Ryohei, Yamamoto and Gokudera were already at the school by the time I got there. Each of them were looking in different directions, most likely thinking to themselves about the past fights. They jumped slightly at the sound of my footsteps and looked up at me. I waved sheepishly, my face heated up slightly at the awkwardness. It wasn't often that I was alone with them without Tsuna there. I didn't know how to start a conversation.
"Hey, Yuki-chan," Yamamoto put his arm around me in familiarity, one that I was happy to allow since he was the most hospitable of the group.
Gokudera huffed, "Stop touching the Tenth's sister!" A smile graced my lips at the right hand man. Gokudera was sort-of the 'in charge' person right now and one of the roles he was also trying to take up was that of my older brother. It really showed how much he valued Tsuna and I appreciated the thought.
"Hello, Yuki," Ryohei simply beamed. He really was a simple one.
I smiled, "Hey, guys. Fancy meeting you all here." They chucked at my lame attempt at a joke at a more morbid time like this.
The men in front of me each held their own injuries from their battles. Yamamoto's left eye was covered with an eyepatch, bandages covered the cuts around Gokudera's face and Ryohei's right arm still had a cast. In all honesty, I felt useless not being able to fight and win my position as the others had done and it chipped away at my self-esteem.
"Has Hibari come yet?" I asked, trying to start a light conversation. They all shook their head to signal no. I glanced towards the gate anticipating the arrival of the prefect so he could win and my worries would blow over. I was tired of the battles and I wanted them done and over with at this point.
Gokudera took charge, "Listen up guys, we're gonna win this no matter what." Gokudera's eyes gleamed with determination that stemmed from the desire to make Tsuna proud that he could take over when he was absent. He held a fist in his hand to demonstrate his resolve.
Yamamoto said, "What do you mean, Gokudera? Hibari is the one fighting."
Ryohei affirmed with full faith in Hibari, "What's the point in getting worked up?"
I chimed in jokingly, "All he has to do is bash a chunk of metal. Hibari will be fine." I couldn't tell if I was saying that to ease Gokudera's thoughts or mine. I knew Hibari would be fine. It was Xanxus we had to worry about. I debated against telling them what I was thinking. But if I wanted them to go into this fight determined and cheering for Hibari, it was a mindset that I needed to put myself in as well.
I felt a presence walking towards us and Yamamoto looked at the same time I did. I took the time to notice, even from his battle with Squalo, that his reflexes and instincts were exceedingly sharp.
"Haha, looks like our star player has arrived," Yamamoto joked but a trace of seriousness could be heard in his voice. It made me wonder about all those times Yamamoto joked about the Vongola being a 'game'... he couldn't have believed it for so long right? Especially with sharp senses like that and the fights he has been through. Maybe I would try talking to him about it later.
Hibari strided towards us from the gate, his gaze menacing as it settled on us. He looked at us individually. His eyes rested on me for a bit longer than the others, I noticed. It might have been the arm that Yamamoto still had around me - and he thought I liked the guy - or the fact that I bothered him earlier this morning and he regretted not beating me up when he had the chance. I shivered a bit under his gaze.
Even though the two of us were on equal footing combat-wise and I knew that I was used to his hostility, he still somewhat frightened me.
"Why are you guys crowding?" Hibari demanded. I stared increduously. Did this guy have any other words in his vocabulary other than 'crowding' and 'bite to death'? It was some of the only words that I heard come out of his mouth other than that one day on the rooftop… but he still threatened me before his sudden random-act-of-kindness for the day.
Gokudera seethed with a fist pulled back, "Why, you-"
It was one of those common occurrences. Gokudera would get mad at something seemingly random and unnecessary, but many times having to do with Tsuna, and then Yamamoto would say "Maa, maa" in an attempt to calm down Gokudera and whoever was in the given situation.
"We came to cheer you on," Ryohei let out, his fist coming up as he held back his discontent at Hibari's brusque question.
