Earthbound Family

(Second Arc)

Well I got some reviews...that's good. Thanks viewers I know it's not easy the wait but here is the next chapter.

( Earth Temple: part 2)

Silence. There was a deep and unsettling silence as the redhead stood still on the same spot looking at the ground. Memories that should have been buried deep within his mind where buzzing wildly within his head. Emotions that where long forgotten were surfacing from the depth of the teen's being. It was all too much and to sudden for the redhead to process, but he kept himself calm before loosing his mind. He had to, otherwise the sudden feelings and turmoils would suffocate him for sure.

Without looking up, Ikaru took a deep breath before speaking. " How much do you know Taiyou?" he muttered lowly.

The stone dragon's chuckle echoed around the room. " I know what I see kid. This temple was made to test any marked one that was partnered with me." he chuckled again. " I must say, I would have never guessed that a kid like you had the order to kill one of your own friends."

" Whatever." the redhead said quietly before another door appeared on the other side of the room. Without saying anything he headed toward the door, ignoring the maniacal laughter of his partner.

A blast of heat greeted him as he passed the door. The room itself was a large pool of lava with stalagmites and stalactites coming out of the pool of fire and the roof. The only piece of ground was the one he was standing on. In reality, all these pools of lava was beginning to get on his nerves.

Seeing no other way around, he focus his dying will flames into his palms and fingers before leaping high as he neared one of the stalactites he thrust both palms against the rock and engraved his fingers in it to have a better hold. Once he secure himself he quickly jump to the next one and so on, narrowly dodging pillars of fire that suddenly burst from the magma below and even some burning pieces of stone. On the ones he could reach he simply dig his fingers onto the rocky roof and swung his body to the closest stalactite.

He was half way there and he was sweating profusely because of the heat. His process was halted however by the a strange sound coming from a distance. The redhead looked at the source and notice three fiery line zigzagging across the lava and heading straight for him. Cursing, the redhead position himself to get a better look at what was coming toward him. Upon closer inspection he notice three humanoids beings scatting on top of the lava, wearing red fiery clothing with black burning pants and a hat made of fire. Their faces was pitch black with two small fireball acting as their eyes and a red hot line that made their mouth.

They looked more like dolls dancing gracefully on top of the fire with their hands behind their back. Ikaru halted his inspection. ' Wait a minute...' he thought before coming to a realization. " Are you serious! Flare Dancers! You are so unoriginal!"

" Not true! I made some modifications, like their clothing and their choice of weapons!" the stone dragon replied.

" Weapons?" At the mention of it the three fire beings pulled out their arms from behind revealing large flaming metal claws. Each had three fingers with razor sharp end and cover in magma and fire. Ikaru groaned. " You got to be kidding me!"

As he said this one of the three fire beings jumped high into the air, as he approached the redhead could see the eerie glow in the eyes and the crooked smile it had, wanting nothing more than to sink its claws onto his soft and vulnerable flesh. The marked one quickly composed himself and slid down on the stalactite he was currently hanging on, only to notice that the creature did nothing to change its trajectory. With a quick wave of its arm it slash the stalactite and tore it off the rest.

" Oh no." Ikaru began to chant in a disbelieving tone as the stony rock began to fall. " Oh no, oh no!" he quickly began to climb back up and once he reach the edge he jump up and engrave his fingers on the the other half. He then watch as the body fell down and sunk into the lava.

" That was close." he sigh before he heard the swirling sound of wind from the side. He turned his head and his eyes widen seeing the second one twirling around in the air with its massive claws. " Crud!" he jumped but not without getting three tears marks on his red tunic.

" Hey careful! That actually took dedication and care from my part!" Taiyou whined.

Ikaru attached himself to another stalactite before he gritted his teeth trying to remain calm. " Well sorry for trying to keep myself alive." he jumped again to dodge two pair of claws that demolished the piece of rock he was hanging on.

The redhead somersaulted in the air as he looked behind to see the two fire beings land on the lake of fire and continue to skate around. A hollow laugh made him look in front of him as he saw the third one coming at him in a collision course with its arms cross showing its fire claws. Now, the red head began to panic. 'Oh no, I'm in mid air and twisting my body to dodge won't work. And I have to touch the earth in order to manipulate it!' he thought before he notice two stalactite right next to each other, but he notice he was flying right in the middle of the two and his arms could not reach them for a few inches.

