Chapter 20: The Battle of Snow
The next day, Tsuna and Kouga continue with their training however, Kouga seems to be distracted while sparing with HDW brunette as Reborn notices this.
"Is there something wrong, Kouga?" He asks. "You seemed to be distracted."
"Eh? Ah, it's nothing." Kouga replies.
"Reborn's right." Tsuna points out as the flame sizzles out. "Can you tell us what's wrong, Kouga-san?"
Kouga looks down as he lowers his sword and walks away a bit to the cliff. "To be honest, I'm worried about Ruki."
"Ah... since Ruki-chan's battle is today." Tsuna agrees.
"That's not what I mean." Kouga states which confuse the brunette. "I want to support Ruki, but she has a habit."
"A habit?"
"If her opponent notices this, then Ruki doesn't have a chance."
"Sonna!"
"So what is this habit of hers?" Reborn asks.
"It's her footwork. When she about to attack her left feet comes up first and then attack. It always like that."
"If Ruki's opponent, Allena, notices this then it's going to be a problem." Reborn says.
"But is it possible for her to notice that?" Tsuna asks.
"Of course, the speed of her attack is impossible to notice this, but if the Varia is experienced enough..." Kouga trails off.
At Mitsurugi household
Ruki is sitting in the middle of the dojo with her weapon lying in front of her as she meditates with her eyes closed.
"Ruki." The said girl opens her eyes and turns to see her grandmother, Haruka standing behind her with a black box in her hand.
"Obaa-chan." The white-haired girl calls and turns her body around as Haruka sits in front of her.
"I heard from your father that today you have an important match, right?" The elderly woman asks.
"Hai. My opponent looked very strong." Ruki admits. "But don't worry, no matter what I'll win."
"That's good."
"By the way, why did you come to see me?"
"I came to give you this." Haruka says as she pushes the box towards Ruki and opens the lid to see what's inside and widens her eyes.
"Obaa-chan, this is-!"
"This is something both your mother and I have made. At first, it was your mother's idea to make this for you when a day like this came."
Ruki picks up a cloth from the box and hugs it. "Thank you, Obaa-chan. I'll do my best."
While coming to Nami-Middle, Kouga receives a message from Ruki that she will be there once she gets ready and tells them to go on ahead without her. Once he, Tsuna and Reborn reach to the school, they hear their friends calling them.
"Oi, Tsuna, Kouga!" Yamamoto calls out as he, Gokudera, and Ryohei come up to them.
"Juudaime!" Gokudera calls out.
"Yamamoto, Gokudera-kun, Onii-san." Tsuna calls out.
"Yo." Kouga greets.
"Ah, Yamamoto, is your eye all right?" Tsuna asks as he spots a blindfold bandage on the baseball ace's right eye.
"Yeah!" Yamamoto points the bandaged eye. "Romario-ossan was taking precautions."
"T-Thank goodness."
"Huh? Where's your sister, Kouga?"
"She still at home getting ready." Kouga replies.
"Geez, what is taking her?" Gokudera growls.
"I don't think you should be the one saying that." The black-haired teen points out.
"What did you say?!"
"Maa, maa." Yamamoto calms the silverette down.
"Anyway, isn't going to be bad if Ruki comes here too late?" Ryohei asks.
"Don't worry, she'll be here on time."
"It'll be better that she didn't come." A voice says causing the group to turn around to see the black-haired Varia woman standing on the school entrance ceiling.
"That's..." Tsuna trails off.
"Ruki's opponent." Kouga finishes.
"Allena." Reborn adds.
Allena then yawns sleepily on her hand. "I want to hurry up and finish this so that I can take my sleep."
"Is she underestimating us?" Gokudera questions.
"Is she that confident her win or…" Reborn trails off.
"You shouldn't belittle my sister." Kouga states. "I know better than anyone here that she has the strength to beat you."
Allena looks at the teen with intrigue before the Cervello lands next to her. "Tonight's combat field is the school pool."
"Okay. Show me the way." Allena says and the Cervello leads the female assassin to the pool.
"They said the pool right?" Ryohei asks.
"Yeah, let's go." Tsuna says and the group starts to go to the pool area until they hear a familiar voice.
"Wait!" They stop and turn around to see Ruki surprised at what she is wearing. She wears a white and black kimono that reaches to her knees with the sleeves has blue underneath and snowflakes spread all over the cloth; she also wears black stockings with beige diamonds around the top of it and white sandals. Ruki also sports her tessen banding against her legs and her sword by her hip.
