Benjamin left the airport with no signs of jetlag or fatigue. With his dark blue suit jacket casually slung over one shoulder and his light grey shirt loosened at the neck, he walked in a steady pace while holding onto his suitcase, emitting a businesslike aura along the way.
Several people (especially the ladies) stopped at the sight of seeing a blonde male with striking blue eyes, dressed up to attend a formal party. Benjamin nodded with a smile to follow, showing off his perfect pearl white teeth as he readjusted his glasses.
"Konnichiwa." He greeted the gaping strangers as best as he could, although he might have greeted them in English instead since it sounded quite awful. But still, at least he looked the part.
His blonde locks managed to fall uncontrollably before his eyes, resulting for him to run his fingers through his untamed hair, combing it back into place. "He looks so handsome." He heard a delighted voice of a Japanese female who seemed to take pleasure in gazing at him from afar. "I wonder if he's married. You can't go wrong with an American boyfriend, you know." They giggled, continuing their conversation in Japanese.
"Excuse me." He walked up to the group of ladies, ignoring the deadly glares of several males along the way, including an old man who fought the urge to confront the American directly of him having disrupted the peace. "Foreigners, they mess everything up I tells ya!" He complained while shaking his walking cane in Benjamin's direction.
A young woman about the age of twenty five pulled the old man away before he could cause any damage, much to the young woman's embarrassment. "Come on Grandfather. The man just got here. No need to get all upset." "Rowdy Americans with their rock music and all that rubbish. They're ruining this country!"
Benjamin couldn't help but to glance over at the old man from the corner of his eye, afterwards returning his attention to the ladies before him. "Sorry for asking, but which way is Namimori town? I'm running quite late, and I can't afford to lose any time." He asked politely, reverting to speaking English.
The girls giggled for a few seconds more. One of the girls gave him directions in Engrish, earning a dazzling smile from yours truly. "Much appreciated." He winked, her cheeks burning up afterwards. Benjamin walked off as he chuckled to himself.
"I still got it."
---------------
The school bell chimed, and the once empty hallways filled up with chattering students. Gokudera, Tsuna and Yamamoto made their way out the classroom, stopping in their tracks as soon as they spotted the crowd of students, randomly shouting at one another.
"Wow! Talk about a big crowd!" As always, Yamamoto remained his cheerful self despite the disastrous situation they're in.
"Freakin' cockroaches." Gokudera grumbled. "But don't worry Tenth! I've got your back!" He turned to the empty space between Yamamoto and himself, blinking his grey eyes. "Tsuna?" Yamamoto arched his brow.
"Gokudera-kun! Yamamoto-oof!" Their heads shot up at the sound of hearing Tsuna's panicky voice. In the crowd, they could see Tsuna's hand waving frantically as he tried his best not to get stamped on by the ocean of students.
"Tenth! How dare they whisk him away from under my nose!" Yamamoto held Gokudera back. "You're going to get whisked away as well at this rate, Gokudera." Yamamoto felt Gokudera's eyes burn a hole in his face. "So?"
"He'll be fine. This is Tsuna we're talking about. He'll manage." Yamamoto laughed upon seeing Gokudera getting all fired up for something so trivial, which is so like him. Tsuna was now heading for the school gate. The mass of students scattered in different directions. Poor Tsuna with his slow reflexes ended up being trampled by the stampede.
"It hurts…" He lied there on the ground, clutching onto his schoolbag in fear of it all. Eventually, he got back on his feet and dusted off his shirt with a sigh to follow. Someone is calling him. He turns to see Benjamin, the foreigner, waving at him.
Tsuna looked over his shoulder, thinking he was talking to someone else. But he was the only one there. "O-ore?" He pointed at himself, feeling the need to run. "Yes my boy! I'm referring to you!" Benjamin walked over to Tsuna's side with a smile. He smacked him on the back, earning a frightened squeal coming from the depths of Tsuna's throat.
An American? He freaked.
"Is this Namimori Middle school? Please tell me it is. I came all the way here to surprise my cute little daughter, you see." Benjamin said in his own tongue. What the hell is he saying! I don't understand! Tsuna thought of his failed attempts at learning English, remembering the whole -I am pencil- ordeal, the humiliation of that experience washing over him like a rippling wave.
"A-ano…" He held up his hands in order for Benjamin to stop his endless jabbering. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Benjamin inquired, inching closer as he invaded Tsuna's private bubble.
"A-ano! I don't understand a word you just said!" Tsuna backed away from him. Benjamin arched his brow, the corner of his lips curled into an amusing smirk. "How troublesome." He sighed, keeping that smug expression on his face.
"Tenth! You're okay!" Gokudera and Yamamoto entered the scene. Yamamoto glanced over at the blonde male, looking amused. "Who the hell are you? Don't stand so close to the Tenth." Gokudera stood before Tsuna, determined to protect him when needed.
"It's okay, Gokudera-kun. He doesn't mean any harm." Tsuna pulled him away from the foreigner. "Do any of you speak English?" Benjamin asked, growing a little impatient. Gokudera instantly threw him a death-glare.
"He's American!"
The enraged Italian took out a bundle of dynamite sticks, surprising Benjamin as Tsuna and Yamamoto struggled to hold him back. "Let it go Gokudera-kun! It's not a good enough reason to attack someone who happens to be born on American soil!" "He really can't stand Americans, huh? How funny!" Yamamoto laughed heartily.
Blame it on Pierce-san. Tsuna thought to himself.
Gokudera finally calmed down. The boy looked away, refusing to make any eye contact with Benjamin. He treats him like a disease! Tsuna slapped himself in the face. "Well, anyway. It's been nice talking to you." Benjamin reached out to touch Tsuna's shoulder, despite the warning growl coming from Gokudera.
"I wouldn't call it an actual conversation, though." He smiled broadly.
Tsuna felt ashamed of himself. If only he knew how to speak English, he would be a huge help to this man. He's sure Gokudera knows the language, but hell has to freeze over first before he'll help a US citizen out. It's still a big maybe if hell really did freeze over, though.
"See you later kids." He walked off.
"Stay in school!" He yelled out to them, despite the fact of them not understanding a word he just said. "Geez Gokudera-kun. Can't you make an exception? He's not like Pierce-san, you know."
"Speaking of Alice…" Yamamoto interrupted. "Can't we ask her to help him out? She can serve as a translator." He suggested. Tsuna lit up, agreeing with Yamamoto instantly. "Yeah! We can ask Pierce-san! I forgot she knew how to speak English. It's her native language after all!"
"He just turned the corner. It's too late" Gokudera yawned, not even trying to pretend he cares. He stuffed his hands in his pockets afterwards.
"No worries. I can still catch up to him!" "Thanks Yamamoto." "H-hey! I can do something to help out!" Gokudera wasn't about to let Yamamoto take all the glory for himself. "Are you sure, Gokudera-kun? I wouldn't want to push you into helping your arch nemesis." Tsuna replied, not meaning a word he just said.
Detecting the sarcastic tone in his voice, Gokudera answered, "You do care, Tenth! You know exactly how I feel! As expected from the Tenth Vongola Boss!" in which Tsuna pinched the bridge of his nose with his index-finger and thumb. Although Tsuna expected for Gokudera to say something similar, he still couldn't help but to be taken aback by his words.
I guess I'll never get used to his extreme admiration for me.
"I'll drop him off at Alice's place, kay?" Yamamoto walked backwards as he waved at Tsuna, afterwards breaking into a sprint as he disappeared round the corner of the street. "I hope he'll be okay." "This isn't likely, seeing that they don't understand each other." Tsuna looked down before him to see a suspicious mini version of Benjamin.
"Don't make fun of people Reborn!" "Another American? They just keep popping up!" "Get a grip." Reborn jumped up as he avoided Gokudera's attack, only to deliver a sharp kick against his face. "I hate Americans…" Gokudera muttered under his breath as he held his nose in pain.
"That's Reborn." Tsuna informed Gokudera, but he barely heard him. "Never mind… Just go back to Italy and leave me alone." "That wouldn't be fun." Reborn told him the truth rather than lying about it. "At least lie to spare my feelings, Reborn!" Tsuna cried a waterfall. Reborn merely ran his chubby fingers through his golden hair with a smirk to follow.
"I still got it."
