CHAPTER 24- Unsealing the Arceo Rings
We rode on the limousines going to the Cielo HQ with the same groupings. It's been two years since I left Japan and I can't help but be amazed on how some things change for those years. The Cielo HQ is located in the area of Tokyo but even though Tokyo is a populated area, the HQ stands on an area that makes you feel like you're in a rural area.
The Cielo HQ is smaller in size to the Vongola HQ but it is still very grand. I can't help but be amazed of the place, and to think that my mom owns this.
We got off and waiting at the front doors are some maids. They got our luggage and placed them in our respective rooms in which they will lead us later. The maids greeted us the same way the butlers greeted us later. Once again they looked at me and greeted me a 'welcome home Hime-sama'. As we entered the HQ, three butlers appeared in front of us.
"Good morning everyone, I know you're all sleepy that is why we'll lead you to your rooms".
The Vongola Boss and Guardians' rooms are still on the North, the Arceo in the South, and the Arcobalenos are in the East. I slept in my original room which was located in the North Wing.
At six in the morning, my Mom woke me up and told me to get bathed. I followed what she said and later she dragged me to a room.
"Tsuna, wear that dress okay, it'll be needed for the ritual", she said and pointed at a dress hanged outside the wardrobe." Okay, I'll still have to do some things for the ritual so just stay here okay?"
I looked around the room and I saw a make-up kit, some jewellery, and a pair of white heeled sandals that matches with the dress. I did the make-up myself and just made it light. I wore the rainbow colored earrings and necklace placed on the desk. I fitted the sandals and lastly put on the dress. Finally, I placed the prepared tiara with the Cielo seal on my head.
"All done", I said and looked at the time. It is already 7 AM, time for breakfast. As if reading my thoughts a knock sounded from the door and a maid entered holding a tray filled with food.
"The Queen asked me to deliver this to you Hime-sama. You are instructed not to go out before the start of the ritual", the maid said and went out the room. "By the way Hime, the ritual starts at 9 AM"
"Thank you for the information", I told the maid and looked at my dress again. It is white in color and is outlined with gold in some places. In the waist area the eight colors of the eight different flames spreads and drape over the white cloth like a cape. The neckline is designed in a Cowl style.
Two hours slowly passed and once again a knock was heard on the door this time it was my Mother who opened it. She is wearing a light pink dress with a red cape draped over with the Cielo Family crest.
"Ready Tsuna?" she asked me and looked at me. "As I've expected that dress suits you"
"Thank you Mama", I responded and went beside her. Together we went outside the room and walked to the secret hallway leading to the room adjoining the room where the ritual will be held. I took a small glimpse at them and they were all having fun outside.
"I'll leave you here okay?" my Mom said and went out of the room to join the others.
"I wonder what I should even do at the ritual, I don't even know how to make the Arceo rings appear", I whispered and just sat at the center of the room where the Cielo crest was engraved.
'That's why you were told to stay in this room, I'll teach you everything you must know', a voice said and Sheila appeared in front of me. 'It's time for the Arceo Rings to be unsealed'.
With that said, Sheila placed a finger on my forehead and it glowed an orange light. In just a few minutes I learned everything. Sheila just gave me a smile and slowly disappeared.
I took a peek outside and saw that all the Arceo are already grouped together and the Vongola Guardians and the Arcobalenos are sitting in the sidelines beside my Mom. The room where the ritual will happen is a big one with sofas and chairs at the sides. In the center of the room is the crest of both Cielo and Vongola families. My Mom must have noticed me and gave me a nod, a signal that I should enter the room and start the ritual.
I gathered my courage and went out of my room and arrived at the ritual room. Silence overcome the place and I was filled with nervousness. What if I fail doing the ritual? What if I hurt the Arceo in the process? I can't help but think of those things as I entered the room. When I was near the Arceo I closed my eyes and concentrated. I opened them again only to see all the Arceo smiling at me and I gave them a smile in return.
I began to chant the spell taught by Sheila herself earlier.
Sentiero della Luce Svelata aperto le tue porte e ciò che cerchiamo. Mostra il modo in cui dobbiamo camminare. Sbloccare i fermi That Bind ciò che è stato sigillato e riportare ciò che era perduto. In nome del Cielo, io ti comando per l'invisibile anelli Arceo.
