"Hmm? No, I'm actually freaking out over this, but there's no point in worrying. Last time I worried about something, everything just… ended poorly. Besides, if you win, Naoto, don't you get out of this mess along with the rest of us?" Jak said, "you might wanna pick out a weapon, or you could watch as Cyril there gets pummeled."

Jak bit off the rest of her popcicle. She checked the stick for whether or not it was winner, and seeing it was not tucked it into her back pocket. She stood and wandered over to the weapon block Sonya had prepared. Jak didn't have any weapons, save for her bat -but it was special to her and she didn't want to use it to fight-, so she looked through what was available. Swords, guns, and just about everything.

Jak looked at Sonya again. If she was expecting close in fighters… then it might be best to fight her from farther away. Jak grabbed a pair of handguns out of the box and lifted them. These should work. Jak pretended to shoot them, trying to pretend that these weapons were just like the Nerf guns she used to play with when she was younger. Felt pretty similar, so hopefully she could transfer it into this situation. When she finished, she sat back down next to Naoto and waited to see how well Cyril was doing.

"You don't sound so freaked..." Naoto told Jakki. I have to admit she has a point but...if I was just a guardian like them it would be different... Just then Jak said something that made Naoto freeze. "Besides, if you win, Naoto, don't you get out of this mess along with the rest of us?" He lowered his head. That's right...all I've been thinking about is getting myself out of being boss. But even if I somehow manage it, that doesn't mean they'll no longer be candidates for these guardian positions. I didn't even think of using my wish to help them out. Some leader I'm suppose to be...

Naoto lifted his head only to see Jak returning with a pair of handguns. He leaned away from her slightly having never seen a real gun until yesterday and having a slight phobia after Sonya's little stunt. "I don't see how you can pick those up so casually...you're just as scary as Sonya hehe." He chuckled nervously yet genuinely. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Daisuke's tired form. "We probably shouldn't let that one near the box of dangerous weapons...and not just because he looks like he could use a pillow." Naoto smiled slightly. She's right. If I can win... Naoto focused his gaze on Sonya. He decided to be the last to fight so he could try and find a way around her defenses. I'll make sure we'll all be saying arrivederci to the mafia.

"Honestly, if I want to stand a chance against her I'm gonna have to pick something up." Even if they're handguns... she discreetly tried to angle the barrels away from anyone and put them on the porch instead of her lap. "And besides, I'm pretty good at not freaking out." Jak said, "usually." it was true, despite the fact that she was remaining calm in her words, she wanted to throw down the guns, and bolt out of the house. That stunt Sonya pulled was fresh in her mind, and it scared her. The fact that Naoto was sitting next to her and having this pleasant conversation right now was impossible.

The nonsense Sonya was spewing about flames and Guardians terrified her. She knew it would make her a target. These Mafia types were going to kill her if she made a wrong move, and if she was tough enough to face them, then they would never stop coming for her. The idea of being a mafia member right here and now was scary. What if she had to kill someone? No, no. Naoto would be the boss apparently and he didn't seem capable of putting out a kill order on anyone. It'd be fine.

"Mmm. Don't worry. No matter what happens, it'll all work out in the end. Worrying about these things just takes up brain space for other things. Like seeing if we can actually beat Sonya, for example. If you're too far in your own head you'll only be thinking about losing." Jak leaned back on her hands and waited. "But..." she said in a hushed voice, so only Naoto could hear, "if you ask me, we don't stand a chance against her. Not even if we rushed her all at once."

Her smile fell for a moment. She was deadly serious. If Sonya could land from a few stories up without being hurt, what did that say about what she normally did? It said she was a professional. Jak didn't know what she specialized in, but it wasn't croquet. High schoolers like them were just flailing their arms around compared to what Jak guessed Sonya usually faced. The fact that she had weapons like swords and guns out for them to use proved either arrogance or her skill compared to theirs. Jak figured it was the latter. It was like when the other team let them have a few runs, she could always see subtle things wrong with how they acted. The signs the umpire gave, the hand signals of the coaches, how high the ball flew, it was all a game to drag it out or finish them off. Jak had seem professional baseball players, and they moved a lot differently from what Jak had seen her classmates move. Sonya was like that, the air of confidence and the movements of a professional.

