It was as if the time had froze when Gamma and Uni's flames together with their body.
"UNI!! GAMMA!!!"
"No..! Uni-chan!!" Kyoko and Haru hugged each other from the lost of their new friend.
"Uni.." You entwined your fingers together.
"The Arcobalenos aren't reviving.. we need a little more time for the flames to absorb completely."
"Hey.."
You gasped to Byakuran who breaks the silence with a familiar, heavy pressure around him.
"Byakuran's heart started to enrage. This aura is dangerous, Riekka."
You pursed your lips. This is the same air tense that surrounds the locked room when you were kidnapped last time.
"What have you done?" He tilt his head to the side. "You killed one of the most important piece of the puzzle I'd been searching so long for.. you've put all my efforts to waste.." He clenched his fists tight. "My dream to awaken the Trinisette and make this world far greater than any dimension.. is ruined all because of your little friendship games.."
You cringed when he turned to glare directly into your eyes.
"You, as the last puzzle piece should just stand still.. Do you know.. WHAT THAT MEANS- AGH!!!"
Byakuran covers his eyes from the blinding light from Tsuna.
"Who do you think it was that killed Uni?" He shivered. "Because you made this world the way it is.. Uni died from it!!"
"Tsk..!" Byakuran balances himself from another outburst of flames like the time when Tsuna received his real Vongola flame from Giotto.
"If you try to touch even a single hair of Riekka for your next unreasonable plan, I WONT FORGIVE YOU, BYAKURAN!!!!"
"Juudaime-sama.."
"Hm?" He acted as if he was taken aback playfully. "You wont forgive me? Pfft. Haha. HAHAHAHA! What nonsense!! You are a joke of a human being!!" He paused to laugh again as he continues, "I understand if you value both of them as a powerful device!! After all, Uni and Riekka were the items that I needed in order to become an invincible god!!!"
"They are not a tool, Byakuran!!"
"Hahahah! Especially to Riekka and Ceres! What's with the eternal happiness and sacrifices of their life to rebuild their bloodline? What's with 'to see her as a human' of all things?? They should just disappear from this world when they choose not to use their powerful blood for a better future!!"
Byakuran grinned as roots started to grow out from beneath his legs.
"If that's your answer to living obediently and trapped inside the human society, then it's pathetic!!"
Tsuna lift his right palm. "...Operation X."
"...!" You gasped.
"Tsuna's going to use his X-burner!!"
"You really ruined everything for me, Tsunayoshi-kun!! That doll with the pacifiers and that puppet of a fake superhero clan were my ultimate toys!!"
"Don't you dare insult Riekka and Uni anymore than you already have! You don't even deserve to say their name!!"
"Sensei..! The ground is.."
"Yeah, the barrier is breaking."
You turned to Tsuna's direction. "But.. he's- KYA!"
Xanxus snakes his arms around your waist and pull you away from the shaking ground.
"Xa-xanxus??"
"Don't even think to save that trash. Let him die."
"Don't call him that!!" You give a last glance to Tsuna and Byakuran.
"DIE!!"
"BYAKURAN!!!!"
'Anata..!'
You shut your eyes and hold onto Xanxus tight from the major explosion followed by an earthquake from Tsuna's attack. You opened it slowly, and it widened in instant to Byakuran's body that was engulfed completely by Tsuna's flame.
Seeing Byakuran's defeated state, you reminisce during the time you met with him.
"Why? Why did you do this?"
"For a better world peace. Don't you agree with me, Riekka? Aren't human a very hypocrite beings that always crept a smile on their face with a bleeding hands?"
"You know that not all of them are like that, Byakuran."
"Ah, there you go again. I've been waiting for something absurd like my Mare ring to appear in front of me. It feels so wrong that I was living the life of a normal human being. And.. I feel really lucky to meet a maiden that was sent directly from above for me, which is now." He grinned as you look at him with full of sadness in your orbs.
"Hahaha. Those eyes are telling me you don't agree."
"..You gave up in yourself, Byakuran. You have given up your heart to trust, and you close it before your eyes could see more."
"...." You narrowed your eyes as Byakuran turned his to look into yours. You can read from his smile, saying
'Ah, it's really blinding. I've lost to you, Riekka.'
"...Goodbye."
--------------------------
"We.."
"We won!!!"
"Juudaime!!" Gokudera ran towards Tsuna, followed by the other guardians and his friends.
Reborn smirked as he lift up his fedora. "You did well, Tsuna."
"Y-Yeah.. ugh.." He stumbled as his flame dimmed out. "But.. Uni and Gamma is.."
"Brother!!!"
"Princess..!!!"
