A/N:

Whoop! Second update. No worries. There will probably a third, a fourth and a fifth. Who knows. Hahaha.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Seventeen

"Yamamoto."

Takeshi moved his eyes to see their captain, Kiro Jousen, approaching him. He stood up properly from stretching his limbs and faced the man with a big grin. His captain is always good to him unlike some of his teammates.

"I heard you were sick. Are you really okay to play?" Kiro asked. Takeshi felt the genuine concern.

"I'm in my best condition today, Jousen-san. No need to worry." He assured with a big smile.

Kiro stared at him in amusement. "That's nice. Did something fun happen?"

Takeshi's face lit up in happiness. "Yes! I met some awesome people and we became friends!"

"Oh." Kiro responded with gladness. "I'd like to meet them."

He laughed merrily as he remember his group. "You'll like them!"

Kiro smiled at the encouragement. He likes the Takeshi in front of him today. Lively, full of life, happy and glowing. He can't see the slumping shoulders or the sad eyes. The fake smile vanished and got replaced with a genuine one.

To Kiro, Takeshi is very talented. He can run really fast to go for the bases. He can pitch with incredible velocity. The impact of the ball is very dangerous too. If possible, one hit can be a one-way ticket to hell for a person. In terms of batting, the noiret can always go for a home run if he wants to. But nowadays, he hasn't done a home run. Or years.

He wonders if Takeshi's up for a good bat today. So he put him on the rooster.

They went on with the ceremony. While looking out, and when anticipating a hit, Takeshi will place his hand on his chest and feel the beating of his heart. Reminding him that he's alive and playing the sport he loved. And maybe still loves. He can feel the rush of his blood in his veins, the way air goes in and out of his system, and the excitement. He doesn't remember feeling this way for years. It feels like a dream for him.

When he was up for the bat, he looked around. He didn't see his friends. Especially the brunet. A little depleted, he went for the waiting spot. Things are running inside his head. Negative things. He can't help it. When he was about to stand as the batter before him was struck out, he heard a very loud yell.

"Go Takeshi Yamamoto!"

Takeshi whipped his head around to see who it was.

"You can do it! We are here for you!"

"Go Take-nii!"

"Go Takeshi!"

Takeshi spotted a big banner from the right. 'Go Takeshi Yamamoto! Our sushi master and baseball star!' was written on it. His lips curved into a large grin that almost ripped his face apart. He saw Tsuna waving with both hands, Lambo with a brown glove in his hand with Hayato, while Mukuro was just standing there, amused at their friends' antics. He doesn't need to know where Kyouya is. The latter hates crowd.

Takeshi suddenly felt really excited and happy. So he waved back. Tsuna gave a big smile.

"Create a bang with your dying will!" Tsuna shouted with a cheering smile.

"Alright!" Takeshi yelled back.

Takeshi strode towards the home base, stood by the left of the catcher and readied his bat. Hands gripping the handle and thrown to his right shoulder, his eyes are shielded a little with his protective head gear, and his stance is confident yet alert. People stared at him and as they waited, they slowly saw a silhouette of a samurai with it's usual attire, but the way he stood is like how Takeshi does it. But instead of a bat, he's holding a sword.

Tsuna has his hands gripping Hayato's wrist and Mukuro's pinkie. The brunet can't help it. He feel faint due to so much anticipation. It was nice enough of Hayato to let him hold the former like that. Even Mukuro nudged him to take his hand. A little shy, he only took the pinkie.

To him, a hold on the wrist is belongingness and the pinkie as a promise.

The pitcher leaned forward, one foot back, the other is held strong in front. The hand holding the ball is resting on his back and the other wearing a glove is on the knee in front. He looked like a predator, staring at his prey and ready to strike any time. On the other side, Takeshi is grinning wide, looking excited.

The pitcher straightened up, brought up a leg, balanced himsef with one foot with hands holding the small hard ball. Then with a swift move, the pitcher threw the ball towards the catcher and Takeshi. The ball went for a curve, but Takeshi swung his bat. Armored with a big happy smile, the bat hit the ball and created a big loud 'clank' sound. The small ball soared towards the sky.

Lambo stared at the sky and noticed the flying object falling towards him. He gave a happy squeal and caught the ball with his gloves. He raised it in the air with a bright beam.

"I caught it!" Lambo yelled before looking at Tsuna who was smiling. "I caught it, Tsuna-nii!"

