LunaticSheep: LOL, 'Santa is it you?' Man, I kept cracking up because of that~. Hmmm, Hibari...I was always under the impression that he had finished schooling early or is studying further beyond but stays at Namimori Junior because he wants to. Funny thing is Ashlynn is only a year older than Hibari( so according to his age he should be a second year with her or a first year at the high school.), and get this; Mukuro is a year younger than Hibari. Doesn't seem like it, huh? And another thing: Bianchi is seventeen when she is first introduced so she is about six months older than Ashlynn. Crazy~. The reason she isn't going to school with Ashlynn is because one: she's most likely finished all her schooling, and two: there is an unknown mafia member in Ashlynn's class and they have no idea which family that person is affiliated to.
Anon: I've seen a lot of authors downplay the emotional effects of killing another person and decided long before I even got to this story that I didn't want to follow that trend, and it is true that some people just don't have the right mindset to go through with the deed. Pairing wise, it is so very very close! But I will be pulling down the current one and placing up a poll for the top five (haha kinda like one of those reality bachelorette shows)~. But, yes, I am preparing possible scenes for the winner. However I feel the need to stress that romance would not come automatically or smoothly for that matter. Cheers~!
Irisdagreat: Aiyaaa~ 'SilverMononoke-sama's' ego has been stroked~ I hope you enjoy these next two chapters.
darkdork15: Thanks for the review~ and I'm glad you love the story. Though your comment 'I mean this as cruel or harsh.' ...Are you trying to be...? It doesn't really bother me since I initially gave everyone free reign to 'kick my writing's ass.' I also understand that I will most definitely make mistakes on my facts. I try to research as much as I can but there are things that won't be right. But then again it's a story and not the real life experience (Though there are one or two scenes that are based off of real life) one would have by actually traveling to and living in another country. If I wanted I could write a story where anime and manga was originated from and produced in Antarctica, for example, and it would be considered fact in that universe~.
Anyway school wise I looked off of what grade one would be in according to their age. For instance: Kindergarten (yochien) would be begin from about age 3 to 6, followed by Elementary school (Shogakko) which have the ages 6-7 to 11-12. Then would be junior high, or lower secondary (chugakko) with ages 13 to 15, then finally high school, or upper secondary (Kotogakko) that starts from 15-16 to 17-18.
Otaku wise, I do actually know the difference between the Japanese and American viewpoints (believe it or not I actually wrote a paper on during my Junior year). But in this universe where my story is there are things that one will have to take in account~. Example: The parents probably don't approve of it and the fact that (Ran) is so open about it and want their child to focus on more important things. Really, I'm just exaggerating on its impact. and it's nothing to be too worried about. By the same reasoning, Haru could fall into the same classification because she loves to cosplay so much (though hers is more of places and things than anime characters and whatnot~).
Add this in with the fact that I have portrayed Ran as a lesbian. I have read somewhere (quite a long while ago~) that Japanese girls use their relationship with their female friends as practice before they get boyfriends and it is looked down upon if they do not move past that phase. Parents may blow stuff out of proportion because of the others life choices, the child feels estranged and the relationship between parent and child is strained. It's possible for something like that to happen~.
~.~.~.~.
Alright quick note just to clarify:
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
"This will be texting from now on~"
Now onwards to the story~
"We all know there was just one way to improve our odds of survival: Train, train, train. Sometimes, if your training is properly intense it will kill you. More often – much, much more often – it will save your life."
– Richard Marcinko
"It's amazing how much more you have my attention when there's a taser involved."
- Johnwqreenjr
Training with the Storm Arcobaleno was a very enjoyable experience, Ashlynn decided. He was polite, very patient, always called her Miss Ashlynn, and was all around freaking adorable. Even though she had been totally fooled from the second day until now she just couldn't find it in herself to be very angry at him. His adorableness and good reasoning kept her complaints non-existent.
Day one with Fon was spent stopping at her apartment to pack her old backpack with only the essentials (A change of clothing and whatever hygiene girly things she may need) before heading out to the recluse area where she and Bianchi normally trained. When they got through to their destination the first hour was spent going over what she already knew, what Bianchi and Reborn had already covered with her and what she thought she needed the most improvement on. During the next ten days (Less then that actually, Ashlynn had to keep reminding herself) It was expected that Keiko would come by every now and then to spar with her to gauge her progress.
"Miss Ashlynn, can you tell what instincts are and how the average human being uses them?"
"Instincts? Well, a person has an instinct to get food for when they are hungry, to couple together to continue their race. Ummm, humans have an instinct against to try to not get hurt... Survival..." Ashlynn listed a little confused by the sudden question.
Fon nodded. "And when fear is added in with the instinct against harm?"
"The Fight or Flight instinct."
"That is correct, Miss Ashlynn. In some matches any learned responses and deliberate actions such as martial art movements are still being used with their complexity." Fon allowed the little baboon (whose name was Richie) to jump from his person to explore the building. "But in true fights when ones life is on the line those movements become lost because of the instinct and there are only a select number that train to overcome that instinct as some are not able to resist the body's natural response to danger. What we will be doing is training you to have those learned movements that wouldn't normally be available to you in moments of high stress. However that doesn't mean that these instincts will hinder you, in actuality it intensifies the awareness and sight sharpens down to the threat. Not to mention that the body's perception of pain also diminishes in life and death situations. But do not take that to mean that you will not hurt when you are wounded. This is a common misconception that many beginning fighters have; they believe that in Fight or Flight situations their instincts are an automatic upgrade to their senses and they think that that will get them out of a dangerous encounter unscathed. Sometimes you're instincts are so specifically in tuned with one threat they fail to realize that there may be another opponent lying in wait for you to exhaust yourself or to attack while your attention is elsewhere."
Ashlynn nodded, the explanation made sense and she guessed that she out of all the guys needed it the most. Tsuna had the Dying Will Bullet (that will change from bullets into medicine tablets), Gokudera had no problems with fighting, Ryohei was a boxer that got in a good many fights, Yamamoto had a natural instinct, and Hibari...Hibari was a carnivore...And then there was Mukuro who had the goal of turning all the mafia against each other and turning the world into a 'Sea of Blood'.
So she trained the rest of the day under Fon's supervision until Keiko popped in during the evening with food and to thoroughly kick her ass in ways that Bianchi had never beaten her before. It was an eye opening experience for her not to very humbling that she wasn't totally invincible because she was able to keep up with Hibari and fight on par with the freelance Scorpion (even though Ashlynn knew that Bianchi wasn't fighting against her at full strength).
Keiko sighed offering her hand to the girl and pulled her up. "I suggest that while working on using her instincts and overriding the Fight and Flight instinct, I say we fill in any gaps she has with her fighting style. And we'll have to fix that she's favoring her right side over her left."
Ashlynn drank from her water bottle. "Gaps?"
"Martial arts are not perfect nor are they fully complete Miss Ashlynn. Each have strengths, yes, but they also have flaws in their forms. This is proven when one style can beat another but will also fall to another style." Fon explained.
Keiko allowed her to finish the bottle before pulling out a long wooden staff. "Let's go again and I'll point out anything I see from an enemy's point of view. Fon can observe from the outsider viewpoint. No, no chakrams honey and no sparking lightning. I want to see how you fare with just your hand to hand and then we'll build on that foundation."
"Alright then." Ashlynn found that Keiko rather liked weapons that caused blunt trauma and wondered if Hibari knew that the woman could fight. Maybe after this was over she could set the prefect on the woman for all the bruises she was getting. Not that she didn't realize that it was for a 'good cause', she was just being a little vindictive because she knew she wouldn't be able to be even a little bit annoyed with Fon.
Blunt trauma sucked. At least the woman hadn't pulled out her real weapon. Fon had commented that Keiko usually used maces instead of staffs but was very proficient with a good number of weapons and that would expound on her education against different styles. It still hurt though. And she wasn't allowed to use more than hand to hand combat. It felt a little weird to not use her chakrams, not even the smaller ones.
Ashlynn ducked underneath the staff and blocked a kick with the underside of her forearm and jabbed into the woman's side and found herself on the ground from the staff coming back.
