[AN]: Once again, I'm really sorry about me not updating that often…
Maybe he was feeling a little guilty. Maybe he was regretting his outburst now that his lover's pained expression had registered fully. Why had he been unable to keep his mask of naïveté on and just laughed like he had so many times before? Before he had the time to wallow in more regret there was a sharp knock on the door. Yamamoto had barely had the time to turn around in bed when he heard the lock click and footsteps approach him. He looked up at the figure standing beside him, distinguishing Bianchi's features in the dark room.
"Hibari is here." As quickly as the words had been uttered she was out the door, leaving Yamamoto to process the information by himself. Moments later the door slammed shut behind him as he dashed down the hallway, still trying to button his pants.
They were on the patio, seated adjacent to each other by one of the small tables, Hibari smiling softly as he patted the small kitten. Smiling? Yamamoto did a retake, confirming that the countenance of the normally stoic man was indeed displaying something that looked suspiciously akin to joy. In fact he looked rather handsome if one took a closer look, though it was not like Yamamoto actually did. He was not that handsome really, at least not compared to the Italian next to him. What did that silky black hair and eyes like steel have against ethereal silver strands and glimmering emeralds? But studying them he noted that they actually complemented each other really well. If it had not been for the suspicious glint in Gokudera's eyes the picture painted out before him would have been perfect. Since when did the two of them look so good together? Almost as if they had heard his thoughts a pair of grey eyes met his and the slight curving of those lips suddenly looked taunting. Yamamoto had never before been so scared of Hibari.
He was a coward. Yamamoto knew it, but he could not move from the spot. Neither did any words leave his lips as he stood there in the shadows by one of the pillars, watching. Gokudera's previously stiff posture had gradually eased and it looked as if he actually was having a normal conversation with Hibari. He was not close enough to hear their words, but the trace of a smile on his lover's face made him wish he did. Had Bianchi not told him that her brother had seemed frightened by the cloud guardian? What was different this time? He had never seen them get along so well ever before, Gokudera had always complained about the other man not being dedicated to the familiga and had shown a clear dislike that Yamamoto had thought to be reciprocated. Had he misread them all this time?
"That bastard." Gokudera slammed his bag onto the table, cursing as he started throwing his clothes at Yamamoto, clearly expecting him to put them in the drawers. He placed them on top of it instead, knowing that his lover would scold him later for sorting them wrongly if he attempted to put them away. "Why does he always..?" the bag creaked miserably as it met the wall, falling to the floor in two pieces as Yamamoto rushed forward to calm the raging Italian. "If it wasn't for Yuudaime insisting I would never go on another mission with that conceit 'I do things my way so don't interfere' bastardo! Maledizionea lui!" Gokudera's voice faltered as Yamamoto's fingers touched the back of his neck, turning into a soft groan as they gently started massaging the tense muscles. "I wasn't done insulting him you idiot." His eyes closed and his head fell back to rest on the taller man's shoulder.
"You should try getting along better with him." He placed a kiss to the Vongola right-hand man's temple, the silver tresses tickling his nose as he did so. "You shouldn't hate him."
"I don't." Gokudera sighed loudly. "He just irritates me. Just like you do."
What if Gokudera had meant something with those words, even if he had not realized it back then? He was probably just letting his imagination run ahead of him right now, but Yamamoto could not shake the uneasiness that Hibari's arrival had given him. The scraping sound of a chair being pushed back brought his thoughts back to the pair at the table. He took a step back as Hibari, with Hibird perched on his shoulder, passed him without even glancing in his direction. Instead of revealing himself Yamamoto remained behind the pillar, now completely hidden from Gokudera's view. Was he spying on his lover? Maybe. Anyone who saw him was bound to think so anyway as he crouched and crept closer to a huge flowerpot situated closer to the table. The other man was too preoccupied playing with the kitten to notice him. He pushed back some of the flowers, peering between them, feeling more nervous now than he would on a mission. Even though he was beginning to feel rather stupid and paranoid, Yamamoto remained, not sure what reaction he would get if he suddenly popped out of his hiding. Anyone would be angry if spied on.
"I'm stupid for feeling this way, am I not?" the Italian pursed his lips, looking dissatisfied. The small creature did not reply, instead it jumped down from the table and disappeared into some bushes. "Maybe Bianchi would know…" Gokudera stood up, heading back inside. Yamamoto contemplated for a second before following. Since he was already stalking him, why not continue and see what happened?
The task was harder than expected as there were few places to hide in the corridors, meaning that he had to wait until the Italian had turned around the corners before he could hurry after him. He could not run either as the sound would definitely alert the mafioso that there was someone on his trail. The maids who stopped to ask if he needed something were not helping either. Then he almost walked straight into Gokudera, barely stopping by the corner as the silver haired man knocked on the door to the room that presumably belonged to Bianchi. The door swung open and Gokudera stepped inside. The moment it closed Yamamoto was standing by it, pressing his ear to the thick wood. At first he could only distinguish their voices and then words like Japan, Takeshi and Hibari. With a quick glance around he bent forward, listening by the keyhole instead, this time hearing both of them clearly.
"What about him?" Bianchi's voice was reluctant, as if she had already anticipated his reply.
"I feel so strange when I'm around him, like there's something I should remember." Gokudera hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Like he's very important to me…" he heard a gasp as if the dots had finally connected in the Italian's mind and Yamamoto was pretty sure his heart stopped at his next words. "I love him, don't I?"
[AN]: I'm not going to make a promise about the next chapter coming sooner, but know that I'm trying to write when I have time between my homework.
Sorry if the chapter seems rushed or something, but I want to actually finish the story so =P
