Chapter 22: The Battle of Cloud and Trap
Having trouble sleeping through the night, Kouga wakes up early at 6 a.m. and gets off his bed before changing out of his pajama into his school uniform. He takes his bag and goes out saying his goodbye for the day.
"I wonder if Hibari is okay…" Kouga says. "I bet Dino-San knows something about that. Also…" He thought back to the eye-patch girl he and Tsuna brought to the clinic when she collapsed the previous night. "I wonder if she is okay now…"
With that in mind, he fastens his pace to the clinic and enters the building. He first goes to Chrome's ward to see if she is all right and when he enters, to his surprise, Chrome is not only awake, she is also gathering her things by her bed.
"Oh. Ohayo, Knight." She greets him.
"H-Hi," Kouga says nervously. "Err… what do I call you, Dokuro-san? Chrome-chan?"
"Just any will do."
"O-Okay… Well, Chrome, glad you're okay." He says and Chrome bows and walks off rather quickly. "Where are you going?"
"I heard Ken and Chikusa left yesterday." She replies causing Kouga to feel bad for her as the two Kyokuyo students sort of abandoned her. "Farewell Knight."
"Y-Yeah, see ya." Kouga calls back and watches the pineapple girl walk off quickly and away from his view. He sighs and walks off to find Dino as he walks along the corridor and sees a lighted room with some voices. The black-haired teen goes in and finds Dino and Romario talking to each other. "Konichiwa, Dino-san, Romario-san." He calls.
"Oh, Kouga! What are you doing here? Is it about Kyoya?" Dino asks.
"Sort of…" He says.
"Well, you're not the only one." He tells the teen and gestures to the sleeping group by the couch which consists of Gokudera, Ryohei, and Yamamoto all lying on the sofas or the floor.
"These guys too?"
"If it's Hibari, I can say for certain with no hesitation, that he is ready."
"Oh, is that so…?" Kouga says, feeling relieved and a little tired. "With all that worried gone, I'm feeling tired all of a sudden…" He goes to a wall and leans on it before falling asleep. Kouga sleeps for a good two hours before waking up by a shriek to find Tsuna and Dino looking by the wall with a Ninja Reborn.
"Oh…? Tsuna, you came too?" Kouga yawns as he gets off the wall and walks towards them.
"Kouga-san, you woke up?" Tsuna asks.
"Good to see you awake, Kouga." Reborn says. "You are going to continue training with Dame-Tsuna here, so get ready."
"And what are you talking about?" The brunette asks. "Tonight's and Kouga's battle is going to decide everything! I get for Kouga-san, but is there any reason for me to train?"
"It is precisely that they are important." He says. "Let them do the cheering."
"Eh?" Kouga looks at him, a little confused.
"Why?" Tsuna asks.
"What are you going to do if the worst happens?" The hitman asks.
"Eh? The worst?"
After Kouga picked up his buster sword, he and Tsuna follow Reborn back to the usual training ground, but this time Tsuna and Basil are to fight in Hyper Mode while Kouga decides to continue with his meditation to control his Mako. It is night already and an explosion brights the night sky.
"Sawada-dono! Daijoubu deska?!" Basil cries as he runs over to the heavily bruised brunette.
"T-That was dangerous…" Tsuna cries.
Reborn walks up to the brunette. "If you had messed up, you could have died, Baka-Tsuna." He says and kicks him by the chin, causing the brunette to fall backward. "You were thinking about something else?"
"It's! Don't kick me while I'm down, Reborn!"
"Now, let's continue." Reborn says.
"We're still going to?" The brunette shouts. "If we don't hurry, Hibari's match will start!"
"That's why I told you, leave Hibari's match to Gokudera and Yamamoto." The hitman tells him. "You should concentrate on completing this technique."
"But why?!" Tsuna shouts. "Are you serious?!"
"I am serious."
"Eh- Reborn… Then what about Kouga-san?" he asks as he gestures to the meditating teen on the rock beside them.
"Leave him be. He's trying to accept the part of him to embrace the Mako. According to Dan, he's at the final phase of his training."
"Dan? Ah. You mean Kouga-san no Ojii-san from America?"