After a quick visit to Alice's place, Yamamoto informed the others of the bad news. "What do you mean, she's not home! Then where the hell is she?" Yamamoto chuckled despite the harsh treatment he was getting from Gokudera. "No 'one was home, so there was no chance for me to ask." "Urgh… That crazy woman should know better!" Gokudera pulled on his hair.
"What are we supposed to do now, genius?" "I dunno." Yamamoto laughed. Benjamin couldn't help but smile. Gokudera reminded him of Alice, and Yamamoto reminded him of himself. Whenever he said something, he always managed to embarrass his only daughter. Which in turn, she starts yelling at him, much like Gokudera does right now.
"There's nothing we can do now. I was really counting on her help." Tsuna sighed. "Hey, at least we tried. He might not understand us, but he knows we did our best." "He doesn't speak for all of us." "I know, Gokudera-kun." Tsuna rolled his eyes. For a moment he seemed to regain his hope. "Haru can help! She constantly spouts English words, so she must speak English!"
Everyone fell silent at Tsuna's suggestion. Tsuna himself wished he didn't say anything. It's obvious that Haru doesn't speak the language fluently, so why drag her into it.
"Bring him over to your place, Tsuna. I'm sure he'll appreciate your hospitality. After all, this could be his first trip to Japan." Reborn made himself comfortable on Yamamoto's shoulder. "What are you planning? You're scheming something aren't you?" Tsuna eyed his home tutor, not trusting him one bit.
"Just hurry up and take him to your place. You'll be grateful to me later on, I promise." "You just admitted you're up to something!" Benjamin gazed at Reborn, growing amazed at how much he resembles him. "How adorable!" He held Reborn in the air, his icy blue orbs fixated on the baby.
The clicking sound of a rifle filled Benjamin's ears as Reborn aimed the muzzle straight at him. "Die." He said, the chubbiness of his cheeks concealing the dead-serious state he was in. "Ah! Would you look at the time! We should go!" Tsuna pulled Reborn away from Benjamin, preventing a homicide from happening before him.
"Hey, you want to sell that doll to me? I'll pay you whatever you want." Benjamin dug into his wallet and pulled out a wad of US dollars." Tsuna froze at the sight of all the money. "Looks like he wants to buy the kid!" Yamamoto laughed, taking in the sight of a shocked Tsuna.
"His money is useless anyway." Gokudera grunted. "You were actually planning on selling him?" Tsuna's eyes bulged out of his eye-sockets, utterly shocked of Gokudera's true motive. Gokudera merely shrugged, not really caring.
"Give me a break already!" Tsuna cried.
---------------
"Psssst… Alice-nee. Are you awake?" Alice was snoring gently, her lips quivering with each breath. Fuuta sighed, afterwards trying the poking method on Alice. For a moment, Alice didn't know where she was as she struggled to stay asleep, which was a losing battle.
The rays of the sun shining on her, drenching her with its warmth. The faint smell of a permanent marker penetrating her nostrils. The feel of the hard wooden floor under her. Then she opened her eyes. "Fuuta." Alice blinked her eyes upon seeing the boy smile down at her.
"Alice-nee… You okay? You took quite a hard blow to the head." Alice sat up straight as she took in her surroundings. "This is… Tsunami's room." "You don't remember what happened?" Fuuta tilted his head, looking quite adorable. "Only thing I can remember is…" Realization hit her like a speeding train.
"Lambo…" Alice frowned. "He slammed the door on me!" She jumped up, growing dizzy as she rubbed her temples feverishly. "I'll get him back." Alice opened the door, only to come face to face with Bianchi.
"Here you are. Tsuna's looking for you." She said as she leaned against the doorframe. "Looking for me? Why? I'm busy here." She answered truthfully. "Something about a language issue. What's with your face?" Bianchi asked, rather amused.
"My face?"
Bianchi sighed. She steered Alice into the bathroom for her to look in the mirror. Alice turned pale. Her face was streaked with permanent marker, which explained the smell. Her bangs covered her eyes as she grumbled a string of profanities under her breath. "Lambo was tired of you stalking him, I guess." Fuuta stifled a laugh as he peered in the bathroom.
"I wasn't stalking him! I was… Studying him…" She realized how stupid she looked, even without the permanent marker on her face. "I don't want to lose to him!" She cried with a pout to follow, referring to Pezzo. Her pride was on the line, (and her life, but she couldn't care less) so she took the chance to study the chosen Guardian for the following battle. She would not lose the right to wear the Ring of Wind on her finger.
"Don't you think you went a teensy bit too far this time, Alice-nee?" "I dunno… Maybe just a little." She admitted, not wanting to blame everything on the five year old. After all, she didn't leave him out of her sight for a second ever since she got here. Poor Lambo locked himself up in the bathroom after seeing Alice waiting for him, sitting Indian style on the floor.
And there was no way for him to find shelter around Nana, because she was out doing the groceries with Ami and I-Pin. He must have been scared. Alice hung her head, feeling her anger ebb away, in its place feeling ashamed. I'm supposed to help the Guardians, not to stress them out.
The sound of the front door shutting could be heard, along with countless pairs of footsteps. "Looks like they're here." Alice eyed Bianchi in total confusion. "The language issue, remember?" Bianchi tried to refresh her memory. She made her way through the door, wanting to be the first to greet her loved one.
"Wash your face up, will you? You don't want to look bad in front of Hayato. I'm rooting for you, Alice." Bianchi smiled teasingly in Alice's direction, earning another question mark hanging above her head. She shook it off and washed her face, afterwards looking at her reflection.
"Talk about a permanent marker. It won't come off." She sighed. The sound of Gokudera gagging and choking about could be heard from below, followed with a trademark squeal from Tsuna.
"You can properly wash it off later, Alice-nee." Fuuta slipped his hand into hers, pulling her along with him. Alice shrugged, not really caring as she allowed for Fuuta to do so.
"You're so childish, Hayato." Bianchi flicked her hair at the sight of seeing her half brother passing out on her behalf. "What's going on here?" Alice made her way downstairs with Fuuta by her side, clutching onto her arm despite the horrendous scribbles on her face. She looked around, spotting the passed out Gokudera, supported by Yamamoto as Tsuna held a shocked expression on his face upon seeing Alice.
"What happened to your face?"
"It's a long story. Don't look at me like I'm some kind of freak, okay."
"It's hard not to!" Tsuna replied harshly.
"Whatever… You know how to speak English right? Just help this guy out." He pointed at Benjamin, who seemed to be struck by lightning as soon as Alice's crystal blue orbs made contact with his icy blue ones. Reborn's smug smirk remained unnoticed by the others.
"Dad?" Alice said, switching over to English. "What are you doing here?"
Fuuta looked up to see her eyes fill to the brim with tears. Tsuna looked back and forth, not getting it at all. Why the tense atmosphere? Benjamin opened his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture. He said nothing, but it was clear to see in his eyes that he was overjoyed to have finally laid his eyes upon his little girl.
The daughter he hasn't seen in a long time. How much she's grown. He just couldn't believe it. Alice looked him over. He was still the same. He was tall and broad and the few grey strands in his blonde hair at his temples suited him. He still wore the same glasses; the silly looking half rim design. With him, as he gets older, he only looks more handsome.
Alice wasted no time and dashed in her Father's direction, allowing for his arms to close up around her in an affectionate embrace. "Alice, for heaven's sake, you still are as impatient as ever." Benjamin laughed as he cradled her in his arms.
"W-what's going on here?" Tsuna exclaimed in total shock of it all. "I guess now's a good time to introduce myself. The name is Benjamin. Benjamin Pierce. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of my daughter." Benjamin turned to Tsuna, speaking fluent Japanese all of a sudden. He couldn't say anything. This was all too much.
"Okay…" He cried a waterfall of tears as he realized he got tricked. "My pleasure…" Benjamin laughed at the sight of seeing Tsuna hang his head in defeat.
"Sorry for the trouble boys."
---------------
Alice sat still as Benjamin carefully dabbed a wet cloth on her face, trying his best to remove the marker lines. Gokudera was out on the floor with a blanket spread over him, being nursed to health by the cause of his sudden illness, Bianchi. Yamamoto and Tsuna gazed at the daughter and Father from the kitchen, not wanting to intrude.
