In Their Story, There was a Girl

Chapter 25: Eight Vongola Rings

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In the quiet hospital, Yotsuba and the young man named Basil were settled in two large beds in one of the biggest rooms. Surrounding them were Tsuna, Reborn, Dino, and Romario. Tsuna is still surprised that he has been coming to the hospital frequently now. Ever since he was little, he resented coming to the hospital because of the smell of medicine, rubbing alcohol, and now especially, death. It all started when he found out that he was the chosen leader of a mafia family. He hated it. Because of the mafia, his friends have all ended up in the hospital. But if it weren't for Vongola, maybe he wouldn't have these friends at all.

"How's Basil doing, Romario?" Dino asked, breaking the silence in the room.

"His life's not in danger," Romario answered. "Looks like he's been trained well. His wounds are not severe."

"And what about Yocchan?"

"She lost a lot of blood, but she'll be fine thanks to boss's blood. Her wound is deep, but it will heal eventually."

"All physical wounds will heal," Dino said, frowning at the floor. "But what about her emotional wounds? If Squalo is here, then that means he is here, too! I don't want to see Yocchan back to the state she was in right before she left Italy…"

Listening to the conversation from aside, Tsuna could not hold it in anymore. "Can someone please explain to me what's going on? What are those rings that the long-hair stole? And why does Yotsuba-chan seem to know him?"

"The proper name of that is the Half Vongola Rings. It's a treasure of the Vongola Family that is supposed to be stored in a selected place until three years later," Reborn explained. "In the long Vongola history, it is not known how much blood has been shed for these rings."

"Heeeeee!" Tsuna shrieked, backing away. "Well, good thing that the long-hair took them!"

"But guess what, Tsuna?" Dino said with a cheeky grin. A bad feeling overcame Tsuna. "I have the rings right here!"

Tsuna gawked at the box that Dino held out, and even Reborn was surprised.

"But I thought they were stolen!"

"These are the real ones! The ones Squalo took are fake!" Dino said, "I was told to give them to you, Tsuna!"

"Why me?!" Tsuna exclaimed. "I…I have to go home and study for prep classes! See you later, Dino-san!"

"Wait, Tsuna!"

Tsuna dashed out the door before Dino could catch him. Although he felt bad for just running away and leaving Yotsuba and Basil, he really didn't want to get into this mess. He didn't want to see anymore bloodshed; he's already seen enough from Yotsuba.

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Ah… it's so warm…

Yotsuba felt like she was wrapped up in a huge silk blanket. She wriggled around and stuffed her face, smelling the soft, floral scent. She smiled a bit, but soon realized that it couldn't be real. Her arm was almost sliced in half by Squalo a while ago, so how could she feel so comfortable right now? She must be dreaming.

Yotsuba reluctantly opened her eyes, only to find out that her "blanket" was no other than her usual dream-visitor, Mukuro.

"Mukuro!" she gasped, jumping out of his arms.

"Why so shy, my little clover?" Mukuro smirked. "You were clinging onto me just then!"

Yotsuba blushed. "I… never mind."

Mukuro only smiled. Gently, he ran his fingers across the slightly risen, new muscle and skin grown on her deep wound. Yotsuba shivered at the touch. She had forgotten that the wound was so deep. It'll definitely be a scar, I'm guessing. She touched her own arm.

"Only among mafias…" Mukuro spoke darkly, "…would people of the same Family harm each other. You knew him in the past, am I wrong? And he still cut you so deeply. Even now, you still want to protect the mafia?"

"It wasn't his fault!" Yotsuba said quickly. "I mean… everyone has some faults. And I know that they came to Japan with bad intentions, but… they used to be good people. There were misunderstandings…"

Mukuro stared at her quietly for a while, and then sighed inwardly. "When are you going to stop making excuses for other people…?"

Even…for me…

Yotsuba smiled sadly. "I can't stop. I love them too much…"

Mukuro was silent. His heart cringed, for what reason he did not know. Love…eh? Somewhere deep in his mind, he wanted to be a part of them. He wanted to be under that "love", too. Now, he was getting a bit scared of his own thoughts. Shaking away those weird feelings, he chuckled. Who needs sympathy from the mafia?

"Well, if you didn't care so much, you wouldn't be the little clover I know," Mukuro said. "Take care of my precious little girl, will you?"

With that, Mukuro disappeared in the fog.

Yotsuba stared at the place that Mukuro last stood. "…………Who?"

