November 14th. Happy Birthday Levi. LOL.
"Lord, be between us and harm and protect us from the harm of the world."
- Irish prayer said during Thunder and Lightning
Ashlynn found it awfully convenient that it started raining when she got up the next morning. She took the care as she always did whenever there was a chance of a thunderstorm: Gather all her sheets and light blankets and cover every reflective surface in her home Much to Fon's (Who had stayed the night in her apartment) curiosity but did not say anything.
"Cherry~ I'm here! Oh, sweetie, what are you...doing?" The lock on her front door beeped and the door opened.
Ashlynn looked up and towards the front door where Keiko was removing her shoes before stepping into the living room. She smiled and continued to cover the small mirror that hung on the wall. "It's one of the old Irish traditions that my Grandmother Aine lived and swore by. Whenever there was even the smallest chance of a thunderstorm, she would cover all of the mirrors and basically anything big enough that could cast a reflection...I never asked what she believed would happen if she didn't do this. I just went along with (along with a few other things I never fully understood) and helped her because if Gran was in a superstitious mood, which was very often, I didn't want to upset her because I didn't understand most of the things she did."
"Alright." Keiko allowed. "But then why are you doing it now?"
Ashlynn shrugged her shoulders pulling out a chair to stand on to tack a sheet over the sliding glass door. "It was like tradition for her and force of habit for me now. And it's calming me. This is the last one, can you hand me that tack there?"
"Oh, well guess that's a good thing then." Keiko handed her the tack and held onto the chair to keep it steady and helped her down. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah. Bye Fon!"
"Until tonight, Miss Ashlynn."
Instead of training until she prepared for the night like she had initially planned, Fon had insisted that she take the day and do something else. Perhaps check on the other Guardians who were no doubt training the day away. She ended up agreeing because it was impossible to say no when he looked at her like that. So she'd go to Fukano's and put in a few hours of work, bring home some sweet things then maybe make lunch for the guys.
Though she had calmed some from the old ritual of covering things in her home, Ashlynn couldn't help but be a little jumpy and she kept looking at the clock on the wall. That was strange because usually it was everyone else that were jumpy because of Hibari, but since the prefect hadn't been at the bakery in over a week the store and its employees brightened because they hadn't the prefect to worry about coming into the back room. She sighed and focused on the cupcake batter in front of her and beat the mixture by hand with her frustration at her anxiety. It helped and it kept the other employees from asking her the reason why Hibari wasn't around and they wondered to themselves (thanks to Boss Lady's gushing whenever the Ashlynn and Hibari were in the same room) if the 'couple' had a lovers quarrel and they were avoiding each other. But then why was she still wearing the red band that every member of the prefects wore?
Not knowing of her peers thoughts Ashlynn set in the clean her utensils letting water fall onto the silverware and bowls then washing with soap, drying, and bringing them back to her station.
'...Sigh, I'm too nervous. And it's just Butt Monkey Levi...who beat Lambo...so I have no idea what is going to happen. Worst case scenario, Levi kicks my ass thus causing Tsuna to jump in forfeiting both of our rings. Best case scenario: I win the ring battle...then...I have no freaking idea...do I lose just so the story line stays on track? Would it matter? Man, this sucks. I don't want to lose."
She sighed starting on the frosting. 'I wouldn't mind being super lucky and totally beating Levi ...and it wouldn't be too bad if Tsuna got some good luck...Dino too. That man sorely needs it. Especially when Romario and the other men aren't around. Hell our whole group could do well with some good luck.
She pulled out the pans and tapped them and the paper cups gently out of the pan and began to frost. Then when all were covered with sugary goodness she set the majority on a tiered platter and carefully walked out to the front to put them on top of the display cases. The rest she cased them in a box and labeled them with a red sticker.
"Hey, your shifts just about over." One of the older girls called after her as she was cleaning up again.
"Thanks!" Ashlynn took off and put away her apron and wiped the surface of her work station. Grabbed the box of cupcakes and walked out of the back room to the front door. She allowed a small group of teenagers go ahead of her and thanked the one who held the door open for her and was eating one of the cupcakes she had put out. She stayed underneath the patio covering to open her umbrella and gasped when the boy that had kept the door opened for her yelled and fell down a man sewer hole and his friends crowding and screamed for someone to help. She dropped the umbrella and opened the door of the bakery back up.
"Boss Lady!" She yelled.
The woman burst out the hallway that lead to her office and. "What is it? What happened."
Ashlynn held up the box in her hands then motioned outside. "A boy took one of the cupcakes I made...he fell down a man sewer...you don't think...?"
Keiko joyously clapped her hands together despite that a person just injure himself. "Oh! That's wonderful, sweetheart! You should go find Bianchi to make sure, okay? You go on ahead dear, I'll catch up with you later."
"...Um, okay. Yeah, that'd be smart. See ya Boss Lady." Ashlynn murmured stepping back out into the rain and picked up her abandoned umbrella and started walking towards one of the nearby restaurants for food.. It was only then that she realized that she had no idea where exactly Bianchi, or the boys could be. So she forewent buying food just yet and ended up stopping at her apartment to set everything down before calling Tsuna's phone.
"Ciaossu Ashlynn."
"Hey Reborn. Do you know where Bianchi is? I don't have her phone number." Ashlynn asked the Hitman.
"She is near our location with Romario observing Dino and Hibari and by the sounds of things Gokudera and Shamal, and the stupid cow followed us here. From starting at the building you and Bianchi use it is about seven miles southwest. Shall we expect you?"
Ashlynn hummed. "Yeah, Fon has me on a break so I went to work this morning. Keiko and I think we may have had a break through with some of my cupcakes so I'm going to bring them to her so she can test them. Have all of you eaten yet? I can pick something up before heading out."