"What are you doing here Dad? Couldn't you have called before coming here?" Benjamin dabbed on her cheek as he smiled. "I wanted to surprise you. Besides, I heard from Ami that you've grown interested in the boys. I can't blame you… With all these good-looking boys by your side, it's only a matter of time before you get romantically involved with them."
"I'm not! They're just close friends." Alice smiled, despite her Father's words. It felt good to talk to him. She's happy he dropped by without warning her first. It made for one heck of a surprise.
Alice always felt proud whenever she's around him. She knows they are a striking pair, much like they used to be when she was but a little girl. After her Father was given full guardianship over her and she moved in at his place, she came to realize that he was the one she resembles the most.
She has the same wide-set eyes, nose and brows. She had his playful but stern face. To Alice, her Father was handsome. She had come to think that she too was handsome. Not pretty, like her Mother, but handsome.
And the fact that her Father likes to be the bad boy sometimes, thus flipping his parental role with a childish one, didn't seem to bother Alice at all. She still loves him enormously.
"There, all done." He wiped the moist cloth over her face one last time, afterwards looking at the clean result. "So, how about you introduce me to your friends." Benjamin gestured to Yamamoto and Tsuna, looking a little out of place.
"You can come in, you know. He won't bite." She called out to them. Tsuna and Yamamoto inched closer. Oddly, Yamamoto held a serious expression on his face, undoubtedly trying to make a good first impression on Benjamin.
"I'm Yamamoto Takeshi. I sit beside your daughter in class." Benjamin struggled to keep a straight face, already picking up on his feelings for Alice. "Nice to meet you. I thank you for trying so hard to help me." He shook his hand with a firm hold, smiling at Yamamoto, causing for the boy to smile back as he allowed for his feigned front to break down.
"I hope Alice didn't cause any trouble. She missed me, that's why she's so difficult to handle." Alice send her Father a glare, growing insulted at his words. I'm not difficult to handle… Not at all.
"You have quite a firm handshake there." "Well, yeah." Yamamoto scratched the back of his head, growing embarrassed. "I'm into-" "Don't tell me. You play baseball." Yamamoto laughed, amazed at his knowledge just by shaking his hand.
"I just figured you look like the kind of guy who'd rather steal second base than an automobile." Benjamin smiled, obviously approving of Yamamoto already.
"You interested in playing baseball for a living? I know a friend who knows a friend who can take care of it in a flash. You have to be a man to play baseball for real, but you have to have a lot of little boy in you, too. I'd say you fall into that category perfectly, my boy!" Benjamin nudged the still embarrassed Yamamoto with his elbow, completely ignoring Tsuna.
"Would you quit talking about baseball? It sucks." Maybe she should have said that in English. "No offense Takeshi." "None taken." Yamamoto laughed once he remembered how bad she was in the first place. He doesn't resent her for hating the sport.
"And this is?" Benjamin turned to Tsuna. "Sawada Tsunayoshi. Just call me Tsuna." He bowed a little to emphasize the respect he held for the man, even though he fooled them all.
"Alright then, Tsuna."
An uncomfortable silence filled between them. Well, it was mostly uncomfortable for Tsuna, since Benjamin couldn't stop staring at him with that goofy smile on his lips. "Want to see some baby pictures?" Benjamin broke the silence, opening his leather wallet as he revealed the flaps containing embarrassing baby pictures of Alice.
"Dad! What the hell!" Alice protested, clearly upset. "N-no, that's okay." Tsuna declined. "Then stop staring at the pictures!" She retorted upon seeing Tsuna's eyes travel to the baby pictures.
"I'm sorry! He practically shoves them in my face! What am I supposed to do, look away?" He exclaimed. "Well duh!" "Ain't she a sweetie pie? So adorable." "I like this picture very much." Fuuta pointed at a picture, showing a three year old Alice consuming her birthday cake all by herself.
"I couldn't get a nice picture of her sitting still, so I settled with that one instead. She's so impatient, really." "Dad! Quit embarrassing me already!" Alice flapped her arms about, her cheeks burning up. "Alright alright. You win Snoogly Booboo McCutiekins." He gathered her into his arms again, her cheeks burning up even more at his show of affection. "Snoogly Booboo McCutiekins?" Tsuna said, his brow twitching.
"Shut up." Came Alice's muffled reply.
"And I thought Babyface was bad."
That evening, Benjamin took up the invitation of Nana to stay for dinner, delaying the unpacking of his suitcase for when he gets to Ami's place. Since Yamamoto also decided to stay for dinner, Gokudera had no other option but to stay as well, seeing that he refuses to leave Tsuna in the company of Yamamoto. After dinner, Benjamin passes Ami her present.
"I got you something." She thanks him after seeing the contents of the box handed over to her. "Four bottles of authentic Californian wine." Benjamin waved his hand graciously in the air, as if responsible for making the bottles of wine appear magically before Ami's eyes. She thanks him.
"I hope you didn't spend too much money on me." "I assure you, I haven't." He said, his icy blue eyes locked with her brown ones. "But it look so expensive." Ami held onto the box. "Just something small…" "You've been too generous." "Not at all. Anything for you, my dear."
"Are they seeing each other or something?" Tsuna couldn't help but whisper at Alice. He's trying to get her drunk. Alice slapped herself in the face at Benjamin's tactics. "This is how he acts around the opposite sex. No doubt he's forgotten all about me at this point." Alice rolled her eyes upon seeing her flirtatious Father get into action.
"Ah, Amy. How long it has been since I last saw that radiant smile of yours." He said, pronouncing her name with an American twist to it. Ami couldn't help but to giggle, her cheeks turning bright red. Alice rolled her eyes at her Father's charming tactics.
"Dad… Ew." Alice whispered to her Father, making him laugh. She just can't picture Ami and her old man together. He's the kind of man that can't be tied down to one person. Although Ami and him go way back, they've never thought of themselves to be more than just friends.
"Don't worry, Alice. He's not man enough to handle me anyway." She turned to Alice, reassuring her of the worst case scenario in her eyes. "Ah yes! Alice, I also brought you a little something from our hometown." Benjamin placed a small paper bag before Alice, earning an odd look from yours truly. Where's the gift paper? Where's the fancy ribbon?
Despite the questions popping up in her head, she opened the bag as everyone leaned in, growing curious. "Thanks Dad. I was in desperate need of a mug like this one." She held the letter-printed mug in a toast-like position with a blank expression gracing her face. "Isn't it great, Alice?" "It's made in Japan." Alice eyed the bottom of the mug.
He says he loves his daughter, but he can't even buy her a proper gift! Tsuna looked at him in disbelief. Gokudera sat back and enjoyed the show.
"I get that you forgot to buy me anything proper Dad, really. But don't import Japan's exports back in, kay?" With that, Benjamin burst out in laughter. Nana and Ami followed after that. "Adults…" Alice turned her back on everyone, sulking in a corner.
Later on, Benjamin said his farewells to everyone, again apologizing for all the trouble he caused. Alice waved goodbye as she ran up beside her Father in the cool night air. Ami gazed at the sky, hearing the faint rumbling noise of thunder in the distance. "You scared?" Benjamin asked his daughter. Alice arched her brow, as if mocking him.
"Scared? I'm not four anymore Dad." "I wish you were, though. You're growing up so fast." He smiled down at her. She looked away. "You're just getting old." Benjamin laughed again as he pressed her tiny body close to his. "Let me congratulate you." She smirked. "On becoming an old man?" I just hope you're not becoming an idiot." "Touche." He chuckled.
Just as they reached Ami's place, heavy raindrops descended from the heavens, accompanied with the loud booming sounds of thunder. A visible flash of light lit up the dark sky. "Make yourself comfortable." Ami turned to Benjamin, taking his coat as any proper host would do. She turned her attention to the bottles of liquor, walking off to put it away.
Benjamin took a step in her direction, only to look at his daughter. Alice's hands were thrust stiffly into the front pockets of her destroyed jeans, her gaze plastered on the floor. "Dad…" She looked up at him, her face serious. "Did you come here to take me back?"
"Alice…" His voice is feeble, not a good sign. "I'll be leaving in a week or so. I figured that'll be enough time for you to say goodbye." "Must I leave?" Her crystal blue orbs betrayed her sadness, despite Alice's deep frown to cover it all up as she tried to look mad.
