Here's the next chapter! and sorry again for the wait, stupid writer's block hit me like a train. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this and review for me since you're all such great readers ^^

I woke up extremely early the next morning and prepared to leave via Tsuna's window, hopefully without waking him. Just as I climbed on the sill and took off my sling, I took one last look as he slept and saw Reborn watching me from his hammock.

"You're leaving."

I nodded. "I'm going to meet someone…Someone who will make me stronger."

"You feel you are not strong enough?"

"Yes." I said as I turned looked out towards the darkening sky. "I fear something big is going to happen and…I am not worthy to stand by Tsuna's side if I cannot even protect those around me."

I looked back as he gave a small smirk and rolled over. I took that as my cue to leave and jumped out the window into the now on-going storm. Running swiftly, I ignored the rain pelting through my clothes and jumped through yards until I was in a clearing in the forest. I sat down and waited patiently as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled the earth beneath me.

I wasn't waiting long before something landed on my head and I smiled. Reaching up, I picked the small white monkey off my head and stood up.

"I'm glad you came, Fon."

The man in the purple robe nodded silently and began walking away, so I followed. We soon ended up at a nice little gyoza stand with just enough cover to protect us from the rain. Fon handed me a gyoza bun and I took a bite before speaking with him.

"Fon…Could you train me some more?"

He shook his head and I sighed, pulling a hand through my hair.

"Please, Fon. I need to get stronger!"

He lowered his collar so I could read his lips.

"For what purpose? The last time I trained you was so you could defend yourself and get away from opponents too strong for you. I see no reason to train you any further than that."

"I need to get stronger to protect them! To protect the people I care for!"

Lightning flashed as I stood from my seat, upset. He made no movement and I felt like the last chance I had was slipping through my fingers.

"If I can't get the training from you, I'll go do it alone. Thank you for seeing me, Fon."

I bowed and went to walk away when he grabbed my arm, so I looked at him.

"You have grown, Natsu. I will train you."

The corner of my lips turned up into a smile for half a second and I bowed again.

"Thank you Shīfu." (Chinese title for teacher/master)

Tsuna watched Lambo stomp around in his rain boots with the others, mentally worrying about Lambo himself and Natsu. He had no idea where she had gone, but he felt slightly disappointed that she left without a goodbye. Gokudera stood next to him with a scowl.

"Geeze, that dumb cow. He has no clue."

"I-I wonder if there's some way we can withdraw."

"Don't worry Tsuna. If anything happens, we'll jump in."

Gokudera, not wanting to be outdone by Yamamoto jumped in to reassure Tsuna as well.

"Don't worry, 10th!"

"Yeah! Leave it to us!"

Two voices spoke from up above them and they spotted the Cervello in dark raincoats.

"Actions such as that will result in disqualification. Along with that, all who interrupt and the one who saved will forfeit their rings to the opponent."

Gokudera frowned at them for upsetting Tsuna and they showed them the battle field on the roof. Tsuna wasn't quite sure what it was that made that the battle field, until a bolt of lightning struck one of five lightning towers on top of the school. They hurried up to the roof, to get a better look and Tsuna was suddenly worried for their safety; not from their enemies, but from the infamous school disciplinary, Hibari. H-He'll totally kill us if he sees this!

"Tonight's combat area will be fitted with lightning rods for the match between the Thunder guardians."

"The battle ground is called the Elettrico Circuito."

Another lightning bold struck and the floor lit up, causing Tsuna even more worry for his small companion. If only Natsu was here. She would know what to do.

"Lambo wants to do that!"

"Does he think this is some kind of amusement park or something?!"

Lambo dropped his horn and Gokudera picked it up and wrote in 'dumb' in sharpie on it. Tsuna wasn't sure what to say to that, but after seeing that the enemy was there already waiting, Ryohei decided to do their little huddle.

"Lambo fight!"

"Oh!"

"Gahaha! That was fun! Do it again!"

"No way!"

The others were a bit concerned now and had crowded around him wondering if he was going to make it. Tsuna stepped up to Lambo and patted his head, squatting down to his level.

"Lambo, listen to me. If you don't want to go, you don't have to. I don't know why my dad picked you, but there's something wrong in having such a young kid fight. You don't wanna die this young, right?"

Lambo slowly tried to process what Tsuna was saying, but a few things seemed to be lost in the translation.

"My, my, my. Tsuna doesn't know?" Lambo turned and picked his nose with his pinky. "Lambo can't die because he's invincible."

"Wha-!"

