"He who has the courage to laugh is almost as much as a master of the world as he who is ready to die."

-Giacomo Leopardi

"I was recently looking through a photo gallery of deadly and dangerous sea creatures and there were numerous pictures of sharks. Thank you, I wasn't aware that a shark is dangerous and could potentially rip my face off. I feel so enlightened."

- HawkRocket


Ashlynn smiled excited and happily to herself as she left the kitchen to answer the door, wiping her hands on a dish towel on her way, expecting Chrome to be waiting on the other side and grinned wider when the timid girl came into the view.

"Good morning Chrome."

"G-Good morning..."

"Come on in, I still have breakfast out if you want any. You just missed Dolly, Birdy, and Fon, though I guess that's probably for the best."

"Dolly? Birdy? Fon?" The girl asked quietly slipping off her shoes before following Ashlynn into the kitchen and sat down at one of the stools placed at the island but did not move to touch the plates of food and she only reluctantly picked up a fork when Ashlynn laid down a plate in front of her that had chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns a three pieces of bacon and left syrup within her reach is she wanted and a pitcher of juice and cup in reach as well.

Ashlynn nodded picking up two dirty plates and utensils and started washing them.

"My Landlady's name is Cross Dolly and her daughter's name is Suzume but she rather likes being called Birdy. And Fon is the Storm Arcobaleno who oversaw my training for preparing for the Ring Battles. Birdy's taken quite the shining to him."

"Oh..." Chrome took a small bite out of a chocolate pancake then fiddled her fork around the other items in front of her. She stared at Ashlynn's back as she dried and put away the dishes.

"You want to ask something?" Ashlynn asked kindly and gave a mental sigh as the girl flinched.

"...You and Mukuro-sama fought on opposite sides not very long ago..."

"You are wondering why we are being so civil?"

Chrome nodded.

"He told me that I'm interesting..." Ashlynn shrugged wiping down the stove and counters. "I certainly won't be forgetting it anytime soon but once I got over the fact that he wants to take over Tsuna's body; which sounds highly suggestive if you know what I mean. No? Oh... never mind then, forget I ever said that. Anyway beyond that and the fact he wants the world to become a 'sea of blood', he is a very charming person and I do admit that I kinda like it when he calls me 'Princess'.

"Kufufufu." Mukuro chuckled switching places with Chrome. "Then I shall continue to call you as such, Principessa. Though I must ask that you not corrupt my sweet little Chrome; and I assure you that I do not wish to take over Sawada Tsunayoshi in the manner that you were implying."

Ashlynn grinned then gave him a look of mock hurt. "Really Mukuro? Corrupting the poor girl? You wound me. Haha, but there is a reason why I said that. Remember when you grabbed at his wrists to keep him from striking you? What if I had entered the room then instead of when I jumped in from the ceiling? Can you imagine what that might have looked like to someone who walked in not knowing had happened to build to that point? I'm actually surprised that it didn't happen because it sounds just like Tsuna's sort of luck to occur. And adding onto that, Tsuna is like a Shota and considered jail bait because he's not of age yet and...how old are you Mukuro minus past lives and remembering going to Hell?"

"Fifteen this past June." Came the gritted answer.

She blinked. In truth she had never actually learned every single person's age in the series, though she was able to guess them based on the uniforms they wore. Huh. "Really?" She gave him a full once over. "I thought you were older than that. You do wear a Junior high uniform but you're pretty tall and your voice is more mature than the others...well, its not considered jail bait now but still... Hrm? Is that too much Mukuro? Should we change the subject now?" Ashlynn giggled at the boy's forced smile.

Mukuro said nothing but took the fork Chrome had used at plopped a portion of a pancake into his mouth and savored the pieces of chocolate chips scattered in. Then after a few moments he looked back at her. "The battle tonight is between the Guardians of Rain." He prompted.

She took the cue without complaint or further teasing but did grin at the change in subject. "Yamamoto will be fighting against Superbi Squalo. A swordsman who was supposedly meant to be the Boss of the Varia Assassination squad but that place was taken by Xanxus, the youngest son of the Ninth. After tonight it will either be a scramble for the Mist ring or the Cloud ring... Will you participate? Reborn bribed Hibari with a chance to challenge you again so he wouldn't make too much of a fuss when he found out Namimori Junior is holding the battles."

"Xanxus...I know the name and the person who holds it, however, not personally. Hm, I was only aware that Don Timoteo only had three sons by blood and they are all dead from one thing or another. As for my participation, Principessa, it would certainly put me in a better position to take over Tsunayoshi if I am his Guardian and he succeeds to become the official heir."

'But that is not the only reason, Mukuro. And perhaps you actually gave thought to the fact that we may be able to negotiate your release,...and I am going to assume that is because of possession that you know that Xanxus is not Timoteo's blood and is really adopted.' Ashlynn nodded. "Perhaps. But do remember that Tsuna has the means to keep himself protected from possession. I didn't throw myself into the way of that explosion for my health you know."

"Then I shall find a way around that."

"You can try."

"Kufufufufu."

Ashlynn blinked and found Chrome back in the seat. "Are you not hungry? I can pack it up and you can take it with you if you like? I'll pack up some portions for Ken and Chikusa as well..."

"...Thank you... Principessa."

"Haha, not a problem, little Chrome." Ashlynn laughed using the endearment that Mukuro used for the girl and giggled when Chrome looked down blushing. She packed up the food she made into a large bento box she didn't mind replacing and left with Chrome for Kokuyo, regaled for the girl what she knew about their 'Boss', including some fun stories of their shenanigans at his expense; the Initiation test that she and Yamamoto competed in (and she assured the girl that she was not required to undertake it. The Ring battles were more than enough), The birthday celebrations, The New year's friendly battle with the Cavallone Family Boss, amongst many other that had managed to pry a small quiet giggle from the girl during their trip across town. It made Ashlynn glad that Chrome was warming up to her, at least by a very small margin.

"Thank you." Chrome looked at her feet as she gathered the bento box that Ashlynn carried along the way to the Health land.

Ashlynn nodded giving the front of the main building a once over and was not surprised to see it in the same shape she had seen it last time. "It doesn't seem that anyone is here though. Will you be alright here by yourself?"

"I have Mukuro-sama with me."

"Aa." Ashlynn realized that the girl was correct. "That you do. Remember if you need anything you can come to me, you hear?"

"Y-yes, Principessa."

Ashlynn shook her head amused and turned to leave. "Heh, you're too cute. I'll see you later, little Chrome."

She didn't see any of the other members of the gang that followed Mukuro on her way out and down the road back to Namimori and swore that she'd definitely get Dolly to help her get her license.