Just as Tsuna hugged the boy, the whole stadium erupted with cheers and whistles. Tsuna looked at his friend who is standing at the field, being tackled to the ground by his happy teammates. The noiret was laughing so genuinely, looking refreshed and excited. The brunet sighed a contented sigh before looking at the sky with teary eyes.

'Tsuyoshi-san...' Tsuna smiled mentally at the remembrance of the older Yamamoto. 'Your son hasn't given up yet.'

"Tsuna!" Takeshi called when he saw them.

The brunet beamed before zooming towards him. The baseball star bent his knees a little and spread his arms. His friend slammed into him, and he hugged him so tight, afraid to let go.

Hayato looked away, remembering he did the same thing to Tsuna after playing the piano. The only difference was he ran towards the brunet, not the other way around. Lambo stared, both hands holding the ball he caught and a marker. He wants Takeshi's signature. While Mukuro is standing beside Kyouya who was looking around.

Takeshi patted Tsuna's back as he felt his shirt getting wet. The arms around him tightened. He doesn't need to ask what the hug was for, why the tears and why tighten the hug. Because he knew Tsuna is very proud of him. Like his father and mother would've been if the two were still alive.

"You were so great." Takeshi heard Tsuna praised him.

"Really?" The brunet nodded. "Thank you."

Tsuna parted from him and looked up with a beam despite the tear stains. "You looked like a samurai awhile ago. And you looked cool. You also look like a kid when you smiled! Right Mukuro?!"

Mukuro chuckled as they approached nearer. "Yes, Tsunayoshi."

"See! See! And Lambo and Hayato caught the balls you home run!"

Lambo raised his hand with the ball while Hayato only grumbled under his breath as red color dusted his cheeks.

"Take-nii, can we have some autograph?" Lambo asked.

"Eh?"

"What? I don't need a signature!" Hayato denied.

Lambo snickered. "Bakadera, you're showing your Tsundere self."

"What the- Where the hell did you learn that, you cow?!"

"Internet and anime. Bakadera, are you getting old already?"

"Fucktard-"

"Herbivore." Kyouya called out before yawning to his hand. "Be quiet. You're in a public place."

"Said by someone who slept on the bench outside!" Hayato rebutted.

Kyouya raised a brow as he eyed Hayato lazily. "Jealous? You could've done it too."

"You-"

"Kyouya didn't watch me?" Takeshi asked Tsuna as they stood side by side and watched their friends do their verbal fights.

"He did. He was watching and listening with the big screen outside. Kyouya won't miss it for the world, Takeshi. He loves Namimori, remember?"

"Ehe..." Takeshi laughed before grinning.

"So..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you still quitting?"

Takeshi looked at Tsuna, stared at the brunet who was looking at him at the corner of his eyes. "No."

Tsuna smiled. "That's good to hear."

Yamamoto hummed. "Why are so against of me quitting?"

"Because baseball made you the Takeshi Yamamoto I'm talking with. If you quit, won't that be something bad? It's like you're abandoning a half of you in the darkness. Besides, whether you like it or not, you love baseball for what it is and how it's played. You like the feeling before, during and after you play, and you want it all the time." Tsuna raised his head and looked at the sky. "Don't be so hard on yourself. If you want something and it's good for you, take it. Because it's worth it after a hard work."

"But what if it's suffocating me?"

"Then we'll find a way to give it a new light." Takeshi blinked at Tsuna. "We'll find a way to make you remember the times you had fun playing the game. Make time for you to enjoy the game in this very moment. Then make it more enjoyable for the future for you."

"You'll do that?"

Tsuna nodded. "We'll do it. It's what friends do. We stick together through thick or thin, like married couples that vowed to only part until death takes one or both of them."

"That's just so weird, Tsunayoshi." Mukuro pointed out as he walked towards them.

"Yes, Little Animal." Kyouya seconded from his spot.

"Oh well..." Tsuna went for thinking pose. "But that kind of promise is similar to how friendship works."

"Really?" Lambo asked as he popped beside Takeshi who hugged the teen by the shoulders.

"In my opinion, yes. I mean married people create home right? And friendship, well although not that strong, create a sense of home. Or it's just me? I mean most of my fellow skies told me that the moment two strangers became friends, both make homes for one another in their lives. And imagining how that friendship expands," Tsuna blinked. "wow... It'll be a big home."

The others looked at each other. Takeshi, although a clueless with the 'harmony' talk that happened between the four, grinned so wide. Hayato sported a smile. Lambo giggled like a kid. Mukuro chuckled. And Kyouya smirked. Other than Tsuna amusing them with his blabbering, he also told them that he's creating a home for them as they create one for him.

