As promised! Here is the next chapter of E'la Nostra Ora Incisa Sull'anello not toooooo long after KTTSTB. I hope you enjoy, this was such an angst and 'annoying' chapter of the Manga, I got so annoyed with Hayato and I hope that it didn't transfer too much into the Primo guardians.
Dear guest; mar9893: I'm glad you are enjoying this story. I will definitely keep writing, and I am very sorry for the dely. This story just requires a lot of research to write, so sometimes I don't have time to get the chapters out. I will not allow it to become so abandoned again though. I will continue to write with my EXTREME DYING WILL! Thank you for reviewing!
To any guest reviewers I didn't reply to I am so sorry! Thank you for your support!
Please enjoy despite my spelling and grammar errors as well as my habit of changing tenses.
E'la Nostra Ora Incisa Sull'anello
Storming resolve.
"Primo guardian's thoughts and speech."
"Tsuna and guardians thoughts and speech."
This boy was my worst fear. Not one of the other guardians –who I had seen- at this point worried me and caused me more grief than the Storm guardian that followed Decimo. For one, he was nothing like my own Strom, he was like G, yes, but not like my storm and it worried me because their dissimilarities were of the worst kind.
The boy was suicidal for one, and it would kill Decimo to see it.
"This isn't going to turn out well, Giotto." G had mumbled right before the fight began, he wasn't smoking for once, his fisted hands crossed over his chest in a pose of anxiety.
For once I agreed with my temperamental guardian, this battle would not turn out well, one way, or another. I had the utmost faith in Tsunayoshi, the last battle had opened my eyes to 'belief' I still didn't think him suited to Vongola, but at least I saw him as a suitable leader. I simply prayed at this point, as I watched Tsunayoshi prepare his Strom, that that belief wasn't misplaced.
Gokudera Hayato's storm had raged off course and was now so very, pitifully lost.
Of course, I could only watch from Xanxus' side, and I had learnt many new things since the night before, being able to delve deeper into Xanxus' mind and his intentions. It was only a night, but I learnt many things.
Xanxus was not an openly caring individual, he threw glasses and abused his guardians, but he was string and he was fair. If his guardians did as they were told, followed him and fought for his ideal he was willing to do anything he could to ensure they won and that they were rewarded.
There had to be something about him that ignited the loyalty of his subordinates, something other than fear or strength, because I know that the Varia were not the kind of people who would stick around if their boss showed weakness. They were all capable of leaving to find better meat to sink their fangs into.
So what made Xanxus worth the wait while he was cooled on ice for year upon year?
It could be his strength, he was powerful and could kill anyone he so wished. But the Varia guardians were strong, and far too stubborn to be held by something as weak as fear. So perhaps, I wondered, if it were his mind.
He had a steel-trap mind, I could see it in his eyes, the feral, instinctual actions hid the true genius and cunning the man had cultivated. I was honestly amazed and terrified; it was the kind of intelligence that knew neither bounds nor limits. If Xanxus had to massacre to get what he needed he would.
That didn't mean that he didn't have his virtues. He was charismatic- in his own twisted way- and he had lines he didn't cross. He for one didn't go out of his way to defend children, but he would avoid them if he could. He wasn't heartless nor without emotion, he had just learnt to cast them into a seamless box for his own protection, and for those under his rule. Emotions in the world of blood and bullets were quickly smite or hidden. Xanxus knew this well.
But he was wounded. I could feel it and see it when he and I were left in his throne room alone in the evenings. Something had hurt him so much; he still bled from the open wound of betrayal and confusion. The Cradle affair weighed on him and hurt him more than anyone wanted to let him admit- more than he was prepared to admit.
The confusion from the days before his Coup d'état had many years to fester and writhe while he was held inanimate in my ice. It had seared him and had wounded him. The scars he bore were simply reminders, never able to escape from the fury and hurt he had to think on every, single day that he was held captive, awake and asleep all at the same time.
