"Voooi! If you can't raise your sword to protect your precious person, then you don't deserve to be called a fucking swordsman."

Yamamoto could remember Squalo's words, clear as a bell. Though harsh sounding, Squalo spoke words of wisdom.

That thought made Yamamoto smile slightly. Though it was only a month since they had come back from the future, things seemed to be getting tense again. How was he, Yamamoto, to feel about Tsuna inheriting the title of Vongola Decimo? Was Tsuna ready? The brunette pursed his lips as he continued walking towards his home. Though the day itself was fair, the air seemed filled with unease. In his own mind, it was clear- Tsuna wasn't ready. But then again, he had an idea. A brilliant one, if he didn't say so himself.

"'Che. Don't look so tense, Baseball freak. People would think you'd belong with the mafia, or something."

Ah. Yamamoto couldn't help but grin sheepishly. Just the person he was looking for. He stopped, and turned in the silverette's direction, earning a small noise of impatience from the other. He raised a hand in greeting.

"Gokudera!"

"Don't say my name so happily." The silverette insisted, making the brunette blink twice. The frown on Yamamoto's face returned, as the hand returned to his side.

"You care about Tsuna, don't you-?"

The suddeness of the question made the bomber's face turn an interesting color. "Of fucking course I care about the Tenth-!" He stuttered. "Tsuna."

"Ah?" Gokudera's brow quirked, as he stood straighter. The wall he was leaning on was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Tsuna. I'm asking if you care about Tsuna." Gokudera made a face. As far as Yamamoto was concerned, he couldn't tell if Gokudera thought he was an idiot or not. However, the brunette pressed on. "I was talking with the little guy, and he said that such a big ceremony was a good place for an enemy to set up a trap. In fact, it seemed as though he knows something's going to happen."

"And you want my help to protect the Tenth?" Gokudera put a hand into his pocket, digging around for a cigarette. "Fine. But I'm not helping you-"

"You want to be Tsuna's Right hand, yes?"

The determined look on Gokudera's face gave Yamamoto his answer. "I will be the Tenth's Right hand."

"I figured as much. If that's the case, then I'll be his Left hand."

The look on Gokudera's face made Yamamoto sigh. It wasn't anger. It was possessiveness.

"Figured it out, have you, Baseball freak? If you still think it's all a game-"

"Oh. That. I've always known it wasn't."

Yamamoto chuckled softly at Gokudera's dumbfounded expression. "Something my father once told me. Even in the darkest times, you still need to laugh. When I was young, my mother got ill, and passed away. I cried a lot. But my Dad... I often saw him with a smile on his face."

Finally lighting the cigarette in his mouth, Gokudera thought for a moment, humming softly. "Fine. You and I will both protect him. The Tenth."

Yamamoto smiled. It felt as if a huge weight was off of his shoulders. "I knew I could count on you, Gokudera."

As Yamamoto left the silverette behind him, he could hear him grumble under his breath. However, only one thing was on the brunette's mind now-

"I wonder how many home runs I can hit today.."