Keiko swung the wood again. " You've got to be aware of both the body and the weapon. You'll find that a lot of people use their weapons as extensions of themselves."
"Got it." Ashlynn breathed heavily redirecting the staff away from her torso.
"I don't think you do sugar." Keiko told her punching her across the face. "Try thinking of it this way. The weapon is only separate from the body if is launched without wire or anything connected to the user. Though you still have to be aware of where that weapon is going whether it is aimed at you or some important object in the room. Like a support beam or maybe barrels of gas if your opponent uses a gun. And another thing."
Keiko slammed the wood into her chest sending Ashlynn sprawling and rolling against the ground again. "You need to move more than this. You are in the habit of letting your opponent take the fight to you instead of the other way around. Defense is good to have but you won't win or survive if you stay there indefinitely. You are a runner so run! Move your feet and charge!"
Ashlynn charged.
"That's better~!" Keiko smiled side stepping the girl and the smile grew when Ashlynn reached her leg back to hit her as she spun herself to follow after Keiko. The woman used the staff to block another strike and held up a hand for them to stop. "You finally got a hit on me~. Fon, any comments?"
Fon motioned for the two of them to be seated as Richie chittered on the Arcobaleno's head. "Your speed is better than I had expected but we should be able to bring it up more along with your strength and accuracy. You do in fact favor your right side and need to get more comfortable using your left and even attacking from behind which you were able to manage. Also, you hesitate a little before you strike. Reborn told me what happened at Kokuyo so I understand why you do this but it must be fixed. That hesitation will get you hurt, Miss Ashlynn. There are other things like building up your affinity for lightning and being able to channel it through your body, but I believe that is all for tonight. We will be starting very early tomorrow morning."
"Come on sugarplum! I'll heat up the yummy food I brought for you~!" Keiko bounced off dragging Ashlynn to a newly renovated kitchen to stuff the tired girl with food before sending her off to sleep still in her day clothes.
Ashlynn woke up to the lovely sounds of explosions and yelling. It was such a wonderful and refreshing noise to wake up to in the morning.
Not.
She rolled out of bed falling to the ground as the building shook. Ashlynn grabbed her chakram bracelets and bolted for the stairs.
"There she is!" A dark skinned man in a suit yelled catching sight of her from the top of the stairs. A group of three men charged up the steps as Ashlynn ran back a little bit then shot forward grabbed the bar above the opening of the stairway and kicked the two men in front back down, tumbling them and the others behind him down the stairs in a heap. She carefully stepped over the pile and ran for the large room that was used for training and found Fon incapacitating another small group.
"Go grab your bag, Miss Ashlynn. It is no longer safe to be here."
Ashlynn nodded. "How did they know we were here?"
"I'm afraid I do not know. But the fact of the matter is that they are sending men after your life because of that ring." Fon pointed at the piece of jewelry on her right middle finger next to the sterling claddagh. "The Varia must have figured out that the rings they took were fake. I will wait for you behind the building, Miss Ashlynn."
"Right." Ashlynn went back up the stairs and grabbed whatever she had taken out the day before and stuffed them back into her bag before meeting the Arconaleno and they both left through the srurrounding trees into the forest area away from the city.
'Crap~. Barely more than two days since last seeing Squalo in the shopping district and they already know that the half rings were fake...is this because I'm replacing Lambo? Maybe someone overheard when Papan was explaining to me about the rings. Damn, I should have invited him inside instead of just standing by the mailbox!'
Fon jumped from the tree branches like a freaking ninja while Ashlynn ran on foot on the ground as they distanced themselves from the building. "While this certainly wasn't expected so soon, Miss Ashlynn, this gives us more incentive to work hard. But with the appearance of assassins I believe it best that Miss Keiko stay in Namimori. That way your guardian and her daughter have someone to look after them."
"Right."
"There are more coming. On your right, Miss Ashlynn!" Fon warned just as a spray of bullets pelted the tree that Ashlynn just passed by. She ducked behind another tree as two women and three men walked through the foliage on the right side just as Fon said. All were carrying firearms that were trained to where she was.
Ashlynn twisted and tied wire to the small chakrams and sent them soaring into the air targeting the man closest in the group. He fell to the ground with a thud and the other four did nothing but step over their comrades corpse save for one of the other men to pick up the abandoned weapon and ammo.
Ashlynn opened her mouth to say something but a solemn look and a negative head shake from Fon stopped her. It bothered her that they didn't react that one of their members was now dead...that she had just killed another human being...
"Miss Ashlynn they are coming!"
She pulled back on the wires returning them to her possession as she rolled out of the way as one of the woman charged forward with a handgun. The first shot blew a into the tree behind her before the woman fell to the ground lifeless with a small chakram sticking out between her eyes. Ashlynn grabbed the gun from the fallen woman and shot the remaining bullets at the tallest of the men sending him to the cold ground.
The last woman charged in with a battle cry with a short sword drawing a line of blood from Ashlynn's arm. She grabbed the woman's shoulder and slammed her knee into her torso and chopped the back of the neck.
The last man looked at her fearfully before stumbling past trees in the effort to escape from meeting the same fate. Ashlynn froze watching him leave. "F-Fon?"
"I am sorry Miss Ashlynn but we must keep moving."
She nodded swallowing and hesitantly pulled her small chakram ring out of the dead woman's face and followed her tutor deeper into the forest area. She never noticed but Fon nodded to two figures hiding in the canopy as they left.
The two waited until the sounds of Ashynn and Fon's movements quieted into nothing as they moved farther and farther away before they jumped down to the undergrowth.
"She does fine when there is immediate danger and acts as she should but once it's over the moral implications of her actions shakes her." The woman commented.
The man nodded resting a mining pick against his shoulder. "I've seen that happen to a few of my men before."
"Oh? And what happened to them, Iemitsu?"
The blonde man stroked his goatee. "It depends on how the first few kills end up. One of them couldn't handle the missions that expected killing and instead works a desk job helping file the ungodly amount of paperwork that piles up but is otherwise normal. Another snapped and is now in a mental asylum. The body of her husband was found mutilated because he tried to hold her while in the throws of a nightmare, she attacked him in her terror induced state. Some freeze and get killed on the job while others wait until they are in the confines of safety before they break down. It's different for everyone Keiko."
"I know that." Keiko flipped her hair. "I like her~. If I had a choice in it I would have stolen her away. But then again they would have just followed...Sigh, I don't like doing this."
"I don't either but there's nothing else we can really do. Not until we get word from the Ninth."
"If only this hadn't happened so early. What's going on with Nono's guardians?"
Iemitsu rolled his shoulder. "Hell if I know. And that really worries me."
"Aaaaaargghhh! I can't do this anymore!" Tsuna cried. He sneezed and pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders in front of the fire in front of him. He was stuck outside of Namimori with Reborn and he was expected to climb up a cliff without any help! "My body is ruined!"
Reborn poked the flames with a stick. "Once three minutes have passed we're going back to training."
"What! But it's dark out! And how long am I supposed to do this for! Do you really expect me to skip ten days of school!"
"Your subordinates are working really hard too, Tsuna. Don't wuss out."
Tsuna sighed wearily. "When I say something you always respond with that...Huh? By the way, I haven't heard who the other ring holders are. You already dragged Yamamoto, Gokudera-kun, and Ryohei into this."
"The rings of Lightning and Mist...you'll learn their identities soon enough. Half expect it, Tsuna."
"What do you mean 'half expect it'! Geez..." Tsuna whined. '...But I wonder...could it be that it is Basil-kun...? But he was hurt... But, who else is being forced into this...?'
By the end of the middle of the third day with Fon, Ashlynn was beginning to think about the men and women sent after her for the ring...something just wasn't right about them...
Whenever she wasn't training with Fon on her fighting style she was either on the run from the pursuers or catching sleep when she could. That wasn't what was making feel that something was wrong even though she was sure that the storyline was going off track because of her. Not any of that.
It was because she was sure that she had killed the same man at least six times already.