'I'll be needing it soon enough...well, not exactly needing it...Oh Shit~..!' Ashlynn fell against a wall on the outskirts of the housing developments (thank goodness that it wasn't in the actually shopping district). She bit her lip as pain exploded from the wound located on her stomach but she found the sharp muscle spasms in her leg the most surprising and attention grabbing. She bit her lip harder to keep from crying out as she grabbed her calves and attempted to massage them

'Fuck it all! Ashlynn don't you dare cry! Don't cry Dammit!' She whimpered.

"Hey, Ashlynn! You okay?"

'Son of a bitch!' Ashlynn silently swore trying to keep her legs as still as she could. Someone just had to find her like this didn't they?

Yamamoto kneeled down in front of her and only after a swift moment he grabbed her right calf and with a firm grip rubbed the aching muscle while Ashlynn immediately moved her free hand to her other leg to soothe the pain from her muscles suddenly wanting to play musical chairs within her limbs.

"Stupid Charley horse." She swore.

Yamamoto looked at her for a second before returning his attention to her leg. "Charley horse...? Don't you mean komuragaeri?"

Ashlyn sighed as the pain started to ebb away, in both her legs and her stomach. "It's slang back in the U.S. but it basically means the same thing, Yamamoto. Thanks."

"No problem." He patted her hair. "I was walking around trying to think when I saw you. Do you hurt anywhere else? You just suddenly fell against the wall..."

She nodded. "I'm fine, and hopefully this will be the last time it happens." At his confused stare she clarified. "I slept the entire day yesterday and when I woke up Dr. Shamal helped me so I could make it to Gokudera's match without too many problems (I now owe him a batch of cupcakes). I should be back in the state I was before my match by the end of tomorrow, the day after at the latest, but there are side effects. So far I've only experienced some bearable discomfort and some twitches. I wasn't expecting a Charley horse in both my legs at the same freaking time..."

"But you'll be okay?" He asked looking at her unbandaged hands where he could see the thin lines that had burned into her skin from the wire.

"Yeah."

Yamamoto smiled relieved then still kneeling he turned around with his back facing her. "Come on, we can hang out at the dojo Dad's been taking care of if don't have anything else to do."

"Aa...okay." Ashlynn wrapped her arms loosely around his neck as he grabbed her knees and headed past the apartment complexes to the shrine. She smiled knowingly. "You need a little help figuring out how to transcend Squalo?"

"Haha! Well, yeah but I want to hang out too. The group has been mostly split up over the past week or so to prepare and we only see each other at the matches at Nami junior at that's always serious."

"Yeah..."

"But, I'm not too worried about tonight, anyway." Yamamoto grinned. "I'm sure everything will turn out all right and then Tsuna will be the official person to be the Boss. I don't really want to play the mafia game with that Xanxus guy."

"I don't think anyone would really want to."

"Except for his team of course." He reminded her then added as an afterthought. "I think that they're taking this too seriously. I mean what those Cervello ladies are coming up with for the arenas and the conditions they're adding in and our side seems for concerned about it then the other side."

'Yeah, but you need to understand that they're not playing around, Yamamoto, and this is indeed very serious. Life and Death serious.' Ashlynn closed her eyes. "They've been serious about it the last three battles so better expect that the next ones will be the same."

"But they really shouldn't be though."

Ashlynn sighed out loud. "Perhaps, but Yamamoto, if they're going to take it seriously then so should we otherwise it will do nothing but get everyone on our side hurt."

"Haha, I think you're worrying too much about it!" Yamamoto smiled as he started up the steps of the shrine and Ashlynn was thankful that there weren't so many steps. She wasn't fat but carrying her more than a couple blocks and now up a flight of stairs? She was a little bit surprised that the boy hadn't broken a sweat yet.

He kicked off his shoes at the small stairs and slipped off hers and dropped them next to his own before he stepped on to the wood of the outside flooring and opened the front sliding door and pressed it shut with his foot when they were both inside.

Ashlynn peered over his head once they passed through a hallway and into the man room of the building. "Wow, it's pretty big. And it's taken care of very well too."

Yamamoto hummed in agreement as he walked to the farthest side where he set her down before he slid open the doors to the grounds outside to let more light in then sat on the floor next to her then fell onto his back and looked at the ceiling. "Dad learned kendo in this very shrine and it's where he's been teaching me the Shigure Souen style."

"Shigure Souen?"

"Mmmm, Dad showed me the forms only once...said that if I didn't remember them then the style was meant to fade away from the world. But, I've made sure to go through the stances every so often. Here, I'll show you." Yamamoto got up to his feet and jogged over to the end of the building and brought back a bamboo sword with him, then slowly began to go through each form for her to see then looked to her when he finished the last one. "I know Dino said not to rely on a single style..."

"But you don't have the time to learn another style at such short notice. Even learning all of those forms took time to work through." Ashlynn tapped her chin.

"Yeah, so I'll just end up sticking to using what Dad taught me and hope for the best."

"You've been keeping up with your other training I hope? Stretching and running?"

Yamamoto laughed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Not all that much, sorry. I've been focusing on the sword..."

"Well, now is a good a time as any." Ashlynn told the boy from the floor stretching out her legs and leaning over her knees to touch her toes. "C'mon, on the floor. I'll save you the terror of having to go into a splits since it's your battle tonight. Laps too since I'm not exactly in the condition to go sprinting."

"Haha~! So you noticed." He laughed but did move to join her, softly counting out with her as they began to stretch.

Ashlynn grinned. "I'm sure no boy genuinely enjoys moving into the splits. Some are more vocal or visual about it. Like Tsuna, Gokudera, and Ryohei. I'm sure I heard something pop when those three went down."

"Gokudera kept glaring at us." He snorted.

"Us?" She blinked turning her eyes top him. "No way, I'm sure he was glaring at you more because you were laughing...I was too of course, but I'm sure I was much more discreet about making fun of him."

"So that's why your shoulders were shaking?"

"Crap, it was obvious then." Ashlynn shook her head. "And I didn't really make it better when I told him that if he decided to smoke during morning training then he would have to do extra laps. Then Ryohei would start claiming that he would do more than the extra amount that Gokudera was to do."

"Senpai is just competitive."

"If you want to call it that. 'Extreme' fits him better."

"Hahaha!"

She stuck with him with all of the afternoon, either going through stretches (which was helping her legs and would make sure she wouldn't need to be carried anywhere) or watching him go through all the forms of Shigure Souen. They had stopped for awhile when his father came to check on Yamamoto and to drop off sushi for lunch (and later dinner) before returning back to the restaurant with a promise that he'd be back in a bit to give something to his son.

