LunarFallenStar: Hey guys~! Here's the new chapter! I'll try to make it longer this time. Thanks for all of the reviews and most importantly, thanks for reading this story! Glad you like it!
Phantom Hitman 1412: Oh, don't worry about what you said. In honesty, I'm grateful because I was worried about getting Ed to involved and interfering, but because of what you said, I'm not worried at all. Thanks! And don't worry, Ed will have a larger part and get back as the main character. Again, thanks for your words! And you never know, Ed will most likely be greatly involved in the fight with Byakuran.
Archsage328: I agree with you about Hibari's and Ryohei's, but I've always favored Gokudera's trial just because of the impact it leaves. That's just my opinion.
SunshineAndMoonlight: Yep, Giotto knows of Ed's true past. Oh and with Kobato, I'm not done yet, but I have been reading it and I enjoy it a lot!
HebaAce: I'm glad you liked this chapter and you will most definitely see more of Ed's and Giotto's friendship. Rest assured.
Rion: Thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked it! And I've been rereading my chapters and I've seen some of my mistakes and I just feel like slapping myself. I can't believe I made some of them. I plan on fixing them later when I have some more extra time. And you will see how Byak recognizes Ed soon, so stay tuned!
~Previously~
Everyone watched the retreating back of Edward for a moment, "Ok, that is all. You can all go home if you wish," Reborn said.
Ed was out on the small balcony of his home, sighing in exasperation. He held up his hand to the sky, thin rays of moonlight glinting against the polished metal of his automail. He was worried about his students. Since he was technically part of the first generation, he couldn't really interfere, but he was also part of the tenth generation. He gripped his head with his hands and let out yet another sigh.
"I'm so confused!" He growled out as he ruffled his golden hair. He slid open the door, letting it crack against the opposing surface. He stormed inside his house, closing the door behind him. He looked at his bag sitting in the chair by his desk.
"Going back to teaching school," Ed said, "Maybe I can keep up some of my normal life."
Ed smiled, slowly taking his hair out of his braid and climbing into bed.
Ed woke up the next day, excited to be teaching a class again. Ed quickly slipped on a red shirt and a black vest, also pulling on black pants and his usual combat boots.
He rushed down the stairs and into his kitchen, quickly pulling out the simple ingredients he would need to prepare a simple bento and breakfast. A few minutes later, he had finished preparing both and was halfway through with breakfast. Looking at the clock, he shoved the rest of the food into his mouth and headed out the door. He stopped outside at the gate dead in his tracks however, when he felt loose hair strands blowing into his face. He blinked a few times, before lifting his hand and feeling his hair, discovering he had forgotten to put it into a braid.
Ed sighed before walking on, holding the bento in the crook of his left arm and his bag in his left hand. Using his right automail arm, which was covered in a flesh-like material, he reached into his pocket to pull out a hair tie. Expertly bunching his hair into one hand, he tied his hair into a loose ponytail. He would braid it once he got to school.
He stopped in his tracks when a small mewling noise caught his attention. He looked to his right and, to his surprise, saw a small kitten sitting in a box against a wall. He bent down and looked at the small cat before grinning widely, "You're cute now aren't you?"
Ed had grown to adore cats over the years due to his brother, despite his usual annoyance towards them. He inspected the kitten closely, looking at it's honey colored fur and warm chocolatey-golden eyes. He didn't see a collar at first and wondered briefly if it was a stray. Ed placed his bento and bag on the ground, picking up the small kitten. It could practically sit in one of his hands!
Sighing softly, he held the cat in his arms, "Guess I'm going to have to make some found cat posters, huh?"
He absent-mindedly picked up his bag and bento and once more began to walk towards school. He sighed as the cat began to bat its paws at some of Ed's golden hair that had worked its way out of the ponytail.
Ed reached Namimori Middle quickly and briskly walked inside, quickly finding his classroom. He made his way to his desk, placing his bag beside it and his bento in a drawer.
He once more stared at the small kitten he was holding, "What should I do with you?" Ed thought aloud for a moment before a sudden idea came to his mind. He closed his eyes, a familiar gray flame lighting his forehead. Softly, he sat the cat down atop the desk before kneeling down and tapping his hands to the floor directly underneath his desk. On cue, a small box rose up from the ground and Ed absentmindedly grabbed his jacket he had accidentally left in his desk before the whole future fiasco and laid it inside, forming a small, makeshift bed that was hidden from view.