Jak swallowed her fear. Sonya would go easy on them, right?

Sonya allowed Cyril's insult to slide this time around as she took that response as well as his decision to go first all into consideration. He's already trying to provoke me so I won't fight with a clear head. Smart. And his stance shows some knowledge in martial arts. Not surprising considering his background. She assessed while giving him another smirk. "Let's begin." She announced simply before running forward with her fist aimed at Cyril's face for the second day in a row. However, Cyril was ready this time and dodged the punch at the last second. Fairly good reaction time. Sonya thought just as Cyril threw a punch at her own face. She easily caught it with her free hand. Strength's not bad either. The woman released Cyril's fist the moment he pulled it away before she jumped a few yards back.

"Is that all you've got boy?" She questioned with an arrogant smirk. Although the brunet responded with a deadly glare, it was nothing short of his usual. Surprisingly level-headed in battle, Sonya noted just as Cyril rushed over to release another attack, but his speed needs work. When he was close enough, Sonya grabbed his outstretched arm with both her hands and easily flipped the teen over her shoulder. Cyril landed on his back with a loud thud, the impact momentarily stunning him. It was all the time the red-head needed to step on his shoulder and slowly twist his arm in an unnatural position.

"What are you doing?! You're going to snap his arm!" Abby screamed.

"Shut up." Sonya muttered, not looking away from Cyril's glare. If she didn't concentrate all her energy on him, she would accidentally break his arm. But that wasn't her goal; Sonya wanted to see just how far Cyril's tenacity would go. He was obviously in pain but there was still a look of fire in his eyes when he stared back at her. He was even trying to bite back his cries. Sonya bent his arm back just a tiny bit more and finally, Cyril closed his eyes and slammed his free hand on the grass several times.

"Shit, I give! I give!" He shouted. Immediately, Sonya released her hold and the teen pulled his arm back to nurse it. The red-head hated to admit it, but she was impressed. A few seconds longer and his arm would have broken under the pressure. Sonya backed away to give Cyril some space before she turned to others.

"Okay, who's next?" She calmly asked.

Benjamin had watched in cold silence as events played before him. He only heat half an ear to Jak and Naoto's conversation and kept the rest if his attention to Sonya. How she acted. Reacted. Strategies. Movements. If she favored an arm or leg. If she had a preferred method. Ben only turned his attention so that he could pull his fencing jacket on over his button-up; he didn't bother with the rest. As he slid his rapier from it's sheathe, Sonya asked who was next. She's destroyed Cyril, which he found strange pleasure in, so he was cautious. Wary.

"I'll go."

He took a few steps to close the gap between them and took his stance. He held his body perpendicular to her, his right side leading. His arm was extended and angled downwards, sword like an extension. He kept the tip at least a half foot from the ground and squared his shoulders. He was prepared to counter her. Watching her fight had shown a few things, and Cyril had taken the best approach, letting her strike first, but he dodged. Benjamin wanted to strike upwards at her while she moved forwards at him and side step at the same time. A standard riposte. He didn't doubt she knew what he was planning but he was quick if he was anything.

"Ladies first." Ben said, curtly.

Sonya raised an eyebrow at her new opponent, her interest piqued when he positioned himself in a stance that was both easy to attack and block however he chose. She was well versed in Benjamin's background but wanted to see for herself if being raised in such an upbringing would benefit or prevent him from becoming a great Guardian. He obviously had the brains for it but could the rest of his body keep up?

The red-haired smirked at his politeness and relaxed her hands. Since Benjamin's choice of weapon was a rapier, it would be best to first test his speed and accuracy. Sonya took three quick steps forward before thrusting out her right hand with all her fingers extended and locked so as to mimic a spearhead. She aimed for Benjamin's face while keeping her left hand close to her body in case of a counterattack.