"Alice, you're going home. Isn't that what you wanted?" He walked over to her, placing his large hands on her shoulders. "You kept your grades up. You made friends, other than joining some violent gang. I'm proud and satisfied with what you've accomplished. Don't you think you've stayed here long enough?" He smiled at her, but it wasn't the same. She smirked, avoiding eye-contact as she looked down again.
"If you came here a month sooner, I would have gotten on the plane without a fuss. I would have loved to go back. But now… It's different." Alice removed her Father's hands from her shoulders, still not looking him in the eye. "I have something I need to do here. I can't just walk away. Not when my friends are counting on me." She walked past him, taking off her shoes and trading it in with her indoor slippers.
Benjamin watched her do so with an expressionless face. Alice walked up the stairs, not saying another word. Benjamin felt his heart sink at the thought of Alice turning into her brother, which is what was happening here. She never defied him. She never acted so cold before.
Why won't they look me in the eye? Benjamin thought with a frown. A shadow of sadness falls over him as he stood there, looking defeated.
"She's changed." His head shot up at the sound of Ami's voice reaching his ears. She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. "I hardly recognize her anymore." He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair, looking quite troubled despite his smile.
"She's not like Aidan. You've raised her well, Benji-kun" Ami uncrossed her arms, making her way over to him. "I know that." He rolled his eyes. "You were thinking the exact opposite, though." "It's just… I don't want to screw up, you know?" Benjamin paced back and forth.
"Aidan's the result of my mistakes, and I don't want for Alice to go down the same path. Sure, the divorce sounded like a good solution, but Aidan and Alice are the ones suffering because of it." Ami held onto his arm, putting a halt to his frantic worrying.
"I believe they saw the divorce coming long before the two of you did, so it doesn't really matter at this point. It's over and done with. There's no need to beat yourself up over it." Benjamin gazed at her, calming down a little. "Yeah, I suppose you're right." "Aren't I always?" She joked. "Just take it easy. Give Alice some time to work it all out." Benjamin nodded understandingly, not finding the right words to say.
"Yeah."
---------------
It was raining hard when Alice snuck out the back door. Having slipped on her black puffy coat, she pulled up the hood for extra protection against the falling rain. Alice crossed the empty streets of Namimori, making her way to the school building where the others must be waiting.
At the sight of seeing Ryohei wave at her, despite the pouring rain, she smiled to herself. "Took you long enough." He grinned at her. She noticed his bandaged arm. "It's that bad, huh?" Ryohei shrugged.
"You okay?" The boxer asked as the two of them walked up the stairs, making their way to the others on the roof. "I'm fine. You're the one with the broken bones." She sounded cheerful, which made Ryohei feel better. "You made it." Tsuna smiled at Alice. She nodded briefly, her hands shoved in her jeans pockets, making her look like an up-to-no-good thug.
Lambo's shivering afro betrayed his position behind Tsuna's legs as he tried his best to hide. "L-lambo-san didn't mean it. You're to blame! Lambo-san didn't do anything wrong!" The five year old pointed at Alice, her facial expression softening at the sight of seeing Lambo cry.
She held a tough front, acting as if his tears didn't faze her at all. Tsuna noticed this, as did a concerned Yamamoto. She brushed past Tsuna, preparing herself for the battle that is to come. Gokudera held onto her arm in the nick of time.
"What's with the aloof emotions, Babyface. You getting cold feet?" Alice looked at him, her bored stare intensifying tenfold. "Not at all." She answered plainly while pulling back from Gokudera, proving him right of the matter.
"What the hell? You'd better put your act together, or I'll-" "I'll be out of your hair before long, so it doesn't matter what you say to me at this point." Gokudera frowned in his pissed state. He never understood what she's on about, and he'll make no exception this time.
"What the hell are you blabbing about?" He held onto her collar, determined to break her into tiny pieces if she refuses to explain. "Enough! Give her some space, Gokudera." "Reborn-san... But she's-" "You're making it worse. Stand down." Gokudera had no choice but to obey. "Cheh. Whatever." He shoved Alice away, turning his back on her as he walked away.
Alice felt Reborn's beady eyes on her. She remained reticent nonetheless. Rainwater swished down the guttering as the thunder reminded them of its presence, thundering above their heads. "Alice, remember your position. You are the Wind Representative. You, and only you can support the Guardians in battle." "I know that." She looked down at her feet. "Let me finish." Reborn said as he held up his chubby hand.
"We are all concerned about Lambo's position, which is only natural, seeing that he is the youngest." Lambo sniffed loudly, still upset. "Everyone here would like nothing more than to trade places with you, just to help Lambo out. But you... You're not even trying." "Look, I know I've-" "I'm not done yet." Reborn interrupted sharply.
"I think it's clear to see that you're not yourself. But you need to know that if you're failing to do your duty properly, the whole Family will fall to pieces because of it." Alice remained silent. She knew what she was doing wrong. But it was so hard for her to come to terms with it.
"What about me?" She murmured. "What will keep me from falling, sinking or slipping away?"
Tsuna was one step away from answering her question, when Reborn shot him a look. "A selfish Wind Representative is an unusable one. Remember that." "Reborn." Tsuna gazed at his home tutor.
"Let's get a move on."
Ryohei, Gokudera and Tsuna made their way on the roof, facing the bad weather. Yamamoto followed, but not before looking at a slightly discouraged Alice, looking down at her feet again. He wanted to be able to look at her properly, to sort out whatever it was that made her so distant.
With a sorrowful look on his face, he turned away.
"Tonight's combat area is a lightning rod area appropriate for the Guardians of Thunder, the Elettrico Circuit." The Cervello explained as the rain reverted into a soft drizzle. "Special wires that easily conduct electricity run along the floor of the Elettrico Circuit." Righty said.
"The thunder that hits the lightning rods is enhanced several times and runs through them." Lefty concluded. "That's terrible; just standing there will burn you to a crisp!" Tsuna exclaimed. "Hold onto my coat for me." Alice said, shoving the puffy coat in Gokudera's arms. He glared at her, throwing it aside instantly.
"Okay! Let's do the usual!" Ryohei pulled Tsuna in the usual huddle. Yamamoto joined in as well, as did Gokudera, as much as he hated it. "Join in Alice!" There was no stopping Ryohei now, and Alice knew this. But she could feel her conscience kicking in, telling her she doesn't deserve a spot in the huddle. Not after she ignored Lambo and almost got into a fight with Gokudera.
"Yeah, I don't think-" "DON'T THINK! JUST DO IT TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei pulled her in by force after seeing her hesitant behavior. "Lambo! Fight!" They broke the huddle, much to Alice's relief. "Listen, Pierce-san. You probably already planned for this, but just look out for Lambo. He's just a kid after all, and I don't want for him to get killed out there." Tsuna placed his worried gaze on the cowboy in his arms. Alice grinds her teeth, feeling left out again.
What about me? Aren't you worried for my wellbeing? She wanted to scream at him, but her current grinding obsession with her teeth prevented her from doing so. Eventually, Alice felt sorry for the cow. He still hasn't calmed down. "Fine…" She took out a chocolate bar from her pocket, shoving the treat in Lambo's mouth.
"Mmmm?" He arched his brow, greedily swallowing the bar whole. "Savor the taste, idiot!" Alice scolded him as Tsuna laughed. At least she's trying to cheer him up. "It might be your last." Tsuna sweat-dropped.
Cheering him up? I don't think so!
"Good luck. We're with you all the way." Yamamoto said. Alice scoffed at his words. Think about what you just said when I pass out on the battlefield. Ignoring her comrades once again, she made her way over to one of the Cervello.
"Where do I stand."
"Over here." Righty led her over to the battle grounds, letting her stand on the side. "Just like that?" Yamamoto looked anxious. "She's such an idiot! At least wait until the Stupid Cow's ready!" Lefty led Pezzo over to his place on the battlefield. Levi stood near as well, already telling himself it won't be necessary to call for him when his opponent is a five year old.
Alice was filled with rage upon spotting Pezzo, yawning lightly before her. She was so into glaring at him, that she barely noticed Righty equipping her with a metal collar. As she clicked the lock, Alice looked freaked out. Pezzo was receiving the same treatment, which relieved Alice a little.