"Ruki...chan?" Tsuna calls out.
"Hai." The white-haired girl nods confirm.
"Wow... That outfit really suits you." Yamamoto complements.
"Yeah." Ryohei nods.
"Thank you very much." Ruki blushes.
"Did Kaa-san and Baa-chan made it?" Kouga asks.
"Yeah. But now is not the time."
"That's right. The combat field is at the school pool." Tsuna tells her.
"Let's go." Kouga says and they immediately go to where the pool is.
As they run to there, the group feel cold mist at their feet as they get closer to the pool and when they get there, they are surprised what they have done to it.
"W-Where did all this ice come from!" Tsuna shouts as the pool is covered by thick ice sheet along with semi-tall ice spikes all over the field.
"It's amazing how they prepare this at a short amount of time." Yamamoto points out.
"! Onii-sama!" Ruki alerts her brother as both see Allena already standing on the field as the other Varia are standing behind the female assassin.
"Looks like she was kind enough to wait for you." Kouga says.
"Yeah..." Tsuna nods and spots Xanxus sitting on his chair with his eyes closed.
"This is the combat field for the Snow match: Tundra Field. During the match, there are four machines set at the four corners of the pool edge will send out frigid winds blowing through."
"Shishishi. This is perfect for Allena." Bel says.
"Yeah." Mammon agrees.
"Yosh! We're going to do the usual!" Ryohei announces and the group gets into a circle. "Ruki, FIGHT!"
"OH!"
"Then, will the Guardian of Snow please come to the center?" The Cervello tells the two. As soon as Ruki step into the field, lasers are spread around the group and her ring is examined along with her opponent's. "We've confirmed that they have their halves of the Half Vongola Rings."
"I heard from your brother," Adella tells her, "that you have the strength to beat me." Ruki doesn't answer. "But, there is no way you can beat me."
"Let see about that." The white-haired girl retorts. "I will do everything I can for Tsuna-san and Onii-sama's sake."
"Without further ado, the Ring of Snow, Allena vs. Ruki Lanceford Mitsurugi, Battle Start!"
All at once, four machines blast frigid wind into the field causing cold white smoke to rise as the group cover their faces from the sudden blast.
"What strong wind!" Ryohei shouts.
"So cold!" Tsuna cries out and looks at Kouga. "Kouga-san, is Ruki-chan going to be okay with this kind of cold?"
"'Don't worry' is what I want to say. It's going to be a matter of time before the cold hit her." Kouga says, staring at the field.
"Sonna!" The brunette cries out and looks at the field.
At the field with Ruki, she has her eyes closed as the cold wind blows through her with her sword and tessen out and just then she hears a slight noise to her left and blocks the oncoming attack from a broadsword that the female assassin uses with her tessen which surprises Allena.
"How did you know where I was going to attack through all this wind?" The black-haired assassin questions.
"My grandmother trained my listening skills for a card game only in this country. Even the tiniest sound you make I can hear."
"But you won't defeat me just that." Allena states as she and Ruki separate themselves from the lock and when the assassin lands, she sees the white-haired girl lifting her sword into an inside stance.
"Mitsurugi Ryu..." In high speed, Ruki rushes towards Allena before the Varia can do anything. "Tenke." And the younger Lanceford about to strike her but the woman dodges at a spit second as Ruki leaves a thin scratch line on her cheek.
"Hayai!" Yamamoto cries out.
"I've never seen anything like that!" Basil exclaims.
"Mitsurugi sword style-" Kouga begins as the group looks at him, "is a style that prioritizes the speed but delivers devastating attacks. That's what our dad told us about this style."
"A style that prioritizes speed..." Tsuna repeats.
"That sounds like an assassin." Gokudera says.
"But it is a true sword style since it was born during the Warring States." Kouga adds.
"Eh?! From the Warring States!" Tsuna shouts.
"I see. That's why Mitsurugi Ryu is like that." Reborn says.
"Well, it wasn't until my dad found a scroll about it in the storehouse at my home when he was about my age." The black-haired teen says.
"Your grandparents didn't teach your dad how to use a sword?" Tsuna asks.
"Yeah. He was self-taught by reading the scroll and with help from Grandpa Dan when dad was studying abroad in America."
"This is a surprise." Bel says.
"This is the first time that someone else other than Aaron land a scratch on Allena." Mammon says.
The female assassin jumps back a few times before skids to a stop, making some distance between her and Ruki. "I thought fighting for the rings was too bothersome since I already got my position as the Snow Guardian." Allena thought and stares at Ruki who still has her eyes closed. "But this girl is serious about this battle." "Then it can't be helped." Allena mutters and the drowsiness in her eyes disappears as they are sharpened. "Looks like I have to get serious now."