They paused when they heard the front door slide open again a few hours later, a little before it was time to leave for Namimori Junior, and smiled a greeting as Tsuna poked his head around the corner of the hallway then stepped into the room with Reborn following after him.

"Sorry." Tsuna said. "I hope I'm not interrupting. We were coming back from training and the dojo was on the way so I thought I come by and see you."

"Ciaossu Yamamoto, Ashlynn."

Yamamoto smiled. "Hey kid."

"So have you thought about how to transcend your style?"

Tsuna whipped his head to the hitman. 'Without any warning he goes straight to the heart of the matter!'

"Hmm, I've thought about it. But I don't know if my style will work without transcending unless I try."

Ashlynn grinned. 'Just like you to think that way.'

"Anyway, I think we'll be fine, so don't worry too much about it Tsuna." Yamamoto told the boy reaching into his shirt and pulled out two chains. One had the half ring and the other, interesting enough, had the dog tag that Dolly had given them. "We're part of a team and I don't let my teams down."

Tsuna blinked. "Eh? That's the dog tag Dolly-san gave you. You wear it?"

"Haha! Of course I do. It was a gift and I feel like team when we wear them. Those Varia guys all wear a uniform. And we wore our school uniforms except for Ashlynn who goes to the high school...It's nice to have something to set us apart from the other team though the Mist guy doesn't have one and I'm not sure if Hibari has one."

Ashlynn nodded. "I'll talk to Dolly about it when we're done with this."

Yamamoto smiled thankfully then tilted his head at Tsuna and Reborn. "Do you guys still wear the bracelets that Ashlynn gave to you? And what about your tags?"

"I do." Reborn lifted his coat sleeve up to show the crocheted piece of jewelry. then reached inside of his coat to a pocket on the inside and showed the dog tag. "Tsuna wore his for a while then he left it in the drawer of his desk."

"Hiiiie! Reborn!"

Ashlynn herself pulled her dagger from its hidden place under the straps of her bra and showed it and the dog tag attached to the small hilt before putting it back in its place. "I don't like having anything around my neck so I attached it to that dagger. I would have put it on the chakram but it wouldn't stay in place when changed from the bracelet to the weapon."

"Where did you find those bracelets anyway Ashlynn?" Tsuna asked.

She shifted. "Dolly helped me find the materials...and I kinda made them myself...took a couple screw ups on the practice ones before I started on yours and Reborn's."

"R-Really?"

"Wow, that's really cool Ashlynn!"

"Fnn, I would have given you more points had we known that."

Ashlynn shrugged but had a please smile on her face. "Do you want one Yamamoto?"

"If you wouldn't mind it."

"Hey, Takeshi! Dad's come back- Oh? Well if it isn't Tsuna-kun."

"Oh, H-hello."

"Hey Dad."

The older man grinned still having his cooking apron on and was holding a a covered sword on his back, covered in a sky blue cloth with darker blue birds in flight. "It's today isn't it? Your sword fight?"

"Aa, but how did you-?"

"Weeeell~, I didn't. I kinda guessed what this was about." The man closed his eyes with a grin. "Then...actually Tsuna-kun's father came over to tell me what was going on."

'Dad came to talk to him! What, what on Earth did he tell him?' Tsuna worried his lip.

Tsuyoshi continued, his eyes on his boy. "Your opponent tonight is a terribly strong swordsman, huh?"

"Yeah," Yamamoto nodded. "He's strong."

"Then take this with you Takeshi." The older Yamamoto male handed the clothed weapon over.

The silk cloth slipped away from the sword to reveal it to appear wooden like the one Yamamoto had been using earlier. Yamamoto handed Ashlynn the cloth to hold onto and tested out the weight of the sword. "It's just a bamboo sword isn't it?" He asked. "But it can't be that- It's too heavy for it to be bamboo."

"That's because it was forged from steel. Here, I'll show you." Tsuyoshi took the sword back and pulled a cucumber from a pocket of his apron. "This sword has been passed down eight generations as an heirloom to each successor of the Shigure Souen style. The blades name is called 'Shigure Kintoki'. When used in an oridnary manner, it is just as it looks, just an ordinary yet heavy bamboo sword. It won't cut flesh, it can't even cut this cucumber. However, when you draw it using the Shigure Souen style.." He tossed the cucumber into the air and slashed at the mid-air vegetable and sent it falling in small even slices. He held the changed sword up for them to see. "The body of the sword will give way to expose the blade. But if it used for anything other than Shigure Souen then it will return to into its bamboo form. In all it is a sword that was meant to specialize in Shigure Souen."

"Fnn, it is like Yamamoto's bat except that its default form is made of bamboo." Reborn nodded.

"But...You can't use that tonight..." Tsuna trailed off. 'Yamamoto can't transcend the style if the sword won't work for anything but that single style.'

Tsuyoshi's eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that?"

"Aa, the guy I'm up against is a really strong person who has already defeated a lot of sword schools. Dino said the only way to beat him is to transcend style." Yamamoto confessed.

"What? What are you saying! Idiots shouldn't talk about what they do not understand! Listen to me Takeshi: The eight forms of the Shigure Souen style were continuously refined and accumulated in real combat by its successors. It is a flawless style that doesn't waste any movement! There is absolutely no way to transcend it!"

'...Makes one wonder what your occupation was before you became a sushi chef, Tsuyoshi-san~' Ashlynn merely sat back and watched the conversation unfold in front of her.

Yamamoto raised his hands. "All right, all right, I know Dad. You think highly of the style-"

"Are you listening to me Takeshi? The Shigure Souen style is Invincible! Flawless! There is no need to transcend!" The man calmed himself with a few breaths before staring then all down. "You will go tonight, Takeshi, and you will battle with this man and you will do battle with this blade using the Shigure Souen style." Tsuyoshi nodded then turned his back and went for the hallway leading to the door. He looked back at them and smirked.

"And you will win."


'And here we go.' Ashlynn mused to herself as Squalo jumped out of nowhere and onto the railing of the main building of the school in front of them.

"VOOOOI! So you didn't run off, Katana brat! Saves me the trouble of hunting you down if you had!"

"I said I wouldn't didn't I? I'll defeat with this blade here." Yamamoto declared still smiling as he moved the bamboo sword into its steel form.

"Y-Yamamoto...you aren't planning to transcend?" Tsuna asked worried.

The boy shook his head. "Dad claims it's invincible. Besides I won't truly know until I try it out right?"

