Attention FanBoys and Girls!: It's getting closer to the end of the Varia Arc so this is the last call to vote in the Top Ten Poll for the main pairing! I will be revealing the results in the next installment so if you have not yet voted or used both of your votes, then please, please, pretty please go on and do so! Even if you do not have an account, please review or pm me your two votes (I have been counting review votes and pm votes! I have a separate page that I am using to tally everything). Again this is your last call to make your vote before I make a new poll out of the top five remaining choices (Which will be open for voting when I get a little ways into the Future Arc). And if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask me! It's the internet, I can't physically bite you!
Also if anyone really cares, all the chapters so far to this point have been uploaded to Deviant Art~
Ahhh! I broke a hundred reviews and favorites! Thank you to everyone who has submitted one and fave'd. Makes me very happy! :D
Yes, it's been forever since I last updated; for almost two weeks I have been tragically without internet connection but it has been fixed! (Also, this particular chapter was very challenging for me to shape out and I ended up rewriting it four times...). Silver also has classes starting and she needs to find a job...Silver wishes there was a magical Mafia she could be a part of...
IrisDaGreat: Hun, you're adorable~ it's like having my own devoted Gokudera~ so cute
LunaticSheep: Ha-ha, Santa. I hope the New year is going splendidly for you M'dear, and Silver humbly thanks you for forgiving her insolence : D (and asks that you continue to do so~). You don't need permission to say, "oh poo", go ahead and say it whenever you like~.
Ecris-vains en formation: I was going to reply via pm, but for some reason it won't allow me to use the link to do so, so I will reply to your review right in this space right here: Thank you very much for the love and I'm glad that you are enjoying the story so far :D. ~ Concerning Lambo, he will be considered part of the Vongola because he genuinely wants to follow Tsuna (Thus the Boss of the Bovino Famiglia will still cry tears of joy). And I plan on keeping the first generation Guardians the same and that includes Lampo but there will be some points that I will make regarding that but...yeah, you will have to wait and see~
I'm curious...how many of you are imagining yourselves in Ashlynn's place as if it were you who was sent to KHR? ...Are you having fun?
There's nobody here,there's nobody near
I try not to care, dead eyes always stare
Let these matters be, don't trust what you see
Take hold of your time, step into the line
- To Rid the Disease, Opeth
We are builders of our own character. We have the different positions, spheres, capacities, privileges, different work to do in the world, different temporal fabrics to raise but we are all alike in this, - all are the architects of fate.
-John Fotherfill Waterhouse Ware
"There had better be a pretty damn good reason why the two of you are trying to break into my apartment from the balcony." Ashlynn grumbled loud enough for the two to hear her perfectly. Chrome came over just moments after Dolly left to get Birdy ready to go to bed and she left the girl alone for a few minutes to go check the mail. She would have gone straight up to her front door if not for the fact she had seen something green, white, and yellow blur out of the corner of her eye. And here she was standing a little behind Chikusa who was watching Ken attempting to subtly break through her sliding glass door.
"Che!" Ken dropped the small strip of metal he had been using for his attempt at lock picking. "The front door has a code that we don't know, Byon."
"Of course you don't know it since I never told it to you in the first place." She glowered. "And you thought it'd be a great idea to break in instead of waiting a few minutes for me to walk back to the door from the mailbox? Or better yet try actually knocking on the front door? There is someone in there."
Chikusa pushed up his glasses. "It was his idea."
"Shut up Kakipii! I didn't hear you give any other good ideas!"
"She just gave you two of them, Ken." Chikusa said monotonously.
Ashlynn rolled her eyes. "What do you guys want?"
"The girl left this morning and her scent ends here! She had said that Mukuro comes here so I want to see him!" Ken crossed his arms and glared.
"Uh-huh..."
"...Well? Aren't you going to let us in?" The blonde asked scathingly.
Ashlynn shrugged walking around the building and up the stairs with the two Kokuyo students following after. She moved in close to block their view of the lock and pressed in the numbers to unlock it. She entered first and held the door for Chikusa who stepped in then slammed the door shut before Ken could even put a foot through the threshold.
"What the Hell!" Came the outraged cry outside.
Ashlynn slipped off her shoes. "You can stay outside since you were the one actively breaking in. I'll open a window a crack so you can hear what's going on."
"You bitch! Let me in! I want to see Mukuro-sama!"
"Then you should have thought better than to try to break in." Ashlynn called. She ignored the scratching on her door and showed Chikusa the way into her kitchen where Chrome was sitting at the island table with cup of juice in her hands. Ashlynn asked if he would like anything but he shook his head to decline.
"Chikusa." Chrome greeted.
The boy nodded to her then again more reverently as Mukuro switched places with her. "Mukuro-sama."
"Buonasera, Chikusa." He greeted.
"Good evening Mukuro-sama!" Ken yelled through the crack of the kitchen window his expression switching between awe and undying respect for Mukuro and glaring contempt for Ashlynn who started cleaning up the counter tops.
"Kufufu, so energetic today. Thank you Principessa but I believe we shall be going." Mukuro smiled politely and reached over to brush his fingers along the back of her neck and laughed when she slapped her hand over the place he had touched.
"Yeah, yeah. Will you be making more mischief for Hibari-san?" She asked dismissively.
Mukuro blinked. "Oya? You could tell that I'd been up to something?"
"...Are you really going to tell me you weren't up to something?" She raised an eyebrow leaning against the counter.
"Kufufufu." He laughed accepting the statement but did not comment further on that trail of conversation. "I shall see you at Namimori, Principessa."
Ashlynn scoffed but there was a grin on her face. "You make it sound like you'll be taking me on a date, Mukuro."
"Would you like for me to leave and come back to pick you up? Bring you flowers?"
"Nah," She shook her head and smirked out the window at Ken's dropped jaw. "I'll meet you there for the group date with the Varia. And no, no flowers this time; wouldn't want everyone upset because you showed them up. But just so you know, if the matter ever comes up again, I particularly like sunflowers."
"Per omaggio, devozione, e longevità. Heh, fino a quando le stelle brillano più luminose, Principessa." Mukuro held his hand up in farewell as he walked away for the front door with Chikusa in tow.
"What? Hey Mukuro! I don't know Italian! All I got from that is 'Princess'! And 'when'...I think." Ashlynn blinked following after them. 'I really need to learn Italian...it sounds lovely...'
Mukuro smirked shutting the door. "Later."
"Oi." Ashlynn shook her head then smiled as Ken whined pitifully that 'Mukuro-sama' disappeared again and grumbled for Chrome to keep up while they went for a stop for food or they'd leave her behind.
"So that was Mukuro and Chrome."
Ashlynn hummed. "Yeah, what do you think Fon?"
"He knew I was here." The Arcobaleno revealed stepping beside her. "I find it interesting how civil he was being. Had you not explained to me the circumstances before they arrived I would have been much more suspicious of his actions. That boy is still to be watched however."
"Did you understand what he said?"
"He said 'For homage, devotion, and longevity', which I believe was referring to the meaning of the Sunflower. Then, 'Until the stars are shining more brightly, Princess'... He seems to call you that often, Miss Ashlynn. I counted six times between both Mukuro and Chrome since they came here."
"Mukuro said that my initial reactions to it were amusing. I think that it was only once, maybe twice, that he's actually used my given name instead of that nickname." Ashlynn told him.
Fon made a low humming noise in his throat. "It was a good thing Miss Dolly had left when she did."
"Yeah," Ashlynn agreed moving first into the kitchen to shut and lock the window then into the living room and flopped onto the couch. "Dolly knows what went on in Kokuyo so it would be hard to expect her to be in the same room, be nice, and try not to be vindictive over her child's welfare and treatment. And Birdy may be fine now but I would rather wait a lot longer before knowingly have them in the same room for any reason."
