Chapter 25: The Truth
From the rubble of the blast from earlier, Gokudera pushes it off as he looks at Yamamoto. "A-Are you all right?"
"*cough**cough* Yeah." He coughs as he holds both Chrome and Ruki. "Dokuro and Ruki-chan are safe too. But what was that? The entire gym was blown away."
"That blow… Could it be?" He and Yamamoto then notice a lone figure standing at the edge of the demolished gym.
"Sorry. I hate being dull." Ryohei states.
Just as they saw the building collapse, a fuzzy image appears on the screen of the monitor.
"The monitor!" Basil exclaims.
"Oi, what happened to Hayato and Yamamoto?" Shamal questions.
"It seems that the camera in the gym was destroyed." The Cervello states.
"It must have been him." Reborn says.
"Yeah. It was a single blow that turned the tables and blew away the gym." Colonnello exclaims as the Hitman smirks.
Back at the ruined gym, Ryohei smiles as he holds his right arm.
"I'm glad you're all safe." He says
"'Safe'?! There are certain ways to save people! What if we had been blown away too?!" Gokudera questions.
"Maa, maa, it's all right." Yamamoto calms him down. "Thanks to that, we were saved."
"Yamamoto's right." Ryohei nods.
"I don't want to hear you say it!" The silverrette shouts.
Then Chrome and Ruki both groans which catch the baseball ace's attention. "Oi! Hang in there!" He tells them.
"Mm…" Ruki groans and opens her eyes. "Yamamoto…san…?"
"Have you come to, Ruki-chan."
"I…"
"How are they doing?" The bomber asks and the white-haired girl looks up to find him and Ryohei there.
"Gokudera-san... Ryohei-san..."
"That's good. You and Dokuro received the antidote. Nothing to worry about."
"But you'll be dizzy for a while." Gokudera tells her.
"Hai." She replies and removes herself from the baseball nut.
"Now we're all back in action." The boxer states.
"Damn it. I'm not sure how much of that was an illusion." The bomber says. "That damned illusionist…"
Both Yamamoto and Ruki laugh at this when they hear Mammon's voice.
"Mattaku, what a violent bunch." He says and out from the rubble are him, Bel and Allena who are unscathed and lands on the railings.
"Ushihsishi. And why are you just standing around, carefree?" Bel questions.
"We're still fighting." Allena adds.
"So they're alive!" Gokudera takes out his dynamites.
"I didn't think it would knock them out." Ryohei announces.
Yamamoto stands in front of Ruki and Chrome as he swings his Shiikure Kintoki to protect them. "We got the girls back. We won't hold back anymore." He states.
"You're certainly full of fight, but are you sure you're all right?" Bel asks.
"After all, there's not a single one of you who can fight normally." Allen points out.
"Shut up! Get down here!" The boxer shouts as he grips his fists.
"Baka! Like we'd fight you." The prince says.
"We already have what we need." Mammon states as he shows the seven Rings."
"Those are the Vongola Rings!" Gokudera widens his eyes in realization. "Back then…" He remembers when he and Yamamoto were caught by the tentacles and forces the bomber to drop the three remaining Rings. "Damn. I'll take them back!" He shouts and sends his Rocket Bombs at the three, but they all pass through the three Varia and explode behind them. 'What?!"
"They passed through them?" Ryohei questions.
"Illusions." Chrome speaks after regaining her consciousness and looks at the Varia.
"Dirty tricks!"
"We won't let you go!" Both Ryohei and Gokudera run towards them.
"Sorry."
"See ya."
"Bye-bi."
They say and disappears.
"Damn it!" Gokudera curses.
"Gokudera."
"Gokudera-san." Yamamoto and Ruki call.
"I'm sorry. Because of me…."
"You couldn't help it. Don't worry." The baseball ace tells him and looks at the two girls. "We save these two."
"We need to treat their injuries." Ryohei says,
"But I'm fine now." Ruki assures them.
"Don't push yourself." Yamamoto tells her. "From what we can tell, you can bare stand, Ruki-chan."
Gokudera turns around, seeing the injuries of his friends and closes his eyes. "You're right." He replies to the boxer and looks at the smoke where the Sky Match is. "Juudaime."
Xanxus looks down at his frozen hands and then glares up at Tsuna. "You bastard..." He growls as the brunette looks at him.
"Tsuna… You…" Kouga speaks, looking at his friend's form while Aaron looks frightful at the ice around his boss' hands.
"A technique to freeze flames… That's the Zero Point Breakthrough created by the Vongola First?" Basil asks.
"That could be it." Shamal replies. " No matter how strong, Xanxus' Flames become, they can be sealed by it. It's a complete reversal."
"I didn't think that would be the true Zero Point Breakthrough." The army infant admits. "But there's something I don't understand, kora."
"What's that?" Reborn asks.