Tsuna grind his teeth to Nozaru and Tazaru. "It's not just Gamma and Uni.. this battle has hurt so many people.."
"Agh!!!"
Tsuna gasped when Levi kicked the injured Kikyo.
"W-what are you doing?? We don't need more damage-"
"Shi, shi, shi. Your boss went and kicked the bucket."
"If you have any particular method you want to die, we're all ears."
You sweat dropped to Fran. 'They are at it now..=_='''
"Wait, guys, he's a normal people too."
"Shouichi-kun??"
"Guh.. Shouichi.. Irie..!" Kikyo glared.
"At the time when Millefiore was gathering up strong forces, I was there to check on country's mafia, military, and assassin, but I never saw them. Which means that, they were normal people that aren't listed in the register."
Kikyo smirked to Shouichi's words. "Normal people.. that's certainly a cheap way to put it.."
"Tch." You blinked as Xanxus put you down, pulling out his gun and place it beside Kikyo's head.
"Wai- Xanxus??"
"..Shut up, scum."
Your mouth form a big 'O' when he fires at the side of Kikyo's head.
"XA-XANXUS!!!"
He glared at Tsuna. "Shut up!"
"Oh~ it's alright, I will keep him alive~" Lussuria placed his healing peacock next to Kikyo.
You sighed. "Really.. there is another way to make him unconscious, Xanxus."
"Hmph."
"..." Tsuna's vision went blurry--his legs wobbled and he fell on his knees.
"..! Juudaime-sama!" You ran towards him. "Here, I'll heal you-" You jolted as he quickly hold your hands. "No.. Riekka.. don't.."
"What are you saying..! Don't be stubborn..!"
"Ngh.." His hands averted to your stomach. "A-are you hurt anywhere..?"
"...No." You took his hand and place it into yours. "I'm alright.. thank you, for keeping your promise." You smiled to his hand that automatically caress against your cheek.
"..So many people were hurt in this battle.. Yamamoto's dad, and people from other parallel worlds have died.. and.. your husband, too."
"Hehe."
'Hey >.>.'
"I'm sorry.. I can't help myself to that 'your husband' word. Hehe."
"We've won, but everything is so messed up." He added. "Was there any meaning behind this victory?"
You lean down and pinch on his cheeks. "Don't ever put your effort into waste, of course there was a very meaningful victory." You rose up to your feet and turn to Nozaru and Tazaru's direction. "Isn't it, Senseis?"
"Yup. Of course there was, kora!"
Lal gasped to the familiar voice. "That voice is..!"
The remaining Arcobalenos were reborn from each of their pacifiers--Verde, Skull, Colonello, Fong, and Mammon.
"Colonello.. that means..!!"
"Yes, Juudaime-sama. The Arcobaleno have finally revived." You bowed. "Welcome back, Sensei."
"Hey, I told you not to do that, kora. Your waist will worn-out sooner before your child grows." He smirked.
"Yes. There is no need to give respect.. especially to this one."
Skull flinched to Reborn's evil glint.
"What did you say, Reborn- I mean.. Reborn-senpai.."
"Chill it, Skull."
Tsuna face palmed. "Everyone really is an infant.."
Colonello clears his throat. "We all know the situation. Uni communicated with us through the flames that went through our pacifiers."
"Uni did?"
"Yes. She also informed us of what influence Byakuran's defeat would have on the world." Fong jumped and lands on your shoulder. "By Byakuran being defeated and the Mare rings losing their power, all the damage in the parallel worlds caused by the Mare rings would be erased from the past."
"E-eh?"
You giggled. "In other words, all the evil deeds done by Byakuran would disappear without a trace, Juudaime-sama."
"Huh? 'Juudaime-sama'? Riekka, why did you call your own husba-"
Reborn send Skull flying with a punch before he could finish his question to you.
'Thank you, Reborn-sensei.' You do your best innocent smile to Tsuna.
"His mind is still like an idiot as usual." Reborn grinned.
"Uh.. okay.. O.O. B-but what will we do if someone like Byakuran appears again.. and they try to use the Mare ring..?"
"It was settled in advance."
"Huh.. what do you mean, Reborn?"
"Uni sacrificed her life, in order to prevent that from happening."
"Not only her, but your right hand woman too. Tch. Such a busy body."
You glared to Squalo and turn back to Tsuna.
"W-what? Uni and.. Riekka did..?"
"With the aid of the Arcobaleno's revival, Uni wanted her 'Flame of Life' to be undying. This way, she should be able to seal away the Mare rings in the past--or in other words, your time, forever."
"Then.. is it possible to seal the Mare rings in the past..?"
"Uni entrusted that task to us, the Arcobalenos."
