Twelfth Decision

The night passed by so quickly that Haru wondered if she really slept when she woke up. After lying in bed for a while tossing around left and right she finally decided to get up. The first thing she did was raising her arms up and stretching her stiff body. As expected her body knew when it slept in a strange bed. When she got off the bed she walked up to the window and shove the curtains away. The bright light of the morning sun that shone through the windows had her closed her eyes. But after a while she slowly opened them and could see the scenery beyond that room. Wide lands with such green grass. Trees and flower fields.

"It's just like a picture. No, more beautiful than a picture." Haru muttered to herself. "Too bad that it's the first and last time I will see this…" A light sigh escaped her throat. As soon as they arrived in Italy they had to leave again. It was time for their departure. They had to escort Laura to their headquarters in japan, Tsuna's main house, where they would provide protection for her as long as the war between her family and their enemies went. Once the war starts Tsuna will probably send some of their own members to support them. Whatever happens she hoped that it will go well for them. But for now she had to bring her back safely that must be her current priority. Anything else she will deal with afterwards. She thought to herself. She decided after that talk with Laura that she should be more honest with herself and finally bring up the courage to clear up everything that's still uncertain between them.

After eating breakfast together the two of them left with Laura and her driver for the airport. The drive as well as the flight were quiet and uneventful making the way seem longer than it was and time go by slower than it should. They only exchanged some trivial words along the way. It seemed as if Hayato was still angry and not willing to neither talk or even look at those two. For Haru it felt very awkward and so she imagined it for Laura to feel even more uncomfortable. But in this situation she didn't know how to talk things better. She was afraid they would end up fighting in the end and she wasn't sure what words to use, what tone in her voice to use, what kind of expression to use. Unable to overcome the fear they ended up bringing Laura to the headquarters in japan in that heavy mood. After making a brief report to Tsuna they made their way home.

The skies over japan were cloudy and dimmed the sunlight so much that everything seemed grey. It was about to pour any minute. Hayato and Haru were walking side by side with a certain distance between them without saying a word. Inside their minds they thought over and over again what they should say, if they should say, what they shouldn't say. But there were no words for them to say. The storm guardian bit his lips and clenched his fist. How did it come to this? He asked himself. Because of his short temper, because of his foul mouth, because he can't control himself. Why is it that things never went the way he wanted them to? He couldn't let things continue like that.

"Haru…" As their paths were about to part Gokudera finally talked out to her. "I'm…"

"Oh?" At that moment it started to rain. Haru held her hand over her head even though it didn't help much because the rain was too heavy. "Hayato, it's raining. I'm running home now!" She was about the run away from the rain but eventually from him as well. From the words he was about to say.

"Haru!" But he grabbed her wrist and stopped her. "Let's go to my place. It's closer."

"But…" Haru thought of reasons to refute but couldn't think of any.

"No buts. Let's go." She let him half forcefully drag her to his flat which was only a few minutes away.

When they arrived he rushed to the bathroom while taking of his dripping wet shirt to get some towels for them. Haru stood there in the entrance for a while with mixed feelings wondering if it was right for her to come to his place. If it was the right time to talk. She was afraid. But she didn't know of what. In the end she took of her shoes and went inside to reach out to his hand that was handing her a towel.

"Thank you…" She said and covered her shoulders with it. She dried her face with the ends of the towel and tried not to look at his naked upper body. She knew his body was well built and she knew she would lose her composure. That's not what she thought that was needed right now. Otherwise she would loose herself in those feelings again that she tried to hide.

"You should go take a bath first otherwise you'll catch a cold." Hayato said and lightly pushed her with his hand on her back towards the bathroom.

"W-What?! But I don't have any clean clothes to change into." Haru was flustered at his sudden proposal and stepped back. The thought of being naked inside his bathroom made her feel embarrassed. "I will just go home…" She mumbled to herself while her face was slowly turning red.

"Just hurry in. The tub is already filling with hot water." He rumbled in his wardrobe and gave her his clothes. "You can wear this."

"But…" The clothes were shoved into her arms she had no time to think or to resist.

"A boyfriend shirt." He grinned at her and carried her into the bathroom. "I'll brew some hot tea for you. Warm yourself up as long as you need." He went out of the bathroom without hearing her out and went to the kitchen. When he arrived there he hid his face with his hands and sighed. "If we were like this any longer I wouldn't know what I could've done." The images of her wet hair, lightly see-through shirt and her expression as she spaced out went through his head. "Calm down… calm cown…" He said to himself and started heating water for tea.

"Hayato…" Haru whispered inside the bathroom. Is this how he wanted to evade everything? She wondered. Doesn't he want to talk about everything? And clear up all the misunderstandings. She wanted to be truthful to him. But she was afraid he couldn't accept it. And she couldn't built up the courage as well. „Do you plan to… just continue like nothing happened?" She mumbled as she entered the tub. Inside the hot water she felt like she could finally relax. And brushed the hundreds and thousands of thoughts away. It was no use to think about it now. Just like Laura said. They can't read each other's thoughts. Soon it's time for them to use words.

When she got out of the bathroom the tea was ready. She sat down the couch and slowly drank the tea. It was surprisingly nice and calming. Hayato hurried into the bathroom as soon as she was done. Haru already decided. That she wanted to face him and her true feelings. So when he got out of the bathroom and finally joined her on the couch.

"I want to ask you something…" She declared.

"What is it?" He was about to grab his cup to drink the tea.

"Do… Do you love me?" But his hand stopped immediately after she asked him.

Finally I got the next chapter! I hope you liked it :D

The next one won't take that long because! It's a chapter that I have already written maybe 4 years ago xD... when I planned ahead and asked you if you'd like some intimate moments? would you still like to read some?

Anyways after I review that chapter from 4 years ago I will upload it. Hopefully this week!

Lova ya!