Hibari hummed and looked to the side as if we were not worthy to be looked at, "Herbivores. Leave, or I'll bite you to death." That's a new one. Herbivores. Who calls people herbivores… Like grass-eating animals. The analogy failed to make sense in my head and left me stunned. I hadn't seen this side of cruelty from the prefect. Not the side that spoke to people, at least.
I knew the fighting side. The one that gave his all in a fight and refused to be brought down no matter the circumstances. That much was obvious in the training that we partook in together. No matter how strong of a hit I made that brought him to his knees, he never let up and it was the same when he fought Dino.
This side that spoke of people as herbivores, was that meant as a synonym for a weaker person? It didn't make sense to me that he was relating people to animals. I refused to believe, however, that he didn't have a somewhat nicer side. It was another thing for him to make me feel better on the rooftop. He didn't have to and I don't think he was the kind of person that did that to any random person he knew.
I really couldn't understand this guy.
Ryohei previously withheld emotions suddenly blew up at Hibari, "HOW DARE YOU TALK TO US LIKE THAT! I'M EXTREMELY MAD NOW!" Yamamoto's arm came off my shoulders and held Gokudera and Ryohei back by their elbows. The two boys were furious and Yamamoto's "Maa, maa's" weren't doing anything to quell their anger.
"Just ignore us, okay? Fight what you came here to fight and pretend we're not here," I stepped up in front of everyone. "The last thing we want to do is be in your way," My iciness, as I liked to call it, flooded back to me during the rise of Gokudera and Ryohei's yelling and the coming anxiousness of the battle. As much as I had a better impression of this guy, he was causing unnecessary hassle among us. I heard the boys behind me stop at the sudden drop in my voice.
My eyes connected with Hibari's. A curious gleam was present in his eyes, as if he didn't expect me to answer the way I did. The ground shook and the Gola Moska landed behind Hibari before anyone could say anything else.
We looked at the battlefield before us. It was monstrous with barbed wires, gatling guns and land mines.
"You can run, if you're scared. Just like your boss," Levi ridiculed, looking at us from the side of his eyes. Bel snickered alongside him.
"That's not true! The Tenth didn't run," Gokudera defended fervently.
"For such an old man, you really like to pick on the young ones, you creep," my voice was clouded in disgust. I never liked Levi. "Just watch the damn battle, Levi." I kept my eyes on Hibari who was standing in the middle of the field. He looked like a patient animal waiting for his prey in the wild to make a wrong move. I mentally laughed. The 'herbivore' analogy suddenly clicked in my head.
"What did you call me?" Levi huffed, I was suddenly brought back to the words being exchanged.
"Maa, maa, Gokudera-kun, he won't lose. Hibari's the best one out of us," Yamamoto mediated. As if there wasn't any tension before, the air was almost suffocating as Xanxus laughed at the words.
The battle was decided in one hit.
If I didn't know Xanxus, I would have been looking in awe at Hibari because he just turned the tides for the rings in our favor. With the cloud ring in our possession we were one more ring away from winning.
Unfortunately, because I did know Xanxus, I watched him after the Gola Moska was brought down. Unease crept up my skin as I watched the corner of his lips tug up into a smirk while Hibari was trying to get him to fight.
Xanxus jumped towards Hibari in what looked like an attempt to attack him but as Hibari moved to swipe, one of Xanxus's foot landed on the tonfa and he jumped away.
"Oops, I slipped," Xanxus smirked dangerously, mischief was obvious in his aura. What the hell was he playing at?
"'Oops' my ass," I said loudly and glared at the scene before me. "Hibari, don't do anything," I yelled to the ravenette, hoping he would listen to me even though I knew that was a long shot.
I wracked my head for things that Xanxus could be planning but nothing came to mind. It had to mean something that Xanxus would come out to the field himself rather than having one of his lackeys take care of it.
"I'm just here to get the piece of junk," Xanxus jumped away from a landmine he accidentally activated.
"Hibari, don't!" Gokudera, Yamamoto, Ryohei and I all yelled but Hibari was already in Xanxus's face striking hit after hit in which Xanxus was dodging. "Be careful!" I yelled.
