Chapter 13

The dim orange color of the sunrise was gently caressing the Storm Guardian's body and as he had turned his head from the other side, the soft light couldn't affect his sleep. The wound on his head hadn't healed, but at least it didn't hurt anymore. His weary body was completely still, as his mind was wandering in pathways that neither his legs nor his eyes could reach.

'Why is the air blowing that way?'

He thought while dreaming since only a part of his face was sensing the wind.

'So annoying...'

He deemed and his eyes were slowly opened without his consent, as his sleep was interrupted by that sensation.

The raven haired boy's closed eyes were the first thing Gokudera saw the moment he opened his. Hibari's soft characteristics could easily be viewed by the smoke bomber who hadn't yet realized how close their faces were.

'He looks peaceful.'

He thought dazed and then closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep again.

However, as soon as the silver haired boy shut his eyes, he remembered why he had woken up in the first place. He opened them again and finally understood what the breeze that could be felt only on his lips and nose was. Gokudera stifled to hold in his gasp and surprise as he was trying his best to comprehend the fact that Hibari's breath was softly touching his face.

'Fuck...!'

The smoke bomber couldn't understand how he had gotten so close to him but he knew that he had to move fast, before the Cloud Guardian woke up.

Suddenly and before Gokudera was able to crawl silently to the other side of the bed, Hibari's alarm clock started ringing, forcing the second to open his eyes. The Head of the Discipline Committee staggered and confused stared at the other boy, and as he abruptly moved backwards in order to lengthen the distance between them, his body was overpowered by gravity, as he had already reached the bed's border.

"Shit!"

The Italian boy stretched both of his hands to catch the Cloud Guardian before he reached the ground and although he managed to stop his body from falling by wrapping his left hand around his waist, Hibari's head was abruptly landed on the desk's edge.

'Fuck fuck fuck!'

The smoke bomber who was still holding Hibari's body was looking terrified at the dreadful boy who had closed his eyes, trying to endure the intense pain silently. Gokudera knew that this was entirely his fault as, while sleeping, he had pushed Hibari so close to the bed's border.

"Take your hands off me."

After a while the raven haired boy spelled, forcing the other to pull rapidly his hand back, leaving Hibari's body to touch the ground.

The atrocious Head of the Discipline Committee stood up, closed the alarm clock that was still ringing and silently headed towards the bathroom, trying his best to keep his balance while walking. The knock on his head did not look severe but the pain was in fact quite acute and unbearable. He took a look in the mirror and relieved noticed that no blood was coming out.

'I'm a dead man...'

The Storm Guardian thought as he was waiting for Hibari to exit the bathroom.

All of a sudden, unexpected taps on the balcony's door drew Gokudera's attention. The smoke bomber quietly got up and took two of his dynamites out of his luggage, preparing himself to blow up any unforeseen enemies. As the Italian boy reached the balcony door the taps were suddenly stopped, forcing Gokudera to abruptly pull the curtain sideways, wishing to fight whoever was threatening his life.

"Hibari! Hibari!"

The cheerful voice of the bird could hardly be heard behind the glass door.

"Ah, it's you..."

Gokudera mumbled, threw the dynamites on the bed and then opened the balcony door, leaving room for Hibari's small pet to fly into his hands.

"Do all birds wake up so early?"

The Storm Guardian smiled to the fluffy creature as he had gotten fond of it.

"Your owner will probably murder me when he comes out of the bathroom..."

He whispered to the bird that was happily enjoying Gokudera's gentle pat.

For some reason Hibird was more quiet at that moment than all the other times he had happened to be into Gokudera's palms. As if it was snuggling with the smoke bomber's fingers Gokudera noticed how the small bird had closed its eyes, slowly falling asleep by his touch.

'Cute...'

Gokudera thought unconsciously, forgetting for a while who the actual owner of the bird was.

"You're dead."

The sudden ominous voice of the Cloud Guardian made Gokudera's body shiver and as he turned around, he came face to face with Hibari's merciless tonfa. The Head of the Discipline Committee took advantage of the other's inability to react and hit twice the smoke bomber by landing two powerful blows with both his tonfas on the unprepared boy.

