Gokudera felt horrifically awkward as he descended upon Tsuna's house with Byakuran trailing behind him like some kind of absent-minded dog. His fingers were twitching in the absence of a cigarette and he debated stopping by a store to pick up some more, but one quick look behind him banished that thought. He really didn't want to have to be around this bastard longer than he had to be.
Still, as he got nearer and nearer to Tsuna's house, he could only feel more trepidation. This was… confirmation. Yes, he knew, technically, in the future, that Tsuna… that the Decimo, that he wouldn't be around anymore, but with Byakuran here to look at Tsuna.
He looked back at the other white-haired man and jumped a bit when he realized Byakuran was looking at him as well. Turning away, he attempted to chase the blush off his face as he stormed forward and stubbornly attempted to lose the miserable fucker behind him, winding purposely through back roads and snarling under his breath when Byakuran stayed right on his tail.
"Have you told anyone else?" Gokudera grunted, attempting to get away from the awkward silence which had fallen over them.
"I thought about it… but you were the only one that made a difference, so I didn't bother. I believe I may tell Shoichi as well, as that boy does have a tendency to be delightful in these sorts of situations," Byakuran stated, and Gokudera almost choked on his tongue.
"Eh… right…" he didn't want to ask, he didn't need to know… it didn't matter if Byakuran and Shoichi Irie had been… doing that kind of thing. It didn't matter, it didn't matter, it didn't matter, it didn't matter…
"We did, you know… a few times. He was always such a delightful receiver as well," Byakuran stated openly and Gokudera tripped over his own feet, falling flat on his face not but a few steps away from Tsuna's gate.
"Gokudera!" Tsuna gasped, and Gokudera felt his entire face start to glow when he realized that Tsuna had been outside and had seen his face-plant into his yard.
"Decimo!" Gokudera coughed, attempted to brush the sod off his face and make himself presentable for Tsuna's presence.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi… you look the exact same as the last time I saw you… a bit less angry, perhaps," Byakuran stated, and Gokudera felt awful when he saw the expression of rage slowly grow on Tsuna's face.
He saw Tsuna reach for his pocket, hands shaking, eyes never leaving Byakuran, and Gokudera reached out to stop the Decimo from putting on his gloves and taking a pill that would complicate matters so much worse than they already were.
"Ah, there's the anger I remember," Byakuran stated, his voice bitter and baiting.
"Don't… stop, Decimo! He's not here to… he's here to help with something!" Gokudera attempted to explain.
"HELP?" Tsuna screamed, attempting to tear himself away from Gokudera and get to Byakuran, who stood with a peculiar look on his face. "HE KILLED UNI! HE KILLED GAMMA! HE KILLED EVERYONE, AND SHAMAL AND REBORN, AND COLONELLO! HE'S A MONSTER!"
Gokudera froze, his fingers weak in the face of such anger on the normally-shy and sweet Tsuna's face.
In his moment of weakness, Tsuna pushed past him and managed to land a few very solid hits on Byakuran's face, and was in the middle of putting on his gloves when Gokudera was able to move, dashing forward and attempting to restrain the Decimo again.
"I know… I know, I'm sorry, Decimo… but you have to stop! You have to understand, he's not trying to hurt anyone right now. I mean, I know what it looks like, but you have to… Tsuna!" he attempted to stop the other raging boy, grabbing at Tsuna's hands and swatting away the pill bottle, but Tsuna was too far gone.
Before either of them knew what was happening, Gokudera was flat on his ass, holding his eye in pain as Tsuna stood over him, fist still smarting from the punch to his second's face, and all present had wide, shocked eyes.
"G-Gokudera… why…?" Tsuna asked, his rage somewhat subsided with astonishment.
"You're dying, Decimo Vongola," Byakuran stated from his place on the ground, still flat on his back with his eyes scanning the stars, seemingly not even caring about the turmoil running through the two teens before him.
"…what?" Tsuna asked, his voice quiet, emotionless, almost stunned.
"You're dying. Depending on the state of your disease, it could be anywhere from four to six years until your funeral. Gokudera has already been to the future and confirmed my statement and is now working with me to help save you… right, Goku-chan?" Byakuran asked, looking up for the first time to stare Gokudera down.
Gokudera felt… broken. Tsuna had hit him. It wasn't that he didn't deserve it. Bringing Byakuran there without any kind of notice or warning? What kind of bastard was he? He had failed his Decimo… but he couldn't continue to fail him, he wouldn't allow Tsuna to die.
Getting onto his hands and knees, he bowed before Tsuna and attempted to reign in his conflicting emotions.
"I'm sorry, Decimo… I failed you. It's my fault that you're so upset. I didn't realize… I should have realized… it's my fault. I'm sorry," Gokudera whispered, begging for Tsuna not to be angry at him. He didn't know what he'd do if the Decimo was angry at him.
"I'm not angry at you…" Tsuna stated, the tone of his voice empty, hollow, almost echoing off of the nothing in the street. "But… is it true?"
Gokudera choked on his tongue, feeling tears strike his eyes for the first time since he'd found out. Was it true?
"…Yes…" Gokudera admitted, the word like poison on his lips.
Tsuna let out a small noise, like a wounded animal, giving Gokudera some warning, and he looked up in time to see the Decimo's knees buckle as the boy fell towards the ground.
"Tsuna!" Gokudera shouted, darting forward and catching the other boy in his arms as Tsuna stared lifelessly forward.
"Gokudera… what's going on?" Tsuna asked blankly, obviously confused and overwhelmed.
"Tea is often a good remedy for shock. Shall we go inside and have your mother prepare some?" Byakuran asked, hovering by the gate to the Sawada residence and motioning inside enthusiastically.
Gokudera felt rage burn in his lungs at the smile on the bastard's face while Tsuna trembled like a leaf in his arms.
Grinding his teeth, he stormed forward as smoothly as possible, so as to not disturb the already-disturbed Vongola Decimo and made his way inside, apologizing to Maman and begging her for privacy and tea as he carried Tsuna up to his room with Byakuran once more on his heels.