"Invincible?" Squalo laughed with a savage grin. "I've destroyed countless of losers who thought their technique was invincible!"

"Hiiiiie! No way! Yamamoto, maybe using Shigure Kintoki was a wrong choice after all!" Tsuna cried hands gripping the sides of his head in despair.

"Tsuna." Ashlynn chided.

"You really think that Tsuna?...I'm not so sure." Yamamoto gazed at the blade in his hands "It feels just like being in the batter's box with just one more chance to score. You get so revved up that you start getting chills from the adrenaline and the excitement budding up around you."

"The Rain Guardians are here."

Ashlynn looked behind them and found the two Cervello women not too far away.

One of them pointed to the left. "Tonight's battle for the Ring will take place in the B building. Please make your way over to the designated area."

"So we are still using the school buildings even though Hibari-san got mad last night? They did say that they would take care of the repairs but still...what is the field going to look like this time?" Tsuna murmured to himself as they made their way to the predetermined building they were to use.

"Hey! Wait for us!"

"Eh? Dolly-san, Onii-san- Hiiiiiie! A Mummy!" Tsuna screamed pointing and the wrapped up figure between Ryohei and a bemused Dolly.

Ashlynn snorted as a hand beneath all of the bandages pulled at the wrappings that obscured the head and Gokudera's irritated face and hair parted through.

"It's me Juudaime! That Romario Ossan said something about this being a 'man's treatment', then he clumsily wrapped me up!" Gokudera seethed as he un-mummified himself. Dolly walked forward and checked Ashlynn over even though she had already done so earlier that morning; she grunted but found nothing wrong and after a quick glance they started walking to the edge of the main building.

"G-Gokudera-kun...you..you're alright, aren't you? Your wounds..."

Ryohei nodded smacking the bandaged boy on the back and ignored the squawk of indignation the boy gave as he answered. "Apparently. Though he is supposed to be in bed resting to regain his strength but I found him and he said that he was going to come no matter what; so I lent him an Extreme hand!"

"I never asked you for help Turf Top!" Gokudera snarled. "I wasn't going to go down without knowing how the match went. Baseball freak! You better not let us down tonight!"

"You're such a worrywart, Gokudera. Is that why your hair is so grey?" Yamamoto smiled.

"And you're too carefree!" Gokudera argued. "And there's nothing wrong with my hair you bastard!"

"Uhhh, guys?" Ashlynn called for attention with Dolly beside her some ways away from the group with their attention transfixed on the building that was boarded up in many places with steel that was no doubt going to be used for the battle tonight. When she was ignored she stuck two fingers into her mouth and gave a loud whistle. "How about we get a move on?"

"Haha, you're right! Let's go." Yamamoto lead the way over and patted her hair on his way past her. Ashlynn rolled her eyes. What was with this kid and patting her hair all of the time-?

"What? What happened to the building?" Tsuna gaped. "All the windows are sealed. They even replaced the door with their own!"

"And it seems it is the only way in." Reborn nodded for Yamamoto to go ahead.

The boy tilted his head. "What's that sound?"

The door opened and inside the building, the floors were flooded, enough that water filted out between their feet to the ground outside, and there were large holes in the ceiling which explained how there were some desks laying forgotten on the ground.

"They went pretty far in their interior decorating." Ashlynn observed blandly lifting Reborn up into her arms to keep him dry.

"This is the battlefield for the Ring of Rain." The Cervello announced dropping in from the second floor to stand on a large piece of what had been part of the ceiling. "Aquarion. Battle contestants will make use of the entire building consisting of all three floor levels. And while the battle continues on, water will cascade to the bottom filling up the building like a fish bowl from a tank that is located on the roof."

"So like a sinking ship..." Ryohei trailed.

Ashlynn nodded. "They'll have to fight while keeping in mind that there's a possibility of drowning."

"Furthermore," The Cervello continued when the commentary stopped. "The collecting water has been specifically modified to match the consistency of seawater. Then when the water level reaches a certain point a ferocious sea beast will be released into the arena."

"A 'ferocious sea beast'? Oh my, I wonder what that possibly could be." Ashlynn muttered sarcastically. Dolly nudged her side to quiet her commentary.

"Well doesn't that make it interesting." Squalo sneered from the second floor as the rest of the Varia sans Lussuria joined his side.

"Ushishishi." Bel laughed showing off the ring on his right hand. "The amazing Prince woke up this morning with a new bauble."

Gokudera glared. "You bastard."

'Looky who showed up.' Ashlynn stared as Xanxus pushed through and mentally sighed as Tsuna sucked in a shriek of terror then reminded herself that Tsuna and the rest didn't know that the Varia would unite with them in the Future Arc; so to them this to them, and especially Tsuna, very serious and frightening.

"Pathetic dogs should just disappear. You worms." Xanxus addressed their group with a growing superior smirk as his eyes slanted to glance at Squalo. "Can get rid of this trash for me."

"What! VOOOOOOI!" Squalo snarled at the leaving man's back.

Reborn lowered his head. "He truly meant that..."

Tsuna gulped. 'Xanxus...he really...wants Squalo to lose? But why? We're already in the lead for the rings...doesn't he want to win so he can become the Boss?'

"Now, now, don't scare them before the match even begins, Reborn."

"Eh?" Tsuna turned to the doorway behind them. "Dino-san, Romario, Basil-kun."

The Blonde Boss nodded walking forward and kissed Ashlynn's cheek who ignored Dolly's raised eyebrows and the twitch to the older woman's lips when Basil greeted her with a 'M'Lady'. "Hey guys. Yamamoto, I hope you don't mind me watching tonight. That Kyouya finally listened to my explanation about the scramble for the rings yesterday, so he may be here watching as well..."

"You mean he really didn't know until yesterday?" Tsuna gasped.

Ryohei gathered Ashlynn and Yamamoto by his side. "Yosh! If Hibari is here then let's have him join the huddle!"

"That's impossible." Gokudera grumbled.

Tsuna nodded fearfully. "We'll all be killed because of the crowd around him..."

"No! I won't take any exceptions!"

"All right, all right, Onii-san..." Tsuna placated. "I don't mean that we should replace him...but wouldn't it be alright if we included Basil-kun?"

"This one?...Is that really alright?" Basil pointed to himself before he was quickly pulled in by Ryohei into the group as the others huddled together and Reborn jumped away to land on Dino's shoulder.

"YAMAMOTO...FIGHT!...OH-!"

"Then would the Guardians report to the center of the building?" The Cervello requested. "In addition to the submersion, the audience will be spectating outside the school building. The match will be projected onto a giant screen that has been installed into the wall. All persons save for the Guardians should vacate the premises."