Ed grabbed the kitten gently and placed the small creature into the bed. Smiling in satisfaction, Ed took his hair out of its ponytail and put it into a braid. Ed grabbed one of his lesson plans from his bag and opened it up. He grabbed a piece of chalking, twirling in his fingers as he read the page, humming a small tune.
The small cat looked up at him, but didn't move from its spot in the warm bed. It watched every little movement Ed made with fascination.
A while later, Ed turned around when he heard a door slide open. Setting the chalk down onto the tray, he looked over at the clock and read the time. He soon realized school would be starting soon.
Ed smiled softly as he saw who walked in. Tsuna, Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Kyoko stood near the doorway, just now arriving.
"Good morning," Ed said, "Glad you could make it today.
Tsuna smiled in response, "Good morning, Edward-sensei."
Gokudera grunted, muttering a small 'good morning' before going to his desk.
"Good morning, Edward-sensei," Kyoko said, taking a seat at her desk as well.
Yamamoto chuckled, "Ed-sensei, good morning!"
Ed laughed in response, but it was fake. To the normal observer, Yamamoto Takeshi appeared to be his usual self, but Ed wasn't exactly 'normal', now was he? Yamamoto seemed... off... today. His normally happy and cheerful brown eyes were full of conflicting feelings, sadness, and frustration. Ed's mind thought through multiple reasons, but Ed's mind centered on one. Choice. Yamamoto must still be blaming himself for Daisy reviving.
Ed walked up to Yamamoto, "Yamamoto-kun," Edward whispered so only Yamamoto could hear, "It's not your fault for what happened at choice. Daisy's immortal, so they say, but so am I. If you were ever assigned to kill me, the result would be the same. Stop beating yourself up over it... the rain is supposed to be the calm that washes away the sorrow, you won't pass the trial as a guardian if you forget your role as one."
Yamamoto stared in shock at the back of Edward who walked back to his desk. Still in a shocked state, Yamamoto stumbled over to his desk, sitting down.
Ed, completely unfazed, continued to look through his lesson plans for the day. More and more students filed into the classroom.
Ed smiled at his students and soon started the lesson. Ed smile grew wider and everyone thought it was because he was happy to see as more because he was just happy no one had discovered the small kitten sleeping peacefully under his desk.
After school, Ed slowly gathered his things and organized everything, not really paying attention as the students filed out. He looked up in surprise when none other than Yamamoto walked up to his desk.
"Ed-sensei," Yamamoto spoke up, "Can I ask you something?"
Ed smiled softly at his student, "Of course."
"I was just wondering..." Yamamoto trailed off, "How did you notice?"
Ed tilted his head to the side in confusion before finally realizing what the baseball player meant, "Oh, a long time ago, I did the same thing over and over again. Continuously blaming myself for things I couldn't have really changed anyway. I thought that if I had been more serious and watched the signs that were displayed before me more carefully, it would've never happened. I'd never felt so helpless before, especially when, even with all the strength I thought I possessed, I couldn't save a little girl. I fully realized that I wasn't a demon, nor a god at that... I realized I was just a human. A human that couldn't even save a little girl."
Yamamoto stared at Ed in dumbfounded shock. His shock only grew when Ed bent down and went under his desk, only to reappear with a small kitten in his arms. Ed picked up his bag and began to walk out of the classroom, the kitten resting comfortably in one of his hands. Ed looked over his shoulder slightly, making eye contact with the rain guardian, "You coming? You're friends are probably worried, they've been standing at the gates ever since you came up to talk to me."
Yamamoto briefly looked out the window long enough to see what Edward had said was true. He turned back around only to see his teacher leaving. He smiled a little before running to catch up with Ed.
The small group walked through the streets. At first, everyone had been surprised when Ed showed up with a kitten sitting comfortably in his hands. After getting over their shock, the group began to walk home.
"So, no one's been given a trial yet?" Tsuna questioned.
"No," Ryohei reported, "It's been EXTREMELY quiet!"
"We don't have a large amount of time," Gokudera said, "They can't keep us waiting forever."
"True, it would be unwise to keep you waiting for long," A voice called out in the relative silence.
Ed smirked at the voice and everyone except Ed stared in shock as a torrent of Rain flames appeared before them in a controlled inferno.
"He's here," Reborn said, causing everyone to turn and see some of the Arcobaleno behind them.
They turned back around and watched as the Rain flames took the form of a young man.
"Greetings, I am the first guardian of the Rain," Asari said.