" I got to time this right!" he twisted his body so he was in a horizontal position and when he reach them he extend both his arms and legs to hold his position. Of course he didn't forget the incoming monster that was already twirling his claws. Wasting no time, as soon as he steady himself between them he pushed himself to jump a little bit higher and stretch his legs to do a perfect split. The flaming claw passed right in the middle, missing his treasure by mere centimeters, feeling the hot wind close to his region. That, however, didn't matter to the redhead because he was focusing on not letting his tears fall and trying desperately to ignore the pain in...his private.

The dragon of stone chuckled. " Nice split. I give you a fifty for succeeding in doing a perfect split and another fifty for sacrificing little Ikaru in the process."

" Not..." the redhead took a breath here. "...funny." he wheezed. His eyes narrow as he saw another one jumping up and ready to take another shot at him. " Alright, I had enough of this." he said as he shifted his body so it would swung in a circular motion and let him hanging in a upside down position. He pulled his arms back, patiently waiting for the creature to get close enough before launching his attack. " Silent Strike of the Wind!" he push his arm forward with enough force to put out the fire on the claw and the fiery hat.

The attacker was shocked which gave the redhead the perfect opportunity to let go and grabbed the fire being and cling to his back. As he fall he notice that his body was slightly longer than the other being so he position himself to move a little higher over the shoulders and placed both his feet to its thigh, which surprisingly felt soft like skin and not metal or a rock exterior.

As the creature landed, it tried to steady itself because of the extra weight before he saw the redhead's hand pointing at his head with sun flames covering it. " Alright you. You got two options. Either you kindly take me to the other side of the room or a cleave your head off." he pressed the tip of his fingers to the creatures skull. " So, what's it going to be?"

The creature sweat drop and nodded his head in a rapid fashion before skating on the lava toward the other side of the room. That however did not stop the other two to quickly chase after the first one, sticking their sharp metal claws in the lava and pulling molten rocks and throwing at the redhead.

Ikaru groaned. " They don't give up, do they?" he rapidly shifted his body so he was facing the back and gather sun flames of the tip of his middle and index finger before rapidly forming a golden net like barrier. " Sun god's Sphere." The molten rocks collided with the barrier making it glow before launching a powerful being of light at the two creatures. The attack hit making both beings fly back and land in the lava pool. Second later the both surface and began to struggle to stay up, almost as if...

" You have got to be kidding me!" the redhead shouted.

" MY BABIES! IKARU YOU BETTER SAVE THEM OR LOOSING YOUR BALLS WILL BE THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES!" Taiyou shouted in a panic tone.

The redhead sigh before making the other flare dancer he was ridding turn around and picked the struggling two, making sure not to touch the lava. A few moments later the four were standing in the on the small platform on the other side of the room. The three flare dancers bent down in a bow.

" Thank you for saving my brothers Ikaru-san." one of the flare dancers suddenly spoke, obviously the one that the marked one was riding on.

The redhead scratch the back of his neck sheepishly. " It's no problem really. I thought you were mindless monster made by Taiyou."

" We were created by Taiyou-sama. By the way you don't seem too surprise that we can talk." a second one spoke tilting it's head.

" With Taiyou as my partner, do you really think I would be that surprised?" he chuckled making the other three dancers nod their heads in agreement. " By the way, why Taiyou is so caring of you? Not to offend of course but it's weird coming from a craze dragon like himself."

The three giggled before one of them, the one in the middle, spoke. " We have a blast with Taiyou-sama. We go to his parties and go wild, we even go pranking with him for time to time when he's available."

" He's fun and he knows when we take a prank too far and makes us apologies for them." the one on the left said.

The flare dancer on the right nodded. " Yeah, you can say Taiyou-sama is our dad."

At this Ikaru's eyes nearly popped out of their socket. " Taiyou...a dad!" he said incredulously while the other three nodded. " How long have you been created?"

" About a year now. He has taken good care of us." the three replied.

Ikaru couldn't believe it. He sighed before he smiled. " Well what do you know? My crazed dragon is actually a softy and a parental figure."

The three giggled before one of them spoke. " He worries about you too Ikaru-nii. He always tells us stories about you and how he wish you'd be more careful on those dangerous missions you go. One of these days his stone body will turn white from worry."

The redhead was surprise that they even acknowledge him as a family member but he laughed at the last comment making the other three laugh with him.