"It would be smart to bring things in a thermos with this weather. I would like espresso. I'll pay you back later Ashlynn."
"Soups then? Alright, I know a little cafe that can do that~. I'll see you later Reborn."
"Ciao."
Ashlynn hung up her phone. 'Seven miles~. I can run to that cafe, get food and espresso and hot chocolate, come back here put everything in my old backpack hold the cupcakes and run there. I just might be able to get there from an hour and a half to two hours...it's three o'clock right now...'
She set out for the food run and gunned it through the rain to the cafe and back home before roughing it (once more) through the wilderness with her ears straining to hear Tsuna. The boy could be such a good direction indicator. And within two hours she found herself hiking up a hill to the very top with Tsuna's voice leading her in the right direction.
She smiled as she came upon Tsuna on his knees as the Dying Will Flame at his brow vanished into the air. She called out to him, Reborn, Basil and Gokudera. "Who wants food?"
"Hiiiiie! A-Ashlynn! What are you doing here? And ! Why are you wearing that!" Tsuna yelled and pointed fearfully at her arm where she had pinned the red band that she had gotten from Hibari.
"Oh, you just noticed? I've been wearing it for a while now, Tsuna. Hibari threw it at me one morning and told me to keep an eye on the high school. Do you want a red armband of leadership, Tsuna? I'll try to get you one if you really want it. It'll probably say 'Herbivore' though and you won't exactly free reign for anything because of it."
Reborn stared at her. "Oh? He gives you free reign to do as you wish?"
"No. I'm just seen as an outside force still affiliated with him. The day I walked on campus with it on I'm sure a few of the students fainted because they thought that they had escaped from Hibari-san when they moved up from the Junior high and now they have someone that keeps contact with him without being seriously hurt."
'Because Ashlynn is on the same level as Hibari-san. Brave too, to be able to train with him on near daily basis.' Tsuna looked up. "Hey Ashlynn?"
"Yeah?"
"You normally train with Hibari-san the most but he's with Dino-san. Who is tutoring you?"
Reborn smirked as Ashlynn handed him a cup of espresso. "He is an old comrade named Fon. And he's had nothing to say but good things about your progress, Ashlynn. Good job."
Ashlynn nodded pleased with herself as she told them what she brought with her and a very stern warning that the box with the red sticker was poison cooking that Bianchi was supposed to check and they were not to even touch the box if they wanted to live.
"Fnn, here they come~." Reborn pointed to one of the sides of the cliff where Dino, Hibari, Romario, and Bianchi were hiking up the hill. And shortly after them Gokudera showed up alone without Shamal.
"I've got soups and hot chocolate here, with this weather anything else would have gone cold. Just don't touch the box with the red sticker on it." Ashlynn told them as she passed everything out and everyone took cover under the nearby trees as they ate, Hibari not surprisingly sat the farthest away from them. She paused when Basil stepped in front of her after he set down the meal she had brought.
"Art thou Lady Ashlynn?" Basil asked her. When she nodded affirmative he dropped to one knee before her, grasped her hand gently and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "My Lady, I thank thee for thine noble efforts in aiding me and guarding over Lord Sawada and for bringing us sustenance in this bleak weather."
"You're very welcome, Basil." Ashlynn grinned feeling a slight blush on her cheeks.
Gokudera snorted. "What a kiss-ass-"
Romario chuckled, then said teasingly, "Got some competition there Boss."
"Shut up Romario." Dino sighed and ate his meal and peeked into the box Ashlynn brought along and grinned at the small, frosting covered cakes within.
"Gokudera, kindly shut your face. He's on one knee calling me a lady~." Ashlynn smiled then turned as Basil returned to his feet. The good humor wiped off her face and turned into horror when she saw Dino with the box opened at his feet and a half eaten cupcake in his hand. And Bianchi was nowhere near him. "Dino! No!" Ashlynn yelled horrified and raced to snag the box out of Dino's hands and quickly gave it to Bianchi before anyone else got any stupid ideas. "You stupid, stupid man! Did you not hear me! I clearly said not to touch the box! Why on Earth did you think it was a good idea to go ahead and do it anyway!"
"Wh-what?" The male took a half step back in shock. It was the first he'd ever seen Ashlynn so upset over something that seemed trivial. It also didn't really help that everyone was staring at him in various degrees of shock. "Well, was there something wrong with them? It tastes fine-." He paused for another bite and swallowed to Ashlynn's growing terror. "Oh, were you going to surprise us with them? I'm sorry I ruined it for you-"
"The box had my version of poison cooking that Bianchi was going to test! We finally have some success with it and you, you, You-! Idiot! Do you have a death wish, Dino! Do you want to be the God damned third!"
Dino eyes flashed at the last mention though everyone save for him, Romario, and Reborn had no idea what she was referring to. "Ashlynn, I'm sure it's fine. It could have been a fluke-"
"The guy that initially tested it, without knowing, fell down a man-hole sewer. And. People. Were. Screaming!" Ashlynn covered her face with her hands and sunk down on the ground.
"S-so...that means that..." Tsuna trailed off, his face and Gokudera's growing pale at the implications.
"I killed Dino!" She cried. 'Fuck! This can't be happening! I just single handedly killed one of the most important characters in the series!'
Dino pried at her fingers. "No! No you didn't! See? I'm fine! Ashlynn!"
"You say that now but watch! The second Romario is gone you'll probably choke or you'll trip and fall off the stupid cliff or-!"
"A-Aneue's crying!" Lambo screeched, tearing up himself and pulled out the Ten Year Bazooka.
