Game on

Chapter 20: Inheritance Arc 4

And once again, Lightning Flames were surging, far stronger – and Gokudera couldn't help but look intently at the small Guardian.
Because even if he was so young, with all the rushing they'd done before their Life Quest, right now his level was higher than his opponent. He just had to find the right way to use his powers.
And if Lambo was one thing, it was stubborn.

Rauji had told him that to win he had to make him move. The cow would try again and again until he succeeded.
But still, it looked that they wouldn't have to wait for hours for him – for this time, the electricity wasn't concentrated only on his horns, but also all around him – but mainly, behind him...
And the next rush was both much faster, and much more violent than the previous one, two massive forces that seemed to nearly be equivalent – then, rock by rock, the living mountain started to crumble, and a foot slipped, then the other.

He had maybe been pushed a few centimeters, no more – but the end result was still there...
He had been pushed back.
"I lost." the gentle giant admitted, voice nearly drowned by Lambo's happy shouts and quietly stunned

"I feel like I've just seen something really important." admitted Tsuna
"I think we just saw Lambo's birth as a Guardian." breathed Kazami – and just like Gokudera earlier, there was admiration and affection in her voice
As for the kid, fight won, he'd let his Flames die down, and was happily chatting with his tall friend, who was still stunned at his loss.
"The fight is done. Behold, the second memory!"

Lambo was terribly unhappy at the Vindice stealing his play mate despite's everyone's promises that he would get him back latter, while the Vongola were awed at the scene – the one chat that would lead directly to their Famiglia's creation...

They had followed the rock corridor on the other side of the cave – and finally gotten out on the other side of the mountain, near rather large, but shallow, river. On the other side of the river, another tall and hulking silhouette – and without needing any prompt, Takeshi stepped forward.
After all, this was his baseball team-mate, and with his painful shyness, he doubted the man could fight efficiently anyone else.

"My pride is my pack." he stated easily "What's yours, Kaoru-kun?"
A mumble, that only Takeshi was able to understand "Of course," he nodded "Family is a good thing to take pride in. What are your terms?"
Another mumble.
"The one who gets past the other and the river's other side, one pass only." Takeshi accepted with another nod, before stepping into the river and calling "Ame, Cambio Forma!"

Immediately, the change took place – and like Ryohei and Lambo before him, his whole appearance changed, leaving him in the traditional garb designed by Haru, but motifs were now visible on it – a beautifully hand painted representation of his dog partner, with armored arm guards visible under the kimono's large sleeves, his katana and firearm in hands, each stamped with a stylized dog's head.

As for Kaoru, he stepped in the water too, and the water started to flow smoothly around him, lightning beautiful turquoise Flames that, just like Takeshi's Rain Flame, evoked water more than fire.
As for his appearance, the main change were heavy pieces of armor protecting his left shoulder and arm – and the zanbato in his back that he took in one smooth move, manipulating easily the heavy looking sword with one hand.

The two opponents rushed toward each other at the same time, the heavy zanbato dodged barely in time by Takeshi, who didn't expect the grace and fluidity with which the other fought, his own katana parried by the left armored arm.
And the mouth of his fire arm released a burst of compressed Flames, deactivating the other's ring – and while Kaoru stumbled under the unexpected disappearance of his equipment, Takeshi jumped, soaring above him, and landing on the river's other side. The shy teenager merely nodded to acknowledge his loss, as the Vindice released the third memory.