"A wise decision."
She nodded. "But eventually I know she's going to have to meet him if she is actually serious in being a part of Tsuna's family. Has she told you about winning a contest to be the right hand man for Tsuna?"
"She did. It was an amusing tale."
"According to the future I-pin, by use of the Ten Year Bazooka, future Birdy is taking it very seriously by studying to be a lawyer for the family."
"An impressive goal to have. And I-pin?" He asked.
"Working to be a teacher. I believe she'd be wonderful as one. Hm?" Ashlynn looked up as the door opened but no one came in. She tensed in preparation but relaxed when Dolly's voice carried through.
"Niamh! Fon! Are you ready to go?"
"Coming Dolly." Ashlynn hollered back standing and following Fon back to the front door where they met Dolly, locked the door, and started for Namimori Junior, Fon riding atop Dolly's shoulder.
The woman glanced at her somewhat ward. "There will be no kissing boys."
"W-What?" Ashlynn choked.
"That blonde man, Dino, kissed you last night. Then there was that other boy...the one that had his hair covering most of his face...talked like a samurai."
Ashlynn didn't bother looking at her. "Aa, you mean Basil."
"Him. He calls you a lady."
"Basil speaks archaically; it's an interesting quirk I guess. And that kiss...well Dino's been doing that since the day he's met me. Apparently it's meant as a greeting or a thank you. He's from Italy, Dolly. And I have called him on it by the way."
"Hmph. Greeting or not, Niamh, no kissing."
"Dolly, you're French; haven't you ever greeted someone like that?" She asked.
"Of course I have."
"Then why-?"
"They were family."
"W-well, I guess Dino could technically be considered Family since the Cavallone and Vongola are allied together..."Ashlynn trailed off flustered.' Dammit! I always pushed away the notion of a pairing and now you're making me consider it! No! Go back into denial Ashlynn! It's safer there! Don't think about it anymore! Remember that staying alive right now until the next few years is at the top of the to-do list!'
Dolly gave her a questioning look. "Doesn't matter. And there's also that Yamamoto boy petting your hair. Are you planning on creating a harem?"
"No, I am not! And I have no idea why he does that. And, and I'm not seeing the big problem here," Ashlynn kept her eyes trained on the road in front of her. "My relationship with those guys is not in any way intimate-"
"Yet that Dino kisses you, that Basil boy calls on you as if you were a high born Lady and that Yamamoto pets you like you're an animal."
Ashlynn hung her head. "...You're making this hard on purpose aren't you?"
"I am." Came the blunt answer causing a chuckle to escape from the Storm Arcobaleno.
"Oh Brighid..."
"And what's this I hear from Fukano-san about you and Hibari Kyouya? She tells me that he visits you during work and that you've been kissing him, and not on the cheek."
Ashlynn clapped her hands over her ears and walked ahead of them. "Nothing! Keiko is totally blowing things out of proportion and there was only that one time! There was mistletoe and he was about to destroy the shop because he had been looking for me, there was a big crowd and Keiko wasn't helping in any way by goading him and then for the next few days she cooed and asked if I wanted to take time off to go on a date!"
"So you kissed him to tame the ferocious beast?" Dolly called. "And you do know I'll be having a little talk with this Hibari Kyouya. Dino too by the looks of things-"
"Shut up. And no talking to anyone about this!" She hissed. "You'll get me 'bitten to death'!"
"Now, now, that's enough. Miss Ashlynn, she is only teasing." Fon smiled then coyly informed Dolly. "There is another boy who you may see tonight who calls her 'Princess' in Italian."
"Oh really?"
"Fon, not you too. Please stop having fun at my expense!" She whined. "Okay? Really, no more guys. It's like you're trying to distra-..." Ashlynn stopped in her tracks, blinked then stared blankly at the two as they caught up to her and slowly passed her by. She shook her following and matching their pace. "Not funny."
"It worked." Dolly shrugged not at all moved by the pout and withered glare from the younger girl.
Ashlynn sighed. "It's not that I'm really worried about tonight's battle..."
Dolly patted her shoulder. "You're too serious. While in these circumstances it's a good thing but I don't want you wearing yourself out by stressing out. Niamh."
"Yes?"
"Smile."
"You're impossible." Ashlynn told the woman but found a smile tugging at her mouth.
"And you're a smartass." Dolly countered. "And I was serious about having a talk with whatever shameless little bastard thinks he has a chance with you. You may not be my daughter by blood but you are still mine...And what is that, 'Bitten to Death'?"
Ashlynn felt herself go warm by Dolly's claim on her as a daughter. "He says that to everyone before he kicks their ass for crowding or for whatever reason he fancies. You could say it's his calling card. A catchphrase or battle cry if you will."
"Does he understand what he is possibly implying?"
"And we have arrived." Fon cut in before Ashlynn could form a reply, motioning to the gates in front of them.
Dolly nodded. "Where on campus is it being held? The courtyard, the roof, the main building, and the B building have already been used so that leaves..."
"Tonight's battle shall take place in the Gymnasium. Nearly all of the Guardians have gathered for the scramble." Came the Cervello stepping around the gate to greet them. "Please make your way to the designated building."
"Alright, thanks." Ashlynn nodded as they walked for the predetermined arena. 'Kind of creepy how they can appear out of nowhere. Cool, but kind of creepy.'
Seeing Tsuna laying there asleep on the gym's floor made the childish side of her to want to find a marker and color on his face. 'But that would be a bad idea of course.' Ashlynn mused walking with Dolly and Fon to one side of the court where Tsuna was lying knocked out while Reborn, Colonello, Basil and Ryohei sat at the front of the bleachers. 'Sure Reborn would probably let me get away with it or even draw himself if this was any other time but then Gokudera would predictably go apeshit about the disrespect and...Yeah, best not to make a big scene...'
"Ciaossu, Ashlynn, Dolly, Fon." Reborn nodded.
Colonello scoffed but nodded to them in turn. "Heh, so you're here too, Fon?"
"Good to see you again Colonello." Fon nodded. "I came because Reborn mentioned a 'tacky little chibi'. This is Miss Dolly, by the way, if the two of you have not met yet."
"Well, it's him over there. The one with the stupid little frog on his head is the one fighting tonight, kora. I'm here just to check if he's actually an Arcobaleno...if we don't make sure of that, there will be trouble" Colonello jerked his head over to the Varia then back to stare up at Dolly who had her shotgun strapped to her back in the same position that he had is artillery rifle. "Nice gun."
"Likewise."
'Why do I get the feeling that you're calling him 'Little Man' in your mind, Dolly?' Ashlynn shook her head amused.
"Hmph." Mammon snorted. "The number of gaping idiots has increased. This battle might make the look on your faces look even more foolish by the end."
"Chibi..." Ashlynn murmured purposefully aloud.
Reborn frowned at Ashlynn's thoughtful look as she glanced at Mammon and then back at them. "What is it Ashlynn?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing."
"You're thinking again." He pointed out.
"It seems that when it comes to you magical babies, I am one of the few capable of thinking of your circumstances. And just because I am one of those few that doesn't mean I have to give my opinion whenever something seems to fit. As it is, I obviously still think you are magical superheroes." She snorted. 'Granted I know what's supposed to happen and we're kind of fighting for our lives right now...but really, everyone should have thought more about the existence of the Arcobaleno before the Wizard man throws that contest to free one of them...'
"Miss Ashlynn?" Fon questioned.
Colonello smirked. "This one is attempting to unravel our, what was that, Ashlynn? 'Our Superhero Magicalness'?"
