Chapter 21: The Battle of Mist
Once the battle of the Snow is over, Kouga immediately brings Ruki to the clinic just in case before the group goes back home to rest up for the night especially Kouga since he uses most of his Mako to save his sister from the cold. The next day, the black-haired teen cam with Tsuna to continue their training and Colonnello came along to help supervise. As Kouga sits on a boulder and meditates, the brunette enters Hyper Mode; his eyes a brilliant orange and flasks alit on his foreheads and gloves.
"Is standing there like that his method of training, kora?" Colonnello asks.
"No, he's learning the timing for the Zero Point Breakthrough." Reborn tells his rival.
"Zero Point Breakthrough?" The army officer asks.
"Just watch."
Colonnello continues to watch the Tsuna standing there, his orange flames ablaze. He kept on watching as Reborn goes out with his hunter costume on while the army baby still kept on watching when Reborn brings back a boar he caught. Colonnello looks for a long time that Reborn is now burning fire to cook the recently caught boar. "Oi, Reborn, how much longer do we have to wait?"He asks the hitman tutor again.
"Just a little longer." He replies. "Once it's boiling, I'm going to put the meat in."
"Not the stew! I'm talking about his training, kora!"
"It may not happen today." Reborn says.
"Oi, kora, Reborn!" Colonnello shouts as he walks over his rival and glares at him. "Then tell me why you called me out here, kora!" He bumps his forehead with the hitman's.
"Oh, that's right." The hitman head-butts him back. "What do you think of Mammon from Varia?"
"Mm? That baby with that tasteless frog on his head?"
"Yeah, the baby wearing that lame frog. Did you feel anything?"
The army infant thought for a moment before realizing. "Could he be an Arcobaleno, kora?!"
"I think so."
"But my pacifier didn't glow." Colonnello states, gesturing to the blue pacifier around his neck. "And we know where all the seven Arcobaleno are, excluding the skipped one." He then realizes. "Could it be him?!"
"I don't know for sure yet." Reborn states.
"If that's true, the guys on our side don't stand a chance."
"Why not? You don't know who our side's Guardian of Mist is."
"Then tell us!" Tsuna cries as he returns to normal.
"Sawada-dono…" Basil says.
"You never did tell us. Who is our Guardian of Mist?!"
"Not yet." Reborn tells him. "If I tell you now, both of you won't be able to concentrate on your training."
"You've got it backward!" The brunette yells. "At this rate, I'm too worried about it to train!"
"Tsuna…" Kouga says as he was snapped out from his meditation.
"I guess I don't have a choice." The hitman sighs. "Then, go down the mountain and buy me some juice. Get some for Colonnello and Kouga too."
"Why do I have to?!"
"Shall they accompany you." Basil asks.
"Don't spoil him, Basil." Reborn tells the CEDEF officer.
"Hey!"
"Get going, kora!" Colonnello jumps and kicks the poor brunette.
"Geez, why me?" He grumbles as he walks down the mountain while rubbing his sore back.
"Is it really all right, kora?" Colonnello asks. "If Mammon really is…"
"It's nothing to worry about…" Reborn tells him. "Now, can you tell me something, Kouga?"
"Hm? What is it?' Kouga asks.
"What you did last night, was that your full control of the Mako?"
"…To be honest, I don't know. At that time I was desperately saving Ruki, that's why…"
"Hm, I see." Reborn says.
"By the way, isn't Tsuna taking a long time?" Kouga asks,
"He probably tripped and rolled down a hill and got lost." Reborn theorizes.
"Or he saw a bear and ran off, and then got lost before falling into a lake." Colonnello adds.
"Or he just falls into a bottomless abyss."
"These guys are really scary…" Kouga thought nervously as he sweat-drops. "I think we should go find him."
"Okay, since it's on the way." Reborn states as he jumps onto his shoulder and the black-haired teen runs off, hoping to find the brunette. He follows the hitman's instructions and runs down to the small shop by the road near them. When they reach there, Kouga sees a fainted Tsuna being trampled by a familiar blond Kokuyo student.
"Ciaossu." Reborn voices causing the two Kyokuyo students to face at them. "It's been a while, Kakimoto Chikusa, Joshima Ken."
"So you've come, Arcobaleno home tutor." Ken shouts. "You too, Vongola Knight!"
"The feelings mutual." Kouga replies.
"Where's the other one? Tsuna's Mist Guardian?" Reborn asks.
"He went to see Hibari Kyoya." Chikusa states.
"He did? There's going to be a big ruckus if Hibari sees him."
"Wait… how are you here?" The confused teen asks. "From what I've heard you got sent to Vindice after we defeated you-know-who."
"Before that, you, bring Tsuna up to the bench."
"What am I, your servant?!" Kouga snaps but he goes and carries the brunette onto the bench.
"When you two are behaving, you just like ill-tempered middle schoolers." Reborn states.
"That 'ill-tempered' part is too much!" Ken exclaims.
"Then, how about distasteful-looking?'
"That's the same thing." Chikusa states.
"What about hooligans?" Kouga asks.
"If you mock us too much," the animal hybrid places in one of his fake teeth and his nose becomes sharper and pointy, "I'll head-butt you!"
"Oh, there it is, Hippo Channel." The home tutor states,
"You think so?" Kouga asks,
"No! It's a rhino!" Ken shouts in anger. "It's a horn! A horn!"