"The Dying Will Flame is like the symbol of Vongola, but this technique is its opposite, kora. If the Vongola First created this technique, that means…"
The hitman lowers his hat. "He may have known. No matter how strong our bonds may be, we're still mafioso. You can't hold back the blood which seeks power."
"Then, the Vongola First created this technique knowing that they'd fight among each other."
"Yeah." The Arcobaleno look back up at the monitor. "He knew this day would eventually come."
"Why? This is impossible!" Xanxus exclaims. "A piece of trash like you use it the Vongola secret technique?! This is not the Zero Point Breakthrough!"
"You must know what the Zero Point Breakthrough is like." Tsuna speaks. "Those scars. Those are proof that you've been hit by the Zero Point Breakthrough all over your body once before."
"Once before?!" Colonnello repeats in shock as everyone else.
"Flames will not light your fists again. You lose, Xanxus." Tsuna states.
Xanxus glares at him for a moment but then he chuckles softly. "I was wondering what'd you'd say." He continues to laughs softly as it grows louder into mad laughter before lifting his hands. "Don't mock me!" He shouts and slams his frozen hands to his legs to break the ice. "This isn't enough!" Xanxus continues smashing the ice a few more times until it cracks when his flames come out.
"Ah!" Shamal cries.
"He couldn't have!" Dino exclaims.
The Varia boss smirks and shows this to Tsuna. "What do you think, trash?"
"It's futile, Xanxus." Tsuna tells him. "If we continue, you'll receive wounds even greater than those given to you by the Ninth."
The Varia's sky and knight widen their eyes at the statement as Kouga is surprised at this.
"The Ninth?!" Basil repeats.
"What does he mean?" Shamal questions.
"T-Then, Xanxus was stopped by the Ninth Zero Point Breakthrough." Colonnello says,
"Shut up!" Xanxus shouts. "Shut up! I am the one worthy to become the Tenth! X represents ten! I am Xanxus! Destined from birth to become the Tenth! A man who has two titles of 'ten' in his name! Xanxus! Did you think I'd falter before you? I'm the one who's going to win!" He then charges towards Tsuna. "I am the Vongola Tenth!" Then Tsuna's flame begins to flicker before sending a punch into Xanxus' gut, which he collapses and glares up at him. "You bastard…" However, he sees Tsuna's eyes is back to brown as his flame is not on his forehead along with his gloves.
"Here I go." He says as his mittens turn to gloves before putting them in front of the Varia boss. "Zero Point Breakthrough: First Edition." Tsuna puts his hands on Xanxus's arms, causing smoke to come out and ice starts to form around him.
"Stop it!" Squalo yells.
"Xanxus!" Aaron shouts as he about to help him, but Kouga intercepts him as he swings his sword at the Varia Knight.
"You're not going anywhere." The black-haired teen says.
"Why?" Tsuna asks. "Why do you…"
"Shut up! Don't spout the same things the old man did!" Xanxus shouts as the ice envelopes him.
"The Ninth?" He repeats.
"Move!" Aaron shouts as he pushes Kouga away as the teen skids to a stop.
"Then you leave me no choice." He says and the Mako begins to surround him as he brings his buster sword above him, horizontally, and then slides his left hand down to the handle while moving it vertically in front of him. Kouga then charges towards Aaron as he leaves a blue silhouette of himself before bombarding his opponent with fourteen sword slashes in different directions, then he finishes up with a final powerful overhead slash.
Once Xanxus' body is encased by ice, his and Aaron's Rings fly out and lands on Tsuna and Kouga's hands respectively and they take off their Rings from the chains.
"This will never melt." Tsuna says.
"Won't melt?" Dino repeats.
"Is that possible?" Shamal asks.
"That ice has the opposite power of the Dying Will flame. It's like super-condensed negative energy." Reborn explains.
"There's nothing you can do once you're trapped by that because heat and light—any energy—will be turned negative in there." Dan continues. "And with Aaron being defeated by Kouga on that last attack, he won't be moving for a while."
"Then, this match…" Basil asks and the hitman smirks.
"Yeah. Tsuna and Kouga win."
"Y-Yatta!"
"Good, work, Tsuna, Kouga!" Dino cheers as Squalo can only fist his hands and grits his teeth in frustration.
"So Xanxus is in a frozen syncope." The army Arcobaleno asks.
"It's probably the same way he was put to sleep for eight years after the Cradle incident. Isn't that right, Dan?" Reborn asks.
"Yeah." He elderly man confirms which surprises everyone.
"Naruhodo. Now it all makes sense." Colonnello says.
"Now tell us, Squalo, about the Cradle incident that happened eight years ago." Dino asks. "What happened?"
"…It's just as you imagined it. He was frozen by the Ninth." Squalo admits and closes his eyes. "That was all. I've never told anyone that secret. Damn it. Once again, I couldn't save him. But…" He looks at the Cervello. "Voi! Get me out of here!"