I looked at the Gola Moska on the ground which had a light emitting from the eye. The green light grew brighter and brighter- "HIBARI! BEHIND YOU!" I screamed but it was too late of a reaction. The moska had already sent a beam of light towards our cloud guardian and hit the side of his waist.
Hibari faltered, his body swung side to side and his eyes widened until he was brought to his knees. My legs ran towards the prefect and all the while I was creating small patches of ice with a layer of snow on top as my feet moved across to prevent the landmines from activating. I went to his other side and put his arm around my shoulder to let some of his weight go on me.
"Are you okay?" I asked quickly, holding onto one arm to try to get him on his feet.
He didn't seem to appreciate it and pushed me away, grumbling something under his breath. I wish he would have just taken my help but to be honest, I really couldn't tell myself why I came out to him in the first place.
I furrowed my brows listening as Gokudera was finally starting to piece together Xanxus's master plan. To let the Gola Moska loose and kill us 'freak accident' in the case that we won the battles.
Hibari stood up and visibly shook with silent rage, "So you used me?" I put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down but it seemed to have irritated him even more as he roughly jerked my hand away.
Bombs flew from the Gola Moska hitting the Varia and my friends. I heard running and turned to the sounds of footsteps. "Chrome!" I realized the girl was running on the landmines which were about to blow up. With a swipe of my hand I created a thick layer of snow where Chrome landed and, thankfully, the two guys who escorted her to her match were able to push her out of the way as well.
"What the hell? Where did this ice come from?" The animal-looking guy said. I think Reborn introduced him as Ken? He was next to the guy who wore a beanie, Chikusa, I vaguely remembered.
Heavy footsteps were thudding on the group towards Ken and Chikusa and one of the gatling guns was moving in their direction as well. Uncertainty was present on our faces and I looked between the oncoming dangers and the three people.
At the same time, the moska and the gatling gun started firing. I made a thick wall of ice spring up in front of Ken, Chikusa and Chrome at the same time a large orange flame was in front of my barrier melting the attacks. I only knew one person who had that orange flame.
"Tsuna!" I yelled in relief. His eyes were orange and an orange flame was present on his forehead. His eyes were surprisingly more calm and slitted than normal as if he was constantly analyzing every movement around him. He was wearing a pair of gloves that I saw had an X on it symbolizing his place as the tenth successor.
He looked so… cool.
In my head I was internally squealing at how badass my brother looked in action. This was the first time that I had seen it but remembering the situation, I moved it away from my thoughts and focused on the fight that was unfurling in front of me.
The Gola Moska seemed to turn its attention to my brother and sent beams of green light towards him. Both of them could fly and while the moska was shooting lasers, Tsuna was trading punches.
Tsuna was on the ground, his hand was outstretched in front of him. The moska was flying into his hand and little by little pushing Tsuna back. With a final hit, the gola moska was down and Tsuna broke the metal in the front.
The smoke and debris cleared up and on the ground was the Ninth. Tied up and barely breathing.
"Oji-chan!" I yelled, rushing forwards to the older man that was like a grandpa to me. I turned him over so that his body was facing up, allowing his airway open up. I shook him slightly and was met with a lack of response. I felt moisture gather in my eye and I quickly wiped it away before it fell.
"Whats going on?" Tsuna trembled while falling onto his knees. "Why is he inside the Gola Moska?" Reborn went to the Ninth and put a hand on him, checking for signs of life.
"It looks like the Ninth was used as a power source," Reborn muttered lowly and brought his head down. I ripped off the binding that was holding the Ninth together, pleading for him to wake up. "We won't be able to fix this with a first aid kit," Reborn continued.
"You attacked the Ninth," Xanxus accused Tsuna. Tsuna's body trembled along with his voice. He didn't think he was fighting a real person. We all thought it was just a robot. "Who here beat up the old man without showing any mercy?" Xanxus taunted. He was keeping a straight face so that his story could be believable. "Who here cut the moska and old man into two?"