"Hey Yamamoto!" All heads turned towards the noiret's caller.

"Ah. Jousen-san!" Takeshi grinned.

"Nice game awhile ago. All of your bats were home run." The captain praised as he neared them.

Takeshi bashfully smiled. "I got too excited. I didn't mean to make them fly."

"It's okay Takeshi! I told you! You were really amazing!" Tsuna silently cheered.

"Oh hi there." Kiro greeted to the group with a smile.

"Ah. Guys, this is Kiro Jousen, our team captain." Yamamoto introduced, hands gesturing to the others. "Jousen-san, these people are Tsuna, Lambo, Hayato, Mukuro and Kyouya."

"Nice to meet you." Kiro bowed.

Tsuna smiled back. "Likewise. Thank you for taking care of Takeshi."

Kiro perked up at the silent message before smiling. "It was nothing. I should be the one thanking all of you."

Takeshi looked back and forth between the two, then asked Gokudera. "What are they talking about?"

"Tenth is expressing his gratitude to your captain because he was able to make you smile and sane a little longer before Tenth arrived." Hayato explained.

"Oh."

"And your captain is thanking Tenth for being your friend." Hayato glared at Takeshi. "Are you that clueless or playing stupid?"

"Hey. That hurts, you know."

"I know. That's why I'm saying it."

Takeshi stared at Hayato before grinning. "Ne Hayato."

"What?"

"You really are a tsundere." Takeshi laughed as tick marks appeared on the silveret's forehead.

"See! I told you so!" Lambo seconds the motion.

"Fuck you!" Hayato shouted before going in for the two who ran away from him.

Tsuna smiled as Kyouya went along their chaos, wanting to bite them to death for being too troublesome. Mukuro slid beside him, while Kiro is on the other side.

"Yamamoto sure was excited awhile ago. He was able to give four home runs." Kiro commented.

"I figured. I only saw him do a home run once." Tsuna closed his eyes as he recalls the moment. "He has this very big smile that was so pure, so happy. He was so vibrant and calm at the same time. Enthusiastic and excited but the way his eyes were trained on the ball is so beautiful."

"I know the feeling." Kiro seconded.

Tsuna sighed as he opens his eyes. "I'm so thankful we saved him. I don't want to lose those smiles."

Mukuro chuckled.

"Oh Mukuro. You know I love the way you smile and laugh too, even though they're creepy sometimes. But mostly funny and beautiful."

Mukuro rolled his eyes as blush crept to his face. "You flatter me too much, Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna smiled before gazing at Kiro. "If you need any help when Takeshi is on the dumps, call me. Or anyone of us."

"I will." Kiro promised. "Hey Yamamoto! I'm going to the party! Are you?"

"Eh?" Takeshi blurted, a hand on Hayato's who is gripping his hair. "I'm going with Tsuna! But thanks for the invitation! Tell Coach Ruko-"

"To go to hell and let Satan eat him." Tsuna growled before turning his head away in a pompous way. "He doesn't deserve your team. Remove him or I will."

Kiro and Takeshi cracked up.

"Aye Sir!" Kiro saluted.

Tsuna grinned, eyeing the captain at the corner of his eyes. "Take care, Jousen-san."

"You too." Kiro replied as he goes.

Tsuna sighed before calling out. "Okay! Let's go home!"

"Eh?" Takeshi blurted again.

Tsuna inclined his head. "We're going home. I'm craving for sushi. But since you're tired, it's Kyouya and Hayato's turn to cook!"

Takeshi stared at them. Tsuna was directing, Hayato and Kyouya were suggesting, Lambo was saying some food while Mukuro was accepting or rejecting suggestions. He felt some sting by the corner of his eyes and before long, he felt tears slowly drip from his eyes. He sniffled while covering his eyes with his arm.

It's his first time... First time to hear someone call him out and tell him they're going home. For four years, he hadn't have anyone to call home, or have a house to feel at home. It scares him that he'll never be able to be home again. Or feel the presence of home inside him.

It terrifies him. Much more terrifying than not catching the ball or being hit by the ball in the groin or the face. And he feels so relieved that he has them. He has Tsuna, Lambo, Kyouya, Mukuro and Hayato.

"Takeshi? Are you okay? Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Wait let's-"

"Little Animal, you're being noisy."

"I am not! Look at Takeshi! He's crying!"

"He's just happy, Little Animal."

"I don't- Oh..."

"Yeah. Oh."