"T-then.. Riekka-"
"Riekka paid the price with her celestial blood for it. Both of them sacrificed in order to create an eternal peace."
You pursed your lips when Tsuna look at you in disbelief.. more like a guilty face though..
"Y-Your.. celestial blood?"
And you can see it on his face. 'All of this.. just for my happiness?' words.
"Don't give me that sad face.." You grinned. "I'm not a zombie yet, don't you worry."
"Riekka.."
Gokudera and the others give the same expression.
"O.o.. Wh-why are you guys looking at me like that-"
You blinked when Tsuna bow down to you.
"Thank you very much!!"
"Kya- J-Juudaime-sama!!"
"Yes! Thank you, Riekka and Ceres-san!" It was followed by Gokudera.
"Ha-Hayato-kun..! You too..? Eep!!" You blushed as it was followed by Yamamoto, Ryohei, Kyoko, Haru, I-pin, Bianchi, Fuuta, Shouichi, Dino, Basil, Nozaru, Tazaru, Lal mirch, Fran (who did it for fun), Chrome, Hibari and Mukuro (only a slight, but respectful nod), Mukuro's gang, some of Varia's gang.. except for the clueless Lambo and Xanxus.
"Us too. Thank you."
"Se-sensei?? Stop it!!"
Ceres appeared beside you and giggled. "This is nothing compared to your effort to make it come true, Decimo-sama."
"Ceres!! Make them stop >////<!!"
***
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch!!"
"Please sit still, Juudaime-sama, or else the bandages will open back again ^^''..!"
"But- ouch ouch ouch!!!"
"Shut up."
He was kicked by Reborn.
"Se-sensei!!! You are making it worse!"
"If that hurts really bad, might as well you go and die."
"Sensei-"
You were about to pinch Reborn's cheeks when Xanxus signals from afar.
"....Wait here for a while."
"Hm?" Reborn turned to the direction you were walking to and smirked as you walked out from the room. He look back again to Tsuna and nudge him on the head with his gun.
"Hey. Get up."
"H-huh? WHAAA..! WHAT'S WITH THE GU-" He was hit again. "OUCH!!"
"Riekka called you to the medical room. Though she said you can go there when you are awake.."
"Medical room?"
"Yup. She couldn't carry all the bandages alone, so in that case.." He clicked his gun. "Don't make her wait and drag your lazy no-good body there now."
"HIIII TIME OUT! TIME OUT! FINE, I'LL GO!!"
'But I thought the bandages are more than enough.. oh well.'
Of course the 'medical room' story was made up by the baby hitman.
Without knowing that Tsuna was on the way to the medical room, you casually wrap bandages around Xanxus's arm.
"I didn't know you were injured."
"...."
"Really.." You sighed. "This is just a minor injury, you could've ask for Lussuria to heal it with his beautiful peacock..!" You chuckled. "And by the way.." You paused. "There must be something other than this 'tend to my injury' thing, right? Is there anything you wanted to say?"
"...Be my right hand woman, Riekka."
You blinked and tilt your head. "I am. I mean.. in a 'part time job' way. Xanxus, you know that HE is the main boss to everything; so I have to be by his side now and then. He needs me."
"..You know that is just an excuse for me to imply my real message here."
"Wha-...!"
He pulled you into a hug.
"...!"
Tsuna parted his lips and take a few steps backwards, widening his eyes as you hold onto Xanxus's arm--responding back to his hug. His heart raced; he gasped when a slight pain jolted within his chest. He feel hurt, sad, shocked, and jealousy altogether in him. Why..? Why? You always say 'I love you' to him. You would always kiss on his forehead, you would always..
"..." Tsuna turned his body and walk away from the room--from the painful sight to see.
You tug on Xanxus arms, narrowing your eyes to his whisper of "I want other thing than that. I want you, as my wife, Riekka." You form a smile on your lips, pulling away from him slowly.
"Xanxus.. you know what is the answer would be."
"...." He was about to lean down to kiss you but you put a finger on his lips..
"It's a big NO. If you do it, I will send you back to Italy this instant ^^."
"...Tch."
He let go of you and breathe out a long sigh.
"I should've told Lussuria to heal that eyes of yours."
"Why O.O?"
"That eyes should be clean from the magnets of attraction that you see in your dear husband."
"Hey. That's not nice."
"Hmph. Fine. I will never give up."
"There he goes again." You rolled your eyes. "You should get yourself a wife, you know."
"Hn. I'm not interested in plain scum."
"Then end up super mega old like Grandpa Talbot..!" You stick out your tongue and stomp out from the room.
"Tch.. that damn woman.. for making me to go this far to-" He grind his teeth from the embarrassing thing that he did just now. "Damn it.."