"Bye~"

Tsuna suddenly remembered something and reached into his pocket to pull out a few things. In one hand were a pair of horns, dirty and scared from many battles. In the other, was a huge lollipop. Lambo's eyes were transfixed on the sucker and he reached for it, but Tsuna pulled it out of his reach.

"If you want the sucker, you have to take these and you can't shoot the 10 year bazooka, okay?!"

He nodded and took the horns, before reaching out for the lollipop. Tsuna sighed, wondering what possessed Natsu to leave this for Lambo before she left. Tsuna handed it over and Lambo grinned with another cackle.

"Gahaha! Lambo will win for sure now that freaky hair gave him this!"

He held up the sucker and bounded into the ring, leaving Tsuna dumbstruck at how Lambo knew the sucker was from Natsu and how that somehow motivated him to succeed. She even knows what to do when she's not here. I wonder why I was picked to be a mafia boss and not her. He sweat dropped and focused on the match that could possibly kill the youngest Vongola guardian.

I fought back against Fon as hard as I could, and it wasn't long before I was out of breath and shaking from the adrenaline and the cold. I never expected him to be a baby like Reborn since he was always in disguise, but that was the least of my worries right about now. Blinking hard against the rain, I struggled to make out Fon's form as he practically danced around the rain drops. I thought of Lambo, suddenly as lightning hit close by, and that one second of distraction was all Fon needed to land a good hit to my injured shoulder.

I stiffed a cry of pain as I fell back onto the muddied ground, clutching my shoulder and biting my lip hard enough to make it bleed. Fon flipped midair and landed next to me with a frown on his face.

"You did not tell me you were injured, Natsu, and you shouldn't be distracted so easily during a fight."

"Ngh, sorry. Let's continue."

I sat back up and went to stand, but Fon shook his head.

"No. I think it's time for a break."

I stood up regardless. "No. I'm fine, please-"

"I said no, Natsu. Distraction can lead to serious injuries and if you had told me you were injured, I may not have agreed to this so readily."

"You don't understand, Fon! I'm running out of time!"

He glared at me, something I had never seen from my teacher, and I went quiet. He sighed and gestured to a covered area off to the side. I silently followed him and sat down across from him, watching his lips as he spoke.

"You cannot expect yourself to grow stronger in a short amount of time. I understand that you wish to protect your friends and as such, I agreed to train you. I did not expect these circumstances though."

I bowed my head for a moment before raising it. "I am deeply sorry, Shīfu."

He shook his head. "No need. I understand your desire to help, but perhaps you can help in a different way."

"How?"

He smiled a bit. "You are very smart, Natsu. I've always enjoyed teaching you because you like to think things through. Now is the time to use that. What have you done to help, besides fighting?"

I sat there and thought about that. It took me a moment, but I knew Fon was very patient and soon I think I had found something.

"I reassure them. Comfort them. I suppose."

"Do not guess. One must always be certain."

"I'm sorry."

"You are correct though. You just being there helps them more than you realize. Therefore, I am willing to continue training you, but I believe you have somewhere to be, yes?"

I nodded with a slight smile. "Yes, Shīfu. Thank you for the help and I am sorry for wasting your time like this."

"You have not wasted my time at all. I am always willing to spend some time with one of my best students. Now go help your friends. I will see you tomorrow, yes?"

"Of course. I look forward to it."

I bowed shortly and hurried off. No time to waste when Lambo's life may be on the line. Looks like I'll have to make a few stops first. Hold on, Lambo.

A dark haired man stood in the ring with an almost bored expression. Two horns sat on his head and the jacket around his shoulders was covered in stitches. He seemed totally unaffected by the storm around him as he sighed.

"Ah, this situation. If I'm not dreaming, I must be in the past, thanks to the 10 year bazooka."

Gokudera, Tsuna, and the others were really shocked at how much Lambo changed in twenty years. He seemed more mature and nothing like the whiny cow they were used to.

"Is that really the dumb cow?"

"Lambo seems…really reliable."

Older Lambo turned around and smiled a bit.

"I didn't think I'd get to see you guys again. All your faces, how nostalgic…But I don't see Natsu around. Shame, I really like her."

He bent down and picked up a wet, dripping lollipop with a small smile.

"Ah, I remember this. Natsu always knew which lollipop I liked best. It's enough to move me to tears, but it seems like this is no time to be emotional. There's a very rough-looking person staring at me."

Kinks-I mean, Leviathan, glared at the new comer, not exactly happy about all the interruptions.

