Blame the plot bunnies

Disclaimer : Don't own KHR in any way shape or form.

Summary: Gokudera wasn't always the brash aggressive teenager he came to be. See how his past shapes him and draws him into the life of the Mafia.

When Hayato's father had come to him in the play room, Hayato was instantly confused. The man, although nice enough, rarely sought Hayato out himself. Always too busy working to want to play with him, not that Hayato would have asked, his father was an intimidating man after all, even when he didn't mean to be.

So when the man came in, and the young maid that had been reading to him blushed and scampered off, Hayato couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen. Because the breaking of traditions always signified change. Hayato clumsily got to his feet and tried to smooth out the inevitable creases on his shirt, hoping his father wouldn't fuss about his appearance the way that mother so often did.

As his father crouched down and put a hand on his shoulder, even at the tender age of three Hayato could tell that something was amiss. His father was smiling but there was a pain in his eyes that he decided he didn't like.

"Would you like to learn how to play the piano Hayato?"

Hayato could only frown, looking confused. Why would father come looking for him just to ask that? Why was he being asked in the first place? Usually one of the maids would drag him to see one of the many tutors and he didn't find out what he was supposed to be learning until the lesson had started.

This time was different, he was being given an option, by his father no less, who still had that strange look in his eyes that made Hayato believe that this simple question was somehow heavily weighted, as if it had some unknown significance that everyone but Hayato seemed to understand.

Which was the correct answer? Yes or no? What was the question? Hayato found himself nodding out of habit anyway, far too accustomed to adults and how they hid demands behind suggestions, as if there was ever a choice in the matter.

"Very well then, why don't you come down to the music room with me? There's someone I'd like you to meet." Hayato's father said, getting to his feet with a grunt and holding a hand out for expectantly for Hayato to take. It was a strange gesture, one that Hayato had never really gotten used to, but it was what his father expected so he took the hand with little hesitation. Adults were strange, mother never wanted him to take her hand, in fact she always tried to keep contact with him to a bare minimum. Bianchi never had that problem.

Walking down the hallways hand in hand with his father, Hayato couldn't help but stare at the man. The maids scurried away as they passed by, and Hayato had never quite managed to discover why they were all so skittish around his father. Everyone seemed to tense whenever father was in the room, and through process of elimination Hayato eventually put it down to his father's rather intimidating mustache.

Upon reaching the music room, Hayato let go of his father's hand and made to go in. He was surprised when he was grasped by the shoulder and turned round, his father crouching down once again so they could see eye to eye. Or eye to bristly mustache.

"Now Hayato, I want you to be on your best behavior alright?"

Hayato nodded, of course, he wouldn't dare misbehave in front of someone that his father had seen fit to personally introduce him to.

"Good boy. Now let's go meet the nice lady." With that his father stood up and opened the glass paneled door. Stepping into the room and leaving Hayato to trail nervously behind, peering from between his fathers leg and the doorframe.

His eyes widened. The lady sitting on the piano bench was beautiful. Not beautiful in the same way his mother was, high cheekbones and deep eyes and a manner that demanded respect. This woman was beautiful in a different way, soft eyes and flowing hair and grace. Gentle and delicate, her thin arms and pale skin making her look fragile, almost ethereal.

"T-this is Hayato. Hayato, this your new piano teacher. Why don't you go say hello?"

Forgetting his shyness, Hayato found himself nodding and stepping forward, never taking his eyes of the lady who was staring right back at him, a soft smile on her lips and a brightness to her eyes that may have just been a trick of the sunlight through the windows.

The lady stood up to meet him half way, and his eyes were suddenly drawn to the length of her hair, a flowing silver curtain that seemed to trail after her like a veil. And then she was holding out her hand, much like his father had done not a few minutes before, but taking it seemed far more natural this time. Then her other hand was sliding round his, two sets of long calloused fingers holding his hand gently, shaking it in some sort of odd handshake that made him giggle and brought a pretty smile to her lips.

"How do you do Hayato? I'm your new piano teacher. I hope we can have lots of fun together!"

Hayato blinked, taken aback slightly by the unexpected accent, but grinned once he'd worked the sentence through in his head. She was so nice!

"I'm Hayato..." he found himself wanting to say something more, finding his own introduction lacking in comparison. Finding nothing much else to say he settled on his proudest achievement to date. "...I'm three!"

He watched her face as she laughed, her hand gently guiding him towards the piano bench. A pair of hands picked him under the armpits before he could attempt to climb it though. He pouted as his father grinned at him and the nice lady laughed.

His father excused himself, promising to come back by the end of the lesson. And then all of a sudden the air grew tense, Hayato only able to look between the two in confusion as they exchanged sad looks full of meaning that Hayato couldn't possibly understand. Then the lady forced a smile, and his father sighed and reluctantly left. As the door closed and the lady sat him on her knee to see better, the tense atmosphere was forgotten in the place of sweet music.