Eighth Decision

With a stuffed tummy Haru was peacefully humming a little melody while walking beside Gokudera on their way home. She was so happy that she got to eat delicious cake with him in such a sweet shop that her heart and tummy felt warm and fluffy. But it was weird she thought. She never felt this happy when she was eating cake. Could there be some special happiness magic inside that cake she wondered and giggled. No. She knew pretty much why she was so happy. It was because of that weird guy beside her. If it was always this nice with him she could really imagine him being her boyfriend and falling in love with him. As she realized what she was imagining her cheeks flushed in a rosy shade while she grinned like a fool.

"Hey Haru…" When they arrived at her house he called out to her and suddenly took her hand causing her to squeal quietly in surprise. She looked at him with widened eyes and realized that he moved closer to her so that his face was only a few inches away from hers.

"W-What is it?" She stuttered as she felt her cheeks heating up and deepening its redness level.

"G-Go… uh…" The silver haired guy stuttered while his cheeks were also turning slightly red. He was embarrassed at that moment that his mind went blank and he had to rethink what he wanted to say.

"What?" Haru asked confused wondering what he wanted from her.

"Go… Go…" He tried once again with his eyes averting hers. "You're still calling me Gokudera." She nodded as he stated that. "Call me by my first name already." He mumbled as his cheeks are turning redder and redder that she shade even came to his ears.

"Okay, fine." She was quite surprised but she actually wanted to call him by his first name for a long time since she called everyone else by their first names already. She was happy that he asked her to do that. It felt like he wanted them to be closer friends when she also finally called his name. "Hayato is it." She brightly smiled that it could melt away anyone's heart. Gokudera was perplexed for a short while seeing her angelic smile that made him froze up. That moment he swore all he wanted was to embrace her tightly and to never let go of her. He wished was for time to stop so that her smile could last an eternity. "Is that fine?" But when she tried to break that awkward silence he got his grip again and straightly stared into her eyes while whispering.

"Yeah… and…"

"And?"

"Just go out with me already!" He, storm guardian Gokudera Hayato the self-proclaimed right hand man of Vongola tenth, declared with his cheeks red as a tomato and a super embarrassed expression on his handsome face which made him look so cute and adorable that her heart felt like it could be squeezed to death. "…Please…"

"…yes…" Without thinking about it her mouth whispered that out by itself. When she realized what her cheeks also reddened and went hot. She looked down to the ground covering her mouth.

Gokudera was shocked at first when he heard what she answered but he quickly got his grip again and grabbed both of Haru's wrists.

"Hey, repeat that. I couldn't hear you." A slight feeling of happiness already overcame him but he has to make sure that she was serious.

"I-I…" The brunette stuttered as she didn't know how to respond she tried to avoid the topic. "Don't tease me…" He just wants to atone for that incident. She told herself. He doesn't even like her. She thought again to shake away these feelings. "Let go…"

"I am serious." The tone of his voice clearly showed how serious he was. He was holding her hand tightly but not too strong that it could hurt her. Through his grip she could feel just how much he didn't intend to let her go until he got the answer he wished for.

"I-I want… you to let go of me." What exactly did she want? She wondered.

"Really?" She knew she held special feelings for him. She admitted she could imagine going out with him and seriously falling in love with him after she grew so much fond of him. So what is holding her back? Even her heart and mind knows what she wants after she just blurted out a yes without thinking. "What do you really want?"

"I want to…" Haru looked up to Gokudera whose expression softened. That moment she could have sworn she never saw such a kind face on him. He smiled so gently and lovingly at her making her feel like she would make the right decision. "… go out with you."

"Was that so difficult, stupid woman?" He smiled and lifted her chin up with his hand.

"Idiot-dera…" She mumbled while closing her eyes as his face drew closer to hers.

At a later date the couple was called by Tsuna and Reborn to his house. They said that it was really urgent and Haru is also needed when the storm guardian asked why Haru should also come. On their way to the boss Gokudera seemed unusually tense in comparison to his usual self when he was called to Tsuna. Normally he'd be crazy happy and couldn't wait to get there but there was no sign of him being happy or something that like. Rather than that he was really… pissed off?

"Are you okay, Hayato?" Haru asked him in a concerned tone feeling his rough hand holding hers even tighter. His hands felt colder than before that they were even shaking. "You sure you didn't catch a cold again or something?"

"Yeah." He just mumbled without sharing a glance at her. "Why shouldn't I be okay?"

"I just thought you were acting kinda weird." She answered with her eyes faced to the ground letting his hand guide her to where Tsuna is. He walked faster. Or maybe that was his normal speed but when he was with her he would match her speed. Now she had trouble keeping up with his quick steps. She really didn't know what to say to him. She wanted to make him happier. But how to do that? She wondered.

"Don't worry." He whispered as he noticed that she felt kinda down. Haru realized that they were in front of Tsuna's already when he suddenly stopped making her bump into him. He threw his arms around her and embraced her while his lips softly touched her forehead. "It's alright. I'll protect you I promise."