Ruki then feels a sudden chill down her spine causing the girl to position herself. Not just the white-haired girl, the group also feel the same chill when they saw Allena's eyes changed.
"Is it just me or did the air around that person changed?" Tsuna asks.
"That wasn't just you, Tsuna." Kouga tells the brunette.
"Yeah." Yamamoto nods.
"That woman is bad news." Gokudera comments.
"Even I can tell that this is going to be bad." Ryohei adds.
"Ruki-dono." Basil mutters.
"Allena finally going to get serious." Mammon comments.
"Shishishi. I wonder how that girl is going to stay alive." Bel asks.
"The air around her changed. Was she hold back from that first strike?" Ruki questions in her head but shakes off the thought. "There's no point for me to think about that. Right now, I need to think of a way to beat her and complete the ring." Then the girl crosses her arms in front of her which alerts Kouga from this.
"Don't, Ruki!" Kouga shouts causing the others to look at him.
"What's wrong, Kouga-san?" Tsuna asks.
However, Kouga ignores the brunette's question. "Ruki, do you have any ideas what might happen if you use that move?!"
"I know, Onii-sama." Ruki confirms. "But this is the only way."
"But your body will-!"
"Trust me, Onii-sama." From those words, causes Kouga to clutch his hand tightly and grit his teeth as he closes his eyes. "Thank you." Ruki whispers and snaps her eyes open. "Sekkai!" She shouts and white aura surrounds her body as her muscles slightly bulge out.
"What is that?" Tsuna questions.
"White aura?" Gokudera questions.
"That's Mitsurugi Ryu Sekkai." Kouga comments. "Sekkai is a move that can power up other moves that have 'Mitsrugi Ryu' in their name."
"Then Ruki gets the advantage." Ryohei guesses.
"Go for it, Ruki!" Yamamoto cheers.
"That's not all!" Kouga exclaims getting the attention. "Sekkai can power up the other moves, but that only temporarily."
"Temporarily?" Basil repeats.
"What will happen when the time is up?" Tsuna nervously asks.
"…When the time is up, the Sekkai effects will wear off and the body…" The black-haired teen trails off.
"Maybe," Reborn begins, "there will be a backlash from Sekkai causing severe muscle pain."
This revelation causes others to be shocked.
"Does Ruki-chan knew about this?" Tsuna asks.
"Yeah. The only time she uses Sekkai will be the last resort. That is a promise between us and our dad. But personally, I don't want her to use Sekkai at all…!" Kouga clutches his hand tighter causing his blood to draw out from his palm.
"Kouga-san…" Tsuna mutters as he and the rest stare at him.
Ruki then repositions herself as she has her sword back and an opened tessen in front of her while Allena just stares at the girl.
"Do you think that will defeat me?" The female assassin questions.
"To be honest, I never want to use this Sekkai at all." Ruki admits. "But for the sake of Tsuna-san and Onii-sama, I will use it!" She then throws her tessen up in the air brings it down by the chain as it sets into the hilt of Ruki's sword.
"The tessen is-"
"Set into the hilt?!" Gokudera finishes Tsuna off.
"That is the true form of her sword." Kouga explains and Ruki puts both hands on the grip part into a kendo stance.
"Mitsurugi Ryu…" Ruki begins and digs her feet into the ground before rushing towards Allena.
"Even though it's a different stance, you're going to use that move earlier!" The Varia shouts and her broadsword splits into two.
"The sword splits into two?!" Tsuna shrieks.
"Allena's true sword style is Nitouryu." Mammon explains. "Even the skillful hitmen were fallen by this style from Allena."
The female assassin swings one of her swords at Ruki's, however, in slow motion, the girl moves her sword away from the path with no effort which shocks Allena as Ruki continues her path of attack and about to strike the black-haired woman when she uses the other sword to block it. But that's not all, Ruki quickly detaches her tessen and slashes the woman through the clothing.
"What…?!" Allena question.
"Alright!" Ryohei cheers.
"Not yet!" Reborn alerts. "Ruki's attack is not done yet."
True to his word, Ruki continues on with her attack while Allena tries to block them. Tsuna notices the pattern Ruki is making causing the brunette to blink.
"Are…?" He says.
"You noticed?" Kouga asks.
"Yeah. The way Ruki moves looks like a circle but it's not."