"Yeah. Now, let's continue your training." Reborn tells him.
At the school, everyone except for Kouga, Tsuna, Hibari, and the Kokuyo students has arrived.
"Listen up, you guys." Gokudera says. "We're going to win no matter what!"
"What are you saying, Gokudera?" Yamamoto asks.
That's right. Hibari-san is going to fight." Ruki says.
"What good is it to get excited?" Ryohei asks
"Grr… I know that!" He shouts. "But you heard it. Juudaime entrusted us with this, and he isn't present. We can't lose because we weren't cheering enough!"
"Hahaha… That's a weird logic!" The baseball ace laughs.
"I thought Ryohei-san would be the one who said that." Ruki points out.
"You guys will never understand, you Yakuu-Baka, Chibi-Mitsurugi!"
"Tako-head!" Ryohei shouts. "I don't get it either, but I'm extremely fired up!"
"Oh, tonight's hero is here." Yamamoto states.
Walking through the front gate, a figure has arrived as Hibari is in his usual discipline uniform.
"Why are you here?" Hibari asks.
"What was that, teme?!" Gokudera shouts.
"Maa, maa, eto… We're here to…"
"Cheer you on!" Ryohei finishes Yamamoto.
"Hmm… You're an eyesore." The discipline chairman states bluntly. "If you don't leave, I'll bite you to death."
"What?!" The bomber shouts.
"What's with that attitude?!" Ryohei questions. "I'm extremely mad!"
"Maa, maa, calm down…" Yamamoto says cheerfully.
"We're just happened to pass by, so don't mind us, Hibari-san." Ruki informs him cheerfully.
Then a heavy object lands close to them, in which Hibari looks on their left. Hn, sokka…" He smirks. "I just need to bit that thing to death." He says, showing his Tonga's at the just arrived Gola Mosca.
They then go to the field to find what appears to be a huge mock battlefield surrounded by a ring of metal fences.
"T-This is…" Ryohei stutters.
"Sou, this is the combat field for the Guardians of Cloud, Cloud Ground." The Cervello tells them.
"What did they do?!" Ryohei exclaims. "The exercise ground is…"
"Ah! Those are-!" Gokudera exclaims when he sees what appears to be a Gatling gun on tall pillars. "G-Gatling gins!"
"The duty of the Guardian of Cloud is to be the solitary, noble, floating cloud that protects the Family while taking an independent stance, without being bound by anything." They tell them. "Thus, we have prepared the most severing field. It is surrounded by barbed wire, and the eight automated guns that will fire upon anything moving within 30 meters."
One of the judges throws a piece of paper into the field, and the guns detected it and shoot at it. What is left of it are pieces of smoking paper causing everyone to gawk at it in fright of that dangerous new combat field.
"Also there are several underground traps that are sensitive to weight." They add. "They will explode after giving off an alarm."
"It's like a battlefield!" Ryohei shouts.
"If you're scared, run away." Levi states. "Like your boss and knight did."
"Ushishishi…" Bel chuckles.
"Don't screw with us! Juudaime didn't run!" Gokudera shouts.
"That's right! Onii-sama will never run away from a fight!" Ruki shouts.
Taps on both shoulders calm them down, revealing to be Yamamoto. "Tsuna and Kouga didn't need to come." He tells them. "As Hibari our ace. He won't lose."
"What was that?" Levi questions.
"Hmph." They look at Xanxus with Aaron standing beside him. "Ace? Off-Hahahaha, I can't wait!"
Back in the mountains, Tsuna and Basil are still training as they charge at each other with flames ablaze on their foreheads.
"Right there, Tsuna." Reborn tells his student, but then an explosion shakes the entire area.
"Sawada-dono!" Basil cries as he and Reborn run towards the brunette. "Persevere!"
"You've gotten a lot better, Tsuna." The hitman states.
"Reborn-San, this is his limit!" The dirty blond-haired teen tells him. "If we continue, Sawada-dono's body will collapse!"
"Just now, the fire…"
"Eh?"
"I think I understand a little about what the First was trying to accomplish with this technique." Tsuna says and lifts both of his gloved hands.
"S-Sawada-dono…" Basil stutters.