"Lambo no!" Tsuna yelled trying to pull the weapon out of the younger boy's hands. They fell to the ground, the ten year bazooka ricocheted out of their grip and shot itself pointed directly at Ashlynn engulfing her figure in pink smoke.
Reborn sipped from his cup. "Interesting. This will be the first time that we'll be meeting the Ashlynn from the future..."
The pink smoke cleared away from where Ashlynn had been swallowed by the ten year bazooka. Tsuna moved his arm away from covering his face from the onslaught of smoke and looked for the future, who he hoped was still alive in the future, guardian. Everyone's eyes widened in different levels of shock when they saw the girl-no the woman that was sitting where Ashlynn had previously was. She was wearing a man's white, long sleeved, button up shirt with only three buttons closed, her dark green bra was visible through the white shirt and the sleeves covered her hands. She was also wearing a pair of really short, dark blue pajama bottoms. She was barefoot and her messy honeyed colored hair rested behind her just above mid back. But what drew the most attention was the modest diamond ring and silver ring on her left hand, and the faint scars they could see on the woman's legs and the palms of her hands.
The woman covered her mouth as she yawned, she stood up from the ground and raised her arms into the air as she stretched, unknowingly showing off a toned tummy and a pierced belly button to the group in front of her. She sleepily (and cutely) rubbed at her eyes as she adjusted from being in a dark and comfortably warm room to being outside where it was cold and raining, she shivered and rubbed at her arms.
"What's...going on...?"
"A-Ashlynn?" Tsuna ventured nervously. Was this really Ashlynn from the future?
She perked when he called her name and seemed to realize that she wasn't alone and that she obviously must have gone back in time. Her face lit up with a happy smile and brought Tsuna into a hug. The boys' face was nestled into her c-cupped breasts. He blushed and tried to wriggle out of her grasp but only succeeded in being nestled further into her chest.
"Tsuna~." The woman laughed heartily and pulled back to get a good look at his very bewildered face. She poked his nose playfully before she crushed him back into a hug and outright purred. "Oh, Tsuna, I forgot that there was a time that you were shorter than me! Haha!"
"Hahi! Who is this scandalous woman holding onto Tsuna-san!"
"Hiiiie! Haru came back again!" Tsuna squirmed.
The older Ashlynn rolled her eyes but released Tsuna from her hold on him. He stepped back a few steps and quickly shook his head. Ashlynn was staring at Haru intently as she buttoned up her night shirt. "Hunh, it's a little Haru-Haru. And she's still jumping madly into conclusions. How cute."
"Hahi! How do you know Haru's name! And you addressed me so informally, I don't know who this indecent person is!" Haru who just arrived, still in her school uniform, cried in alarm and hid behind Tsuna and shivered with fear.
The time traveler shrugged not at all bothered by the younger girl's antics and looked around. "Hmm, this place...Ten years ago..."
"We are preparing for the ring battles." Reborn supplied.
She nodded. "Aa, I remember this place. And I remember I was excited to see Bianchi and was basking in my inadverdent awesomeness. And then Dino had to ruin it by being a moron by eating from the box when I explicitly told you all not to."
Dino sighed.
She glared at him. "I was very upset Dino. I genuinely though that I had killed you, proxy by my cooking or not. Be happy that you come away from this with your life. And no, you will not live this down because this isn't going to be the last time that you do this."
"You knew what I was going to ask..." The Cavallone Boss dropped his head to his chest.
"Omnivore. How is that that you look older?" Hibari growled well enough away from the crowd but close enough to hear them.
Reborn nodded. "Aa, this is Hibari's first time seeing time travel. That idiot cow there has what is called the Ten Year Bazooka. It's function is to switch the person shot with it with their ten years later self for the period of five minutes. Our present Ashlynn will return back to us momentarily."
"That's it! We could use the Ten Year Bazooka!" Tsuna cheered.
Ashlynn shook her head instantly understanding what he was referring to. "No you cannot."
"Eh? But why not? This is dangerous! And it's your fight tonight!"
"It's because of many things, Tsuna. It could be considered against the rules for one. Or the Varia could call on it and have the bazooka used on them as well. Now, would you rather fight them as they are now or their even more stronger versions from the future? No, you wouldn't. And another thing you'll have to take in account, Tsuna, if your present me dies then I, from the future, won't exist anymore.
"So you win the battle for the ring?"
"You can't be certain of that either. There is also the off chance that I could die before then and my body will no longer come back in this time...well, I actually don't know about that because my corpse could pop up but that would obviously be no good in a fight..."
"Y-your corpse! Why are you so laid back about this!" Tsuna cried grabbing at the sides of his head.
"Haha, the future you says the same thing~."
Gokudera patted her shoulder gaining her attention. "Future Ashlynn...in the future...have I successfully become the Juudaime's right hand man?"
"I can't tell you." She told him bluntly.
The silveret flinched. "B-but why! Do I... do I fail!"
"I cannot tell you because it is too specific. Believe me, anything can happen or not happen between your present and my present. Here's a good example:"Ashlynn lifted her shirt up and turned to the side to show off what they had earlier missed when their attention had been held by the piercing.
A little baby bump in her tummy.
She let go of her shirt and wrapped her arms around herself. "That may never happen because something was changed here. Hell, I could end up as someone else's wife for that matter and I from the future would never realize the change."
Dino whistled taking off his jacket and offering it to her. "Your husband certainly didn't waste time getting you pregnant. I don't suppose you'd tell us who he is even if it is possible it could change?"
"Nope. Not telling. Keep the jacket Dino otherwise you won't see it again for another ten years when I switch back. I'll be gone in less than two minutes anyway." Ashlynn told him.
Tsuna still a little disappointed that the older and definitely more stronger Ashlynn wouldn't fight for her present self, wondered out loud. "But we know that it's on the same date that Bianchi held her wedding with Reborn."
