Finally updated! :D *sigh* Still, not sure if it's good or not. But it was my goal to finish it today (probably my second or 3rd time thinking that already for this chapter...), and here it is.

And somehow I forgot my other chapters, I think, but this is a big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed! Seriously, reviews make me smile and want to write more. And better. So please review! I know most people don't, but I would appreciate it very very much. So thanks to those who did take their time to write me something, and to everyone who reads this at all! Enjoy!

Edit: Yeah... chapter 362. Hahaha. No chapter 562 yet, sadly. -w-

Chapter 7: Play in the Rain 2

"C'mon, Takeshi! You got this!" Tsubame called encouragingly.

A six year old Takeshi nodded. He readied his bat and stared intently ahead.

"Alright!"

Tsubame drew her arm back and pitched. The baseball went flying towards Takeshi. He steeled himself and swung with all his might, hitting the ball with a solid crack! and sending it into the bushes.

Takeshi, with a big grin, dropped his bat and started running. By the time Tsubame retrieved the ball, he was already safe at home base.

"That was good!" she yelled with a laugh. "Let's take a break, okay?"

On that nice, sunny afternoon in the Vongola Mansion's fairly large garden, the two of them rested on the bench in the shade. Tsubame uncapped two bottles of water and handed one to Takeshi.

"You know… I think you really do have a natural talent for these things, Takeshi," she said. " In a couple of years or so, I wouldn't be surprised if you were better than me."

The little boy looked up in confusion. "That's not true, Mom! You're really good at baseball! A lot better than me!"

"Maybe now, but you're still growing." Tsubame ruffled her son's black hair with a toothy grin. "Think about it; someday you'll be all grown up. You have any idea what you want to be in the future yet?"

Takeshi smiled. "I wanna be a baseball player, of course! And play in a big team and make a lot of friends!" She couldn't help but to chuckle at that.

"Baseball, huh? It'd probably be better if you played in Japan, though… Italy's not so big on that."

"Japan?" he repeated. "Isn't that where you and Dad came from?"

"Yep, Namimori. We were classmates back in elementary and middle school, you know."

Takeshi frowned thoughtfully. "Hey, Mom. If you used to live in Japan, then why didn't you become a baseball player?"

Tsubame grinned lopsidedly. "That's a good question. I guess I could have, but back then I decided to come to live in Italy with your dad and the others. So… I guess that's why."

The little boy only stared at his mother with both confused and sad eyes. He was confused as to why she would give up a promising career in something she loved so much, and he felt bad for her because of it. But he was further confused as to why she could still sit there smiling, knowing that she had simply thrown it all away.

"What's that look for, Takeshi?"

"I don't get it," he blurted out. "It's just… baseball is really important to you, right? But… you left Japan to come here."

"Oh, that," she replied. Looking him straight in the eye, seriously yet still friendly, she said, "It's because Asari was more important to me than baseball. You know, Takeshi, you can't have everything in the world. When it comes to that, you just have to decide what to give up and what to keep, what matters more to you. I'm sure you'll understand by the time you're an adult."

Tsubame sighed and looked into the morning sky. "I just want you to grow up happy. Not the kind of person who'll regret things, but the kind who goes ahead and does something. Your dad's really a great person, but sometimes… he's too selfless. He worries so much about everyone else that if we just left him alone, he'd probably end up with nothing left to give.

"You're really gonna kill yourself if you grow up like that dad of yours. Just loosen up a bit, Takeshi! No harm in that, right?"

Slowly, Takeshi broke out into a smile.

"Yep," he agreed. "I wanna be like that too, not being sad all the time. And I want everyone else to be happy too!"

She smiled and patted his head affectionately. "That's the right spirit. Now, you up for some more baseball now?"

"Yeah!"

xxx

Takeshi stopped and looked up into the gray, pouring skies. He was nearly drenched in rainwater already, head to toe.

Am I… really that great at baseball, Mom? Or were you just trying to cheer me up all those times?

He wiped his short, clinging bangs to the side with a wet hand. He noted how cold his fingers were as they brushed his skin. They felt like ice.

"Maybe I should go in," he said quietly. "But…"

Shaking his head, the boy lifted his bat up again. Before he got to three swings, though, he heard several shouts from the door to the house. Tsuna, Hayato, Giotto, G, and his father, Asari.