"Yep. Superhero Magicalness." She nodded sitting down between Ryohei and Dolly. "Hey Ryohei, Basil."
"Good evening M'Lady."
"Hello Senpai! Do you know when our mist guy will be here?"
"Nope. But it looks like Gokudera and Yamamoto are here." She nodded to the two in the doorway of the gym.
"Why is the Juudaime on the floor?" Gokudera demanded immediately kneeling at the boys' side.
Yamamoto looked around with his uncovered eye. "Looks like everyone is here except our mist person."
"You lot lack faith." Reborn chided. "...Aa, looks like Tsuna's finally waking up."
The boy opened up his eyes blearily and covered his face with his arm until his eyes adjusted to the bright light shining above him. "Re-Reborn...? Where...oh the ring battle! Hiiiiiie! It's in the gymnasium!"
"That's right. Basil gave you a piggy back ride here." the hitman pointed to the boy who smiled in greeting.
"Juudaime! How are you feeling?"
"Eh?" Tsuna jumped as Gokudera brought his attention to him and offered his hand to pull him to his feet.
"Everyone...is here...? Yamamoto... your eye..." Tsuna paused looking at the baseball player. He didn't look too worse for wear but there were bandages on his hands along with a few on his face with medical gauze covering his eye.
Yamamoto smiled. "It's alright Tsuna. Romario -Ossan said not to worry."
"Thank goodness." Tsuna breathed a sigh in relief.
"Juudaime...that mist guy still isn't here. and the baseball idiot didn't see anyone on the way over..." Gokudera ground out. "This guy better not ruin this by not showing up causing us to forfeit the ring to those bastards! They are already here, including that Xanxus guy."
Tsuna looked up over to the other end of the building at the gathered group then to the Varia mist guardian waiting patiently in the middle of the court with the Cervello. "I still don't even know who it is! Reborn what are we going to do if they don't show?"
"Well if they don't show then you'll have no choice but to hand over the Mist ring to the Varia. But that will not be necessary." The hitman declared as the doors to the gym opened again and two figures in green Kokuyo uniforms walked in.
Tsuna gasped. "N-no way!"
"It's them!" Yamamoto frowned.
Gokudera immediately held out a few sticks of dynamite in warning. "You assholes."
"Calm down all of you." Reborn ordered. "They've brought the Mist Guardian."
"What? Y-You mean that the Guardian of the mist is-! Rokudo Mukuro!" Tsuna gaped in horror.
"Lo nego." Another person walked in behind the two males then between them to stop in front of them. "Io sono chiamato Chrome." The purple haired girl held a three pronged trident lovingly. "Dokuro Chrome."
"I-it's not Mukuro then...?" Tsuna frowned. "But..."
"That is an Extremely weird name." Ryohei muttered.
Gokudera snarled. "I won't be fooled. She's obviously been possessed by him! He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants! That's the kind of person he is! Juudaime! Don't trust her!"
"You do not believe me." The girl said softly tugging softly on the chain around her neck that held the half of the Mist ring.
"Of course not! Just look at that weapon! It's the very same one that Mukuro uses! And I bet that that eye patch is hiding that evil red eye!" The smoker accused.
"No. It's...she's not Mukuro." Tsuna spoke up.
Gokudera paused. "Are...are you sure?"
"Tsuna's right." Ashlynn stood up between Gokudera and Chrome. "She's not him so stop making a scene."
"But-!"
Chrome stepped forward clutching the familiar trident to her chest. She looked to Tsuna first. "You defended me...thank you, Boss."
Chrome kissed Tsuna's cheek and did the same to Ashlynn before she stepped back a few paces in respect. Ashlynn smiled at the girl then quickly frowned at Gokudera who was seething and was being held back by Yamamoto.
Gokudera struggled against the taller boy and snapped at Chrome. "What the hell was that?"
"Whaaa?" Tsuna stood shell shocked.
She looked down at her feet and gripped onto the trident harder to her torso. "…A greeting and thank you."
"Don't worry about it. He's just jealous that you didn't kiss him too." Ashlynn placed herself next to the timid girl.
Chrome looked up at her confused. "Eh? Should I?"
"Fuck that! Ashlynn, knock it off!" Gokudera snapped. Chrome flinched and looked down again.
"Come on Gokudera, I was only teasing so there was no reason to snap like that." She continued with a warning tone. "Stand up tall and give a good image for our Boss while in front of our opponents. She's here and that's what matters now."
"...Aa, you're right!" Gokudera lowered his head, staring at Tsuna. "Juudaime I apologize for my brash behavior."
"I-it's alright, Gokudera-kun..."
"If you are ready now?" The Cervello called.
"Ushishishi. And here I thought that they were going to reveal a wizard but it's just a girl." Bel laughed.
"How lovely." Levi mumbled.
"Hmmm. Fantasma is getting excited." Mammon observed the little frog in his possession. "Looks like the enemy's Guardian is indeed a very unusual person. Selling this girl off to a circus could prove to be profitable."
"What do we do?" Ryohei asked.
Gokudera glared. "I say we don't let her join us. We don't even know where the Hell she came from."
"Naa? You think I'm going to let that slip by, Byon?" Ken glowered back.
"You want to go? Come on then, bring it on." Gokudera challenged.
"Ken, Chikusa, please calm down. This is not your decision anyway. Boss, am I not worthy to fight as your Guardian? I wish to fight as your Mist but… But if Boss won't allow for it then I will abide by that decision." Chrome said to Tsuna.
The boy gulped. "W-What? You're asking me to decide like that?"
"Besides Chrome, there is no one else to fit the role of the Mist." Reborn announced hopping up to Yamamoto's shoulder.
"Then...then we'll leave it to you." Tsuna nodded.
Chrome offered a very small smile. "Thank you, Boss."
"Oh! Where is Dino-san? Is he not coming?" Tsuna asked.
Reborn shook his head. "No. Some urgent business came up last night so he had to go and meet with an old friend."
"Yosh! Then let's do the huddle!" Ryohei cheered.
Yamamoto laughed. "Yeah! Let's do it!"
"That's alright." Chrome interjected turning away and starting towards the middle of the court. "I don't need it."
"Huh, what's her problem?" Ryohei slumped down onto the bleachers next to Colonello.
The Cervello nodded. "This time the battlefield will be the entirety of the gymnasium. The objects within this building are yours to do with as you wish. Furthermore, this field has not been outfitted with any special installations-"
'Like they would need them.' Ashlynn thought. 'They could make those themselves. The main weapon here is the use of one's imagination.'
"-There was no need for such complexity for the battle for the Mist Ring."
"There's really nothing being added?" Tsuna asked.
"Like they said, there is no need." Reborn answered. "The specialty of the Guardian of the Mist means that they do not require anything special...'Creating something from nothing, and nothing from something; thus bewildering the enemy. Rendering the Family's true form intangible with visions of deceit."
The second Cervello took over. "Though there are not any special installations to test the Guardians, like with the Storm battle there are infrared laser surrounding the court to keep the spectators from interfering with the match."
"The use of lasers again?" Basil looked down at the flooring searching for the barrier.
"Dokuro Chrome versus Mammon for the Ring of Mist. Begin the battle!" The Cervello called.
Chrome started first by twirling the trident above her head then hitting the wooden floor with the butt of the weapon with a loud clack as the floor suddenly began to crumble away from the trident, shooting the piece beneath Chrome higher up while the remaining parts of the flooring including where the spectators stood began to fall.
"W-what!" Levi gasped vaulting himself onto a more stable area.
Tsuna shrieked. "The floor! UwaaAAAAAAHHHH! We're going to fall!"