I've never disliked Timoteo, but I did grow to resent his decisions, his fall and his predicament now- his own son killing off his 'brothers' and trying to overthrow the Vongola- was of Timoteo's own reckoning. I felt no pity for the fool who let his own regret and fear overwhelm him. Timoteo was the creator of Xanxus' true wrath. I had no pity for the man. I simply wept for Xanxus, for he now had no way out.
I had my suspicions about Xanxus' blood even before the cradle affair, the way my ring sat on his large finger, how it heated and sparked. Something was very wrong with the feeling of being in his possession, and not because of my growing bias towards Decimo.
But I didn't hate Xanxus, his blood, his mind, I disked and pitied him, but I didn't hate him. He was lost; his mind was still trying to catch up while his body continued to motor on. He was scared; he was trying to get himself somewhere he understood. He was trying to get the dream that had always been so attainable, his one dream that was snatched away from him because of an old man's sentiment.
That didn't mean that I thought he was right, or that he was my choice for Decimo. All I meant was that I hoped he could be saved.
I hoped Tsunayoshi was strong enough to realise, forgive, and heal the scarred man who didn't know how to ask for help and not feel weak.
I missed my time with Tsunayoshi, being away from him made me burn for different reasons. I missed the innocent love of the family that he held, and the reminder of my own time as Vigilante boss. Xanxus was not kind and his aura as it searched for solace weighed on me. I honestly missed Tsunayoshi and I shouldn't have.
My intuition had burned me for a while and so I decided to use my ability to travel through other rings. As the sky I can check up on opposing candidates briefly by using my guardians' rings as medium. It was taxing, and I had never evoked it before, but I knew that with my intuition burning as it was, it was time to evoke the ability and check up on Tsunayoshi. So I was both surprised and amazed when I appeared before Decimo to find him completing training I remember from my own time as Don.
He looked pathetic as he trained, but I had never heard such a resolute confirmation from him. He was truly ready to get stronger, finally willing to take on his role. The beating his youngest guardian had taken had finally, finally ignited that protective instinct every leader needs to be strong.
"Can I defeat Xanxus too...?" it was the first time I had heard him actually state his desire. To defeat Xanxus? Never had he taken these fights seriously, and though I was only there in spirit I felt excitement pool in my stomach, the exhaustion of this disconnection with my ring suddenly didn't feel so painful.
I could not stay with him throughout the entirety of his training, it was too taxing being away from Xanxus, but at least I could see him trying, his struggle and his resolve. It was simply confirmation that what I had seen the night before was not a fluke but was the ignition of the resilient spark.
Though he still cowered and ran from the training, his heart was elsewhere. He was really thankful for the training. For my training, though he didn't really know of me then. He knew my name. And that for me was enough.
"Dame-Tsuna. If you don't pick up the pace your guardian's are going to be killed." Reborn had chided his student.
"I know reborn. You don't have to remind me."
Watching my descendant's struggle made me ache. I wanted to help him. He was using my method after all. I watched as they repeated my exact steps to power up. I watched as Decimo's sweat and blood mixed on the gloves so nostalgic to me. It was then that they started training for my zero-point breakthrough. I doubted they would make it. I watched as he finally understood the basics. It was far from perfect.
When Decimo arrived at his house that night his tutor disappeared for the final preparations. Reborn knew something would happen during the final battle. He knew Decimo would go through a great grief, a great change. He still had a day of training.
I couldn't appear, as I usually did in the evening. Decimo was sleeping. His brunette hair plastered flat with blood and dirt and sweat. His face streaked with tears of worry. He'd seen his guardians be shot down one after the other. He'd almost lost many of them. Somehow, even though my entire soul was with Xanxus, I couldn't help but want to stay and watch my descendent. My guardians did me the favor of watching over him in my stead.