" Alright, alright! Enough with the details and humiliating tales. Don't you have something to do Ikaru! You boys better go and make sure the rest of the temple is clean and dust free. Now move it people!" the dragon quickly spoke, making the redhead picture him blushing in embarrassment.

The marked one chuckled before turning to the three flare dancers. " Well I better go and finish this temple. My friends are waiting for me." he then began to walk for the door at the end of the platform.

Waving at the retreating redhead, the three said their farewells. " See ya soon Ikaru-nii." " Visit us soon nii-san!" " Try to not make Taiyou-sama worry too much!" then they skated away and toward their assign choirs.

As the redhead approach the double doors before him, they slowly began to part ways from each other as he reach them. Dust and spider webs began to disperse as the doors slid open in a slow matter. Looking at the stairs that ascended into the darkness, the redhead sighed before taking the first step toward the unknown. As he proceed the doors behind him began to close again, the little light that entered the room soon began to die down. One thing the marked one notice was the almost cold and tense atmosphere that suddenly befell on him as he continue to move forward. The clash from the heat and now the cold was having a negative effect on his body that h had to use his flames from getting worse. He could now see his breath as he reach the top of the stair way and in front of a large double door. Waiting but a few seconds, the doors began to open and the familiar feeling of dread filled his being. Yet he walked inside without looking back.

The temperature inside the room seemed to be far more colder than the outside. A thick atmosphere surrounded the room. All the redhead could see was darkness, he couldn't see how big was the room or where it ended nor if it had a floor up ahead. The little light that came from the open door could not pierce the darkness. It became worse when the doors began to close and less light could come through until the doors completely shut. Pure darkness surrounded the marked one, the one where no source of light could be found.

Ikaru's didn't feel comfortable at all, yet he did not panic or loose his composer. Years of training had taught him such. He didn't dare to give large steps so he began to drag his feet ahead of him, feeling for the ground or absence of it. Carefully he began to move across the darkness waiting for whatever was awaiting him to strike to come, after all what kind of creature wouldn't take advantage of a prey when they were at a disadvantage.

" I see the years of training had taught you well, Ikaru." a pause tone suddenly spoke from within the room.

The redhead stopped dead on his track, feeling his body grow stiff. A sudden glow appeared withing the room making the teen shield his eyes before he could adjust his sight. What greeted him surprised him, yet at the same time it didn't. Standing at what now could see a large and spacious room was the familiar willow that he used to serve. " Paraiah."

The tree glowed. " You have forgotten your manners Ikaru. No one address me by my name."

" I hate to be the barer of bad news but..." the teen started but was cut off by the tree.

" I know Ikaru. The order is no more and I am nothing more than a spirit brought by the sun earthbound dragon, or should I say the earth dragon?" it glowed. " It doesn't matter. I can start a new. However, I will need to gather up my strength again. This is your chance for redemption child. Bring me the soul of Tsukuyomi and I will forgive your failure."

The redhead teen simply couldn't believe what he was hearing. His face showed pure disbelief before his eyebrows lowered in anger. " Sorry to disappoint but I will be doing no such thing. I will not play your puppet anymore. Tsukuyomi and the others have become my family and I will not bring any harm to any of them."

Silence spread around the room like wild fire. No sound was utter in seconds before the willow tree glowed again and spoke. " It's a shame really. To loose the obedience of such a useful tool such as yourself. However, all is not a total waste."

Large thick roots burst from the ground and block the door behind the redhead. Ikaru looked back and cursed before taking a stance before the tree. Paraiah's glow intensified. " If I can't absorb the soul of Tsukuyomi then I'll simply take yours. After all you are an earthbound marked one as well and with your soul I will be able to spread my roots and escape from this prison, starting a new order and eventually trapping each and every marked one for myself. Even the Earth dragon won't stop me."

" Sheesh! Someone is full of himself. Do you really believe you, a mere puppet of mine, can actually cut yourself from my strings?" Taiyou mocked.

" I know so dragon. I taught Ikaru everything he knows even thou he took a not effective fighting style. Once his soul is mine I will cut my strings and the puppeteer shall become the puppet for once his soul is absorb by me you will have no other choice than to obey me." the willow tree replied.

The earth dragon remained silent for a few seconds. " Well...It's clear I haven't thought these things through."

" YOU THINK!" the redhead shouted.

" No worries kid. Just beat the living crap out of this guy and all will be well."