"We cannot." They say. "The set rules for victory… He has yet to fulfill the condition of collecting all the Vongola Rings."
"Shut up! Let me go!" He shouts and struggles to get off the wheelchair.
"Don't move, Squalo!" Dino tells him.
"Don't get in my way! Let me go!"
"Stop it!"
"Damn it!"
Tsuna pants heavily as he looks at the frozen Varia boss. "Xanxus." He says and collapses.
"Tsuna-!" Kouga about to go to help Tsuna, but he too collapses to his knees.
"Hey." Colonello calls.
"Looks like Tsuna and Kouga's at the limit of his vitality." Reborn states.
The two then hears familiar laughter throughout the field and follows up by another voice.
"Killing you now won't take much effort."
From the smoke, they see an uninjured Lussuria and Levi.
"It's our chance!" Lussuria says.
"T-They're…!" Basil exclaims.
"Not good." Shamal says and Souha turns to the pink-haired judges.
"Hey, the match is over! Let us out!" He tells them.
"The battle is still ongoing. We cannot let you out." They say.
"Damn it! Tsuna! Kouga!" Dino shouts.
"Stand up, Sawada-dono, Kouga-dono!" The dirty blond-haired officer shouts.
"Levi Volta!" Levi shouts, throwing all of his umbrellas around the two teens and lightning begins to charge. "I'll burn you to a crisp!"
"How dull!" Lussuria says and jumps down at them with his metal knee. "Die!"
"Sawada-dono!" Basil shouts.
"Kouga!" Souha shouts.
Both of them close their eyes. "An illusion." They say causing Lussuria and Levi disappear along with the umbrellas.
"Hn. Good work seeing through that." Mammon says as he floats down in front of Tsuna and Kouga. "But you two don't even have the strength left to crawl."
"It was all an illusion?" Basil asks.
"But… That illusionist is probably real. It's too soon to relax." Shamal states.
"Damn." Colonnello curses. "Where are Ryohei and the others?"
"It's another reversal." The illusionist infant says.
"It's no use." Tsuna mutters. "Xanxus is asleep. He'll never awaken again. The battle is over."
"I wonder about that." The indigo Arcobaleno says. "Over? You've got to be kidding. The ceremony for the boss to become the successor to Vongola is ready. The boss will revive again." He brings out his hands when they start to glow as he reveals the seven Vongola Rings in his hands. "With these Vongola Rings!"
"Those are…" Shamal starts.
"The Guardians' Rings!" Basil exclaims.
"YOSH! Good work, Mammon!" Squalo shouts.
"Do you know why they store the Rings split apart, and why they're only given to proper successors of Vongola?" The illusionist asks. "That's because the Rings themselves have a hidden power."
"Hidden power?" The CEDEF officer repeats.
"That's right." Squalo thought. "After being frozen by the Ninth, Xanxus was guarded carefully in the basement at the headquarters."
"They say when the Ninth's Zero Point Breakthrough was defrosted, there were nine small burn marks on the floor." Mammon continues."No one knows for sure who did it, but it's enough to come up with a theory."
The Rings then begin to glow in different colors as well as Tsuna and Kouga's Ring before they see fire around them as different color flames appear on the Rings.
"Just as I thought." He says.
"Flames are coming out of the Rings!" The army infant exclaims.
"Just watch." The indigo Arcobaleno flies over to the frozen Xanxus causing the flames of all the Rings to grow stronger and they melt the ice.
"The Zero Point Breakthrough's ice is…"
"Melting." Dino finishes Shamal's sentence.
"VOI! Good going!" "It's not over yet!" Squalo thought. "That's why I can't tell anyone that secret!"
"This isn't all." Mammon says as water comes out from the melting ice. "When the nine complete Vongola Rings are handed down, they say a great power is granted to the new Blood of Vongola."
"To the Blood of Vongola?" Tsuna repeats and Kouga senses someone behind him but that person throws his knife at his and Tsuna's Rings causing the two to look behind, finding Bel standing there.
"I'll be taking these back." He says as he retracts his knife. "One of them is the legitimate successor's Ring."
"Belphegor!" Basil shouts.
"So he was safe too." Shamal says as Bel walks towards the smoke as the ice melts away.
"Now we've got all the Vongola Rings." The prince says.
"I'm ready over here too." Mammon says.
"Stop!" Kouga shouts as he about to move when a blade is up to his neck.
"Don't move." A female voice says, revealing to be Allena, standing behind him.
"Allena as well!" The dirty blond-haired boy shouts.
"This is bad." Souha says.
From the smoke, Xanxus falls forward to the ground as Bel and Mammon are standing in front of him.
"Welcome back, Boss." Bel greets,
"It's finally time." Mammon says.
The prince flips his boss over as he breathes out slowly from the fighting.
