'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Spells/Other's thoughts/Skills

[Captions]

{Korin's Voice}

Inner Voice

Chapter 16 The field of Swords

In the darkness of the night, Korin knelt there heavily bruised with his school uniform wrecked and blood dripping off the side of his lips, his gun on his limp arm and his eyes are over covered with his own blood. In front of him, stood Dracul with his mantle fluttering in the wind, his red eyes staring down at his victim.

"M-Motoyama-san!-!"

Dracul's mantle pulsated, as black beasts starts to materialise out of the black fabric. "Finish him." Xanxus commanded, the Knight's eyes glowed as the beast released out and charges towards Korin.

"No… no, don't!" Tsuna cried, "STOP IT!-!"

Tsuna wakes up with a jolt, never in her life has she saw a nightmare so real before. 'W-What a dream…' Tsuna thought, 'I know that Motoyama-san wouldn't lose in battle, Reborn has to say something like that…' She then rethink this over seeing how terrifying Dracul appears to be with Korin tensed up unnaturally.

'B-But… I'm scared that he can't win…' She thought, 'That man feels so scary… so unnatural… Even Motoyama-san was worried about him as well…'

She shook her head, 'What am I thinking?-! Motoyama-san won't lose! I just know it!' But that worry kept her awake, deciding that it is not going to change anything by worrying, she decided to ask the person himself.

Changing into her school uniform, she left her house towards the hospital. He mentioned about sending Chrome to the hospital to check for wounds, so he is probably still there to look after her. Arriving at the hospital, she was greeted by Chrome who has just left the hospital, "Y-You're!"

"Bossu." Chrome greeted.

"A-Are you alright?" She asked, "H-How do you want me to call you…? Chrome-san? Dokuro-san? Chrome-chan?"

"Anything is ok." She stated as she walked away.

"A-Ah, wait! Where are you going?" She asked.

"They said Ken and Chikusa ran off somewhere."

'Ah! Oh right, they left her behind…' She remembered, "T-Then, is Motoyama-san here?"

"No, he left right after I finished my check-up." She stated.

"Did he say he was going?"

"No, he didn't." Chrome stated.

"I-I see…" Tsuna sighed, 'Maybe his house…'

"Bossu, I want to ask you something." Chrome asked, getting her attention, "Last night, can you tell me what I did wrong? You seem so angry."

"Last night…?" Tsuna then recalled the kiss scene, her face turned red at how she acted then, "N-Nothing! Nothing is wrong! I'm just shocked, that's all! I-I mean, a k-k-kiss is something that is reserve for a special someone, right?"

"A special someone?" Chrome asked.

"Y-Yeah, l-like your parents, or your b-b-boyfriend!" She stated, "You can't just go around doing that to people you just met."

"Really? I have seen people do that as a form of greeting before…"

"They probably lovers, family, something like that!" She cried, 'She is just too innocent…! What kind of sheltered life has she been living in…?'

"Oh, hime-sama."

A familiar voice greeted her, the silverrette, baseball ace and boxer all arriving at the same time in front of her, "Oh, morning, Tsuna." Yamamoto greeted.

"An EXTREME good morning, Sawada!-!" Ryohei shouted.

"M-Morning!" She said, "W-Why are you guys here?"

"Well, we were kind of worried about Korin so we came to find him." Yamamoto stated, the bomber clicked his tongue in annoyance, "It's for hime-sama's sake." he says.

"Hm? Aren't you that girl from yesterday?" Ryohei stated.

"Ah! The one possessed by Chrome Dokuro!" Gokudera growled as he prepared his dynamites.

"Ah! Put those away, Gokudera-kun!-!" Tsuna cried, "She's not Mukuro right now!"

"I'll be taking my leave now, Bossu." Chrome bowed politely before mid-jog away to find her other two friends.

"She's a shy one, is she?" Yamamoto laughed, "Kind of remind me of Tsuna a year ago."

"I-I'm not like that!" Tsuna cried.

"You are Sawada Tsunahime, am I right?"

They are startled by the small voice below them, turning around to find Fon standing there with his monkey companion with him, "Nihao."

