Whoo! Got this chapter done pretty well and it ends the varia arc! I hope Natsu's still in character. She's proving to be one of the more difficult ones to keep in character out of all my oc's. Oh! And if you just so happen to read any of my other fanfics, I am pleased to announce that I have a new laptop!~ Thus, I should be able update my stories a bit more, however, I start school again now so it won't be too much faster, but I'll do what i can ;)

Please review! I feel like i lost all of my readers ever since my laptop died and i haven't been updating T.T although i thank those who have been reviewing. it makes my day ^^

After Tsuna woke up the next morning due to a nightmare, he couldn't go back to sleep. He was too worried about Hibari in the upcoming battle as well as Natsu, who was so badly injured the day before that he hasn't seen her since he left her with Dino. He quickly got dressed and rushed off to the hospital in the hopes of possibly catching Dino and maybe even checking in on Natsu's condition. Just as he went to open the door though, he was hit by it as Chrome came out, her belongings cradled to her chest.

"Boss."

"Ah!" That's right. She fainted after the battle and was brought here. "Erm, d-do you by chance know if Natsu's awake yet?"

She turned her head, having started to walk off already to find Ken and Chikusa. "I do not know."

He nodded, giving her a small smile. "I-I see, erm, thanks for coming to yesterday's battle."

If she heard him, she didn't let him know, having already begun running off at full speed. Maybe she's just shy? Nodding to himself, he entered the hospital and went off to go find Dino. He got a bit lost though and was looking around in confusion until he heard Dino's voice coming from one of the rooms.

"Well, Romario?"

"There's no change…but boss, in any case, this is all we can do."

"I know! Just do something about it by the end of today…No, by noon."Dino's talking business. He seems so busy. Tsuna thought, opening the door and peaking his head into the room, alerting Dino that he was there.

"Who is it?!"

"Er…It's me. I-It's Sawada." How scary.

"Oh. It's Tsuna! You're up early! Good morning! Well, I couldn't sleep, so…er…"

Good. It's the same old Dino again. Tsuna though as Dino came closer and leaned forward.

"You want to find out from me how Kyoya will fare tonight? Natsu's condition too, I'm sure."

"Gii!" Tsuna squeaked. H-He's sharp.

Dino laughed. "I'll make you some tea. Come in."

"Erm, you look busy…"

"I still have time to talk to by little brother." Dino looked around then, confused. "Hm? Where's that Chrome girl? She's disappeared."

"Ah, she just left." Tsuna informed him as they walked.

"I see." Dino looked at Tsuna over his shoulder, a small smirk on his lips. "You're worried that if Kyoya loses, it'll all be over." How does he know that? "As for these guys, they're either worried too, or they're bored. They dropped by to ask about the same thing. About Natsu too."

Dino opened the door to the lounge to show Tsuna that Yamamoto, Gokudera, and Ryohei were all fast asleep on the couches.

"They all came with excuses about checking their injuries and the like." Dino said with a small chuckle.

"Everyone…"

"Now, they're all relieved and have fallen asleep."

"Eh? So that means…"

"Kyoya is a perfect finish. As his home tutor, and I'm saying this without any favoritism, that boy is really strong."

Tsuna let out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear that. Ah! What about Natsu?! Is she okay?!"

Dino's smile slowly dropped and he scratched the back of his head. "Well, she's out of the dark for now, but uh…come on. I'll show you."

He led Tsuna out of the room and down the hall to another room before he opened the door and let Tsuna in. Tsuna couldn't help but tear up at seeing another one of his friends in this kind of shape, and moved to Natsu's bedside. She was probably in just as bad of a condition as Lambo and Tsuna felt guilty for letting something like this happen to her. I should've asked where she was going. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't think twice and now she's hurt.

A breathing mask sat on her face, fogging up as she breathed, the wheeze from before now gone. She was wearing a hospital gown now, but Tsuna could still see the bandages covering her body. Her arm especially was bandaged up and the other was back in a sling.

"H-Has she woken up?" He asked, looking over at Dino.

Dino shook his head. "Not yet. Her condition has improved though."

"W-Was she-W-What happened?"