"Give or take a day if it was held out of Japan." Dino nodded.
"It's about time." Ashlynn said and after a moment of thought she laughed then fished into her younger self's backpack and found a few pieces of scratch paper and an almost dead pen inside. She wrote a small note folded it, then wrote her name on the top. When she finished she handed it to Tsuna with a grin on her face. "Don't worry so much Tsuna, you'll give yourself indigestion. See ya~ and good luck." She smiled at them one last time as she switched back to her present self a flash of smoke.
The present Ashlynn coughed and waved away the smoke. "Man that was trippy~."
"You alright, Ashlynn?" Dino asked.
She glowered at him, her eyes were a little red.
"Umm, she left this for you." Tsuna handed over the folded pieces of paper from the Future Ashlynn.
"She did?" Ashlynn unfolded the paper and stared at the message written to her from the future.
"What did she write?"
Ashlynn recited the message out loud. "'Dear Me, Don't be a Dumbass. Love, future You.' ...Thank you for your infinite wisdom future self. I will keep this message close to my heart."
"Do you know what she meant?"
"Tsuna, she said 'Don't be a Dumbass'. How clearer is that supposed to get?" Ashlynn asked the boy stuffing the message into her pocket. He shrugged.
Reborn finished his drink. "What happened while in the future?"
"I was really weird this time around because I had my eyes open (I shut them last time. No idea why). It was night time, I was in a bed and it was dark. So I turned on a light and went wandering the house/ manor place I was in. I was just about to open a door where a lot of noise was coming from and then I switched back. Nothing really special in my first experience into the future." Ashlynn regaled her uneventful tale of wonder.
"How fascinating." Reborn said dryly.
She grinned picking up the trash as mostly everyone was about finished and put it in her bag. "Bianchi? Are they...?
"Hmmm," Bianchi took a bite out of a cupcake and chewed thoughtfully. "It doesn't give off the appearance or odor of poison. Like I sometimes do to differentiate my cooking from Maman's lovely dishes. But...there is something there...Romario. Would you mind stepping a ways down the hill out of sight? I'd like to check something."
"Oh Brighid, I can't watch this..." Ashlynn groaned. This wasn't going to be pretty.
Romario looked a bit hesitant but after Dino nodded he shrugged and went out of sight. Bianchi pulled out a hand gun and aimed it at Dino's head. Ashlynn gasped as the woman pulled the trigger at the Boss, she covered her eyes not wanting to see the gore that was no doubt the used to be the man's head. There was a gasp from Tsuna and she hesitantly peeked through her fingers to find that...
"Oh, a five hundred yen piece." Dino stooped down, completely unharmed to pick up the money coin.
'He's fine...?' Ashlynn gaped. 'But Romario's gone and this is present Dino... so he hasn't fully accepted that his clumsiness comes from his men's absence. And he's not at the point where he could fight or do anything really with his family out of his sight. Bianchi, what are you doing?'
The woman launched herself at the Boss sending punches in kicks at him and Dino was efficiently dodging and countering them. After a few minutes Bianchi stopped with an even more thoughtful look and gave her verdict. "Definitely something there. If I didn't know better I would say outright that it is love that is keeping you alive right now, Cavallone Dino."
Dino blushed. "Not this again."
"Future Ashlynn didn't say it outright but she had emphasized the word 'Luck'." Reborn pointed out. "The first tester fell down a man sewer and Dino, the second, was able to fight with Romario out of his sight and found money on the ground."
Bianchi nodded and linked her arms with Ashlynn's. "Come along Ashlynn there is still time before your battle. We shall test these on the masses of Namimori. Did you make anymore?"
"At Keiko's shop though she probably put them away. She said that she'd catch up~. And hey, can I have your phone number? I had to call Tsuna's and talk to Reborn earlier to find where you were."
And test they did. Bianchi had someone set up a stand an laid out all of the cupcakes she had made during her shift on a table under a patio with a sign that said 'Free Cupcakes for Free~'. And while people were coming up to take a cupcake Ashlynn, Bianchi, and Keiko were watching from the second story rooftop of the building across the cupcake stand. Bianchi and Keiko were eating the cupcakes that were in the box Ashlynn had packed them in underneath a large umbrella.
"That one there." Keiko pointed. A man had taken a cupcake and took a few bites as he walked away. He tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and fell to the ground, his face smashing into the little pastry.
Bianchi pointed at another as she wrote down each misfortune that befell everyone who ate Ashlynn's cupcakes. Another man, this time he ate the whole cupcake washed it down with his own coffee at the stand and threw away the wrapper around the bottom in the garbage before walking away. The brunette male had a dog piss on his leg, he spilled what was left of his drink on the front of his clothes, and when someone down the street called for the female that was just walking by the brunette male she turned around swiftly, her heavy handbag hitting him in the nads.
Ashlynn winced in sympathy. "Ouch."
"Yep, he's going to have an interesting story to tell when his day is over." Keiko agreed.
Bianchi motioned to the stand again as three figures in bright raincoats and umbrellas to shield against the cold went up to the tables. "It's Kyoko, Haru, and I-pin."
Ashlynn waited with bated breath as the three girls ate a cupcake each then walked down the street to another stand where a lucky draw was being held. Each girl took a turn at the wheel and Keiko whistled when a man's voice, no doubt in charge of the stand, yelled happily.
"Eighth, Ninth and Tenth place! Congratulation!"
Bianchi wrote down in her notebook. "That's pretty lucky~. There are only ten really good prizes plus one grand prize. The rest are coupons and small games and toys. I've seen enough today and there are only a few of the cupcakes left. Now that we have seen what to expect from the end result we'll have to find what triggered it."