"It doesn't matter who you are, I'm going to kill you."

Older Lambo picked up the ring off the floor, uncaringly as he spoke.

"It seems like my past self encountered quite a hassle, but I'm different."

"Enough talk. Die!"

After redirecting the lightning attack along with the lightning strike, he blocks another with his horn and everyone is shocked at what they find underneath the grim of the twenty year old horns. They were even more surprised when the older Lambo actually stood his own against Leviathan. There was only one problem: the five minutes were up.

Normal Lambo returned and was knocked out by the shock that the older Lambo was preparing to use to finish the enemy off. He had no way of protecting himself and reborn was forced to remind the others that they could not interfere or else they'd be disqualified.

"What should we do if we can't help?! Reborn! What should we do?!"

"All we can do is pray for him."

Leviathan started beating Lambo and finally, Tsuna couldn't take it anymore. He started heading towards the arena and Lambo tried to stop him, but Tsuna said something that he was proud to hear.

"I…I have to protect Lambo!"

"Do as you will, then."

Just as Leviathan was about to finish Lambo off, his sword was blocked and he was nearly crushed by the lightning rods.

"The lightning rods!"

"And who's that in the center of the arena?!"

Everyone turned to the one figure outside of the arena, covered in smoke with bright orange flames on his forehead.

"If I have to watch my precious comrades die with my own eyes, I wouldn't be able to atone for it. No matter how many times I died."

Tsuna stood there, confidently holding the melted down wires and everyone nearly forgot about the other figure who was picking up Lambo gently.

"No matter how important they are said to be, the Vongola rings, the position for the next boss…I can't battle for such things."

Even the enemy was shocked by what he had said as the flame slowly dissipated from his forehead.

"But my friends…I don't want my friends to be hurt!"

"Stop that rubbish."

Tsuna looked up at the voice just a second too late, but he someone looking out for him. The shadowed figure from before jumped in front of him with Lambo in one arm as they used the other to grab the flame that had been heading in Tsuna's direction. Xanxus was standing on a higher portion of the roof and he scowled down at the figure holding his flame as though it were nothing more than a toy.

"You."

"Sup, Fox-tail. You miss me?"

Tsuna stared up at the figure from the ground in shock. I know that voice-

"Natsu?!"

She didn't notice his yell, nor Gokudera's constant shouting at her, since they had obviously forgotten in the spur of the moment that she was deaf. Besides, she was busy as Xanxus threw another fireball at her and she simply returned the one she had caught; thus canceling the second one out.

Xanxus liked the challenge she presented him with, but his fight was not with her at the moment so he glared down at Tsuna. It surprised him though, when Tsuna returned the glare; as opposed to the first time they met when he cowered behind his pesky bodyguard.

"What's up with that expression? Can it be that you are seriously thinking that you can defeat me and become successor? Even your annoying pest of a companion couldn't hope to defeat me."

Natsu rolled her eyes at the man as Tsuna spoke.

"I didn't think about that kind of thing. I just don't want to lose any of my friends in this battle!"

Natsu didn't know what Tsuna had said, but one look at Xanxus' face had her tensing as she passed Lambo over to him. He fumbled for a moment, but was scared for his friend. She looked exhausted and beat up, and he knew she had left her sling at his house so he was worried about the great amount of pain he was sure she was in.

One of the Cervello jumped towards Xanxus and Natsu shouted out at her.

"Stay back you idiot!"

She didn't listen and Natsu dashed after her falling body after Xanxus hit her point-blank with his attack. She caught her with a pained grunt, and laid the woman down before growling lowly and giving the man the nastiest glare anyone on either side had seen coming from someone like her. Xanxus took one look and smiled.

"Now I finally understand the reason that the old geezer chose you as his successor, even if it was only temporary. Whether it's this rotten talk or that weak flame, you and that old fart are similar in many ways. I'm actually surprised he didn't choose your big mouthed bodyguard here. She certainly has some spark that I can't wait to snuff out."

He glanced over at Natsu and Tsuna watched as she continued to glare at him, a snarl appearing on her face. Xanxus took one look and started laughing.

"Phaaah! We'll have a tragedy, no, a comedy here!" He then gestured to the remaining Cervello.

"Hey you, woman. Continue."

"Yes. Then we will announce the result of the match. Leviathan wins because of Mr. Sawada's interruption in this guardian battle. And the ring of thunder and the ring of the sky will be given to Varia."

Both sides were upset at this outcome, the enemy's voices heard loud and clear over the shocked Vongola.

