Author's Note: Alright! I just finished editing this chapter. Next up is the last chapter of this arc.
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn
As illusions are mentioned, I immediately realize that I can help. If I start to use the paths to try and see through the illusions. It's not as good as having the lenses using Mukurowl's Cambio Forma, but it's still something. A few Daemon Spades surround me immediately. They've surrounded Dokuro and Reborn as well. "If you feel like assisting those two, we will kill you as well. If you remain quiet, we'll let the gallery live." I guess they had the same idea that I did.
"I wonder," I start. I make an illusion of Cecilia's clothing from his memories over my own. "Do you have to mental strength to, Daemon?" I smile like she did and his eyes widen little.
"Kasumi!" Reborn warns sharpy. I know that I'm pushing it though.
"I don't plan on doing anything though. I'm quite selfish," I say as I stop my illusion. I don't want to get killed.
He smiles and holds his arm out. He recovered from his shock quickly. "Please feel free to observe as we continue." The battle isn't going well. The difference in power is obvious. The fact that there are more than one of Daemon Spade, all of which are not lacking in power, doesn't help. It really does seem like a tough battle. Kozato makes six black holes, which aren't strong enough to defeat Daemon, but it's enough to stop their movement. He draws them around himself. "Tsuna-kun! Shoot here!" he shouts. "With all of your flames! Burn Daemon to a crisp!"
"Kozato-san-" I start. I stop myself. He knows already, doesn't he? The selflessness of his action surprises me. As a pitiful shell of a person who has been clawing to hold onto life for all of my time on Earth, I find that this is something I could never do. I would never be able to scarifice myself like that.
Sawada reacts in the obvious way. The way that I was about to react. "But if I were to do that, Enma, even you would be…"
"This is the only method we have to defeat Daemon! Quickly, Tsuna!" he shouts back. He seems determined. "I can't keep him restrained for long! Hurry and shoot, Tsuna!" Sawada is hesitating. He would. Of course he would. He was always too soft. Daemon Spade smiles.
"The thing that Sawada, Tsunayoshi lacks is the rational thinking it takes to guide a party to victory. Fearing the sacrifices of his comrades… Obtaining victory… Pursuing this advantage is something that he's unable to do. As a boss leading a group, this is his fatal flaw," Mukuro says. I nod in agreement.
"But that is why Sawada, Tsunayoshi is a man," Reborn says. "Certainly, Tsuna lacks the desire to be a boss. You can really see his indecisiveness right when you think he could finally win. He can't take that final step. However, it is because he's worried about his comrades' safety than than the outcome of the battle every time, that we've made it this far. It's because he's like that, that people follow him. It's because he's like that, that former enemies like Enma and Kasumi also follow him without hesitation. He values life without question."
Kozato shouts his final request for his Family to be taken care of. Sawada agrees, but he's still hesitating. Suddenly, Dokuro starts to run. "Boss!" She runs over and jumps to where Kozato is and declares, "Shoot, Boss! I will protect Kozato, Enma!" She uses her mist defense. I don't think that even that is enough against Sawada's attack at full power though.
"Chrome!" Mukuro exclaims. "Double X-Burner is not something your flames can stand against." So it's as I had thought.
"Eh? But that's-" she starts.
"Even you have been swayed by Sawada, Tsunayoshi's idiotic sense of mercy… This is too short sighted," Mukuro continues.
"Mukuro-sama, I'm sorry! I…" Dokuro starts.
"It's a pain to have such a rude little girl," Mukuro replies. He gives all of his flames to her to reinforce the barrier. Now, it actually looks like it can do something. Mukuro falls to the ground, but Reborn catches him before he can hit the ground. I head over to them as Mukuro commands, "Now, Sawada, Tsunayoshi. Shoot!" He turns to me. "I trust that you can take care of yourself?"
I smile wryly. "Of course I can. I've been struggling just to keep living with everything I've got since we were children. I'm afraid that even if the occasion called for it, I could never sacrifice myself in such an obvious way," I reply. I laugh dryly. "I said it already. I'm a selfish girl." Mukuro laughs weakly.
"Operation Double-X," Sawada says.
"Wait! You can't shoot!" Daemon shouts frantically. There's a large burst of light and I feel a searing heat suddenly. I defend myself frantically. As an after thought, I expand my flames to protect Mukuro and Reborn as well. I can always say that I was trying to expand the whole time, but I think that they'd both know I was lying.
"Tsuna, you bastard, you really went all out," Reborn says. He pulls Mukuro out of the ground. "Get a hold of yourself, Mukuro."