"We aren't entirely sure." Romario said, having followed them. "She was burned from her hand up to her neck, which will most likely scar, unfortunately. Then she had various cuts and scrapes here and there, but the bruising around her shoulder was extensive. It's been sprained, which is why we have it in a sling. Then there's the major wounds. Seemed as though she was stabbed through the stomach with a sword and then stabbed in the upper thigh where her enemy twisted the sword, causing even more damage."

Tsuna looked up in shock. "B-But she'll be okay, right?"

Dino smiled and pat Tsuna on the back. "She'll be okay. Her wounds are taken care of and she should be waking up by tonight."

Tsuna's worried look relaxed into a relieved one. "Really?"

Dino nodded. "Yup."

Tsuna looked over at Natsu with a small smile. "That's good."

Just then, the window opened. "You have training to get to." A squeaky voice said, Reborn having popped up in the window dressed in all black. "You must perfect the dying will zero point breakthrough technique by today."

"Reborn! N-Ninja? Wait, what did you say?! The battle today will decide it all! There's no more reason for me to train anymore, is there?!"

"Precisely because it's the final battle. What will you do if something happens?"

What if… Tsuna looked over at Natsu with a slight frown, hands clenched at his sides. I can't let this happen again.

It hurts. Fire crackled around me, trailing up my am near my face. Why does it hurt so much? Did I do something wrong? A sword gleaming dangerously over me swinging down to kill. What's going on? Who was after me? They…They killed my mom…and my dad. Three smiling faces and evil cackling laughter in the background. No…No! Mom! Dad! Tsuna!

"No!"

I sat up abruptly, only to double over in agonizing pain. A heart monitor beeped erratically beside me and the breathing mask on my face was not helping me as my breaths shortened and I gazed through the room confused. Where am I? A hospital? How did I get here? All I remember is-A blinding light and heat flooding the area, knocking me back into a tree. I winced, pulling my hand away from my stomach and lifting the hospital shirt to see a hind of red peaking through the bandages. That's right. I compressed my flames and when that Lance guy cut it…all the power was unleashed. But how long ago was that?

I looked at the window, removing the breathing mask as I saw stars twinkling outside. Frowning, I got up out of my bed, cringing as my leg ached. I went over to the closet and grabbed my clothes, changing as best I could with my injuries and heading out to search for Dino or the exit. What I didn't expect to see, were the two Cervello women walking into a room. I hurried after them, to see them reaching for Lambo.

"What are you doing? Leave him alone."

They turned to me as I leaned against the door frame, breathing hard.

"We are taking him with us to participate in the final sky battle. Every guardian must be in attendance."

"Then take me." I said. "Leave Lambo. Let me be his representative."

"We can't do tha-"

"Why not?!" I shouted, losing my temper. I couldn't let them take Lambo. I couldn't let them take a kid, let alone an injured one.

"We need the guardians present and-"

"But there's no rule against this." I challenged. "I'm in just as bad of a position as him. Let me take his place…Please."

The two women looked at each other for a moment before turning back to me.

"Very well. However, in exchange, you will be stripped of all weapons except for one."

I frowned, but nodded, fingering my ring. "Fine."

Anything to keep Lambo out of harms way. I left with them and we headed to the school, me having to share my seat with a loud gay peacock, who was strapped to his hospital bed. I was forced to wait with one of the women as the other went out and checked to see if all the guardians were there. It wasn't long before Lussuria was brought out, yelling, and I was led out by the other Cervello, surprising Tsuna and the others.

"Natsu! W-Why Natsu?! She just woke up!"

I looked over at the Varia, to see their reaction to this.

"Why's that brat here?!" Kinks-I mean Leviathan, shouted. "She's not a guardian!"

I then glanced back at the Cervello, hoping they'd explain in my place.

"We have agreed to take her as a replacement for the lightning guardian."

"In exchange, she will only be allowed one weapon for this fight."

Leviathan let out a short, "Che." I noticed.

The Cervello went on. "The compulsory summons do not take anything else into account."

"Because in the sky battle, the six rings as well as the lives of the guardians are all at stake."

I was having trouble standing at this point, and looked to see if I could at least head over to where Tsuna and the others were at. I managed to get over there and Yamamoto was kind enough to let me lean on him for support as Tsuna argued with the Cervello. Yamamoto yelled something as well, but I couldn't read his lips to see what he said. The Cervello then went around and collected the rings, before I paid enough attention to them to learn the rules of this battle.