"Sokka. So, what will you do? Call it quits for now?" Reborn asks,
Tsuna shakes his head. "No, Reborn, you're right. I rather not think about it, but… But if Hibari-san loses the Cloud match…"
"Sawada-dono…"
"I-If that happens…" Tsuna says.
"You and I would be there to stop it, right?"
"Eh?" Thy turn to find Kouga getting off the rock
"Yo! I've finished my training." He tells them.
"So, how is it?" Reborn asks him.
"It's amazing." The black-haired teen says and looks at his lifted curled hands. "I never thought that Mako would be deeper than I thought it would be."
"What do you mean?"
Kouga looks at the night sky. "Just like the sky, Mako is everywhere. Not just inside of me, the air, earth, water, and everything alive has it. I can tell since I fully accepted it."
Back at the school, The Chervello are currently checking the Rings on Hibari and Gola Mosca.
"Confirmed." They declared.
Behind the group, the two Kokuyo students have arrived as Chrom just came up running to them.
"Chikusa, Ken, you two came." She says.
"It's a pain, but we're watching this for Mukuro-sama." Chikusa says.
"Your job is over! You don't have to come anymore!" Ken tells the pineapple girl.
"I want to watch too." The purple-haired illusionist says as she sits down a bit away from the two.
"Stay farther away!" He yells at her but doesn't answer causing the blond student to click his teeth.
"Ken, it's about to start." Chikusa informs.
The two walks away from Chrome a bit more and sits down.
"We got them this far because Mukuro-san won." Ken states. "If they lose now, I won't let that duckling get away with it!"
"Hibari, fight."
"Oh!"
"Hey, turf-top! Your voice is too soft!" Gokudera shouts.
"What?! I can't get fired up since Hibari won't join us." Ryohei states.
"But I didn't think Gokudera would get so excited about since you were so against it when we started." Yamamoto says and Ruki nods.
"Of course." He states. "Juudaime would have done the same thing if he were here." "You better not lose, Hibari. For Juudaime's sake…"
"Then we shall begin." The Cervello announces. "The Ring of Could Gola Mosca vs. Hibari Kyoya, Battle Start!"
Rocket thrusters suddenly emerge from the large man's legs, sending Mosca flying towards the skylark.
"What?!" Gokudera exclaims in shock.
"Is that legal?!" Yamamoto asks.
The large man fires bullets from his hands, in which Hibari just simply dodges and runs forward. He rams his tonga at the man's face before running past him and tears off his left arm, all in one move. Gola Mosca doesn't stand a chance against him and collapses to the ground, exploding behind him. Everyone all gawks and dead-pans at the pure strength of the perfect, even the Varia and the Cervello are shocked, their jaws wide open.
Then Hibari joins the two half rings. "I don't want this." He says and throws the ring at one of the Cervello judges, who catches it. "Now you, sitting there. Come on down. The guy next to him as well. I need to bite the boss of Monkey Mountain to death before I can go home."
"What?!" Levi shouts.
"Not 'what', you tako." Bel states.
"Tako?!"
"We've lost this conflict." The prince states. "What are we going to do, Boss, Aaron?"
Xanxus look at the fallen Gola Mosca before smirking and leaps from his chair and lands a dropkick on the skylark who blocks it with his weapon before landing back on his feet. "My foot slipped." He says smugly.
"I'm sure." The perfect says.
"I'm not lying." A been is heard as the Varia boss leaps off and the ground underneath him explodes. "I was just going over to retrieve that piece of junk. We've lost."
"Hm? Your face doesn't look it." Hibari says as he runs at him and swings his Tonga's at him, who just dodges all the swings rather easily.
"What is Hibari doing?!" Ryohei shouts. "He just won that machine!"
Xanxus and Hibari move back and back until they are in the range as the guns fire at them. Then Xanxus seemly steps on another mine as a beep is heard and leaps off, causing the skylark to get hit by both the mine and gun.
"Another mine!" Gokudera cries.
"Hibari!" Yamamoto calls out.
Hibar leaps out of the smoke with little bruises as he continues to attack the Varia boss, all the while dodging the various shooting from the automated guns. How long do you plan to keep this up?" He asks.