"Shit!"

Gokudera managed to spell and moved his closed hands in front of his chest, trying to guard the innocent bird, instead of protecting himself.

"Why are you so weak?"

Hibari asked annoyed at the other's passive confrontation, yet unable to control his anger he kept on hitting the Italian boy with his tonfas.

As the Cloud Guardian was unaware of the bird's presence into Gokudera's palms, he didn't resist at all from hurting the Italian boy with all his strength.

"Hibari! Hibari!"

Suddenly, Hibird's voice drew the oblivious boy's attention. Gokudera who had fallen on his stomach, with his hands in front of his chest, tried hard to move his body sideways so that the little bird that was suffocating in his palms could escape.

"Hibari! Hibari!"

Hibari's fluffy pet yelled once more and Gokudera opened his hands, allowing it to fly away and sit on Hibari's shoulder.

'Damnit...'

The raven haired boy sighed troubled, realizing the reason behind Gokudera's passiveness.

'I'd beat you too if I could.'

Hibari thought angrily while glaring at his pet.

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence the Cloud Guardian gazed at the Italian boy who was still lying on the ground and was unsuccessfully trying to get up. His blood had colored the floor around him and his painful bruises didn't allow him to make any moves. The whole scene reminded Hibari of a really old memory, yet one he would never forget.

'Mukuro...'

He thought annoyed, seeing at the resemblance of their unfair fight.

"Get up."

Hibari said, hoping to provoke the smoke bomber to stand on his feet.

"...can't."

Gokudera uttered, feeling humiliated for his body's horrible condition.

"Get up."

The Cloud Guardian repeated and stretched his hand to the weak boy while the second glared at his move.

"Fuck of- Gah!"

He tried ineffectively to insult Hibari since his loud voice caused even more pain to his body.

"You will either accept my help or I'll have to drag you to the bathroom."

"Why... are you helping me?"

The smoke bomber was panting heavily as he was wording his question.

"This fight was unfair and that's why you're not unconscious right now; otherwise I'd have beaten you to death. So, get up."

Hibari could feel his face burning up as he detested being kind to an untamed herbivore like Gokudera.

Finally after a few seconds the Italian boy stretched his hand embarrassed, having no other option but to accept Hibari's aid. The Cloud Guardian pulled the other upwards and wrapped his other hand around Gokudera's waist as the second couldn't stand completely on his feet.

"Che...! I still don't need your help."

"I highly doubt that."

Hibari told him irritated and loosen up a bit his grip around Gokudera's waist with result the second losing his balance, but not falling down since Hibari tightened again his hold around the smoke bomber's body.

"You see?"

The raven haired boy smirked to the other, as his little action proved him right. Gokudera mumbled something in Italian under his breath, feeling even more humiliated by Hibari's prevailing position.

"Ah, I've wanted to ask you..."

Hibari said indifferently as they entered the lavatory.

"What is it?"

Gokudera asked impatiently without letting the other finish his sentence.

"What does 'ti amo' mean?"

The Storm Guardian flinched at the sound of those words that came out from his roommate's lips.

"W-where did you hear that?"

His stuttering made Hibari grin since he was certain that they had an erotic meaning.

"None of your business."

The raven haired boy replied as they stood in front of the washbowl.

"I... I love you..."

Gokudera said the Italian words' meaning so quietly and fast that Hibari didn't understand him.

"What?"

"I l-love you!"

He yelled, forcing the other boy to widen his eyes in shock, mistakenly thinking that Gokudera meant these words for him.

"That's the meaning of the words you idiot!"

Gokudera continued as he instantly realized Hibari's misinterpretation.

"If you call me another name I'll lock you in here and let you rot."

The smoke bomber stared speechless and dismayed at the Cloud Guardian, hoping from the bottom of his heart that he wasn't serious.

"Why do you have to be so weird?"

Gokudera asked and bent a bit in order to wash the blood off his face.

"Why do you have to be so loud?"

Hibari asked in return while lowering his body as well, still keeping the Italian boy from falling down.