After moving on from running through the ranks of the assassins she was starting to notice things. The uniforms, the weapons used, the faces...It was as if...she was stuck level grinding in a video game. The 'Monsters' were the same with the same mannerisms and attacks as the first four groups that had initially attacked them. Those people all having identical twins was a big stretch but there was no way that there would ever be six or seven copies of the same person brought here unless they were clones.
It was on the end of the of that day that she called on it in frustration as she took out the newest batch. "This is total bullshit! I killed your ass six times already!" Ashlynn swore as she cut cleanly through his torso. His blood like many others staining her clothing.
To her surprise the rest of the current group just vanished and there was a sound of someone moving through the bushes and smaller trees. "Keiko?" She yelled. "What's going on! Weren't you in Namimori watching over Dolly and Birdy?"
The woman shook her head and chirped cheerfully swinging her courier bag idly. "Nope!"
"W-what?"
"Dolly certainly doesn't need someone babysitting her, buttercup. I am here because of your training and you've finally called on the fact that the groups looked the same. Well, after the first day I started recycling the appearances."
Fon jumped up to sit on the confused girls head which had become normal for him to do when he was explaining something. "Miss Keiko has a strong mist affinity, Miss Ashlynn."
"...Mist affinity...You mean to tell me...that the entire time, those people that had been attacking nearly non stop...? Ashlynn trailed off wearily.
"They were never true enemies but rather illusions crafted by Miss Keiko." Fon smiled.
"So I got tricked." Ashlynn deadpanned.
Keiko pulled her into a brief hug with her face smooshed into the woman's boobs. "Tricked yes. But tricked into training seriously. Combat would do you a lot more good than normal training would have done. Do you understand what that means?"
"...it means... it means that I'll react better to someone actually coming in to kill me...that I'll get somewhat more used to the idea that somewhere along the line I'm going to end up killing someone whether it's necessary or not...that's about all I can think of. Sorry."
Fon inclined his head. "I apologize for taking such an approach, Miss Ashlynn, but we just did not have the time. But we did cover everything we spoke of from the first day save for one, though you were not consciously aware of it."
"Alrighty then!" Keiko cheered. "We'll go back to Namimori get something good to eat instead of staying out here and hunting! Really, I can't believe you actually skinned all those animals, my sweet. Fon, you could have done it yourself."
Ashlynn grimaced. She hadn't enjoyed doing that either but it had been something that Fon wanted her to learn. "Please don't remind me. So, what's next?"
"These!" Keiko dug into her bag to brink out a small wrapped up box and handed it to Ashlynn.
She tore up the wrapping paper looked inside then back up at Keiko. "You got me tasers. And, Oh? A bunch of batteries to replace the ones that will no doubt be fried when we're done with them. How lovely."
"Aren't they? This is what we're going to use for your next training." Keiko giggled.
Ashlynn shook her head. "I'm probably not going to like this initially, aren't I?"
"Not at all!"
"Great~."
Before now Ashlynn only knew what tasers were and how they were used. During the next portion of her training, while being blindfolded for some strange reason as she was put to going through the motions for Wing Chun and the other movements that Fon had fixed plus a few extras, she learned that the weapon was meant to disrupt the communication signals that the brain sends throughout the body. And that is accomplished by sending a high voltage but low amperage electrical charge.
"In simpler terms." Keiko told her taking out the dead batteries and switching for a new taser. "These charges have pressure behind them but not so much intensity. How are you feeling right now?"
"Shocked."
Keiko threw her head back and laughed heartily and even Fon gave an amused chuckle. The woman brushed a tear from her eye. "Haha, so witty my dumpling. But really now, to a normal human being it would have meant possible death from even being charged with these once. I've already electrocuted you enough times that the first set of batteries have died out. I've heard from Reborn that you started off by glaring at the electrical socket before you stuck your finger in it."
Ashlynn chewed her lip. "I did that every morning before the boys show up for morning training...I don't remember feeling much then except for when I dropped a spark on my foot and it stung. Right now though, I'm starting to feel kinda dizzy and it feels like I'm swaying. And it's starting to get a little harder to go through the motions for my katas."
"It is normal that you feel this as there are many symptoms from being electrocuted, Miss Ashlynn. It was a good thing that Reborn was supervising you as you started out, as he could see if anything else happened; disorientation, memory loss, and muscle spasms amongst many other things that may have occurred." Fon explained for her but kept off her person as Keiko sent another charge of electricity.
"...Is it possible that I could channel it through my body and back out?"
Keiko paused. "Elaborate, pumpkin?"
'Like Azula from Avatar. Norene liked that show too.' Ashlynn had to stop in her place to regain her balance before continuing on. "Like when the current is passing through my body in search of the ground. Could I direct it out of my hand, for example, and hurl a thunderbolt? As it is, I can snap a little friction in my fingers to get a small bolt..."
"Hmm, it doesn't sound too different than how I can materialize an illusion...Let's try it then." Keiko pulled off the blindfold. "Let's try to just hold it in your hand..." She tased the girl again.
Ashlynn frowned when the spark hadn't stayed in her hand.
"Do not pressure it, Miss Ashlynn. Expect and believe in its flow then hold it within your palm." Fon instructed.
On the seventh (and final day) Ashlynn was able to hold lightning in her palm for twenty minutes before her hand went numb. She had great expectations that were set from watching anime and in her mind she would from now on call anything attack that formulated in her hand as the 'Raikiri'. Because she liked Kakashi better than Sasuke from 'Naruto'. But she would expand on it like sending a charge through the ground or throwing it. And...she kind of wanted to try juggling little spheres of Lightning...
"You've come a long way, Miss Ashlynn."
"Thank you Fon. And thanks for coming out Keiko~."
"Oh honey, we're not done yet~" Keiko poked her nose. "Just a break and a chance for you to sleep in a bed than roughing it out here in the wilderness. And you're clothes are getting a bit worse for wear. When we get back, go take a shower then we'll have take out or something.
Ashlynn picked Fon up into her arms. "Can we have pizza?"
"Ooooh, that's a great idea! I'll call in for delivery right now!" Keiko skipped away pulling her phone out to make the call for food.
Ashlynn followed at a more sedate pace back towards civilization. "Hey, Fon?"
"Yes Miss Ashlynn?"
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome Miss Ashlynn. Though we still have a few days more left so...ah, have you had a premonition?"
Ashlynn hummed. Reborn must have told him about it. She didn't feel any different from any other normal day she had. But she knew from beforehand that they wouldn't have the full ten days to prepare. "A feeling that's been growing..." She fibbed. She was a little worried about Nono so she played on the feeling off her worry. "They'll be here soon, I'm sure of it."
After lunch Keiko and Ashlynn (after a shower and changing into a pair of dark jeans and a green baby doll shirt and picking up a hoodie for when she walked back home) left for the bakery since it had been seven days since she had last worked, with Bianchi going back to Tsuna's with Fon to see I-pin and the other kids. Ashlynn promised that she would be by later that night.
She was walking home with a small bag in her hands that had a few boxes of cookies inside and she nearly dropped them on her way out of the building because her phone rang with a certain jingle that belonged to a certain Varia Guardian.
'Crap...I almost forgot about Lussuria...' Ashlynn stuck her hand into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
"Honey~ Are you working right now?"
"Nope, just got off. walking home right now, Luss."
"I'm in Namimori right now and will be here for a while tonight. I want to see my sweet honey before I have to leave~! I'll call you when I'm done sweetheart~"
"k."
Ashlynn sighed and turned her phone on silent (wouldn't want the mood to be ruined by a ringtone). That meant they would be looking for her first because of the Lightning ring. Still, she walked towards Tsuna'a house knowing fully well that someone was following when she was almost at the halfway point between the bakery and her destination.
"Dying will pills?" Tsuna asked as he walked with Basil and Reborn. They were stopping for the night to have dinner at home. They were originally going to stay at the cliff for more training but then Reborn's stomach had growled. Reborn hadn't wanted to stop when Tsuna whined but when his little tummy rumbled everything else didn't matter.
Basil nodded. "Yes. These pills allow me to go into Dying Will Mode. My Master made them for my use. However the strength of these tablets are weaker than that of the Dying Will Bullet."
"Sigh, 'Master' again...he comes up a lot in your stories, Basil-kun."
