Scene 56! Woah, it's only been a few months since I first posted this (a little more than two months, actually) and it's already scene 56! I'm so amazed…

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, as well as those who alerted and faved and read (of course, much enthusiasm to those who read and keep coming back to read even more! :D)!! In total, there are 24 alerts and faves, and… a record of 6363 hits! I'm so~ happy!! :D

Ahh, sorry for all that blind happiness; this is the conclusion to the Varia Arc, and hence begins the stuff that comes after! Sit back and enjoy the show that will slowly unfold before you eyes in the next few weeks!! :]

Happy Reading, and please review~! xD

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Ria disappeared from sight again, and more of the needles dug into Xanxus's body. Tsuna looked around him; if he was to stop her from doing too much, he would have to first locate her. He frowned to himself. It was a near impossible task, actually – even Xanxus was having trouble locating her.

"R-Ria-san…" breathed Tsuna. "Where are you…" He winced. The injuries he sustained battling Xanxus were getting to him again.

Ria, I told you… Don't strain yourself. Your condition-

I've made a deal, and it's the first time I've exercised in days. Let me have some fun, at least, and don't be like Soto, Mukuro-san.

It ismy power you're using there, okay?

Tche. You've used your fair share ages ago.

Another surge of needles, and Xanxus roared with fury and rage. Tsuna looked all around him, then at Xanxus. Maybe he could- no, he couldn't see where the needles were coming from. No, was it? Tsuna looked back. It was.

It had been a faint glimpse of red, from high up above. But it was gone immediately. Tsuna looked around wildly for the hazy red again, but he couldn't find it. He looked down, and there it was again. That small glimpse of red, so small that it could be shrugged away as a hallucination.

She's slowing down, Tsuna thought. He clenched his teeth – this probably isn't a good sign. And then suddenly, there was a bright flare of red flame up above, and it was gone again. But the figure remained. Tsuna held his breath. What was happening?

Ria, or Kaia, fell through the sky like a dead-weight. Her wings were no longer with her, and neither were her needles. Her eyes were closed gently as if she were unconscious, and her entire body was limp.

"Ah- Ria-san!" called Tsuna, diving down to attempt catching her. But too soon, they were too close to the ground. With a mighty impact, she dug a depression in the ground as Tsuna landed a few meters close by, panting with the effort of keeping himself conscious. Debris had been flung all around them, and the people on the ground were surprised and shocked, leaping away from the falling point. Xanxus also made his appearance – he landed a couple of meters away from her fall, but was unable to stand up any longer.

"Boss!" cried Marmon. Belphegor looked away from the taunting he was doing to Tsuna's Guardians and allies.

"Juudaime!!" yelled Gokudera, rushing to his Boss's side, as the opposing side came to their Boss.

"Tsuna!" Yamamoto followed closely behind, followed by a silent Ryohei and Chrome.

"Boss, you okay?!" Marmon said. Xanxus glared at the Arcobaleno, but laughed.

"That trash challenged me to a deal – if I could as much as make her bleed I'd kill the Vongola for free. And she's dead! Bwahahahahhhaaaa!!"

"Juudaime, are you okay?!" Gokudera took Tsuna's shoulders and shook them vigorously. Tsuna looked up in surprise, but relaxed. "Juudaime!! Are you okay?!"

"Tsuna, you feel okay?" Yamamoto gave his friend a small smile. Tsuna nodded.

"I-It's Ria-san…" he said. He looked in the direction of Ria.

"Ria?" repeated Reborn. He looked away, fedora shielding his face. "So that was what Soto meant…" He faced them. "What did she do, exactly?"

"R-Ria-san s-stopped Xanxus from finishing me off while you guys were trying to fight over something," Tsuna shook his head to clear it. "She said if Xanxus could get her to bleed before she kills him, then she'd allow him to kill me… But-But she…she fell through the sky like that…"

"Xanxus didn't bleed Ria yet, did she?" asked Reborn. Tsuna shook his head. "Then that means Xanxus can't kill you guys." He smirked. "The Varia cannot kill the Boss, which is you, or any of your Guardians until Xanxus bleeds her, but Xanxus can't bleed her anymore – you're the unanimous and absolute winner."

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Mukuro has a temper. It is confirmed. Well, what else would explain why Ria fell out of the sky like that?

Oh well, please review~! :]

Ah, the Varia Arc is officially finished, but we haven't confirmed the status of our little winged Ria. Hope she's not dead again… If she is, I'll kill her. Not that I have the power to, though. Sigh; oh well, just review! I promise the next update won't be long~!

Have an awesome summer, everyone~!!