"Stupid Tsuna." Chided Reborn. "You know this technique. You don't need to be shocked out of it do you?"
Mammon's nostrils flared not impressed as he quickly rebounded off the large broken shards of the wooden floor towards Chrome's tower piece. "So, like me, you are an illusion user. But this here is merely child's play. Certainly nothing worth making money off of." The Varia infant appeared in front of the girl, tentacles spilling out from the open space of his hood, wrapping over her head and shoulders.
The girl yelped loosening her grip on her weapon as she clawed with one hand at the appendages away from her and thus letting go of her technique and the room returned back to normal.
"Whoa." Yamamoto knelt with one knee on the floor. "We're back..."
"He's got her." Dolly frowned holding Fon in her lap.
"What? No!" Tsuna looked back to the middle of the court and gasped seeing Chrome being held up into the air by her throat, Mammon below her controlling the tentacles that were squeezing the breath out of her body.
"Hmph, much too weak. Wouldn't even make a good sideshow." The infant sighed at the loss of potential money.
A boot clicked against the floor behind him. "Just who are you talking to?"
'Should have just attacked while he was unaware, Chrome.' Ashlynn thought watching as the girl revealed herself behind her opponent as the 'Chrome' trapped by Mammon turned into a cage full of basketballs.
Gokudera rubbed at his eyes. "When did she get away from that?"
"It turned into a bunch of basketballs!" Ryohei yelled.
"It was an illusion." Reborn said between Tsuna and Gokudera. "Both creating illusions without yielding a step, deceiving the other without stopping for breath. You won't see something like this very often, Tsuna."
"W-when you say illusions...it's true that before...M-Mukuro's state of Hell!" Tsuna let out a shaky breath.
Gokudera whipped his head towards the other boy. "You mean that she's really him? What are that guy's intentions here?"
"I already told you." Ashlynn cut in. "Chrome is Chrome."
"Oh good." Mammon stated, ignoring the commentary from Tsuna's side of the court. "Looks like you'll be more or less a worthy opponent. Well, then I'll use that to my heart's content...even if those three stupid chibi's are gaping without paying a fee." He released the cage of sport's equipment as he also dropped a long chain from beneath his uniform. "Let's go Fantasma."
Chrome's visible eye widened as the black frog perched on her opponents head rose up shedding the black skin for the white scales hidden beneath as its body elongated into the body of a snake, curling around in a circle above the chibi's head to bite its own tail. Mammon was lifted into the air and a glowing indigo pacifier appeared from the depths of his jacket showing off his status as one of the Arcobaleno.
"That curled up frog and that pacifier." Colonello scowled. "Looks like he was still alive after all, kora."
"My. It's been quite a while." Fon held the red glowing bauble.
Reborn looked down at his own glowing yellow pacifier. 'So I was right then. His true identity is the Mist Arcobaleno: Viper. An illusionist and possesses a psychic ability.
"An Arcobaleno?" Basil's brows furrowed.
"Psychic abilities...? You meant that sort of occult?" Gokudera asked frowning.
"That's right." Colonello nodded. "I heard that he went missing in action...I actually thought that he had died. But apparently not. Hey, why didn't the pacifiers start glowing until now, kora?"
Reborn frowned. "...I'm not sure, but it seems like it has something to do with that chain-like implement that he took off. Looks like that chain is able to seal the Pacifier's power."
"Foolish babies like you wouldn't be able to understand. It was a byproduct of years of research. Unlike you, I am never negligent," Mammon called. "In my efforts to remove the curse."
"Curse?" Tsuna asked.
The three gathered Arcobaleno didn't answer but Colonello gave Reborn a wary glance. "This isn't looking too good for our team, kora. The average illusionist doesn't stand chance against that tacky chibi."
Reborn returned his attention to the battle. "Don't be so quick to judge, Colonello. Dokuro is no ordinary illusionist."
Chrome nodded preparing herself. "It does not matter who you are. I will win here." The girl ran forward swinging the spokes of the trident at her enemy, grunting when the hit missed but dove out of the way when Mammon sent the tentacle appendages her way again. That attempted was stopped as the newly revealed Arcobaleno was caught within the coils of a giant red snake.
"This snake...it's not an illusion?" Her opponent hummed.
"Her techniques are successful!" Basil cheered.
Tsuna continued to frown. "That...it was like when Mukuro used the animal state..."
"She's been possessed by that sneaky bastard! I knew it!" Gokudera growled.
'But...' Tsuna thought. 'It's true that at some points it's like Mukuro is here in front of us...but...Arghh, I don't understand...! Why is it? From the moment she came here...the sense of that girl's will has never faded...'
Chrome smacked the bottom of her weapon on the ground just as Mammon tore through the snake's grasp but this time instead of the floor breaking in on itself, pillars of fire broke through the flooring and up to the ceiling, causing Ryohei and Yamamoto to step back out of the way in surprise on their side and Levi diving away on his. Mammon was caught beneath a pillar as it erupted from the wood.
"Hmm, not bad at all, I'll give you that, Girl." Mammon flew out of the hellfire unharmed. "If I had for even the briefest moment believed in the reality of those fire columns I would have been roasted alive. Therefore... your weakness is also illusions." He declared as suddenly the heat from Chrome's fire disappeared as ice froze the columns into solid towers.
"It's freezing!" Ryohei gasped.
Dolly exhaled, her breath coming out in puffs. "Since they are illusions I would have guessed that nothing happening in front of me is real...but that is not the case is it?"
"It is not. Rather, the line between illusion and reality is forever taken advantage of by those who use them." Fon explained for the woman.
"...I accidentally let myself get hit by that one, Kora." Colonello confessed sourly.
Reborn nodded. "I did too. As one would expect from Viper."
"The art of illusion," Mammon paused a moment floating in between the now frozen columns, his reflection shining through the shards. "Is used to seize control of a person's perception- that is to say, it infiltrates the part of the brain that controls your senses... The more potent the illusionists power the more complete the infiltration; the success rate of the attacking illusionist's attacks are also heightened and it keeps its hold of its reality much longer. However if an illusion is countered by another illusion..." His mouth curved into a smirk as Chrome gasped finding her legs being cemented in place by ice. "It means that control of their own perception will be completely snatched away and controlled by your enemy."
"Oh no!" Yamamoto bit his lip.
Ken and Chikusa shifted.
Mammon floated closer to the girl but far enough away to keep out of range from any swipes from the trident. "What do think? Of the abominable power of an Arcobaleno? Hmph, now then, how about I reveal your true identity?" He tilted his head slightly as Chrome tried to escape from the frozen prison. "Oh? No matter what you are thinking of doing it will not have any effect. It's too late for any last ideas. Because you are already a denizen of my world of illusion. That weapon looks important to you."
Chrome gasped slicing her trident beneath her feet and falling to the floor her legs still imprisoned. She cradled the weapon trying to free her limbs. "No! Don't! DON'T!"
It was too late. Ashlynn glowered as the trident in Chrome's hands shattered into pieces and not a few seconds afterwards the girl hacked up blood falling prone onto the floor.
"W-What? What was that?" Tsuna gulped. "What did he do? All I saw was the trident..."
"Look! Her stomach!" Basil pointed.
Gokudera cringed. "It's caved in...Is...Is this another illusion...?"
"Mm." The floating Arcobaleno drew in a tad closer releasing his control over the ice making it disappear and the building to return once again to normal. "This is real...what is with this girl...?"
"Mu...sama..." Chrome choked out feebly.
"It's hard to believe, but...it seems that this girl's life was prolonged only by the use of illusory organs."
"Meaning...she doesn't have what was necessary to live..." Dolly's face turned grim.
"So when she lost control of her illusion, her abdomen collapsed." Reborn finished the thought.