"He'll be at the house for dinner Tsuna. So you will be getting the chance to meet him." Reborn informed him walking in the lead.
"Oh, yeah..." Tsuna trailed off. 'I kinda feel bad for Basil-kun, but his master was the one who brought the rings to Dino, right? He hasn't made a good impression at all with me so far...sacrificing Basil...He's probably a creepy old man.' Tsuna sighed opening the front door. "We're back~"
"Welcome home."
"Hiiiiie! Dad!" Tsuna yelled seeing the man sitting on the small step before the door. "You're awake for once. Are you going somewhere?"
The blonde man nodded. "Yep. An uninvited guest came earlier than expected."
"Is that true Iemitsu?" Reborn asked completely serious.
He nodded. "I got the information from one of my agents in the mainland so there's no mistake about it."
"But it seems too soon..." Reborn shook his head.
"I know, Reborn." Iemitsu stood to his full height. "It is unexpected that the rings have been discovered so quickly. I assume it's because of Xanxus' extreme intuition...but another thing, Fon was here earlier. He said that his temporary pupil had a feeling that they would be here sooner..."
"Dad? What on Earth are you talking about?" Tsuna asked confused and lost.
Iemitsu laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "The Varia have arrived in Japan."
"W-What! Those really scary people are here! But! But- Why does Dad know about this!" Tsuna cried.
Iemitsu slipped his shoes and pulled the door back open. "I'll go check on all of the Guardian's safety and inform them of the situation. Basil, assist me."
"Yes. I shall accompany you, Master!" Basil nodded and moved to the man's side to Tsuna's shock.
He sputtered looking sat Basil and pointed at his own father. "..Master...?"
Basil nodded.
Tsuna stared at Iemitsu who was grinning like a fool. "...Master...?"
"Master." The man's answer definite.
Tsuna grabbed the sides of his head. "NO WAYYY!"
"Tsuna, there's no time to explain right now so we'll talk about this later." Iemitsu linked hie pinkie finger with Tsuna's and shook hands. "For now, keep this a secret from Mom. It's a promise between men, okay?"
"W-wha-wait..."
Iemitsu looked to Reborn. "The enemy's first group is Levi-A-Than's Thunder unit. They're here to retrieve the Half Vongola ring of Lightning. The wielder of this ring is pretty strong but I'm still a little worried. I'll gather up the other Guardians and go to help the Lightning Guardian but that will take some time. So Tsuna, I want you to go ahead and help your Guardian until I come with the others okay? Let's go Basil."
The two left Tsuna shell shocked as they left. He grabbed his head as the conversation sunk in. "...What...?..What is this! What is going on here! And! AND WHAT am I supposed to do!"
Reborn whacked the back of his head. "Just follow Iemitsu's instructions. We'll go and protect the holder of the Lightning ring.
"But, who has that ring! No one's ever said who has it! And besides! You said that they weren't going to be here for a few more days! This is different from what you said before!"
"Whatever comes will come, Tsuna. Let's go before the Varia find the Lightning holder before we do." Reborn pushed Tsuna out the door and closed it behind them and then moved to lead the way.
"Sir. This is number 01 speaking. I have approached the target. A female, though nothing seems off about her." The man reported through the microphone on his person.
"Sir, this is 02. In the twelve o'clock position. There is no one in sight."
"This is 03 in the nine o'clock position. There isn't anything suspicious on my side."
The man closed his eyes. "Then the girl must have the other half of the ring. 01, go ahead and eliminate the target. 02, 03, back up 01 and mince her to pieces."
"What!" Tsuna yelled as he ran through the streets. "Ashlynn has the Lightning ring! How is that possible!"
Reborn stared blandly at him from jumping from the tops of the walls dividing the houses from each other. "If she hadn't had the correct affinity the ring would have gone to the stupid cow instead."
"L-Lambo! Are you serious! But isn't he from the Bovino Family?" Tsuna yelled then gasped as he turned the corner and nearly fell over someone lying on the ground. "Hiiiiiie! A body! Ashlynn!"
Ashlynn kicked one of the men away from her and into the wall behind her not even pulling out her chakrams. Reborn grinned as the other man was sent flying by something on the other side of the road.
"Vongola Famiglia's Sun Guardian and Master Colonello's best disciple! Sasagawa Ryohei is here TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei slapped Ashlynn's held up hand in a high five.
Tsuna deflated a little. "Onii-san...What a flashy entrance..."
"It's not over yet." Reborn nodded to the man that Ashlynn had attacked. He got up to his feet but was blasted right back off them as Gokudera and Yamamoto stepped to stand by Ashlynn. "Looks like Iemitsu made it in time."
"E-Everyone!" Tsuna ran forward.
Gokudera grinned. "Juudaime!"
"Haha, it's been a while guys~" Yamamoto laughed.
Ryohei punched the air. "Was that really it? They were a lot weaker than I thought they would be! That was an easy victory!"
"You are thinking too easily." Reborn admonished. "These are just few of the underlings that they sent. The inner members...he's here."
Ashlynn looked up as a figure leaped into the air and landed on a raised grassy area. The man took a few steps until he came to the edge where the street lights revealed his features. A tall tanned man with black spiky hair, facial piercings (three rings on the eyebrow and a chain that connected to the ring around his lip and clipped onto the collar of his dark coat) dressed in a black, with a dark harness strapped in an X across his chest holding his weapons in the back. Ashlynn thought that with his body in the way from seeing the man's choice in weaponry, that they looked like sabers which sounded a lot cooler than what they really were: umbrellas.
The man looked at his fallen underlings and scoffed. "So you guys did that...and my opponent who wields the ring of Lighting is the girl." He reached behind his back and grabbed the top two of the handles that peeked out. "If any of you interfere I'll eliminate you all."
"Wait Levi!"
The man paused as more people jumped and stepped into the light. Ashlynn's eyes immediately settle on the tall hulking robotic figure in the back then on to Lussuria on the side who still had his head shaved bald save for his light green mohawk and still wearing sunglasses even when it was dark outside, his black coat with a feathery boa attached where one might of had fur, was open showing a white button up shirt and black tie. And around his waist there was a piece of black cloth that covered his left leg down passed his knee and he like the others wore black boots save for the blonde of the group who wore white ones.
On Levi's right side were two people, one small with an infants body dressed in the same lack coat with a hood covering the entirety of his face save for his mouth and a bit of his cheeks that showed two little purple triangles pointed down. Nect to him was a blonde teenage with a crown on his head and his hair covering his eyes and coat opened as well revealing a purple and black tripped shirt.
Reborn stared curiously at the baby figure as another person pushed to the front of the group.
The long haired man yelled staring directly at Tsuna. "VOOOOOI! How dare you trick me! You piece of scum!"
"He...he's here..." Tsuna gaped as Gokudera and Yamamoto narrowed their eyes at the man.
Squalo held up his fist. "Which of you holds the ring of rain?"
"I do." Yamamoto lifted his hand in response.
"Che, three seconds." Squalo smirked. "I'll cut you up in three seconds...huh?'
"Move." Another person came up thee the front. Levi pulled Squalo out of the way as the figure glared down at the group.
Reborn frowned. "So he is here...I thought the day would never come that I would have to see him again...Xanxus."
Tsuna recoiled in fear as the man's eyes glowered at him from a scarred face. he wore his jacket hanging off of his shoulders with a white shirt, tie, black slacks and boots. There were a few strands of beads, colorful feathers and what looked like a raccoon tail that hanged over the front of his shoulder from his hair.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi." Xanxus growled raising his fist as an orange flame grew in the palm.
Lussuria jumped back. "Are you seriously going to use that here Boss?"
"Are you trying to kill us as well?" Squalo jeered.
"This is bad." Reborn warned. "Run!"
A work pick swung into the place in front of the Varia leader. "Hold it, Xanxus. That's enough. From here on I'll be taking charge of things."
"Iemitsu." Xanxus growled as the blonde man walked in from down the street with Basil and another man in a suit.
"You!" Squalo crowed pointing his sword at the man. "What are you doing here!"
"Xanxus. Is one of your subordinates planning to raise his blade against me? The Outside Adviser?" Iemitsu warned.