"What's up with the Battle Royal collars? You planning on blowing them up?" An impatient Gokudera stepped forward. "The Wind Representatives will sustain the same amount of electric damage their Guardians are receiving in battle." "What? That's crazy to the extreme!" Ryohei yelled out.
Alice fiddled with the collar, desperate to remove it from her neck. "Once removed, they will explode." Alice froze at that piece of information. "E-explode?" Tsuna furrowed his brows at the sight of seeing Alice in her life-threatening predicament. "That's too much! She can't handle all that pain!" "Are we not allowed to put the Wind Representative to the test?" Righty said. "Then you, as the Boss of your party, only make us believe that this girl does not suffice with fulfilling the task of supporting the Guardians." Lefty finished off.
"I didn't mean that!" "Let it go Tsuna. They won't budge. Besides, this might be the only way for Alice to regain back her senses as the Wind Representative." The baby gazed at Alice, seeing her fidget with the device around her neck. She felt like a chained dog; humiliated and pathetic.
"The Thunder Ring, Levi A Than VS Lambo. Battle start!"
Lambo shivered violently under Levi's gaze. Levi closed in on Lambo, his shadow cast upon the cowboy. "Don't just stand there! Make a move, Stupid Cow!" "This isn't gonna end well." Yamamoto frowned. "He's dead meat." Belphegor hissed. Lightning thundered from above, hitting the rod as the enhanced electricity ran through the wires on the ground.
Levi jumped up in time, whereas Lambo didn't see it coming. His tiny body lit up as the electricity passed through him. He screamed, the pain getting the better of him. Alice crashed down on all fours, feeling the same excruciating pain surge through her body. It was unbearable.
She felt her insides burn, followed with a taste of metal surfacing in her mouth as she coughed up blood.
"Pierce-san! Hang in there!" Tsuna cried out. "This is not good at all." Yamamoto clenched his hands into fists, feeling the need to help them grow within him. "I can't watch." Tsuna closed his eyes, but they didn't stay shut for long.
"We will confirm life or death." "There will be no need." Levi stopped the Cervello, the smell of burned skin seeming to confirm both the Thunder Guardian and the Wind Representative's death. "They're burned."
Proving him wrong, Lambo jumped up from his roasted position, crying his eyes out as if the life was blown back into his small body. "It hurts!" Levi blinked, not believing what his own eyes are seeing.
"He's safe! He's alive!" Tsuna couldn't contain the happiness he felt. He didn't understand what had happened, but that was irrelevant. "The Stupid Cow is in better shape than Babyface. She's barely moving." As Gokudera's words sunk in, Tsuna placed his attention on Alice. Smoke was emitting from her body as she lied there, motionless.
"Pierce-san!" She didn't respond. "She's still breathing." One of the Cervello announced after examining Alice. "Barely!" Tsuna couldn't stand this. If it wasn't for that collar around her neck, she would be fine. "Remove the collar! I don't care if she's deemed unworthy of serving as the Wind Representative! She's can't handle another shock like that!" "That won't happen." She retorted blankly.
"Then I'll remove it with my own hands!" "Tenth…" Gokudera felt his pain. If she dies, his hands will be stained by her blood for the rest of his life. "Don't worry, Tsuna. She's fine." Reborn reassured his pupil of the issue. "She survived thanks to Lambo's Elettrico Cuoio. His electric skin lessened the impact on Alice, although it still hurts, no doubt." He explained.
"So there's no need for you to interfere. Leave it to Lambo. He's capable of helping her. Alice only needs to realize this and she'll be back to normal." Speak of the devil... Alice got up on her feet, breathing heavily as her body tried to cope with the damage dealt upon her.
"She's so stubborn." Gokudera's words came out as a compliment, rather than an insult. "A-Alice…" Lambo sniffed, holding onto his tail. "Louder…" She chanted. Levi eyed Alice, holding onto his parabola as he dashed in her direction to strike her down.
"He's going after Alice!" Yamamoto exclaimed, fighting the urge to join the fray. His hand was aching to hold onto his sword. He wanted nothing more than to cut him down personally, but that clearly wasn't an option.
"WHAAAAA!" Lambo wailed like a siren, causing for Levi to stop his attack as he looked over his shoulder. A cloud of pink smoke engulfed Lambo as he made use of his Ten-Year Bazooka. As the smoke disintegrates into nothing, thus revealing Adult Lambo standing in Crybaby Lambo's place, Adult Lambo took a look around, completely stunned.
Adult Lambo was wearing a typical outfit for dancing the tango; a silk shirt, a classy vest, straight cut trousers (which are held up by suspenders) and a nice pair of dancing shoes. He moved his right foot back with his arms held before him as if he held onto something (or someone) just before he switched places with his younger self.
A blood red rose hung from his lips as he pouted, suddenly realizing the fun is all over. "My my, long time no see, Young Vongola." He greeted Tsuna as he cast aside the rose. He was dancing? He always ends up doing something ridiculous!
"Read the tense atmosphere, Stupid Cow!" "Tense atmosphere?" "VOOOII! What's the deal! That ain't the same brat from before!" Squalo protested. "He is the form of the Guardian ten years from now, as summoned by the Ten-Year bazooka." Righty explained. "Thus we acknowledge that he is a candidate, and the match will continue." Lefty finished.
"Looks like I made my entrance just on time." Adult Lambo smiled goofily, scanning the situation with his open eye. "Thunder set!" Thunder roared from high above as Adult Lambo took out his horns, placing them on his head, his horns seeming to absorb the shocking electricity.
"Let's get this over with." Alice gazed upon her knight in shining armor, ignoring his salsa outfit as best as she could. After all, he was there when she needed him the most. He'll pull through.
"Idiot…" She got down on her knees, letting him handle Levi. Alice didn't have much of a choice in the matter. This is Lambo's fight for the Thunder Ring. She can only interfere when he calls out to her, which isn't likely. Not after his self-confidence has risen to a new height. Or maybe he's just being his conceited self.
"Take a break, Alice. The dazzling star has arrived!" Yep. He's conceited. "Take this! Elettrico Cornata!" Adult Lambo, with his fully charged horns, ran towards a not-happy-looking Levi. "Levi Volta!" The enemy dispatched his parabola's as they charged up in preparation for his attack.
"What's that?" Tsuna looked quite worried. The parabola's fired a ray of electricity at Adult Lambo, who still hasn't reached Levi yet, blocking his attack as the powerful rays of electricity passed through his body.
Following his pain, Alice fell to her knees again. The intense heat of the electricity turned her sweat into steam as the air around her rose several degrees, burned her skin and damaged her nerve cells to the core. She screamed her lungs out, feeling her organs give way from within.
"This isn't good. Lambo can't withstand that much voltage, even with his physiology." Reborn said. "If he can't withstand the blow, Alice won't survive! Her body can't take it!" After the tormented pain inflicted on Adult Lambo and Alice became less painful, thanks to Levi's retreating parabola's, the pair collapsed on the hardened floor as traces of faint electrical charges ran through them.
"Lambo! Hang in there!" Adult Lambo twitched from time to time, turning his head as the world spun around him. "Any last words before I dispose of you?" Levi's voice could be heard as a shadow cast over Alice. "Do something Stupid Cow! He's gonna waste her!" His vision was compromised. His body felt numb. His head was still spinning like crazy. There was nothing he could do.
Lightning danced out of the gathered storm, and the thunder burst like a rocket overhead. As Levi prepared himself to jump, he found that he couldn't. Glancing down, he saw Alice holding onto his foot. Although badly damaged, she still found the energy to smirk.
"Where do you think… You're going?" She coughed up blood, looking extremely pale to the bare eye. Adult Lambo shook off the dizziness as he realized what she was planning on doing. His eyes widened in disbelief as the thunder struck down, hitting the rod as the electricity it produced ran through the wires on the ground.
"Let go!" He yelled, but it was too late. As he backed away while avoiding the wires at the same time, he fell silent at the sight before him. Alice, Levi and Pezzo experienced the shock to the bone, burning them without mercy.
"Babyface!" Gokudera called out to her. "Alice!" Yamamoto soon followed as Tsuna looked absolutely terrified. Ryohei refused to look away, forcing himself to keep his eyes open as he hoped for the best.
