamoto took Squalo's half of the Rain ring, combining the two to turn to the camera, smile on his face.
"I won." Yamamoto declared.
"What an unexpected twist." Bel remarked.
"How is this possible?" Mammon asked.
Roksana turned to face the Varia, hands on her hips.
"I do believe a, "I told you so", is in order." she remarked.
"You wanted to talk about arrogance earlier?" Mammon told her.
"It's only arrogance if you're wrong. I wasn't wrong." Roksana replied.
The members of Varia were starting to realize why none of her companions seemed to argue with her when she said something. She always seemed to have some kind of sarcastic retort on standby, and there really wan't any point in arguing with her when there seemed to be no chance at winning.
Xanxus glanced in her direction, not really amused or annoyed. Turning his eyes back to the screen for a moment, he turned thoughtful for just a moment before he broke into laughter.
"How pathetic! He lost! That trash!" Xanxus said as he laughed. "He's out lived his usefulness."
"Boss, there's no need for you to do it yourself." Levi told him.
"Should I take care of it?" Mammon asked.
"Please wait a moment." one of the Cervello said as she jumped down to join them. "It is dangerous to enter the Aquarion at the moment. The designated water depth has been reached, and the ferocious sea beast has been released."
Hearing this, Roksana and her friends turned to the screen. Yamamoto, hearing the announcement of that, looked up, Squalo laying at his feet.
"Hold on...wait a second. What'll happen to Squalo?" Yamamoto asked.
"As the one who was defeated, Squalo's survival is no longer our responsibility." the Cervello woman replied.
"I thought it would be something like that." Yamamoto remarked before bending to pull one of Squalo's arms over his shoulders to heave the man up. "It's only normal to rescue someone in this situation, right?"
It was then that Yamamoto got his first glance at the beast that had been released.
"You have got to be kidding...a shark?" Roksana asked.
Could the Cervello not be, at least, a little original?
The shark couldn't reach them just yet, despite being drawn to them by the smell of both Yamamoto's and Squalo's blood. Of course, with the water continuing to rise, the once sturdy ground under their feet crumbled, sending them crashing into the water. Despite claiming that he was doing it to save his honor as a swordsman, when Squalo shoved Yamamoto out of the way of the incoming shark, Roksana had a feeling it was more than just that.
Roksana winced, turning her head from the screen as the shark jumped at Squalo, jaws snapping down before vanishing under water, leaving only blood to pool to the surface. Silence fell over everyone, but one person.
Xanxus was laughing once more.
"In the end, he became fish food! That complete trash! One part of the past is now square." Xanxus said.
Roksana's eyes shifted over to Xanxus as Yamamoto was announced the winner. Even though their side had won, with that kind of ending, none of them felt like victors. The battle for the following night was announced to be between the Guardians of Mist. As the rest of her friends went to retrieve Yamamoto, Roksana remained behind, her eyes fixed on Xanxus. The man looked up, meeting her gaze.
He had a pretty good hunch that she had some more insulting things to say to him, but something about her expression had one of his eyebrow rising. The girl merely crossed her arms over her chest, looking like she had a lecture on the tip of her tongue. Thinking that, what she did say, took him a little by surprise.
"You really are an idiot."
"Watch your tongue, girl!" Levi barked at her.
"What is the point of my lips if not to make noise?" Roksana retorted. "Hate to break it to you, but I'm a teenage girl. We pretty much say whatever we want, whenever we want, and if you don't like it, you can kiss me where the good Lord split me."
Levi's jaw dropped, Bel snickering from behind him. Roksana completely waved him off after that, turning her eyes to Xanxus.
"You know, you are about the biggest, entitled child, I have ever met. You're, what, thirty-five?" Roksana went on.
"Twenty-four." Xanxus retorted, a little annoyed that she thought he was so old.
Roksana stopped for a moment, her eyes scanning him from head to toe before she shrugged her shoulders.
"Eh, close enough."
It only took one look at Xanxus to know he had the urge to shoot the girl.
"My point is, it's pretty bad when a fifteen year girl acts more mature than an old guy like you." Roksana added.
"I will kill you." Xanxus told her.
"Yeah, I doubt it. Hurt me, yes, but kill? No. If you were going to, you would have already. God knows I've given you reason enough." Roksana retorted.
"And what makes you think that?" Xanxus demanded.
"The same thing that told me your laughter earlier was fake." Xanxus' eyes shot up to meet Roksana's, his companions looking between the two in confusion. "I already told you...nothing fools my eyes."
Xanxus didn't say anything in response. To deny what she was hinting at, would only make her more confident in her words, and he sure as hell wasn't going to confirm it. Roksana merely half turned, a little smirk curling her lips.
"Like I said...it's not arrogance if I'm not wrong." she said simply before turning on her heel to walk away. "Old men should get their rest, by the way."
Roksana waved over her shoulder and was gone around a corner before Xanxus could pull his gun to shoot her in the back.
Xanxus was seriously reconsidering forcing her to be his Moon guardian.
END
Kyandi: I know I wrote it, but...I have a problem with the "old" comment.
Roksana: You mean because you're older than Xanxus?
Kyandi: Yes! I already feel old without making myself feel older.
Roksana: But is twenty-eight really that old?
Kyandi: When you're dad keeps telling you, "You're almost forty"...yes!
Roksana: How is twelve years, almost?
Kyandi: I don't know. Anyway, everyone enjoy and review.
Roksana: We hope to be back tomorrow.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!