"All right! It's not over yet!" Squalo exclaims.
"Xanxus has…"
"Revived!" Shamal finishes Basil's sentence.
"This isn't good!" Ken exclaims.
"Oi…" The army infant mutters as Reborn only watches.
"Give me… the Rings…" Xanxus orders.
"Of course. This is only worth of the Ninth direct relation, not that imposter." Bel states as he spins the Sky Ring around until the flame dies down.
"Since the beginning, this was always meant to be." Mammon states as the flames from the other rings also die down.
"S-Stop…!" Tsuna mutters by struggles to get up.
Juudaime!" Gokudera shouts as he and the other Guardians rush to the exercise field.
"Tsuna!" Yamamoto calls out.
"Onii-sama!" Ruki cries out.
"Boss!" Chrome calls.
However, when they got there, they are shocked to see the remaining Varia there and getting ready to put the Rings into Xanxus' chain and his finger.
"Shishishi. Thank you all being the audience to the birth of the new Boss." Bel says.
"Sonna…!" Basil shouts.
The Cervello however, they only watch this and nod to each other before disappearing.
"Vongola's greatest treasure, passed down through time." Mammon chants. "Give the young Blood of Vongola a great power!" he sets the Guardians' Ring into the chain one by one and then Bel slowly sets the Sky Ring into his boss' finger which they all glow.
Tsuna tries to get up to stop this but collapses as he watches this.
"What's going on?" Ryohei questions as he and the others can only watch while the Cervello arrive there.
"T-This is…" Xanxus says and then light bursts upwards as he stands up laughing. "Power! An unending power of overflowing!"
"Looks like we'll getting a huge bonus." The illusionist infant says and Bel laughs.
"This is proof of being the successor to Vongola! Finally, finally! It coming true!" Xanxus shouts. "Now I can become the Vongola Tenth!"
Suddenly, however, Xanxus begins to groan out as the light of the Sky Ring weakens and he collapses to his knees before he yells out in pain and falls to the ground.
"Boss!" Allena calls out as she runs towards her boss.
"Boss!" Mammon calls out.
"What's the matter, Boss?" Bel asks.
"Impossible! Could it be…?!" Squalo shouts.
"The Rings…" Tsuna speaks digging his fingers into the ground. "Xanxus… They rejected Xanxus." The Ninth was trying to… Trying to tell me this." He thought. "The Ninth… Xanxus…"
"You know something." The indigo Arcobaleno turns to the brunette. "What do you mean, 'the Rings rejected him'?" Then Xanxus slowly gets up albeit heavily injured. "Boss!"
"I bet you feel good about yourself." Xanxus says.
"Boss!" Bel and Allena help him as he tries to sit up.
"That's right. The Ninth and I aren't real family!" He announces as everyone is shocked about this.
Both Tsuna and Kouga revert to their normal selves as they look at the Varia boss. "Xanxus." Tsuna mutters.
"Don't you dare feel sorry for me, you trash!"
"Xanxus, I know." Squalo says when the Cervello hears this and turns on the speaker from the spectator's area. "The regret, and the grudge caused by the betrayal, I know."
Hearing his voice again surprises both sides.
"Squalo!" Yamamoto shouts.
"So you lived, trash-shark." Xanxus says. "You know? What do you know about me? Don't talk to me as if you understand."
"No, I know! I know!"
"Knock it off. Then tell me! What do you know about me?!" He shouts but Squalo doesn't reply. "What? You can't tell me?!"
"That day, when you are frozen by the Ninth, I was still conscious. I heard. That time you… told the Ninth you weren't his son and didn't told you about it. After that, I did research on you. You were born into a working-class neighborhood in Italy and had power over flames since birth. It was all made possible by poverty. Your mother was entrapped by the delusion that you were born from the Vongola Ninth. And your mother brought you, who knew nothing about it, to the Ninth. You believed the Ninth's words and never doubted them. And soon, you were adopted by the Ninth, and made it big as the Ninth's son. You grew up to be a man who had the dignity and skill to become worthy to succeed the Ninth. However, you must have found out the truth at some point."
"That's right." Xanxus thought. "I found out that I wasn't that old man's child and that I couldn't succeed the Family without having the Blood of Vongola."
"It was around that time when I first saw you. With one look, I knew I couldn't beat you, and I then decided to follow that rage. And, six months later…"
"It was the coup d'état." Dan continues.
"And that led to the Cradle." Reborn says.
"That's everything I know."
"Pathetic." The Varia boss says. "Pathetic."
"Wasn't the reason that the Ninth didn't kill you, even after being destroyed, wasn't that he wanted to accept you to the very end?" Tsuna asks. "The Ninth acknowledge you more than anyone else ever had. The Ninth thought of you as his real child."
"Shut up! Disgusting, voluntary love is completely useless! All I want is the position of Boss! All you trash have to do is revere me! Support me!"