"Mind your own damn business!" he replies.
"So that's how it is," Reborn says. He punts Mukuro without mercy and I catch him. I let out a quiet sigh.
"By the way… can you see what happened?" Mukuro asks.
"It's Tsuna," Reborn says as something comes falling from the sky. "He completely exhausted his mental and physical stamina with that last blow." I click my tongue and use my real illusions to make a high jump mat for him to land on.
"And Daemon Spade… How is he?" Mukuro asks. That's right… Mukuro-sama's body…
"Everything's been reduced to scrap. All that remains is smoke. Other than that, nothing," Reborn replies. "That idiotic Tsuna must have done it this time." If Mukuro-sama's body is gone, then according to my "contract" with him from when we were children… my life is over. Well, not really, I guess. It'll just be like asleep for a very, very long time, I suppose.
"Mukuro-sama, Dokuro is safe," I tell him.
"I've used up so much of my energy, I can't stand. Even speaking is using all of my energy," Mukuro says. I start to give him some of my flames. He takes a bit, but he rejects the rest.
"Mukuro-sama…?" I ask slowly. This is new. There's no response. He doesn't move from out of my arms either.
As it turns out, Daemon Spade it still around too. Reborn and I try to interfere, but the Vindice stop us. I don't know what they want to happen, but I stop. I think that we can rely on Kozato. That, and honestly, I'd rather not get killed. Suddenly, the rings combine and the light that follows is blinding. "What?!" Daemon Spade exclaims.
"Through the ages, the wills of the Vongola and the Simon have intersected," the Vindice says.
"You know of this?" Reborn asks.
"That is the key that Giotto and Cozart have left behind," the Vindice replies.
Reborn replies, "So that ring is related to the memories of Vogola Primo and the first Simon boss?"
"Correct. Now, let is return to the memories of the past once again."
I am not a Guardian, so I suppose that I missed out on a memory, but Kozato helpfully explains, even if it's only vaguely. "That ring's flame is the Simon and Vongola the Firsts'... That's proof that our friendship has been acknowledged."
"These fucking Giotto and Cozato knock-offs!" Daemon Spade shouts. It seems that he, like Byakuran, turns the darkest when clawing for victory at the end. Maybe everyone does that. Against these two loser bosses though, I don't think that he'll win. "No matter what cheap trick you try to pull, he's still going to die!"
Sawada stands up. "These flames aren't just mine and Enma's. It is also the Vongola and Simon's. Brutally torn apart…"
"How can you stand?!" Daemon Spade shouts. "Every bone in your body should be shattered!"
"It's the Earth flame's gravity coating," Sawada replies. "The shattered pieces of my bones have been surrounded by flames, which have fused and strengthened them. What's more, they have also created an unbreakable skeletal frame."
"Impossible!"
"It's because of Tsuna's Harmony ability that he was able to use my Earth Flames," Kozato explains.
"Thus, the Sky and the Earth flames, Giotto and Cozart's flames are driving me to take you out, Daemon Spade," Sawada says.
"Don't fuck with me! Those dead men are driving you?!" Daemon Spade exclaims.
"They live on within this flame," Sawada replies. He punches Daemon Spade and an insane speed, which makes a deep hole in the ground.
Apparently, it wasn't enough though. Daemon Spade exclaims, "Don't look down on me!" Almost immediately after Daemon Spade gets back into my sight, Sawada uses X-Burner.
There's another crashing sound and Sawada commands, "Stand up. If something of that strength could kill you, there's no way you would have been able to survive until now."
"So you noticed?" Daemon Spade replies. His body has been reduced to this grotesque black mass with some giant eyes eyes and a mouth on it. "Nufufu...Damn you."
"That was just Giotto's and Cozato's flames. The ones that will defeat you are…" Sawada starts. "Enma's and my flames!"
"If that's the case, show me!" Daemon Spade challenges. "Nufufu… Then I'll show you my final card!"
"You're pitiful, Daemon. Your trump card is running away," Sawada replies. Daemon Spade's eyes widen and Sawada explains, "It's faint, but the flames feel the same as from when you escaped from prison. There's none of the seven attributes of the Sky or Dessert. That flame is the same as the Vindice. You're planning to cross over into a spacial void by blasting an opening in the flame and using it to escape again."
"Well detected," Daemon Spade replies. "That's it exactly. This grand flame has an incredible power that surpasses even the Sky and Earth, and eighth attribute flame."
"An eighth attribute?" Sawada asks.