"Go get'em Yamamoto!" Ryohei clapped his hand on Yamamoto's back.

Gokudera glowered lighting a cigarette. "You better not lose."

"Do..Do your best Yamamoto." Tsuna wished for the boy with Ashlynn and Dolly nodding beside him.

Yamamoto smiled. "Yeah! I'll see you afterwards!"

"Let's go Tsuna." Ashlynn said with a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be fine."

"Unn,..." Tsuna looked back at Yamamoto as he slowly disappeared into the dark room before following everyone out of the building where the door latched shut the moment they stepped fully outside. 'Please be careful, Yamamoto.'

"There will be no time limit for this round. Superbi Squalo vs Yamamoto Takeshi. Begin the battle!"

"Fly!" Squalo snarled shooting forward and slicing the blade at Yamamoto horizontally, his opponent dodged but as he continued on after passing bits from the blade shot out just as Yamamoto turned around and only had a split second to hurl himself away from the lit gunpowder and explosive.

Gokudera grimaced. "I forgot about that. He used that trick against us when we fought against him the last time."

Squalo's feet made little splashes against the water as he skidded to a stop. "Ho, avoided that did you?"

"Barely though. I've kept it in mind while image training. Looks like it paid off."

"Image training? Trash, was this in your training?" Squalo rushed forward then disappeared from the boy's view then as Yamamoto searched with his eyes he struck from the boy's side meeting against steel. "Hey! If you thought that was my real strength… Big mistake!"

"He's fast!" Ryohei said staring at the screen.

Squalo smirked as he released more explosives from his sword at close quarters before leaping away. "And now for you to die. Farewell, trash."

"Hiiiie! Yamamoto!"

"Lord Yamamoto!"

"He's fine. Look at the shape of the smoke." Reborn motioned to the screen. "Yamamoto has used one of the defensive forms of the Shigure Souen."

Yamamoto lowered his blade ever so slightly as the smoke of the explosion blew away and water droplets fell from mid air around him. "Seventh Defensive form: Spraying Rain'."

"He dodged it!" Tsuna sighed in relief.

"Shigure Souen style." Dino said eyes fixed on the screen. "It's still rough about the edges but to have come this far in such a short amount of time..."

Reborn nodded. "Indeed. In this one week, other than during the time of everyone's matches, he's been practicing nearly non-stop. However...No matter how much he hones his skills from practices, and everyone of you as well, there is a vast difference between learning forms and using them in combat situations. Let alone during this sort of life and death struggle; When an ordinary person can fight fearlessly when suddenly plunged into the midst of battle, other than the fact they may be an idiot… it also means they have the natural born instincts of an assassin."

"Hiiiiiie! Yamamoto's an assassin? Reborn, what on Earth are you saying?" Tsuna cried.

"Well, either way," Reborn looked back to the screen. "Aren't I, as the one who noticed that Yamamoto harbored those instincts, the best?"

"In the end, you're just praising yourself." Tsuna grumbled.

Dino sighed. "...However...It's dangerous for him to keep using just the Shigure Souen."

Tsuna hid his face in his hands. "And there's Dino-san saying that again. But," Tsuna looked back up. "Aren't his movements proving to be effective enough?"

"VOOOOOIII!" Squalo yelled darting around the supports of the building and released more pieces of explosives at his opponent creating waves across the flooded floor and herded the boy where he wanted him. "Come on! Don't freeze up on me Katana Brat!"

'Crap! He has me cornered!' Yamamoto adjusted his grip and lowered the blade to the level of his hip. "At at time like this...I should use that form." He allowed the tip of the blade to set into the water then swung the sword up above his head, forming a long trail of water to block against the onslaught of explosives then swished the blade again across the space in front of him to form another trail to combine with the first and created a wall of water to defend from any counter to his defense as he knelt defensively on one knee. Squalo tched as he swung the Spatha sword but didn't cut all the way through the wall of water.

"What? What is that?" Gokudera stared.

Reborn smirked. "The second defensive form of the Shigure Souen:"

"Surging Rain."

"So, so! Yamamoto will be okay!" Tsuna smiled. "The Shigure Souen is working!"

"That would be nice if that were the case..." Reborn said.

Dino furrowed his brows. "Yeah...Squalo...he looks pleased about something."

"VOOOOOII! You brat, why didn't you attack after defending? Are you an idiot or what? Just now you just gave up a chance to wound me!" Squalo smirked.

Yamamoto grinned. "You talk pretty big you know? But trust me, this isn't all there is to the Shigure Souen."

"That's right." Reborn explained for the group. "The Shigure Souen style has four offensive and defensive formations, so that makes eight forms that allows one to respond in accordance to different situations."

"Eh? Yamamoto's charging forward!" Tsuna squealed.

Ryohei pumped his fist in the air. "Yes! Go Yamamoto! Charge to the EXTREME!"

Yamamoto darted forward and with Shigure Kintoki in his left hand and slashed the blade at Squalo who immediately raised his blade to block. The man frowned as the blade didn't meet his own.

"The katana!" Basil gasped. "It is not in Lord Yamamoto's hand!"

"Shigure Souen style's fifth offensive form." Reborn smirked as Yamamoto faked the first slash and released the blade from his left hand to catch it in his right and attacked the man with the real strike across the stomach sending Squalo falling backwards a few feet and down into the rising water.

"Early Summer Rain."

"That there, what Lord Yamamoto did..." Basil breathed.

Reborn lowered his head. " 'Early Summer Rain'. A slicing attack where the blade is switched hands during the swing, and both the timing and the trajectory of the attack are shifted freely."

Gokudera looked away with a slight grimace. "...We... well, it's not like he's doing badly..."

'...Am I the only competitor on this side that is taking the fact that Squalo was in line to be the Varia's Boss, seriously? I don't want to be the one that says anything because that will hurt the morale and then Tsuna will make that face...' Ashlynn frowned and jumped a little when Squalo yelled as he flipped himself off the ground back to his feet.

"HEEEEEY! That didn't do anything at all!"

"He wasn't hit?" Ryohei questioned.

"But!-" Tsuna started to protest."

Dino cut in to explain. "In an instant he figured out the trajectory then made went with the motion as if he was actually struck."

"But how?"

"The only explanation Tsuna is that Squalo knows the Shigure Souen and knows how to defeat it."

Squalo scowled. "So much for an invincible style huh? And another thing you brat. Why did you use the blunt side of the sword instead of the blade?"

"Well, about that.." Yamamoto smiled. "I'm just here to win against you, not to kill you Squalo."