"Knock it off, Ken." Chikusa tells his short-tempered friend. "We have other things to do right now."
"Shut up! Head-butt! Him, Vongola Knight, and Vongola!"
"Vongola's already fainted."
"Tsuna is pretty pathetic. I thought he'd be happier to see you." Reborn informs.
"Hm?"
"Tsuna kept asking about you, ever since the battle at Kyokuyo Land. He seemed really worried about you guys."
Chikusa remains his usual expression as Ken twitches badly.
"Annoying! Annoying! Why is this guy so annoying?!" Ken shouts as he twitches around his body. "When I'm near him, my body feels itchy! Let's go Kaki-pi." The two walks away as Ken has his hands in his pockets.
"A simple thank you is all that is needed, you know." Kouga tells them.
"Why would I be thankful for him?!" Ken shouts.
"This is the first time that somebody is really worried about you, right?" He asks again with a smile.
"Tch." They continue to walks off. "Just tell the Vongola that his Mist Guardian is too good for him!" Ken shouts back.
"We'll see you tonight." Chikusa states.
Kouga sighs and picks up the brunette on his back and walks off back to Namimori with Reborn and meet up with Basil when the sun starts to set as they walk into the school building. There, they meet up with the Cervello standing outside.
"Today's match will be held in the Gym building." They tell them. "Please proceed to the Gym."
"Okay." They walk down to the gym, where the rest are there: Gokudera, Ryohei, Yamamoto, and Ruki."
"Yo!" Kouga greets them.
"Ah, Onii-sama." Ruki calls out.
"Are you sure you can come here, Ruki?" Kouga asks worriedly.
"Yes."
"What happened to Juudaime?!" Gokudera shouts. "He fainted from shock." Kouga sighs.
"Put him on the floor, Kouga." Reborn commands. Not even wanting to argue, he gently places the brunette down to the wooden floor. A couple of minutes later, the brunette finally stirs a bit and begins to open his eyes. "You're awake."
Tsuna grumbles as he gets up. "…Reborn, where are we?" He asks.
"Focus, we're in the combat field for the Mist battle."
"Oh! T-That's right!" He looks around and then realizes. "T-The gym?!"
"Juudaime! How are you feeling?!" Gokudera asks.
"Oh, you finally awake, Sawada!" Ryohei states.
"It's about time." Kouga says.
"Tsuna-san!" Ruki hums.
"Minna!" Tsuna cries out in shock and then remembers yesterday battle. "Ruki-chan, is your body all right?"
"Yes, Romario-san said to not strain my body too much."
"Y-Yokatta…"
"Worry about yourself more than others." Reborn states. "Everyone was worried because you'd asleep this whole time."
"G-Gomen…" Tsuna says before realizing something. " Eh? Why was I asleep? Oh yeah, I met someone before I fell asleep." He thought about it for a while but, "I can't remember…" He mentally face-palms himself.
"By the way, Juudaime, the Mist guy hasn't shown himself yet." The silverrette states.
"Eh? Sonna?!"
"Does he really exist, this Guardian of Mist?" Ryohei asks.
"Hm…"
"This isn't good…" Yamamoto says. "And the enemy is already here."
"Eh?" He turns around to find the Varia arrived and ready, Mammon standing in front and preparing for combat.
"That little guy is their Guardian?" Tsuna thought with confusion. "That's right, I… I was trying to ask Reborn about our Guardian, and… he sent me down to buy juice, and…" "Mm? Are? Then what? I feel like I'm forgetting something important…" All of a sudden, he feels the similar chill down his spine as well as Kouga.
"The Guardian of Mist is here." Reborn states as two familiar Kokuyo students come into the Gym, revealing to be Ken and Chikusa resulting everyone all staring in shock of the current events.
"Ah! That's right!" Tsuna shouts out in realization.
"T-They are…" Yamamoto stammers in shock seeing two of their past enemies standing in front of them.
"I-Impossible! At a time like this?!" Gokudera shouts as he takes out his dynamites.
"But why are they here?" Ruki asks hiding behind Kouga.
"Calm down, you guys." Reborn tells them. "They brought the Guardian of Mist."
"What are you saying, Reborn-San?!" The silverrette yells. "These guys are-" The it hit him. "T-Then could the Guardian of Mist be…"
"Yeah, if they're bringing him…" The nervous baseball nut states. "Could it be?"
"I-I can't believe it." The brunette says in shock. "Is the Guardian of Mist, R-Rokudo Mukuro?!"
"Nay."
"Eh?"
The figure behind the two Kyokuyo students—the person walks up to them—resulting in everyone, even Mammon, a shock of their lives.
"My name is Chrom. Chrome Dokuro." Of what they thought of Mukuro turns out to be a girl, with the striking same pineapple hairstyle but is purple and black eye-patch with a skull over her right eye and she wears the female Kokuyo Middle uniform and carries the replica of the pineapple's trident, with black boots with skulls on the sides.
"N-Not Rokudo Mukuro?!" Tsuna exclaims in shock.
"Chrome Dokuro?" Basil states with a confused look.
"Who is this girl with the extremely weird name?" Ryohei asks.
"One of your friends, Tsuna?" The baseball ace asks,
"Eh? E-Eto… Ne, the Guardian of Mist, this girl, isn't Mukuro Rokudo, right?" The brunette asks but the two Kyokuyo students look away, not wanting to answer him.