"Che," Squalo glared. "Don't stick your comments in now, Iemitsu! You're the wuss who can do nothing but run around!"
"Stop Basil." Iemitsu ordered the boy before he rushed in to attack for the comment. "Anyway, I wasn't running, rather, I was waiting for an answer from the Ninth. I was questioning the way you were doing things lately, along with the Ninth's approval. So I asked some rather significant questions. And an order that I assume is his reply just arrived." He held up two scroll capsules.
"B-but, I don't understand what's going on...! Why is Dad-?"
Reborn interrupted his student. "He is the Outside Adviser. That is his job in the Vongola...He is of the Vongola Famiglia but then again he isn't. He's not involved during regular times but when the Family is in a state of emergency then he has the authority as the number two figure, after the Boss."
"What! Dad is the Number two?" Tsuna gulped.
The Hitman nodded. "And the Outside Adviser has the same voting power to choose the next heir. In other words, the authority to give the half Vongola rings to the heir."
"Half?"
"Didn't I already tell you this? The half Vongola rings are only parts of the seven types of rings I mentioned. When the two half parts gather they become a Vongola ring, which is the proof of the heir to the throne. Vice versa, if you cannot claim both of the rings then you can't be the heir. For the Boss and the Outside Adviser to choose different heir isn't something that occurs very often."
"Lord Sawada, these are the direct orders from the Ninth." Basil handed him the rolled up piece of paper.
As both he and the Varia Boss unrolled the page the signet on the top if the page burst into flame yet it did not harm the paper. "The Dying Will Flame?"
"That's the Ninth's stamp of the Dying Will. There's no mistake that this is a real order." The Varia infant commented quietly.
Ashlynn glanced down as she felt her phone vibrate silently in her hoodie pocket. she looked up at Lussuria as she quietly pulled it open and checked it as Tsuna confessed that he couldn't read what was said on the page.
"Hi Honey~! I have to say my sweet I am very surprised to see you here with a half ring~. But I'm sure everything will turn out okay. Lussuria still loves you~! Kisses!
"Heh." Iemitsu chuckled. "Translated it basically says, 'Until now, I thought the one worthy to take on the role of the heir and later on as the Boss was Iemistu's son, Sawada Tsunayoshi, and so I was compelled to that choice. However, lately, because I am nearing the end of my life, my intuition's became sharp. So I have decided on an heir more worthy of succeeding me. I name my youngest son, Xanxus, as my true heir."
"W-what? He's the Ninth's son?" Tsuna gaped.
Iemitsu continued. "But, there will be people who will be unsatisfied with my change of mind. Currently, Iemitsu refused to offer to give Xanxus the rings. However I do not wish there to be any useless battles between my own Family members. So we shall start the traditional Vongola battle to satisfy everyone'...so, this is what it means...Those who wield the same type of ring will fight in a one-on- one battle...and after that it says to wait for further instructions..."
"I love you too Lussuria. Kisses~."
"Thank you for waiting."
All turned to look as two more people jumped into the area. Both women had long pale pink hair with black masks covering their eyes, whistles around their necks and black jackets. One wore a ruffled white dress with black boots while the other wore a white ruffled shirt and black capris and black flats. The one in the dress spoke.
"In the scramble for the rings we shall serve as the judges."
The other woman held up a page with the Ninth's Dying Will Stamp. "We are the Cervello Organization, serving directly and solely under the Ninth Boss. Please consider our decisions regarding the Ring Battles as the Ninth's decision."
"The Ninth said that this is the most risky step to satisfy the family. Do you have any objections, Lord Xanxus?"
The man glowered.
The Cervello woman nodded completely bereft of emotion. "Thank you very much."
"Wait. I have an objection." Iemitsu called. "I have never heard of the Cervello Organization. How can I leave the judging to that?"
"We cannot except you objection..."
"...We serve the Ninth Boss directly, and thus you have no authority over us. And the Stamp of the Dying Will should be evidence enough to suffice."
Iemistu narrowed his eyes."What..."
"Oh my~. Too bad." Lussuria chortled.
The Cervello in capris spoke. "Originally the seven types of half rings had two sets. One set in the Boss' care and the second set in the Outside Adviser's. In the ceremony for the heir, the pairs of rings are connected to form the complete Vongola rings, and are given to the seven people who both the Boss and the Adviser chose to succeed the Family. However this has become and exceptional case; because the Boss and the Advisor decided on different successors for each half ring, they gave them two to different groups. The seven led by Lord Xanxus ad the seven led by Lord Tsunayoshi, in this battle you will prove your worthiness with your lives."
"The battles shall take place and Namimori Junior high at midnight. Further details will be given at the site. We shall await you at eleven o'clock. Farewell."
The two women disappeared into the night. Xanxus glared at them before turning and leaving as well with the Varia members following after him.
Tsuna fell to his knees. "This...this can't be happening..."
"Let's go Tsuna." Reborn told the boy as Iemitsu and Basil led the way back to the house with Ashlynn tagging along with them. Gokudera, Ryohei and Yamamoto waved as they went back to their own homes. It was somber as they entered the Sawada home and only brightened when Maman poked her head out of the kitchen and Papan lifted her up into a hug. Tsuna however seemed to stay in shock even as he ate and didn't complain when Maman sent him to give the kids a bath leaving Ashlynn with Maman in the kitchen while Iemitsu and Reborn talked in the living room.
Ashlynn sighed still sitting at the table thumbing her ponytail behind her shoulder.
"Hmmm? Is something wrong Ashlynn-chan?" Nana asked putting the clean dishes away.
"My hair is getting long again. I'm thinking of cutting it so I stop picking at the split ends."
"No!"
"What?" Ashlynn startled. It was the first time she had ever heard the woman yell.
"No! Ashlynn-chan, don't cut your pretty hair!"
"Eh? But Maman, I meant a trim at the very least. I'm not going to cut it very short."
"No! Maman won't let you! Grow it out Ashlynn-chan!"
"But it keeps getting in the way and besides it will grow back."
"No. Maman forbids it!" Maman left the kitchen leaving Ashlynn to stare after her in shock.
Bianchi, Reborn, Tsuna and Fuuta peeked into the kitchen.
"What happened, Nee-chan?" Fuuta asked hoisting himself into the chair next to her.
Ashlynn blinked. "Maman got mad because I was thinking about cutting my hair. And then she forbade me from doing so..."
"Will you? Cut your hair I mean?" Tsuna asked.
"I don't think I will anymore even though it's getting longer and it will get in the way. I don't want Maman to be upset..." Ashlynn shook her head toying with the strands of her hair. 'Even if it means giving Butt Monkey Levi something to pull on...'
Iemitsu walked in smiling and leaned against the counter. "My sweet Nana loves children and she see's all of you as her kids even if we aren't related by blood."
"D-Dad..." Tsuna motioned for the man to stop.
Iemitsu patted Ashlynn's shoulder. "She's always wanted more children...and I'm sure that she sees you along with Bianchi and little I-pin as the daughters she never got the chance to really have. How do you think your mother felt when her child starts to grow up..."
"Iemitsu." Reborn warned.
"...I wouldn't know Papan. My relatives are not in this world." Ashlynn closed her eyes. 'She was sad that Flaithri was hardly ever home. She was proud, yes, but she missed him. And me...She never got to see me graduate...because to them I'm dead...'
"N-Nee-chan...?" Futa asked quietly.
Ashlynn sighed but ruffled the boy's hair as she got up from her seat to find Maman to make amends with the woman before walking home.
Perhaps she shouldn't have but Ashlynn decided to skip school. She'd already missed a week and she'd no doubt miss another because of the battles and anyway Ran was still gone so it didn't really matter to her. She needed to train, sharpen her weapons, and buy groceries. And she was glad that skipping school was a great decision because as she was shopping she came across a person she wasn't expecting to see for another few days.
Ashlynn smiled as she walked down the store's candy isle to a female in a green Kokuyo uniform. "Nagi?"
The girl visibly jumped and in her startled state spilled the contents of her basket on the ground. Ashlynn stooped down to help the timid girl reclaim her things and put them back into the basket.