Abby tried to keep up with the new battle but was still far too concerned with the after effects of the first battle. That woman seriously tried to break Cyril's arm and she had such dangerous weapons in store for them to use. Weren't they just kids?! Why would she want them to use something like that?! Would they have to... kill people in the future? Abby physically shivered and felt her knees go weak. Before she knew it, she had fallen on her butt next to Jak and Naoto in downright fear.

"Is it too late to turn back?" She muttered to the two, hoping Sonya wouldn't hear her.

Naoto watched Cyril's match closely. His eyes seemed to be trying to capture everything that they could. He could hear Jak talk about their chances of beating Sonya. He looked at her and could see that as calm as she appeared she still had concerns. "C'mon, she's not invincible. I don't care if she is a super assassin. She's already let her guard down once~ Naoto smirked remembering yesterday. It was brief but when he fought her with his dying will he caught her surprise at one of his last attack. He turned back to Cyril and Sonya's match only to see Cyril get tossed in his back. He clenched his fist as Sonya wrenched Cyril's arm and Abby cried out in panic. Did she have to be so brutal?

I didn't get a single thing out of that. Sonya was barely even trying. Hopefully the next match will show a bit more. Seemed like Sonya's next opponent was going to be the Spanish kid. "Hey, Jak I need your help. When it's your turn I need you to try and push her. If these matches continue with her just toying with us I won't be able to find a way to beat her." Benjamin seemed to have some confidence and so the new match was already starting. Naoto heard Abby and looked at her struck with fear. Dammit...why'd you even come? I've gotta get everyone out!

Before he knew it, Cyril was on the ground and Sonya was hovering over him. The dark haired boy was about to leap up to his feet when she stepped on him, holding him against the ground and making sure that he went nowhere. That made Cyril become angry and frustrated—what was she planning? Unless she counted this as defeat, which he wasn’t about to accept. Something clamped around his arm and twisted it the wrong way, making him flinch in pain. Fuck. Now he was panicking. He thought that he would be able to face the pain but… he had to throw in the tower. She was about to snap his arm.

When she released him, Ben stepped up to the plate as he got back to his feet. Cyril cradled his arm as he walked to the rest, and sat next to the other so called Guardians. Abby seemed worried, while Naoto and Jak seemed somewhat calm. Good for them. He thought, looking back over at the ensuing battle. They don’t know what’s coming for them.

"Yeah, but you were doing that crazy thing. You ran through buildings. I mean that literally. You also jumped off a truck. I'm not really sure that I should count that." Jak smiled. She sighed at Abbey. "Also, you came. It's a little late to just chicken out now. Besides, if I remember right, Sonya had the full capability to break Cyril's arm. She didn't. Nothing too bad should happen when you fight her."

Jak relaxed when Naoto spoke again. "Geez, Naoto. I'm good, but I'm not that good. Haven't learned karate since…" her voice caught the rest of the words that she'd wanted to say. Since Dad died. "Since forever ago. As much as I'd like to think of myself as a marksman or fighter… I don't think I could really push Sonya."

Jak sat forward again. "I'll try, but no promises, okay?"

She tried to watch the match closer than before. Sonya apparently liked moving through matches quickly, as represented by the fact that she was already aiming for Benjamin's face despite the fact that she was assessing them. Maybe she testing his speed? His reflexes? Jak just stayed quiet and watched. She had a method, and Jak just needed to figure it out. She just had to piece things together bit by bit.

Benjamin was fast enough to dodge Sonya fist. It little more than grazed his shoulder as he went limp and stepped to the left, sword arm trailing behind like a noodle. It didn't stay that way. It snapped up and cracked the air as it twirled a whole circle before he brought the sword down on Sonya. The edge was blunted for safety but the thunk should hurt a little, although Sonya seemed to be fairly resilient. He'd have broken his legs repeating what she did the day before. Though as he took a more defensive stance with his sword up instead of down, he rolled his shoulder. She'd hit his sword arm and even though it didn't connect fully it hurt way more than he had realized. He said nothing. Taunting was a useless ploy against someone experienced and it was generally disrespectful.