"What a terrible guy." Gokudera comments.
"Ushishishi. How cool." Bel says.
"Love won't become money." Mammon states.
Then the Sky Ring falls off from his finger.
"Xanxus-sama, we must consult to determine if the Ring is suited to you." The Cervello says,
"S-Shut up." Xanxus says. "If it won't come true, then I'll defeat everything in my path until it does!"
"Xanxus-sama!" They call when Bel, Allena, and Mammon face toward them.
"I agree, Boss. Let's do it!" Bel says, having pull out his knives.
"Yeah." Allena agrees as he points her sword at the two judges.
"Just as planned." Mammon states.
Just then bombs explode in front of the Varia causing them to shield from the smoke.
"How rotten can you be?" Gokudera questions as he and everyone get ready to fight. "We won't let you!"
"You all couldn't even die properly." The prince says and notices Hibari coming towards them.
"Now we can finally settle things." He says.
"What are you saying? You're wounded all over. There's no mistake. You're all going to die." Allena says.
"Don't you see? It's three against six. The odds are against you." The bomber states.
"Three against six? What are you talking about?" Mammon questions. "Your opponents are a force several times larger than this. An elite Varia squad with fifty members will be here any moment."
"What are you saying?!" Ryohei questions.
"The Boss called enough support to deal with everyone involved with this incident after he won. They are elites who are second only to us officers in fighting prowess."
"Everything involved in this incident?" Yamamoto repeats as everyone realizes.
"Could he mean…!" Tsuna and Kouga exclaim.
"Please wait a moment." The pink-haired judges say. "We cannot allow outside interference during the match."
"I don't care." Bel states.
"But-"
The prince slashes her when one of the Chervello gets closer to him.
"They finally did it." Shamal says.
"If that's how they're going act, we can support Tsuna's side!" Colonnello shouts. "Let's us out, kora!"
"In this case, you shouldn't have any complaints!" Dino shouts, bringing his whip out.
"I shall fight as well!" Basil shouts as he also brings out his weapon.
"Very well. We will disqualify the Varia side and turn off the observation area's infrared sensors." The remaining Chervello says as she presses a button that deactivates the infrared sensors.
"Let's go, kora!" The army infant exclaims.
"Wait." Reborn says as Leon turns into red goggles for him to see the infrared sensors. "It hasn't been turned off."
"We worked on those." Mammon says. "We intended to kill them all in that cage."
"What?" Dino says.
"They already took the first step." Shamal adds.
"Out of the way. I'm going to break through it!" Colonnello points his rifle at the cage.
"That's pointless." The Cervello says. "It is set to explode when attacked from the inside."
"What?"
"We can't lift a finger." Reborn states.
"Damn. Then we'll have to do it on our own!" Gokudera exclaims.
Just then, Chrome hears something in her head, causing her to put her other hand on it. "Mukuro-sama?" She thought. "Eh? Someone is coming?" She asks when three more people arrive at the scene, revealing to be the Varia personnel.
"Ushishishi. Nice timing." Bel says. "We've been waiting."
"Reporting:" They pant, "the entire Varia Squad, except us, has been defeated! He was too strong! A man with the strength of a demon is heading this way!"
"Bouja Reppa!"
A huge metal ball comes spinning in, attacking the personnel. As the wind from the attack dies down, they see someone holding a chain as the metal ball lands on the ground with a thud.
"That is… That man is the one Mukuro-sama kept talking to." Chrome says.
"H-He's…" Gokudera says,
"Don't get me wrong, Vongola. I didn't come here to save you." A voice says. "I came to thank you."
"Lancia-san!" Tsuna and Kouga call out.
"Why is he…" Ken says.
"Lancia… Why is that Lancia here?" Mammon questions in disbelief.
"No way…" Allena trails off.
"What is he?" Bel asks.
"Known as the strongest man in northern Italy: Lancia, of the Family Murder Incident." Squalo explains.
"I-Is he that strong?" Ken pales.
"He is." Chikusa says calmly.
"He has no hesitation. He fights of his own will and won't be controlled by another." Reborn says.
"That's Lancia for you." Dan says.
"Ushishishi. Is that so? In that case…" Bel takes out his knives and throws them at Tsuna and Kouga but two swords deflect them, revealing to be both Yamamoto and Ruki.
"Hold on. It's not going to work like that." Yamamoto says.
"We won't let you touch Onii-sama and Tsuna-san." Ruki says,
"Yamamoto!" Tsuna calls out.
"Ruki!" Kouga calls out.
"Mu, I didn't think it'd turn out like this." The hooded baby tries to flee, but a magma pillar bursts out and envelops him.
"I won't let you escape." Chrome declares.
"Hey." Hibari calls as he releases the chain and spikes from his tonfas. "Let's end this."