"Don't be fooled, Juudaime!" Gokudera suddenly shouts. "That's Mukuro! Mukuro is obviously possessing her! He doesn't hesitate in accomplishing his goals! That's. The kind of man he is!"
"You don't believe me?" The girl asks.
"Of course not!" The bomber shouts. "Juudaime! Look at her weapon! And she's hiding that eye with a patch! She's undoubtedly—"
"Not Rokudo Mukuro." Tsuna states firmly.
"E-Eh?!" Gokudera looks at his boss in shock.
"Tsuna's right, that's not Mukuro." Kouga states.
"I-Is that so…?" he stammers.
"No! I mean… it just seems that way!" Tsuna stutters.
"You defending me?" Chrom walks up to the brunette. "Thank you, Boss." She goes up and kisses him on the cheek causing Gokudera to freak out along with Ken as everyone else just sweat-drops at the scene.
"E—H?!" Tsuna's entire face turns red.
"What are you doing, teme?!" The silverrette shouts and Yamamoto had to restrain him for killing the poor girl.
"Maa, maa." The baseball ace tells him.
"A greeting." The pineapple girl states.
"Don't screw with me!"
"Calm down…"
"Get away from Juudaime!"
"Maa, maa."
"How bold." Ruki blushes slightly.
"Hm…? So that's it." He'll states, him leaning on the stage for support. "I thought some old mystic would appear but was a woman."
"H-How bewitching…" Levi states with his face blushing. Xanxus just sits here with his hand supporting his face as Aaron leans on the stage, closing his eyes.
"Let's just hurry up and finish this…" Allena says sleepily.
"Phantasma is getting excited." Mammon states, receding to the agitated frog on his head. "As expected, your Guardian of Mist is a special human after all."
"And what will you do?" Ryohei asks Tsuna. "Will you let her join us?'
"Of course not!" The silverrette yells. "That strange weird woman…"
"I can't let this slide, byon!" Ken shouts as he and Chikusa get their weapons ready.
"Come at me if you dare!" Gokudera shouts with his dynamites ready to go.
The two of them go into a staredown as neither of them backs down.
"Ken, Chikusa, Cain down." Chrome tells them. "This is not something for you to decide." She states and turns to face the brunette. "Boss, am I unfit to be your Guardian of Mist?"
"Eh?"
"I want to fight as your Guardian, but of boss says no, I'll obey."
"That's a little sudden." Tsuna states in shock. "I-It's an important matter."
"But Chrome is the only one who can fight as your Mist Guardian." Reborn states.
"R-Reborn-san, you too?!" Gokudera shouts in shock.
"But Reborn is right…" Tsuna thought. "Even though the Kokuyo-Middle guys are with her… Tou-San chose that girl, just like how he chose Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto. And this girl…"
"What is your decision, Tsuna?" Kouga asks, although he already knows what his decision is.
"A-All right then, it's up to you." The brunette states.
"Are you sure, Juudaime?!" Gokudera exclaims.
"I-I can't put into words, but I feel like it has to be her."
Chrome sighs in relief and thanks to the brunette. "Arigatou."
"Ha! Take that!" Ken brags and sticks his tongue out at the bomber, ticking him off.
Mm?" Reborn looks down at his pacifier which suddenly starts to glow. "So he's curious too."
They look up when sounds of flapping are heard, to find Colonnello flying in with his falcon.
"Colonnello!" Tsuna calls out.
"Shishou! Shouldn't you be asleep with Kyoko's by now?" Ryohei asks
"That's why I'm napping, kora." The infant states with a bubble out of his nose until it is popped. "However, I need to figure out whether that mysterious kid is an Archobaleno or not."
"Hn, looks like another stupid-looking idiot has joined you." Mammon states. "I'll make you look more stupid during this fight."
"Isn't Dino-San coming tonight?" Tsuna asks.
"Oh. He had urgent business and went to meet an old friend two nights ago." Reborn states.
"At a time like this…"
"We will begin the battle soon." The Cervello states. "Will each Guardian of Mist step into the battlefield?"
"Yosh! Let's form a circle!" Ryohei shouts.
"O-Okay…" Tsuna agrees nervously
"Yeah!" Yamamoto also agrees.
"Nay." Everyone looks at the eye-patch girl. "It's all right, I don't need it." She states.
"Oh…" Tsuna stutters.
"Not too friendly…" Yamamoto says sheepishly.
"What's with her?" Ryohei states bluntly.
"Hmph." Gokudera looks away, still not trusting her.
"I'm going." She goes off.
"That girl… She said she wasn't Mukuro, but…" Kouga thought.
"What is this feeling?" Tsuna mentally finishes the Knight's thoughts.
"This time, the battlefield is the entire gymnasium." The Cervello states. "You may use anything within. This field does not have special devices; please remember this."
"Eh? There's nothing?" Tsuna questions.
"You don't need anything extra for the Mist Guardian battle." Reborn explains, leading to the very confused looks from Yamamoto and Tsuna. "Confusing the enemy by making nothing into something, and something into nothing. Not allowing them to see the Family - the illusion of deception: that is the duty of the Guardian of Mist."
Two huge enclosure land around the rest of the people.
"Eh? What is this?" Tsuna asks.
"The spectators' area for this match is within that enclosure." The masked judges explain. "It was an infrared detection system just like the Storm and Snow match, so please be careful." The points make red lasers made visible along with the metal grid. " Now, the Mist match, Mammon vs. Chrome Dokuro, Battle Start!"