(Path of Light, open your gates and unveil what we seek. Show the way in where we must walk. Release the locks that bind what was sealed and bring back what was lost. In the name of the Sky, I command thee to unseal the Arceo rings)
After I said those words a white light illuminated the whole place and eight different colors bursted out and formed a circle around me and the Arceo.
So far so good. The next thing I did was knelt on the place where the Vongola and Cielo crests meet. I started to sing a song that I myself didn't know but my mouth jut started to move.
Spinning the roulette of destiny
I was watching you all the time
At that time both crests started to glow with an orange light and an orange circle materialized around me and the Arceo.
Why is it that in spite of me being this happy
Gazing at the horizon makes me sad?
It feels as if I'm looking at the me from that time from faraway
I slowly got up and spread my arms that started to emit Sky flames.
Spinning the roulette of destiny
These and those things that I think deeply about are Mysteries
Look, the person of my destiny is there
I was watching you all the time
Looking up at the blue sky with a wink
It's like even from this high place, I can fly
If I bring up my speed and look through a telescope
I can see the future
Eight different beams of light shot out from nowhere and a recognizable box was starting to form in the center of the eight of us.
Spinning the roulette of destiny
To where I go can I meet my memories?
The tiny us on the blue Earth
Are still evolving now
I extended my hands towards the direction of the box and it slowly materialized and went nearer to me.
Spinning the roulette of destiny
Wings of when I depart are bravely
Look, at anytime luck is waiting
I was watching you all the time
I was watching you all the time
When the song ended I closed my eyes and prayed for the prosperity of the present generation of the Vongola. When I opened my eyes, I saw a mirror but reflected on it is not me but Sheila giving me a wink.
'Be a good Arceo Sky Protector Tsunayuki Sheila di Cielo' she said and promptly disappeared.
"So now, we're done we'll just have to distribute the rings", my mother said and got hold of the brown box that has the Vongola crest in front and is designed with golden swirls.
"I will", I said and everyone looked at me.
"What do you mean, Tsuna?" Knuckles asked and I waved my hands in front of me, I said those words as my response to what Sheila said.
"It's nothing Knuckles. Don't mind about it", I said and continued to stare at the empty place where Sheila was last standing.
"Don't tell me the First Arceo Sky Protector showed herself to you", Ira asked and I continued to be silent. Ira widened her eyes when I gave her a small smile. "She appeared in front of you?"
"Just now, and earlier before the ritual began", I answered her question and Ira's mouth continued to stay open.
Wondering why Ira went with us here in Japan? I don't know myself but I heard she invited herself sprouting nonsense things about being one of the higher members in the Vongola and can participate in anything related to the Vongola. Giotto and the others seems to be already used to it.
The others also remained quiet until my mother told us to eat lunch in the gardens. I separated from the group and went to my room to change my dress. I was about to rummage in the closet when I saw an attire placed on my bed with a note from my mother.
'I know you'll want to change so wear this for lunch. Love, Mom'
The dress is gray in color and ends up at knee length. The neckline is in a short v neck with puffs in the shoulder. There is a white collar and the upper portion is designed with white ruffles near the button area. The waist part is designed with a white belt.
Beside the dress is a black cloak outlined with white with a logo of the Cielo family printed at the back. I hurriedly dressed my clothes and clipped the cloak over. I got a pair of ankle length white boots to match the attire and went my way to the gardens after asking directions from the maids.
As I was near the gazebo where lunch is prepared I heard a voice coming from my mother.
"Following the tradition of the Arceo induction, the Vongola Boss and his Guardians are required to present the rings themselves to the Protector with the same element", my mother said and a laughter, chuckle, and protests can be heard.
"What do you mean Mama Sherry? I've never even accepted her as the Storm Protector so why should I present her the Arceo ring", G said and a protest came from Hayate.
"As if I need your acceptance, Ouji-sama and the Arcobalenos accepted us already and you can't do anything about it", Hayate retorted.
So far they are the only ones arguing and the others are happily cheering, in the case of Arisa and Takeshi, they are close friends and well the others are siblings and related to each other, in Chrome's case Elena is her future sister-in-law.
"Hime-sama do you need anything", the maid noticed my presence and must have thought that I needed something and that's why my presence was known to everyone.
"Tsuna, why didn't you tell us your here already, come sit down here", my mother said and I sat at her left and across me is Giotto.
"As I was telling the others earlier, the Vongola Boss and Guardians are the one who must place the ring on your finger", my Mom said and smiled.
"What? But you only said that they will present it to them earlier. Why do they have to place the rings on their fingers? It looks like they are proposing", Ira said Mom just shook her head.