Gokudera blanched. "He actually said it. That optimistic bastard."

"HEEEYY! You're underestimating me you piece of trash! Looks like you don't fully understand what kind of situation that you're in!" Squalo yelled bringing up his blade as he ran forward smirking as Yamamoto prepared to use Surging Rain again and at the same time Squalo slashed up his own trail of water bringing the water level up. "I'll make it so you can never spit that naivety again!"

"...!"

"He raised his own at the same time." Dino said as Tsuna and Gokudera gaped. "Now the field of vision is- Crap, Whoever finds the other first-!"

"Closing in on the far right. The boy needs to move..." Dolly murmured darkly.

Yamamoto gasped and tried to back away but did not get more than half a step as Squalo appeared smirking through the falling water and slashed at him catching him from the top of his shoulder shallowly down to the middle of his chest where blood spurted from the acquired wound.

"How's that, brat? Hurts doesn't it?" Squalo asked as Yamamoto dropped down to a knee with a hand grasping at the wound. "Let me tell you a piece of bad news that'll make you despair. I've completely seen through all of your techniques."

"No way..."

"That's right! This Shigure Souen style of yours? It's a style that I've already defeated a long time ago!" He snarked thumbing long strands of hair away from clinging wetly to his face. "To defeat the man called the 'Emperor of the Sword', and overcome his mastery of his weapon I searched out for strong opponents. I checked out a rumor of a vanishing style here in the East, a sword of murder that was said to be completely flawless; Hehe, that was your precious Shigure Souen! I found them, the master and his two apprentices who used the same eight stances that you do. But it was nothing more than an imitation of an ancient sword technique! I've experienced each every form when I fought with them and it didn't do them any good! I sliced them all to ribbons!"

"H-how...? How can something like that...?" Tsuna whispered.

Reborn shook his head grimly. "I'm afraid his words hold truth. Squalo's ability to see through techniques is even faster than his ability to deflect them."

"I don' think so..." Yamamoto stood back on his feet though he still gingerly held to his chest. "The Shigure Souen that Dad taught me is invincible."

"Lord Yamamoto...he still plans to use the Shigure Souen?" Basil frowned.

"Ha! Are you really an idiot?"

"I won't know for sure unless I try."

Squalo gave a savage grin. "I'm...done holding back."

"Let's go!"

The two clashed against each other with their blades before moving away to clash again. Sparks flew from the grinding steel as they traded blows as they moved about the flooding building. Squalo followed after Yamamoto as he tried to get some distance to the side then as Yamamoto turned to pull off an offensive form, Squalo swung his blade horizontally catching a part of one of the supports and sent the shards of debris crashing into the younger male, striking up the arm, the neck, forehead, and his right eye.

"Hiiiie! Yamamoto!"

Basil yelled. "The shards from the column!"

"Aaaargh!"

"Come on trash! Keep moving !" Squalo yelled shooting forward forcing Yamamoto to quickly right himself while keeping his right closed as he he moved to use Early Summer Rain. The long haired man smirked as he met the blade with his own sword.

"Why isn't he moving? Yamamoto!" Ryohei yelled as Yamamoto suddenly froze in place.

"Die!" Squalo brought down the Spatha.

"Keh!" Yamamoto punched his own arm to move but was not in time to parry the strike that came across his abdomen and he was thrown back into a wall.

Dolly glowered. "What was that?"

"I recognize it only vaguely. An attack that Squalo uses to send shock wave into the opponents body through the meeting of blades that attacks the nerves. Its impact is stronger than being hit with a baseball bat. Yamamoto won't have any use of that hand for a while." Dino informed them gravely.

Yamamoto grunted clambering up one of the fallen supports nearly slipping on the foot holes to the second floor and blew on his numb hand to try and bring some feeling back into the limb.

Squalo bounded after him. "VOOOOOI! You're not trying to escape are you? Heh, disintegrate!"

The boy gasped as the floor below him cracked and crumbled, its pieces smashing against and breaking through skin from the Varia man's attack from the lower floor. Squalo smirked heaving himself to the second floor as Yamamoto fell brokenly back down to the flooding bottom level, landing on a broken support beam that barely kept him above the rising waters.

Gokudera's jaw dropped. "Y-Yamamoto!"

"Shit." Dolly cursed, her hands tightened into fists and her knuckled turning white from the force.

Tsuna was beginning to tear up. "N-no!"

Ashlynn closed her eyes worrying her lip with clenched teeth. This, this was almost too hard to for her to watch. It was completely one thing to watch fights like this from a couch to actually seeing blood being spilled in front of her. Ryohei, Gokudera, and Yamamoto...she did not like seeing them be so thoroughly beaten while all she could was stand back and watch with only the knowledge that everything was going to turn out okay. She opened her eyes and had to strain her ears to hear Yamamoto comment that if his Dad were here to see this one-sided fight he would be disappointed in him. 'Yamamoto...'

"What...what a formidable attack..." Basil spoke his eyes wide. "It is as if he had tore through the air..."

"Hey brat! You still have any fight left in you? With that crappy style you're so proud of? Ha! Since you're the successor, how about I show you all eight forms?" Squalo taunted. "In the end when the eight form, Autumn Rain, is used, you can just tragically disintegrate!"

Yamamoto frowned. 'Autumn Rain...? What the heck is that...? I've never heard of it befo-..." His uninjured eye widened then he smiled in understanding. 'So, that's what you meant, Dad...'

"Hey brats outside!" Squalo shouted. "This is the Katana Brat's ugly last moments being alive in this world so make sure you burn them into your pathetic little minds!...Mn? Hey, brat! Lay back down and wait for your life to slip away!"

"I can't do that." Yamamoto stood shakily on his feet. "Because the Shigure Souen is invincible and flawless and I haven't tried everything yet."

"Idiot! Bluffing isn't going to help you, Baseball Freak!" Gokudera bit out.

Squalo raised his sword. "You trash! I'll start by cutting out that insolent tongue of yours!"

He drew the blade across the water and began running for the support that lead back up to the second floor, creating waves as Shigure Kintoki slit into the water, the tip being barely a half a step behind him. Yamamoto gritted his teeth.

'Haha! You're being really energetic, Takeshi! How is it going with the Shigure Souen? Do you have all of the forms down?" His father had asked him during one of his breaks from the restaurant

Yamamoto and Squalo clashed on the second floor and used the defensive forms as Squalo pushed him from bis own onslaught of attacks, a good many of them sending down a numbing shock through his body.

And he had laughed rubbing the back of his neck. 'More or less. But, right now, the form that I'm best at is the eighth form: 'Pouring Rain'. I don't know why but that one comes the easiest and I seem to get used it quicker than the other forms.'