((Ah. Yeah.
Go ahead and finish this up, Agni? I don't see his getting more than maybe one more solid connection.))

Benjamin's hit to Sonya's shoulder felt like a light tap to the trained assassin but she could still tell that there was a good amount of force behind it. Yet, she was more impressed by his ability to actually hit her while he dodged her fast attack. Speed is obviously his strongest skill. She noted as she took a step back to analyze his reaction to her own hit. During her fight with Cyril, she didn't hear his voice mixed in with the rest of the group conversing about their chances in battle. Quick glances showed he was just watching her, studying every move she made. Even now, he still had that analytic look on his face. He's already showing signs of a good Cloud Guardian.

It was then than Sonya noticed Benjamin roll his shoulder indicating that her attack had affected him more than he expected. Let's see how durable you are behind that sword. Sonya lunged forward with another spear-hand attack aimed at Ben's sword arm and he responded by bringing the rapier down to parry her hand. However, she suddenly pulled away just as the blade swung down, leaving him open. Sonya chopped his wrist, making him drop the sword before placing three swift strikes at his opposite shoulder, rib cage and hip. She finished with a leg sweep, knocking him over and onto his back. She looked down on him for a few moments before turning back to the group.

"Two down." She announced, her voice tinged with superiority. Abby shuddered again, awed by how this fight ended as quickly as the last. Speaking of the last fight...

"How's your arm?" She whispered to Cyril who took a seat next to her, still cradling his injured arm. She wondered if she needed to go inside and get some more ice. Or a sling.

"Huh?"

Daisuke did not remember getting up and walking out to the Boss' backyard with the rest of the group. And yet, there he had awakened, face down on the ground with his backside hanging upright as if his body had frozen up in the middle of inching forward like a worm. The rest of his body curved up slumped down as he felt his skin become one with the ground, moaning in relief as he made himself comfortable.

Daisuke would have returned to sleep... "Ow!" ... had it not been for a crashing blow to the back of his head. Something had used it for its landing, and it was something extremely solid. He pulled his weight from off of the ground and a long stick rolled down his back from the base of his skull and landed just behind the soles of his shoes. He rubbed his head and looked back down at the item, his face lighting up as he saw that it was something familiar. "My bō!" he took hold of it and rose to his feet, scanning up and down the staff that was taller than him.

At the sound of Daisuke's exclamation, Sonya turned all her attention towards the Thunder Guardian candidate. "Looks like you're ready." She stated. A second later, she was in front of him with her hands on his shoulders. She gripped them tightly before pulling him down just as she brought her right knee up, slamming it directly into Daisuke's stomach. She then struck his chest with an open palm, sending the boy crashing against Naoto's wall.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Abby screamed as she stood up. She was about to rush over to check on Daisuke when Sonya stepped in her way.

"I'm testing his durability."

"You punched him into the wall!"

"Yeah, and he better survive it if he wants to be a proper Thunder Guardian." Sonya threw a glare at the blond girl from behind her shoulder before walking over. "You still alive boy?"

Cyril watched the battle between Ben and Sonya. Even though Ben used a rapier, the red haired tutor did not bother to use a weapon. This had to be interesting. Ben seemed like he was an able fellow, and he wondered if he would be lucky enough to take down Sonya. Ben landed one blow on Sonya before the woman took him down just as quickly as she did to him. She’s extremely strong. I doubt that anyone will be able to defeat her. While he pretty much didn’t want to accept defeat, Cyril had to take her abilities into consideration. She was a member of the Vongola for who knows how long. Sonya was obviously a person seasoned in martial arts and combat and all of the good things.