As I watched Decimo -through the eyes of my guardian's - he would toss and turn with the nightmare of his training I felt a tug in my heart I couldn't really describe. I wished I could be there. That I couldn't ruffle that soft looking, brunette hair, that I couldn't comfort his contorted face. It was all achingly painful.
"I promise to help you… somehow."
Before I knew it was already time for the battle. Xanxus mobilised his guardians and they gathered at the school, waiting for the Tsunayoshi's storm to arrive. Though he only made it in the last second.
Though I couldn't see Decimo, I was close enough to feel his pure relief when his storm appeared in a cloud of smoke. I could feel his emotions and it wasn't surprising. Over my time in his possession I grew attached and through that a link from our blood allowed me to know what he was feeling. Though only when we were in close proximity.
I settled myself outside of the school, in a place where I could watch the entirety of the battle while on neither candidate's side. I didn't feel I was up to choosing sides when my stomach flipped and clenched painfully.
"That child has lost his way, may God protect him." Knuckle appeared at my side to watch over the battle, I hadn't seen him since his own ring battle and I knew that he was trying to find a medium in his soul. He was one who despised these battles the most.
"I don't know if even that will save him at this point." Lampo actually appeared at that point, standing next to Knuckle as we watched the Cerevello confront the two candidates.
"I suppose we can only hope that young Tsunayoshi has been able to quell that storm and show it his importance in the sky."
My guardians went silent as we watched and waited on the battle's outcome. All of us were a little uneasy about the battle ground all aware that it was a little overdone. While the battles did not guarantee a participants safety I'm sure that it should not guarantee their death either. To place turbines and bombs throughout the battle field... weren't the Cerevello taking it all too far.
"It's no longer our place to say, Giotto. Those boys have to decide the worth of their lives and those rings."
"Ah, I know G. That doesn't mean that it makes me hurt any less."
A chair materialised behind me as I took a seat and rubbed my eyes tiredly. I am so tired of these battles, and so tired of all the blood in my name. But tradition is tradition and the dead can no longer teach the living. Our time is done after all. I'd be blissfully unaware if it weren't for Vongola's sin; and part of me wonders if it is worth it? Worth eternal life to watching my family fall.
As my guardians G, Lampo, Ugetsu and Knuckle gathered at my side, their eyes saddened but lost, a new face joined Decimo's side, but I was aghast to see exactly how he introduced himself. Such improper mannerisms.
Of course I knew who Trident Shamal was, I could not be a part of the mafia without knowing of his medical prowess, and despite his reluctance to treat males, if the time came and you had earned his respect he would treat you without question. If Shamal used his classic line of 'I don't treat males' whatever ailment you had was obviously not that bad. He would be a far better person if he wasn't so vulgar though.
"What a vulgar man, God have mercy..."
A murmur ran through Xanxus' side of the arena, I could feel his unease and confusion though the ring and I know that Lampo felt it too. The teen beside me, sitting so he was leaning against my thrown, was turning greener by the minute. All the Varia was uneasy and wary of the growing crowd on Decimo's side; the Varia may be powerful, but even they can't fight against numbers, especially not numbers of powerful people.
"Why are such skilled people gathered over there...what the hell is going on?"
I wanted to smirk, and perhaps I let myself grin at the unease in the Varia troupe, because they would never understand why Decimo was gathering the powerful. I wished they would, somewhere in my heart, but at the same time I knew they would never truly understand. It wasn't that Arcobaleno; it wasn't the Strom guardian- student of Shamal- it was all on Decimo. All of it on child's natural ability to be a sky.
Speaking of ability;
"Don't say that... can we do it, Gokudera-kun."
Now, I don't really understand the encouragement circle Decimo and his guardians did, but it seemed to ease them somehow, and with G chuckling quietly beside me I guess that even Decimo's storm was relaxed, the poor mafia child just didn't understand compassion; he didn't understand that he was precious.
"How do I put this...? This battle involves all of us..."
