A/N: Yes! I have finally woken up from my grave and uploaded a chapter…now I shall press the button and go back to my grave….
And I'm considering including pairings…
Thank you to all those who reviewed…I appreciate them….A LOT. Enjoy…
Disclaimer: I DONOT own D. Gray-Man or Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
"Until then, shall we continue the fight between the two teams now?" Allen smiled as the atmosphere suddenly became all tense again. Who would be the next to step onto the battlefield? Silver eyes swept across the faces, taking in the various expressions. The owners of said expressions tensed in either anticipation or fear in response to his gaze.
With a smirk, Allen announced the next pair.
"Let's put our hands together for Thunder and Sun shall we?"
Tsuna POV
"Wait!" Tsuna immediately stepped up, a little panicked. His eyes darted to the small Bovino who suddenly looked very scared in Bianchi's arms. Allen looked at him with a polite expression, though his silver eyes betrayed his irritation and impatience at being interrupted. Again.
"Lambo is too young to be in this. Could we please skip this fight and move on with the others?" Tsuna didn't even expect the amount of courage he needed to muster to just say a sentence to defy the new Tutor. Strange, he had no problem rebuking Reborn so why not this white-haired boy who was actually his age?
At this, Link snorted. Softly of course. Allen just smiled at the young Boss-to-be.
"I was under the impression that being a Guardian meant that you are to be ready to fight for your Boss at all times? I don't think a reason such as being too young is reasonable for Lambo to skip out on this training cum evaluation session?" Allen's tone was still polite and soft, but his silver eyes had gone cold.
Tsuna refused to back off this time. He wouldn't let Lambo go through this now. Plus, there was just something about Allen's phrasing that made him angry. The white-haired Tutor made it sound as if it was only natural for his Guardians to sacrifice their lives for his sake.
"He isn't ready for this kind of combat. And as their Boss, it is my job to ensure the safety of my Guardians as well. I refuse to let Lambo participate in this exercise." The 'as Vongola Decimo' went unsaid but everyone could practically hear it ringing in the statement.
He is going to protect Lambo and some Reborn-replacement is not going to change that.
The atmosphere suddenly became very tense as Tsuna and Allen began a silent stare-down. All the present Vongola members held their breath as they watched their Sky slowly seep into Boss-mode. His normally soft brown eyes became fierce and determined. He stood straighter and even though he was of a small build, the aura he seemed to exclude made up for his lack in size.
Allen looked on, amused. It had been a long time since anyone had challenged his authority. Insulted his skills and height, yes, but never questioned his power. He laughed softly and shook his head.
"They say that the world outside is cruel to the children when they leave school, but the underground is downright hell. How do you expect to shield Lambo forever?" Allen eyed the little boy cowering in Bianchi's arms. "I respect your decision as the Vongola Decimo, but I hope that you have made the right decision. Danger lies in every corner and when it strikes, he will be the weak chain in your armor."
"He wouldn't." Tsuna said with finality. "When danger strikes, he will be protected by the Family, I wouldn't allow any one of my Family to be in danger. I'll have him undergo training in due time, but right now Lambo is not ready."
Allen didn't say anything; his silver eyes suddenly became thoughtful. He raised a gloved hand almost absentmindedly. Timcampy landed on the back of the said hand and folded its golden wings. Allen whispered something to the little golden ball before it flew out of the window.
Giannini's eyes followed the little object and his hand went up to scratch his chin in a thoughtful manner. You don't need to read his mind to know that he's dying to take apart the little ball and see how it works.
"As per the Boss's request, we will move on to the next fight." At this, Ryohei began to look really confused.
"Then what about me?"
"I have a special arrangement for you later, you will just have to wait until then." Allen smiled at the thickheaded boxer. Ryohei did a little disappointed punch-dance and moved over to sit by the beds of the two injured Guardians.
"We'll have Link against Mist for the next fight. You will decide between the two of you who will be the one to fight against Link." Allen gestured between Chrome and Mukuro while his eyes were on Link.
Link just rolled his eyes and walked over to the empty space that was still blackened by the previous fight. He stood there without an expression and patiently waited for his opponent to step up.
"Kufufufu…How can I let my precious Chrome fight against someone who looks like a stalker? I'll be the one to go." Mukuro said with his ever-present smirk. With a twirl of his hand, he materialized his trident in a swirl of smoke.
"Kufufufu…Shall we begin?"