"Also see how long the effects last." Keiko said looking over her shoulder.
Ashlynn checked the time then stood. "I've got to get going."
"Here sweetheart. A hug and kiss for good luck~." Keiko laughed kissing her cheek and the two women sent her off home to meet with Dolly in her apartment. But unlike the night before, she changed into a pair of dark grey sweat pants that she bunched at her knees, a tank top underneath her long sleeved shirt and her best running shoes in favor of jeans and boots.
"Why aren't you bringing the gun?" Dolly asked as Ashlynn put on the white arm guards then her jade bracelets and smaller chakrams over it. Fon was waiting on top of the island counter in the kitchen with Richie.
"I don't like using it and it's metal." Ashlynn told her as she pulled her hoodie over her head.
"So. You still have metal on you anyway."
"It's raining and because this is a battle to become the Lightning Guardian I have no doubts that there will be something to do with lightning. Metal and lightning is a very painful mix so I'm not going to wear more than I have to. Which means no jeans because of the zipper and button, no zip up jacket, and no earrings or any other sort of metallic jewelry besides this," Ashlynn held up her hand showing the half ring. "A chain that they are going to make me wear around my neck, and my weapons. So I'm down playing how much damage I could get if I don't channel that electricity immediately out of my body."
"You mafia and your magics."
Ashlynn grinned granting Richie a stroke on the top of his head. "I said sort of the same thing to Tsuna a while back in our scuffle with Mukuro."
Dolly sighed and gave a curious glance around the girl's home. Once again a bunch of things were covered by sheets and blankets. She shook her head and held the door open and after locking it up behind them they walked together under Dolly's umbrella to Namimori Junior with Fon on Ashlynn's shoulder, one hour before the battle was set to begin.
Ashlynn knew that Levi had been there an hour already before her. But she actually wanted to wait for Tsuna and the others to show up so they could do the cheer huddle.
The Cervello women were in raincoats so it was hard to tell which was which, nodded their greeting as she and Dolly walked onto campus. The one in the dress spoke. "Meagher Ashlynn of Sawada Tsunayoshi's group, as you are also early we will go ahead and check the authenticity of the ring and you will wear on it a chain."
"Alright." Ashlynn allowed the female to do as she said. Though she did scowl at the chain that she was given to put around her neck. Ashlynn did so but immediately began tugging on it.
Dolly lightly smacked the top of her head and murmured into her ear. "I know you don't like it but you'll have to bear with it for tonight. Knock it off before your opponent realizes that you are uncomfortable with things around your neck."
Ashlynn sighed but stopped and tugged her hair into a tighter ponytail. "Is he here already?"
"Your opponent, Levi A Than, has been on standby at the selected arena for over an hour now. Look there." The Cervello pointed. "The battlefield for the Lightning ring will be held on top of the roof. There is another hour before the battle is to start or until the majority of family members have appeared for each side."
"Wonderful~. That means I get to have a cheer huddle." Ashlyn smiled stepping with Dolly and Fon into the building that was being used for the battle and waited on the bottom steps of the inside stairway for the rest of her Family to arrive.
Tsuna was worried.
And afraid.
And jittery.
And a bunch of other things that basically meant the same thing, he felt it, and he wondered for the millionth time; why was this happening? Why did he have to fight against these terrifying people? Why did his friends have to be dragged in to fight as well? Why hadn't Dad just given over the rings to the Varia's leader? He hadn't like any of the answers that Reborn had given him.
And so he left his house at night with Reborn to find Gokudera-kun, Yamamoto, and Onii-san with his arm in a sling, all wearing rain jackets and carried umbrellas with them. Their walk to the school was in somber silence as rain fell hard from the sky and every so often there would a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder.
Tsuna sighed.
Reborn scoffed. "You're acting like she's dead already."
"B-but! She could end up that way! Any of us could!" Tsuna argued.
"Fnn, you should have a little more faith." Reborn admonished.
Ryohei nodded as they passed the school gates. "Yeah! Senpai is one of the best out of all of us! I believe she will win! But she needs it then we'll jump in to help her! Just leave it to us Sawada!" Yamamoto and Gokudera nodded.
"Actions such as that will result in an immediate disqualification. Along with that, any and all who interfere with the battle and the competitor will forfeit their rings." The Cervello appeared in front of one of the buildings.
"Hiiiiie! Are you serious!" Tsuna cried.
They nodded then pointed at the roof of the building in front of them. There was a flash that illuminated the area and revealed the, many tall pronged rods atop of the roof as the tallest in the middle was struck by lightning. "That is the battleground for the Lightning ring."
"O-on the roof?" Tsuna gaped.
"The members of the Varia and both contestants are awaiting your arrival. Please make your way up to the top."
Yamamoto blinked. "She came early?"
"She and Dolly-san were here before us last night too." Gokudera opened the front door.
"So you guys are all here?"
"Dolly-san! Ashlynn!" Tsuna spotted the two plus an infant with a glowing red pacifier around his neck with a white baboon. "Ano, who's that? Another... Arcobaleno?"
Reborn nodded to the other Arcobaleno, his own pacifier glowing a bright yellow. "Fon. How was Ashlynn while in your care?"
"It was a pleasurable experience as her tutor. Miss Ashlynn soared above mine and Miss Keiko's expectations. Thank you, Reborn, for allowing me the opportunity for such an attentive pupil." Fon nodded his head.
Ashlynn smiled pleased as she reached for the chain around her neck again. Dolly smacked her head again before jerking her head upwards and the woman lead them up the stair case and out the door on the highest level. Lightning flashed and struck the middle tower and revealed a glaring Levi waiting on the opposite side of the roof in the rain. Tsuna squealed in fright dropping his umbrella.