"That's right." Reborn comments. "Ruki is going in and out around Allena as she attacks."
"In and out?" The brunette repeats and realizes what his tutor is saying. "A flower?"
"That's right. That is Mitsurugi Ryu…" Kouga trails off.
"Rikka." Ruki finishes as on the ground has a drawing of a six petal flower with Allena in the middle while the woman slowly collapses to the ground.
"No way. Even Allena." Bel says in disbelief.
"Not yet." Mammon says calmly when Allena slams her foot on the ground to prevent herself to collapse any further which shocks the white-haired girl.
"Not yet… I won't be defeated by a child…!" Allena exclaims.
"That shouldn't be possible!" Ruki shouts. "When the flower on the ground is formed, you should be collapsed!"
"I will tell you this, ever since I was little I had to endure harsh training to be an assassin." The woman says as she stands back straight up. "Let me show you what my real strength is."
"!" Ruki immediately gets ready to block, but Allena gets in front of her before the girl can make a move and then kicks her into one of the spikes causing the chain around her neck to fly off along with the ring.
"Ruki/-chan!" Kouga and Tsuna shout.
From the strength of the kick, forces Ruki to pass out and drops from the spike when the ice starts to crack and break into many pieces before crashes onto Ruki's form. Then Allena catches the ring and removes her's before putting together whole.
"The battle over the Ring of Snow has concluded with Allena's victory." The Cervello announces.
Tsuna quickly turns to his tutor. "Reborn."
"Don't worry." Reborn says as Leon transforms into goggles. "The infrared sensors are off."
"Ruki!" Kouga shouts as he rushes over to where his sister is.
"Wait, Kouga!" Yamamoto calls out as he and the others follow him to the rubble of ice.
Standing at the rubble, Kouga tries to move the ice away with the group joining him, but it won't move a bit.
"It's no use, the ice won't move." Ryohei says.
"Then…" Gokudera pulls on one of his dynamite.
"Don't, Gokudera." Reborn tells the silverette. "Not only you would blow off the ice, but Ruki will also be blown away."
"Then what should we do?!" He shouts.
"I might have an idea." Kouga speaks up and turns to his friends. "Can all of you to stand back."
"Kouga-san?" Tsuna asks and he and the others move back and Kouga stands in front of the ice.
The black-haired teen closes his eyes and breathes out and puts his hands out before Mako envelops his body as his hair turns to blond. Kouga then snaps his eyes open before pooling the Mako into the ice, causing it to melt.
"The ice-!" Tsuna exclaims.
"It's melting!" Gokudera finishes.
"But that's not enough." Reborn comments.
Just as Reborn said, Kouga begins to struggle to control the Mako into the ice as his hair color stops in midway.
"Ruki…" Kouga thoughts and remembers the times he had with her before stopping at when Ruki smiles at him. "I… I…!" He then shouts out and his hair changes into full blond as the Mako shines in front of him, causing the others to cover their eyes from the blindness before the light dies down. Kouga pants heavily as his eyes are covered by his now black hair while the others uncover their eyes to see Ruki lying there instead of the ice.
"Ruki/-chan/-dono!" Everyone calls out as Kouga collapses to his knees.
"Ah, Kouga-san!" Tsuna calls out as he kneels beside the black-haired teen.
"I'm fine. More importantly, how is Ruki?" He asks.
"She's all right." Reborn tells him when he checked on Ruki's pulse. "She's just unconscious."
The group sighs in relief at this.
"Thank goodness." Tsuna says.
"Yeah." Kouga agrees.
"Here I'll help you up, Kouga." Yamamoto says as he slings Kouga's arm around his shoulder.
"Sorry."
"Now, I'll announce the next match." The Cervello says getting the group attention. "Tomorrow's match will be Mist."
"Mist?" Tsuna mutters and finally realizes before freaking out. "That's right!" Tsuna shrieks towards Reborn. "What will we do, Reborn?! Where is the Mist guy?!"
Instead of answering, Reborn smirks. "It's finally their turn to shine."
Unknown to them, three figures stand above the gym building, the lack of light shielding their identity, but one happens to have a pineapple hairstyle.
A/N: Here's another Author's note, but this time it is not for the lateness of the chapter, it's the reviews about this chapter! Didn't I ask you to sends some ideas for the battle of the Snow?! I was waiting forever for the reviews to come, but not one review was sent to me! Look, I REALLY care your reviews about this story and hoping for some advice or two about my OC battles and the future battles as well. I hope this chapter was satisfying as you thought it would be, if not then PLEASE send a review.