Update as of [12/16/2012] – I suggest that EVERYONE rereads this because I've decided to completely revise this series.

Ciaossu!

I know it's been a really, really long time since I last updated. I'm really sorry, things piled up, and I've been struggling to write this, and I have my other story… none of these are valid excuses. Sorry.

This chapter is extremely short, I have a feeling that from now on they'll be short, but fairly frequent. Please enjoy, give me feedback.

"Giotto and guardians' Speaking"

"Tsuna and guardians' Speaking."

Chapter 5

~~It's As Simple As That.~~

It had been five days since decimo and his guardians started training seriously. Decimo and his guardians were getting serious, or at least a few were. I still had my doubts about his rain and sun guardians, though I was the last person who should have judged them, I wasn't exactly conventional with my choices for guardians. On the fifth day, I had a pounding headache. It wasn't necessarily painful, more like a constant nagging in the forefront of my mind. It reminded me lightly of my hyper intuition, that strange sensation that something was going to happen. Something not good.

Of course, as I had done many times over my period watching Decimo and Xanxas, I took heavy note of the throbbing pain. I decided to watch decimo closely, much more closely than I had so far. I also kept a peripheral view of Xanxas; I feared that if I took my attention from him, for even a second, it would mean the end of decimo, and the end of our hope.

What I was more pleased with that I should have been was that my guardians and I were able to finally see Decimo's guardians' resolve. Since they had started training my guardians had become weary, they weren't sure whether they were capable of growing strong enough to carry our burden, and to protect their boss. Especially with Decimo's constant screams of protest. His denial about the fact he would one day become Decimo. During the coming days, my guardians and I met in the world of our rings, we couldn't meet for long, soon enough we were cast into our private worlds. However we met none the less.

Alaude for once expressed his opinion first. He had a curious statement.

"Of all the times I've spent with that criminal's cloud guardian, I have been unable to get any readings from him." his statement was both concerning and intriguing. Alaude was the best of all of us at reading intentions, apart from myself of course.

Lampo was less than co-operative, he simply shrugged it off. He wasn't really bothered with Xanxas' guardian, "Too clingy to his boss." and was a little insulted by Decimo's. "A stupid, snot-nosed brat is taking Lampo-sama's place. It's ridiculous."

Knuckle couldn't choose between his guardian counterparts. Both were boxers, both were as passionate as he had once been, however they were different. The one seemed to carefully choose his opponents, whereas the other simply fought to fight. This worried him. "It's extremely worrisome. However, he probably wouldn't be upset at the death of an opponent, honourable or not."

"We'll have to be weary of that then." I had explained to him. He gave me a simple reply to that.

"Amen to that."

However, it was Daemon who caused a shudder in my soul, and it wasn't necessarily his interest in his guardians. "Nufufufufu I am particularly interested with Decimo's guardian choice. Truly entertaining." of course, I was wary about Daemon's past, all of us were. However, this curse, the curse of the Vongola rings, passing its form through the generations, he couldn't escape it. He had also never done anything to harm the Vongola. I doubted he would start now. "Xanxas' guardian is also entertaining. Such a dark, twisted secret. Nufufufu."

It was my guardian's curiosity that stunned me into suspicion. They had caught glimpses of both guardian candidates when Daemon had decided to share his thoughts with us; however, they all started agreeing with him. Everyone of them started saying how "Promising." they were, especially Decimo's second mist guardian. The one who wanted to posses Decimo.

It was then that I started to suspect Daemon knew something, but I didn't act on it. Of course I couldn't act upon it. If Daemon knew I knew he was up to something, I'm not sure my soul could survive his torturous acts.

Ugetsu had been relatively silent through many of our debates; both his candidates were swordsmen, however, only one seemed to take it seriously.

"It's worrisome Giotto. One of them thinks it's a game! How can someone think swordplay is a game? At least the other knows what he's doing, and has accepted that swords mean being prepared to kill, or be killed by your opponent's blade every time he battles."

"I understand Ugetsu, however, times have changed, things that you once knew as ways to protect yourself in battle have been turned into safe competition." I knew Ugetsu was worried. On the one hand, Xanxas' guardian was fully immersed in our world, but was too used to the idea of killing for our original cause. Yet, Decimo's guardian thought of it as a game, he would be killed if he wasn't careful.

G often refused to comment on his two guardians. He would tell me his thoughts when we were alone, however, he would not comment before my other men.

"He's dangerous Primo. Insanely so."

"I know G, Hayato needs to learn to center himself more."

"That's not who I mean, Giotto." I looked into the eyes of my guardian and his crimson hued orbs bore into my soul.

"You mean Xanxas' storm?"

"Yes. He's insane. I thought Daemon was crazy, but this guy, he's messed up. He's a serious sadist. His demented little obsession with his throwing knives has lead to a dangerous skill. He killed his own brother, his family. Because he wanted to be king."

"He killed his own brother?"

"Yes."

We were silent for a long time after that. When G compared Xanxas' storm to Daemon, I thought he was joking, but the look in his eyes told me he certainly wasn't.