"I don't want to lose anyone." For a single moment I saw the tell-tale sparks of HDW die Decimo's eyes, but only an instant. It was enough for me, and I feel that Ugetsu felt it too.
Gokudera smiled softly as he walked over to the center of the arena, waiting to fight out Varia's storm for the rings. He was approached by the Varia storm, one I knew was not soft and gentle, who didn't care about his opponent and would sooner cut off an arm than be supportive.
So you can imagine that I was immediately put on edge and disappointed when Belphegor patted Gokudera's shoulder and the silver-haired teen didn't react to it.
He was not my G.
Furious movement started the battle as Gokudera fought to put enough distance between himself and Belphegor to observe. That at least, even I could agree would be advantageous. His dynamite would damage himself if he wasn't careful; if he understood his Boss' words he would ensure not to be caught up in their ripple.
"They've said it well: they're Varia quality."
Again, I was surprised by the sheer violence Decimo's supporters were causing in me. Trident Shamal was brilliant, he was intelligent and had taught Gokudera relatively well. But the man needed to figure out when to keep his mouth shut. Decimo didn't need to hear his guardian criticized.
"As the guardian of storm, of course I'm sensitive to wind."
But I could not fight my mind, the Varia were, for lack of any other term, Varia Quality. They were sheer brilliance. Belphegor even more so.
The boy was a genius, he could feel and dive and work his surroundings. The way he moved, analysed and thought was stunning. Through G and through Xanxus I could feel the sheer assurance they had in Belphegor's mental capacity and ability.
It wasn't even the fact that he could use the winds to his favour, that he could feel them, use them and make it seem effortless. It was the fact that he had the capacity to make the illusion that he was a genius so strong that people misjudged just how intelligent he was. Belphegor used the winds to move his knives, sweeping and weaving them through the currents to their target; but he did so much more than that.
He had everyone trapped. Everyone sure
The boy was a tidal wave of knowledge, adaptation and lacked the physical limits of pain and blood-shyness.
But he was equally a danger because of that.
"You cannot call that child anything but pure genius." Ugetsu divulged with a tired sigh.
"Ah, but can you call him strong?"
"No." G elaborated. "He is not truly 'strong'."
Gokudera continued weaving and dodging, learning, observing. Getting injured. But he kept himself straight; there was no pure panic in his movements. There was surprise, of course there was, but he was letting his mind tick over. He too, was no fool.
"Do you know the duty of a storm?"
Gokudera was surprised when the self-appointed prince began talking during their match, his voice high and pitched oddly, but otherwise even and emotionless.
"Continuously at the heart of the attack, the storm or raging waves that never ends." Belphegor lectured Gokudera. His grin widening as he assured the younger teen he was fighting, that while he himself could be that storm, Gokudera could not be.
"Stop standing around like an idiot, Hayato." Shamal knew it, as well as I did, that Hayato was no fool.
We watched on as Gokudera dove into a classroom, somewhere to hide and get a plan in order. It would have been a good move in any other situation. But he was already disadvantaged by his ignorance. He was obviously still in the stage of childhood where you believe a bad-guy won't really try to kill you.
Knives came careening around the corner, slicing through the wicks of the dynamite and sending Gokudera into an erratic display of unease and confusion. He started mumbling to himself, looking around to any sign of Belphegor in the room. But as he already knew, the Prince-Ripper was nowhere near him.
"Is that all you can do a guardian of storm? Your boss can see it too."
I saw the spark of fury and grief in Gokudera's eyes as the words from his opponent sunk in. He knew, right there and then, that he was being a dissatisfaction, he was being overpowered and destroyed by his opponent and had not really even put up a fight.
He was such a-
"Disappointment." I wanted to correct G, but I found that I couldn't.
"Hey, Ieyasu, look at Tsunayoshi."
Turning to my descendent I watched as his fist clenched and his eyes closed. His form was stiff- if only a little- and it was obvious that he was fighting an inner turmoil much like he had during his lightning's battle. But when he opened his eyes, I saw it again; I saw the tell-tale signs of strength and HDW. I saw purity, faith, and resolve.