"The sky battle will be similar to the other guardians. However, the field will be the entire school."

I didn't like that idea, already knowing that my leg wasn't in very good condition to even be walking let alone running around the whole school. They then gave everyone watches and told us we had to wear them, but I felt something was off. We were then told to go to our respected battle fields and I groaned, since Lambo's battle field was up on the roof. It meant that I had to limp past Tsuna though, and I kicked him in the back of the leg to get his attention.

"Eii! N-Natsu!"

I gave him a small smile. "I don't know what happened…but trust us, okay?"

He smiled back. "A-Ah. Okay."

I nodded carefully, my neck was bothering me, and went off to deal with the multitude of stairs. Once I reached the roof, I collapsed against the leg of this huge pole, just as the Cervello showed up on my watch and began explaining. I was just glad I cold actually read their lips on this tiny screen.

"We've set up a pole at each of the battle fields. The top of each pole contains the ring of the same type."

Others were speaking, I was sure, but their faces did not show up on the screen, so I had no idea what they were saying. The only thing I knew, was that the watch suddenly stabbed me and I winced. What the hell? My breathing began to get ragged and I suddenly couldn't lift my arms very well. I struggled to even look at the screen of the watch, but somehow managed to lift my hand that much.

"Just then, all the guardians were injected with a poison administered from their wristbands."

Well great. I could feel a bit of pain, but I glanced over at Leviathan not a few feet away from me and silently questioned why I wasn't in as much pain as him. In fact, it looked like he couldn't even sit up, but I was somehow able to. Just then, I had a flashback to when my brother first took me out 'survival training' and I caught him cooking his deadly gravy and putting it on my food.

"What is that?" I asked, watching Shiro putting some oddly colored powder into the mix.

"That, dear sister, is something that will make you stronger! Here. I have a riddle for you."

I pouted. "I hate riddles."

He chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Now, now. You could learn a few things if you think hard enough about some riddles."

"Fine." I crossed my arms over my chest. "What's the stupid riddle?"

"What's good in small amounts when eaten, but when breathed in large amounts can hurt you?"

My brows furrowed. "I don't know. What?"

Shiro laughed. "Can't tell you, sis!~ You'll figure it out one day and then you'll thank me for stuffing you with so much food."

I frowned, shaking my head. Nope. I still hate you for giving me that crap you called food. But I finally know the answer to the riddle. That's right. My dear kind and loving brother had been poisoning me throughout the years. It made sense now that I'd thought about it. His food always did make me sick afterwards, but that was just my body fighting off the poisons and growing used to them over time. Struggling, I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the pain the best I could. Beside me, on the ground, Leviathan was staring at me with shock.

"Y-You! H-How?!"

I ignored him and looked up at the top of the pole. I'm not climbing that. Better knock it down. I held my hand out to my side, gritting my teeth as I tried to get some flame going. Finally, I had enough and melted through one of the bars on the pole, allowing it to fall and dump the ring onto the ground. Limping, I went over and picked it up, pressing it into my watch and relaxing a bit as the poison was taken care off.

I then looked back at leviathan and debated on whether or not to help him by punching the ring into his watch. Reluctantly, I forced myself back up off the ground and went over to him, using the end of the pole I have melted off and heating it up with my flames to bind him. Once that was done, I punched the ring into his watch as he continued to gape in shock.

"W-What are you doing?! Why are you helping me?! I don't need your help!"

I gave him a blank look. "I'm not heartless and I'm not willing to watch someone die just because they're my enemy a few days out of the year."

Once that was done, I slowly and painfully began making my way down the stairs to help the other guardians, should they need it. I have to help Tsuna and the others. Even if it means being in pain for a while. A rumble ended my thoughts and I looked out to see the gym roof smoking and the side of the building where Gokudera should be, doing the same. That's one way to get the rings to your guardians, although I don't think he managed to his the pole in the gym. Just then, Gokudera came rushing up to me. Once he saw me though, he threw his hands up in the air.

"What the hell?! I come to help you out for the Juudaime and you're already fine?!"

I nodded. "My brother's been slowly poisoning me with his food for years, it seems."

He paled. "O-Oh…my sister's done the same."