Ikaru groan. " Taiyou you..." he started saying only to be cut off by multiple roots coming out of the ground and attempting to stab or crush him. The redhead had to move twist his body and jump out of the way. Three pairs of vines burst from the ground and tried to impale him from the back. The redhead quickly turned around and used his silent strike of the wind to cut off the vines. However, the cut off roots sprout new ones and continue to assault mercilessly at the teen.

The willow tree continue to sprout more roots from the ground and lashing at the marked one, who continue to move without stopping. Launching every possible attack, counterattack, and defensive poses he had, Ikaru's hands and feet where moving like a blur. The redhead attacks were continues and merciless but the roots seemed to be endless and they continue to re-grow at an inhuman speed. Soon enough the teen began to tire out and his movements became less effective until one of the roots passed his defenses and stab him on his thigh making the redhead scream in agony as blood began to leek out of the wound. That of course caused an opening letting more roots stab him on different sections of his body making the redhead scream in agony as the roots lifted him from the ground.

" Ikaru! Damn it all! What the hell are you doing kid!" Taiyou shouted in what seem to be worry.

" It was inevitable Earth dragon. No matter how weak, a mob is still a threat. Numbers always beats raw power." Paraiah spoke in its monotone voice before focusing on the redhead. That's when he notice that the teen was trying to heal himself with the sun flames. " You are wasting your flames Ikaru. If you can't remove the roots that are impaling your body then it will not heal properly."

" T-That...doesn't m-mean I w-wont try..." the redhead grunted. The pain was excruciating.

" Persistent. I favor that. Though it is meaningless and pathetic, just like Ven and your parents."

Red eyes widen in shock. " W-What?" the redhead teen said in painful surprise. "V-Ven? My parents?" why did that name seem so familiar to him?

" Don't you dare say anything Paraiah or I swear..."

" You are in no disposition to tell me what I should and should not do dragon." glowed the tree. " Ikaru, you knew you were left in the Order's care because your parents abandon you to us. Well it was a lie." it said making the redhead's eyes widen in surprise. " Your parents were archaeologist currently on a expedition in search of long forgotten cultures. In one of those expedition, near the Rain Forest they conceived you. A years later they were came back to the Rain Forest with you to finish their work since your birth came unexpected only to come across a poachers and hunters that were illegally hunting rare specimens and harming the forest. Needless to say, they and the nearby tribes tried to oppose them only to end up hunted and slaughter mercilessly. Your parents flee for your safety and by chance the cross the invisible veil that lead to Lythia."

Ikaru was ignoring the pain as the roots twisted through his body making it harder to breath and focus, but he pushed himself to listen. " What happened?" he asked trying not to stutter.

" Impatient, aren't we? Since you're about to die, I might as well tell you. Your parents, by chance, found one of the entrances to the Order of the Seed. Thou, they might have thought it was a tribe of some kind and found Ven guarding the entrance. They were still being chased by the poachers and they begged Ven to take you and hide you from them. I do not know what possessed him to actually accept but he did and took you in inside the Order while your parents led the man hunt away. Needless to say they die a gruesome death."

The redhead eyes widen in surprise, thou he couldn't think of anything more as the tree continue to speak in it's low and monotone voice.

" At first I thought it was foolish and instantly order for your execution, but Ven insisted that you could be useful and asked to train you himself personally. For years he taught you the basics such as how to walk, to read, to speak, and basic fighting styles. Imagine my surprise to find that you were a marked one, one of Fate's chosen ones. Clearly I was blessed with fortune and taught you myself the rest." Ikaru grunted as he felt the roots tighten around his wounds. " I could see that you didn't want to part away from Ven but it had to be done and I could see Ven's protest but his loyalty was first with me. Foolish boy that Ven was, he even took some of your punishment years later even when you forgot about him. He train you so that one day you could be free from this world. What a pitiful man, just like your parents."

As if a lock had just been unlocked, Ikaru began to remember the times he spent with the man. So far they were happy memories and he also felt the bitterness when this thing took him under it's care. The image of a white hair man with green eyes, wearing a long white coat and clothing, appeared within his mind, moments away before the young five year old Ikaru was given to the tree.

" I-I don wanna leave u Ven!" the toddler said in a high pitch voice. He was crying while snot came out of his nose as a result.