Abby talked to him again, and he looked over at her. Why is she constantly asking about my injuries? he scoffed and looked away, trying to keep still and not brush his arm against anyone or anything. Now that he was calming down, the arm was hurting more and more. She really did almost break it. he realized, wondering how much it would hurt if he actually moved it. He sighed and watched as Sonya threw something at Daisuke, who was napping not far off. Apparently it was the annoying boy’s turn to fight. Cyril knew that he didn’t stand a chance. Not if Ben or him could not have defeated Sonya.

The red haired woman sent a knee to his stomach and threw him through a wall. Now, Cyril didn’t care much for the people around him, but he thought that was a bit too much. He didn’t want to be associated with a murder. Before he could open his mouth, Abby screamed again, this time defending Daisuke. Sonya paid her no heed, however, and simply turned to face Daisuke. He couldn’t have been killed so quickly. If Sonya did that, it’s for a reason, right?

Fionn however, remained huddled close to the largest group of people that were in the backyard. He didn’t want to be thrown or twisted like Cyril or Daisuke were. He sat down on the ground, remaining quiet and hoping that Sonya would skip over him. His bright colored eyes flicked over to the weapon rack. He didn’t know the name of the weapons except for a sword or lance or whatever. I don’t even know how to pick one up. he thought, running a hand through his hair. But Sonya won’t accept that kind of excuse.

Naoto's eyes were glued to Ben and Sonya as Jak responded too his request. "Whatever little bit you can do would be great. She seems to know what our individual strengths are and is testing that. So, if you know what you're good at you might be able to trip her up with something unexpected." Inside a classroom Naoto's mind was pretty much a gear covered in cobwebs but when it came to reading people and movements he was Einstein. He used this on the field and maybe it could help him here. Though he still needed more experience with someone before he could fully utilize his uncanny skill. As Sonya finished up with Ben Naoto walked over to the one person here well had got on his bad side beside Sonya. He stopped at Cyril and tried not to make eye contact. "Hey. Anything you can tell me about fighting that mafia witch?"

Before he could get an answer Sonya chose her next victim. Naoto felt bad letting Daisuke even step into his backyard. Although a bit annoying he seemed like a nice enough guy. Why did someone like him have to get mixed up in this? Sonya seemed to take a really aggressive approach with Daisuke. This approach included sending him flying through a wall. Naoto wanted to protest along with Abby but something told him to just wait and watch. There's no way he could walk away from that without working being broken...other than the wall. But somehow I'm not worried about that guy...like I knew he'll be okay somehow.

Jak thought about it. She was good at baseball. She was somewhat proficient in Karate. She could shoot a target with a Nerf gun ninety percent of the time. How could she combine these skills? As she thought, she watched as Sonya grabbed Daisuke by the shoulders and braced herself to some kind of recoil.

As she realized what was likely to happen, Jak's eyes widened and she threw herself at the ground. Daisuke sailed overhead as Sonya had punched him back into the house. Abbey echoed Jak's thoughts. Jak was already standing again to check on Daisuke. Jak knew at that moment she had to stay out of Sonya's short range. She didn't like having to step back, but Sonya wouldn't waste a moment in dispatching her if she fought in close. Jak glared at Sonya, but looked back at Daisuke to see if he was all right. "I doubt that he's not going to have at least a broken rib."

Poor kid. He looked so tired too, so he wasn't even fighting with his full attention. Hopefully they didn't have to stop and rush him to a hospital.

To be kneed in the chest, struck with a powerful palm attack, and sent flying straight into the wall of the Boss' house, was extremely painful.

But nothing could compare to the excruciating agony of an empty stomach's rumbling.

"Itai..." Daisuke stifled a whimper as he remained face down on the ground, his arm slowly lifting to place a hand at the back of his head as his other hand lifted his light body from the floor. He fell on to his backside and sat upright, seeing that his Bō Staff had went with him and laid a few meters beside him. He continued to rub his head and pout mentally about not having breakfast until the scary woman shadowed over him, and he screamed, falling back a bit. "Please! Don't hurt me!" he waved a hand in front of him, now backed up against the wall. When she remained unmoved by his plea, he hastily crawled to the right and dove for his weapon like an action hero, jumping to his feet and breaking off into a sprint across the yard.