"Hey Nagi-"
She shook her head negatively looking shyly at her feet. "I-I, don't like going by that name...anymore...I...I am called Dokuro Chrome now."
Ashlynn nodded with a small smile looking directly at the girl's now shorter hair with a tuft styled exactly like another person she knew. "Who cut your hair? Not that it's not cute or anything."
Nagi, now Chrome, consciously fingered the strands. "K-Ken cut it..."
"Ah. And how are Ken, Chikusa, and Mukuro? They are treating you well I hope?" Ashlynn asked ignoring the girl's startled gasp as she turned to grab a few small packages of taffy.
"Kufufufu. Buongiorno Principessa~."
"You insist on calling me that, Mukuro?" Ashlynn looked again and instead of Chrome holding onto the grocery basket it was Mukuro.
"Your reaction to it is amusing. I daresay it is a cross between being flattered and mild annoyance."
"Hmmph" Ashlynn walked down the isle towards the fruits and vegetables with Mukuro barely a step behind. "...So I am guessing that it was Nagi that you found interesting before you found my dreaming."
"You could tell she was associated with me?"
"Ken cut her hair to make it look just like yours. And she called herself 'Dokuro Chrome'. Is that an anagram I hear in there?"
"So insightful. And rather observant, aren't you?"
'Only because of prior knowledge. But I won't stop you guys from thinking so~.' Ashlynn smiled primly. "So I've been told."
"What will you do about Little Chrome? I have seen images of you when she allowed me to view her memories."
"Nothing yet..." Ashlynn trailed off looking at the others basket. As expected it was only filled with junk foods and sweets. "But I will be keeping an eye out in case I need to step in. She may need another girl eventually."
"There is M.M.-"
"Yes, and from what I've heard she's a total bitch."
"Kufufufu, so protective~. Do as you wish."
Ashlynn nodded. "I will then. Maybe I'll have her over every so often and of course you as well since you can somehow switch her body for yours."
"I shall look forward to it then, Principessa. But for now, farewell." Mukuro brushed his fingers along her neck and chuckled when she jumped. "Kufufufu."
"A-ano~."
Ashlynn smiled at the girl now back in her rightful place. "Are you able to hear and see what is going on when he does that?"
Chrome nodded.
"Then I will expect you at this address every now and then when it is convenient for you or whenever you don't want to hang around Kokuyo. I certainly wouldn't hang out there in the first place, who knows what's crawling around." Ashlynn told the girl writing her address on a bit of paper and when she put it in the other girl's basket she slipped in a few money bills along with it for the girl.
"I-I..."
"You won't be a bother, if you really don't want to then that's fine. I'm sure I'll see you later Chrome. See ya~."
She didn't see anyone else during the day except for when she had to explain what was going on to Birdy and Dolly. The older woman glowered at her and smacked the back of her head for running off to train without telling them first. They had ended being told by a baby in red named Fon who was supposedly Ashlynn's teacher and Keiko.
"I'm going with you tonight."
"Are you sure?"
Dolly brought down and loaded her shotgun. "You're really asking me that? I'll go put Birdy to bed then we're leaving."
"But it's not for another two hours. We're meeting at eleven..."
"Be there at ten. We're going to your place first to make sure you have everything you need. You definitely won't be going looking like that. Are your weapons cared for?"
Ashlynn nodded and looked down at her gym shorts and t-shirt and the white arm guards from Lussuria. "Yes. And I sharpened them today. What's wrong with what I'm wearing? The guys are going in their school uniforms. And I'm not fighting tonight."
"Doesn't matter. Go put some jeans on and grab a sweater." Dolly told her leading Birdy into bed and kissing the little girl goodnight.
"But Dolly-"
"Go."
Ashlynn huffed but switched her shorts for pants and pulled her grey hoodie over her black shirt and white arm guards. Dolly went over her weapons with a critical eye and even though she wouldn't battle tonight she had Ashlynn bring all chakrams, the dagger strapped in under the boots she was borrowing from the woman and the hand gun strapped to her thigh.
"Ten o'clock, lets go." Dolly opened the front door with her shot gun strapped to her back and a pistol at her hip. She was wearing what she usually did. Black slacks, red wine colored shirt but left her white apron and the apartment.
They walked in silence to Namimori Junior high and stepped through the gates to the courtyard. Ashlynn waved to the Cervello sitting primly at one of the benches as she and Dolly passed them to sit at the school steps. The one in the dress inclined her head. Moments after the Varia group showed up with Squalo in the lead and they stood by the benches on the opposite side from the Cervello women.
Ashlynn smiled as her phone vibrated and looked down to see who was texting her. She glanced up at the Varia members before reading the message.
"My sweet Honey~ I want a hug~. But then Squ-chan will have a fit! It's not fair!"
Ashlynn grinned. "Sorry Luss~ *hugs*
"My Honey, you're so sweet!" Lussuria giggled at his phone.
"Are the two of you...Texting each other?" The infant asked.
Lussuria nodded ignoring Squalo's yells of outrage. "Yup! She's my sweet Honey~!"
"VOOOOI! What the Fuck Lussuria!" Squalo raged then pointed at her. "And you! You're 'Honey'!"
"Nice to finally meet you too, Squ-chan." Ashlynn's grin turned into a smirk as she snickered.
The man swung his sword wildly at the Sun Guardian. "Lussuria! Why didn't you say anything before! The Boss is going to be pissed!"
"Because that's my darling Honey and I didn't know until last night that she had the half ring~." Lussuria pouted.
Levi glowered. "Then why not after?"
"Because her files are classified to everyone save the Ninth~. All I know about her is what she's told me. So it's not my fault."
'Interesting. I didn't know I was on file...though that's not really surprising.' Ashlynn stared at the sky before looking at Dolly and stared incredulously as the woman pulled out a crossword puzzle book and a pen. 'When did she get that...?'
The Cervello women stood from their seats. "The others have arrived."
Ashlynn and Dolly stood up as well and walked to meet Tsuna along with Reborn, Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Ryohei.
"Eh? You and Dolly-san came early." Tsuna observed. And then he noticed that the Varia was there as well and he recoiled in horror as they glared at him.
"Since the ones needed are here tonight we shall start."
The other woman took over. "Upon a strict conference, the days for the match ups have been decided. The first match taking place tonight: The Battle between the Guardians of the Sun."
"Thank you for gathering. Now we shall reveal the place for the battle. Please look that way." Both women pointed to the right and they found a boxing ring inside of a metal cage.
"W-whoa! A boxing ring?" Tsuna cried.
The Cervello nodded. "It is a special arena that we have prepared for the match between the Sun Guardians. We put in the traits of the Guardians into consideration and created this. However the different matches will be held in different locations of the school."
"They used quite a bit of money for this." The blonde commented. "But, the result of the match is obvious so it is a waste."
"I think it's perfect for Senpai." Yamamoto grinned.
Ryohei punched the air excitedly and took off his sweatshirt and wife beater. "This arena is my territory!"
"Arghhh, man, I'm getting nervous!" Tsuna started shaking.
Lussuria sighed. "Where is the Boss~? It's time for me to shine"
"Heh, there's no way that he'll be interested in others battles. Besides we shouldn't have accepted to have these lame battles and let me kill all of them instead. I would've annihilated them in five seconds...VOOOOI! When are you cut that glaring out!" Squalo scoffed as Levi looked away.
The blonde grinned. "It seems someone is eyeing you up, Mammon."
"I know..." Mammon, the baby, looked to Reborn. "And he's not even a Guardian. I should charge an observation fee."
"Will the Sun Guardians come to the center of the ring?" The Cervello asked.
Ryohei hit his bicep. "Don't worry so much Sawada! I've got this!"
"Hey, Tsuna? Aren't we going to form a group circle?" Yamamoto laughed.
Ryohei jumped back to where they were and grabbed them by the arms to form a circle. "That sound Passionate! I've always wanted to do that once! Lets go Sawada! Octopus Head, Yamamoto, Senpai! Circle to THE EXTREME! Dolly-san! Join us!"
"That's okay." Dolly grinned. "I'm alright over here. You kids go on ahead. I'll watch."
