A/N: …I've just reread the past chapters of my fic and gosh… there's been some words omitted and a few grammatical errors so I've just have corrected them…

…And I've been soooo busy this past few weeks… and really sorry for my later than usual update… so many exams… and reports… I wanted to at least update weekly but it's sad to say that school just gets busier every day that passes… So I'll say this again… this is for future chapters… because of school, I may be able to update late but rest assured that I'll make each chapter long enough to keep you guys satisfied… I'll make sure that once I've gotten a free time or less load, I'll write and update ASAP

…Anyway, thanks for all the readers and reviewers… hope you keep on reading my fic…

Disclaimer: KHR does not belong to me… not the characters just the idea of my fic and a few OCs that is needed to keep things going here.


Concentrate, he chanted behind his mind while picturing an image of his flame flickering brightly inside. Tsuna focused on containing his flame and compressing it. Again, the flame flickered but slowly it became calm. He started to keep the container enlarge while keeping the flame serene. In the first few minutes it was alright considering he did it bit by bit. But when he has reached twice the size of the latter compressed state of the flame, it began to stir a tad wild.

Relax… and concentrate harder… his mind repeated. He let himself get a peaceful mind. Unconsciously, he lifted his arms as his intuition acted. His hands neared each other and made his fingers touch each other like of its position during his Zero-Point-Breakthrough-First-Edition.

The flame kept on flickering. In a matter of what seemed like hours, in which in reality in has only been a few minutes, he has kept it to his hold and has tamed it gradually. He lifted his eyelids and waited for the right timing as he let his imaginary container open. And in a matter of seconds, bright orange flame glistened on both his head and hands.

"That's a lot better, dame Tsuna. Now, for your next training,"

Bright orange flame slowly faded on the young Decimo's forehead. His hands falling limply on his sides. His vision begun to blur as he saw a smirk behind the brim of a familiar fedora.

"J-Juudaime…!" a frantic voice from Hayato was the last that he heard before falling to unconsciousness.


"I guess he used too much energy for going to HDW mode by himself for the first time," Reborn shrugged as Gokudera carried his student on his back, "Go get Tsuna back to his house. I need to go somewhere."

"Of course, Reborn-san. I'll take care of Juudaime as if I were to die!" Hayato saluted with a very determined look, and bowed in respect before leaving.

Reborn pulled his fedora to his face when the two finally left, then smiled softly.

He could finally go to HDW mode by himself, and it was in an incredibly quick pace, as well. The Ninth took half a year before he was able to do it, and that's already the fastest record in the history of Vongola bosses after Primo… but now he was able to figure it out in a shorter time. You see, Tsuna… You're not that useless as you think you are. You've just been demoralized by everyone else that has called you dame… but you should remain humble and wise…

He took Leon to his hands and let him morph to a phone. Then, he placed it to his ear, Now, to report this to Ninth.


Smack!

Wham!

Swoosh!

Bam!

Yamamoto peeked in the backdoor of the boxing club's room just in time to see his sempai release a swift but powerful hook to a torn out punching bag.

Bam!

Ryohei released a straight right hand punch and had almost torn the bag apart. He was in awe. Then, the white haired boxer continued with small jabs to the poor beaten up bag.

Sempai is quite dedicated. He puts so much passion into boxing as much as I do with baseball. It wouldn't be fair if I ask for a match against sempai… I have a weapon but he doesn't… but I know sempai is really strong. There's so much power in each punch and if I ended with a match with him, I have to be careful or else my Shigure Kintoki would shatter to pieces if it were hit. Maybe it's not a good idea to ask him for a match after all.

"Yes, it really wouldn't be a wonderful sight, seeing comrades' fight amongst each other. Tsuna would be really upset once he knows of this,"

Yamamoto turned to his right, only to find a baby in a well refined suit drinking coffee while sitting a miniature couch.

"Oh, kid! What are you doing here?" he asked with his grin.

"Hmph. Supervising," the other answered with a flat tone.