"Relax." Xanxus says sarcastically." I won't lay a hand on you."
"As you wish. Either way, you will be bitten to death."
"Damn him, he's mocking the boss!" Levi shouts.
"Matte, Mr. Sullen." Bel tells him.
"Sullen?!"
"If we, the losers, make a move, it'll be seen as a rebellion against the soon-to-be tenth." He states. "All of us, along with the boss, will be executed."
"So you're telling me to leave that insolent brat alone?" The brute asks.
"Our boss is scheming something." The prince states.
"Mm? What is it?"
"I don't know." Bel says. "I bet Mammon or Squalo would have known."
Meanwhile, The working eye of the fallen Gola Mosca is glowing, targeting the skylark.
Back at the mountains, a bright light shines over in the horizon.
"Oh?" Reborn looks amazed.
"Eh?" Tsuna blinks for a moment.
"Oh…" Basil looks at him amazed.
"Are? Did I…?" Tsuna looks at his hands.
"Tsuna, you…" Kouga trails off.
"You did it, Tsuna." Reborn says. "That was the Dying Will Zero Point Breakthrough."
"Eh?"
"Thou did it!" Basil exclaims and runs over to him. "Amazing done, Sawada-dono! Thou have completed the technique that only the First Vongola Boss could perform."
"It was an unexpected kind of technique like this…"
"I couldn't have done it alone." Tsuna says. "it was all thanks to you, Basil-kun, Kouga-san."
"All right. Let's go, Tsuna!"
"Yeah." Tsuna says as his eyes go serious. "Let's go… to Nani-Chuu."
Hibari continues to attack the Varia boss, all the while dodging the random firing of the Gatling guns. He kept swinging his Tonga's until Xanxus raises his and to bock one of his attacks.
"Ne, I thought you weren't going to use your hands?" Hibari asks.
Xanxus grits his teeth in irritation.
"He can see Boss' movements coming?" Levi questions.
"Unbelievable…" Bel says.
The Varia boss just continues to dodge the attacks, all the while taking a glance at the fallen Gola Mosca. "Cervello." He calls out.
"Hai, Xanxus-sama?"
"Just what how this is going to end." He says. "I am not attacking."
Hibari is about to land the final blow on him, but he just smirks as a laser shoots into the perfect's leg causing him to stutter and falls on one knee.
"Ah!" Ryohei is shocked.
What was that?" Gokudera questions.
"Laser?!" Ruki cries.
"Hibari!" Yamamoto shouts when the group is caught un-noticed as middles suddenly fly in their direction.
"W-What's that?!" Gokudera shouts.
"Oh, no! Run!"
Everyone runs for cover as Yamamoto covers Ruki.
"Hm?" Levi wonders and looks over in the horizon. "What's that?"
"Yabe!" Bel runs away as the middles fly and hit the idiot of a Lightning Guardian.
"Damn it…" Gokudera grunts. "Oi, daijoubuka?"
"Yeah. Daijoubu deska, Sasagawa-ani, Ruki?" Yamamoto asks.
Ryohei coughs out the smoke. "What in the world is going on?!"
"I don't have a clue." Gokudera says.
"Hm?" Ruki looks up from the smoke and sees Gola Mosca up and flying around. "T-That's the…"
"I told you." Xanxus says. "I tried to retrieve it, but their Guardian of Cloud stopped me." The robot flies all over the place, middles flying out of its bacon lasers from its chest and it's other hand fires random shots. "Because of him, I lost control of Mosca."
"So, it's on a rampage?!" Gokudera exclaims.
Then a few more middles god their way and they immediately dodges them.
"That was close!" Yamamoto sighs.
"Damn it!" The bomber swears. "This is crazy!'
The robot flies around as missiles flying around and destroying the school building with another passer tying at the building once more.
"A condensed particle cannon?!" The silverrette shouts.
"It's attacking everything!" Ryohei yells. "We'll all be done for!"
"Pft-Hahahahaha!" Xanxus laughs. "This is a real disaster! Hahahaha!"
"That guy's laughing…" Yamamoto says.
"Ano yaro… That guy planned to cause this accident from the start, no matter what to wipe us out." Gokudera states.
"So that's why he taunted Hibari-san…" Ruki realizes.