Chrome jumps up and spins before slamming the base of her weapon on the floor, then the ground cracks along with with the shocked spectators.
"Ah! The floor!" Tsuna freaks out from the effect.
"KY—A!" Ruki screams, clinging onto Kouga in fear.
"W-What is this?!" Levi shouts.
"Calm down, kora."Colonnello tells them.
"Baka-Tsuna, relax! You know this technique." Reborn tells the brunette.
"That's right, Tsuna! Remember this technique!" Kouga tells him.
"As I thought." Mammon says as he jumps off from falling floors and leaps to falling debris. "You use spells like I do. But you won't be able to make money from me with such child's play!" Tentacles come out of his hood grabbing the poor girl causing the entire scene to disappear and the gym returns to normal.
"Ore? The floor is back to normal." Yamamoto states.
"OI! Look at that!" Reborn states as he points at Chrome who is getting strangle by tentacles.
"W-What is that?!" Tsuna exclaims.
"This is not good…" Kouga stutters.
"Too weak. This won't even a show." The hooded baby sates.
"Who are you talking to?" The Kokuyo girl reappears behind the illusionist, revealing that Mammon is holding a cage of basketballs. "Over here."
"Ah!" Basil's eyes widen in shock.
"The girl turned into basketballs!" Ryohei shouts.
"W-What was going on?!" Tsuna questions while Gokudera rubs his eyes.
"It was an illusion, kora."
"An illusion?!" The brunette exclaims.
"It is a battle of tricks, each creating illusions to deceive each other." Reborn explains. "You aren't able to see an amazing fight like this all the time."
"But illusions…" Kouga trails off.
The brunette then realizes, "Mukuro's First Path of Hell!"
"Juudaime! She's definitely Mukuro!" Gokudera exclaims.
That's not…" Tsuna thought grimly. "And even if she is Mukuro, what's he after? What did he come here to do?"
"I'm glad that you've got some skills." Mammon states as the tentacles let go of the basketballs and retract back into the hood, turning into toilet papers behind. "I can go all out to my heart's content, in front of you." The chains fall off from under the hood, and then the frog's soil starts to crack. "Let's go, Phantasma." The skin breaks, revealing a golden scaled salamander.
"Ah! The frog!" Tsuna exclaims.
The reptile shakes off the remaining skin before crying out and flies into the air.
"What?!" Ryohei shouts.
"How bizarre!" Basil exclaims.
The two triangle tattoos on the infant's cheeks grow longer as the salamander above him bit his tail, making the infant float up with the now visible indigo pacifier around his neck glows, along with Reborn and Colonello's.
"That spiral frog and indigo pacifier…" The army infant says. "He was alive, kora!"
"I thought as much." Reborn says." He's is an Arcobaleno, Viper!"
"Finally." Levi states.
"Ushishishi… I can't wait." Bel chuckles and Xanxus smirks.
"H-He's floating!" Tsuna exclaims. "He's an Arcobaleno too!?"
"Yeah, he is one of the ultimate babies, an Arcobaleno, kora!" Colonnello replies.
"The one of the indigo pacifier, Viper," Reborn begins. "Among the Arcobaleno, he was said to be with the greatest psychic abilities, a technique user."
"Psychic? You mean PSI?!" Gokudera exclaims. "That's so occult."
"I heard he'd gone missing in the middle of battle." The army infant states. "By, why didn't my pacifier glow until just now, kora?"
"I don't really understand, but it seems like he blocked the function of the pacifier with that chain."
"A side effect of a research that doesn't concern you." Mammon tells them. "Unlike you, I didn't lack the determination to break this curse."
Reborn and Colonnello stiffen at the sentence.
"What is he talking about?" Tsuna asks.
"Not good." Colonnello grimaces. " Against that idiot, a normal technique user doesn't stand a chance, kora!"
"Don't underestimate her, Colonnello." Reborn tells him. "Chrome isn't just any technique user."
"I won't lose to anyone!" Chrome declares as she spins her weapon around, and then dashes forward at the baby. She swings her trident around at Mammon who dodges them rather easily.
"If you can't fly, swing that stick around won't do you any good!" He shouts as he flies higher into the air, but the girl jumps after him and wings her weapon at him, only to have Mammon dodge it rather easily. "What a brave attack." Chrome lands and concentrates behind the infant, then a hole in space opens and snakes surround the infant. "W-What?!" Chrome swings her weapon in a ready stance as the psychic infant is wrap in snakes. "This isn't an illusion!"
"Nice going!" Ryohei cheers.
"A-Amazing!" Basil exclaims. "It seems to be working!"
"Summoning beast like that…" Gokudera mumbles.
"Mukuro's skill! The Path of the Beast!" Tsuna exclaims.
"Juudaime! That girl's definitely possessed by Mukuro!" The silverrette tells him.
"B-But…" "At times, I do feel like she is Mukuro, but there is one thing I don't understand. Since the moment we met, I've felt the presence of her persona." The brunette thought.
Chrome then dashes to the wrapped up Arcobaleno.
"Yosh! Finish him off!" Ryohei shouts but the wrapping of snakes are disbursed with a huge glow from Mammon pacifier.
"I'll unleash my power too." The hooded infant states. "I'll take my time revealing your secret after that."
Chrome says nothing but slamming the base of her trident to the ground, causing the ground beneath the Varia illusionist bubbles as pillars of fire burst out and engulfs him with a few more fire pillars coming out around her along with a few near the two spectators' areas.