"Takeshi! What are you doing out here?" Asari yelled, starting to run towards him. The boys hurriedly followed, their fathers behind them.

Takeshi frowned. "Just baseball."

"What do you mean, just baseball? It's raining! You're going to get sick like this!"

Tsuna took Takeshi's hand and squeezed it tightly, ignoring the water pressing down on his fluffy brown hair. "Takeshi, come on… We should go in…!" he pleaded.

"You stupid baseball idiot! Are you trying to make everyone worry here?" Hayato barked.

Takeshi didn't budge. But G, to everyone's surprise, went ahead and grabbed the boy's collar and jerked him forward. He looked quite angry, and the only thing he said was, "You idiot. Hurry up and get inside already."

Although everyone else wanted to protest, Giotto stopped them. The storm guardian dragged Takeshi along, and eventually the boy gave up and complied.

The sky let out a roar, lighting up with a flash. The others followed them in.

xxx

"A… Achoo!"

Takeshi wiped his nose sullenly, wrapping the thick blanket around himself tighter.

He was on his bed in the bedroom the three of them shared, supposedly resting. Hayato was sitting by the window, staring out into the rain. Tsuna sat quietly, looking quite forlorn.

"Takeshi…" the brunette said quietly, his worry evident in his tone of voice. But he didn't say anything. He only watched, as if silently asking Takeshi to talk to them.

There was a knock on the door, and Asari stepped into the room holding a tray with three bowls of hot soup.

"I have soup for you three," he announced rather cheerily.

Hayato huffed. "I don't want it."

Takeshi politely shook his head.

"I'll take one," Tsuna said in a quiet voice.

The Japanese man sighed and set the tray down on the small table beside Takeshi. He passed a bowl and a spoon to Tsuna, who accepted it with thanks.

"Takeshi, what's wrong?" Asari asked gently. "You haven't said anything to us since we came inside. Is something bothering you?"

Takeshi looked at his father. "No…"

Both Tsuna and Asari watched him sadly, but he still said nothing.

"It's about your mother, isn't it?"

All four of them turned to look at G, who was leaning against the doorframe and biting down on a cigarette. He looked almost impassive.

"So? It is, isn't it?" the red-haired man questioned. "Just what are you trying to prove by doing these kinds of stupid things?"

Asari looked on with disapproval. "G…!"

"The two of you are never going to get anywhere playing the quiet game, you know," he scoffed in response. "So stop mincing words and get to the point."

Takeshi looked away, feeling unable to meet his uncle's eyes. "… Yeah. It's about Mom."

Asari frowned. "Takeshi…"

"I've always loved baseball, y'know? I always did want her to see me as a baseball champ here in Namimori. So I want to work hard and get there. But I always feel like I'm not good enough. Even if I practice until I'm sick, I guess I'm still no good, huh? Hahaha…"

"And you can still laugh?" Hayato growled, turning around and glaring straight at Takeshi. "You're really an idiot, you know that? What's the point in trying to be some baseball star if you're gonna kill yourself practicing? …Even a baseball idiot like you should be able to answer that."

He looked away again, having said his piece. For once, the brash, short-fused boy sounded profound. He acted as if he had said nothing in the first place.

As the others stared at Hayato, Takeshi's face dropped and he looked down.

What's the point? I just… want to do something for her… Don't you understand, Hayato? Don't you feel like that too?

He felt Tsuna's grip on his hands tighten.

"Of course we understand, Takeshi," Tsuna said in a soft, quiet voice. "We all hurt, too."

He sniffled. "But that's why… That's why we don't want to see you hurting yourself like that. I know you love baseball, just like Aunt Tsubame, but… please don't get hurt. No one wants to see you sad. Please…"

At that, Takeshi no longer knew how to react. He just stared at the brunette, who still gazed back at him.

"I… Tsuna…"

Asari smiled and chuckled. "You two… Hayato, Tsuna…"

He let out a sigh. "They're right, Takeshi, I have to say. I know you love baseball. I'm happy that you're able to put your heart into something you love. But Tsuna is right… we don't want to see you like this. I don't think you enjoy it either. Don't you love baseball because you had fun playing it before?