"How underhanded…" Ryohei growls.
"I… was used?" Hibari says with his arms on his wounds.
The boxer then notices Chrome running off into the field. "Oi! The field is dangerous!"
It was too late as she steps on the mine as the alarm goes off causing her to freeze her tracks as the mine explodes. Luckily, Ken and Chikusa manage to get her out in time. "Chikusa, Ken."
"Man, this girl is such a hassle, byon." Ken complains but then the guns move and aim at them to their shock while behind them, Gola Mosca is approaching, its weapon ready to fire.
"Yabe!" Yamamoto cries out.
"They've been surrounded!" Gokudera cries.
The gun fires along with Mosca's laser as the Kokuyo students prepare for the blow, but a flame flies down, creating a large shield that protects the three from the bullets and the beam.
"That's!"
"That flame. He came." Xanxus says in surprise.
Then a blue slash hits the gun, causing it to stop and slides off diagonally to the ground as the laser stops firing.
"That movement." Aaron speaks.
The flame shield does down, revealing two figures from the smoke with orange flame ablaze on the brunette's forehead and blond spiky hair.
"Boss... Knight…" Chrome stutters out and Kouga repositions himself sideways as he swings down his buster sword.
"That's!" Ryohei cries.
"J-Juudaime!" Gokudera cries out.
"Onii-sama!" Ruki calls out.
Yamamoto smiles while Hibari just stares with interest.
"So you came." Xanxus says. "However…" The robot flies at them with missiles flying everywhere.
A few missiles just barely miss Basil and Reborn who are running in.
"What could possibly be going on?!" He exclaims.
"It looks like Mosca's out to destroy everything." The hitman tells him as he sees the robot fly around in the air. "A human couldn't move like that. I wonder if it's out of control."
Xanxus doesn't seem to bother that the two teens have arrived. "The trash will be taken out in order." He says. "There's no change in that."
Tsuna looks up at the missiles flying towards them and then his gloves ignites and flies up and destroy them all.
"What?!" Levi exclaims.
"I can't believe it." Bel says.
"H-He's flying!" Ryohei exclaims.
"You're amazing Juudaime." Gokudera says.
The brunette flies towards the robot, which fires many bullets towards him. Tsuna just brings out his flames and blocks all the bullets and tears off its other arm before the Mosca falls to the ground.
"W-What did he do?!" Levi shouts. "Now did he move just then?!"
"Suge…" Yamamoto trails off in awe.
"Juudaime."
"Oi, you piece of junk." Tsuna calls out. "Your opponent is me." He burns the torn arm and it explodes.
The Mosca turns around and fires more missiles directly at him but the sky boss dodges them.
"Sawada's-!" Ryohei shouts.
"What's going on?!" Gokudera yells. "All the missiles are aiming at Juudaime!"
"He's after Tsuna." Reborn says.
"Eh?" Basil asks.
"Mosca is concentrating his attacks on Tsuna."
Tsuna dodges most of the attacks but then a group of missiles from above and manages to hit him.
"J-Juudaime!" Gokudera cries out, but the brunette flies out of the smoke, unharmed.
"Tsuna!" Yamamoto exclaims.
"That's impossible!" Levi shouts.
Tsuna flies towards the robot before flying up, ready to attack him but then realizes that Gola Mosca is above him with the particle cannon ready to fire.
"Yabe! He can't dodge in midair!" Yamamoto cries out.
"Juudaime!" Gokudera exclaims.
Seeing the upcoming laser, Kouga spins his sword a few times as blue aura surrounds the blade before stopping at his back and then swings upwards, sending the same blue slash at the Mosca. Tsuna senses this and he immediately moves away as the slash hits into the laser, destroying it while sending it crashing to the ground.
"T-They're strong!" Ryohei exclaims.
"Yeah!" Yamamoto agrees.
"As expected of Juudaime!" Gokudera cheers.
"Onii-sama…" Ruki breathes out in relief.
"It can't be." Bel says.
"Boss…" Levi looks at his boss, but to find him smirking.
Kouga walks up to the collapsed robot as Tsuna lands next to him.
"T-They beat that monster!" Ryohei exclaims.