"I won't let you go!" Ryohei says as he stands in front of them in his boxing stance.
"Juudaime!" Tsuna and Kouga turn and see Gokudera kneeling at his boss. "Are you injured?"
"Onii-sama?" Ruki asks her brother.
"Thank you." Tsuna says.
"We're fine." Kouga answers.
"Then…" Gokudera and Ruki stand back up, brandishing their weapons as everyone all surrounded Xanxus and the Varia.
Bel drops his knives and brings his hands up. "This is no good."
"Boss, looks like this is it." Mammon says.
"…Useless trash." Xanxus pants. "Shit. Damn it. I'm going to send you all to Hell!" He shouts but coughs out in pain.
"If he knew the secret of the Rings," Squalo speaks, "do you think Xanxus would have given up on the position of Boss?" He asks.
"Who knows." Dino answers.
"Of course not! He would have burned his anger more fiercely and destroy it all, along with the laws! Now the brats are members of our world. They will regret it one day. They would have been better off dying in this fight."
"Now, we will end the Ring Conflict and announce the results." The Cervello announces. "Due to Xanxus-sama's disqualification, the winner of the Sky Match is Sawada Tsunayoshi-shi and Kouga Mitsurugi Lanceford-shi." All Tsuna's Guardians smile and grin at the results. "Thus, the ones who will become eventual successors of Vongola will be Sawada Tsunayoshi-shi, his Vongola Knight, and his seven Guardians."
"Well done." Reborn praises his student. "Now you can go home."
Tsuna smiles as he takes out the blue amulet he got from Kyoko. "Minna…" He sighs but then collapses on the spot from exhaustion.
"Sawada-dono!" Basil exclaims.
"Juudaime/Tsuna!" Gokudera and Yamamoto shout as they run towards their friend.
"Tsu…na…!" Kouga then collapses afterward.
"Onii-sama!" Ruki cries.
~The Next Day~
Kouga grunts as he opens his eyes, not remembering the ground being so comfortable, and finding himself back to his room of his home. "That's right. The Ring Conflict is over…" He says and smiles before stretching his body, but then a staggering pain hits him. "Itetetete! The pain!" He shouts.
"Onii-sama?" He hears Ruki at his door and it opens to reveal her wearing a white and blue dress and sports her Vongola Ring around her neck by a chain. "Are you awake?"
"Ruki. Ohayo." He greets.
"Mou, it's almost noon." She retorts.
"Ruki, is Kouga awake?" Souha asks as he appears from the hallway.
"Yes, Papa."
"Oi, Kouga." Dan calls out as he also appears there. "You better hurry up and get change. We're going out."
"Going out?" Kouga repeats.
"That's right. We're going to Yamamoto's house for a party."
"Party?"
"Did you forget? It's your and Ruki's victory with the Ring Conflict." Souha says.
-Yamamoto's Sushi Place-
After Kouga changed into his clothes—a white shirt under a black and blue jacket and a pair of jeans with blue sneakers—he, Ruki, Souha, and Dan arrive at the sushi shop. Noticing how noisy it is right now, Kouga just opens the door, to find everyone in a party mood with decorations and all.
"Everyone's here!" he cries out.
"Ah! Kouga-kun! Ruki-chan! You made it!" Kyoko says.
"Y-Yo…"
"Kouga-san!" Tsuna cries and spots her ring hanging on her neck. "Ruki-chan has her's too?!"
"You and Kouga's are here too." Reborn says as he takes out the box that is holding Tsuna's and Kouga's Ring.
"Uwa! That's gonna burn me!" Tsuna panics.
"It won't burn you. It's been calm ever since it thawed Xanxus out."
"Either way, I don't want it! That dangerous thing!"
"You told Xanxus, 'I'm going to be the Tenth'."
"I didn't! I told him that I wouldn't let him be the Tenth!"
"You just don't give up do you, Tsuna?" Dino asks the brunette.
"B-But, Dino-san…"
"Then I'll take mine." Kouga says as he picks up the Knight Ring before Tsuna can stop him and slides into his right middle finger.
"See. Even Kouga accepted it." The Bronco says and Tsuna hangs his head. "About the Ninth; his life isn't in danger."
The two teen look at Dino with wide eyes.
"H-Honto deska!" Tsuna asks. "Sokka. Thank goodness."
"Well, it's not like you're going to become the Tenth immediately." Dino tells the brunette. "Relax."
"Huh? That's not… I don't want to become a mafioso."
"Even when a kid like that is willing to do it?" The blond-haired boss looks at the side as the two teens follow the gaze.
"This Ring was in a garbage can." Lambo says as he shows the ring to Kyoko, Haru, and Yuuri.
"Lair!" Tsuna and Kouga thought.
"Should I punish that stupid cow?" Gokudera asks as he glares at the cow kid.
"Maa, maa. Lambo worked hard this time too." Yamamoto tells him.