Ven took out a handkerchief he had hidden and clean the snot from the young boy before him. The white hair teen really didn't want to do this...but his loyalty lied with the tree. " Ikaru I know how you feel but there is nothing I...anyone can do. You must go and train under Paraiah. It's going to be tough and painful, but no matter what do not cry nor question him. I'll try to soften the blows."

The young redhead hiccuped. " B-But I wanna stay with big brother Ven. I don wanna stay hewe fowever."

Ven did something that he rarely, if ever, does. He smiled at the young boy. " Ikaru, my little brother. You have the potential chance to get out of this world better than anyone in the Order. You just have to pretend to follow orders. Once you are out just follow your heart and you will find the happiness that you crave."

Those were not the words of a assassin or a mindless servant. Those were the words of a soul that wished to save another soul. Red eyes narrowed in an emotion the redhead always intended to avoid, anger. His body began to tense as yellow flames began to circle around him, cutting the roots from his body and healing the wounds.

" How dare you call my parents fools!" he snarled as the flames began to intensified. " How dare mock and degrade Ven in my face! He was a great man! You were the one who ruined everything for all of us!" his eyes dilated a little but he still kept focus, all his anger and rage pointed at one thing. " Paraiah...I WON'T FORGIVE YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID TO VEN AND ME!" he pushed his feet forwards and launched his body with amazing speed.

" You ungrateful brat! You belong to me and what ever I do with your and that pitiful man's life is for my own benefit! I gave you a purpose for you are nothing more than my pawns!" the willows raised it's voice in a commanding tone as a large number of roots popped from the ground and moved quickly toward the redhead.

At those words, however, Ikaru's anger exploded. His speed was doubled as fiery wings of yellow flames burst from his back giving him the additional boost. He dodged every single root and quickly approached the tree who at the close proximity used the remaining roots to guard itself, but it was too slow for the redhead. With a swift move of his right arm, the redhead seemed to went through the talking wood and landed on the other side. Silence envelop the room as everything seem to stand still.

A burning yellow line suddenly appeared right in the middle of the tree before multiple lines in a net fashion began to appear an cover the entire ruler. He had been cut perfectly from many angles in a blink of an eye.

" This...cannot be!" Pariah said in his raised tone. " My ambition...put to rest by this pawn! Impossible!"

The flaming wings vanished before the marked one turned and stare monotonously at his former leader. " You can thank Ven for that, for he had planted the seed before you could completely take control over me."

With a final scream, the willow tree began to fall into pieces and burn into ashes. The redhead stare monotonously at the burning ashes before the orange flames began to take over and expand themselves.

Ikaru was staring into the open sky with a sigh. It took a lot to get his best friend to give him some alone time but thanks to Sky he manage to get it while the brunet swordsman distracted his friend. It's only been a few days since he joined the Earthbound and he still haven't forgotten his mission. He had been waiting for a perfect chance to get Tsukuyomi alone so he could finish his dreadful deed. However, it was proving to be difficult to do so since the raven was constantly with someone, especially Tsuna. To make matter worse everyone seem to love him and to top icing on the cake the raven trusted him fully and consider him like a brother.

The redhead marked one passed a hand through his hair in frustration. He knew that he had to follow orders and all, but he truly didn't want to go through with it.

" Ikaru-kun! What are you doing here all by yourself?" a cheerful voice spoke.

Flinching at the all to familiar voice, Ikaru put up a fake smile and turned to face him. " Tsukuyomi-kun, I was just feeling a bit tense so I went out for some fresh air."

" Tense, huh? Why don't we spar out here? You can release whatever frustration you may have while having fun at the same time." the raven grinned.

Ikaru laughed. " You'd cream me in no time. I still haven't even develop my flames yet." he said honestly.

Tsukuyomi laughed. " True. So, how about this. We simply spar hand to hand. No flames, no tricks, just our fist. That would be fair, right?"

The redhead nodded. Then he notice the raven taking his shirt off making him tilt his head in confusion. " Why are you taking off your shirt?"

" Don't want it to get dirty." was the simple reply. Agreeing with the idea, the marked one took off his own shirt and stood on a defensive pose.

Tsukuyomi did the same. The two eyed each other, sizing up their opponent, looking for openings, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. By an unknown source, it signal the start of the fight. The two launch at each other, delivering fast punches and kicks. Evading the other's strikes and movements. The two went at it at their best for at least half an hour before they pulled away from each other. Tsukuyomi was panting deeper than Ikaru.