"I'm not always loud..."

Gokudera mumbled after pouring cold water on his face.

"I'm not always weird."

The Head of the Discipline Committee spelled while handing him the towel that was hovering next to the washbowl.

"Yeah right... Even the way you talk is apathetic."

The smoke bomber said as he wiped the water off his face.

"Shit!"

He suddenly yelled as he had unconsciously put too much pressure on his wounds.

"What is the opposite of apathetic for you? Should I be yelling all the time like you? Or should I be screaming like a scaredy-cat like your supposedly boss?"

"He's not my supposedly boss! Sawada-san is a great leader!"

"Why are you calling him by his last name?"

"T-that's none of your business!"

The Storm Guardian blushed at Hibari's unexpected question and abruptly handed the towel back to him.

"Hm... You do know how badly, people like you are treated in the mafia, right?"

"What do you mean 'people like me'?"

"Homosexuals. The other herbivore will certainly be disqualified from a mafia boss when your superiors find out."

Gokudera looked away in shock, trying to grasp the fact that Hibari knew their little secret. However, not only did he know their secret, but he was indirectly threatening him that he'd tell their superiors... Or at least that's what Gokudera had understood.

"What the fuck do you want? You can't prove anything!"

The Italian boy's instant defensive state made him automatically guilty.

"So, you don't deny it?"

Hibari asked while grinning, satisfied that he had cornered the smoke bomber.

'Fuck...'

Gokudera thought regretful, realizing the horrible mistake he made.

"You are not being so discreet about it anyway; first in the elevator, then in the museum... Your superiors will find out much sooner than expected."

Hibari's words seemed like a blow to the fairytale Gokudera was living. The Storm Guardian was well aware that the romantic relationship he had with his boss was not only wrong and unnatural, but it was also forbidden in their violent world. He knew that they would definitely lose their position in the mafia and they'd undoubtedly be murdered by another member of their own family, so as to keep the Vongola mafia a secret from unreliable sources. It wasn't even a matter of choice. Their relationship would lead to their death.

"..So what...?"

Gokudera's trembling voice surprised the raven haired boy who had never expected the smoke bomber to be so passive to his cruel yet true words.

"You wouldn't know..."

He continued, feeling tears filling his eyes.

"Just let go of me, I can walk by myself now!"

He screamed to the Cloud Guardian who apathetically unwrapped his arm from the weak boy's body. Gokudera exited slowly the bathroom, moved towards his luggage and started dressing up while wiping the tears that had started running down his cheeks and avoiding thinking for the time being of Hibari's pernicious words.

The Head of the Discipline Committee closed the bathroom's door and got dressed inside the lavatory as he had prepared his clothes from the previous night. He couldn't stop thinking of Gokudera's doleful face when he told him about the consequences their relationship would have.

'Sadness...'

He thought inquisitive, feeling oddly drawn to Gokudera's unseen emotions.

After a while, Hibari exited the bathroom and saw Gokudera wrapping some dynamites around his half naked body. The smoke bomber tutted at the other's appearance, as he knew that he wouldn't let him carry his weapons around.

"What do y-"

" 'You think you're doing', yeah I know! I can't be so vulnerable all the time around the Tenth you know! Someone may attack us! I have to be able to protect him!"

'Tenth...'

Hibari noticed how Gokudera avoided using Tsuna's last name.

"You are not allowed to c-"

" 'Carry weapons under school grounds', yeah, big deal! You carry tonfas! Why is that allowed?"

'Wao...'

The raven haired boy thought amused, seeing as to how Gokudera was able to finish his sentences.

"My weapons are necessary to teach discipline to the students; therefore they're not considered weapons."

"What the hell?! That's fucking unreasonable!"

"Is it more reasonable to always be cautious of the people around you, thinking that each one of them is out to get you?"

"I am not like that! What are you talking about?!"

'Has he not realized it...?'

Hibari wondered surprised as Gokudera was not cognizant of his sometimes paranoid behavior towards the people around him.

'I suppose it doesn't matter.'

"Just remove the dynamites."

"What will you do if I don't?"