As if not expecting an answer in the first place, the purple-haired illusionist stabbed his trident into the ground. The impact caused thousands of cracks to appear, creeping towards Link at an alarming speed. Link narrowly avoided falling into one particularly large crack by jumping up and landing on a crack-free area.
Without warning, hot flames shot out of the cracks in columns from every direction. Crossing each other in a tangled web, there were no spaces for even a fly to escape unharmed.
Link was lost in the middle of the cage of fire columns, not even a scream to indicate that he had been hit.
Tsuna held his breath. Mukuro wasn't known for his mercy, in fact, he was known as the ruthless murderer. Honest, he was in jail most of his life because of that too. It wouldn't be a surprise if the assistant Tutor had just died in that blazing inferno. He glanced at the boy beside him, curious as to what his reaction might be.
To his surprise, Allen was covering his left eye with a gloved hand, while his other visible eye was fixed on Mukuro, his expression unreadable. Faintly, Tsuna could hear a mechanical sound coming from the covered eye but he couldn't see any machinery.
He frowned.
There was a chill coming from the Tutor that wasn't that different from the feeling he got whenever Mukuro was near. This isn't a good sign. Tsuna could only relate the chill to Mukuro's dark past, if Allen had this same chill, does this mean that he has an equally dark past? But if his assumption had been correct, then why did he only feel it now?
"Oya…seems like the stalker is dead." Mukuro leaned against his trident and pretended to look for Link amongst the still-raging flames. He turned his heterochromatic eyes on Allen and smirked. "I think I've won this fight."
Allen dropped his hand from his eye and smiled innocently. Mukuro's smirk faltered, his expression suddenly became cautious. This wasn't the normal reaction when one's comrade dies by another's hand.
"If Link dies so easily, do you think I would have kept him by my side?" Allen's smile was still in place. Mukuro's eyes widened in realization and immediately turned his attention to the dying flames.
The flames had cleared to reveal Link standing—completely unharmed—with what seems like bits of paper floating in a circle around him. Each piece of paper had black writings on it that looked like Japanese characters. Link glared at Mukuro, whose smirk has once again returned.
"Seals?" The purple-haired illusionist mused.
"Don't underestimate me." The paper seals suddenly shot towards the illusionist with blinding speed. Before Mukuro could react, the seals wrapped themselves around Mukuro's trident—and by extension, the arm holding it.
"Secret technique: Bind!" Link shouted, his fingers curled into two-fingered claws. More paper seals shot towards Mukuro and formed a circle around him just like they did with Link. However, they seem to be achieving different results as Mukuro suddenly ceased moving. His expression looks strained as he tried in vain to move his body.
Link wasted no time in attacking the immobilized illusionist. Two switchblades slid out of his sleeves, their edges jagged and sharp. Without a single bit of hesitation, Link slashed at Mukuro's chest in a huge 'X' shape, each slash reaching from shoulder to hip.
Blood splashed out from the wound as if it were a fountain. Tsuna felt as if he were watching the fight in slow motion. His brain seemed to have a hard time registering the information that Mukuro had just been mortally wounded. His face was frozen in the expression between horror and shock as he watched Mukuro gave a strangled moan and fell to the ground, unmoving.
"Mukuro!" Tsuna almost screamed, he didn't realize that he was moving towards the body of his Mist Guardian until he felt someone forcefully tug at his arm. He turned around to glare at the person that dared to stop him from helping his Family.
Allen was smiling politely as he held Tsuna's arm in his strong grip.
"What are you doing? Can't you see that Mukuro is injured?" Tsuna's voice became dangerously calm; his eyes glowed orange as he prepared to go into Hyper mode. Allen Walker had been challenging his authority since the moment he arrived at the Vongola Mansion, he had tolerated it because he respect the person Reborn deemed as an equal—at least equal enough to be his replacement in Tutoring the next Mafia Boss of Vongola.
But now, Allen Walker is using this authority to prevent him from helping his Family, that is unforgivable and Tsuna could care less if he were Reborn's replacement. Reborn is part of Vongola, but this white-haired stranger isn't.
Allen just smiled as if he couldn't feel the dangerous aura Tsuna was emitting.
"Just look," he inclined his head in the direction of the battling duo.
Compelled by a strange urge, Tsuna turned to face the battle site.
Mukuro's body lay unmoving on the ground, but it twitched and suddenly began to crumble. As if it were made of dust, Mukuro's body gradually lost its color and turned into tiny gray powder that dissolved into the air, scattered by an imaginary wind.