Alas, I was the only one to see it and realise what it was.
To have such faith in his guardian, it warmed me. I never imagined that Tsunayoshi would have faith in his guardians, not when he was so scared and unsure of them. But again, he had no faith in himself; he had been trampled on and abused, neglected and underestimated all his life. Why would he think that now he could rely on someone?
It was sad to think that my descendent was so scarred, especially in a life where he was suppose to live freely and protected.
But there was faith in Tsunayoshi's eyes, faith and disgust. He was one who was forever underestimated and though he didn't show it I know through experience of his pure emotions that he looked up to Gokudera as a strong young man. To know someone was underestimating someone he felt was one of the strongest, well, I can understand why he had such faith and disgust.
I could only hope it wasn't blind.
I closed my eyes when Belphegor moved in for his final assault, because I was sure I would just be witness to yet another death in my name. I knew every name of every man woman and child slaughtered for these battles. Everything was because of me and my inability to remain strong enough as a boss. It looked, to me, like I was adding yet another child's name to the list.
Then G began chuckling, scoffing even. I whipped around to him, disgusted that he would laugh at a child's death. The mafia had changed us, our stint in this purgatory prison had changed us, but we were not so changed as to laugh at the death of a child.
"It looks like, Giotto, that the child is not so useless as we thought."
My blue eyes swerved over to the body of young Gokudera and I was sure I would see the blood of his corpse, but to my relief, to my soul-soothing relief Gokudera stood over the model of a corpse holding in his gentle, callous hands the strings that made up Belphegor's brilliant, deadly technique.
Maybe Tsunayoshi's faith was no so blind after all.
But genius or not, adaptation or not, things continued to see-saw and rollercoaster.
"I really am a looser." The boy seemed to sober for a moment, resolve coursing through his being as he spoke. "But one thing I'll never allow is shame to Juudaime."
For one moment I thought that Gokudera had the upper hand, a new bomb and the knowledge of the heart of Belphegor's technique meant that the smoking bomb technician had the advantage. A pure resolve and the drive to be better, do better, and win meant that he would thrive and adapt and may one up a genius.
Then Belphegor actually got hit.
"It's flowing out, the blood of the Royal clan."
Even I shivered as the deranged, drunken voice of a heavily injured Belphegor filtered across my ears. Unease rippled through the Varia, but at the same time they seemed ever more assured of their guardian as he stood and swayed on his feet. As if drunk on the pain of his own injuries.
"Prince the Ripper's true skills." That's what the Varia called them, and immediately I was on edge and noticed G become rather green in the face.
"G...?"
My storm guardian turned to me the, his face pale and his fists clenched. He knew something I did not, and it was rare for knowledge to affect G so substantially. G was, after all my right hand.
"You probably don't want to know about that child's past, boss." He began, his eyes glazed over and he ground his teeth. "He's the kind of monster that the mafia thrives off of."
I was unsure of what to think as G told me all about what he had learnt about Belphegor. The bloodied history sent my stomach churning and the reasons behind the boy's drunken state at the sight of his own blood gave me chills.
"The child joined the Varia because he was thrilled by killing?" Knuckle looked particularly pail; he clasped his hands and muttered prayers under his breath. He understood killing for protection, but for fun and enjoyment, well not even I understood that.
"Somehow that person... seems really dangerous." Yet another time that I wanted to hit Tsunayoshi, but I couldn't help the spike of pride, maybe he was finally starting to listen to the explosion of pain and colour in his skull; his intuition.
Of course, the battle continued regardless of realisation, fear, or faith. Belphegor fell into a kind of careless, whipping style that cared not for his condition but simply the thrill of killing. Gokudera then was left to try and survive. The fight led them both to be bloodied, tried, and trapped within the library with the bombs ticking away and explosions threatening to begin.
Finally ending this battle.