"You did it, Tsuna, Kouga!" Yamamoto cheers.
"Splendid work, Juudaime!" Gokudera shouts.
"Is it over?" Chikusa asks,
"Man, that was real rough, byon." Ken sighs.
Hibari looks at Tsuna who is in Hyper Mode and a blond-haired Kouga.
"As expected, a mechanical weapon is no match against Sawada-dono and Kouga-dono!" Basil shouts.
"But there's one thing I'm hung up on." Reborn says.
"Eh?"
"They could have unleashed Mosca at full power and defeated us, wiping us out." He explains. "Xanxus… why did he act in this roundabout way?"
"Xanxus… what is this?" Tsuna questions the Varia boss, but he wasn't about to get an answer as the robot gets up and charges at them again. Kouga grabs on the robot with his right hand, stopping it completely.
"W-With one hand?" Basil exclaims.
"Looks like Kouga powered up back when he stopped Lancia's ball back in Kokuyo Land." The hitman states.
"Tsuna." Kouga tells his friend.
The brunette understands as his hand ignites in flames and raising it, but unknown to them Xanxus smirks. Tsuna slashes down and chops the robot vertically in half.
"Oh!" Ryohei exclaims.
"He did it!" Gokudera shouts.
The robot lands to the ground with a vertically-scorching mark on its front frame. Subsequently, an old man falls out of the robot interior causing Kouga and Tsuna in shock while Xanxus is smirking with pride. The old man is bundled up and seems unconscious as he falls to the ground with a thud.
"W-What?!" Ryohei says out loud.
"A-A person…" Gokudera says. "A person came out of that thing!"
"T-This person…" Tsuna stammers in realization as he goes back to normal. "The Ninth…"
"Why? Why is he here?!" Basil exclaims as Reborn quickly runs over with a first aid kit.
"Who is that person?" Ruki asks.
"W-What in the world is going on?" Kouga stutters as his hair goes back to normal as well. "Why is the Ninth in that robot?"
"Oi! Hang in there!" Reborn calls out to his boss and looks up to scan the entire interior of the robot weapon. "I've seen Mosca's structure once before. It seems that the ninth was being used as Gola Mosca's power supply."
"Eh?"
"Power supply?" Tsuna repeats. "W-Why?"
"This is no time to be asking 'why'." Xanxus tells them. "You both attacked the Ninth."
Both their eyes widen in realization. "W-We did…?"
Reborn removes some of the bindings around the old man. "This isn't good." he says grimly. "This wound can't be dealt with using the first aid."
"Sonna…"
"Who mercilessly cut the old man?" The Varia boss questions. "Who scorched Mosca into two, along with the old man?"
"S-Sonna…" Tsuna stutters as he and Kouga's face go pale. "I… We… the Ninth…"
"No."
"Ah!" They look down to find the ninth bare conscious.
"It was my fault." he says.
"N-Ninth!" Tsuna and Kouga call out.
"We're finally able to meet, Tsunayoshi-kun, Kouga-kun…"
"Huh?"
"Sumanai. All this happened because of my weakness…" He apologizes. "It was my weakness that woke Xanxus from his long slumber."
"Eh?"
"Slumber?" What do you mean?" Reborn asks.
"Timoteo!" A voice calls out as they turn around to find Dan and Souha running towards them.
"Grandpa Dan!" Kouga cries out.
"Ah… Dan… Good to see you again."
"Just hang in there. Cavallone and Souha are almost here." Dan tells the old man. "What happened to you? What is going on?"
"Dan, what did the Ninth mean when he said 'slumber'?" Reborn asks him. "After Xanxus left the 'cradle' he left the Family and should have been placed under heavy surveillance by the Vongola."
"Cradle?" Tsuna asks.
"The greatest coup d'état attempt in Vongola history occurred eight years ago." The hitman explains. "The dreadful fact that the Ninth's son, Xanxus, was responsible was kept secret. Only the tops of the Vongola Family and elite who fought in that battle knew about it."
"For Xanxus, time has stood still for eight years." Timoteo says. "He's been asleep ever since that time, inflating his dreadful amount of hate and tenacity."
"Eh? W-What do you…" Tsuna asks. "What in the world?"