Just thinking about his sister seemed to make him sick and we both had a moment of silence to feel bad for ourselves before we got moving again, Gokudera being nice enough to lend me his shoulder. There was a bright light outside one of the windows we passed and I grew concerned. Tsuna.

Gokudera adjusted his position, jostling my shoulder to get my attention. I looked at him, confused.

"Don't worry. Juudaime is strong, right?"

I nodded, looking back out the window as we made our way over to where Ryohei was. "Yeah. He won't lose."

We soon reached Ryohei and Gokudera tried to get me to stay with him, but I outright refused.

"You stupid woman! The Tenth wants you safe!"

I gave him a small glare. "And I want him safe, but this isn't going to happen if we keep arguing here, is it?"

"Wh-But you-Argh! Fine! You hold the rings then!"

I caught the rings and laced them around the chain on my neck, removing my own ring and placing it on my finger so I could use it later. I then turned to Lussuria, gesturing to him.

"I'm helping him too."

Gokudera sighed, but let it go and I walked over to Lussuria and gave him the antidote. He was confused though and questioned me, just as Leviathan had.

"Why are you helping me?!"

"Because I can. " I said, taking the easy way out of the conversation. "I like your hair."

He blinked. "Oh…Thank you! Isn't it beautiful?"

I nodded. "Your fighting style is impressive as well. I look forward to a time where we can spar."

He gave a small smile. "You're an odd one, aren't you?"

"I get that a lot." I said then turned to go with Gokudera to meet up with the others.

We didn't get very far though, before we bumped into Yamamoto.

"Gokudera! Natsu!"

Gokudera said something, but I only paid attention to Yamamoto's half of the conversation.

"Yeah. Hibari didn't want people dying on the school grounds, so he came to save me."

"Sounds like him." I muttered. "He okay though?"

Yamamoto gave me a serious look. "Well, that guy looks like he'd been beaten up pretty bad, from the way he was moving. He gave me custody of his ring."

I held my chain up with the other two rings, reaching to take the others from Yamamoto, but he smiled, letting me know he'd take care of them for now.

"We got Ryohei, but that means-"

I was cut off as Gokudera and Yamamoto shouted at the same time. "That girl!"

"Yeah! In the gym!"

"We have to hurry." I gasped out, clutching my stomach as we reached the gym doors.

Gokudera was in some pretty bad shape too. Running around while helping me was really taking a toll on him.

"The 30 minute limit on the poison is almost up."

There was a time limit? Huh. Must've missed out on that. Once we opened the door though, I looked around the gym, pissed once I caught sight of the position Chrome was in. She was hung up by her arms and the bell baby and prison prince were holding her hostage. I knew what was coming next. They'll barter her for the rings. I wasn't disappointed, but Yamamoto seemed to have a plan and I allowed him to do what he wanted. Needless to say, I was surprised to see him kick his sword and hit prison prince, but I knew that we'd have harder luck than that since the bell baby was an illusionist. Now that everything was back to the start, I knew what I was going to have to do. I closed my eyes and began walking forward.

Complete silence. No trying to read lips, no illusions, nothing. I felt something heading my way, but just dodged it like I always did. I could feel the vibrations in the ground as someone slammed their fist against the side wall and I dodged flying rubble, while getting Chrome down safely. I felt something though. A tugging on my neck and I opened my eyes to see the bell baby with a hand on the chain around me neck.

"You may see through my illusions, but this won't stop me from getting the rings."

I simply grabbed the baby's arm and wouldn't let go.

"I'm not letting you take them from me." I said, just as something sharp pressed itself to my neck. Prison prince had caught up as well.

"Shishishi. Then we'll just take you with us. Our boss was interested in you anyway."

I frowned, but did not resist as the Prison prince held me at knife point and I was forced to go outside with them to where Tsuna and Xanxus were fighting. I had let go of the baby, but My hand was clenched tight around the chain with the rings. I won't let them take these. I had been hidden with illusions for a moment, before the bell baby needed the rings. He didn't take them from me, but instead the prison prince shoved me against the ice rock that held Xanxus.

Everyone was talking. I could tell. I had grown used to being left out of conversations, but I learned the sick feeling of knowing when people were talking about things, even without being able to hear. What I didn't expect though, were the rings lighting up and melting the ice. That was the reason they forced me against the ice. The six rings together could melt them and since I was unwilling to give up the three, they simply did this.