"I'm too young to die!" Daisuke howled as he attempted to run away from the scary woman.

---

Tch. No good.

Vector tapped his feet on the roof of Naoto's house, irritated at the lack of potential that the Lightning Guardian candidate exemplified. Was this choice of a successor truly this frantic and cowardly? Feeling that he had no choice, he reached down to a wooden crate and pulled out a massive purple 'toy' bazooka, loading one 'shot' and hefted it onto his right shoulder. He aimed precisely where Daisuke would run to, and in an instant, he pulled the trigger. The shot pierced the air as a pinkish trail of smoke followed it, pinning the Japanese boy directly in the back and filling the boy's surroundings with pink smoke.

Show me who you are, ten years from now.

---

A small part of Sonya was relieved to see the idiot rise up after slamming hard onto the wall, but she quickly rolled her eyes at Daisuke's failed attempt to run away and responded with a heel kick to the shoulder, forcing him down to his knees. "The Thunder Guardian is the one who willingly takes the attacks aimed at the family. Without complaints. Now quit your whining and get ready." Sonya stated as she pulled her foot off him. She was about to release another string of attacks when the familiar sound of a cannon firing stopped her in her tracks. Not wanting to get caught in the blast, the red head leaped back just in time to see Daisuke get engulfed in pink smoke.

The pink smoke slowly began to dissipate as the gigantic outline of a man replaced where Daisuke stood, an 'additional joint' extending from the hands as an object was flipped from the extension and landed back down at the arm.

Well this certainly spices things up. She thought as a taller, leaner Daisuke rose from the dissipating smoke.

"JESUS CHEMIST!" The much-deeper voice of the man followed after the object landed. The pink smoke completely dispersed, and a titan of an older Daisuke appeared, a pan held in his hand and a pancake on his wrist. He dropped the pan and began to fumble the hot pancake, causing it to flip back into the air. Seeing this, the future version of Daisuke's eyes grew wild and, like a wolf pouncing on its prey, he set his teeth into the pancake as it was midair. He blinked twice before he spit it back out, panting. "Hot, hot, hot..."

It was then that Daisuke realized where he was, and an overjoyed face quickly came after the revelation. "I was just making breakfast for you guys!" he exclaimed, looking around curiously and observing everyone until his eyes landed on Sonya, to which he cringed. A sly grin followed shortly after as he slowly walked towards her, picking up the Bō Staff from the ground where his younger self had dropped it. "Yo, Sonya." he called out, walking up to her. "It's me, Daisuke, the person who you always scared."

Abby coughed lightly and covered her mouth, the scent of smoke reminding her of the events that took place just yesterday. But to her surprise, nothing had caught fire. Instead, a dark-haired man stood tall in the middle of the scene, a pan in one hand and a pancake resting on his wrist. He was rather handsome, but that thought soon disappeared from her mind when Daisuke-like tendencies arose from said man as he tossed the pancake into the air and caught it with his mouth.

"What just happened?" She questioned as the seemingly man announced that he was, in fact, the Japanese boy. He had a confident swagger to him that Abby found attractive until Sonya rushed forward and slammed her fist into his stomach.

"Everyone, what you see before you is the result of a special weapon called the Ten-Year Bazooka." The red-head announced before promptly kicking the man in the shin.

"Made famous by the previous Thunder Guardian, anyone shot with the Bazooka will switch places with their ten years later form." Another kick, this time to Daisuke's ribs.

"This effect only lasts for 5 minutes before the current and future self switch back." Sonya finished off her assault with one last punch to the face, sending the older man flying through the back yard again, landing just before the fence right into Miku's gardenias. The red-head dusted off her hands as she turned to the teenagers watching.

"Any questions before we move on?"

