Not long after Dino came trudging back to where Reborn was waiting with whip in hand, Rosetta was coming down the hall towards the two males with what looked like a long metal pole in her possession. She had also changed into a simple slightly loose t-shirt with sweat capris and sneakers.
"From what I can see it's safe to assume you've been approved to display your abilities for us." Reborn concluded with a smirk.
"Yes. My uncle Antonio has gone ahead to prepare a barrier for us." Rosetta stated in reply.
"An barrier?" Dino asked curiously. "Why?"
"These abilities of mine are a well kept secret. I can't expose the world to such abilities if I haven't fully mastered them yet. If I can help it, I don't want anyone or anything being unnecessarily destroyed…" his friend answered seriously. "That's why we need the barrier."
The young Cavallone gazed at her with shock and worry. "Are your abilities really that dangerous?!"
"Only the ones I haven't fully mastered. Don't worry, I won't be using those against anyone."
He relaxed a little in response but still looked a little concerned.
"Let's head out then." Reborn announced, jumping up to perch on Dino's shoulder.
Together the trio travelled to a nice clearing outside that was a good distance away from the Cavallone manor. Dino had guessed this was where the barrier was placed but couldn't sense or see any walls around them. He then watched as Rosetta did a few stretches then swung and spun her pole around a few times to get ready.
"Okay, so who's my opponent going to be?" She asked the two males confidently when she was done.
"Dino, of course." Reborn answered before jumping off his perch and onto the ground.
The brunette shifted into a battle stance and then after a minute realized that he hadn't done the same. "What's wrong, Dino?" She asked with concern after relaxing.
For a moment the young Cavallone was silent and then he suddenly said, "I can't do this Rosetta. I just can't." - he then turned to his tutor - "Why can't you fight her instead, Reborn?"
"Even with her abilities as they are now, Rosetta wouldn't last a minute against me." The pint sized hitman replied confidently. "Between the two of you she may seem to have the upper hand here, but the two of you have fairly even battle experience. This sparring session will also give the both of you a valuable experience as you haven't fought anyone like each other until now."
"Reborn does have a point." The brunette agreed. "I'm ready. How about you?"
Dino was silent and still looked rather worried so Reborn decided to take a different approach. "The lady says she's ready. I suggest you indulge her and give her what she wants…or else." He threatened while pointing his gun at Dino so he had no choice in the matter.
"Are you ready then?" Rosetta asked once more.
"I guess I have no choice…" Dino stated in reply hesitantly. He then adopted a look of uncertain determination while shifting into his battle stance. As soon as he had done so, Rosetta shot forward quickly to attack first.
Dino instinctively shut his eyes tightly and defended himself with his whip, waiting for an impact that didn't come. Slowly he opened one eye and then the other before looking around. Quickly he spotted Rosetta behind him, ready to strike once more.
"You better keep your eyes open for this one!" She announced while swinging her pole at him.
Before her attack could connect the young Cavallone cracked his whip at it to stop it, but the attack went right through her instead. The image of her then slowed before disappearing into a puff of indigo colored mist. He withdrew his whip and spun around, searching swiftly for his opponent but couldn't see her at all.
A bead of sweat ran down the side of his face as he scanned the area a few more times, his eyes darting quickly to detect any sign of her. When he couldn't find her he came to the conclusion that she must've disappeared entirely.
Dino found himself starting to panic. Rosetta had warned him about her abilities but didn't explain exactly what they were or how they worked. Was this something that helped her blend into her surroundings or was it something more advanced than that? Just as he started to feel like he was going to freeze up, Reborn decided to give his student some advice.
"Calm down and steel yourself, Dino." he instructed. "It may seem like Rosetta has completely disappeared, but she is still somewhere in the area. Just keep calm and remember what I've taught you."
'Okay, so if I can't see her I'll have to try and focus on any sounds she might make…' his student thought as he stood still and closed his eyes.
This was one of the perks of being tutored by Reborn. He may have been ruthless in putting Dino through many challenging trials, but thanks to them his senses have been slowly getting stronger.
He focused on his hearing, keeping his breathing slow and steady as he listened to the breeze rustle in the branches of the nearby trees ever so slightly. Dino waited for what seemed like forever but he was patient. Suddenly he heard the faintest of snapping branches and a sharp gasp soon afterwards.