Unfortunately, I knew they would need the rings back and I was forced to my knees in front of Xanxus with the three rings still on the chain around me neck.

"Heh, give me the rings, bodyguard."

"No." I said bluntly, not hearing the other guardians show up behind me.

He glared at me, but I held my ground, fist tightening around the chain. "Get me the rings." He told the others and I grit my teeth as they all attacked me, throwing me to the ground and beating me; purposely aiming for my injuries.

It was hard to keep my grip on the chain, but I stared out and saw Tsuna, eyes wide and shouting something at me. It was hard to read from this distance, but I managed and reluctantly loosened my fingers from the chain.

"Don't! Natsu! Leave her alone! Stop hurting her! Please!"

I couldn't let him beg them to let me go and I couldn't take that look in his eyes. The chain was ripped off my neck and I closed my eyes, enjoying that emptiness. I could feel a great power overwhelming someone nearby and my mind put a name to him. Xanxus. Then, that feeling was gone and it all went silent once more.

So tired. I thought, exhausted as I felt blood seep through the bandages on my stomach, leg, and arm. My shoulder was killing me and that was all I knew in this darkness. Pain. Maybe…I should just stop. I'm not a guardian. I don't even know why I'm doing this. My parents are dead. There's no need for me to be involved in the mafia. My brother might actually be happier if I wasn't. Then, that darkness changed. I began to hear voices, but they weren't voices from around me. They were voices of the past.

"You were always so nice to me, Natsu. Thanks."

"M-My name's Futa. Thank you for helping me."

"Now, now. What is this? The prince is actually a princess?"

"You really held you own against Squalo. I'm impressed!"

"I'm hungry~! Piggy back~!"

"You feel you are not strong enough?"

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

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

"You did a good job, Natsu."

"Stupid omnivore."

"Now you listen here, Natsu. You are not leaving this house until you have some food in that stomach. And I'm sure if you hurry, you'll be able to catch up with them, okay?"

"Don't go blaming yourself, Natsu."

These voices though…there was one I didn't hear. That one voice that I knew would be concerned for me.

"Thank you so much, Natsu! I thought I was going to die! I'm so glad you're here!…You don't have a ring, do you?"

"Ah! Natsu! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Are you okay?"

"Ah…Thanks, Natsu."

"Woah. How did you know all that, Natsu?"

"O-Okay. I understand. I-I'll tell the others you had something to do, okay?"

"D-Do you want to…uh, stay over at my house tonight? I-I mean-My mom shouldn't mind a-and I know there's no one to welcome you at your house s-so…You could, that is, I-if you wanted to."

"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."

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

"A-Are you all right? You seem a bit beat up."

"I guess you're right. Thanks Natsu."

"Natsu, are you okay? What's wrong?…Reborn! What do I do?!"

"I-I just…I just don't want you to keep getting hurt because of me."

Tsuna. I can't just go. Tsuna needs help. Even now. I know it. So I need to get up. I need to protect those around me. I have to get stronger. Power flowed through me and I finally opened my eyes, seeing prison prince throwing something towards Tsuna. Forcing myself up, I was in front of Tsuna in an instant, hands glowing a vibrant orange-grey. The knives melted the moment they got close and fell to the ground. He seemed shocked and I just flexed my fist, ignoring the stinging sensation from the burns on that hand.

"Hm. Thought I was all out of flames for a moment there." I murmured as everyone else came over and joined me in protecting Tsuna and preparing to fight the Varia.

Luckily, it didn't get to that point. Prison prince dropped his weapons and held his hands up in surrender and even the bell baby didn't seem to want to fight anymore. The Cervello then went over and took the rings from Xanxus and announced that Tsuna was now the next successor to the Vongola. I sighed then, allowing my flames to die out.

"Does this mean we can go now? I'm beat."

I yawned, enticing a few laughs from our side, and then went and knelt before Tsuna with a grin.

"Looks like you did it, Juudaime."

He chuckled. "Not you too, Natsu!"

We both laughed, but then he rested his head on the ground. "Thank you, Natsu."

"Hm? For what?"

His eyes slid closed. "For protecting us…Thank you."

His breathing evened out and I gave him a small grin. "No. Thank you, Tsuna, for fighting for all of us."