"Yeah," the older Daisuke coughed as he rose from his makeshift grave, seemingly unaffected by the attack. He retained his smile and began to spin the Bō Staff around with no fault. He returned to the company of the main group and threw it off to the side, just in case he would have lost track of time and it would accidentally leave with him. "Where's my dad?" he asked Sonya rather simply, his eyes wandering around until they met the figure blocking the sun from Naoto's roof.

Unlike the typical attire that one would assume to be worn by a mafioso, Daisuke dressed like an average everyday citizen. Wrapped around one of his fingers was a ring that resembled one during engagement. "Hajime!" he called out for the man to reveal himself, to which he did in a rushed manner. As soon as Vector landed with no issue, he landed a jab across Daisuke's face, though it did not produce much of an effect like Sonya's attacks.

"Idiot, who told you to call out my name like that?"

Daisuke frowned. "You're still cranky, Dad!" he sounded disappointed. "Ten years from now, you're cool and-"

"Pipe it, you." Vector warned his son, sighing. "It was a matter of time before my cover was blown, anyway."

Daisuke didn't seem dead, so that was good. Benjamin wasn't much for cops. Not that he had anything against them, but he definitely didn't want to get arrested for Sonya's actions. He seemed fine, actually. Which, in itself, was really impressive. But that wasn't the only thing that caught everyone's attention. Very suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, a rocket was launched. Lord save this child. He thought to himself. Pink mist rose from Daisuke rather than an explosion. Soon, however, he stood up and Ben found himself relieved. His hand, which had been squeezing his bicep while his arms were crossed, loosened and he hadn't even notice it tighten. But he wasn't the same. He was tall. He was broad.
He was making pancakes.
After a quick bout, Sonya explained what had happened and he took her word for it. She sounded insane, but he felt inclined to take these events as real. Of course, this could all be a dream. Probably not. But what happened next was not quite expected. Daisuke had run his mouth for a minute but he was quickly interceded by a man they'd yet to meet. He was called father by the Japanese ki- man.
"Excuse me momentarily; Mr. Honda, is it?" Benjamin said, having eyed the man's sword, it was easy to assume he was in on all this. Besides, he mentioned cover. "I suppose you're associated with Ms. Sonya, yes? Would you mind so much as to tell us who exactly you are to our situation?"

Well, then, this was going extremely badly for all of them. First, he went down, and then Ben was felled by Sonya. Daisuke seemed to be in the same situation. He was being thrown around by the woman as harsh as they were, or even more. Maybe it was because of the fact that Daisuke had no experience fighting? At least that was what Cyril expected. There was no way that he could have been trained to fight. Or was there? Anyway, he didn’t show any of his skills even if he was trained or not. The dark haired boy watched him for a moment more before he was shot by someone—and not with a bullet. He had to admit, the pink smoke that appeared around the area where Daisuke had been standing was somewhat ominous. All of a sudden, a tall and broad figure, holding itself with a certain grace, replaced Daisuke.

Cyril blinked in surprise, ignoring Naoto as he questioned him. Daisuke? he thought. This had suddenly become even more interesting than it was before. It can’t be. He doesn’t look nearly as scrawny as he did before. And I certainly wouldn’t have let him make breakfast. And God, I know him ten years from now?

Sonya pummeled him anyway, sending him into a flower bed. Yet Daisuke got back up as if it were nothing. Daisuke asked where his dad was, making him grow even more curious. So, his father was around. To think that he thought that Daisuke was alone, even though the woman that he met the other day said that his dad wasn’t around. ”So, you’re his father.” Cyril spoke up, narrowing his eyes at the man. ”And you were spying on us, too.”

”Hey!”

Cyril looked over his shoulder to see the quiet blond kid look at Daisuke’s father with surprise. ”You’re the man that asked about the festival.” Fionn said. ”I didn’t think that you had anything to do with this.”