"She has guts." Belphegor smirked, in which Squalo and Mammon placed their eyes upon the prince. "I feel like cutting it out." He cackled, referring to her internal organs. "She's not a pushover, that's for sure, unlike her cowardly Boss." Squalo turned away from Belphegor, ignoring his sick comment.
"Hmm? Did I hear that right? Sounds like you're actually starting to respect her, Squalo." "I know." Squalo grumbled, his lips breaking into a grin afterwards. "And for that, I'll give her a proper burial."
Pezzo shook off the remaining electric waves like a wet dog, his blood-red eyes darting back and forth. Smoke emitted from Levi's pissed form. "You want to make a fool of me that badly, huh?" Alice felt weak. Another shock like that and she won't live to tell the tale. "Hell yeah…" She said, egging him on, it seems.
Levi's boot connected with her stomach, sending her rolling a few feet away. "Lambo! Do something! Help her out!" Tsuna tried to steer Adult Lambo in the right direction. "All right!" Two solid objects connected against the back of Levi's head, the vein on his forehead growing even bigger because of it.
"Don't throw your horns at him!" Tsuna scolded him. He couldn't believe Adult Lambo actually threw his horns at Levi. "He dug his own grave by throwing those!" Tsuna slapped himself in the face upon witnessing Adult Lambo's stupidity. It's like he's throwing the pin, instead of a grenade.
"You should have thrown your dancing shoes, stupid cow! They make a better impact on him!" And Gokudera-kun's really getting into it! "What do you think you're doing?" Levi send him a death-glare. "G-getting your attention?" Adult Lambo answered, although he didn't seem quite so sure of what he was doing himself.
"You've got it!" Levi broke into a sprint as Adult Lambo gulped, fearing for his life now that he was (un-horned) unarmed. "I'll cut you up!" Levi's parabola pierced through his left shoulder, cleanly pulling it back out as he prepared for another stabbing attack, planning on piercing his heart.
Unfortunately, Adult Lambo couldn't stand the pain as he cried his eyes out. "UWAAAHH! IT HURTS!" "What is he doing?" Gokudera questioned Adult Lambo's actions after seeing him pull out the Ten-Year Bazooka. A deafening explosion occurred as he pulled the trigger. Alice blinked, unable to move a muscle from her position on the ground.
"Adult Lambo used the Ten-Year Bazooka? What's gonna happen?" A shadow flickered in the slowly dissolving smoke, the faint sound of electrical discharge reaching Alice's ears. She held her breath, fearing for the worst as she felt an unexplainable presence of raw power. "Shit…" She panicked slightly, not wanting to stick around but finding that her tired limbs refused to move, still.
Lambo from twenty years in the future appeared before her, his olive-green eyes locked with Alice's crystal blue ones with a controlled face. Even if she had the ability to move, she would be paralyzed to the spot just by his hard gaze only. "C-crap…" Although Lambo had no intention of hurting her, she was convinced otherwise.
His eyes shone with a specially tender light, and with a faint, happy and modest smile, bowing gracefully and respectfully over her, he brushed away her blonde hair that had partially fallen over her eyes. "How long has it been since I've been summoned by the Ten-Year Bazooka." He said, his voice strong but affectionate at the same time. He stroked her cheek, causing for Alice to flinch because of the pain.
"Judging by the pain, I would assume this isn't a dream." "Are you kidding me? Have you been smoking crack or something? Of course this isn't a dream, you idi-" She broke into a coughing fit, spitting up blood. Lambo turned her over so she was lying on her back.
"This is all your fault. Well, not really your fault. It was Crybaby Lambo's fault for not…" She coughed again, feeling her lungs burn. "Not calling out to me. Not to mention Lambo from ten years from now. You'd better not fail me, or I'll kill you." Lambo couldn't help but to smile down upon her wrecked self.
He looked around, spotting Tsuna and the others either gazing at him in confusion or amazement, or maybe both. He couldn't tell. But he felt fortunate to see them. "Is that really the Stupid Cow?" "He seems really dependable." Tsuna said. "Meeting you again… It's been such a long time." Alice felt like punching the guy. What the hell is he getting all sentimental about? In the middle of a battle no less!
He looked down at Alice again, sliding his arms under her as he picked her up from the cold floor, bridal style. "Put me down. I don't need your help. You're gonna screw up anyway." She tried to wriggle out of his arms, but it wasn't much of a wriggle if her body barely moved. This sucks. No one will listen to my burdens. I'm the one who supports the Guardians, but no' one supports me! No one…
"No one is there for me to soothe me in my distress. I just… I want someone to hold onto, not the other way around." She leaned her head against his chest, giving up on everything, it seemed. "I don't care if I'm sounding like a selfish brat." Her voice quivered as she exhaled.
"I'm holding onto you right now. I'm supporting you… literally." Lambo stated the obvious, a blank expression gracing his face. "And so are they." He turned to the others. "You don't have to carry the burden of their suffering and pain on your shoulders alone. You share it."
Alice shut her eyelids wearily, afterwards opening them again as she allowed for Lambo's words to sink in. "It still feels like I'm the lowest on the totem pole." Little waves of panic kept rolling and curling in her stomach as she thought about her Father, her leaving Japan, her Family members.
Lambo smiled, despite her depressing position. "I forgot how stubborn you can get…" Alice rolled her eyes. "At least let me repay you for the chocolate bar." Lambo walked away from Levi, carefully placing her down on her feet as Alice arched her brow at his words.
"Chocolate bar?"
Levi peered in at them with his inflamed eyes, raging like a demon. "Leave him to me. I won't disappoint you this time, trust me." He smiled, his face looking soft and sorrowful. She desperately wanted to ask him why he put on such a sad expression, but Alice held back, gathering the courage to smile sincerely in his direction. Now I definitely know he's not going to need my help. But, it's okay... I know he's there to share the burden I carry on my shoulders.
"Well then… Let us begin." Lambo faced Levi, walking forward. "It doesn't matter who you are. I will still kill you. After you're out of the picture, she'll follow close behind you." Levi was clearly burning from the inside, finding it hard to keep his raging jealousy under control.
"It seems Alice managed to get under your skin." Says Lambo. "Compared to me, she's quite the greenhorn when it comes to irritating people." He smirked. "I'm a goldhorn," Lambo tapped his right horn. "So you might want to keep your eyes appealed, my friend." "Who are you calling a greenhorn, huh?" Alice protested, despite the damage she sustained. She puffed out her cheeks, feeling insulted.
"Enough of this!" Levi dispatched his parabolas. "It's that attack again! Lambo! Run!" Tsuna yelled. "Once the umbrellas have opened, he's done for." Belphegor smirked. A moment's glance was enough to scare the life out of Alice as she awaited the shock, looking absolutely horrified.
Lambo looked back, seeing Alice shiver all over as she shut her eyes. At that time, Lambo was hit by the electricity coming from the parabolas as a flash of lightning struck the lightning rods, multiplying the damage he's receiving. "This is bad!" A shocked Gokudera exclaimed.
"Lambo!"
"He will be burnt to ashes. I wish the Boss could see this light." Levi turned his back on Lambo, convinced of his death without actually seeing the body. "Umm… I'm still here." Alice said in a mere whisper. "What?" Levi snapped. "H-how can she still be standing?" Gokudera yelled out. She didn't understand, and neither did Levi. Alice felt a prickling sensation emanate from the collar around her neck, and that was it.
"My, my. Where are you going, my friend?" Lambo's voice could be heard as everyone gazed upon the electrical-charged battlefield. "I thought I told you to trust me on this one." Lambo revealed himself. Not a scratch was on him. "I just saw my life flash before my eyes, jerk! It's your fault for acting all cool on me!" Alice stomped her foot down, earning an amused look from a collected Lambo.
"That's good." "Yeah, sure! Give me a warning next time or some kind of signal, you son of a cow! " The vein on her forehead grew bigger, despite her relieved self. "I'll dispose of the remaining electric charges. Stand back, Alice." She took a few steps back.
"Elettrico Reversal!" The collected volts he stored were released into the ground as soon as he slammed his hand down. Alice covered her ears as the glass shattered from below the building with a destructive crash to follow. "He transferred that huge amount of electricity current into the ground?" Levi was flabbergasted.