" Wow...Ikau-kun...you definitely would own my ass...in hand to hand combat...and that's saying a lot." the raven said between breath before laughing and dropping his pose.

The redhead smiled, he enjoyed the spar a lot but then a thought enter his mind. This would be the perfect moment to strike a killing blow and end the raven's life and gather his soul. The raven was already tired so dealing a deadly strike wouldn't be too difficult, thou he still had to be careful. One wrong move and he would be the one in the other's position. However, he was thinking of the aftermath. What would happen to him? To his friends? Was this really worth it?"

Ikaru's muscle began to tense again as he fought with his he didn't notice the raven dropping his head, bangs covering his eyes. " Why are you hesitating? Don't you want to take my soul? Soul Taker." he whispered.

Red eyes widen in surprise and panic. In a moment the redhead had the other marked one pinned on the ground with a raised hand up ready to strike, but the blow didn't come. Instead the redhead was confused. " Why! If you knew I was a Soul Taker, why did you let me be this close to you! Don't you know what might happen! Don't you care what happens to you! WHY!" he shouted in frustration.

Bangs that covered the eyes moved out of the way revealing sad red eyes, even with that the raven still smiled. " Because you are my friend Ikaru. You are different from the rest that have try to kill me. Also, you saved Tsuna even thou he didn't matter to your cause. So I thought I could give you my soul as payment. I came here ready to give myself to you. You're one of my best friends"

Incredulously, the marked one of the sun stared at the other boy under him. His hands shaking uncontrollably. The other boy trusted him fully and was willing to give his soul for him. Large tear drops fell from the now crying boy as he now grasp both of Tsukuyomi's hands with his.

" How can I hurt when you offer me nothing but kindness? How can you think I would even kill you when you came to me willingly because you think of me as a friend? With such honesty? My life has been filled with hate and emptiness. I won't harm my friend...not after this."

The raven was surprised at first but then smiled. " I'm glad. I still get to keep my friend and made him see a better way of living." with some effort he pulled himself and the redhead up. He then stared seriously at the other teen. " I'm happy that you trust me Ikaru, but I won't lie to you. I was going to tell you before you killed me, but seeing as you had a change of heart I'll tell you anyways. We receive some news just moments before I went to get you. Ikaru...the Order of the Seed has been ambushed and destroyed by unknown force. There were no survivors...they are gone."

The news didn't seem to discourage nor depress Ikaru. He was free from the Order and now he could lead a new life. He was happy. But...why did he also feel sad? It was like he was forgetting something...or someone important.

Slowly the flames died and the vision disappeared, but the redhead paid no attention. He was staring at nothing for a while. There was no movement and no sign of him even being there.

" Hey brat! Snap out of your funk kid! Your journey is not over! Don't you have the other losers waiting for you!" the loud Earth dragon shouted.

That seemed to have snapped him out of his revere. " Yeah...you're right. My friends are waiting for me." with that in mind, he pushed everything else that unsettle him move to finish the rest.

In all honesty, the rest of the temple was passed and cleared in a matter of hours since it was, as Taiyou put it, an exact replica of the fire temple. Seriously the dragon had no imagination. The redhead marked one was currently watching the remains of a flying sand worm vanish before the door to the last room was revealed to him. With a sigh he entered the room.

Once again, a pool of molten rock greeted him with a large round rocky platform in the middle. The platform had many holes in it with lava boiling hotly inside them. A sigh escaped the redhead as he brushed his hair again, knowing fully well what awaited him once he jumped on the platform.

" You are so unoriginal Taiyou." he shook his head. " Well might as well get this over with."

Jumping on the platform, determined to finish this temple, the redhead didn't have to wait long before the ground beneath him began to tremble violently.

" Gyahahahahaha. Prepare yourself Ikaru, for here come the final boss. Like the Flare dancers I made some modifications on this one. You have no chance of victory!" the dragon boasted.

Shortly after, from one of the holes on the ground, a large red snake like fire dragon flew up into the air before quickly landing and coiling itself, its back facing the redhead. Ikaru gulped not feeling confident went the dragon slowly turned its head slightly and gazed at the redhead from it's glowing eyes. Before it quickly turned around and...

" Buiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" the dragon wagged its long tail while jumping slightly from it's two arms, since it got no legs, before rolling around playfully on the ground. Clearly excited to see someone to play with. It ran toward the teen using its two arms like a dog and tackle the stunned boy, licking him with its long and reptile like tongue.

To say Ikaru was shock was an understatement, but the tongue was tickling him so he was laughing the entire time.

" No, No, NO! You stupid dragon! You were suppose to fight him not lick him to death!" Taiyou roared. He nearly popped a vein when he saw the infamous dragon of the legend of Zelda ignoring him. " YOU STUPID ANIMAL! I'LL SLICE YOUR GUT OPEN IF YOU KEEP IGNORING ME!"

The dragon ignored the Earth dragon as he rolled upside down, begging the redhead to rub his long belly. Taiyou ranted for a while before he gave up. " Where did I go wrong? Ugh...Just...let's just go on with the flames. This is just too embarrassing."

The orange flames floated before Ikaru before expanding a little and showing another clip.

The redhead was sitting feeling bored on a sofa watching Tv. He was watching a movie before someone disturb his peace.

" Ikaru, did you finish your chores?" a tall man with white hair and green eyes said as he lean on the door frame that lead to the kitchen and the current room.

The redhead rolled his eyes. " Yes mother. I did everything you ask for straight to the point.

" And your training?" the white hair teen asked with a raised brow. " We wouldn't want another accident that could cause another explosion on your friends now would we?" he smirked.

" Veeeeen." the redhead whined. " That was an accident and you know it! Besides Tsuna and the rest also screw up. Well minus Tsukuyomi-kun who was laughing his ass off by the situation and Misty who simply smirked."

The white hair teen gave a mischievous smile before assaulting the redhead and tickling him mercilessly. " See that's what happens when you don't train and ignore big brother Ven's word of advice."

" Ok, ok! I will listen to you more often hahaha..." the marked one laughed. "...just please! Hahahaha show some mercy to your little brother! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Feeling satisfied, Ven stopped his assault before ruffling his hair affectionately. " Good. Now get ready because before you go I want you to eat the food that will be finish in a minute before you go and see your friends."

The redhead marked one grinned. " Alright!"

Seeing this foreign yet improbable scene made the teen look sadly at it. He didn't get it. " Taiyou...what...?" he started to ask but the dragon quickly answered.

" That is the present day where you would be spending your life with Ven if you had remembered him. You would've made a plan so that both could escape the Order together and would be living together as siblings. I'm sorry kid." the dragon truly sounded sorry.

Hands turned into fist and shook a little as the teen gritted his teeth in frustration. He messed up, he really messed up. 'How could I forget him! How could I forget the person who took care of me in that forsaken place!' he thought in despair.

The room tremble a little before a golden circle of blue light appeared in the center of the platform. The redhead felt heavy and ignored the obvious copy paste there until he felt a gentle push from behind him. The snake like dragon was motioning him to move toward the circle. Seeing as the redhead still didn't move the volcanic dragon picked him up and carried him toward the circle where they both were transported to another room.

Now the stood before a large door made of stone with his dragon marked imprinted on it. But the redhead still felt heavy of heart to move. The guilt was eating him up alive slowly but surely. He was so engross with his thoughts that he didn't here the footsteps coming from behind him.

" You seem trouble pawn. Is that the face of a conquering warrior after accomplishing such as feet as passing the Earth Temple?"

Flinching slightly the redhead turned his head to gaze at the source of the voice. The snake-like dragon moved to give a better view of the other person in the room. Being accompanied by the three flare dancers was the hooded man that Ikaru faced on one of the many rooms.

" You! But I thought I defeated you!" the redhead said shocked.

" Correction, you defeated a stone body with my soul in it. However, let's cut to the chase and ask why are you faltering?" the hooded man asked.

The redhead gritted his teeth. " How can I not? This temple has shown me pits of my past and given me a realization that has given birth to a great guilt! I have forgotten a very important person in my life! A person that practically raised me and I left him behind! With that knowledge how can I not falter in my step? I always thought I never did anything wrong, even thou in my heart I new something was missing." his swallowed a sob that almost escape him as his eyes began to gloss up as he continue. " I left Ven behind. I left a person I treated as an older brother behind all because I failed to remember him. Thing could've been so different if I did remember him." a few tears escaped is eyes.