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"How is she?"

"She's healing just like Romario said she is. She should be waking up anytime soon."

"Che, stupid woman should've just stayed out of this!"

"Gokudera-kun! Yotsuba-chan is already hurt! Don't say mean things like that!"

"Ah! Sorry, Juudaime!"

"Maa… to hurt a little girl this much, that long-hair is really a bastard!"

Ah… so noisy! Yotsuba slowly opened her eyes. Five faces appeared in front of hers, all looking at her with worried eyes. Now that she's awake, she could feel the pain in her arm. The new skin had just started growing, so too much movement still hurts. Nonetheless, she sat up to show her visitors that she was in good health.

"How many stitches?"

"You don't want to hear it," Dino said, a bit jokingly but seriously.

Yotusba sighed. "I'm sorry, Tsuna-kun. I wasn't strong enough after all…"

"Don't say that, Yotsuba-chan!" Tsuna exclaimed. "To be able to survive… I'm already glad for that!"

Yotsuba looked at Tsuna and smiled. Tsuna's kindness always seems to touch her heart. Just then, she noticed something strange with her hand. It was closed in a fist, and she felt something in there. She held her fist in front of her and everyone else, and opened it. It was half of a ring.

"Heeeee!! Yotsuba-chan has one, too?!" Tsuna shrieked.

"Too?" Yotsuba repeated. "You guys have one, too?"

Yamamoto and Gokudera held up both of theirs.

"I don't even know how I got this…" Yotsuba frowned.

"Neither do we…"

"It seems like Mikami is chosen, also!" Reborn said as he jumped down onto Yotsuba's lap. "The Vongola Rings belong to the eight core members of the Family and are passed on as a proof of one belonging to the Vongola Family. In every generation, the eight core members will have to take on the eight rights, that's the rule."

Tsuna was outraged. He never asked to be a part of this, and everything was getting too confusing. However, Gokudera seemed more hyped about this than anyone else.

"Juudaime," Gokudera said in a slightly shaky voice. "I FEEL EXTREMELY HONORED!"

Approving Gokudera's excitement, Reborn continued, "Gokudera's ring is the 'Ring of Storm', Yamamoto's is the 'Ring of Rain', and Mikami's is the 'Ring of Snow'."

It was then that they noticed that the rings were different. Yamamoto and Gokudera thought that they were kind of cool, and so does Yotsuba. Ring of Snow… she studied the ring. I am… worthy of this ring? Somehow, she felt slightly happy that she was chosen. While the others were thinking that the rings were cool, Tsuna was complaining about them, saying that they were like weather forecasts.

"It is said that the first boss was like the sky that colors and engulfs everything. Thus, his ring was the 'Ring of the Sky.'" Reborn explained. "And his followers who became his protectors were portrayed with the kinds of weather that colored the sky."

Despite of Tsuna's objections, Yamamoto and Gokudera were pumped to go through trainings to transform themselves. Not because of the cool rings, but because of the humiliations they received the day before. Everything was going as planned.

"The remaining four other guardians also have to go through training," Reborn said calmly. "Or else they won't be able to beat the Varia!"

"Wait!!" Tsuna shouted. "Who are the other four, anyway?!"

"They're all people you know very well." Reborn said as he put on an elephant-boxer costume. "The one with the 'Ring of the Sun' will be coming soon."

"Eh?"

"Mater PaoPao!" Ryohei's hyped up voice traveled into the room.

Tsuna gawked. Kyoko's brother is involved, too?! Being the usual Tsuna, he tries to talk Ryohei out of it. However, Ryohei has never really listened to anyone seriously. Except for Kyoko, maybe. Then, Reborn's pacifier began to glow.

"It seems like Sasagawa Ryohei's trainer is here!"

"Hey, it's been a while!"

Tsuna tensed at the voice. He'd heard it before. Tsuna and Yotsuba looked toward the window where the voice came from. A blonde baby in camouflage uniform was being carried in by a hawk.

"Colonello!" Tsuna screamed. "Why is he here?!"

"Right now, we're short on time, so I can't train everyone," Reborn said. "That's why for everyone with a ring, I've arranged a personal home tutor."

"Wha…?!"

Ignoring Tsuna's yapping, Colonello walked up to Ryohei, who's been waiting anxiously. "This is the boxing kid you told me about?"

"That's me!" Ryohei said energetically.

Colonello poked Ryohei's chest and abdomen with his shotgun. "Hey! Is he really that weak?"