"An…illusion?" Tsuna mumbled, surprised that he didn't even suspect it to be an illusion. His fury gone like a candle that was blown out, embarrassment taking its place. Hopefully Allen wouldn't hold him to it. Allen seems to have a huge amount of patience apparently, since all he did was smile at the young Boss-to-be.
"Right from the start." Answered Allen easily. "The real one had been chilling out beside me since the battle began." He reached out a gloved hand and patted the air beside him.
The air where Allen's hand came into contact with became slightly distorted, a vague shape formed until it became a smirking Mukuro.
"Oya, I didn't know you cared for me so much, Vongola." Mukuro placed his arms on top of Allen's head and rested his chin on his arms. Because of his tall height, it was easy to use Allen as an armrest.
A comical vein pop appeared on the said armrest's forehead.
"If you are done using my head as a armrest, can you please go back to your fight? Link is waiting." Allen's left eye twitched irritably.
Mukuro gave a chuckle and removed his arms from the rather comfortable armrest. Casually he made his way towards Link, kicking aside the crumbled paper seals that lost their use when the illusionary Mukuro disappeared.
"You are very interesting, Allen Walker. Especially that eye of yours." He covered the right half of his face with his hand, only leaving a gap between his fore ginger and his middle finger so his red eye could peak out. "I wonder if you have seen Hell as I do." The only answer Allen gave to that was another polite smile.
An indigo mist flame suddenly ignited around Mukuro's red eye and the kanji changed from 'six' to 'four'. Mukuro gave Allen and Tsuna a mysterious smirk before turning back to Link.
Soon, it became almost the same as the previous fight, except the projectiles flying around came in much more dangerous forms, flames, vines, paper seals and the like. The fight ended with Mukuro as the winner, though he did not escape unharmed. Link was a strong fighter.
Being the stubborn idiots they are, both Mukuro and Link refused to lie on the bed and allow their wounds to be treated. And being the mother hens they are whenever their friends are injured, both Tsuna and Allen went over to force Mukuro and Link onto the bed and have their wounds treated.
"I'm fine, Walker, let me go." Link tried to stand up again but was forced back down by a very stern Allen. Allen gave Link's bloody appearance a glance and shook his head.
"If you continue to be stubborn, I'll give special request and permission for a Komurin version forty-five set on you and you only." Allen said with a glint in his eye.
Whatever a Komurin is, it seems to be very scary as Link immediately gulped and allowed himself to be treated without anymore complains. Allen smiled and patted his shoulder before he went to look at a bad stab wound—courtesy of a certain pineapple's deadly trident—on Link's back.
Having settled his own troublesome patient, Tsuna glanced at the Tutor and his assistant. They seem to be very close, as Allen was personally treating all of Link's wounds. Now that he thought about it, Allen had his hands clenched into fists for the entire duration of Link and Mukuro's fight. And sometimes when Link received a more serious wound, Allen would suddenly jerk, as if he wanted to rush over to help but stopped himself in time.
Tsuna frowned, remembering Mukuro's words before the second round of their fight began. Seen Hell as I do, Tsuna echoed in his mind. He spun around with a sudden urgency, his brown eyes landed on Bianchi. She didn't need words to know that Tsuna had an important business to entrust to her. She gave a quick bow and—after letting Giannini take care of Lambo—hurried over to Tsuna.
"Bianchi," he whispered to her, well aware that the Tutor was taking notice of their conversation. He lowered his voice and moved his lips closer to the assassin's ear, so no one but Bianchi could even hear his voice.
"I want you to find out every single bit of information about Allen Walker and Howard Link. Every single bit. Even their favorite food, their favorite color, their preferred sleeping poses. I don't care. If it's about them, I want it checked."
I hope no one is too disappointed over the lack of Lambo vs Ryohei this chapter…I have something else planned for them later, so just wait and see~
Um, no, I have no intention of making this a AllenxLink. Allen just is the type that would help a nakama in need!
The mysterious visitors will be arriving the next chapter or the chapter after that, I haven't decided… but they will be here soon!
Hope you liked this chapter, see ya guys in da next chappie~!
Me: I feel like making this a Yullen…
Allen: What's Yullen? *Adorable look on face*
Me:0.0…KANDA! MOYASHI DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S YULLEN!
*Kanda storms over*
Allen: Kanda? You know what is Yullen?
*Kanda glares, then drags Allen into a random closet*
Banging (as in the sound) ensues.
*Both comes out of closet*
Allen: *face red* Oh.
Me: Now you know.
Please review! (If you want any pairings in this fic(though they may not be used)!)
Arigato!