"I'll either have to beat you to death or just talk to your superiors and have them do it for me."

Gokudera gasped at the Cloud Guardian's horrible threat.

In reality, Hibari had no intention to further involve himself with the mafia, neither to destroy Gokudera's life. In fact, he knew that it would be much more interested if he were to stay alive.

"Y-you're threatening me?!"

The smoke bomber asked appalled the other boy.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Hibari replied apathetically.

"There's no way you'd do something like that! Fuck you!"

Gokudera yelled and continued wrapping more dynamites around his legs, easily seeing through Hibari's unbelievable lie.

"You leave me no other choice."

He said indifferent and as he was about to attack the other with his tonfas, the unexpected knocks on their room's door stopped him from doing so.

"What time is it?"

The Cloud Guardian panicked and as he glanced at his alarm clock he widened his eyes disconcerted.

"Shit, I'm late!"

He yelled and rapidly headed towards the room's door leaving behind Gokudera who was silently chuckling.

'It's funny to see panic in his eyes...'

He thought, as he had never witnessed any other emotion except for arrogance and childish superiority into the raven haired boy's eyes.

"What do you want?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting you H-Hibari-san! M-Miss principal asked me to tell everyone it's breakfast time..."

"Sawada-san!"

Gokudera hurriedly ran to the door as soon as he heard Tsuna's voice.

"G-Gokudera-kun!"

The Sky Guardian gazed at the smoke bomber's naked upper body and blushingly looked away. The raven haired boy softly grinned at his vestal reaction.

"Okay. You can go now."

Hibari said, feeling no interest at all for the frightened boy.

"O-okay Hibari-s-"

"What?! No! Don't leave Sawada-san!"

Gokudera interrupted the brunette that was about to leave and as he reached Hibari's location he happily gazed into Tsuna's eyes.

"Come in Sawada-san! You haven't seen the roo-"

All of a sudden Hibari slammed the door on the brunette's face and glared at the Italian boy.

"Do you think you are allowed to bring people in here?"

"What the fuck?! I can do whatever I wan-"

"Listen to me."

The Cloud Guardian suddenly wrapped his hand around Gokudera's neck as he didn't have his tonfas on him at that moment.

"You are not allowed to bring people in here. Is that clear to you?"

The silver haired boy, who was being chocked by Hibari's powerful grip couldn't utter any words with result the second to loosen his hand a bit.

"You're fucking ins-!"

Gokudera didn't manage to finish his sentence as Hibari tightened his grip once more.

"I wonder why my words seem so difficult for you to understand. I'll repeat myself for the last time. You are not allowed to bring people in here. Do you understand?"

The frightful boy loosened his fingers to let the other utter a response.

"Y-yes..."

The smoke bomber managed to say with great difficulty.

"Great."

Hibari said apathetically and pulled his hand back, leaving room for Gokudera to breathe. Then he opened the door so that he'd go meet up with the principal to discuss about that day's plans and of course about Gokudera's punishment.

"Ah!"

Tsuna gasped surprised, not expecting Hibari to exit the room.

"Why are you still here?"

Hibari asked annoyed and the brunette bowed his head asking for forgiveness and then ran to the second floor, where the breakfast was being served.

'Fucking herbivore...'

The raven haired boy thought and then left, leaving Gokudera alone in the room.

"Fuck..."

The Storm Guardian silently whispered as he slowly fell on his knees, feeling his spirit being crushed by Tsuna who had witnessed how weak he was against Hibari. He grabbed his head, wishing to erase from his mind Tsuna's worriedly gaze that was instantly spotted the moment Hibari opened unexpectedly the door.

'I am not worthy of you...'

The smoke bomber pondered, feeling unable to protect his precious lover. Feeling unable to fight the hatred and abomination that would surround their lives. Feeling unable to deny the doomed future that awaited both of them if their relationship were to grow stronger...

'I love you Sawada-san...'

Gokudera thought as he felt tears running down his face.

'And I swear to my mother's grave that I'd happily give my life for you...'

He buried his head on his knees and sobbed softly.

'...but I wouldn't ever let you give yours for mine...'