The Cervello appeared again, on the far right side next to the other members of the Varia save Xanxus waiting with raincoats covering their heads. One of the women stepped forward with a remote and pressed a series of buttons.
"Tonight's combat area, fitted with lightning rods for the match between the Lightning Guardians. The battleground is called 'Elettrico Circuito'." There was a deafening crack as a bolt of lightning struck the tallest rod in the middle but instead of the shock disappearing as it had the last time it struck, the charge ran down the rod into the ground and traveled across the grooves to the surrounding rods, the electric currently flowing from the top of the middle rod to the highest tips of the surrounding posts. "The Elettrico Circuito's floor has been coated many times with a powerful conductor. The lightning that strikes will be discharged into the grooves at several times its potency."
Ashlynn glanced the area completely ignoring the glaring man glaring at her. 'It looks like a spider's web...'
"But! You'll be burnt to death just by standing there!" Tsuna cried looking worriedly at Ashlynn.
Gokudera scoffed. "So they knew that a thunderstorm was going to hit so they set this up, che."
"Ashlynn Meagher, will you please step into the center if the field. Your opponent has been waiting for two hours opposed to your one." One of the women asked her.
"T-two hours!" Tsuna yelled. 'And Ashlynn was early tonight too.' Tsuna looked at the older girl. "You waited for us to get here?"
She nodded and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Yeah~. I wanted to do that huddle thing we did yesterday."
"Hiiiie! But why!"
Ryohei grinned and grabbed Tsuna as Yamamoto and Ashlynn grabbed a protesting Gokudera.
"ASHLYNN...FIGHT!" Yamamoto and Ryohei cheered.
"OHH!
"O-oh..."
"Humph."
Dolly shook her head, a small smile on her lips, where she stayed beneath her umbrella with the two Arcobaleno.
Levi growled. "Let's get this over with."
"Whatever Butt Monkey." Ashlynn grumbled before leaving the huddle. Fon shook his head amused as Dolly and Reborn smirked while Gokudera and Yamamoto bit their cheeks to stifle their laughter. Ryohei cheered her on and Tsuna gaped as she walked away.
"W-what did she say?" Tsuna sputtered.
The Cervello nodded. "Then now the scramble battle for the ring of Lightning. Levi Vs Ashlynn... Begin the Battle!"
Just as the woman called for the start of the fight a boom sounded as lightning again struck the tallest pole. Both she and Levi jumped out of the currents path and once their feet touched the ground they charged pulling out weapons, Ashlynn slipping her bracelets into their larger chakram form and Levi pulling out two of the sabers from its harness. The bladed weapons met in a cross, sparks escaping as it grinding against the other blade. Ashlynn swept her at the man's legs before both jumped back to avoid being shocked by another stroke of lightning.
Ashlynn ignored the very slight tingling in her feet as she touched down sooner than the charge had disappeared. She pulled out the wire from the small compartment of the handle of one of the large rings and sent it spinning in the arc as it soared toward her target. Obviously Levi jumped over it and moved in to attack her while she only had one of the larger rings at her disposal. She blocked on saber with her remaining large chakram and redirected Levi's hand that controlled the other weapon aimed for her torso, shot her fingers into his face with a smaller chakram, as the sudden movement in his sight and the shallow cut in his cheek slowed him for only seconds but it was enough time to dive out of the way as her chakram came all the way around back to where Levi was standing.
Ashlynn swore as the man blocked and sent away the sawing blade. She dived again and recovered her weapon and in time to meet again with the taller male and exchange blows.
"What? What just happened there?" Tsuna asked. There weren't any light to see by except for when lightning struck and lit up the spider web of markings and posts of the arena. The rain wasn't really helping either but actually made it harder to see. That along with the fact that Levi was wearing a dark ensemble and Ashlynn herself was in muted, dark and light grays that really blended in.
Fon stared as his pupil pulled a cart wheel backwards and aimed low she evaded her opponent and successfully managing save for the scratches and cuts she was receiving for her efforts. "When she threw her weapon it was thrown in an arc, so even if he had dodged the first time, the wire connecting the chakram to her wrapped around that middle rod like a tetherball and came back around."
"VOOOOI! Levi! Hurry it up already! Is this girl really being a challenge for you!" Squalo called scathingly.
Levi glared at the man and slipped up as Ashlynn was able to slam her fist into him and send him stumbling a little over the deep grooves in the flooring. It hadn't hit where she had been aiming for initially but a hit was a hit and she charged in for more, ricocheting a chakram on the ground between them and snapping small bolts of electricity at the man before she lost sight of him.
Ashlynn moved back a few steps then a few more to her right, eyes searching for the threat against her life, she could hear the Varia talking amongst themselves but she already knew the gist of what they were 'supposed' to say. Her eyes hardened and swallowed as she started moving, her ears straining and focusing on Levi's movements in the rain. It was originally Lambo that was supposed to be in this battle. A child against an assassin more than three times his age.
She jumped as another boom sounded the air and nearly had her head skewered as Levi jumped passed her and into the air as lightning moved across the rod to the ground. She didn't bother jumping out of the way of the electricity much to Tsuna's horror but sent both chakrams spinning with bolts of electricity at Levi's back where his sabers rested in their harness and coldly smirked as it hit but frowned pulling her weapons back into her possession.
Yes, she had hit him. Broke the harness on his back and three of sabers were broken into fourths. But other than that she had made no damage. Not even a tear into the man's coat.
Tsuna stood shell shocked but relieved. "How? She was hit full force!"
"Must not only take the lightning, but also the damage to the Family, like a lightning rod. That is the role of the Lightning Guardian. No doubt the results from her training with Fon and Keiko." Reborn commented.