"OH! YAMAMOTO! ARE YOU HERE TO FINALLY JOIN THE BOXING CLUB?" Ryohei asked in a usual hyper tone as he finally noticed their presence.

"Actually sempai, I was… uh…" he came to think of an appropriate excuse, "I was just passing by…"

"THEN JOIN THE BOXING CLUB SINCE YOU'RE EXTREMELY HERE ALREADY!"

"Sorry sempai but I can't do that. I'm already part of the baseball club. And besides, I'm not into boxing at all," Yamamoto waved his hands to oppose the boxer's idea and laughed like the good natured person he is.

"Eh? YOU SHOULD TRY BOXING TO THE EXTREME!"

"…ehehe… maybe some other time…" he laughed at his sempai's excessiveness, "I guess I have to go now…" He politely waved his hand then left with Reborn on his shoulder.

"So, what are you planning to do?" the baby hitman asked.

"…hmm…" he frowned while thinking, "I don't know… Anyway, how's Tsuna doing?"

"He's fine… You should worry about yourself more than that dame student of mine," Reborn snorted before leaving him alone.

Now what am I suppose to do? Yamamoto asked himself.

He sighed and went straight home, knowing that he won't be able to concentrate in school. He carefully slipped out of school and went on to his destination. As he entered his home, he arrived at a normal scene on their shop. His father was making sushi and serving them to the customers and the rest talking to each other, enjoying the welcoming air and the delicious sushi.

His father grinned at him right when he has announced his arrival. He returned a smile. He excused himself and went straight to his room. He didn't want his father to get worried of his thoughts so, he said he has lots of things to study about.


(A/N: Ok, I'm going to start referring Yamamoto as Takeshi and his dad as Tsuyoshi to avoid any misunderstandings.)


Tsuyoshi just nodded and let him be. Little did Takeshi know that Tsuyoshi had already sensed that something was off with his son. So, as soon as all the customers were gone, he went to Takeshi's room. He sighed as he caught his son laying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. He made his presence known when he cleared his throat.

"Oto-san!" Takeshi jumped up, startled at his dad's arrival, "I was… uh…"

"You're thinking too much. And we both know that that's not where you're best in… So tell me, what is it that has made my carefree son look so serious?" Tsuyoshi stood in front of his son with his arms crossed in his chest while waiting for a response.

Takeshi stifled a laugh before looking back at his dad while rubbing the back of his neck, "You've caught me, Pops."

"So…?"

"Oh, right… Actually… I'm thinking that… I want to get stronger. I want to help my friends in any way I can. And the only way to do that is to get stronger. But I don't know how. I thought if I could fight someone and could learn something new then… I could be strong. But I can't think of anyone at all…"Takeshi gripped on the blanket in his bed hard and bit his lip.

My son still wants to get stronger, huh?

Tsuyoshi was silent for awhile until he stood up and went to the door, "Go to the dojo after dinner if you really want to get stronger. I know someone who could be your opponent."

"Really? Who?" Takeshi asked but there's no one else was there left to answer his question.


"Oi, dame-Tsuna , wake up!" Reborn kicked Tsuna on his stomach. Tsuna immediately shot up with this while grimacing over the pain.

"What is it now?" he groaned and glared at no one in particular.

"You have guests waiting. A Boss should not make his guests wait long. Now, keep moving and make yourself more presentable,"

"Eh?"

But before he could even complain, his tutor has already left. He grumbled over his tutor's menacing attempts to make his life terrible but nonetheless followed what Reborn had told him to do.

He sighed and composed himself as he left his room, sensing that it isn't a normal guest. As he reached their living room, a flash of white sped in front of him, holding dynamites in his hands.

"H-Hayato," he tried to get an immediate response but was stopped when he noticed a couple of men sitting in zabutons. (A zabuton is a Japanese cushion for sitting.) His mother was serving these men tea while Reborn was sitting casually in the sofa, drinking his espresso.