"I-i-it w-was me," Tsuna faltered. Guilt was obviously building up in Tsuna as Xanxus spoke. "I hurt the Ninth."
"Don't blame yourself, Tsunayoshi-kun," a frail voice spoke up.
"Oji-chan," I cried out, maneuvering myself so that I was behind him and then placed both of my hands on his arm. "Don't strain yourself, please."
His words came out slowly and breathy but the Ninth explained how after Xanxus's coup d'etat eight years ago, he had been asleep the whole time. Xanxus's rage, however, continued throughout his sleep and once he woke up, he continued forward with trying to become the next Vongola successor.
"Tsuna, I have heard so much about you," The Ninth continued. "You are someone who should not be a Mafia boss. I know you don't like fighting and that is why I chose for you to become Vongola X," The Ninth brought a finger to Tsuna's forehead and lit a flame.
My mind raced trying to understand his words. Tsuna was supposed to be Vongola X this entire time? I thought he chose Xanxus and that was why this whole thing was happening. If Tsuna was supposed to be the boss, then why are we fighting in the first place?
I looked up from my confusion to see Tsuna crying in front of me, holding one of Nono's hands in his own gloved ones. I felt tears sting my eyes but willed myself to hold it. I wasn't one to cry anyways.
A voice cut in, "How dare you do this to him!" I breathed out slowly and heavily,Xanxus was pointing fingers. "I take your act against my father as a challenge to me, his son, Xanxus. Don't even try to deny it. The burns on his chest is proof enough it was you. For the sake of my father, the boss, and the Vongola, I will defeat you and avenge him."
My fists had been clenched for so long, I was slowly losing feeling in my knuckles that were probably white by now. How dare he blame my brother for this. I turned towards Xanxus with such a blinded rage, I felt like I was about to snap right there and then.
"WHY THE FUCK WAS HE INSIDE YOUR CLOUD GUARDIAN THEN?" I stood up ready to run over and beat the crap out of the man who used his father in such an atrocious plan. I took a couple steps in Xanxus's direction. My fans were in my hands and balls of ice were floating around me.
I felt a metal rod hit my stomach and stopped in my tracks. Hibari's tonfa was at my stomach and he was giving me a warning glance. I slowly let out a breath to calm myself down and let the ice balls drop around me. Giving a small nod to Hibari to let him know I calmed down a little bit, he dropped his tonfa from my stomach.
I wonder why he stopped me…
"Xanxus could easily gain the trust of the famiglia if he was to avenge the person that killed his father," Reborn explained. "He is already doubted by many but doing this would reverse that for some. Once he has gained some trust, he could easily take out the people who oppose him."
"It was a trap," I kicked one of the ice balls that was on the floor. I was furious for letting myself fall into it. I knew something was wrong and this was one of the worst possible situations.
Reborn nodded, "It was. He knew Tsuna would interfere if his friends were hurt."
"We would like to ask you all to refrain from idle speculation," one of the pink-haired girls said. "We are recording every word spoken here."
I gritted my teeth to hold back the long string of curse words that I wanted to let out of my mouth. I wanted to tell them to shut up. I knew there was a reason I didn't like them. They were on his side.
"Do whatever you want. I'm pissed off," Reborn said in a voice that I had never heard. He sounded ready to kill and it shocked everyone present. Especially the Cervello. "But I told the Ninth that I will not interfere with my student's battles. It's Tsuna's choice what to do."
I looked at Tsuna hopefully, but I could already see the resolve that was present in his eyes. The will that wanted to avenge Xanxus for how he treated the Ninth like a voodoo doll. He was used for his energy and his flame. He was used for Xanxus's plan to become the boss.
"Xanxus, I'll be taking that ring back. I won't let you succeed the Ninth," Tsuna stood up and said confidently. No stutter was present when he was talking about people he cared about and I looked at him in awe and felt pride swell up at his growth.
"I'll make sure everyone knows the name of the person that tried to defy me," Xanxus leered.