I realised during that fight something very important. I realised how stupid I was in my life, how few times I appreciated our lives and the battles we fought.
It was painfully difficult for me to watch children who bore my guardians' faces battle for their lives in a competition none of them really understood. It was hard to disconnect myself from them, to try and see them and not my guardians.
Lampo wouldn't have ended up in the hospital had he been battling.
G would have seen the stupid tricks of string and would not have fallen into the goading.
It was so tiring and difficult to watch my guardians fight... when they weren't really my guardians.
I couldn't take it anymore, didn't want to watch. I leant over and hid my eyes, resting my forehead on my fist as I clenched my eyes and tried to stop the tears.
I had had enough.
But I wasn't allowed to sleep yet.
I listened as bombs and cackles lit the air. And finally, silence. There were gasped worries and incredulous scoffs. But there was silence. I gathered that Gokudera had finally defeated Belphegor; I felt Tsunayoshi's terror and relief permeate the distance between us. I may not be with him in the ring, but my time with him and my bias was enough to let me feel it.
The resolve of a true sky.
Xanxus didn't feel too worried though, and that worried me more than anything.
"Seems I was able to be a little useful."
I opened my eyes just in time to see Gokudera grab the storm ring and begin to ease it off of Belphegor's neck, and also just in time to watch the zombie Prince flip Gokudera over and proceed to strangle the life out of him.
At that point, with the bombs going off, Gokudera struggling, and Belphegor fighting on some sort of disgusting instinct I moved to leave. We do not need to watch these battles, it isn't our duty. I've had enough. This battle is too close to me to watch any longer.
"You have to stay and watch." G's hand descended onto my shoulder, pushing me back into my seat.
"I don't want to watch anymore, G. I've had enough."
"I know, Giotto. But you have a duty, ta' Tsunayoshi if no one else, ta' watch 'til the end."
I could not fault my storm even as his hand tightened comfortably. So I cast my eyes down to my descendent as he watched on, behind some barrier he could not cross. His fist was clenched and I saw the sadness in the action. Usually my ring was in that hand, my warmth close enough for his intuition to feel. But not any longer.
Not until he takes his place as Decimo.
"Give your ring to your opponent. To die for such a useless thing is ridiculous."
Shamal's words hit me as he called out to his student. I was for a moment humbled by the care in the words. This man, for all his vulgar flirtation, all his murmurings of torment and teasing, he truly cared for Gokudera, I realise that maybe he was the reason the boy was a little more stable than most boys would be in his situation. Maybe this was why Gokudera could be loyal to someone.
But I also knew that his words were careless. He had not thought about the position it put his student in.
"How can I let myself loose?! A 1-3 loss would be devastating!"
He was right, but there was more to what he was saying.
"How can I come back empty-handed?!"
He was wrong, he didn't see it, didn't understand why Shamal would say what he had. He couldn't see Tsunayoshi's fear of losing him. He couldn't feel the terror in Tsunayoshi's mind when he saw his friend being killed before his eyes.
"Someone who returns like that isn't worthy of being Juudaime's right-hand man!"
The sheer desperation and grief on Gokudera's face made my eyes burn and made my heart clench. To think, a child, not even sixteen years old yet didn't know the worth of their own life. It hurt so much to see. He was on the verge of tears, completely certain, one hundred percent convinced that he was worthless as himself. He was stuck in the deadening idea that he had to win, had to have some kind of material worth. It made me hurt so deeply to think that someone, a child, a person surrounded by people who loved him didn't understand that he was worthy of their attention.
I realised only when my guardians placed their strong, comforting hands on me that I had let my tears escape.
Gokudera Hayato was not like my G; he was far worse off.
Trident Shamal tried. He really did. I could see even the man was desperate to save the boy he raised- even if only briefly. He brought up the training, the very point where both G and I decided to give him another chance.
But neither G, nor I realised until this point just how boxed into the world of worthlessness and pain Gokudera Hayato was.