The Ninth coughs heavily.
"Daijoubu deska?!" Kouga asks. "Hang in there!"
"Tsunayoshi-kun… Kouga-kun…"
"Eh?"
"I consistently hear about both of you from Reborn and Dan. About the girls you each like, about your school, about your friends, and about the secrets you can't share… You both are children with hearts too ill-matched to that of a Mafia boss and its partner."
"Ninth…" Both teen mutter.
"I know that Tsunayoushi-kun never once fought happily. And Kouga-kun never forgives those who hurt his sibling and friends. You always have that frown on your forehead and swings your fists as it to pray… As the other calmly watches and swings your sword as a ritual…" The ninth raises his finger onto the brunette's forehead. "That's why I chose you as the Vongola Tenth and why Dan has chosen you as the Tenth Vongola Knight."
"Eh?" "He didn't choose Xanxus?" Tsuna thought and then a flame appears on the tip of his fighters. "A Dying Will Flame? It is so warm and familiar… Familiar?" He then realizes. "I… I… I know this person…" Tears flowing out of his eyes but then the flame starts to shrink. "Ah, the flame is getting smaller! S-Sonna…!"
"I'm sorry."
"Eh?"
"But I'm glad it's… you…" The man closes his eyes and his hand went limp.
"Wait!" Tsuna catches the old man's hand. "No! Please wait! Ninth!" Reborn tips his fedora to shadow his eyes, while Kouga eyes are shadow by the bangs of his hair. "Ninth…"
"How dare you kill the Ninth."
"Ah." They look at Xanxus.
"I take your cruel treatment of the ninth as a challenge to his true son, Xanxus and the honorable spirit of the Vongola." He says. " Don't feign your ignorance. The burns on the ninth's chest are more than enough proof. The Ring Conflict is nothing compared to what both of you have done. For the sake of my father, who was the boss, and for the future of Vongola, I will defeat you and avenge him."
"Eh!"
"What are you saying?!" Gokudera shouts. "You captured the ninth!"
"So this is what you were after." Reborn says.
"Eh?"
"Even if he won the Ring Conflict and became the Boss-in-waiting, the ones who knew about the Cradle Affair would object to his appointment and resist him." The hitman explains. "But if he avenges the Ninth after framing Tsuna or Kouga, it would be different. He would gain the absolute trust of many in the Family. And if he's stronger than Tsuna, who was meant to be the tenth, ho could prove that he is the true successor. If that were to happen, it wouldn't be an issue to deal with those who oppose him."
"Then Xanxus did this to become boss and create dictatorship!" Basil exclaims.
"Yeah. This was a trap. Were Mosca to go out of control and put Tsuna and Kouga's friends in danger, he predicted that they would come to rescue them."
Sonna…" Tsuna stutters. "J-Just for that…"
"Everyone, please refrain from conjecture." The Cervello states. "We're officially recording all statements.
"They're…" Yamamoto says, feeling anger at what they did.
"I knew it. The Cervello has always been on Xanxus' side!" Gokudera shouts.
"Do as you wish." Reborn says with his tone filled with anger. "I've already snapped." The two judges step back in shock. "But I'll keep my promise to the ninth and won't raise a hand, not even in my student's fight.
"Same here." Dan adds as his tone is as angry as Reborn's. "Despite my urge to kill all the Varia right now, I won't lay a hand as a promise towards my old friend."
"However," They add, "even if we say that I don't know what our students', who doesn't like fighting and who hate people like you, will do."
Both teens get up on their feet. "Xanxus. I'll be taking the Ring back." Tsuna says.
"We won't…" Kouga speaks and they look at him and Aaron with anger and resolve.
"We won't let you succeed the Ninth!" Both exclaim.
"Well said, Tsuna, Kouga." Reborn comments.
"Hn. I'll carve both of you into the history of Vongola," The Varia boss boasts, " shouting that there were two pathetic wimps who revolting against Xanxus."
"They're not alone!" He looks behind to see everyone all ready to battle. "Juudaime's will…"
"Is our will!"
"Personally." Hibari states.
"You brats want to fight?!" Levi shouts.
"Ushishishi… Sounds like fun." Bel states.