"Be honest with yourself, Takeshi… If you're sad, it's okay to cry. If you're happy… then smile. Not just for us, but… for yourself, too.

"I think… if she were here… that's what she would have said…"

Yeah… I think so too…

Takeshi's eyes turned a bit watery, and for a moment the others thought he would start to cry. But he smiled. The wide, toothy smile he was best known for.

"You're right, Dad. And Tsuna and Hayato. And Uncle G."

But G was already gone, and none of them knew when he had left.

"Takeshi… Are you sure you're all right now?" Tsuna asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "Somehow… I feel really relieved. Like something heavy's off my shoulders now.

"Yeah… I'm okay. Better than ever."

xxx

"Come on, let's go!" Tsubame shouted, glancing back at her husband and son, who were running after her. "We have to hurry."

"Yeah," Asari breathed.

There was the sound of fighting in the distance, on the lower levels of the Vongola Mansion. Someone yelled. It made Takeshi's stomach twist. The yell of someone in pain, probably dying.

He felt his hand being tugged. Tsubame was pulling him forward.

"Takeshi, don't get left behind. We have to get out of here before the whole place starts to burn."

"O-okay…"

They were halfway through the hallway. Several small windows lined the left wall, allowing them to see out into the night. It was dark; not even the moon was visible in the sky. The only source of light was the very faint, red glow of the fire tearing up the other side of the mansion.

Besides the muffled sounds of struggle from below, the only sounds were their heavy footsteps.

That was probably why the gunshot made such a big impact on him.

Through the cold darkness, they heard it go off. The window shattered, sending shards of glass flying onto the floor.

Tsubame let out a cry of pain.

Takeshi tumbled down, wincing as his shoulder hit the ground. Hard.

Hearing his father's distressed voice, he looked up. His mother was next to him, breathing hard. Her right hand clutching her left side tightly. Red.

"M-Mom?" he squeaked. "Y-you're…"

"Tsubame, you…Oh, Lord, no…" Asari begged, bending down beside her.

She swallowed hard. Then managed a grin.

"Sorry… Asari… Takeshi… I guess this is where I stop…" She stopped and, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, gasped for air.

Asari's eyes widened. "Tsubame, you don't mean…"

"You should get going now," Tsubame whispered. She smiled. "Don't be sad, Asari… please… I'm just glad to have met you, y'know? You don't have to worry about me."

"But…"

"For Takeshi."

Asari opened his mouth, but he closed it before he said anything. Not able to bring himself to look at her, he gently supported Takeshi up into up to his feet and hugged him.

"But Mom…" the boy protested. "She…"

"I'm sorry, Takeshi," was his simple reply.

With tightly shut eyes, he began to run with Takeshi in his arms.

Tsubame watched them go, closing her eyes with a final smile.

The only thing I regret is not being able to see you grow up, Takeshi. But… I'm happy. Just… live, alright? Do it for me.

She let out a sigh. One that said, 'I'm ready.'

Sayonara, Asari, Takeshi.

xxx

Asari opened his eyes and glanced at Takeshi. The boy was sleeping soundly, breathing steadily.

He laid a hand on top of the blankets. He smiled.

I thank God that you're all right, Takeshi. I have to go thank G later, too. We really do love you, you know. Keep smiling for us, okay? Besides, how would I ever be able to face Tsubame otherwise?

He chuckled.

"I'm going to sleep now, okay? Good night, Takeshi."

When he was gone, Takeshi peeked out of one eye.

He grinned.

"Yeah, good night, Dad."

Ah... yeah. Still not so sure how it is. Tell me in a review? Please? Or not.

Anyway, not so sure when the next update will be out (featuring Ryohei next... man, this is slow.) Since Thanksgiving is coming soon, I'll probably have more time. Although I'm thinking of putting some kind of extra soon (poem, maybe? Not sure.) so look forward to that. But Happy Thanksgiving, to everyone out there! See you again!

(... By the way. Chapter 362. If you haven't read it yet, please do. But... I'm going to trust Amano-san on this one. This could either go to me squealing for joy being the 6996 fan I am or me banging my head against a wall. I'm still going to trust her on this... I'm sure she couldn't...)