"Voi! What about that brat?!" Squalo pointed at Natsu.

The Cervello woman gave her a glance and she stared back blankly, before the Cervello turned back.

"She is not of either side and is not participating in this battle, therefore her interference will have no consequence."

"What?! So she just get's to get away scot-free?!"

Cervello nodded. "We can do nothing to those who do not have a ring and are considered innocents. The most we can do is ban her from viewing the next match. You, Mr. Sawada, are disqualified though due to damage done to the field, since it's considered obstructing the match."

"N-No way!"

"We are the rules."

"That's playing dirty!"

The Cervello ignored them and handed the rings over to Xanxus. He said some speech that Natsu didn't bother to pay any attention to as she looked over the injured Cervello woman. She did look up at Xanxus, however, when she finished/

"Still, it wouldn't be fun to just kill you, the one chosen by that old fart. There'll be plenty of time to kill you later, after letting you taste real despair in this scramble for the rings. Just like that old fart."

Natsu was just as confused as Tsuna at that and couldn't concentrate on finding everyone who was talking at the moment as she walked over to Tsuna, so she just looked back up.

"Rejoice, morons. I am giving you guys another chance. We will continue the rest of the matched as usual. If by any chance you guys can win this battle by majority, I will give you the Vongola rings and the position of boss…But if you lose, everything you hold dear will be eliminated."

Natsu tensed as he looked in her direction with a smirk. He then turned towards the Cervello and she announced the next match.

"Tomorrows match will be the battle between the guardians of storm."

The group talked for a bit until they remembered Lambo, still held in Tsuna's arms. Natsu went to go over, but felt a slight chill up her spine. She was being watched. Turning around, she scanned the roof tops until she spotted a cloaked form who gave a small wave. Rolling her eyes, she decided to ignore the man that she knew wasn't an enemy for now. Walking over to Tsuna, she tapped the freaking out boy on the shoulder.

"I brought Dino to help with the injuries. He'll take care of Lambo and…I'm sorry."

"W-What? What for? You didn't do anything wrong. If anything, you helped save us."

She shook her head. "No. If I was here earlier, I could have saved Lambo from this."

It was Tsuna's turn to shake his head as they all started leaving; Dino taking Lambo and hurrying him off to the hospital.

"It's not you fault, Natsu! I-I'm really glad you came and what you gave Lambo, it really cheered him up. Thank you."

She blinked in surprise and turned away, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Y-You're welcome, Tsuna."

Reborn sat on Yamamoto's shoulder and Gokudera joined up with the two of them, hitting Natsu upside the head and yelling.

"You jerk! Where have you been?! How dare you make the tenth worry!"

She stared at him blankly, having no idea what he was saying and stared up at Yamamoto as he patted her head.

"You did a good job, Natsu."

She nodded and looked over at Tsuna who seemed a bit down.

"Tsuna?"

"I…I wonder if it was okay for me to interfere in the match at that time."

She noticed he turned toward Reborn and focused on his ending statement.

"Vongola doesn't need a boss who abandons his men."

She nodded confidently, and gave Tsuna a reassuring smile which he returned. It was a little after that when Reborn tapped Natsu as she yawned. Looking at him with bleary eyes, she read his lips.

"What is your flame?"

"Mm…Dunno."

"What?! How do you not know?!"

Yamamoto laughed at Gokudera's over-exaggeration and Natsu looked confused at what just occurred, but returned to looking at Reborn.

"What do you mean?"

"It changes. Sometimes it's orange like Tsuna's and sometimes it turns black or grey. I'm…unsure of it's properties."

Reborn hummed in thought as Natsu yawned again, wincing when she stretched her shoulder. Tsuna noticed and gently grabbed her arm.

"U-Um, Natsu? You, uh, left your sling at my house and…are you okay? You look pretty exhausted."

"I'm okay…Just tired and, ngh, sore."

She grabbed her shoulder with a grimace. It was definitely worse than before, but she didn't want Tsuna worrying. Unfortunately, Tsuna wasn't going to have her avoiding it today and turned her to face him. It's my fault she was hurt like that to begin with.

"Natsu, stay at my house tonight. I worried about your arm."

She scowled, but at seeing the concern on his face, sighed and nodded.

"Okay, but I want ice cream."

Tsuna opened his mouth in shock for a moment at her completely blank face, then started laughing.

"O-Okay. I'm sure we have some."

Unknown to the others, he smiled to himself with one thought in his head. Cute.