Fon inclined his head. "That is correct. After the first part of training we went ahead and used taser and stun guns to build up her resistance and use of electrical currents."
"Taser guns?" Gokudera asked his cigarette falling out of his mouth.
"Yes." Fon said as he continued his watch and then spoke more quietly. "We ended up going through a very large amount of batteries over the last few days together. However, her defense and her channeling are not, as of yet, perfect by any means. Lightning is a volatile element. After a time her resistance will falter and she becomes increasingly dizzy."
"Not to mention adding all this along with that chain around her neck." Dolly grumbled.
Yamamoto looked to the woman quizzically as he couldn't see very well into the battle ground. "What about the chain? Is there something wrong with it?"
Dolly's lips deepened into a frown and told them as quietly as possible. "She's panicking. You won't see any signs of it unless you know exactly where to look for them. But the bottom line is: Ashlynn can't stand to have anything around her neck."
"Well, I've noticed she never wears necklaces..." Gokudera murmured. "And she was tugging at the chain earlier."
The woman nodded. "Above all else, she has a fear of choking that stemmed from childhood; she told me that another girl tried to steal a chain she had by tugging at it from behind. Not enough strength to break the chain off, but enough to cut off air."
Yamamoto's mouth opened with an "oh".
"Levi is getting angry~." The short haired blonde of the Varia grinned.
The baby nodded. "Levi is completely dedicated to the Boss. He accomplishes his jobs, is punctual, and became a Guardian- just to gain the Boss' appraisal...Now that he has come face to face with someone better suited to become a Guardian in his stead...he'll burn with a smothering jealousy."
Levi froze. "The one who fulfills the role of the Lightning Guardian of the Famiglia...and gain the most trust from the Boss...WILL BE ME!" Levi threw up the intact and the broken saber weapons into the air where they suspended as they opened into umbrellas.
Ashlynn swore racing across the arena chakrams at the ready. 'Come on! Make it!'
"Ushishishi, she won't make it in time for an attack~." The blonde snickered. "The electric umbrellas, even when broken it seems, cover every possible angle around the target. Once on of the umbrellas makes a hit the other seven will discharge electricity."
"It's practically a one hit KO. And it was this technique that made Levi one of the Varia Elite." The infant commented from his perch on the towering robotic man. He watched as lightning struck the rods and discharged through the floor. One of the shocks from the umbrellas connected to Ashlynn's body and immediately after the others followed suit and the lightning that was racing across the ground added into and prolonged the shock.
Levi turned away with a spring in his step, completely confident that the girl was now disposed of and he was now the winner of the scramble. "She will be burnt into ashes. Sigh, I wish the Boss was here to experience this light."
"Senpai!"
"Ashlynn!" Tsuna yelled racing toward the edge of the circuito the Dying Will Flame appearing at his forehead and hands.
"Stop!" The Cervello stepped into his way. "If you interfere with the match, your ring and hers will be forfeited."
"But!"
In the dark rain, Ashlynn fell to her knees as the muscles in her legs spasmed. 'Tsuna, I swear to God, if you put just one foot in this arena then, Boss or not, I am so going to kick your ass.' She breathed in deeply ran her hands down her legs to her feet and gathered the remaining electricity from the attack, gripped her chakrams tightly in her hands then pushed off the ground and shot for the unsuspecting man's, once again, vulnerable back. The blades crashed, digging into the floor and ruining a small portion of the spider like markings where he once stood before moving at the last possible second and Levi jumped away to face her as she yanked on the wires to retrieve them.
Squalo smirked. "So she survived~. This is starting to actually get interesting."
"To be honest I was hoping that she was a better candidate for lightning."
"Hiiiiiie! Dad!" Tsuna yelled surprised as the man appeared behind their group with Basil. His flames disappeared.
"J-Juudaime's father? This is the Juudaime's father?" Gokudera stood there stunned as the man that had helped him see what he had been missing before when he was training by himself.
The man smiled. "She's going beyond my expectations."
"I have no idea what is going on but I bet its EXTREME! Go Senpai!" Ryohei cheered.
"Hmph, this is still dragging on?"
"Boss!" Levi cried. 'He came! Boss came to see my fight!'
"X-Xanuxus!" Tsuna recoiled but stood standing as the man stared at him.
Xanxus quirked a brow from the roof of the closest neighboring building. "What's with that look? Are you seriously thinking that you'll win and become the successor?"
"I..I didn't think about that...but..I don't want my friends hurt! I don't want to lose any of them to this!" Tsuna proclaimed his eyes full of worry as Ashlynn and Levi were still fighting. The girl's clothes were charred and he could have sworn he saw smoked coming from her through the light of the shock.
"I see." Xanxus glared holding up his hand as his flame materialized into his palm.
One of the Cervello immediately moved to man as the other stood steadfast in front of Tsuna. "Lord Xanxus, please don't! Put away your fist, if you interfere now, the meaning of the scramble battles will be-!"
"Shut up, trash." Xanxus knocked his fist covered by the Dying Will Flame into the woman's face and knocked her off the building to the ground below. "I haven't lost my temper. Rather, this is becoming exciting." The man smiled making Levi pull away to stare at the man with unconcealed awe.
"This is rare. How long has it been since the last time Boss smiled?" Mammon asked.
Levi whispered. "It's been eight years..."
"Now I understand the reason why the old man chose you as his successor, even though it was temporary. Whether it's the talk your spouting or that weak flame you have...You and that old fart are rather similar..."
"What...?" Tsuna asked.
Xanxus threw his head back and gave a deep laugh. "We'll have a tragedy, no, a God damned comedy here! You there, woman, continue the battle."
The remaining Cervello woman nodded. "Please continue the match!"