"Eradicate the traitors!" Xanxus orders.
"Please wait a moment!" the Cervello stop them from creating a huge battle. "The fight to avenge the Ninth will be controlled by us."
"What?!" Ryohei shouts.
"We have a duty to watch over the Vongola Rings."
"What are you saying, Xanxus' dogs!" Gokudera yells.
"What your mouth." They warn them as they take out the same document for the announcement of the Ring Conflict. "We have the Ninth's direct orders. We cannot allow the Rings to change hands without our approval."
"How dare you!" Basil shouts. "You must have forced the Ninth to make that Dying Will Flame Seal!"
"As we said before, please refrain from conjuncture."
"Don't give me that tone." The pink-haired judges turn their attention to Dan. "Do you wish to go against me, Cervello?"
"Gramps?" Kouga looks at his American grandfather.
"Let me repeat myself." He says. "Do you wish to go against me, the Ninth Vongola Knight, and give me that bullshit!"
"W-What?!"
"That is ossan is the Ninth Vongola Knight?!" Gokudera exclaims.
"Ruki, did you know?" Yamamoto asks.
"This is the first time I head this." The white-haired girl admits.
"Grandpa Dan… is the Ninth Vongola Knight?!" Kouga stammers.
"As we are about to say, the battle, which determines both the next Vongola boss and knight, shall be called the Sky Match." The Cervello announces. "Originally, the match to determined the boss and knight were to be together in which they are partners. In other words, it will be the final battle of the Ring Conflict that we held. How does this suits you, Xanxus-sama?"
"It's not bad." The Varia boss agrees.
"Then, tomorrow's night, would everyone please gather at Nami-Chuu."
"So you're giving them a stay of execution." Bel says.
"What?!" Ryohei shouts.
"Teme…!" Gokudera shouts.
"This is good news." Reborn says. "Tsuna and Kouga were exhausted from their training today."
"Hn, tomorrow night is going to be this comedy last act." Xanxus laughs, in his hand is the half of the Vongola Sky Ring. "Struggle all your might." He flicks it back at the brunette and he raises his right hand before a huge light blinds everyone. When the light dims down, the Varia along with the Cervello are gone.
"H-He disappeared." Ryohei stutters. "Those women too!"
"Ah! N-Ninth!" Basil remembers as he runs towards his side. "Please hold on!"
"Were we too late?" They turn around. To find Souha, Dino, and most of the Cavallone boss' subordinates with him
"Bucking Bronco!" Gokudera exclaims.
"You, take the Ninth and any injured." Dino instructs as all the men bring out stretchers and carry Timoteo away. They also scan the area, in case there are still mine left. "We received word from the External Advisor team. I couldn't have imagined this happening… Are you guys all right?
"The damage we received is too great." Reborn states. "But still…" Dino subordinates then check the remaining Guardians for injuries, though they are still little shaken up.
"Are you okay, Ruki?" Souha asks his daughter but she doesn't answer as she and the other Guardians stare at both Tsuna and Kouga who are still standing in the middle, both feeling guilty for what happened.
"Let's go home!" The hitman states as he kicks Tsuna down from behind and snapping Kouga out of his thoughts, before landing on the poor brunette. "We're going home."
"Eh?"
"The both of you need to recharge for tomorrow's match."
"Why do you always kick me?!" Tsuna snaps at him.
"'Cause I feel irritated."
"W-What kind of reason is that?!" The brunette dead-pans causing everyone to laugh at the awkward scene that often shows between the hitman and his student.
"Looks like Reborn won't change, even with this serious situation…" Kouga sighs and feels a hand on his shoulder behind him, revealing to be Dan. "Gramps."
"Let's go home." He says.
"Yeah…" The black-haired teen says before the elderly man wraps an arm around the teen's shoulder. "Cho- Gramps!"
"So, care to explain to the girl who came to our house last week? Are you sure she's not your girlfriend?"
"Ha-h! Of course not! Shizuki is a friend and a classmate!"
"So you say~"
"It's true!"
"Hope hasn't diminished yet, Reborn." Dino thought, looking at Reborn tormenting Tsuna and Dan tries to interrogate Kouga about Yuuri.