"She did it!" Tsuna cheers.
"A direct hit!" Gokudera shouts.
"Not yet." Reborn states as Mammon comes out of the fire pillar unharmed.
"Your illusions are certainly first class. If even for a moment I had felt that pillar of fire was real, I would have been burnt to crisp." The hooded infant states. "Thus, your weak spot is an illusion as well!" He spins around and the area's temperature suddenly drops, freezing the magma pillars.
"Ah!" The brunette shouts in shock as Gokudera wraps himself in the cold.
"It's cold!" Ruki wraps around herself.
"What's with this cold?!" Ryohei shouts.
"The pillars of fire froze!" Basil exclaims.
"What a mistake. I fell for the illusion, kora!" Colonnello states.
"Me too." Reborn adds. "As expected of Viper."
"Same here. To think I would get caught in an illusion." Kouga states.
Chrome can only stare in disbelief with her eyes widen in shock.
"An illusion takes over your perception. In other words, it dominates the brain, which controls the five senses." The hooded infant states. "The domination becomes stronger with the power of the illusionist, and the chance of falling for the spell increase. However, when an illusionist has their illusion counters by an illusion, it means that they have given up control of their perception." He snaps his fingers and the bottom of the eye-patch girl starts to freeze. "How does it feel the power of the accursed Arcobaleno?" Mammon says smugly. "Now, show me your true form. No matter what you do, it's too late. You are already a denizen in my illusionary world." The infant moves his finger around causing the ice to increase and sends Chrome flying at the wall behind her.
"Not good, kora." Colonnello says.
"Yeah." Reborn agrees.
Chrome manages to get up and then sees the fallen trident in front of her and lunges and grabs it anxiously. "That weapon seems to be very important to you." Mammon states as he puts his hand.
"N-No." Chrome mutters but the infant ignores her and clenches his fist. "No!" The trident breaks into countless shards, and she looks in shock, even Ken and Chikusa are shock and seemly frightened. Suddenly the eye-patch girl starts to cough out blood and collapses to the floor.
"E-Eh?!" Tsuna freaks out.
"What happened?!" Yamamoto questions.
"She suddenly doesn't look well!" Basil adds.
"O-Oi, look at that!" Ryohei points out, as the girl's abdominal area caves in.
"She's caving in!" Gokudera exclaims.
"That's where most of the organs are!" Kouga points out.
"Is this an illusion?!" Tsuna shouts.
"This is an illusion, what's going on?" Mammon descends near her. "What's with this girl?!"
"Mukuro…sama…"
"It's hard to believe, but it seems like she's been surviving with illusions for organs." Mammon states.
"Wha—!" Gokudera shouts.
"Organs made from illusions?!" Tsuna freaks out.
"That's why her stomach caved in when she lost control of her illusion." Reborn says.
"Then that girl has no internal organs!"
"Afraid so." Kouga confirms. "It's a miracle that she stayed alive up till now."
"Mukuro…sama…" The girl pants as she gasps for air. "I wanted… to help you…"
"You've done well, my dear Chrome."
Tsuna and Kouga then look around when they hear that voice.
"Rest for a while."
The two pale as they remember the same sickening feeling.
"What~ Once he gets started, Mammon completely dominates her." Bel states. "And I only get to see a little bit of the Arcobaleno's power."
"Now it's all over." Levi says but then notices weird as mist starts coming out and surrounds the girl's body.
"The mist is surrounding the girl!" Ryohei shouts.
"She's simply using the last bit of her power to hide her corpse." Mammon states. "It's something most female technique users often do."
"He's coming." Tsuna states as his hands on the side of his head.
"Hm?" Xanxus looks at him as Aaron opens his eyes at the brunette and Kouga.
Reborn and Colonnello did the same thing. "What's the matter, Tsuna?" Reborn asks.
"That guy…" Kouga shutters. "He's…"
"Onii-sama?" Ruki looks at her brother worriedly.
"He's coming!" They say.
"Tsuna, Kouga, what's the matter?" Yamamoto asks.
"It's him! He's coming!" Tsuna exclaims.
"He?"
"What are you talking about, Juudaime?" Gokudera asks,
"Mukuro…" Kouga starts.
"Rokudo Mukuro is coming!" Both of them shout.
"Kufufufu…"A creepy chuckle is heard through the mist.
"Mm? A man's voice?" Mammon mumbles.
The ground suddenly shatters and a shockwave hits the hooded infant and sends him flying back as the mist slowly clears. "You all seem lively as ever," The voice says and the mist clears completely to reveal a familiar pineapple head illusionist with the mismatched eyes, "little Mafiosi."
"Wh-" Basil asks.
"Who is that?" Ryohei finishes his sentence.
"Mm?" Bel looks at the scene at great interest.
"The girl's…" Levi says as Xanxus still has the same boring look.
Mukuro gets up to his feet.
"Rokudo Mukuro. There's no mistake." Gokudera says.
"Mukuro was safe after that." Tsuna pales.
Kouga stands in front of Ruki which the girl confuses of his action.
"Onii-sama?" She calls.
"Stay close to me no matter what." He tells her.
"It's been some time." The pineapple states. "I've come back… from the other end of the cycle."
"So that's who the Guardian of Mist is, kora!" Colonnello says,
"Hm? Rokudo Mukuro?" Mammon says as he gets up from the rubble. "I thought I'd heard that name somewhere. I remember now. About a month ago, someone tried to escape from the Vindice prison. His name is Rokudo Mukuro."