As soon as he heard her gasp Dino turned to the source just in time to see a little indigo mist just as before.
'That means I'm on the right track with this…' he thought, gaining confidence while he continued to scan the area. 'Perhaps I'll be able to catch her next time.'
"You confident you'll win this one?" Rosetta asked from behind Dino, making him jump.
He immediately recovered and spun around, cracking his whip to bind her. She let it wind around her arm and grabbed it. While smirking she continued, "Well think again!" Rosetta then thrust her pole at the young Cavallone's face but narrowly missed when he cocked his head to the side to dodge it.
"That hurt," he muttered as he wiped the blood from the scratch on his cheek. He then yanked his whip to pull Rosetta down but she just used that momentum to get closer and low to the ground to kick him down.
In one sweeping motion she kicked his heels, making him lose his balance and fall backwards. Dino let out a loud grunt as he landed on the ground with a loud thump, finishing with a pained groan.
"Oh no, sorry Dino." Rosetta apologized, now standing over him. "Was I too rough?"
"No, you were fine." Reborn chimed in. "I've put Dino through worse."
"Yeah, that's true." The young Cavallone uttered with a cough.
His friend then offered her hand which he thankfully took. She helped him up and then noticed his wince and then the scratch on his cheek.
"Here, let me get that." Rosetta offered softly before gently cupping his cheek with the palm of her hand.
Dino flinched and froze in response, blushing from the initial touch but then realized a warm intensity was coming from her hand and became curious. After a minute she pulled her hand away and the young Cavallone managed to catch a glimpse of something sparkling and yellow coming from her palm. His hand then instinctively went to his cheek where the scratch was and found it was gone.
"So, it's as I thought," Reborn concluded seriously. "You can use dying will flames without a physical medium."
"Dying will…flames…?" Dino asked, looking totally lost.
"Yes, flame attributes to be exact." Rosetta answered. A short awkward pause passed and upon seeing her friend's still blank and clueless expression, she turned to the pint sized tutor. "You haven't taught Dino about flame attributes yet?"
"Apart from your family, some still don't know much about flames and they're still being researched." Reborn explained. "Perhaps you can shed some light on the subject for the both of us."
"Okay." The brunette agreed. "Basically the flames you've seen are a sort of energy that is drawn from one's own life force. Also called Dying Will Flames, most mafia members can wield and use them. You should have some of those flames too, Dino."
"I…do?" The young Cavallone asked with interested surprise.
"Yes, you most likely have sky attributes - the same as most bosses can be seen having." the hitman chimed in with a smirk at his student who was spazzing about not wanting to be a boss again.
"Some can also have more than one attribute." Rosetta suddenly added.
Dino stopped and asked his friend, "And you're…one of them?"
"Yes, it's already rare for someone to use two or even three, but my descendants and I are able to master most if not all of them." She explained. "You already witnessed my mist and sun flames," - she held out her hands to demonstrate the indigo flames that made her disappear in her right hand and the sun flames that she used to heal him in her left - "but I am also efficient with sky and storm flames. Those are the more dangerous attributes I referred to earlier."
"…What do they do?" The young Cavallone dared to ask.
Silently Rosetta aimed a palm at the nearest tree and focused on it. Intense orange pulsating heat left her body and hit the tree, turning it to stone. She then aimed at the same tree, pointing her finger like a gun at it. Sharp red flames built up at the tip of her finger before she shot them. Instantly the red flames grew and engulfed the tree, reducing it to rubble and ashes in mere seconds.
Dino was speechless after her display of power, glad that she didn't use them earlier.
"I hate using those flames unless I have to…" Rosetta commented sadly, bending down to acquire a seed. She stood and saw the fear apparent on his face. "Are you afraid of me now? I'll understand…if you are…"
"No! I mean your abilities are certainly something to fear, but not you." Dino answered quickly. "I know that you're a good person, that you wouldn't do something like that without a good reason. And even if you did I know that you would feel guilty and try to recompense…"
His friend smiled at his words and then used her sun flames to help the seed grow into a bud. She then planted it into the ground where the tree she felled was.
"Thank you, Dino." She said softly with a smile before standing and eagerly ushering the two boys back into the mansion to do something fun for a change of pace.