'...You did very well...My little Chrome...'
Tsuna gasped as a foreboding shiver went down the expanse of his spine.
'..You rest for a while, my dear.'
"...He's coming..." Tsuna grabbed the sides of his head.
"Tsuna?' Yamamoto questioned placing his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Bel laughed. "What's this, victory already? The cat's out of the bag? We didn't even get to see much of Mammon's power."
"With this we are tied." Levi smirked. "...hm?"
"She's being covered in fog!" Ryohei pointed out as Chrome's body began to disappear from view.
"Ah this? Marshaling the last of one's strength to conceal their own unsightly corpse from view. It is rather common behavior from female illusionists."
"Juudaime? What's wrong?" Gokudera stood on the boy's other side. Ashlynn eyed the place where Chrome was vanishing.
"Mukuro!" Tsuna cried. "Rokudo Mukuro is here!"
"Kufufufu." The body in the middle of the court dissolved and a cloud of smoke kept it from view as its shape changing to one much more masculine.
"Mu? A man's voice." The Mist Arcobaleno retreated a few paces back and floated down to step on the ground all the while observing the scene before him.
Ashlynn smirked.
Gokudera hissed in her direction. "What the Hell Ashlynn! You said she wasn't him!"
"And she's not." She nodded to the two fighters. "Rokudo Mukuro and Dokuro Chrome are two separate entities. You were right about the possession though."
The smoke dissipated showing Mukuro kneeling on the floor his trident gripped tightly in his hands. He tapped the end on the floor sending a tremor to flow through beneath the ground and explode beneath the Varia member, knocking him off of his feet. "Kufufu, showing off quite a bit, aren't you, Arcobaleno?"
Ryohei paused. "Uhn, who is that?"
"Aa, you were in the hospital while we were in Kokuyo." Reborn murmured then answered. "He is Rokudo Mukuro. A mist user."
Mukuro smiled pleasantly glancing directly in Tsuna's direction. "It's been a while...I've come back from the other side of the cycle."
"So this...is the boy who was responsible for my daughter's kidnapping?" Dolly grumbled.
"Why is he here?" Gokudera scowled
Ashlynn sighed. "Isn't it obvious? He and Chrome are fighting as Tsuna's Mist Guardian."
Tsuna looked bewildered at the notion Chrome he was okay with but... "Can they really be the Guardian at the same time? I-I mean, we're already fighting to get both halves of the rings."
"Who knows? I think they can pull it off." Ashlynn shrugged looking over by the doors finding a very happy Ken and, well it was hard to tell with Chikusa...
"Muu, Rokudo Mukuro...I was wondering where I had heard that name before." Mammon stood back on his feet. "About a month ago. Someone attempted to escape from the Vindice Prison. The person's name was Rokudo Mukuro."
"That Vindice...that place is known as an impregnable fortress." Levi said, his eyes widening a margin in surprise.
"He- he broke out again!" Tsuna yelled.
"But it should have been over when the escape attempt failed. I heard he was thrown back into a cage even more difficult to escape from." Mammon relayed.
Mukuro nodded. "The information net of the Vongola's top assassin group...isn't very well informed. I am here now am I not?"
Xanxus narrowed his eyes.
Tsuna rubbed his arms to rid himself of the goose bumps that traveled against his flesh then screamed as something jumped on his head. "Hiiiiiie!"
"Gyahahaha!" The thing cried out triumphantly. "The Great and Brave Lambo-san followed Tsuna who snuck out of the house! Tsuna is gonna get in big trouble when Maman finds out that Tsuna left the house after dark!"
"Hiiiiiie! Lambo! What are you doing here?" Tsuna cried reaching for the five year old. 'Oh no~ this is bad! Very very bad! A-and, and, you'll get in trouble too because you followed us!'
"Why is that stupid cow here? Oi, dumbass! Get out of here if you know what's good for you!" Gokudera snarled.
Lambo pulled down an eyelid and stuck his tongue out tauntingly.
"This isn't a game you brat!" Gokudera roared snatching the child in before he could scamper away. "Leave!"
Lambo blew a raspberry into his face.
"Aaaargh! You little shit!" Gokudera yelled tossing him into the stands between Tsuna and a glowering Ashlynn.
"Hold...it...in...A-Aneue! Stupidera's being m-ean!" Lambo cried pulling out the purple bazooka.
"Hiiiiiie! Lambo no!" Tsuna cried pulling the bazooka away from the boy's face but Lambo held on to the weapon with his small fingers twitching towards the trigger.
Ashlynn gasped as Mukuro stepped into the line of fire. 'If he fires it now it'll interfere with the match!' She reached her arm out just as Lambo screeched again and pulled the trigger resulting in the ever familiar smoke.
"Cough Cough!" Tsuna waved away the smoke from his face.
A voice sighed. "Again so soon? I was here not even three days ago..."
Tsuna looked up startled as the smoke cleared away and found that Ashlynn had been switched for her future self. He looked to where the bazooka might have gone and sighed in relief as Mukuro looked over curiously, along with the other Varia.
"The Ten year Bazooka? This is the first time I've seen it used in person." Mammon commented lightly.
"S-Sorry Ashlynn." Tsuna apologized but stopped in his tracks when he saw blood splattered over her.
The woman shook her head, her long hair bound into a tight braided crown with her bangs falling into her face. "It's alright Tsuna. At least I'm dressed this time." She motioned to her attire consisting of black dress pants, a short sleeved white buttoned up shirt and black vest where a deep green tie was seen just above it before it disappeared under the vest. With a fluid motion she retracted the red splattered weapons, which had two more elaborate circles of blade than the present Ashlynn's, back into its bracelet form that had a few beads darker than the original.
"Will it become a problem for your present self because of the switch?" Reborn asked handing her a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his coat that she looked at questioningly before realizing what Tsuna was looking at, and accepted the piece of cloth to clean her face and hands though she did nothing about the blood splattered on the bottom of her pants and her black boots.
"No, the job was finished and my partner for the operation will probably find her before I go back. As long as she...I... as long as I don't freak out over what I see… should be fine..." She said but didn't look too hopeful.
"Is it that bad?" Fon queried.
The older Ashlynn shrugged. "For me? Not a big problem. My past self however..." She dropped her voice for the Arcobaleno next to her. "It may be a good idea to have someone with myself tonight." She looked at Reborn apologetically when she realized that the cloth he let her used had turned from its soft yellow to pink and red.
"It's alright. You may keep it." He told her.
Ashlynn nodded. "Aa. Grazie."
"Kufufu. My, Principessa, what a lovely Queen you've grown into. And what a wonderful image you portray all covered in blood."
Ashlynn turned her eyes to the young illusionist leaning against his trident and gave a small appraising smirk to the male. " Ever the charmer, Mukuro. And just what does that make you? The Magician? Have I appeared in time to be entertained?"
"Please continue the battle. Ashlynn Meagher of the future if you seek to interfere-" The Cervello called to her.
Ashlynn waved the woman off as she picked up the Ten year Bazooka, gently eased it back to its sub space in Lambo's hair before picking up the child and balancing him on her hip. "Yes, yes, disqualification, I remember. I won't interfere with the battle." She then directed a stern look to the child on her hip and told him in his first language. "E nemmeno si, piccolo. Queste battaglie sono molto importnant alla tua famiglia."
"Ushishishi. Una Principessa?" Bel grinned.
The Cervello nodded. "Please continue the battle!"
"Troublesome. Though it is about time to truly finish this off. You are merely an illusion created by the girl before her strength runs out." Mammon stated as a blizzard struck within the building.
"A blizzard!" Basil shouted over the winds.
"W-we're going to freeze to death!" Yamamoto cried.