A man with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a stern face was sitting at the center. He seemed to be the group's leader. The man turned to him. Tsuna swallowed from behind his friend expecting something awful to happen because of the frightful looks these men have. However, he was surprised when the said group bowed at the sight of him with their heads on the floor.

"Vongola Juudaime!" the men greeted with such respect.

What. The. Heck? He screamed on his mind. He turned to Reborn for an answer but the said person gave him a you-better-act-right-or-else look. He gulped then breathed in and out to calm himself. He hesitantly nodded to his tutor, afraid of what would happen to him if he won't behave right in Reborn's eyes.

He made a complacent face, to make himself look business-like though he's quite scared and frenzied inside.

He tapped his friend's shoulder and gestured him to put the dynamites away. Hayato gave him a confused faced but still obeyed. He then sat down beside his tutor and has told the guests to lift their heads.

"Vongola Juudaime…" the leader repeated while looking straight at him. Tsuna tried his best to keep his internal turmoil out of sight while staring back at the man, "I am Sato Hiroyuki. I'm Momokyo-kai's kumicho." (Kumicho is the yakuza boss.)

Why's the Momokyo-kai yakuza here? He thought but only waited for the man in front of him to continue.

"I know that our former meeting wasn't what we can call pleasant but… Please Sawada-dono… We are in deep need for your help," the man bowed again.

"Sato… san," he started, contemplating if it was the right honorific he was supposed to use, "…uhm… What is it that you need help for?" I hope it's not that scary.

The rest remained silent while Gokudera was still on his guard, getting ready for any sudden attack.

"It's about the recent yakuza killings," Sato said.

Tsuna's eyes sharpened upon hearing this, forgetting his tension just awhile ago.

"The assassination at Kyoto," he added and was answered by a nod.

"Yes… we don't want to submit this low but I don't wish to see my Kobun (Kobun is how yakuza refer to subordinates or brothers.) dying because of my pride. If Yoshioka-kai, one of the largest and most infamous yakuza of the Japanese Imperial State, has been pulverized then… what would become of us? We're only a small group and there's no one else on top of us that we could run to. That's why… I would like to ask for you and your family's protection. Please accept out request, Vongola Juudaime!"

Tsuna could see the sincerity and pleading in the eyes of the man.

"What now, Juudaime?" Gokudera asked. Tsuna turned to his tutor for advice but Reborn only raised an eyebrow.

Tsuna already knows what it meant. It meant that he should decide by himself. Whatever it is that he think is right, will be final.

He sighed in resignation. This made the yakuza members look at him indifferently.

He put back his straight face before answering, "Sato-san, I can't assure you absolute protection right now because I don't have full hold of Vongola yet…" He said unconsciously adding the word 'yet' on his sentence. Reborn smirked. Hayato smiled. Sato frowned. Tsuna lifted his hand to silently say that he isn't done talking yet, "But rest assured that I will do my best to do so."

A mix of hope and appreciation flashed on the men's expressions over his declaration.

Sato stood from his seat almost immediately and went in front of him. At first, Tsuna felt confused to the man's actions but Reborn had glared at him so he'd stay in place. Then, Sato kneeled and took his hand.

What's he doing? He asked himself, getting troubled.

The next thing he knew, Sato have already kissed his ring. Tsuna remember reading this as a form of paying respect to people who's supposedly of higher position as them for mafia men; of course, according to the book Reborn have forced him to read almost every day.

"We are indebted to you Vongola Juudaime. Ask anything and we shall do the best we can to grant it to you," Sato pledged with his right hand on his chest and lowered his head, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me… I haven't done anything yet," Tsuna smiled softly which surprised the men.

Later on, Sato's expression softened as well then closed his eyes, as if feeling at peace, "You're too kind. But either way, I'm still thankful to you for granting our request... Therefore, please let my son serve you your needs…"

"No, there's no need for that," he tried to protest but Sato gave him a deathly glare, implying he won't accept any refusal, "Seiji!"

