Game on

Chapter 20: Inheritance Arc 4

Koyo had sustained heavy damages from the attack, but wasn't knocked out yet.
Getting his bearing back, he discarded his glasses "It seems I was still underestimating you." he commented "And for that I'm sorry. But from now on, I'll be fighting full force!"
And in a dash, he was on Ryohei.

"What is this!" breathed Tsuna "In one glancing blow another tusk has already appeared! This kind of damages is absolutely disproportionate!"
True, the blow, who hadn't seemed all that heavy, had still incapacitated Ryohei's left arm, and even if his regeneration was visibly at work, the fact that it took so much time heal meant this simple attack had at least broken a bone!

Curious, Reborn picked up the discarded glasses – and his eyes widened as he announced "These are dark."
"Clearly, he was using them as an handicap." commented Gokudera
"Was he?" couldn't help but protest Tsuna, his intuition disagreeing
"Or was it rather a protection for him?" muttered Kazami in echo

"What do you mean?" asked Takeshi, not seeing what the three of them were guessing at
"Look at Koyo-san's movements."
Observing the two fighter a few moments, Takeshi was starting to see the problem.
Since he'd discarded his glasses, the Forest Flames user movements were growing steadily simpler, and more rushed.
Oh, each blow, even glancing, was still taking a heavy toll on Ryohei, but the speed and precision advantage that Koyo had gained without his glasses were rapidly disappearing, while the Day Squad fighter was healing.

"He's rushed by time." understood the Rain Guardian
"Whatever advantage his eyes are giving him, they are also taking their toll on him." nodded the hit man

And as he said this, the teenager faltered, as if stricken by a sudden bout of intense pain. Ryohei was already set on course, having seen it coming – and all six tusks on his cestus pulsing with power, he stroke, each fist finding it's target in a rapid succession, Flames surging around the two of them.
When the dust settled, Koyo was on the ground, and even though he tried, he couldn't get up.

"I guess I lost." admitted the boxer ruefully "But maybe it was to be expected..." he sighed, as the Vindice appeared around him "I've just learned that everything I believed in was a lie. My pride, just like the rest, will have to be repaired before I can really challenge you."
And, in a way, that made a surprising amount of sense, thought Kazami – how could the Simon bet on their pride when they had recently lost everything they believed in, pride included?
"Ah but, didn't you start to take it back with this fight, your pride?" asked Ryohei, his serious voice as surprising, and insightful, as ever

At that, the Simon's fighter smiled, and Jagger announced "The first loser has been decided! In accordance with Giotto's and Cozart's will, we'll release the first memory!"
With that, a small pouch, familiar to Tsuna and Enma, appeared in the air – and throughout the island, all Simon and Vongola Guardians received the first memory.
"Wow," breathed an awed Gokudera "even if you had already described it, Juudaime, seeing it is different." he admitted

Around him the others nodded in silence, and the three Vindice disappeared, Koyo in tow. None of the Vongola envied him, as even if it was but temporary, being chained like that didn't look like a fun experience...

After that, they were back to trekking along the path – and soon, the forest around them was replaced by a bare land, and they were soon high enough that they could see the rest of the island around them – and the beach where they arrived.
"Well," Tsuna sighed, looking at the dark cave that seemed to be where they were headed "Guess it can't be helped..."

Truth be told, said cave didn't look very inviting. But Enma had been clear enough – follow the path. And this was where the path was taking them...
Keeping track of time within the rock corridor was hard, and all they could really say, when the finally arrived in a large cavern, was that they were heading down.
In the cavern, their next opponent was present – and he too, upon receiving confirmation that they were alone, relaxed.