'Hoo- very alike! I see, I see.' Tsuyoshi smiled then explained for his befuddled child. 'Pouring Rain, the eighth form, the last form to come into existence; the story is that the young successor created it while rescuing his comrade. Heh, the forms actually have an order in which they appear.'

'That makes sense.' Yamamoto had nodded in agreement. 'Everything has to come in some sort of order.'

He clenched his hands tightly around the hilt of Shigure Kintoki...

'Pouring Rain...it came into being at the brink of a typhoon, spun out in the midst of rain as fierce as knives...' Tsuyoshi broke off with an almost nostalgic look on his face.

"Hey! Looks like you don't have any brains left in that skull of yours! Have you forgotten? I know all the forms of Shigure Souen and I know the stance you're pulling off now!" Squalo rushed at the younger male. "Well then, do it! 'Autumn Rain!'"

'Shigure Souen style...Eighth offensive form...' Yamamoto raised the blade as both combatants leaped into the air with their blades pointed at each other. Yamamoto ducked beneath the Spatha and swung Shigure Kintoki pouring water up from the now flooding second floor and sliced through the shoots of liquid into Squalo's abdomen and pushed the man up and and sent him falling feet behind him. 'Pouring Rain.'

"...Guh, hehe, Hahahaha! I thought so!" Squalo spat blood out of his mouth into the water and pushed himself off the ground. "You! You used another style other than the Shigure Souen, didn't you!"

"Nope. That was definitely Shigure Souen...the eighth form, 'Pouring Rain'...it was created by my father." Yamamoto revealed with a sharp glint in his eyes.

Reborn rubbed his chin. "I see, therefore eight generations, there are eight forms. For the Shigure Souen, to undergo succession is to undergo change."

"Change?" Dolly glanced out of the corner of her eye.

Ashlynn kept her eyes on the screen already knowing the explanation though everyone else save for Dino looked to the Arcobaleno for an explanation.

And he did. "It is likely that Yamamoto's father and the successor that Squalo defeated learned the first seven forms from the same Master. Afterwards they created their own eighth form." Reborn paused for them to take in the information then continued. "The successors of the Shigure Souen style carry on the forms handed down by their predecessors then they created a new form to pass down to their own apprentice."

"But...But if the succession worked in such a manner...if each succession branches off between the number of apprentices, would there not be numerous new forms that were created?" Basil queried.

Reborn shook his head negatively. "It is an all-or-nothing, severe type of form succession. Change consists not only in progression but also out of regression. To become the strongest of that style, you become the target of those who are strong. It is just like pursuing yourself. Therefore, the Shigure Souen style is a style that, when successors with the requisite spirit and talent can no longer be found, it is fated to forever disappear from the world. It is a sword of ruin."

"Hmph brat. I really didn't expect you to get this far...so I don't understand why the hell you keep striking pathetically with the back of your blade! You're making a mockery of a genuine sword match you trash!" Squalo raged. "Or do you have some other form that I haven't seen before to redeem yourself?"

Yamamoto tilted his head. "..Mn? It's a pity but the first through seven forms are the same ones that you already know, Squalo."

"You idiot, don't be so honest about it!" Dino groaned.

Squalo laughed. "Looks like you're dead after all! Having tasted Pouring Rain once I've seen through it."

"What! No way!" Ryohei protested.

"Haha, you're really something, aren't you? Well, I guess it can't be helped." Yamamoto raised the now bamboo sword into the air. "Shigure Souen style: Ninth form."

"N-ninth form? But didn't you just say that there were only eight?" Tsuna frowned.

"That is to say...Lord Yamamoto...""

"Hmph." Reborn tipped his fedora down over the top portion of his face. "That Yamamoto, he intends to unleash a new form of his own."

Dino nodded. "I see. A style that transcends style...provided that it succeeds..."

"They don't have that much time..." Ashlynn pointed out grimly. "The bottom floor is already submerged and the second floor is starting to flood up...they'll release the sea creature soon."

"The Hell is with that ridiculous stance?" Squalo snorted. "Are you planning to play baseball?"

Yamamoto smiled. "Unfortunately, I'm not much good at anything but baseball."

"He plans to end it here." Gokudera lit a cigarette.

"But! The sword went back in to its bamboo form! If he doesn't use the Sigure Souen then it won't transform!" Tsuna cried.

Dino kept his eyes on the screen. "That must be why his father gave him that sword. If Yamamoto cannot get Shigure Kintoki to change into its' blade form for this technique then Yamamoto isn't worthy of becoming a successor and thus Shigure Souen will disappear.

"But that's really dangerous!'

Basil pointed. "Squalo is moving!"

"Don't you dare freeze now! Experience the true power of my sword!" Squalo slashed at the space between him and Yamamoto and bolted down the now clear path as water parted out of the way.

"The water-!" Rohei gasped.

Yamamoto swung the sword as if he was holding a baseball bat and the water from the parted path swirled and collided into a typhoon with what looked like a blue bird leading the strike and he disappeared within the waves as it surrounded Squalo from all sides then fell upon the man with a downwards attack as the water slammed into the spot where Squalo had passed.

"Shigure Souen Style, Ninth offensive form..."

Gokudera grinded his teeth. "No! He dodged it!"

The water swirled around again as Yamamoto tried to get in a hit again. Squalo smirked as he caught a reflection from the water. 'Coming in from behind and using the bladed edge? Heh, impressive...however my sword had no blind spots!'

'Come on!' Ashlynn bit her lip wincing as Squalo's hand bent at an awkward to stab Yamamoto from facing the opposite direction showing off that his hand wasn't really flesh but made from metal.

"Yamamoto!" Tsuna shouted.

"!" Squalo's eyes widened as waves crashed into him from behind where he had stabbed...'What! It can't be! What I just hit was..!'

"An illusion projected on the surface of the water." Reborn murmured.

"Mirroring Rain!" Yamamoto appeared at his side as he brought down his blade into Squalo's back knocking him into the ground, pulling onto the chain and breaking it off of his neck, making Ashlynn immediately grab onto her own neck with a grimace.

Squalo coughed falling face first into the flooded floor. 'This...this is...defeat...'

"He used 'Surging Rain' with the first swing of his sword to create waves for the sake of reflecting his image against the water behind Squalo as a decoy while he attacked from another direction." Reborn smirked as Yamamoto held up the complete Rain ring.

Yamamoto smiled holding up the completed Rain ring.

"Wow! So he made up an awesome technique like that... on the spot?" Tsuna asked wide eyed.