Seiji? He began thinking as if he had heard of the name before. Then, the person in askance stood up and went passed the rest of the group from behind and onto his father's side.

Familiarity hit him, as he got a full view of Sato's son. It was as if seeing a younger version of the yakuza boss.

"Sato-kun?" he asked in confirmation. The other only looked at him for a minute before turning his sight to another direction.

"Seiji, be good and do whatever he says," the Kumicho glared at his son to pay attention. Seiji nodded, much to his father's satisfaction.

Soon the group left with much of appreciation and apologies to their sudden visit. But his mother only smiled warmly to them, not really knowing who those people were because she was in the kitchen the whole time.

Tsuna slumped his back to the couch with a sigh of relief.

"Good work, dame-Tsuna. That's not bad for your first time facing another boss though you still need training so you'd be able to face bigger people without pissing your pants," Reborn teased while sipping into his drink.

"So, you're not as innocent as you look after all," a voice grunted on his side. He turned to the voice and sees Sato Seiji, a classmate of his, standing there.

"S-Sato-kun…!" he gulped, not knowing what to say.

"How could someone be as pathetic as you should be a Boss of a supposedly strong mafia family?" Seiji gritted his teeth and balled his hand into a fist while glaring hardly at him (A/N: I'm calling him Seiji in my narration so that we'll have clarity between him and his father. Anyway, moving on…), "And Dad just has to bow down to a no-good person that flunked at tests and suck so much in PE!"

"Oi! How dare you talk to Juudaime that way? Apologize or I'll blow you up!" Hayato took out his dynamites dangerously pointing it to the other.

"So you're part of it too, Gokudera? No wonder you have such bad manners," Seiji continued to throw insults which made the young Mafioso boil in anger.

"Hayato calm down and put away those dynamites," Tsuna pleaded with his eyes. Seiji raised an eyebrow as Hayato begrudgingly hid back his dynamites once again.

"So, you're for real, huh?" Seiji remained in his stoic face, "Well, I don't care. I'm not going to follow you around like a loyal mutt." Seiji looked pointedly at Hayato wherein the said person only ignored him and 'tch'-ed.

"It's fine. I know how no-good of a person I am," he admitted while keeping Hayato's protests and appraisal's of his 'greatness' stop, "I know that I only became the heir of Vongola because everyone else pretty much died… and I still can't fully accept this position as well. But for the sake of my friends, that I happened to have dragged in it, I'll do my best to protect them even if it kills me."

He then looked straight in the eyes of Seiji. He could see the confusion over his classmate's eyes pretty clearly but he stood his ground.

"Hmph," Seiji looked away, stubbornly with his bangs curtaining his eyes, "Even if you do your best, as you say it. What could a weakling like you do?"

"You fucking bastard! You can't speak to Juudaime like that! No one can!" Hayato snarled then looked at his Boss for permission to throw his dynamites to Seiji.

Tsuna shook his head in disapproval then turned to Seiji with hard eyes, "I'm sorry Sato-kun… Even I don't want myself to be a mafia boss. But that doesn't matter as of now."

"What do you mean?" Seiji looked back at him, "You promised my father as a mafia boss and you say that doesn't matter? What kind of game are you playing us with?"

"You misunderstood. I did not promise anything, all I said is that I'll do my best to protect everyone else for we aren't fully aware of how strong our opponents are. If I promise them that I'll definitely win but I'd lose, then I've only mislead their hope. I'm pretty sure your father understood that," Tsuna answered with confidence.

"Tch. You're just lucky that Juudaime's kind enough to care about others. Those freaks are coming here anyway so we may as well include you bunch of wimps," Hayato pocketed his hands with a snort.

"Whatever, I'm leaving," Seiji went to the house's genkan and left.

"Tsu-kun! Have your friend left?" Nana came out of the kitchen then looked around on the living room. She pouted as she noticed that Seiji indeed have already left the house, "I thought he's going to stay for dinner. I already added his portion…"

"Maybe he'll stay next time, Mamman," Tsuna tried comfort his mother.