The hooded man said nothing at first. " You must remember that you were young when Paraiah took you in. He slowly brainwash you to feel nothing but resentment and to be loyal to him. You slowly forgot Ven, but not on your own will. Without you even noticing it the great One erased him from your memory. But you know what?" he said making the redhead looked at him with tearful eyes. " I say that he has forgiven you and even going so far as to say that he misses you."

" H-How do you know that? Did you knew Ven?"

A chuckle escaped the man lips. " Yes I know him well because..." he slowly raised his hands to his head and remove his hood, revealing white hair and green eyes. "...him and I are the same person."

Red eyes widen in disbelief before he began to walk forward in uncertain steps. " V-Ven...is that really you!" when he received a nod he ran toward the older boy and hugged him. " Ven! I-I'm so sorry...I-I..." he sobbed but was calmed down when the older boy return the hug.

" Calm down Ikaru. I said I forgive you. I knew from the moment Paraiah wanted to take you and train you himself that this was about to happen. So I made sure you were safe until the time came when you would be set free to seek Tsukuyomi. Once you were out, I let many enemies of the Order inside the grounds to take them out...but I guess I didn't make it out." he chuckle to himself.

" T-That was you! You jerk! You got yourself killed and now..." he whispered the last part. "...you're gone."

Ven sighed. " I know. I just didn't want you to suffer anymore."

Before the redhead could say anything the large stone doors opened, revealing the sandy interior. The five of them, including the dragon, watch as standing before a huge stone covered in the orange flames stood Taiyou.

" Gyahahahahaha. Well done on passing my amazing modified and completely original Earth/Fire temple!" he then glared at the dragon. " You! No steak for a week!" he pointed his finger making the other much smaller dragon whine.

Ikaru walked inside with the rest. " Taiyou...how did you know about Ven?"

" I did a little snooping inside your mind and found secret information, heavily guarded might I add, inside your head. I brought him back from the dead, sort off, to test you. He agreed whole heartedly, but I failed to give him a normal body since...well it's extremely difficult. I also brought the tree but that was a huge mistake. Stupid piece of firewood. Any who, congratulation on passing the trial of transcendence."

" Trial of transcendence?" the redhead tilted his head.

Ven, who was standing beside him, nodded. " Yes. After all you are here to see if you are worthy to obtain the flames of Transcendence, that flames that persevere and withstand the harsh elements. You were tested to see if you yourselves could overtake your obstacle. But when guilt was about to devour you, Taiyou brought me back to snap you out of it."

The redhead stared sadly at the older boy. " So...you will disappear again?"

Ven sighed sadly, but before he could answer the Earth dragon laughed. " Gyahahahaha. Yeah right! The guy will remain here guarding my temple and my kids...as well as the dog, until I find better use for him."

Surprised green eyes stared at the large stone dragon. " Taiyou...you..."

" Gyahahahaha. Of course if Ikaru were to find the hidden way to give you your old body back..." the dragon smirked when he notice both boys eyes widening.

" There's a way to make him come to life again in his old body!" the redhead shouted.

" Of course and the way to do it is..."

" DAD! You are not suppose to tell them that! It's forbidden by the other dragons!" the three flare dancers shouted.

" Oh, right."

The redhead shook his head smiling, he actually felt happy. He has a chance to change everything. " That's alright Taiyou. I'll find a way to do so, and one day Ven and me will live together like we were meant to be. Plus my friends are waiting for me."

Ven stared with surprise at the other boy. " Ikaru..." he said softly before he smiled and ruffle his hair. "...you have grown up so much." he smiled making the redhead smile.

" Well then. If that is your will then I the great Taiyou, bestow the flames of the Earth to you!" with that said the flames burst from the stone and engulfed the redhead.

(Random Part of Lythia)

The marked one of the Earth was staring at a large army with the Shimon and Vongola ensignia passing through a stony passage from the top of said passage. The army was being led by Ryohei and Kouyo. He sitting with his legs crossed and his hand sitting on both his legs.

A sigh escape his lips. " Such ignorance. They think they can just march into Lythia territory and do whatever they please. Oh, well I can't deal with them right now. I got to find a way to give Ven his old body back and test Tsuna." he gently touch the ground beneath him with his palm. Seconds later large volcanic lava was bursting from the ground as well as small mountains spewing said lava, engulfing the army below without a chance to counterattack. The redhead stood up and began to walk away.

Well hope you like it...Sorry for the gramatical horrors that you may find. Any who, next chapter will be of Neo.