Dolly grumbled as the older version of her somewhat ward linked their arms together and the cold seeped away from her body. She gave the woman a wary yet grateful glance but said nothing.
"Oh? You think me to be an illusion? I'm not so good-natured that I would allow myself to lose an illusion created by another illusionist" Mukuro smirked as ice formed and within seconds incased the entirety of his body in a solid block.
"Looks like you've been unmasked. Now to break you and we shall see the shattered remains of the girl." Mammon declared as he formed the mallet end of a hammer and flew for the block. "I will be taking your half of the ring."
Yamamoto gasped. "Not good!"
Tsuna's breath hitched as he closed his eyes. He wasn't comfortable with the fact that Mukuro was here let alone fighting as his Guardian. He peeked an eye when there weren't any sounds of the ice block that had Mukuro inside breaking and found Mammon being wrapped around in vines that were beginning to have a myriad of pink lotus blossoms flowering over the vines.
"Lotus flowers..." Colonello wrinkled his nose. "And for Viper to be so overwhelmed against another illusionist...Looks like there's a chance to win so long as Viper's really not playing around by giving Mukuro a false hope for winning..."
"Kufufufu. Just who here is 'Just an Illusion'?" Mukuro asked phasing right through the ice and with a languid move from the trident the blizzard dissipated.
"He's the real thing after all...but what happened to that girl?" Gokudera looked to Reborn.
The Arcobaleno acknowledged the question. "While originally separate entities as Ashlynn said that is no longer entirely the case. Because there is Chrome, Mukuro can exist before us. And because Mukuro exists, Chrome can live."
"..I don't get it." Tsuna sighed.
Reborn shrugged. "That's all I am going to say about it."
Mukuro blinked slowly, his red eye spinning through kanji. "Come now, Are you having difficulty there, Arcobaleno? If you keep taking your time I am going to wrap things up, you know. Must make this entertaining."
"Don't be so cocky!" Mammon split himself in half, escaping from the constricting vines then those two halves split into hundreds of Mammon's all charging for the male.
"Weak." Mukuro swung the trident slashing a number of the doppelgangers as his eye flared with his will.
Tsuna wrung his hands. "That's the state of Shura...hand to hand combat."
"Hand to hand combat?" Mammon repeated. "An illusionist that resorts to such notions is hearsay! I denounce you and your reincarnation rubbish!"
"Oya?"
"Humans will repeat the same life in infinite cycles! That is why I continue to hoard my money!" The chibi yelled soaring into the air changing the playing field once again by twisting the entirety of the building into an illusion, twisting the perception of gravity and making the wooden floor rise, fall, and crumble into the blackness of a void.
"Whoa!" Gokudera yelled.
Tsuna screeched trying to regain his ground. "Hiiiiiie! The floor boards! They're being moved again!"
Colonello's falcon Falco took to the air with Colonello in his grasp and Reborn hanging by a hang glider Leon. Dolly, Fon and Lambo still being in contact with the future Ashlynn found them anchored to the woman and despite the feeling of vertigo, they were fine.
"Kufufufu! A greedy Arcobaleno! How interesting, but when it comes to the matter of greed...well, I won't deign to lose either."" Mukuro smirked again as Hellfire once again made an appearance but unlike Chrome's attack, Mukuro's made a weave throughout the illusioned space smashing flames into the Arcobaleno.
"I-incredible!" Breathed Levi in awe kneeling next to a fallen Bel.
Ryohei grabbed his head with his good hand. "I'm...getting really dizzy..."
Gokudera and Yamamoto nodded. The smoker scowled. "Feels like I'm going to throw up..."
"The kiddies are starting to get corrupted by the illusions, kora." Colonello called to Reborn a few feet below him.
He nodded. "Not surprising as they were having their perceptions thrown off since the very beginning of this match. Ashlynn's taking care of Dolly, Fon, and the cow but not for much longer."
"Umuuu! Where, where did you attain this power from?" A burnt Mammon demanded his opponent who merely offered a taunting smile.
"Why, from the depths of Hell."
"Stop talking rubbish!" He roared spelling everything into another harsh winter wonderland.
"My...my head..." Tsuna whimpered. The future Ashlynn looked up sharply at the boy before switching in a soft poof a smoke and the present now bloodied and pale female standing in her place immediately began to feel a sharp dizziness from being thrust into vertigo. Dolly nostrils flared, her eyes worriedly taking in the girl's appearance and glazed eyes.
"B-Boss!" Gokudera cried trying to steady the boy and keep a vigilant eye on the illusionists in battle.
'What? What is this...?' Tsuna gasped as the scene changed before him to complete darkness. He turned around finding himself submerged in dark waters and before him was a figure strapped in leather restraints and clinking chains attached to the male's hands, feet, thighs, and neck. '...Mukuro...?' He gasped releasing air into the water as he fell hard to a now grassy ground.
'Mukuro-sama...our pursuers are gaining on us...we won't be able to escape for much longer...'
'That-!' Tsuna lifted his head to see Mukuro sending Ken and Chikusa ahead while he met the guards of Vindice head on to give the two the time to successfully escape before the scene changed again to a hospital hallway with Chrome in a white gown and covered in bandages and his father across from the girl.
'Kufufu.' Mukuro's voice filtered along with Chrome's. 'I must say I am curious to your reasoning. My powers are rather limited in my current state even when I possess this unique girl's body. I can only stay for a short period of time.'
'Even so, I want you to become Tsuna's Guardian of the Mist...'
'D-dad? You were the one to give him the half ring?' Tsuna wondered as the surroundings changed one last time. He saw a shorter version of himself with little mouse ears scurrying away from a long table covered with tea sets and pastries. A Kyoko with rabbit ears and a Haru with cat appendages sat on one end engrossed in their own conversation and on the other end was Ashlynn dressed as Alice and Mukuro as the Cheshire cat.
'Defeat means friendship apparently.' The girl said, the next words exchanged became static before he was able to hear what was being said. 'Because our group is the only one that is training with Tsuna and building trust with him. I just find really convenient that we apparently have an affinity with the correct rings. And this could probably be punishment for you trying to possess Tsuna in the first place. I think you were chosen because they thought of you at the last second and you also 'conveniently' had a strong affinity that was suited to the left over ring...'
'Kufufu, how cruel.'
'Well, having a strong affinity in the first places helped the decision didn't it? Besides, now that you can be considered part of the Vongola Famiglia we could probably bust you out of Vindice. What sort of Guardian protects the Boss while in an impenetrable prison?'
'I am here now aren't I?'
'Point.' Ashlynn conceded smoothing out the skirt of her dress. 'But then again this is a dream.'
'You will have to wait and see Ashlynn-kun. Kufufufu.'
Then the underwater tank full with the chains flashed before his eyes once more. 'I...I didn't know...I didn't know that was what you were enduring...' Tsuna blinked finding himself back where he started with Gokudera and Yamamoto at his side. He looked over to Mukuro, battling, twirling his trident in front of him to ward of the onslaught of the many Mammon's trying to push back his defense, for them. "Mukuro."
"L-Lambo-san doesn't feel so good." The child whimpered.
Ashlynn blinked moving him from her hip to hold him steadily in her arms; his face pressed into her neck, and began to sway in a slight rocking motion. Dolly frowned rubbing two fingers against her temple to fend against the growing migraine.
"That's enough!" The real Mammon passed through and swallowed the male into his hood; Fantasma still in a ring biting his own tail grew spikes inward along his sides and squeezed into the covered body.
"Mukuro-sama!" Ken cried stepping forward before Chikusa grabbed his shoulder.
"Kufufufu."