"Alright, but Gokudera-kun's staying for dinner," Nana said in finality and went back to the kitchen humming to herself.

Tsuna chuckled over this and turned to his friend, "Ne~ Hayato… You don't mind, do you?"

"Not at all, Juudaime!" Hayato answered almost immediately.

Ding Dong Ding Dong

"Good, he's back," Reborn said.

"Who's back?" Tsuna demanded.

"Oh! You came back! You're joining us for dinner after all," Nana clapped her hands from the genkan.

"Who is it, Mamman?" Tsuna stood up to look to the visitor and found an unreadable face of Seiji.

"Tsu-kun, keep him company while I go back to the kitchen for the dinner preparation," Nana then left them.

"Where is it?" Seiji asked, dark aura surrounding him.

"Huh? What's wrong Sato-kun?" Tsuna tried to make sense of the situation but thought of nothing.

"Where. Is. It?" Seiji repeated with a darker tone.

"What are you talking about?" Hayato raised his eyebrow.

"By it… do you mean this?" Reborn pulled out a phone with a hello kitty key chain hanging on its side.

Seiji's eyes widened and a tint of red painted his pale cheeks. Hayato's lips curved into a smile, mocking the red faced boy.

"Reborn, when did you get that from Sato-kun?" Tsuna asked in alarm.

"Hmph. Shut up, dame-Tsuna," Reborn threw him a menacing grin.

"Why did you took it?" Tsuna added for inquiry.

"Give that back, you brat!" Seiji went near Reborn but Reborn cocked his gun in front of him.

"Don't call me brat," Reborn said then shot a bullet at the poor boy, purposely missing an ear, "Anyway… I took it so you won't leave."

"Eh?" the three middle schoolers said in unison.

"Do you know why your father left you here?" Reborn started then went polishing his gun. Seiji shook his head stiffly, "Hmph. It's to make sure that dame-Tsuna would keep his word."

"B-But I'd keep my word even if Sato-kun isn't here," Tsuna frowned.

"Yes, the Kumicho believes you that you will… but not all of his subordinates feels the same… He's an example of that," the baby hitman pointed at Seiji, "Sato Hiroyuki is a wise man, befitting as a boss. He takes his family into consideration. You should learn from his example, dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna opened his mouth to retort but closed it in a second, not muttering a single word.

"Tch. You have such a lame taste with your accessories," Hayato mocked while studying the keychain closely.

"S-Shut up! My little sister g-gave that to m-me! So don't misunderstand!" Seiji stuttered with a crimson hue on his face.

"I-I don't think its t-that of a bad choice if its f-from your sister," Tsuna tried to suppress his laughter but he find it difficult when he's seeing the constant changing of expressions every two seconds on his classmates face. First, he frantic then he's furious and it'll change to embarrassment. It just doesn't seem too normal. He find it quite hilarious. It was not long until he went out of control and went laughing out loud.

"D-Don't laugh!" Seiji shouted.

Tsuna softened his laugh and covered his mouth with his hand. But there's no sign of him stopping any second. All those days of frowning, and thinking seriously and deeply made his laughter piled up and made him not want to stop. It felt so good to be able to laugh beyond all worries.

Ding Dong Ding Dong

The bell went off once again.

"H-Hayato… C-Could you get that… f-for me?" Tsuna asked in between his laughs. The dynamite expert nodded with a wide smile that appeared in his face as he heard his Boss' laugh for the first time in days.

"Who was… it?" Tsuna breathed in slowly to calm his laughter when his friend returned.

"Tsuna-kun," Kyoko stood behind Hayato with a smile on her face.

He gave her back his genuine smile. This made the newly arrival flush. Tsuna shrugged it off, thinking that Kyoko was just being modest and felt shy for coming unannounced.

"Sasagawa Kyoko…" Seiji muttered to himself in amazement.