"He won't be alone," I said, my fans at the ready beside me. All of the other guardians were in fighting position as well.
The Varia on the other side got into defensive stances. All of us were about to pounce into battle when we were interrupted.
"Wait," The Cervello said.
I groaned, "What the hell do you want now?" I couldn't help speaking out of line because these girls had already made everything so much worse while they were being 'unbiased' by consistently siding and making things go in Xanxus's favor.
"We will supervise the battle to avenge the Ninth," they said. "It is our job to confirm the whereabouts of the Vongola Ring and with that, it cannot be moved without our permission."
"Like hell you will," I said to them. They looked at me with obvious distaste even though they had masks on. "You're just working for Xanxus."
"Watch your tongue," They warned.
I narrowed my eyes, "Make me."
They held up a paper with an orange deathperation flame on top of it, "We have orders from the Ninth."
"It was probably forced!" Basil yelled.
"Once again, please refrain from idle speculation," The Cervello instructed.
"Idle speculation?!" I raised my arms up in frustration. "It's called deductive reasoning, you-"
"Herbivore," I heard a voice call out to me, stopping my voice mid-name calling. It was Hibari… again. He seemed to have less physical restraint than me when it came to fights yet why was he the one who had been continuously preventing me from fighting and spitting out threats this entire time.
The Cervello continued, "We are declaring the next match to be the one that will determine the next vongola boss. It will be the official sky battle. Every single guardian will have to be here at Namimori Middle."
Every guardian? That meant Lambo who was in the hospital and even Lussuria.
"That includes the snow guardian as well," The Cervello looked at me pointedly. Everyone's eyes turned to me and I was honestly surprised that I would be included in this final battle where I didn't even have a side. But it was what I have wanted this entire time.
I smirked. Bring it on. I was fully pumped for tomorrow's battle. Well, right now I was somewhat tired but after a full day of rest, I would be able to fight whoever the hell I need to to get back at Xanxus for treating the Ninth this way.
Bel let out a sigh, "Oh, well, the fake get a stay of execution."
As my eyes went to my supposed friend from the Varia, I couldn't help but wonder if he knew about the plan all along and if it was why he asked so many times for me to switch over to their side. He was as much of a traitor as Xanxus was. I actually considered him a friend.
"You bastard," Gokudera thankfully yelled, I was in my own head at the moment to say something again.
"This is good news," Reborn noted and made sure everyone heard. We all needed the extra rest, especially for the boys who had sustained injuries.
"Tomorrow will be the last day in this comedy act," Xanxus mused, a malicious and triumphant gleam was present in his eyes. He passed one of the half-rings to Tsuna and then with a flash of orange light, the Varia was gone.
"Ninth!" Basil yelled and ran towards the elderly man who had low-key been forgotten as tensions were rising. I ran to him as well, checking his pulse and breath, which were light, but still there.
"Am I late?" Dino stood in front of us with his subordinates behind him.
"Bronco!" Gokudera pointed out the obvious.
"You could have been earlier," I grumbled, still looking over the Ninth while Dino ordered his men to take care of the injured.
I thanked two of Dino's men, Koga and Takami, before walking over to Hibari. I wanted to ask him why he stopped me during our confrontation with Xanxus.
"Yo, Hibari, why did you stop me during all of that?" I crossed my arms.
"If this battle will make the herbivore draw out his strength, then I will not move yet," he stated simply.
I looked over to my brother who was still staring at the floor and was then kicked down by Reborn who demanded we go home to recharge. I laughed, happy for the comedic relief that being with Tsuna gave.
I turned to Hibari again, who was already walking away from the scene. "Hibari, wait!" I yelled running over to him.
Dino pulled my arm when I was within reach of him, "Bad Yuki." He chastised, "He should be chasing after you."
I pushed his arm away and rolled my eyes, "It's not like that, Dino. I just wanted to say thank you to him."
Dino looked curious, "For what? Training with you?"