"Daemon Spade, reveal anything further and you will not be forgiven," the Vindice warns. Of course, this only sparks my interest.
"That's right… the Vindice were annoying involved with the eighth attribute flame. You plan on having your code bind even what is said."
"The eighth attribute flame brings with it an immense burden," the Vindice replies.
He replies, "Ah, that's fine. As long as I'm able to get away from here now."
"Daemon!" Sawada exclaims.
"I am not ashamed of running away," he replies. "From all the years I've been continually watching the Vongola. I've seen that the only ones who survived were the ones that didn't choose pathetic deaths. In order to survive, I've violated the taboos of the Guardians. I cast off attachments to my body."
"I knew it," Mukuro says. "He's survived through it all by abandoning his own body and possessing another's. In the shuffling of his spirit's vessel, it appears he's transcended the ages."
"I haven't just adapted to the ages, I have evolved," Daemon Spade says. "The next time I appear before you, I will be many times stronger than before. That time will be your last. Be ready for your executioner's return." Suddenly, Daemon Spade's eyes widen.
"You think you can run?" Sawada asks as Daemon Spade gets crushed down by Kozato's Earth flames.
"Nu… Again with this! The Earth's gravity!"
"I thought I told you," Sawada replies. "Enma and my flames will be the ones to defeat you."
"No!"
"Prepare yourself, Daemon," Sawada says. Just as I think it's really going to end, Sawada says, "Let's stop. This is enough. With the beating you've had, all that you've lost is beyond repair. Please quietly surrender and atone for your sins."
Mukuro says, "Just like him to be so naive."
I nod. "My thoughts exactly," I agree with a quiet sigh.
"You're going to regret detaining me," Daemon Spade says. He starts to get up.
"The Earth flame isn't working!" Sawada exclaims.
Mukuro explains, "He's shrouding himself in energy in order to escape!"
"Daemon, that bastard, he's willing to go this far. He's planning on taking him head on," Reborn says.
"Daemon!"Sawada exclaims.
Daemon Spade replies, "This will end it!"
"Understood… Well then, until I defeat you here…" Sawada replies. "I won't hold back." They both start to build up an incredibly large amount of flames around them.
"Feeling cocky, huh?"
"Here I come!"
"Die!"
They charge at each other very quickly, but Daemon Spade let's himself get it. "To be blinded by the material world like this, you're still far too naive! You're focusing too much on such a small victory. You can have Mukuro's body!"
"My human form!" Mukuro exclaims. I can feel him panicking in my arms. I guess my life really will be ending soon. I should prepare myself mentally.
"I will survive!" Daemon Spade proclaims.
Sawada exclaims, "Oh crap!"
"Nuhahaha, you're too late!" Daemon Spade says with a laugh. "Soon your future will be pitch black! Farewell!" Just as I think that we lost, suddenly, Daemon Spade's means of escape, are taken away by the Vindice.
"Entities without a body are not permitted to use the eighth attribute flame. That is the law," the Vindice says.
"T-That can't be…" Daemon Spade says.
"No, Tsuna!" Reborn exclaims.
Kozato exclaims, "Tsuna-kun!"
"Boss!" Dokuro exlaims.
"Shoot him!" Mukuro says.
"Is it finally going to end?" I ask.
"It's over, Daemon," Sawada says.
"Noo! Wait, stop! I can't die yet!" Daemon Spade exclaims. They were interesting last words, I suppose. Sawada shoots. What is left behind is a strangely familiar looking pocket watch.
"That's…" Enma starts.
Reborn says, "Daemon always kept that with him."
"Daemon Spade's treasure…" Mukuro says.
"What's in the pocket watch, Tsuna?" Enma asks.
"An old photograph," Sawada replies. "A picture of Daemon together with the Primo Famiglia." Sawada turns to me. "Sato-san, you should come see this," he says. "There's a woman next to Primo's Cloud Guardian that looks just like you." I nod and go over to him with Mukuro still in my arms. "There's a woman next to Daemon Spade, too. A beautiful woman."
"That's someone I've never seen," Reborn says.
"Elena," I say slowly. "Right, Daemon Spade?" I turn to the ground where he is somewhat reforming. It seems like it should be safe though.
"Fufu… Exquisite, isn't she?" he asks with a laugh. "You're right. That's Elena."
Dokuro exclaims, "Daemon! He's still alive?"
"Don't worry, I don't sense a flame that he can fight with," Mukuro replies.
"Elena was the light that forever brightened our lives."