"Awesome…" Alice muttered under her breath, not wanting for Lambo to hear. It doesn't matter if he's five, fifteen or twenty five. He's still the same stupid cow. "Do you understand now? I perfected the impeccable Elettrico Cuoio. If it doesn't penetrate through my skin, little Alice is safe from harm." Sparks resonated from his hand as he smirked.
"You see, electricity is like a cute little kitten to me. Pat it the right way, and you'll be rewarded." Levi was about ready to plunge his parabola straight through his heart, anything to make him stop talking. "Wow! This is Lambo twenty years from now?" Tsuna's eyes lit up. "He really is a lightning rod."
"He's better than I expected." Iemitsu crossed his arms over his chest with Basil standing next to him. "Dad?" "How are you holding up, Tsuna? You're looking good." "No thanks to you…" Tsuna grumbled under his breath. Iemitsu smiled.
"I figured Alice wouldn't be much use to him in this battle, but she's handling it pretty well." Tsuna eyed Alice from her position. "She knows she's not usable?" "You assume the reason why she's so calm, is because she's waiting for the opportunity to strike, right?" Reborn turned to Tsuna. "Well, yeah-oww!" "You're wrong." Reborn piped in, followed with a powerful kick to Tsuna's face.
"It hurts! What was that for?" Came Tsuna's muffled complaints, his hands covering his bruised face. "Did you forget? If she jumps in the fight, her Wind Ring, along with Lambo's Thunder Ring will be confiscated." Tsuna gazed at Alice, seeing her clench her right hand into a fist as she shivered with anticipation. It took her all she had just to stand there, respecting Lambo's decision of not using her.
"I forgot all about that." "The last thing she wants, is to be the cause of Lambo's loss. Well… That and losing the Ring she wants to slip on her finger so badly." "Keh!" Gokudera spat, digging his hands in his front pockets. "I bet if you throw the Wind Ring off a bridge, she'll jump after it, the fool." "You make it sound like you want to try it out, Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna sweatdropped upon seeing Gokudera smirk, probably imagining it happening in his head.
"Thunder, set." Without any warning, the stormy sky flashes ghostly white. Jagged branches struck Lambo head on, holding him in an eerie electric web. Seconds later, a resounding thunder-clap made Alice jump up, startled by the weather phenomenon. "That looks amazing." Says Yamamoto. "It's extreme!" Ryohei followed.
Lambo got into his charging pose, his horns spilling some of the electricity he just absorbed. "Take this! Elettrico Cornata!" "I know that technique." Levi's eyes were fixated upon the adult cowboy. His reach is too short. There's no way he'll make it on time. "Are you sure about using that attack? Let me help out!" Alice clutched onto her arm, feeling a burning sensation come and go like the ripples on water. Her body didn't feel like risking it, unlike her mind, which is screaming for some action.
"You're barely capable of standing on your own feet, and you're in desperate need to help me out?" "There must be something I can do!" Alice ignored her trembling legs, threatening to collapse from under her. "Even if I accepted your help, you don't have the strength to back it up, little Alice." "I just want to help out! No need to cut me down, idiot!"
"That's more like it." Iemitsu grinned from ear to ear. "You're happy for the wrong reasons..." "He's got a point there, Tsuna." Yamamoto backed him up. "Seeing a worked up Alice is much better than her being silent." "For real!" Ryohei yelled out. "It freaks me out when she's quiet!"
Reborn smirked, a shade cast over his beady eyes. He figured they'd catch up on Alice's emotional disturbance, but to think that the boys noticed it in one brief gaze. After all, Reborn assumed they'd let it slide, but in truth, they worried on the inside, refusing to let it show.
Afraid to place unnecessary pressure on her shoulders.
Lambo ran towards his opponent at top speed, his horns up front. "I'll skewer you!" Levi dispatched his parabola for the third time, ready to intercept Lambo's attack. Lambo smirked, speeding up some more as his electric attack stretched. "He's doing it, for real." Alice held her breath.
Lambo reached Levi as he guarded himself with his two last parabolas, forming an x as his defense. Levi glared him down. He can't lose here. It simply wasn't an option. Lambo's electric beam intensified, growing bigger as he pushed a stubborn Levi back. "I'm much more experienced than you." "That's impossible!" Levi yelled out, mad with jealousy.
"I can't. In a place like this… I.. Boss!"
"Pull back. If we continue, you'll lose your life."
In a matter of seconds, pinkish smoke replaced Lambo in front of Levi's eyes. Crybaby Lambo emerged from the smoke as the pinkness disappeared into thin air. Alice felt another wave of electricity run through her, taking her by surprise as she screamed, her internal organs screaming along with her.
"Stupid Cow!" Lambo crashed down on the ground. He wasn't moving. Covered in cuts and bruises from head to toe, blood trailing down from the corner of his mouth. He has clearly seen better days. "As I though, you are not worthy of being the Guardian of Thunder." Levi moved threateningly.
"I am." He sneered.
"There's no need for someone like you." His hand practically crushed Lambo's skull, lifting him up from the ground. "Die and disappear!" "Lambo! Watch out!" Tsuna barely finished his sentence as Levi felt a deadly aura close in on him, afterwards feeling the solid impact of a kick nail him against the head.
His head was aching. Writhing in the throes of nausea, he wobbled back on his feet, coming face to face with the unpredictable and violent side of the Wind Representative.
A shadowy blackness was cast under her bangs; only a pair of eyes could be seen, gleaming like live coals as she towered above him, despite her height. She looked intimidating enough for Levi to take one step back.
"S-shit." He spat, noticing the cowboy's presence near Tsuna and the others, still on the battlefield. How she was able to move Lambo so fast without him noticing remained unclear for Levi. He was still unconscious, but at least he was safe from harm.
"Alice Pierce. For interfering with the Thunder Guardian's battle, you lose the right to fight for the Wind Ring." The Cervello stepped in, looking her over. " The result of this battle is decided. Levi A Than claims the Thunder Ring, which is the Wind Representative's result of her illegal actions."
"What? We lose two Rings?" Gokudera roared. He grew silent upon seeing Alice before him, clearly showing signs of continuing the fight.
An icy wind chilled them to the bone, whereas Alice welcomed the natural phenomenon with open arms. The wind messed up her hair as her twin-tails danced, her clothes moving about.
"Pierce-san! What do you think you're doing?" The Boss protested as he saw her taking a step in Levi's direction. Alice turned her head, showing a faint glimpse of her lips curling up into a devilish smirk. "P-Pierce-san..." Tsuna's eyes widened as his horror-struck face turned pale.
"She's going to continue fighting..." His shivering voice came out in a mere whisper. "Not if I can help it." Yamamoto stepped up to the plate. Instantly, the Cervello blocked his way. "You cannot, otherwise, we will confiscate your Ring."
"That's ridiculous! You should stop the fight instead of blocking our way!" Gokudera announced with a sweep of his hand. The wind picked up its pace as more clouds gathered above.
"I'll shred you to pieces!" Levi slashed with his weapon. The parabola simply passed through her, like a minor malfunction, a navigational glitch. Alice didn't move from her spot. Levi was baffled. He couldn't hurt her even if he wanted to.
"Interesting." Mammon says. "She created the illusion of her standing still when in actuality, it's impossible for the ordinary eye to see her quick movements." "Levi can't see it. So much for getting on the Boss's good side." Belphegor leaned on his right foot, his eyes following Alice's every move as Levi struggled to keep up.
The air betrayed her whereabouts, whereas Levi looked up, just in time to see a grey flash plant an unexpected and violent kick against the back of his head, crushing his face into the rubble below. Alice placed more pressure on his head, her gaze deadly and bone chilling.
"Go ahead… Call for him." She whispered, continuing with the torturous crushing of her foot. Levi groaned in dismay, losing his patience. She's just a little girl. He can handle her. The corner of her mouth curled up in a sinister smile. She allowed for him to get up on his feet, and as soon as he did so, Levi charged in for another attack.
Alice dodged it gracefully. Levi jumped back, wiping the blood streaming down his nose with the back of his hand. His bruised eyes locked on the defenseless Lambo, forming a plan in his head. If I can't touch her, I might as well waste him first.
Alice followed his eyes, having figured out what he's planning on doing next. This pissed her off even more, and she didn't like the guy to start with. She trembled, growing convulsed with a fierce, unreasoning rage. She ran towards him, her rage growing until the muscles of her face worked in demon-like fury, and her fingers clenched until her nails bit into her flesh.