"Asari," Edward spoke up, "Long time, no see."
Asari and turned and looked at Edward in shock, "E-Ed?"
"Why so surprised?" Ed asked, "I told Giotto to give you my regards."
"He didn't say anything," Asari replied.
"Giotto!" Ed growled out, "Still playing tricks, I see."
"He probably just wanted us to be surprised," Asari said, "I won't say anything either... furthermore, I thought you hated cats..."
Ed looked down at the small kitten in his hands, "Well, 400 years can really change someone," Ed said.
Asari nodded, "Hahaha, well, it's good to see you. Back to the matter at hand, Rain guardian, your trial will be today in the hour of the dog at Namimori shrine."
"That's eight o'clock, right?" Reborn questioned.
"Yes," Asari replied, "'Til then."
Everyone watched as the man disappeared in a swirl of Rain-class flames.
"Bah, Yamamoto's test is first!" Gokudera complained.
"Well, at least we don't have to worry," Ryohei spoke up, "Yamamoto, win, to the EXTREME!"
"Do your best, Yamamoto," Tsuna said.
Yamamoto nodded, smiling, "Yeah."
Ed smiled at the scene before heading to his house.
Ed looked at the small kitten that was drinking out of the bowl of milk Ed had laid out for it.
"What should I call you?" Ed wondered aloud, "I probably shouldn't make posters yet, just in case I get a trip to the future. That reminds me, I'll have to ask someone to take care of you... maybe Hana-san or another teacher..."
The cat continued to drink the milk, "Maybe I could call you Roy? Or maybe Al? Heck, I could even call you Havoc."
"How about Roy?" Ed asked again.
The cat looked up at him, making eye contact. Gold met gold. The cat mewled loudly and purred softly afterwards.
"I take that as a yes."
Ed looked up at the clock and realized it was almost time for the trial. He looked down at his new companion for a while before picking it up and placing it in the hood of his sweatshirt.
"Let's go, Roy!" Ed smiled and began to walk out the door, the small cat's head poking out over the top of his hood.
Ed soon arrived at Namimori shrine and looked up to see Tsuna, Gokudera, Ryohei, Reborn, and Fon already there. Rain sprinkled down and beat against their forms.
He raised his hand in greeting, "Hey!"
Tsuna turned to him, "Edward-sensei? You're here to watch the trial?"
"Yep, and not just me. Roy's here too!" Ed said.
"Roy?" Tsuna questioned.
Ed turned around and gestured to the cat sitting in his hood, staying dry because of the golden braid that prevented the rain from hitting him.
"You brought the cat with you?" Tsuna asked.
"Of course," Ed replied.
"Guys!" Yamamoto's voice was heard over the rain, "You came to watch the trial?"
"Yeah! We'll cheer you on with all we've got!" Ryohei assured.
"Yep," Tsuna said, "Do your best!"
"Che, I'm obliged to see this through as the boss's right hand man," Gokudera huffed, not making eye contact.
"Yeah," Yamamoto said, "Thanks!"
They all walked up towards the shrine together, looking for signs of Asari being there.
"He's not here yet!" Gokudera said, looking around for the ancient swordsman.
"He is," Reborn said.
As if on cue, a soft melody played on a flute was heard. Ed vaguely remembered it and hummed softly to the melody as well, his eyes closing as he began to remember the song more. When his eyes opened once more, he saw none other than Asari Ugetsu before him.
"I have not yet been able to introduce myself formally. I'm the first guardian of the Rain, Asari Ugetsu."
"Takeshi Yamamoto," Yamamoto replied, smiling at the man in front of him. His eyes widened in realization, "Can you wait for a moment, I forgot something."
Asari nodded and Yamamoto walked over to the small group of the tenth generation there. Edward smiled at the scene as they huddled together, "Vongola Fight!"
When Yamamoto returned to Asari's presence, he smiled, "Sorry for the wait."
"It's fine. Friendship is a beautiful thing."
"Yeah, it is," Yamamoto said in agreement before turning serious, "Let's do this."
Asari's eyes narrowed and he watched as the boy in front of him became rushed and hurried.
The fight began and everyone watched with baited breath, their attention never leaving the two fighters. Ed sighed as he watched the fight. He knew one thing for sure.
Yamamoto wouldn't pass this trial.
LunarFallenStar: Here you guys go and I'm sorry for the wait! I hoped you like this chapter and please R&R! I like to hear what you think about my story.