"Have you even stopped to think about what you're fighting for?!"
Tsunayoshi's voice cut through the arena, silencing even the murmuring Varia. His breathes were panted and rough. Emotion ran in the air and I felt it permeate every desperate, thoughtful word.
"It's so we can have snowball fights together again! Watch fireworks together again!"
"That's why we're fighting! That's why we became strong!"
"So that everyone can laugh together again!"
"If you die then all that no longer has any meaning, does it!?"
I felt the sheer desperation in Tsunayoshi's voice. Because this boy, the brunet who was thrust into the Mafia, told to bow down and accept, was charging through along his own path. He had found something precious that he had never had. Like the true boss he could become; like the sky he was naturally; like the friend he always had the capability of being, he was going to protect the thing he had found.
He would call himself selfish.
I call him the selfless sky.
For I know, as well as he does, that for all his complaining he would sooner kill himself then let a friend die if their lives were completely guaranteed at the cost of his own.
Maybe that was a little hypocritical.
But I was so very proud of him.
"No... It's not true... how could this happen?" Tsunayoshi's knees gave out as he watched the top floor of his school explode in an aggressive display of lights and pressure waves. "Gokudera-kun... no... Please no."
"That stupid brat. That inconsiderate, stupid brat."
"May God look after that boy."
"He was too young to have made that decision."
I could hear it in all my guardian's voices. They may complain that Tsunayoshi and his friends were too young and inexperienced to be fighting for a mafia place hold I knew they cared for the boys. They could see themselves in their representatives. They felt their own demise when watching Tsunayoshi lose his friend. I felt it too, and it burnt more than Tsunayoshi's devastating expression could explain.
Then the unimaginable happened, through the smoke and haze of destruction and gunpowder a figure emerged, bloodied, beaten, on the verge of collapse. He had his head bowed as he appeared before Tsunayoshi, but you could not deny that Gokudera Hayato had cheated death and realised- maybe only for a second- that he was worth the effort to stay alive.
"I wanted to watch the fireworks again... so I came back."
"Thank god... that stupid brat, I hope he realises how lucky he is." I felt more than heard the sheer relief in G's body ad he drifted to the 'floor' and released a painfully pent up breathe.
"He's lucky to have such a wonderful friend."
G didn't look at me, but I knew he was nodding along in agreement. Gokudera Hayato would have died in this battle had he not had a friend like Tsunayoshi.
Some people are scarred and wounded by their upbringing, but they can be saved, all it takes is a careful, dedicated hand to show them that the person they are is precious and irreplaceable.
"I'm glad, thank goodness Gokudera."
Belphegor appeared in the haze, bloodied, laughing and completely lost. He was a storm, but the most dangerous of storms. In his grip was the Strom ring, and I watched with painful gaze as G shook his head and walked towards the grinning combatant.
"I guess I'll be seeing more of you from now on, boss."
Despite the sadness in G's voice, the disappointment he felt at being handed over to the disturbing teen-Prince, I heard the pride. His descendent- the one he had unconsciously chosen- was learning. He was finally growing up.
I nodded solemnly as I clapped my passing guardian on the shoulder. Yet another joining my side, how many more would follow? How sorely would Decimo lose?
"It's all up to you, Sword-freak."
I decided at that point, that I didn't need to know the rest. I needed sleep. The next fight may well be the most difficult to watch, because Yamamoto Takeshi and Ugetsu were most similar in their situation, and Yamamoto has yet proven to me to be the mature guardian that the Arcobaleno boasted about.
It would be hard to watch the slow realisation that this was not a game.
"Tomorrow night's battle will be the battle of the rain guardians."
Sorry for the delay. But as promised, I didn't update KTTSTB before updating this! So I will keep up the trend! Thank you for your patience, I think after the ring battles things will pick up... I don't really like the ring battles... that much... maybe the artwork?... anyway...
Thank you for your support! Please review!
~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3