"Geez. Well, it's fine!" The bomber then looks at Tsuna. "Juudaime! Tonight, let's passionately discuss the future of the Family and get riled up!"
"What have I been reduced to?" Tsuna thought. "Besides, I've got no intention of becoming a mafioso in the future."
Pankapan!" Haru announces as she, Kyoko and Yuuri are standing at the sushi bar. "Now for the commendation ceremony!"
"Commendation ceremony?" The brunette repeats.
"To commemorate Tsuna-kun's sumo contest victory…" Kyoko trails off.
"Kyoko-chan and I made one!"
"Eh?"
"Ta-da! This is it!" Haru shows a belt for a champion that is used for wresting.
"Champion belt?"
"Congratulations, Tsuna-Jun. We're celebrating that today too." Kyoko explains.
"The greatest champion, Tsuna-san!" Haru exclaims as she and Kyoko pass the belt to Tsuna.
"A-Arigatou."
"That's not nice, Tsuna." Lambo says in envy.
"We have one celebrating Lambo-chan's homecoming too!" Haru says and shows a box filled with toys that kids love.
"Yatta!"
"Lots of toys!" I-Pin exclaims.
"They're all mine!"
Watching the two kids fighting over the toys with Haru trying to calm them down, Kouga notices that Tsuna and Kyoko are standing together and he smiles before putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Good luck." He says, getting confused looks from the brunette and walks away a bit, sitting at the bar and about to watch the two their conversation when Bianchi shows Tsuna her Poison Cooking.
"Kouga-kun." The said teen turns to see Yuuri there.
"Yo, Yuuri." Hearing her name from her crush causes the girl to blush.
"A-Ano… I also made something for you."
"You shouldn't have." Kouga tells her but Yuuri shows a dog tag that has his name on it. "A dog tag?"
"My dad is an expert making these." She explains. "I asked him to teach me how to make one for you. And I thought that something that you familiar with it would make you feel back at America."
Kouga looks at her with wide eyes and smiles. "Arigatou, Yuuri."
The black-haired teen receives the dog tag before hearing Gokudera groans aloud causing the two to turn, finding Gokudera lying on the ground.
"Gokudera?" He calls.
"Are you that happy to see me after so long, Hayato?" Bianchi asks as Kouga concludes that the bomber must have seen her face.
"She just doesn't get it…" Tsuna dead-pans.
"Ahahaha…" Kouga wryly laughs with a sweat-drop.
"Too bad, Hayato. I don't treat guys." Shamal says. "More importantly, Bianchi-chan!" When the doctor about to kiss him, she gives the poison sushi at his face.
"Screw you!" She shouts.
"Hey, hey, I asked you to not bring your cooking in here, missy." Yamamoto's dad says with a sweat-drop.
Then Lambo grabs Tsuna's belt and puts it on his head. "This looks better on Lambo-san!" He laughs.
"No, Lambo, that's Tsuna-nii's." Fuuta tells him.
"Shut up, boke!"
"Stop, Lambo!" I-Pin runs after him.
"Geez, he got loud as soon as he got better." Tsuna mumbles.
"Isn't that fine?" Kouga asks as the next boss looks at him and then to everyone who is enjoying their meal and having a conversation with one another which Tsuna smiles at the peace they are having.
After the celebration is done, everyone goes back home when Dan turns to his grandchildren. "Kouga, Ruki, since the Ring Conflict is over, your parents and I are going back to America."
"Eh?" Kouga says.
"This soon?" Ruki asks.
"Sorry, Ruki," Souha says. "The real reason why we came here in the first place when we received word that the Varia made a move and train you two. Now that our role is finished, we're going back."
"It couldn't be helped, Ruki." Kouga tells her. "Tou-san and Kaa-san have their work back over there. You understand that too, right?" He asks and the girl nods sadly.
"Also, your cousin is coming over here and is going to live with you two." Dan adds.
"Cousin…?" The black-haired teen repeats and pales. "You mean…"
"That's right. You catch on quickly, Kouga." he says and laughs.
"That's not a laughing matter, Grandpa Dan! Why didn't you tell us sooner!" Kouga shouts but stops. "There's no time for this. Tou-san, when is she coming?"
"About five days from now." Souha replies.
"Yosh… we still have time. Ruki, we need to hurry and set up her room, fast! Knowing her, she'll probably going to make a fuss if it's too late."
"Hai!" The white-haired girl salutes and both rush back to their home to set up a room for their cousin.
~Five Days Later~
Three days prior, the Mitsurugi siblings see off their parents and American Grandpa back to America and now, they are at the airport with Tsuna and the gang since the two siblings told them that their cousin is going to live with them from now on.
"I wonder what kind of person Kouga-kun and Ruki-chan's cousin is." Kyoko says.
"Hai! We're going to have a lot of fun going shopping!" Haru happily exclaims.