"Okay..." She didn't really get what he said but because he looked so serious she couldn't say anything else than accepting whatever will come.

When they went up to Tsuna's room, he and Reborn were already awaiting them sitting behind his desk in a dimmed room. Reborn had the room to be renovated into a more office-like room. He had a dark wooden desk with a lot of paper and bureau stuff. His bed was the same as usual but the other furniture was removed to be replaced by dark bookshelves and cupboards. Because of the new red curtains the room was very obscure. They guessed that Reborn just liked that kind of style. But it really made the whole mafia boss thing look more serious.

"Chiaossu!" The small man greeted them in his usual manner sitting on the boss' shoulder. "I suppose you're asking yourself why we called the two of you." He stated as he jumped off his seat onto the desk.

"Yeah, usually I'd be just me or the other guardians like we promised Reborn-san!" Gokudera answered to that with a voice that almost seemed as if he was shouting. The brunette beside him was really confused by their conversation and his behavior that she couldn't do anything else than just standing there and stare.

"I can't remember such a promise to you, Gokudera." Reborn bluntly said ignoring the intimidating tone of the storm guardian while he crossed his arms as a sly grin appeared on his face. "I just said I'd try to not use Haru."

"You!" Gokudera clenched his fists and slammed them on Tsuna's table causing it make a loud noise and to shake so hard that a few papers and pencils were thrown down to the ground. "You said you won't call Haru for a mission anymore!" His voice was loud and strong that it seemed to shake in anger.

"P-please calm down!" Tsuna stuttered nervously but he held a stern expression on his face. "We really need Haru this time..." He wasn't looking down at the ground as he normally would when he said that instead his eyes were fixated on Hayato's making them see that he really was serious.

"You know I really respect you Tsuna." Gokudera seemed to have calmed down as his voice wasn't as loud and tense as before. "But I can't let you make Haru face danger again. I won't let anyone hurt her again." He declared while facing Tsuna and Reborn with the most serious glance they ever saw on him.

"Don't worry!" Tsuna said putting his hand on the storm guardian's shoulder with a slight smile. He was a little scared of that side of Gokudera's that he never knew but still as the boss he had to stand strong otherwise it would also be rude towards Gokudera. "It's nothing dangerous so Haru's gonna be okay. I promise."

"Don't promise something you can't keep." Hayato took Tsuna's hand and put it away from his shoulder instead he grabbed Haru's hand und pulled her into his arms. "I won't let Haru go." He declared with a determined tone in his voice and intense glare that Tsuna took a step back.

"Hayato…" Haru mumbled shocked. She grabbed his cloth tightly looking up to his tense face. Even though she knew he only wanted to protect her she got a feeling that they have to do the mission. She thought if he were to always hide and protect her he couldn't move on from that point where he let her get injured. He was still believing that it was his fault but it wasn't.

"Let's go, Haru!" Gokudera was about to turn around to leave Tsuna's room but Haru pulled his arm and signalized him to not go yet so he stopped after seeing her eager expression.

"When Tsuna says that it's fine then we can trust him." She said with a smile to reassure him while holding his arm tightly. "So don't worry I can do it." She can and she would do it. She strongly believed that she could help him move on.

"No…" He whispered with a pained expression on his face. He took her warm hand in his and lifted it to touch his cheeks. "Don't… I don't want you to get hurt again." Gokudera felt that Haru already made her decision. If she was he couldn't make her change her mind anymore.

"Gokudera." Reborn interrupted. "It's an order from your boss. And Haru says she accepts the mission." The two of them turned their heads towards Reborn and Tsuna as they heard a sigh coming from him.

"You know… I hate to order you around but…" He straightly faced them with a stern expression and said. "Escort the grandmother of an allied Mafia Family Boss from Italy to Japan. She will be staying with us for a while because she might be targeted by an enemy organization." He really hated forcing his friends to do missions. And he never had to because every of them would gladly do anything for the family. But this was the first time that his mission actually was an 'order'.

"You're the right-hand man even if it's self-proclaimed do as your boss says." Reborn added with a sly grin on his face as if he already knew that he won.

"Why does it have to be Haru…?" Hayato still mumbled hesitantly strengthening his grip on Haru's hand.

"The other party wished that Haru shall be the one to escort her." Tsuna explained with a sigh. "Would you two please take on that mission?" The two of them felt awkwardly but there was nothing they could do.

"Yes." Haru said after looking at Gokudera with a resolved face against which he couldn't do or say anything. Therefore he had no choice than to give in and accept.

"…As you wish."

Hi there

It's been awhile, I hope you didn't forgot me yet :'D ...

Here it is finally the next chapter and soon the mystery of Haru's scar will be revealed! (hopefully)

but... is there anyone who is still reading this xD ? Or should I give up already idk x.x..

if anyone is reading... hope you enjoyed it...

Mido 3