"What brings you here, Kyoko-chan?"

"OH! Uhm… I just thought that since you haven't been in school for quite some time now I could bring a copy of the lessons we've been taking in class. You've also missed a few quizzes and so when you get back you'll probably be taking them all… So, I'll be bringing you notes for you to study till you get back," Kyoko answered, her flustered face getting normal again.

"You're making Sasagawa-chan do your work? You lazy, no-good person!" Seiji pointed at him with anger written in his eyes.

"Sato-kun? Why are you here?" Kyoko said, finally noticing the said person's presence.

"Sasagawa-chan, you don't have to bring notes to dame-Tsuna. It's a waste of time. He's a nobody so you don't have to pay attention to him," Seiji added.

"But Tsuna-kun isn't a nobody! Tsuna-kun is really great and strong. You just can't see it because he's just so kind and sweet," Kyoko frowned but turned out to look more like a cute pout than what it's suppose to be while Hayato was nodding the whole time, "Tsuna-kun has done so many amazing things already. He even saved me and the others before. So, please don't ever say those things about Tsuna-kun again!"

"Kyoko… chan," Tsuna stood there, unable to speak. Did she just praise me? He blushed over the thought.

Kyoko then realized what she just said and turned bright red.

"I… I… I… Ihavetogohomenow.I'!" Kyoko said without stopping. She dropped the paper bag where the said notes were and ran out of the house.

"Oi, dame-Tsuna. A Boss doesn't let his Maddona ran out of the house especially if she has an unsettled mind. It's dangerous for her. So, go after her," Reborn pointed his Leon-gun at him.

Tsuna then snapped out of his trance and went running to the door to chase after Kyoko. After awhile of searching, he found her sitting on a swing at the playground while staring at the ground.

He sighed in relief as he found her unharmed. He slowly approached her and halted when he was already in front of her. He stood there, waiting for her to notice. When he thought that she wouldn't be able to be aware of him anytime soon, Tsuna called her name, "Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko's head snapped up and blushed at the sight of him.

"T-Tsuna-kun…" she muttered unconsciously and stood up with a surprised expression.

"Anou… Reborn told me to go look for you…" he started while rubbing his nape and looking away, "…And so I could… uh…"

He sighed once again then dropped his hands on his side. He smiled and looked back at her, "Thanks… Thank you for defending me awhile ago."

She stared at him for a moment then she smiled brightly, "Your welcome."

She's so cute~ his inner fan boy squealed as blood rushed up to his cheeks. He began stuttering incomprehensible words. This made Kyoko giggle. Soon after he joined in with her and laughed freely.


After dinner, Takeshi wondered where his father went to when he wasn't able to join him for the meal. He went out of their home and walked straight to the dojo. He breathed in and out slowly with his eyes closed.

Whoever it is that's waiting for me behind this door… I'll have to win against him, he tightened his grip on his Shigure Kintoki then opened his eyes with determination.

He opened the door and stepped inside. He faced to his left to meet the sharp gaze of the silhouette at the center of the dojo. The man unsheathed his katana, revealing its sharp blade.

Those eyes… This aura… Takeshi eyed his soon to be opponent as the other lifted his katana, pointing its blade to him.

"Takeshi…"

That voice! Could it be?

The feathery clouds in the sky floated away from the moon. The silver light flowed down from the sky to the shadowed silhouette.

"Oto-san!"

There stood his father, piercing through his whole body with a firm gaze.

"Takeshi… if you want to be stronger…" Tsuyoshi pulled his katana to his side so the blade would face the floor and the ceiling. He stepped his right foot behind so he'd be slightly facing the side.

Why? Takeshi's mind rumbled with questions.

Tsuyoshi turned the blade to face his son.

"… You have to surpass your master!" Tsuyoshi let out a battle cry as he dashed in front of the younger swordsman.

Blades clashed as Takeshi held his weapon in a defensive stance. His hands trembled as he struggled to oppose his father's strength.