"Ah! Fon-san!" Tsuna greeted, "Do you know where Motoyama-san is right now? I need to know if…"

"He will be fine." Fon said, "He is just preparing himself for the battle tonight, so you best don't disturb him."

"B-But…"

"Please trust in him." Fon said, "No matter what, he will win. It always has been that way. He will never turn his back on a comrade, even if one is only written in fine print."

"Fon-san…" Tsuna muttered, 'He's right… it's the feeling I have been getting from Korin this whole time. No matter what happened…' The image of his back etched into her mind, 'He will win, he always been able to.' She starts to feel a little sleepy, she swaying a little before landing on Gokudera's chest.

"H-Hime-sama?" Gokudera wondered worriedly.

"It's alright, I'm just a little tired…" Tsuna stated.

"You still have training to get to."

She shot right awake when she heard that voice, "Reborn!" The infant from hell appearing behind her, "You must perfect the Dying Will Zero Point Breakthrough technique by today."

"Wait, what did you say!-!" Tsuna cried, "The battle today will decide everything! There's no need to for me train anymore, is there-"

"Precisely because it is the final battle." Reborn stated, "What will you do if something happens?"

'What if…?' Tsuna thought, 'Is Reborn doubting Motoyama-san…? It's true that he is the main culprit in the incident at Hong Kong…' She shook her head, 'No, he is just playing safe. It's always like this. Reborn always looked far ahead.'

That evening, at his apartment; Korin already preparing his equipment, mostly the amount of speed loaders for his gun that he decides to keep in special charms he used for storing his tools, his gun now polished and ready. He has decided to bring some small enhancing charms he drawn out that he can use on himself to boost even a little.

The most troublesome is probably the decision to take out the ring on his finger or not.

On one hand, he could use the up in stats that he gain when he is at full force, but that might leading to exposing the existence of magic to the entire mafia underworld, something that he wish to avoid at all cost. He used it in his fight against Orcus and faced the consequences.

'I could always draw back on the fire spells… they probably just think that it is my Dying Will Flame anyway…' Korin thought, 'No, Reborn will definitely see through it…' He ignites the golden flames in his hand, 'Now that I think about it…'

"It seems that you have managed to summon out the flames at will, the 'True' flames and not that fake one that roared out."

'That was what Dracul mentioned yesterday…' He thought, 'Kind of think of it… compared to those times, weren't those flames a little reddish…? Maybe I have another flame inside me besides the golden one?'

"Are you done?" He then heard the voice of his teacher in the room, not bothering to think how they come into his unit without a single sound or presence anymore and deciding on the 'They are Arcobaleno' theory.

"More or less." Korin stated as he placed the four bullets into the cylinder, pushing it back into place before spinning it, "All that is left is…"

"You clothes, right?" Fon said, pulling out a plastic bag of clothes, "This was given by Yong-Kia when he heard about the Ring Battles. He told me that this was custom made with the tough material used by the coats in the exorcist group."

"Anti-spiritual fabric…?" The teen took a look at the clothes, before his eyes blinked in confusion, "He wants me to wear this…?"

"That's the idea." Fon stated.

"Like hell I will wear this!-!" Korin shouted angrily.

"Why?" Fon blinked confusingly before he looked inside, realizing why, "Ah, but it is an outfit of our nationality, right?"

"Why on earth would I wear something like that?-!" Korin cried, "I rather wore my normal clothes at this rate!"

"He also say that it would mean traitorous to the clan if you don't wear that in your debut." Fon added.

"That's definitely a lie!-!" Korin cried.

"I think he meant it, though…"

Korin groaned angrily, knowing that it might be true due to the fact that his father has quite a position within the exorcist group, "Fine! Whatever!" He said as he starts to take off his shirt.

"I guess that means you'll wear it." Fon smiled.

"Like I have a choice in the matter!" Korin shouted as he took off his undershirt, "This battle is much more important than the other fights I have been so far. I probably need to show off a little, and I must win. Even if I have to use my life to do so."

Fon sighed, 'He never changed at all since I found him… that reckless mind state is going to get him killed for real in the future. But then again, it always had been like this…'

As night fall, the match comes ever closer. The night of the final match that is crucial to deciding the boss of the Vongola is upon them soon. That night, in the woods, a brilliant flash shone blinding the entire area in the orange light. In the middle of it, Tsuna was still in the middle of perfecting the technique of the First.