Reborn tutted. "Didn't I say so? Yamamoto has the instincts of a natural hitman."

"Heh, that guy..." Gokudera scowled but the tone wasn't harsh.

"Alright Yamamoto! Victory to the EXTREME!" Ryohei cheered. "C'mon! Let's go get him!"

"Please wait." A Cervello woman landed in front of them. "It is dangerous to enter Aquarion at the moment. The designated water depth as been reached and the ferocious sea beast has been released into the arena. Please remain where you are."

The screen changed to show a large shark entering the building through a gate underwater. Tsuna cried. "It's a shark!"

"That thing is huge!" Ashlynn stiffened. 'What the Hell! It wasn't that big before!'

Yamamoto jumped a little when he heard the Cervello's message from inside the building and Tsuna's shout of surprise and Ashlynn's voice. He looked up frowning as water still poured from above. "Ummm," He called out unsure if they could hear him as well. "Hold...wait a second. What about Squalo?"

"As the battle is over Superbi Squalo's survival is no longer our responsibility." The Cervello announced.

"Wha? Are you serious?" Ryohei demanded.

Yamamoto exhaled through his nose. "I thought that might be the case." Yamamoto knelt beside the fallen man and lifted Squalo to his feet and supported him as he tried to find an exit from the building. 'Should I go up?'

"Eh? Yamamoto? The water's still flooding up the building! You won't be able to get out in time!" Tsuna warned.

"I'm not just going to leave him here. Besides the shark can't get up here just ye-!" Yamamoto yelped as the shark butted against the floor just below his feet and stumbled as it began to crack away from the rest of the flooring. "Crap!"

"Lord Yamamoto!"

"Hiiiiiie! The shark's attacking the ceiling!" Tsuna cried. "Yamamoto!"

"It's because of the blood!" Gokudera yelled. "Hurry! You have to get out of there!"

"...Hey..." Squalo growled at the boy as Yamamoto carried them both to the support beam that leaned against the next floor to higher ground. "You're tainting my honor...as a swordsman. Put me down...brat."

"But Squalo-"

"Heh...your skill with a sword isn't all that bad...next, you should get rid of that damned naiveté of yours. It's annoying..." With the last remains of his strength Squalo kicked the younger swordsman back to the slab that would help him to the next floor as he fell back to the second floor where he stared down the beast that leaped out of the water and dove at him with it's maw gaping wide, swallowing Squalo whole before breaking into the floor and disappearing back into the water.

"S-Squalo..."Yamamoto stared shell- shocked as he fell to his knees, Shigure Kintoki resting on his uninjured shoulder as he lowered his head mournfully. "...Dammit..."

The screen changed to show the Cervello woman's face. "The victory of the scramble battle for the Ring of Rain goes to Yamamoto Takeshi. Now I shall announce the match up for tomorrow's battle..."

"This...this kind of ending..."Tsuna trailed off looking at his feet.

Dino released a sharp breath lowering his head. 'What a cruel thing to watch...their only middle school kids save for Ashlynn...but high school isn't that much better because of the civilian lifestyle most of them lead before this point...They shouldn't have been made to do this, to watch this...'

"Tomorrow will be the scramble for the rings of the mist."

"Aa, so it's finally that one's turn..." Reborn smirked.

Tsuna started. "Eh? Oi, Reborn, it's here! What should we do? I still don't know who the mist person is supposed to be!"

"Yeah! Who is it!" Ryohei turned to Gokudera. "Do you know?"

The smoker shrugged then the two of them plus Tsuna and Basil looked to Ashlynn and Dolly. The older woman shook her head but Ashlynn gave a coy smile before walking away towards the building.

"Hey! Ashlynn! You know who it is! Tell us!" Gokudera demanded.

"A-Ashlynn!"

She turned around and shook her head. "Some patience could do you a lot of good, you know? Just wait until tomorrow."

Tsuna turned to the thoughtful looking Reborn. "You told her but you won't tell the rest of us?"

"I didn't tell her Dame-Tsuna." He answered. "The Mist Guardian must have revealed their identity to her. I wonder when that occurred."

"Well then, why didn't he reveal himself to the rest of us?" Tsuna groaned.

The hitman shrugged and jumped off of Dino's shoulder. "Let's go Tsuna."

"W-wait! Reborn! What about Yamamoto?"

Dino flipped his phone shut. "Don't worry there's a car on the way to take him to clinic in a few minutes, I'll make sure he's okay. And look, Ashlynn is already helping him.

He pointed at the flight of stairs that was attached to the side of the building. Tsuna worried his lip as Ashlynn helped the boy, supporting his weight as they slowly descended down the steps, taking little breaks to steady themselves whenever Yamamoto's footing slipped.

"Here, Tsuna." Yamamoto smiled handing over the complete Rain ring.

"Y-Yamamoto..."

"C'mon," Dino stepped in taking the boy from Ashlynn. "We'll get you fixed up."

"Aa, thanks."

"Yamamoto..." Tsuna sighed watching them leave and waved goodbye as Gokudera and Ryohei left the campus along with Dolly and Ashlynn.

Dolly decided that for the night Ashlynn and Fon would be staying at her home for the night where she could keep a watchful eye and their presences within reach. Ashlynn smiled gratefully as her head laid down on the futon's pillow.

'You're up next Chrome...Mukuro...'


Notes:

'Komuragaeri': in Japanese it literally means 'cramp in the leg'. Seriously these suck, and aterwards it makes you walk funny for the following two to six hours.

'Ossan' is a rude way to say 'old man'

Apparently 'sword schools' is how you refer to the many styles of swordsmanship

The sword that Squalo uses is called a Spatha, which is a sword that gladiators used.

Anyone else notice that in the Manga, the chapter ends with everyone wondering who the Mist Guardian is when Yamamoto was still in the watery building of doom where Squalo was just eaten by a shark? Messed up that it ended on such a lighter note then it should have. To them (save for Ashlynn but it's still bad that someone was beaten then swallowed by a shark) Squalo is dead. Same with Lussuria, he was shot because he lost. What's with these reactions to this violence? I understand that Reborn could be manipulating them to focus on something else but...still...

I'm trying to cut back on the amount of squiggles that I use (these things ~~~. I just learned that they're called tilda's), mainly because my sister was watching me while I was typing and she pointed out that she hated when writers used them too much. So I'll still use them when some characters talk: Lussuria will definitely be keeping it and I find it amusing to have Shamal have them because you see him drunk a couple times (he was drinking while Gokudera made paper airplanes), I find it natural to have Bel use them and when texts are exchanged. Other than that I don't know why I put them in...