"What's wrong Takeshi? Can't you do anything else?" Tsuyoshi withdrew his blade and charged forward to attack with a thrust, First offensive form, Shajiku no Ame (Axle if the Rain)…

(A/N: I know… This is the third time I'm going in between your reading and I bet you're getting annoyed by now because of this but this is important. The underlined italics will be Tsuyoshi's thoughts while the italics only are Takeshi's. Ok, continue…)

Fourth defensive form, Gofuu Juuu (May wind, October rain), Takeshi sidestepped to his right as he held his katana with both his hands below to evade. He synchronized his breathing to his opponent and avoided another attack.

Tsuyoshi smirked and dropped his weapon in a flash. His katana went flying towards his son after he kicked it with his right foot.

Takeshi's eyes widened and cursed under his breath as he dodged the blade in a whim. As he exhaled his held breath, he failed to notice his opponent already standing behind him.

"You won't win by just defending, Takeshi. I thought you knew better than that,"

He turned around just in time to block his father's katana and let his' slide on the other's blade. He made a mental slap to get himself to concentrate on his fight, Pay attention, Takeshi… You promised yourself to win no matter who it is you'll be up against to become stronger. Then, he slid his hand that's holding his weapon to behind and spins 360⁰ to slash the blade diagonally on his opponent's chest.

Swoosh!

Tsuyoshi quickly blocks Takeshi's blade like how the latter did on their first strike.

"That's good… You used Shibuki Ame (Pelting Rain) as an offense," Tsuyoshi praised while holding his ground.

"Just like what they say, the best offense is the best defense," Takeshi answered as his eyes glimmered.

His father chuckled a bit on this, "I think it should be the best defense is the best offense and not the other way around."

"Ahaha… It's all the same to me, Pops,"

Takeshi took the two blades apart and thrust his blade with one hand multiple times, Eleventh offensive form, Beccata di Rondine (Swallow's Beak)!

Tsuyoshi evaded and blocked each attack with ease and accuracy, "That's new… As expected of my son… But you'll have to do better than that to defeat me." Tsuyoshi twirled to his side, holding the back of his weapon and hit his son's wrist.

The Shigure Kintoki slipped out of Takeshi's hand and was thrown away because of the force.

"What'll you do now?"

Takeshi scrambled his feet to grab his sword while the older swordsman charged with the blade of his katana in front. Sweat dropped from his forehead as he felt his heart thump faster. He gulped as he almost got caught by his father's attack if he didn't got up by the last second. More sweat formed on his nape as the shoji board (Shoji boards are traditional paper-covered sliding doors found on most old houses) ripped into two. He ran outside and onto the forest.

Tsuyoshi took out the blade of his katana from the wooden floor as he watched the teen leave. He heaved a sigh before chasing his son.

Takeshi didn't stopped running but made sure that his father was following right behind him. He scanned his surroundings as he run, in search of a source of water.

"You can't run forever, Takeshi,"

Takeshi smirked as he saw the glimmering waters from the lake up ahead. He made his way to the said lake and went to the center. With his feet and ankles were submerged into the water, he waited for his father to catch up.

"So, is this your battle plan? Find water…?"

"You talk too much, Pops,"

"Hmph. Why does it bother you?"

"Not really," Takeshi grinned then pointed his blade to the ground as its tip touched the water. He then lifted his Shigure Kintoki as it brought up waves of water surrounding him, Second defensive form, Sakamaku Ame (Rolling Rain).

He tucked his weapon to his front for his defense. He then sees his father's figure through the water and waited for his attack. Tsuyoshi jumped up to slash his sword.

Takeshi raised the blade to his face as he sees his father's image in the wave of water to his left. However, a second later he saw another figure of Tsuyoshi on the wave at his right.

What the…? How'd…? his eyes widened as realization struck him, from behind!

He turned around when he saw his opponent's real figure falling down with his katana in front.


A/N: Ok, so how was that? Good enough for the long wait? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it… and please review~ ^-^