"You moron! Who would want to do an idiotic thing like that!" Gokudera seethed.
Between Ryohei, Yamamoto, and Ashlynn they huddled together with their arms over each others shoulders. Both Tsuna and Gokudera gaped as the other three got into it.
Ryohei and Ashlynn cheered. "RYOHEI...FIGHT!"
Then the three more athletically active Guardians yelled. "OOH!"
"O-oh~." Tsuna mumbled. Gokudera immediately tore away from them.
"Yosh!" Ryohei climbed into the ring. "My powers peaking to THE EXTREME!"
The Cervello checked both for the halves of the sun rings and nodded taking them from the Guardians, slipping them onto chains and then over each of the fighters necks. "We approve that these are the real half rings of the Sun. As a rule we will have you hang the rings around your neck. And upon defeating your opponent and taking the ring, that person will be declared the winner of the battle."
"Crap~. Are you serious?" Ashlynn mumbled grabbing at her own throat uncomfortably. 'I totally forgot about that...tomorrow is going to suck.'
Reborn and Yamamoto glanced at her but did not say anything.
"Oh! Oh Dear~!" Lusuria made a swooning motion. "Up close you look lovely! You're like totally my type! I'm am so taking you home with me! You and my sweet darling Honey~."
Gokudera coughed. "Did he mean that the way I think he meant it?"
"If you don't know then I don't want to be the one to tell you." Ashlynn murmured.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Ryohei told the other male as he lifted his arms in preparation. "But, I'll just fight fairly, that's all."
Lussuria took off his coat revealing a black skin tight wife beater instead of the white button up and tie, and held his arms and right leg up. "Oh my~~ is that a pose for Boxing? How cute~. Then I, Lussuria, shall go ahead and play with you with the ultimate standing martial art, Muay Thai!"
Reborn jumped up onto Yamamoto's shoulder. "So the Varia's Sun Guardian is a fighter too, just as I thought. Looking back at all the previous members of the Family, all the Guardians of the Sun had a hard fist or foot. 'Destroying, they become the misfortune that attacks the Family with their own body, they become the Sun that brightly shines upon an area. That is the purpose of the Sun Guardian'."
"The competitors, Lussuria VS. Sasagawa Ryohei! Begin!" The Cervello pressed a button and the cage around the ring closed and row upon row of field lights flashedon, lighting up the arena so completely that Ashlynn and the others had to shield their eyes and they weren't even inside the cage.
"I-I can't see anything!" Tsuna yelped covering his eyes with his hands. "There are too many lights! How is Onii-san supposed to fight?"
Reborn handed them a pair of sunglasses each. "Here, I'll loan you these."
"This is a coliseum lit by a fake sun." The Cervello informed them.
Ashlynn grimaced as Lussuria shot forward, no way being impeded by the glowing lights because of his sunglasses he already had on, and slammed his right knee into a flailing Ryohei's stomach.
Tsuna squealed. "That Varia guy already has sunglasses! This isn't a fair match! Quick, let's give Onii-san-"
"We will not allow you to do so, Lord Sawada." One of the Cervello looked at him. "There will be no contact with the Guardians inside the battle. Otherwise we will count it as disqualification and take away the half ring"
"N-No Way!"
"Gahh!" Ryohei yelled in frustration punching blindly as he squinted his eyes trying to look for his opponent. "Where are you!"
Lussuria charged in from the right and punched the boxer in the face sending him into the barrier ropes around the ring. Ryohei yelled as an electrical current ran through the boys body to find the ground. He fell back with his chest smoking from the burned skin.
The Cervello explained to the startled gasps on Tsuna's side. "With the electrical metal wire, the ropes are heated to several hundred degrees farenheit."
"Th-that's insane!" Tsuna yelled.
"Mmmm~ You're slowly reaching on of my ideals for a perfect body~! The ultimate beautiful sense of loveliness that I find in my line of work~ A cold, deteriorated, un-moving body~." Lussuria licked his lips.
Gokudera sweat dropped. "But, that's a dead body."
"Considering that they are assassins, Gokudera. I guess that is what they do." Ashlynn told the boy.
Ryohei punched the ground of the ring then shot forward to the sound of Lussuria's voice. "Quit joking around!"
"He hit him!" Tsuna cheered as Lussuria was knocked up into the air.
"Nope. He wanted to get hit. Lussuria's just toying with him." Mammon, said smugly.
Lussuria flipped mid air and descended back to the ground with his knee aiming for Ryohei. "Don't be like that, Hun."
'He's in the air, coming down!' Ryohei with his eyes clamped shut punched up and struck with the man's knee as he came down. "Aaaaargghhh! My arm!" Ryohei fell to his knees holding gingerly on to his forearm as blood dripped from abrasions from his muscles.
"What! What happened! Onii-san!" Tsuna yelled gripping the sides of his head. Dolly frowned.
Lussuria chuckled and moved the cloth that covered his left knee briefly to show the metal cap strapped over his pants. "Like a true Guardian of the Sun, I reflect misfortune back upon you~. My left leg has a metal cap on it and now your fist is useless."
"That's not all..." Reborn noted. "Ryohei is weakening from all the light radiation and he's dehydrating."
Tsuna gasped. "No! At this rate-!"
"Hey! Stand up!"
"C-Colonello!" Tsuna said startled as the Arcobaleno swooped down from the sky with Falco and he wearing sunglasses.
"I was caught by Kyoko so I was late...Ryohei! Stand up, kora! Go and show him your true strength!"
"Hmph, it doesn't matter who speaks, it's useless~. This boy is finished." Lussuria smirked.
Ryohei forced himself up from the ground. "...Master...Colonello...Thank you."
"He's getting back up." Dolly whistled.
Lussuria sighed in mock pity. "You really shouldn't try getting back up dearie. Nothing good will come out it. You're punches don't affect me at all."
"Yeah. It didn't affect you at all...my left one punch didn't do anything."
"Ah that's right." Reborn nodded.
Colonello smirked. "Ever since the fourth day with me he's been punching with only his left arm. It was to give the cells a rest in his right arm and make sure that it was kept in perfect condition."
"This right fist." Ryohei declared. "Exists to turn around the EXTREME disadvantages I have."
Lussuria giggled joyously. "Oh My~ That's like the best! You're so funny."
"Funny?"
"I don't know how great a punch you've been saving is...But if you can't see me then there's no point." Lussuria raised his arms and moved. It was fast that it left after images of the man as he moved around Ryohei in a circle. Lussuria knocked into him several times as Ryohei tried to regain himself and try to hit the man. Lussuria chuckled as he sent him flying across the ring again and Ryohei just barely saved himself from being electrocuted by the wires.
"Onii-san!" Tsuna yelled.
Ryohei stood back up and closed his eyes completely and listened as Lussuria danced swiftly around him. Ashlynn smiled seeing a yellow aura begin to permeate from his body.
"Ha~ So going to use your right? Remember that if you miss it will be your final moment in this world."
"...There! MAXIMUM CANNON!"
"He did it!" Tsuna cheered standing on the tips of his toes as Lussuria went flying into the air once more. "No!" he cried as Lussuria landed on his feet rubbing at his jaw but otherwise fine.
"If it was a clean hit then it would have been risky~" Lussuria smiled.
Ryohei shook his head. "No. I hit it for sure. And these ones as well!" Lussuria looked up as one by one the sections of the lights flickered from Ryohei's punches and glass fell down from above. Ryohei smiled opening his eyes. "Looks like I'll be able to fight more fairly because I can see."
"Heh, Lawn Head actually did it!" Gokudera smirked lighting up a cigarette ti Ashlynn's displeasure.
Lussuria shrugged. "Whether you have your eyes open or not, I really don't care. What's unbelievable is the technique to take out the lights with the power of your fists...hmmm? Is that sand coming from you...? Oh~ that's not sand at all. Salt crystals... I see now. It's because of the sweat produced from dehydration. The water evaporated because of the heat from the lights and what was left was salt. Then you put the salt crystals on your fists and punched."
"S-Salt crystals?" Yamamoto asked.
Ryohei ran forward throwing punches. "Even if you've figured that out it's too late now!"