"That impregnable Vindice prison?" Levi says in disbelief.
"Na?!" Gokudera exclaims with a deadpanned look.
"Again?!" Tsuna freaks out.
"But I heard that the escape ended in failure, and he was then thrown into the lowest level of the prison, where even light and sound can't reach him." The infant adds. Everyone is shocked by the news but unknown to them, Ken looks away and grits his teeth in frustration.
"Kufufufu… I see that the intelligence of the prided Vongola special assassination squad, the Varia, is pathetic." Mukuro states. "In reality, I am right here."
"You're certainly a pain." The infant says. "All right, let's make this clear. You're an illusion wrapped around that girl, right?" He blows out a blizzard out of his hood.
"It's a blizzard!" Basil points out.
"It's cold!" Ryohei shouts. "We're going to freeze to death!"
"Onii-sama!" Ruki calls out as Kouga hugs her to protect the blizzard.
"I'm not such a pushover that I'd lose to an illusionist who is an illusion himself." Mammon states.
"Oya?" Mukuro looks down at his feet, noticing the crawling ice. "Oya, oya."
"Ah!" The blizzard ends and the pineapple is completely frozen over from head to toe.
"He's completely frozen!" Ryohei states.
"So that Mukuro is an illusion?!" Gokudera questions.
"Sonna…" Tsuna says.
"Now, let's unmask you." Mammon says as a hammer comes out of his hood. "Although what's really going to be shattered is that girl's body!" He dashes over to the frozen pineapple.
"A metal hammer?!" Yamamoto exclaims.
"If he's hit by that…!" Tsuna exclaims.
The infant lunges forward at Mukuro. The pineapple illusionist is unfazed until his red-eye shifts to the kanji of one and vines appear out of the ground underneath him. The vines reach out and wrap around the hooded Arcobaleno, shocking everyone. Then a few lotus flowers bloom on the vines that wrap around Mammon.
"A… lotus flower?" Colonnello looks in shock.
"Kufufufu… Who is an illusion?" Mukuro chuckles as the ice around him melts.
"What… power…" Mammon grunts out, entangled by the lotus flowers' vines. "I-It hurts!"
"Who is that?" Bel asks.
"He's dominating that Viper. The army infant states.
"That's Tsuna's Guardian of Mist, Rokudo Mukuro." Reborn tells them.
"So it really is Mukuro." Tsuna states.
"Then what happened to that girl from earlier?" Gokudera asks.
"You can't think of Chrome and Mukuro as two separate people," The hitman tutor explains, "because Chrome lives, Mukuro exists. Because Mukuro is here Chrome can live."
"Huh?" Gokudera and Ruki look at him, confused at what he is saying.
"I-I don't understand." Tsuna says,
"This is all we can do right now." Reborn says.
"Now," Mukuro steps up to the entangled infant, "what will you do now, Arcobaleno? You're going to be an annoyance if you plan to take your time."
The infant feels insulted of the pineapple's words and the pacifier glows as the vines around him are wilting and he escapes its clutches. "Don't get so elated!" He shouts as he multiplies himself with many images.
"So weak-hearted…" Mukuro comments as his right eye turn to the kanji of four and a fade indigo flame ignite on it before dashing forward and slices through all the clones of the hooded infant.
"That flame in his eye!" Tsuna exclaims.
"His combat skill, the Path of Asura." Kouga continues.
"A technique user that can use martial combat?" Mammon questions. "That's blasphemy! I won't accept the transmigration of souls either!"
"Oh…?" The pineapple looks at him with interest.
"Humans repeat their lives infinitely, over and over." He states. "That's why I collect money!" The lizard above him starts to glow and spins around with great speed as the surrounding starts to change in a whole new dimension; the walls, ceiling and even the floor is getting peeled away.
"Ah! The floor!" Yamamoto exclaims.
"Viper's using all of his power." Colonnello says as he holds the Leon rope, in turn, Reborn is holding to keep himself up in the air.
"Hahahahaha! A greedy Arcobaleno? How amusing." Mukuro laughs. "However, if we are comparing desire, I won't lose." He spins his trident and hits it on the floor, summoning more fire pillars―surrounded by lotus flower plants―around the distorted field.
"What?!" Mammon exclaims in shock.
"I-I'm feeling faint…" Bel stutters as he struggles to stand still.
"Are we dreaming?" Levi asks as he too struggles to stand up straight.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Gokudera states with all of them feeling dizzy and sick from the illusions.
"Illusionary poison is beginning, kora." Colonnello states.
"Yeah. They've been hit by illusions that are put directly into the brain for this long." Reborn says.
Even Tsuna and Kouga are struggling as they are having a splitting headache.
"Where did you learn this ability to make powerful illusions?!" The hooded infant demands as he barely dodges the pillars.
"Kufufufu…" Mukuro chuckles. "In Hell."
"Don't joke with me!" He shouts as he freezes the fire pillars.
"Kufufufu…"
"AH!" Tsuna cries out as he Kouga fall to their knees with their hands by the sides of the head. My head!"
"Juudaime/Onii-sama!" Gokudera and Ruki run over to their side.
"Sawada! Kouga!" Ryohei runs over to them.
"It feels like it's splitting open!" Kouga cries.
"Daijoubuka, Tsuna, Kouga?" Yamamoto asks them worriedly.