"Keh! I hope it's not another idiot." Gokudera says.
"Don't worry, I can vouch for you that she is really kind and smart." Kouga tells them.
"After all, she graduated from the most prestigious universities in America at the age of eleven." Ruki adds.
"Suge! Then she's smarter than us!" Yamamoto says.
"UWOOO! I am extremely can't wait to meet her!" Ryohei shouts.
"But is it okay for us to be here?" Tsuna asks. "Won't she suspicious of us being a large group."
"What are you saying, Tsuna." Reborn tells his student. "It's too late for you to ask that since we came a long way here."
"T-That's…"
"It's okay. She may not look like it, but she can tell people from good or bad." The black-haired teen says.
"Ah! There she is!" Ruki announces and the group notices many people coming out and one of them is a young girl around their age with black hair in a single braided ponytail and amber eyes. She wears a red shirt with blue jeans and brown high heel boots. The girl carries a shoulder back and drags a red suitcase behind her.
"Oi! Viola!" Kouga shouts.
"Viola-neesama!" Ruki calls out.
Hearing her name called, Viola turns to find the siblings and smiles.
"Kou! Ru-ru (pronunciation: Lu-lu)!" She calls and runs towards them before hugging the two. She then separates herself with her hands on the two's shoulders. "It's been a while!"
"Hai!" The Snow Guardian answers.
"How was your research going?" Kouga asks.
"It's going really well. I already send it to my colleagues to finish it up."
"That's good."
Then Viola notices the group behind the two. "By the way, who are these guys?"
"Ah, let me introduce to you. From the left is Tsuna…"
"Sawada Tsunayoshi desu. Everyone calls me Tsuna."
"Reborn…"
"Ciaossu."
"Gokudera…"
"Gokudera Hayato da."
"Yamamoto…"
"Usu, Ore Yamamoto Takeshi."
"Ryohei…"
"I'm Sasagawa Ryohei, it's extremely nice to meet you!"
"Kyoko…"
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Sasagawa Kyoko."
"Haru…"
"Miura Haru desu! It's nice to meet you, Viola-chan!"
"And Yuuri."
"Hajimemashite, Shizuki Yuuri desu."
"And there are more people I want to introduce to you, but we can do that later."
"He-h, you met a lot of people here when you and Ru-ru were moved." Viola says and introduces herself. "I'm Kouga and Ruki's cousin, Viola Anderson, please to make your acquaintance."
Later, the group brings to the Mitsurugi household after leaving the airport as Nana is helping Haruka cooking food for the welcome party that is behind held in the dojo. There, Kouga introduces the rest of the Sawada's residence as Gokudera immediately faints from seeing Bianchi's face.
"Na, did you really graduated from a university?" Yamamoto asks.
"Yeah. My parents were scientists so when I was little, I sneak in what they were researching and tune them up a little bit."
"You should have seen their faces," Kouga says. "They were gawking at the talents that she showed when she did to those reports on their research."
"Eh! Viola-san, you had that talent when you were younger?!" Tsuna exclaims.
"Not exactly. I was around seven at that time, so I had a hard time keeping up my studies while I was in university."
"But it's amazing that Viola-neesama graduated after four long years of studying." Ruki states.
"Stop it~ You're embarrassing me!" The braided-haired girl blushes as she hands her hand behind her head.
"But I'm surprised that Viola-chan can speak fluently in Japanese." Kyoko says.
"That's because of Uncle- I mean, Souha-Ojisan taught me a few things."
"I didn't know that." Haru says.
"I guess it's the same as Kouga-kun." Yuuri says.
"Kind of." Viola replies and gets closer to the Lily. "By the way, I heard about you." She whispers.
"N-Nani?"
"That you have hots for Kou."
This causes Yuuri to blush. "W-What are you talking about?!" She silently screams.
"There's no need to hide. I've noticed how you looked at Kou for a while."
"That's right, Yuuri-chan!" Kyoko adds.
"We already know that you like Kouga-san." Haru says.
Yuuri's face gets even redder and spirals appear in her eyes. "B-B-But… Kouga-kun and I are just…"
"He won't know until you tell your feelings." Viola tells her as Kyoko and Haru nod in agreement.
"D-Demo… I…"
"By the way, Viola." Kouga speaks, causing Yuuri to get startled at his voice. "What are you planning to do after coming here?"
"Hmm…" The braided girl puts her finger on her chin, thinking. "To be honest, I don't know. But if there's anything you want to know, just ask me."
"As expected from you."
"That reminds me, Kouga." Reborn speaks. "Did you finished your homework from school?"
"Yeah. There were things that I didn't know, but I managed to finish them." The black-haired teen replies.
"See, Tsuna. Even Kouga finished his homework."
"Don't compare with me and Kouga-san!" Tsuna shouts at his tutor.