I shook my head and suddenly felt timid about the reason why I wanted to say thank you to him. I said to Dino, "Actually, he helped me feel better on the rooftop on the day of Yamamoto's battles and while we were confronting Xanxus, he stopped me from doing anything stupid."
"He made you feel better?" Dino's mouth was open in shock.
I scratched my head, "Yeah, right? That's why I wanted to say something… but now he's gone so thanks, Dino." I thanked the Bronco in front of me for losing Hibari out of my eyesight.
"Sorry."
"Whatever," I said even though I knew I was unable to actually be mad at him. "I'll talk to you later, I'm going to go check on everyone else."
I walked to Gokudera, Yamamoto and Ryohei. "Are you guys okay?" I asked. This was an especially heavy night for all of us.
Gokudera was calmer than he was earlier now that the Varia was out of sight, "That bastard used the Ninth. And now he's going to go after Juudaime!" But he was still pissed. Not that I really blamed him. I was beyond pissed as well.
I went to their hotel a couple days ago, everything seemed to be okay and then this happens and all good sportsmanship goes to shit. I shouldn't have expected Xanxus to play fair though.
"We're okay, Yuki, thanks for checking!" Yamamoto grinned at me, an arm slung around me like he normally did when he was around me. My short stature couldn't reach around his neck so I tip-toed and tried my best.
Ryohei and Yamamoto laughed at my attempt to be tall and I couldn't help but laugh loudly along with them. "We should extremely get some rest tonight," Ryohei said in the softest voice I've heard him say. It was still loud though, sort of like my yelling voice.
"Yuki, are you okay?" I heard someone ask me. I turned around to see Tsuna walking to us from his talk with Reborn.
"Yeah," I gave a half-smile. "Sorry about losing my control earlier. I just couldn't stand to see Oji-chan like that." A mental image of the Ninth's fragile body in binds came to mind. "Not just that but the way he played us," I clenched my hands.
Tsuna's hands took mine in his and I softened at his touch. "We can worry about it tomorrow," He told me. I sighed and nodded in affirmation. "But I was just wondering… was that ice you?" He asked me and everyone's ears perked up in his words.
Dino and Reborn were now also crowded around me, waiting to hear my answer. "Um, yeah, it was. My flames allow me to create objects and pillars of ice or snow as long as there is moisture in the air, which is pretty much always. I can use it in the heat but, obviously, it's not as effective since it will melt after a while but it's still pretty useful. I like making ice cubes for my drinks," I made an enlarged snowflake in my hand and froze it when it was the size of a personal pan pizza. I handed it over to Tsuna and he examined the frozen object.
The powers of my flames weren't known to many. Just to the Ninth and his guardians, my father and his trusted subordinates and me. When I would train my flames, I had to do it in the training rooms of the CEDEF headquarters to make sure that I wouldn't be kidnapped because someone found out about my power.
"That's amazing," Tsuna said looking at me in awe and passed the snowflake to someone else. . It was the same admiration I gave him when he was standing up to Xanxus.
"It's nothing special, Tsuna. You on the other hand, it was amazing how you stood up to Xanxus. It's amazing how strong you are," I gushed to my brother. He really was a strong person and I was happy that he had friends that thought the same.
"Juudaime really is amazing and strong, huh, Yuki," Gokudera was gushing just as much as I was and I laughed heartily.
"Good job, Tsuna, let's do well tomorrow," Yamamoto agreed.
Reborn started ushering us towards the exit of the school, "Let's go. You're all going to go to school tomorrow." We groaned as we dragged our feet towards the exit and thought about the next day.
A/N: Well, hello! It's been a while and omg this chapter was hard to write. A lot was going on and I cannot wait to finish this and the edit the crap out of it. I don't want to try to make everything perfect now because then I won't write. I'd rather get my ideas out first and the fix it later so this is pretty much some first draft stuff. Anyways. Finals is kicking the crap out of me so It might be a little again before the next update but yea! I tried incorporating more 18oc action but not too much because i don't want it to be too OOC. Anyways thank you for reading! -Jae 3