"What is this feeling?" The brunette says but is cut short as the pain sharpens.
The next thing they know, they have a vision and a sound of water catches their attention. The two look around, noticing a huge dark room, with people chained up and in water-filled capsules.
"W-Where is this?" They thought.
The vision moves around, showing the entire room, and then closes up on one capsule. In it, there shows the all-too-familiar person. The blue-haired person all bundle up and an oxygen mask cover his mouth as chains wrap around him.
"Eh? What is this?"
"Guh!" The vision ends, follow by the same head-splitting headache. "Something's coming into my head!"
"Juudaime…" Gokudera hovers over his boss.
"Onii-sama!" Ruki does the same.
The scene changes to the wide green field as three shadows move in the forest close to it as if they are being chased. They stop to catch their breaths.
"Mukuro-sama, they're closing in." One of the figures—revealing to the Chikusa—tells the pineapple head.
"It's no use. We can't get away, byon!" The other figure, Ken, states.
"Kufufufu… It really lives up to its name, 'Impregnable Vindice Prison'." Mukuro states. "From this point on, let's split up and escape on our own. I can get away myself, but you two will just get in the way."
"This is… his memory…" Tsuna and Kouga thought.
In the end, only Mukuro gets caught by the infamous Vindice. "You acted as bait to save your friends." One of the Vindice guards says.
"It's good enough. This man is the real convict." The other guard says.
The head-splitting headache continues to torment the two as more visions coming in.
The scene changes once more, to the old abandoned Kokuyo hideout. "I'll protect Kakimoto Chikusa and Koshima Ken, who are still on the run." A familiar voice says.
"Kufufufu…" Chrome's voice chuckles. "You are an eccentric. I have had all of my abilities taken away. I can stay out on this side for a short while, even when I borrow this girl's body."
"I don't mind." The voice, revealing to be Iemitsu. "I want you to be Tsuna's guardian, Rokudo Mukuro."
"Also, you don't have much of a choice." A new voice enters. "Your friends' lives are in danger if you continue to be like this." The figure walks out of the shadows to reveal an elderly man who has white-haired and gray strands, Dan Lanceford. "Don't worry. My grandson and Iemitsu's son won't let anything to them. So help them, Rokudo Mukuro-kun."
Tou-san/Grandpa Dan!" They thought in shock. "We didn't know about this. Mukuro, you…"
"Mukuro!" They exclaim.
The battle over the Mist continues as Mammon desperately attacks with multiple clones with Mukuro effortlessly defeating them all.
"Got you!" The hooded infant shouts as he comes out from behind the pineapple illusionist and swallows him whole when the salamander above his head grows around the hooded baggage. Spikes come out from underneath it and it contracts and penetrates the bag.
"Ah!"
"Mukuro-san!" Ken cries out as Chikusa are shocked by the events.
"Mukuro…" Tsuna stutters as both Kyokuyo students clench their teeth in anger.
Then suddenly, the baggage expands. "Impossible!" Mammon's voice shouts in shock.
The baggage then distorts and explodes with Mukuro standing in the same spot, unhurt as lotus flowers surround him and breakthrough the hooded infant's sphere.
"Fall, and then wander." Mukuro chants as show the two Half Mist Rings in his hand.
"Impossible!" Levi shouts. "Mammon was…"
"He won!" Basil exclaims.
"It was completely one-sided!" Ryohei exclaims as the Kyokuyo students grin of their master's win.
"This is… Mukuro…" Tsuna thought in shock.
"I put these two together correct?" The pineapple asks the two pink-haired judges.
"Hai." They nod.
"I'm not done yet!" The hooded infant shouts.
"Hm?" Mukuro looks behind him to find Mammon re-materializing from the torn hoods.
"I play around a little and you think you'd gotten the upper hand." He says. "I have yet to show my real power-!" Mukuro reappears behind him in a blink of an eye.
"You must realize…" The pineapple tells him and Mammon looks back to find him missing again and appears above him, standing on the distorted floor above him. "If you had an illusion countered by an illusion, it means you have given up control of your perception."
The salamander suddenly wraps itself around his former master. "Stop it, Phantasma!" He cries.
"Now show me this so-called power." The walls around the distorted dimension start to break. "Now!"
Due to not able to control his power, Mammon falls into the abyss.
"We're falling!" Tsuna cries out as he and Kouga almost fall when Yamamoto and Ryohei manage to grab onto their hands.
"Hey! Are you okay, Tsuna?!" Yamamoto asks.
"Thanks, Yamamoto." Tsuna tells him.
"What about you, Kouga." Ryohei asks.
"Yeah. Thanks, Ryohei." Kouga says.
As the hooded infant falls further, Mukuro follows after him. "Hahaha! How does it feel, Arcobaleno? My world!" His being suddenly contracts and squeezes into a tube before entering Mammon's mouth.
The being enters the mouth and the infant starts bloating up. "Stop it!" He cries.
"You lost because of one reason, one reason only." Mukuro's voice tells him. "Because your opponent is me."
The bloated infant gets bigger and bigger as he grunts in pain until he finally bursts. Everyone is shocked by the sudden destruction, with the dimension disappear and the gym returns to normal.
Mukuro lands on the original floor gently and asks, "Is this enough?" He shows the complete Mist Ring.
"The Mist Ring is now in the possession of Chrome Dokuro." The Cervello states. "The winner of this match is Chrome Dokuro."