Mammon's body exploded, lotus flowers and vines erupted from the coated flesh; completely destroying it. "Descent into Hell and return again." Mukuro held up his hand showing off the two half pieces of the Mist ring. "I just have to rejoin both together, correct."
The Cervello nodded a little shakily. "Ye-yes. That is correct."
"No way...Mammon." Levi gaped.
Basil sighed in relief. "He won the battle!"
"No! I'm-I'm not finished yet!" Mammon announced his presence fading back into view crawling towards a blank faced Mukuro. "Haaaaa...Haaaaa. You truly think that this is the full extent of my power...I'll...show you, you cocky upstart...I will defe-!" He froze in place.
Mukuro sighed almost pityingly running a hand through his bangs. "You know very well, don't you...? When your own illusory techniques are countered by another illusionist..." Mukuro smiled facing the Arcobaleno as Fantasma lowered himself from above his master's head to constrict instead around his neck. "Kufufufu. You have completely lost control of your own perceptions."
"N-no! Fant-asma" Mammon gasped, his tiny hands grasping on his familiar's scales. "Stop! F-Fantasma! I-I order you to stop! Fantasma...! C-cease. At once!"
"What do you think, Arcobaleno? Is my power too much for you?" Mukuro asked forming a black hole beneath his faltering enemy. "Kufuhahahaha! The reason why you will lose...was because you had to face me. This is the end for you."
"No! Gyaaaaah!"
Tsuna shrieked covering his eyes from the blast of light and when he peeked them open again he sighed in relief when the building reverted back to its original state, Mukuro landing on one knee in the middle of the court with the joined Vongola ring in his hand and Mammon nowhere in sight.
Mukuro rose to his feet showing the two Cervello women the completed ring. "...Is this acceptable?"
The women glanced at each other before nodding. "Yes. The Mist ring now belongs to Dokuro Chrome. With that, the winner of the scramble battle is Dokuro Chrome."
"That Viper..." Colonello trailed off.
Bel giggled softly. "Ripped to shreds."
Tsuna frowned deeply. "Did...did you really have to go that far? There was no reason to actually-"
"Hmph." Mukuro scoffed turning his eyes to the boy. "Even now, you are showing empathy towards your enemies...just how naive are you going to get, Sawada Tsunayoshi?"
Tsuna flinched. Gokudera scowled. Ryohei, Yamamoto, and Basil blinked.
The illusionist shook his head. "There is no need to worry so...I should say. That baby managed to escape. From the very beginning he had every intention of reserving enough energy to escape...he is a shrewd one, that Arcobaleno."
Xanxus still in his chair merely opened his eyes as if waking from a nap. "...Gola Mosca. Once the contest battles are over, eliminate Mammon."
The hulking figure blew smoke from its mask in ascent.
"Kufufu. My, you really are the dark side of the mafia, aren't you, Xanxus?"
"..."
"Even I would feel awed at this terrifying scheme you've thought up."
Reborn stiffened landing back to the ground with Leon changing reverting back to his original shape on his master's hat.
Mukuro smiled benignly. "But I have no intention of poking my nose in your business. Because I am not such a nice human being. Just one thing, though...the other candidate for successor, though smaller, weaker, and more naive than yourself...still is not someone you should trifle with, for your own good."
'M-Mukuro...?' Tsuna opened his mouth then closed it. 'Was that...?'
"Kufufufu." Mukuro turned his back on the Varia Boss and made his way towards his 'Team'.
Ken cheered. "That was amazing, Mukuro-sama! You kicked ass!"
"You bastard!" Gokudera snarled pulling out sticks of dynamite much to the Kokuyo leader's amusement.
"Oi, Gokudera..." Yamamoto grabbed his shoulder.
"It's good to be so vigilant." Mukuro commented lightly holding the Mist ring in his palm. "But I have no intention of colluding with the mafia either. Let me make this clear, Sawada Tsunayoshi: I have only become you Guardian of the Mist for one reason and that is to assert myself in a better position to possess your body. And what a way to do so, don't you think?"
"What!" Gokudera moved himself in front of Tsuna.
"Mukuro..." The boy in question lowered his eyes. '...you're...that was a lie right there...'
"Thou wish to possess Lord Sawada's body?" Basil questioned looking to Reborn instead for an answer. The Arcobaleno said nothing but stared at the illusionist thoughtfully.
"Hmmm?" Mukuro tilted his head stepping towards Ashlynn who had yet to say anything, fully expecting the girl to call him out on his claim. Ignoring the hard stare from the woman besides her he reached a hand out to tug lightly on bloodied tresses of hair. "My Principessa, are you in shock? What was it that you saw in the future I wonder...? I must say I've become curious. Kufufufu."
She blinked at him flaring her nostrils as she exhaled yet said nothing. He turned to face Tsuna who moved out from behind Gokudera giving Ashlynn a worried glance.
"Still...Mukuro..." He trailed off for a moment. "...Thanks."
He nodded. "...A little...tired now...this girl..." Mukuro's eyes closed falling forward off-balance, letting go of his possession of Chrome, the girl falling for the ground but was caught by Ashlynn's arm. Dolly moved to take the girl but Ashlynn quickly shook her head holding out Lambo for her to take instead so she could move Chrome to rest on her back.
"He's turned back into a girl!" Ryohei yelled shocked by the sudden change.
Fon shifted from atop Dolly's shoulder. "He was reckless, that Mukuro."
"He expended a lot of power to transform himself into reality...he probably won't appear before us for a little while." Reborn hummed. "And don't worry, Tsuna." He said just as the boy had a sudden look of worry on his face.
"Chrome's illusory organs are back in place thanks to Mukuro."
Tsuna sighed. "She's...asleep?"
"Looks like it, kora." Colonello observed.
"She gets tired easily. So much for humans." Ken said a scowl on his face as he and Chikusa started making their way to the doors.
"W-What! You're just going to leave her here? Isn't she apart of your group?" Tsuna cried. 'A-And! You're a human too!'
Ken paused to turn and glare while Chikusa kept walking. "Che. We're not her babysitters. That chick has her so she can walk back when she wakes up. Besides, it's not like she's really Mukuro-sama." He scoffed at the group before jogging to catch up with the other boy and the two disappeared out the door
Tsuna gaped at their disregard as they left then furrowed his brows in thought. '...That's right...Mukuro is in that pitch black place in that cage...'
"Don't sympathize with him." Reborn warned. "Don't ever forget what Mukuro has done to you."
The Cervello stepped forward cutting off whatever Tsuna was about to say. "The results of the battles so far are this: Three wins to one in Sawada Tsunayoshi's favor. However to test the competency of the Guardian we shall still hold the battle for the Ring of Cloud."
"What?" Gokudera demanded. "Even though we've won the majority of the rings? And when you say 'testing the competency'...you mean to say that Ashlynn will definitely have to fight again?"
"As I said, this is to test the competency of the Cloud Guardian." The woman reiterated ignoring the question regarding the Lightning Guardians. "We shall continue on to the next battle tomorrow night." The woman stated. "There is also the battle for the Sky Ring which will determine the successor after that."
"Fnn. Oi Xanxus!" Reborn called. "Even if the chance of Hibari losing, the ring count still goes in our favor. Your subordinate will have to win for you to fight. What are you going to do?"
"That's right." Yamamoto murmured.
"If our Cloud loses then Sawada-Dono will have to do battle with Xanxus." Basil added.
"..."
Reborn continued. "When the time comes, you had better be prepared to admit defeat as promised. You will abdicate all rights to be the successor."
Xanxus' lip curled. "But of course. I have always respected the Vongola spirit and will honor the promise of a battle. If Mosca really loses the cloud battle, I will let you people have everything." Xanxus stood up from his chair and left the building with his three remaining Guardians following after him.