Takeshi laughed with Lambo. Who would've thought that Kyouya can be sarcastic? He wiped his tears with hus jacket sleeves and looked at them. He beamed as he swung an arm on Hayato's and Mukuro's shoulders.

"I'm okay. Just relieved, Tsuna." Takeshi answered.

Tsuna smiled. "Okay. Let's go home?"

(Just then, the rain reached out to the sky and wrapped himself with it, harmonizing each other.)

Hayato, Lambo, Mukuro and Kyouya looked at Takeshi who was talking animatedly with Tsuna. They felt the sudden shift. The instant change of the rain's flame behavior. They all knew they harmonized. One more and they're complete.

Tsunayoshi Sawada, the Vongola Decimo, will have his own set of guardians unknowingly.

Tsuna smiled at the saleslady who smiled back. He said a small thank you as he took the cellophane of groceries he purchased. Humming, he went out of the grocery shop.

He's back in Tokyo with the others. He wanted to stay in Yokohama or come with Takeshi in any corner of Japan, but the five men (yes. All of them) disagreed and packed up so they can move back to Tokyo. He doesn't even know how they persuaded Takeshi to go with them. Maybe Lambo bribed him with grape candies? Or Mukuro tricked him with illusion? Or Kyouya imposed authority? Hayato threatened to mutilate him perhaps? Takeshi did say that Kiro Jousen made him take a long vacation (He remembers Takeshi emphasizing the 'long' word with a drawl).

When the two of them stayed up the night before they departed, Tsuna asked Takeshi if he's abandoning his passion. Takeshi laughed and answered 'never'. The reason? He didn't say.

Tsuna stared at the traffic light that turned orange to green. He sighed. He'll have to wait at least two to three minutes before he can cross. He idly waited, eyes watching people do their own things. He was going to look away when he saw a cat cross the street. He blinked and unable to register anything. He just stepped his foot forward unconsciously, wanting to reach out. But someone beat him to it.

Tsuna's eyes widened when he saw a lady stepped in the road, hands reached out as if wanting to grab the cat out of the way. His intuition spiked up just as he dropped the bag of groceries and went to get the lady.

But...

He did know...

Really...

He did notice the truck that was rushing towards them...

But Tsuna knew he had to...

He had to reach out and grab the lady out of the way or push her off...

Or just coat the both of them with sky flames for safety keeping...

But no...

Before he can even do a single spark...

Fate came crashing them both...

Kyouya sprang up. He turned around, eyes darting everywhere to search for a certain cheery brunet. But his eyes landed on Lambo who has a startled look on his face. Hayato, who was reading documents by the table, snapped his head towards the window.

They knew something was wrong. That the air between the three of them became off, tense and almost suffocating.

Takeshi barged in the room, eyes almost frantic while Mukuro appeared and has this grim expression. They didn't have to say it. Their core... The sky flame that's wrapped on them is disturbed.

Hayato took his phone and started to dial. Kyouya took his too and called someone. Takeshi started to pace while Mukuro concentrated as he let his flames wander, searching for Tsuna.

"Hello? Tenth?..." All perked up when Hayato said that. "Who is this? Where is Tsunayoshi Sawada?... What?... What?!"

"Hayato? What happened?" Takeshi questioned as he walked towards the silveret.

Hayato's eyes widened as he listened to the other side. "Tenth was caught in an accident?..."

The remaining four tensed up.

"Where?" Hayato asked as he stood up.

The four stood up as well, as if the action of Hayato gave them a signal. Lambo ran towards his room and went back with a jacket. Takeshi pocketed his wallet and the apartment keys. Kyouya stood up as Mukuro let his trident vanish in thin air. Hayato took his coat and went for the door as others were already piling out.

"We'll be there." The silveret parted before cutting the line. "Who loves to drag race?"

Kyouya glared at him before sighing. "Just this once."

"You drive, Hayato." Takeshi said as he opened the door of the emergency exit.

"Yes. You're like the bad boy here. So you drive." Lambo seconded as he jumped off the stairs and went acrobatic to reach three floors down.

Hayato, with a pinched look, eyed Kyouya and Mukuro. "What have you been teaching to that brat?"

"Crazy things." Mukuro shrugged as he dematerialize and appeared five floors below them.

"Survival." Kyouya grunted before jumping off the railings.

Hayato sighed in resignation while Takeshi laughed. "Tenth. Just how can you tolerate our idiosyncrasies to this extent?"

"Come on Hayato. Let's ask that to Tsuna personally."

"Shut up baseball freak."

And both jumped off the stairs.