"Sawada-hime! Are you alright?-!" Basil cried.

"Ah~! That was dangerous!-!" Tsuna cried, her clothes now covered in dirt and soil.

"You and your clumsiness are going to get yourself killed." Reborn said as he kicked her up by the chin.

"That hurts!" She cried, "Could you at least be less brutal on me? I'm still a girl!"

"That doesn't change the fact you need to get yourself together." Reborn said.

"Hold on, are we still doing this?-!" She cried, "If we don't go now, we're going to miss Motoyama-san's battle! It's starting soon!-!"

"Wanting to see your love in action for once, huh?"

*Blush* "T-That's not it!-!"

"Just leave Korin's battle to Gokudera and Yamamoto." Reborn tells her, "All you have to do is concentrate on perfecting your technique."

"No way! Are you serious?-!"

"I'm dead serious."

She was shut up with the unusually serious tone that he had, "Reborn…?"

At the school, the three members of the current Vongola guardians has arrived at scene, ready to support their last hope in this one-on-one battle royal, "Listen up, people!" Gokudera shouted, "No matter what happens, we have to win!"

"What are you talking about?" Yamamoto asked, "The one fighting is Korin."

"What's the point of getting worked up?" Ryohei asked.

"You think I don't fucking now that?-!" Gokudera cried, "Hime-sama is counting on us, so she didn't have to be here. Like hell we're going to allow a defeat on our watch!-!"

"Hahaha, what a funny reason!" Yamamoto laughed.

"An oaf like you would never understand in a million years!-!"

"Ohh!-! Tako-head, I don't get it myself, but somehow I'm getting all fired up!-!" Ryohei cheered.

"Well, here's the main star of today." Yamamoto stated, Korin walked over to them with his gun at hand.

"Noisy as ever, huh?" He sighed.

"…"

"What?"

"Um… Korin, what are you wearing?" Yamamoto asked, pointing to the teen's current outfit.

Korin right now is wearing a red Chinese martial arts vest with gold trimmings and button, a black martial arts pants and black Chinese martial arts shoes, him is giving off the entire traditional Chinese kempo master feel if weren't for the gun he has in his hand in the moment, additional to the fact that Fon is sitting on his shoulder.

"Oh, this?" Korin asked, "Something the Ninth Knight sent me, saying that not wearing is betraying the Knight lineage or something."

"Is that even possible?" Ryohei asked.

"Hell if I know." Korin groaned, "…That stupid old man…"

"Well, at least he has your best intentions in mind." Fon laughed.

"What, to make fun of his successor?" Korin groaned, "I can already picture him laughing his head off if this ever got to him."

"You speak like you know that man." Yamamoto said.

"You forgotten? All the Knights came from the same lineage, so same family tree. We are related one way or the other." He added.

"Wait, does that mean Dracul could be related to you somehow?" Gokudera asked.

"I doubt it." He stated, "It's hard to explain, but I can be sure he is not part of the same lineage as us."

"But I thought you said all the Knights came from the same family?" The bomber incurred.

"Such a nosy bunch, aren't they?"

A rough voice was heard from behind them, as the Varia Knight walked up to them, his eerie glowing red eyes observing and studying them. "For the guardians chosen by the External Advisor, you lot are weak." He stated, "Those positions are for the strong and strong alone. There are no room for weaklings like you."

"What did you say?-!" Gokudera growled.

"I EXTREMELY can't take this lying down!" Ryohei shouted.

That sense of pride in them was pushed down all with a single glance, as a weight seemly crash down on them. The three gathered there nearly collapsed from the sudden increase in pressure in the air, "You can hardly move under this much power. My god, why did Iemitsu ever choose people like you?"

"I… can't breath…" Gokudera choked out.

"It's like being underwater…!" Yamamoto grunted out.

"We're suffocating…!" Ryohei coughed.

That pressure was suddenly cut off, the three regaining their breathes and gasping for more oxygen. Korin now in front of them and his eyes glowing in an eerie light, "Oh…? That was quite a lot of magic power you possessed at the moment." Dracul smirked, his eyes looking at the ring on his finger, "I wonder, how much power did that ring sealed off?"

