TITLE: What I Have Become

PART: One of One

AUTHOR: Simply Kim

WORD COUNT: 1,235

CHARACTERS: Gokudera Hayato. Fuuta. Lambo. Hibari Kyouya. Dino Cavallone. Mentions of Sawada Tsunayoshi, I-pin, Yamamoto Takeshi and Gokudera's mother.

GENRE: TYL/Angst/Drama/ (A bit of) Humour

DISCLAIMER/S: I do not own "Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn!" This is merely a product of my weird imagination… XD

NOTE#1: Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words.

WHAT I HAVE BECOME

He had been a lot of things in his entire lifetime, but never had he prepared himself to become the same person he had always hated.

A father.

It wasn't as if he had gotten some loose girl pregnant, after all he had never engaged in extramarital affairs with women since he graduated in high school. It made him too deprived, but he had reasons he needed not divulge to others.

Even the Tenth.

Fifteen years ago, he had never thought he would be in charge of the most irritating creature alive. One who seemed to sprout horns even as he laughed boisterously, the booming sound chafing angrily against his nerves. The one who loved crying, trying to get everything he wanted through tears.

"Are you alright, Hayato-san?"

Surprised, Gokudera Hayato snapped out of his reverie and gave an almost inconspicuous smile at the one who had done the same thing he did - care for that one person, standing guard and lending a helping hand when he was out...

… Which was often.

Never mind.

"Yeah." He nodded. "I'm fine."

Soft laughter permeated his ears and upon reflex, he frowned. "What?"

Fuuta grinned up at him, eyes shining with the knowledge that he was not feeling the least bit peachy. "You look like you're going to have a major breakdown."

"I'm not breaking down." He declared through gritted teeth, his voice rising, earning him questioning looks from people surrounding him. "I'm just weirded out by the fact that this is being held here in Namimori-chuu –"

"What's wrong with the school?" A defiant voice sounded calmly behind him, and sweat beaded his brow. Shit! He thought, wincing inwardly.

Just what he needed, another problem. Slowly, he turned around, composing himself even as Fuuta took a small step backward, partly hiding behind him.

Fuck. And now I'm a damn wall...

"Hibari." He greeted in the most level tone he could muster. It wasn't as if he was afraid of this man. He just didn't like unnecessary trouble, now that he was in the middle of one of the most important days of his life... "I –"

"Ah, there you are, Kyouya!"

If the tension wasn't so high, if the guy standing oh-so-solemnly before him now was not The Hibari Kyouya of Mafioso Nightmares, he would have laughed. He could practically see the hairs at the back of the other man's neck bristle at the mere mention of his name.

For all the bumps on the forehead the imbecilic Lawn-Head had, he knew the second thing Hibari hated most was hearing his name being enunciated with blatant familiarity. And aside from Sasagawa Ryouhei who never seemed to have learned his lesson up to this day, there was the head of the Cavallone Family.

"Fucchan! Hayato-kun, hello there! Feeling the age yet?"

Dino Cavallone… and the Spirit of the Mountain – whatever its name was.

Hibari's nerves were even more frazzled as the older man threw a casual arm around his shoulders. "Show some respect." Came the scathing response. "Or I'll bite you to death."

For the life of him, Gokudera couldn't understand why and how the two kept seeing each other all these years. He couldn't even understand how Hibari, of all people, could care for the child Dino had with some girl a year before they got together… being such a possessive person and all.

But it was there. Plain and simple. For everyone to see.

They weren't even hiding it.

Unlike me. He thought irritably. All because that sword-swinging retard –

"Yes, yes, I know, love. Sorry. But you see, I'm really used to calling people by their first names. I was raised that way."

Gokudera sighed, walking away as the two lapsed into their own world. He could sense Fuuta tagging along behind him, and he silently wondered why he had become what he had become.

A wall that protects…

He finally settled near the one whom had been the focal point of all of today's inward litanies. Fuuta was now poking him, pushing him closer to the other who, surprised, laughed aloud and hugged him tightly. "Hayato-nii! You're finally here!"

"Not so loud, you stupid cow…"

A brother who's always present…

"It's funny, Lambo-kun! He has been here all this time, hiding in the middle pew, hoping you wouldn't see him," Fuuta laughed. "But thanks to Hibari-san he moved here!"

"Damn recluse loves this school so much; it's crazy… as if I could do anything against that 'bite you to death' attitude…" He muttered, casting a particularly evil glance at the Cloud Guardian's direction – of which the two sniggered over.

A friend who understands…

"Oh, come on, Hayato-nii, don't be like that! You're too special not be a part of this, you know!" Lambo grinned, closing one eye in supplication. "Besides, who would fill your shoes, eh?"

"The Tenth would be better-suited for this…" Gokudera muttered. "I hate formal occasions…"

"Eh? The Vongola?" The Lightning Guardian said incredulously. "No, he took care of me only for a while – and I was really young then too. You're the one who took me in! You and Fucchan."

"Why not Fuuta?"

"Well, first of all, because you're the one who taught me a lot of things… second, you put food on the table so we never went hungry…" Lambo ticked each reason off with his fingers. "Third you had a lot of patience in me – although you always scream in my ear, but that doesn't matter anymore. Eh. You helped me become a better person – trained me and stuff!"

Gokudera was quiet for a moment, digesting everything he had just heard. His words sounded as if he was describing his own father. It made his heart ache and worry cloud his heart. Were they the only qualities fathers should possess? Was there anything more?

Because to him, they sounded so… material.

"Oh, and you know what else, Hayato-nii?"

He turned back to Lambo, whose eyes were shining with warmth. "What?" He croaked.

The younger boy smiled affectionately, eyes radiating so much filial emotion it was hard to turn away. He had never seen such from anyone but his long-deceased mother.

"Whenever I was sick, I felt your hands and they were gentle. I knew I was tons hotter than you were, but for some strange reason, their temperature exceeded mine. And every single time, I felt like it was alright to die and I would still be happy."

Something lodged in his throat and he couldn't speak. Slowly, he nodded his head and gave him a small sincere smile.

A father who loves his children.

And as the orchestra started playing, as he stood beside Lambo who was gripping his sleeve anxiously, he felt like he had just fulfilled his purpose. With thoughtful eyes, he scanned the crowd sitting quietly, looking back to where the arched doorway was.

She was there, walking slowly, progressively, towards where he stood, face hidden behind a virginal veil of lace. As she took every step, Lambo's fingers gripped his sleeve even harder until he was sure it was in danger of ripping.

And soon, he was guiding her and Lambo to the altar, leaning close for a second as he whispered the words he never thought he would be able to utter in his entire lifetime, given the situation he had placed himself in.

"Take care of my stupid son, I-pin."

ENDE

A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated. :)