Levi blinked wearily, doubting his plan now that she's charging in his direction. Again, she disappeared from sight, her form replaced by a grey blur. Levi felt the air leave his lungs as Alice's kick landed with perfection, sending him flying. Alice appeared from above him, striking Levi down with the back of her foot.
Once crashing into the ground, he writhed in pain, gritting his teeth as his eyes darted back and forth, wanting to get a clear view of Alice. Next thing he knew, he felt her fists pound his face into oblivion. He felt the heavy pressure of a vast pile of bricks with each punch she laid upon him. He felt… How pathetic! How can I be pinned down by the likes of a lightweight! She's just a girl!
Alice punched away with the tears running down her cheeks while Levi ceased his futile movements leading to an impossible escape. She let out all her bottled up emotions, thinking of what her Father told her. How unfair it is for him to come around, telling her to pack her bags. How he expects for her to listen, not even considering her own feelings.
Her throat was aching, but she continued beating and pounding Levi into exhaustion. She concentrated upon his face through her blurry eyes; all else about him was a whirling void. There was nothing else in the world but his face.
Alice had beaten Levi's face to a pulp, her knuckles raw and bleeding. She could barely hear the others yell in the background, telling her to stop. She drowned out the sound of their voices as she grew somewhat tired. Her arms were stiff and lame, but she found it no reason to stop since she got so far already.
A sudden intervention caused for Alice to snap out of her trance-like state. The lightning rods crashed down as they couldn't support their own weight, missing Lambo by a mere inch. She turned her head, her eyes locking with Tsuna's.
"No matter how important it is… You shouldn't stain your hands with the blood of others." He said, the large flame on his forehead seeming to diminish slowly. "Please, Pierce-san… Step away from him. It's not like you to act so violent!" Tsuna reverted back to his normal self, which can't be said about Alice.
She looked at her bloodstained hands.
A faint vision from her old gang flashed before her eyes, remembering herself being in the same position. Her towering over a beaten someone which's face couldn't be recognized. Back then, there wasn't a person alive to tell her what she was doing was wrong. That she was walking on the path leading to her own destruction.
"Tsunami…" She sounded tired. She had enough. "VOOOIII! What's next, a bloody fight to the death between the two of you?" Squalo laughed, enjoying the scene from where he was standing. But he wasn't the only one. "Levi… I've grown weary of your failed attempts at killing a measly little girl." The booming voice of Xanxus could be heard, surprising everyone as they looked up.
Levi, bloody, bruised up and sore all over struggled to open his eyes. "If you disgrace me again…" Xanxus gazed down upon the messed up Levi, having no intention of finishing his sentence. "Finish it." He turned to the Cervello.
"Very well. Not only do you lose the right to fight for the Ring of Wind, not to mention losing the Ring of Thunder, you will also hand over the Ring of Sky." "Three Rings… We just lost three Rings in one fight." Gokudera clenched his teeth. Removing the half Sky Ring from Tsuna's chain, the Ring was instantly handed over to Xanxus.
"Here is the Ring, Xanxus-sama." The now whole Ring shone brightly upon his finger. "It was inevitable that this would be on my hand. Can you imagine anyone else besides me being the Boss of Vongola?" Alice, gathering the courage to look at her comrades, fell into an endless dark hole consisting of her own shame.
Yamamoto struggled to keep a straight face. Ryohei was burning from the inside, not accepting this loss. Gokudera stormy grey orbs made contact with her saddened ones. It was clear to see that Gokudera pinned the loss of the Sky Ring on her.
She ached all over, and her brain was heavy and dazed. She knew what he thinks of her, and that is far worse than the pain she has experienced in the fight. You're nothing but a backstabbing selfish coward.
She agreed. She couldn't possibly redeem for the loss of Tsuna's Sky Ring. "The other Rings don't matter. I can dispose of you whenever I wish in the name of Vongola with this Ring… But it would be far too boring to simply kill you after that old fool chose you even once." His gaze was fixated on the gleaming Ring of Sky.
"I'l kill you after I make you taste true despair during the Ring Conflict, like I did to that old fool." "Xanxus! What did you do to the Ninth?" The once laid back Iemitsu yelled out, enraged. "It's your job to find out, external advisor." Came his response.
"You bastard."
"Rejoice, you frauds. I'm giving you a chance." Xanxus smirked, growing amused. "I'll allow the remaining matches to be conducted, including the little pest's match for the Ring of Wind. If you feel like you're up to it." He turned to Alice, eyeing her bloody knuckles with mild interest.
"If you do manage to win, I'll give you the Vongola Rings and the position as Boss." He explained. "But if you lose, everything that is precious to you will disappear." "E-everything that's precious to me?" Tsuna stuttered.
"Show me the power with which that old man was so obsessed with." This is my chance to make up for my foolish mistakes. I've let my emotions take a hold of me, but it won't happen again. Alice though, more determined than ever.
"Go ahead, woman." "Yes, sir." The Cervello stepped forward. "We will now announce the combatants for tomorrow's match. Tomorrow will be the duel between the Guardians of Storm." Lefty removed Alice's collar. She forgot she had it on in the first place.
As the collar was removed from her neck, Gokudera showed a splendidly pokerfaced seriousness on the outside, but inside, he cursed himself for being up next. It's my turn already? And my technique isn't ready yet.
Gola Mosca descended from its position, scooping up his fallen comrade, Levi. Xanxus made his leave, as did his underlings. Alice got up on her feet, feeling lightheaded. As Tsuna, Ryohei, Yamamoto and Gokudera broke into a sprint, she felt nervous for some reason.
"Lambo!" The boys gathered around the cowboy, completely oblivious of the wounded Alice, feeling her heart take a deep fall before crashing down into tiny pieces. This is how it feels to be ignored. Serves me right, I guess… After treating Lambo the way I did…
She crashed down on her sore knees. The boys glanced over at Alice, who hung her head in defeat. It's all over. Once Dad finds out I got into a fight, he'll personally drag me to the airport, never to leave his side again.
"Well… I guess we need to come up with another excuse to cover up Pierce-san's battered form." Tsuna said as he gathered Lambo in his arms. What is he talking about? "Another excuse? Let's stick with the sumo contest to the extreme!" Ryohei pumped his fist in the air.
"Her Dad won't fall for it. He's surprisingly smart." Yamamoto put on his thinking face. Alice didn't know whether he complimented her old man just to get her to like him, or perhaps he really does see him as a wise man.
"How about you save her from a group of thugs, like a prince riding to the rescue." Iemitsu helped Alice on her feet, allowing for her to lean on him since she lacks the strength to stand on her own. "That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard!" Tsuna scolded his now laughing Father.
"Leave it to me, Tenth! I'll figure something out!" "You'll only make her look bad!" Alice couldn't help but to smile, seeing them getting so worked up over a lie in her behalf.
"They won't let you leave, you know." Reborn said, sitting on Iemitsu's shoulder as Tsuna, Yamamoto, Gokudera and Ryohei walked ahead of them. "What are you talking about?" She played the fool.
"Why did your Father come all the way to Japan? The answer is simple. To take you home, of course." Alice knew she couldn't hide anything from the baby. She sighed. "You're not going to tell them, are you?" Reborn smiled in her direction.
"They already know about it… It's written on your face. They just chose not to say anything, so they wouldn't stress you out before the battle." He explained. "Don't even think for a second that you can't depend on them, just cause they depend on you. It goes both ways." She nodded, remembering twenty five year old Lambo's words.
"How about an alien abduction?" Iemitsu yelled out to the boys, succeeding in making Alice laugh. "Hmm… Alien abduction? That might work." Gokudera crossed his arms over his chest, clearly thinking it through.
"Forget it!" Tsuna cried. Reborn's yellow pacifier began glowing softly. He made no big deal out of it, already having sensed another baby's presence. From the corner of her eye, Alice could see a trace of movement before it disappears from view.
The red blur seemed familiar, somehow.
Fon gazed down at Alice, his loyal macaque by his side. "Once again, she managed to be led astray. And once again, she found her way back on the right path." Fon's face lights up with a smile, his eyes following the group of people below.
"More tea?" The macaque lifted his arms as he clapped his hands, already hyped up on sugar, it seemed. "No more for you, my friend."