"Yeah, out of the eight chosen members of the Family, he's currently the weakest one." Reborn replied.

Colonello smiled challengingly. "Hey, looks like you found me an interesting one! If he can keep up with my training the next ten days, he can beat the seven others! It's hellish training, though. Hey, you want to do it?"

Ryohei fastened his fists. "Of course I do! I won't lose!"

As fast as lightning, the two hot-blooded men ran out of the hospital and began their training. The room was suddenly filled with silence as only Tsuna, Reborn, Dino, and Yotsuba were left.

"Well," Dino broke the silence. "I'll go and train one, too!"

"Eh?! Dino-san, you're tutoring someone, too?"

Yotsuba suddenly looked up worriedly.

"Yeah, since this case is a problem with alliance, I can't fight along." Dino said apologetically. "This is all I can do for you."

"Well, Gokudera and Yamamoto will probably find their own suitable home tutor," said Reborn as he led them toward the door. "I guess we're all done here! Let's go!"

"Wa—wait!" Yotsuba called out, worry written all over her face. "If… if Dino is training someone else, then who is going to train me?!"

"Your trainer will come along soon," Reborn said, turning away uncaringly.

"Oi, Reborn! Don't just leave Yotsuba-chan like this!" Tsuna tried to make Reborn stay, but earned himself a kick in the head instead. The five-year-old dragged Tsuna out of the hospital.

Dino soon followed behind them, looking back at Yotsuba apologetically. "Sorry, Yocchan, I gotta go!"

The three of them left the hospital in an instant. The hospital room was quiet and only the ticking of the clock could be heard. It took a while for the fact that she'd been left behind to sink in. She frowned; that was so unfair! She was happy for being chosen as one of the guardians, but what's with not having a trainer? She couldn't go back to Hibari because Dino is training him, so who is she left with? She hadn't felt angry for quite a while. Out of frustration, she tore up her bandage and punched the pillow. Feathers flew up in the air with each strike.

"…………Ouch…" Yotsuba whimpered between big breaths. The sudden movement made her new-grown skin sting again.

"That's not the way to train now, is it?" A deep, male voice alerted Yotsuba from the window.

Yotsuba jerked her body around to find the man sitting on the windowsill, carrying a shovel on his shoulder. Her eyes widened. "Sawada Iemitsu?"

"Long time no see, Yocchan!" Tsuna's father grinned cheekily.

"No way…" Yotsuba gaped. "You are my home tutor?"

"What? You are not satisfied?"

"But what about Basil-kun?"

"He's going to train with Tsuna," Iemitsu said. "Meanwhile, I'm going to make you strong so that doesn't happen again!"

Iemitsu pointed at Yotsuba's injured arm. She blushed a little from embarrassment, but Iemitsu gave her an assuring, warm smile.

"You've grown a lot stronger over this past year and a half," he approached her. "But I think it's about time that you get a weapon of your own!"

"A…weapon?" Yotsuba looked at Iemitsu quizzically.

"A pair, actually!" Iemitsu grinned as he held out a pair of shiny guns. One black and one white like checker pieces. "Saa, take them!"

Yotsuba frowned at the guns. She looked up at Iemitsu unwillingly. "Iemitsu-san, you know I can't… these guns, they're like his! Something as violent as guns… I can't take them!"

"These guns are special, Yocchan!" Iemitsu said. "Besides, who said you have to be like him to use these guns?"

Iemitsu pushed the guns toward the unsure girl. Staring at the guns a few moments longer, Yotsuba finally took the guns in her hands with a gulp. The guns were quite small and the grip was just right for her hands. She thought about it, and maybe guns were perfect for her since she wasn't so strong physically. But… these life-taking weapons… can she really handle them?

"Saa…" Iemitsu said as he patted Yotsuba on the shoulder. "Let's make you and those babes become one!"

Yotsuba let out a breath. She couldn't think it about that much now. All she knows is that she needed to get stronger. And she wasn't going to become like him, not in a million years.

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TBC.

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A/N: Teehee, so I made Yotsuba a guardian also. Guardian of Snow, I know, it's been used, but I just had to. This also means that I'm going to make a Guardian of Snow for Varia. But it won't be too much because she's going to be a total bXXXX villain so I don't care if everyone hates her! And yes, it's a woman! Female vs. female is so exciting, isn't it? Just kidding, I have nothing against girls.

Anypoo, please review, guys! I love you all!