Ashlynn nor Levi bothered waiting for the woman to finish speaking as they immediately shot to fight again, blades slicing into flesh and clothing, and stumbling over the markings in the floor as thunder would clap and lightning shine on the arena. Ashlynn's hearing solely zoned in on Levi, finding everything else non relevant as the man threatened her existence. She staggered with a silent cry swiftly focusing on the saber that had slipped through her guard and poked a hole right through her stomach accompanied by a slight shock before it was pulled out and used to slice against her sides, tearing through her hoodie but thankfully not anymore through her shirts. Her vision was beginning to get fuzzy around the edges of her peripherals. 'Shit, I won't be able to keep this up for much loner. C'mon, Ashlynn! Don't make Tsuna have to come in and save your sorry ass after all! Don't lose to the God Damned Butt Monkey!'
"I will not lose to you!" Levi declared throwing out the umbrellas again. 'I will have the Boss praise me again!'
The first shock connected but Ashlynn merely used it to shoot upwards just as the others followed to do the channeled the sparks through her body straight to her feet and jumped, using Levi's own attack to propel herself into the air. She sent a wire attached chakram to wrap around the middle lightning rod for a risky idea and no doubt a very 'Dumbass' idea. "Science fact: Lightning doesn't always strike straight down from the sky! It can also shoot up. And it can shoot from one cloud to another before striking!"
Thunder roared and lightning flashed, sparking along the chakram wrapped around the rod down the wire to Ashlynn's hands, digging into them and burning the skin as she used them to pull herself weakly away after drop kicking Levi and transferring all the electricity she from the sky and from her own aura as she fell upon him from the sky.
She yanked on the wire to pull herself back and stumbled on her landing and rolled across the ground away from the fallen man, letting go of the wire that kept her in contact with her chakram. Ashlynn rested her head on the ground and closed her eyes and tried to will away the dark spots that were dancing across her eyes and gritted her teeth clutching the hole in her stomach.
"Unbelievable." Gokudera breathed. "She used herself as a conductor to channel lightning through to him..."
The Cervello jumped to check on both Guardian competitors sides then stood up on her feet and announced to the opposing groups. "Both competitors are unable to continue."
"Bullshit~." Ashlynn swore, her breath hitching in her throat, and she could feel her body twitching painfully. She pressed her forearm against the ground while her other arm held onto her tummy since her hands were practically useless at the moment. She was unable to lift herself, yes, not even able to get up onto her knees, but... "Does the fact that I'm still conscious mean anything to you?"
"As such there is no clear winner. The half rings of the Lightning ring will no longer count in the competition until a tie breaker is needed."
"Fuck it all." She swore again. "That crazy idea all for fucking nothing..."
The Cervello ignored her colorful commentary and the fact that she was still slightly more conscious than Levi and pressed on the remote, no doubt to stop anymore lightning from coursing through the rooftop. "This concludes the battle for the Lightning ring. Tomorrow's matchup will be between the Guardians of Storm. Untill then, Farewell."
Xanxus looked thoughtful before turning away. "A tie breaker huh? Heh, not like we'll be needing one, trash."
As Levi was still needed in case a tie breaker was to occur, the man did not receive the same treatment Lussuria gained from losing his match to Ryohei. But the robotic man did heft the man up like a sack of potatoes and left the school's campus with the rest of the Varia. It was silent for a few moments, until Fon hopped away from Dolly's shoulder to Ashlynn's side.
"Miss Ashlynn?"
"Niamh!"
"Ashlynn!"
"Senpai!"
"M'Lady!"
She grumbled not moving in disappointment. 'So much yelling...'
"Senpai?" Ryohei gently patted her head.
Ashlynn sighed wearily and groaned as her muscles spasmed. "...I can't believe I lost to the Butt Monkey."
"But, it was a draw Ashlynn. It wasn't a loss." Tsuna told her. "I'm so happy you're still alive. That there...it was terrifying. We could hardly see anything except when lightning struck."
"..."
"Ashlynn?"
"A draw isn't a win either, Tsuna." Ashlynn allowed Ryohei and Yamamoto help her off the ground but she leaned more on Yamamoto for support as Ryohei's arm was still in a sling. "And it was against the Butt Monkey~."
"Why are you calling him that?" Tsuna asked as they helped her into the building where they could see and to get them out of the rain.
"Because he's a Butt Monkey. Don't question my logic right now Tsuna, my head hurts from thinking. And losing. Fuck~."
"...!"
"...!"
"...Sigh, What is it?"
Reborn answered her. "This is the first time they've heard you swear out loud."
"I'm upset, soaking wet, and dizzy..."
All the Guardians looked at her shell shocked and horrified after they stepped into the building and got a good look at her. Tsuna swallowed and when it seemed he was unable to speak, Papan stepped forward and took her away from the boys and lifted her into his arms. She clamped her eyes shut and gave a low whine when he jostled her as he lead the group as they descended the steps between Dolly and Basil. "And you have a hole through your stomach and losing a lot of blood."
Ashlynn's hand that wasn't holding onto herself twitched causing attention to fall on them and Basil gasped horrified. "My Lady! Your hands...!"
She looked down at the somewhat numb limb and sighed. "Looks like I didn't really follow Future self's advice in not being a Dumbass..." Ashlynn blinked. "...Am I allowed to pass out now?"
She didn't hear anyone answer her as she closed her eyes and allowed the dark spots to take over and consume her consciousness.
Yes, I realize that it's really called 'Thunder Guardian'. Lightning sounds better and more impressive, also it is a lightning bolt on the ring~. If it bothers you, pretend it says Thunder.
By the way, some things have indeed been edited, if you're a new reader, don't worry about. If not, I hope the parts I fixed are a lot smoother than it was previously.