"That Viper is…" Colonnello says while Reborn just smirks.
"In pieces, Ushishishi…" Bel chuckles.
"Eh! S-Sonna!" Tsuna cries. "Y-You didn't have to go that far!"
"And you still show sympathy for your enemy." Mukuro says. "You are naïve as ever, Sawada Tsunayoshi. Let me just say there's no need to worry."
"Eh?"
"That baby ran away." He adds. "He'd saved energy for him to escape from the start. He was a shrewd Arcobaleno."
"Gola Mosca." Xanxus speaks to the man beside him. "After the conflict, kill Mammon." The steam comes out of the mask.
"It's to be expected." Aaron mutters.
"You are an embodiment of the Mafia's darkness, Xanxus." Mukuro says. "Even I feel awe from the dreadful scheme you have in mind."
Xanxus eyes sharpen his eyes in the realization of that sentence.
"Hm?" Reborn looks at him with interest.
"What? I don't have to stick my nose into that." The pineapple illusionist tells him. "I'm not a good person. But a word of warning: you should toy with the other smaller, weaker successor candidate."
"Eh?" Tsuna breathes out as Xanxus just looks at the blue-haired illusionist.
"Kufufufu…" He turns to face the group and walks off.
"Mukuro-sama." Chikusa greets.
"Suge! You're so strong!" Ken cheers.
"Teme! How dare you come here!" Gokudera shouts.
"What?!" The blond Kokuyo student growls at him.
"Oi, Gokudera." Yamamoto says.
"Ch-Chotto!" Tsuna cries.
"You should be that cautious of me." Mukuro says. "I don't intend to become friendly with the Mafia. I became a Guardian because it would be a more convenient way to take over your body, Sawada Tsunayoshi."
"He's lying. That's not the only reason." Tsuna thought.
"I knew it, teme!" The bomber shouts with his bombs ready.
"Cho- Matte, Gokudera-kun!" The brunette tells him.
"Juudaime…"
"E-Either way, a-arigatou." He thanks him.
"I've gotten a little tired…" He sighs as he falls forward. "This girl…" As he falls, he turns back to Chrome.
"He turned into a girl again!" Ryohei exclaims. "What's going on?"
"Mukuro pushed himself." Reborn thought. "He used a great deal of power to materialize himself. He won't be able to come to this side for a while."
"Which one is it?!" Gokudera cries. "Was that Mukuro an illusion or is that girl is the illusion?"
"O-Oh yeah! How are her organs?!" Tsuna asks.
"There's nothing to worry about." Reborn tells them. "Chrome's organs are functioning properly, thanks to Mukuro's powerful illusions."
"S-she's asleep…" Tsuna sighs in relief.
"She gets tired so easily, byon." Ken sighs. "That's why humans are…"
"You're a human too." Gokudera states as he, Tsuna, and Yamamoto are dead-pans and pales from their words.
"Let's go, Ken." Chikusa says as they walk off.
"Cho- Are you abandoning her?!" The brunette cries.
"When she wakes up, she'll be able to walk." Ken says. "I don't plan on giving that girl my attention. She is not Mukuro-san after all."
"That's right. Right now, Mukuro's in a cold and dark…" Tsuna thought.
"Don't feel sympathy for him." Reborn tells him. "You can't forgive everything that Mukuro's done up to now."
"You're right." Kouga agrees.
"Tomorrow's match will be between the Guardians of Cloud." The Cervello announces.
The large man behind them let out some steam.
"It's Hibari's turn." Gokudera says.
"Yeah." Yamamoto replies.
"Oi, Xanxus." Reborn calls out to the Varia boss who is still in his chair. "What are you going to do? If Hibari and Kouga win their matches, the Ring count will be five to four. Even though you have the Sky Ring, it will make Tsuna's side the winner."
The rest of the Varia just chuckle and grunts in irritation.
"Now that you mentioned it…" Yamamoto realizes.
"That's right." Gokudera states.
"When that happens, you'd better keep your promise and give up all rights as a successor."
"Of course." Xanxus replies. "I will respect the spirit of the Vongola and honor the condition of the duel. If Mosca and Aaron lose their matches, I'll hand over everything to you."
"Ah!" Basil breathes out.
"That means there's only two left!" Ryohei exclaims.
"I don't want to admit, but if that guy's fighting…" Gokudera trails off. "It is determined."
"That's right! Hibari-san will…" Tsuna says hopefully.
"When he's an ally, he's extremely dependable!" The boxer shouts.
"That's being naïve, kora." Colonnello comments.
"Eh?" Tsuna asks.
"If Xanxus is this confident, it means he's certain that Mosca guy will win." Reborn states.
"That means Hibari-san is…"
"That's not all." Kouga thought and looks back at Xanxus who has his smug-looking smirk on his face. "I want to believe that Hibari will win the next match, but why do I have a bad feeling about it."
Later, they decide to bring the eye-patch girl to the clinic where Lambo is being treated and visit the cow brat.
"I wonder what kind of dream Lambo is having." Tsuna says with them hovering over the unconscious kid.
"It's the stupid cow, so it's probably…" Gokudera states.
"We'll get out peaceful days back soon." The brunette says and everyone nods. "Right, Reborn?" He turns to find the two Arcobaleno standing by the side with snot bubbles coming out of their noses.
"We're napping, kora." Colonnello says with Tsuna sweat-drops at them.