Jak pulled herself off the ground just in time to see Daisuke explode in a puff of pink smoke. Jak sat, open mouthed, as she contemplated how the whole thing had happened. Had Sonya done that? Her answer came quickly, as Daisuke -or maybe his older brother- rose out of the smoke. Flipping pancakes. Sonya quickly explained the Ten-Year Bazooka, but Jak was still dumbfounded. Daisuke wasn't dead, but older. Then Vector appeared from the shadows and Jak snapped back into reality. Her eyes had a hard light to them now, as if she were about to yell at the man.

She didn't say anything, however. Didn't Sonya say that Vector had something to do with the fire the other day? Jak tried to remember, but she was currently keeping her rage in check. She bit the inside of her cheek and looked away from Vector. He'd destroyed the festival. Burned everything she she had known for years and years and years to the ground, and on top of that was berating his son. Jak didn't have anything to say to him. So she pulled out her popsicle stick and began chewing on it, trying to keep her mouth busy so she didn't make a scene. Let the anger wash away... let it wash away before I lose my temper Jak knew that she stood as good a chance against Vector as a snowball on asphalt during summer.

Already, these kids were starting to piss him the hell off.

Hajime despised the ones who tried desperately to sound sophisticated. Out of the children that were present, he had only picked out four or so of them individually, all of which led up to the disagreement he had with Decimo, and brought the Guardian candidates into a potential ring conflict like the previous generation had. "I'm the External Advisor of the Vongola Famiglia," he sighed, particularly uninterested in introducing himself. "Otherwise known as the second-in-command as of a week before. I-"

"Dad has as much power as the real Boss when there's problems going on in the family!" The older Daisuke chimed in.

Hajime scoffed, resuming. "Among all of you, only a small portion of you were actually selected by me." he cleared his throat, raising a hand to chest level and looking down at his Boss Ring. Lowering it, he shot a dagger of a glare at the Storm candidate, though the child was shut down by the boy that he had seen from the festival. He simply blinked down at Fionn, expressionless. "Well, duty calls, kid. I've got a job to do and that's to make sure my selections are the ones to succeed," he paused slightly, growing dark. "And for the contesting selections to fail."

Hajime's brief moment of a threatening tone was interrupted by Daisuke. "Dad, that's rude!" the man chided, punching his father in the shoulder. A scowl rippled across Hajime's face as Lightning Flames flared from his ring and surrounded his balled-up fist, condensing fast as the electricity solidified. A fraction of a second passed before Hajime stepped his right foot back and arced his right arm back, landing a quick punch to Daisuke's chest and, this time, sending the future version of his son through the wall of Naoto Alato's residence.

"What a drag," Hajime complained, the electricity fading away as he ran the hand under his hat and through the hair underneath. "The use of Flames have been outlawed in the Mafia world since Vongola Decimo took his seat," he seemingly recited to himself, shaking his head. "That amount is minuscule compared to my full capabilities, but that little concentration is more than enough."

As Hajime continued to mumble to himself, pink smoke erupted from the inside of the hole in the wall, and a smaller outline appeared standing on the interior. "Jesus chemist!" the raspier, higher-pitched voice of Daisuke sounded as a foot stepped past the hole and onto the grass of Naoto's backyard, his full body coming into view shortly after. Just as Daisuke's eyes met the back of the man in the suit with a fancy hat, he cringed and screamed at the top of his lungs. "THE SCARY WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND, A SCARY MAN!" he pointed at Hajime and Sonya.

Hajime gritted his teeth as a vein seemed to pop at his forehead, letting out an agitated sigh. "I'll be taking my leave for now," he said, looking to Sonya and turning back. Just before he made his leave, he placed a hand on the Storm candidate's shoulder and leaned in close to whisper into the child's ear. "Listen to me clearly," he spoke rather hastily. "What do you see before you?"

Hajime seemed to flash quick glances at the entire company, though his head remained unmoved. "Who is the real enemy?"

With that, the External Advisor pulled back and brisked through the hole in the residence, disappearing after calling out, "Try not to die in the next few weeks." Daisuke, who had fled to a nearby shrub, peeked his eyes out from his hiding spot before squirming from the foliage, still trembling. "I-is he gone?"