"..Just one more then..." Gokudera's body lost its tension.
Colonello crossed his arms. "You guys are too naive."
Reborn agreed. "For Xanxus to say something like that...He has every confidence that Mosca will beat Hibari." He let the thought set in before smacking the back of Tsuna's head. "Let's go Tsuna and take the stupid cow."
"Eh?" Tsuna rubbed the back of his head. "What?"
"You take the child. He live with you doesn't he?" Dolly put the child in the boy's arms. "I'm taking Ashlynn and the girl home."
"U-un... Ashlynn?" Tsuna tried.
She blinked twice shifting Chrome on her back and moved to follow Dolly but paused just as she moved past Tsuna. "It's okay, Boss. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"M'Lady?" Basil worried his lip. Even Gokudera looked up as it was one of the very few times Ashlynn called Tsuna 'Boss'.
Colonello shook his head. "Let's go. Ryohei we have to get back before Kyoko wakes up and finds us gone again."
"Ahh! That's right! We can't let Kyoko worry!"
Ashlynn's eyes were dazed but she was still able to walk without any trouble but was eerily silent and somber on the way home as she carried Chrome on her back, declining when Dolly offered to carry the girl even though Ashlynn knew that she was getting the sleeping girl dirty from the blood that had seeped into her own clothing, still she shook her head and kept Chrome on her back as they made their way through the streets of Namimori. She needed some kind of contact with a living breathing human being since Tsuna had taken Lambo home with him and Fon was riding atop Dolly's shoulder.
'...In the future...Tsuna and all of the Arcobaleno save for Lal are dead...or they will be soon enough...'
For a split second Ashlynn had thought her present arm would be switched with her older self's limb before she was brought to the future with all her limbs fully intact without any switching of body parts with her older self. When the smoke that blocked her vision cleared she immediately wished that her arm had been switched.
Even though Fon and Keiko had helped get somewhat used to the idea that she would have to kill another person, whether for the sake of a mission or to preserve her own life from whoever tried to attempt to take her life. She had cut through number upon number of men and women (even if they were illusions), she had hunted the wildlife in that forest and she had gutted them with Fon's supervision...it hadn't prepared her enough...not even close enough to prepare her for what she saw when during that five minutes in the future.
There was so much blood.
It hadn't matter where she tried to look, there was blood, and it was too late to close her eyes to the sight of it because she would still be able to see it even if she could clench her eyes shut from the view.
Bodies were strewn around, 'in a warehouse' the back of her mind supplied, in different states of gore and showed the beginning of decay. At least thirty to forty men and women were dead all around her; some face down on the floor but there was a good many more that laid on their backs with their soulless eyes staring up into nothing. There were bones protruding from skin if they weren't obviously broken or dislocated, guts spilling from chest cavities, brains leaking from skulls, necks twisted unnaturally to the side, one or two no longer had a face, there were severed heads along with limbs that were scattered about the building. And the blood; it was literally everywhere: from being puddles in great quantities on the floor, to being splattered on the walls, trailers, boxes and even leading up staircases and the closest emergency ladder where, according to the motionless body at the foot of it, someone had tried to escape from the carnage.
She felt her breath become shallow as she opted to breathe through her mouth to keep from smelling the overpowering stench of death that permeated the air but it still made her eyes, still wide in horrified shock, water.
She certainly wasn't ready for the hand that came from behind touching her shoulder and Ashlynn gave a startled shrill yell as she tore herself away tripping herself over the closest cold body and falling onto her side on the bloody floor next to another body where she yelped when she came face to face with it. Ashlynn scrambled away, dirtying her forearms, hands, and parts of her hair bloody red as she pulled herself back to her feet.
"Che, the Ten year Bazooka, what bad timing." A woman's voice cut in through the silence.
Ashlynn looked to see a mop of long blue hair, white and red infrared goggles and a beige cloak that turned into red the closer it was to the bottom of the cloth. Ashlynn sorely hoped that the red wasn't from blood.
"Come on girl. We need to move away from here. I can't wait for five minutes to be up for you to switch. Let's go." The woman ordered walking forward and grabbing her arm to help her up then jerked her head to a door leading outside.
"...You..."
"My name... is Lal Mirch."
"..The Arcobaleno?"
The woman hummed deep in her throat, but not in an affirmative or a negative. "...A corrupted one...I can't exactly live up to the standard of the other Arcobaleno... You and I were on our last job here."
Ashlynn shook her head. She didn't want to be anywhere near those scattered corpses, even now they were coming across a few as the made their way out of the building and into the sun where Ashlynn saw more people on the ground surrounded by blood. She kept her eyes glued to Lal's back as the woman lead her into the surrounding forest area where Ashlynn quickly pressed her hands to a tree and lost her stomach's contents.
"I..." Ashlynn started when she was able to calm down somewhat to speak. "...I...I did this."
"You will do this." Lal hummed correcting her. "If you don't think you can handle it then don't bother joining Sawada's mafia Family."
'I'm already too involved in the story...' Ashlynn shook her head. "..No...It's, it's far too late for any second thoughts now... and we're in the middle of battling for the half rings. I can't...I can't abandon them. I won't desert them when they need me to be there. I won't allow a five year old to fight in my place."
"Whatever helps you come to terms with it. You will kill, people will die and you will have to get used to that. Let's go, we're still too close. Even though information has shown that this base was too far out of the way, I don't want to be taking any chances and I am on a schedule here and you don't have the means to battle efficiently in this era."
'You need to be in Japan...to meet with younger Tsuna and Gokudera...to bring them to Namimori's hidden underground base.' Ashlynn nodded and quickly caught up to the woman and followed the woman as Lal nodded and began leading her with a brisk jogging pace and switched back only moments after.
Ashlynn hopped a little in her next two steps to get Chrome higher on her back and keep the girl from slipping off as they entered the complex. 'Then the moment I come back to the present I get nearly knocked on my ass from vertigo...I have decided...that I really don't like illusions...'
Dolly stepped in front of her unlocking the door and leading the group towards the bedroom, taking Chrome from her and laid the sleeping girl on the bed and knowing that Ashlynn wouldn't mind she dug into the dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and some shorts from Chrome to wear in bed instead of staying in her bloody uniform.
"Miss Ashlynn?"
She jumped a little looking down at Fon by her feet. The Arcobaleno patted the side of her calf and nodded for the bathroom. She silently picked him up, cradling him into her and walked into the room, undressing and began to scrub hard against the dirt and blood off of her skin.
It was morbidly fascinating...seeing all that red in the water swirling around the drain where it disappeared... before more rushed to the hole in the tiled flooring as she washed more and more off of her body, rinsing, lathering, and repeating the motions three times for both her and the small body in front of her before Fon reached to tap her knee to get her attention off of the drain.
"I believe that is enough, Miss Ashlynn. The blood has been cleaned off. You need to rest now."
She nodded grabbing towels to dry them off. Fon pulled on a pair of sleeping robes from a bag she had no idea he had. She sighed, breathing through her nose as she opened the door back to the room finding Dolly gone and Chrome tucked into bed. She pulled out some underthings, a large t-shirt, dressed herself, re-braided Fon's hair, and then braided her own before picking up the infant and slipping into bed next to Chrome.
One of my favorite lines of this chapter was Dolly declared she'd have a talk with any 'Shameless little Bastards'. Couldn't stop my giggling when I typed it down.
Some Italian translation for you:
"Lo sono chiamato Chrome." == "Negative. I am called Chrome."
"E nemmeno si, piccolo. Queste battaglie sono molto importnant alla tua famiglia." == "And neither will you, little one. These battles are important to your Family."