It was at this point in time all of Xanxas' guardians gathered with him. I started to like Xanxas less and less at this point too, he had his guardians gathered to him, through various connections to assassination teams and training groups. Yet, he seemed less than concerned with them. He seemed to have little, to no bond, treating them like disposable tools, yet, they were loyal to the point of insanity to him. He had twisted them with word or promise, I didn't know. But I didn't like it.

My guardians were enthralled with the mix of abilities displayed by the Varia. Daemon was particularly amused by his counterpart, whenever I saw him in the Varia headquarters, he'd be muttering about the battles that were to come, and about the secrets that had been unknowingly been revealed to him. Ugetsu wasn't in the least bit thrilled with his loud-mouthed, obtuse-tongued guardian candidate, I'd see him more frequently, considering his candidate was the second-in-command, yet, he'd always have this perplexed frown on his face, as if mulling over a puzzle. Knuckle was thrilled, at the same time as being worried that his guardian would end up with the same fate as himself, he was also a little worried about the… virtues… of his candidate. All in all, my guardians weren't hopeful for decimo. However, the more I started to learn about decimo, and the more I learned about Xanxas, the more I started to favour Decimo. There was something about him, something at the back of my head nagging me to help, to believe in him. He was so, likable, he was starting to gather enemies into his ranks, starting to gain allies that most wouldn't think of recruiting, and they were responding positively.

I have to say that watching his training with Reborn and Basil was entertaining. At first, I didn't really understand what was happening. He was scrawny, pale, and running around in his underwear. What exactly was I suppose to think? However, as days passed, I realised something. Decimo was taking the training seriously.

For all his protested and all his denial, decimo was taking his tutor's training seriously. It was something I had never expected from the boy. Though he screamed, he complained, and he moaned about the intensity. and how he didn't want to be decimo, he did listen, and he learned.

"Six minutes have passed."

It was curious really. Decimo used gloves to control his dying will, exactly the same as I once used. The irony of it all had started snowballing, his will to protect his friends, the purity of his dying will flame, the gloves he used to power his attacks. So many similarities, yet so many differences between the two of us; separated by nine generations.

He was progressing extremely quickly. That made me wonder why my guardians couldn't see his potential. He was gaining power, and resolve with each passing day, becoming more and more involved with the training her said he despised. He was very different to me in this aspect I believe, I had always had the resolve to protect my friends, and I never made excuses. He complained he didn't have a choice, however, I believe he just didn't like the choices he was given. He loved his friends, just as much as I did when I was alive, and to protect them, he had to train to become a mafia boss, if he didn't train, they'd be dead.

Whenever I saw Ugetsu, during the training period before the half-ring conflicts, I was greeted with excited calls and smiles I hadn't seen in a while. He was so enthusiastic about the natural Hitman decimo had chosen for his rain guardian that he almost forgot we weren't meant to choose sides.

"He's a natural swordsman." Ugetsu had said his smile was wide and happy. "But, I fear he doesn't realise exactly what he's given up."

Ugetsu had always been wary of sacrifices made, ever since he gave up his dreams. Though the boy decimo had chosen as his rain guardian was a natural, even if he believed he was playing a game, he was giving up a large part of his life. You could see the passion in his eyes that he held for baseball, you could also see the pride growing for Shigure Souen style of swordplay. Though I wasn't there to see him train, or to see his pride grow, Ugetsu was, and through him, through his speech, and his movement, I was able to feel the rain guardian of Decimo's pride and resolve.

Another's whose resolve became apparent was the guardian of storm. Gokudera Hayato; smoking bomb Hayato. It seemed that after Decimo's words of anguish during his earlier training session, the storm quietened and worked towards appreciating his own life. G was pleased with the way he was handling himself, and slowly, but surely he was maturing into the right-hand-man he was capable of being.

When his unconventional teacher tried giving him a hint to a new technique, no matter how strange I think that hint was, Hayato really did try to understand, G could see it in his face. However, his brash, impatient nature got the better of him. Not that any of us were surprised.

"Still just a brat. Che. Why he has to be the new storm guardian I don't know."

Decimo's training halted that evening, and I knew something had to go wrong. Decimo was progressing too quickly, he was already starting to get a handle on his dying will, starting to be able to concentrate it, even if only slightly.

That was when they arrived. Two guardians of the Varia. Like a chill they rolled into Namimori, looking for the half-Vongola rings. Of course, decimo and his guardians were completely unaware of the impending threat on their town.

The thunder guardian, Levi, has a simple objective for his men. One that would lead to the point of no return. When Lampo told me of the impending threat, even in his uninterested tone I could tell he was worried.

"The wielder of the ring of thunder, along with anyone who interrupts. Eliminate them."

The pocket watch in my breast pocket grew cold when I heard what had been ordered. Yes decimo was getting stronger. But to face the Varia. He was not ready.

If he had to face the Varia so soon, Decimo would die. It was as simple as that.

Thank you. Arigatou. Grazie Tante. For reading.

Please review, I won't cry, no matter how harsh you are.

I'll try to upload more frequently. Though the chapters may be short.

Thanks again.

~~ Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3