"You are welcomed to find out."

"Quite a straight talker, aren't you?"

For those involved in magic, that means Fon, he is able to see the soft glow of power surrounding the two as their auras clashed. 'Two mages fighting in the Ring Battle…' He thought, 'The existence of magic should have been a secret that only a few in the higher-ups known about. Even if Xanxus was the Ninth's son, he shouldn't have that kind of information…'

"Dracul-sama, Korin-sama, please head to the field." The Cervello who just arrived informed them.

"Got it." Dracul said, the aura vanishes as he walked off after them.

Korin sighed as he lowered his aura to nothing, 'I have trouble in releasing my aura to match his, and I'm pretty sure he is holding back…' He turned to his ring on his finger, 'But how did he know that this ring is locking back my power…?'

They followed the two, Korin ending up at the school yard, well, modified school yard. At the dirt ground and open space, thousands of swords stuck out with their silver blades implanted onto the field like a tombstone, making it almost like a graveyard of swords filled with all sorts of European swords ranging from claymores, classic long swords, to even Asian varieties among them, "The school yard!" Ryohei cried.

"This is the battlefield for the Vongola Knights." The Cervello explained, "The Knight's Sanctuary."

"Swords, they are everywhere!" Gokudera cried.

"[Cut down all enemies to the family, striking down a path for the boss like a possessed blade.], that is the role of the Knight." They explained, "Thus, we created a field that best represent that role. All of the swords here are all forged and mass produced just yesterday, all sharpened to its finest edges. The Knights are allowed to use all of the swords to their hearts' content."

"It is basically a showdown between blades." Ryohei said, "Just manoeuvring past those swords are hard enough, Korin still has to fight that man as well."

"If you're scared, then run," Levi tells them, the man along with Bel and Xanxus already there awaiting the match, "Just like your boss."

"Don't fuck with me!" Gokudera shouted angrily, "Hime-sama didn't run away!"

"Tsuna doesn't need to come." Yamamoto answered for him, while patting a reassuring pat on the bomber's shoulder, "Korin is our ace. He won't lose."

"What…?" Levi blinked.

"Heh… Ace?" Xanxus muttered, before blowing out an out-loud laughter, "I'm looking forward to it!-!"

"That bastard…!" Gokudera growled.

"Leave him." Korin tells them, "That man won't laugh for long."

It took a while, but most of the audience has arrived, including the Kokuyo gang who just sat nearby to watch the fight, "Korin, FIGHT!"

"OH!-!"

"Hey, Lawn-head! Your voice is too soft!-!" Gokudera shouted.

"What?" Ryohei said "I can't really get fired up since Korin plain out rejected getting involved in this!"

"But I'm surprised you started the circle when you're the one that was against the whole thing." Yamamoto stated.

"Obviously!-!" Gokudera shouted, "If hime-sama were here, she would have done the same thing!" 'Don't you dare lose, Motoyama Korin!'

"Then, we will begin." The Cervello announced.

"The Battle for the Ring of the Knight; Count Von Dracul VS Motoyama Yan Korin; Battle Start!"

Dracul started with his mantle pulsating as countless of the shadow beasts come flying out of the mantle and towards Korin, the teen reached out for the sword next to him and slash it straight up, dispelling all the beasts with ease. He kicked up the one behind him and tosses the one he has in his hand at Dracul. The make-shift projectile was then enhanced when Korin shot four bullets from his gun onto the end of the sword's handle, rocketing it towards his opponent at bullet-speed.

The blade was knocked off from its target with a swift backhand, Korin grabbing onto the blade he kicked up. He opened his cylinder, tossing the speed loader from his pocket into the air and adds in his four bullets, clocking it back in with a click.

But that moment the cylinder clicked back, Dracul appeared in front of Korin, his palm clawed towards him with the ominous yellow glow emitting from it. He flashed to the side before flashing behind the Varia Knight with his gun now aimed at his head, pulling the trigger.

That was countered with a swing of a sword that Dracul pulled out from the ground, knocking the gun away from its target and the bullet missed him completely. He then proceed to swings the blade in his other hand at Korin, the teen raised his own sword and blocked the attack before twisting his body to land a two footed kick at Dracul's body, jumping back away from him.