"No protesting, what I said is final so do it now", my mother said and just ignored Ira's statement. "First of all is the induction of the Snow Protector"
With that said Elena got the Snow Arceo Ring from the box and told Chrome to extend her right hand.
"I give to you this ring which serves as the symbol of your responsibility to be the Snow Protector of the Arceo. I hope that you stay like the Snow, and continue to protect the Vongola", Elena said and slipped the ring with the apricot gem on Chrome's finger. The two then smiled at each other and went to sit again.
Next to be inducted is the Mist Protector and both brothers, Daemon and Mukuro stood up.
"Dear brother, I know you have the capability to be the Mist Protector because you are my younger brother after all", Daemon said with a smirk on his face which Mukuro also did. "I present to you the Mist Arceo Ring as a sign of your responsibility to be the Mist that protects the family".
With this said, Daemon grabbed the ring with an indigo-colored gem and slipped it on Mukuro's fingers and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
Third to be inducted is the Cloud Protector. Viole grabbed Kyoya's hand and slipped the ring with the violet-colored gem and went to sit down again.
"Viole, a couple of words please", my Mom said and a very reluctant Viole starts her very short speech.
"You are an omnivore so be like the Cloud", she said and went to sit down again.
Fourth is the induction of the Sun Protector. Knuckles got the ring with the yellow-colored gem and slipped it on Rhea's finger.
"I deem you to be the Sun Protector of the Vongola and may this ring serve as a reminder of your responsibility to remain as the brilliant Sun in the family", Knuckles said and hugged Rhea. After that they both went to sit down.
Fifth to be inducted is the Lightning Protector. Lampo lazily got the ring with the green-colored gem and slipped it on Laela's finger.
"You are like me so of course you are worthy to be the Lightning Protector", Lampo said and all of us sweatdropped. "Be the ideal Lightning of the family and may this ring serve as the reminder of your responsibility"
Laela hugged her brother and both went to sit down and continue to eat the candies on the table.
"So, only three remains right and these three are the ones with the most important position in the Arceo, so let's start with the Rain Protector followed by the Storm Protector and lastly the Sky Protector", my Mom said and Arisa and Takeshi stood up. "This time however the three must give a pledge or a promise to the one who gave them the ring"
Arisa then went to grab the ring with the blue-colored gem and slipped it on Takeshi's finger.
"Years knowing you, I know that you have the ability and potential to be the Rain Protector of the Arceo and also to be the left hand to your Arceo Boss", Arisa said and looked at me. "I present to you this ring as a sign that I have deemed you to be worthy of your position and as a symbol of your responsibility in the family"
Takeshi-nii gave a grin and grabbed Arisa's hand that made her blush.
"I as the Rain Protector of the Arceo swore to be loyal to the Vongola and continue to protect it from any harm. I promise to be a good left-hand man to Tsuna and be the Rain who washes away everything", Takeshi said and looked at me when he said those lines about being a good left-hand man. After that they both shook hands and went back to sit down.
G then stood up and got the ring with a red-colored gem but Hayate continued to sit down. I nudged her shoulder and what I saw gave me a shock. Hayate is blushing! When she realized that I saw her state, she moved aback her chair in a shock.
"Hime-sama...I...", Hayate said and I just gave her a smile.
"Don't worry I'll keep it a secret", with that said I pinched her cheeks so that the others will think that her face was red because of my doing.
That continued for three minutes until a growl came from G who had remained standing in the past minutes. I motioned Hayate to stand up in which she did and G started his speech.
"Just so you know, I don't like you. I don't know why Giotto deemed you to be the worthy members of the Arceo most especially you...", G said and I noticed Hayate trembling in anger and interrupted G in his speech.
"I told you before that I don't like you and I never will and besides I don't need your acceptance in this family. So stop being a jerk and don't think that I have feelings for you", Hayate shouted and motioned to run out from the gazebo.
"Hayate, calm down", I said and grabbed Hayate's arm. I don't know what happened but as I touched her arm, pain enveloped my whole body and the visible crest of the Cielo family appeared in my arms. My vision became blurry and I shouted in pain and slumped down. The last thing I heard was the worried shouts of everyone and Hayate's scream of 'Hime-sama'.
DISCLAIMER:Katekyo Hitman Reborn is Akira Amano's property and the song Unmei no Roulette Mawashite is by Zard and is also the Opening 4 of Detective Conan