"Ohohohoho! Don't make me laugh so much! The reason why I was a little worried was I thought that you had cracked the lights with the power of your fists. Since the only person to ever be able to throw a glowing punch was the first generation's Sun Guardian. But cheap little trick like this? Anyone can pull it off." Lussuria threw a punch in the boy's direction and the lights behind Ryohei flickered dead.
Gokudera gaped. "He grazed the salt crystals off of Lawn Head and used the same attack?"
"No, it takes more technique than that. He blew the salt off of Ryohei's body with the power of his fist. That's what you call Varia quality."
"Varia quality?" Dolly asked the baby on their side.
Reborn nodded taking off his glasses followed by everyone else as the lights weren't blaring anymore. "The Varia takes on missions that are deemed impossible for normal human beings to accomplish. They are a group of genius assassins that complete their objectives to perfection regardless of the situation they are put in. Their so-called demonic works or high leveled skills in killing, it is considered 'Varia Quality' by those who are astonished."
"That's Reborn for you~ Putting it so eloquently." Lussuria clapped his hands. "Don't you realize the gap between us? This is merely a game for me, not a true battle."
"Heh, say whether it's a game when you accept my right fist. Besides I won't know myself unless I try!"
"Geez, you just don't give up~ Well, I guess it's more fun this way anyway."
Colonello smirked. "Well said, Ryohei. That's my disciple, kora! But, the Maximum Canon, it's a skill that requires you to release all of the energy in every cell of your body. Your energy wasn't fully transmitted through your there is a chance of winning then it will be that. Concentrate you energy to your fists, kora."
"Got it! Let's go TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei yelled moving out of the way of the Muay Thai users knees and threw his own punches in retaliation stalling a little for time to charge his fist. "There, I see you!" Ryohei attacked the man and at the very last second the man brought his metal knee to hit against Ryohei's right hand.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
Tsna yelled. "Oh No! Onii-san!"
"Onii-san!"
"Wh-what! Kyoko-chan! Hana! What are you doing here!" Tsuna gulped as the girl brushed passed him to the edge of the cage. Ashlynn cursed as she pulled the girl back in case the Cervello had also allowed electric current to run through the cage surrounding the ring. The girl struggled a few moments but between her and Dolly they pulled her between them.
"Onii-chan! What are you doing? You're covered in blood! You promised me you wouldn't fight anymore!" The girl cried.
"Kyoko! This looks dangerous! Let's get out of here!" Hana hissed.
"Oh?" Lussuria looked out from inside the ring. "You're this boy's little sister? Sorry sweetheart but we're in a battle and he is going to die~."
"Sorry, the girls came looking so I ended up escorting them here." Iemitsu walked towards Tsuna.
Ryohei stood on his feet. "Sorry Kyoko. I did promise but that wasn't the only thing I said! ...I won't lose! I'll show you! This is the true..."
"Geez, now you're becoming annoying. Time to end this." Lussuria leaped forward and met the boxer with his knee outstretched.
"MAXIMUM CANNON!"
Ryohei's fist once again slammed against the metal knee cap. But this time wit the full effects of the Maximum cannon the metal cracked and shattered through the cap and into the man's skin tearing through the ligaments in a spray of blood. Lussuria fell backwards onto his back holding onto the bloody joint.
"Looks like the match is over. Lussuria won't be able to defend himself from the kid any longer" Mammon told the goliath robotic man.
"Heh. you're fist appeared to be glowing. Good job, Kora. Well then, let's go home, Kyoko! I'm sleepy!" Colonello pulled on the girl's hand herding her and Hana off campus.
"But Colonello-kun! Onii-chan-!"
"It's alright, the match is over and there are plenty adults on our side to take care of things. There is nothing to worry about, kora." He placated her.
Ryohei turned back to Lussuria when Hana and his sister disappeared with Mater Colonello, he outstretched his arm. "It was a tense and EXTREME battle but the win is mine. Hand over the ring, please."
Lussuria stiffened and swiftly brought himself back up leaning all is wait on his right leg and raised his arms and laughed nervously. "No! I'm not defeated yet, dear. Come let's continue! Hurry now!"
"Eh? What are you in a rush about...?" Still, Ryohei brought his fists up but more than a little confused. Then his eyes widened as bangs rang out and Lussuria fell face first into the glass filled arena with holes torn through his back. He looked up and saw the largest man with his face covered and his fingertips smoking.
Tsuna's eyes widened in horror. "He...why did he...that was his comrade..."
" 'Erasing the weak'. It's one of the reasons that the Varia is so feared. It's why Lussuria was so anxious to continue the battle." Reborn said, his hat shadowing the top of his face.
"No..no way..."
"Hey! Lussuria! Are you alright! Hey!" Ryohei stepped forward but was stopped by the Cervello women. "What are you doing?"
The other woman bent down and took the ring around the fallen man's neck. "At this moment Lussuria of the Varia can no longer continue the battle. Therefore Sasagawa Ryohei is the victor of the scramble battle for the ring of the Sun."
"This is the end of tonight's match-up. But from now on after the battle we shall announce the competitors of the next battle." The other woman announced.
"VOOOOOII! LET ME GO NEXT!" Squalo demanded.
"If I may continue?" The woman merely stared at the Varia side. "Tomorrow's evening battle will be...the match between the Guardians of Ligthning. We shall meet here tomorrow evening. Until then, farewell." The Cervello pressed the controls so the cage opened and the two left after giving Ryohei the other half of the Sun ring. The large man of the Varia swooped into the ring and grasped Lussuria's un-moving body and disappeared with the rest of the group save for Levi who stayed a few moments glowering at Ashlynn who raised an eyebrow back until the man huffed and left.
'I'm not going to lose to you, Butt Monkey.' Ashlynn turned back to the group and found Tsuna looking at her worriedly. She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry Tsuna. It'll be fine. I didn't laze around this past week."
"But-"
"Kyoko-chan! Come back!"
They both looked as Kyoko ran back onto campus and stopped directly in front of Tsuna despite Hana's pleading. The poor girl looked up at Tsuna with tears in her eyes. "Tsuna-kun. Will you please tell me the truth? What on Earth is Onii-san being involved in?"
"A hybrid Sumo wrestling match that takes place in different rings." Reborn smiled. "It's secretly getting popular. And today's match was a good one."
Yamamoto and Gokudera nodded in agreement.
Ryohei wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder. "I told you it was a sumo match Kyoko."
"I'm sorry for not believing you, Onii-san."
"It's alright. Oh, here Sawada, I'll hand this over to you." The boxer connected the two half pieces together and tossed the ring to the boy.
"Put it in the Ring box, Tsuna." Reborn told him.
Kyoko stared at the piece of jewelry. "What is the ring for?"
Ashlynn smiled. "It's a new sort of trophy that's also becoming popular. Kinda like a class ring that some people get the last year in high school except these ones are for the Hybrid Sumo wrestling. It's so there's more space in showcases. You can fit a lot more if it's just displays of rings than big hulking trophies, right?"
"Oh! That makes a lot of sense."
Tsuna sighed. 'She totally bought it!'
'This is very suspicious...and even Sawada's older sister is in on it!' Hana frowned as she left with Kyoko and her brother. Yamamoto waved as he offered to walk Ashlynn and Dolly home (To the woman's amusement) while Gokudera after going a bit of the way with Tsuna, Reborn and Iemitsu.
Yamamoto ruffled her hair as they walked into the apartment complex. "We've got one win so far so let's keep the ball rolling! I'll see you tomorrow Ashlynn!"
"See ya!"
Dolly pointed to Ashlynn's apartment. "To bed with you. You're the one up next so make sure you actually sleep."
"Yeah, yeah. Night Dolly."
~I've been listening to the Character songs for KHR (While looking for the first concert that the Japanese voice actors did [Apparently they cosplayed as the characters they voiced as!])~ Oh sweet Gods, Adult Reborn's voice is teh Smex!
~I'm thinking of waiting until after the Ring battles to start the top five voting~. And another note, I have a page here that I'm using to keep track of all the votes, because along with the actual votes on the poll, there are some readers who do not have accounts and they either review or private message me their votes~.