The moment he landed, Korin threw the sword in his hand at Dracul, he simply swipe it away with his sword before getting a bullet in his left shoulder blade.

That wasn't the only bullet as three more shots were heard as two hit his left thigh and right bicep, and the last one hit scrapping past his seaweed hair.

"My, my…" Dracul smirked.

"That was so fast!" Ryohei cried, "I barely can follow them!"

"Korin sure is strong." Yamamoto stated.

"We can win this!" Gokudera cheered.

"To think that Dracul got hurt…" Bel stated, "That boy is no small fry either…"

"Hmph." Xanxus has no interest in what is happening now, as he knows what is going to happen next.

"Well, these bullets sure are big for a revolver…" Dracul said as he dug into his shoulder blade, effective pulling out the piece of magnum bullet from his flesh as the wounds stitches itself back together to the others' shock, "A .40 caliber magnum bullet… custom made for the GN-1 Giltine."

"His wounds are healing?-!" Gokudera cried.

"As I thought, you are not human." Korin stated.

"So you knew." Dracul chuckled as he pulls out the other bullet from his right bicep, "Then again, you are part of the Knight lineage after all. Your sixth sense should be quite sharp in situations like mine." He took out the last bullet from his thigh, the three bullets now in his hand, "But I surprised. Your fighting style is unlike those in the Yan clan. It is too wild and flexible. Have you not received training?"

"Training?" Korin chuckled, "Sorry, but those people never taught me anything."

"Hm?"

"All the techniques I have till now, were all self-taught." He stated.

"Ho? That is strange." Dracul stated, "I was pretty sure that Ray would have taught you at least the basics of a Knight's fighting style."

"The only thing he has done is taught me how to use a gun, and train up my body." Korin stated, "All the rest are self-taught."

Dracul chuckled, before blowing out in laughter, "Interesting! So very interesting, Motoyama Yan Korin!" He laughed, "So you're telling me that you believe that you can match me with just self-taught techniques? You sure are an interesting one!" He stopped laughing, his smirk still there revealing his sharp canines, "But that is to be expected. After all,"

"You are their pet monster, after all."

Korin's eyebrow twitched at that comment, his frown now even deeper than normally. "Ah, I hit a soft spot, did I?" He continued, "Yes, I know of your past, of the Great Purge, the incident four years ago, even that incident that claimed your mother's life."

The teen was really gritting his teeth at that, "Let me tell you something." Dracul added, "Those people that killed your mother,"

"I was one of them."

Korin's eyes widen in shock, his body trembling as his grip on his gun tightens, "What did you say…?"

"Oh, you are confused?" Dracul wonders, "Maybe this will jolt your memory." He pulls down his sleeve till his shoulder, Korin now complete frozen at what he saw.

On Dracul's right shoulder plate, there is a large red burn wound in the shape of the five claw marks, "You recognise this?" He said, "Seven years ago, I helped in killing that wretched lady. This mark was left when you first let lose those devilish flames. So, remember now…?"

Memories filled his mind, the image of three men appeared in his mind, one white haired, two completely shadowed. One of the shadowed figures started to show features, now showing the seaweed coloured hair and glowing red eyes.

"You… you were one of them…?"

"That's right."

The figure of his mother, a dark brown haired woman lying on the ground with her own blood appeared in his mind.

"It sure was satisfying." Dracul added, "That look when she is about to face her own death, it was enjoyable."

*Snap!*

Korin had it as his mind completely blanked out, his own thoughts are:

KILL

To be continued…

Another done sooner than I thought! Yay
me! The Knight battle officially commence!
And I am grateful for those who had reviewed
on my previous chapter. Thank you! That really
motivates me a lot!

And for those who had followed this since
my first fanfic, I thank you all! So, Korin's
mother killer is not just one man? Then
again, having your parent killed in front
of your eyes at a tender age of eight is
quite traumatic…

Okay, I would like to ask your readers out
there.

Do I let Korin have a small harem in this, or just pair him up with Tsunahime for the rest of the fic?

Please write your answers in the reviews!

With that, I thank you for reading this!