"It's insecurity that is always chasing you and standing in the way of your dreams."

Vin Diesel

Hayato had never thought he would be in the position he was today. There were very few skies in comparison to the other elements, so bonding was a truly special event for flame active Mafioso. He, like most, had always dreamed about bonding with a sky. However, after finding out about his heritage, he was pessimistic enough to realize that probably wasn't going to happen.

He knew that despite his skills with dynamic he didn't have a good grasp on his flames and therefore wasn't skilled enough for many families.

It didn't help that he was a bastard son and run away.

He had already been rejected by several mafia families and had never even met a sky before he came to Japan. He would never have thought he'd end up with not only a sky but the future head of the most powerful mafia family in the world. It was a lot to take in, but he tried his best.

He tried to be the best guardian and right-hand man he could after being accepted into the family as Juudiame's storm guardian, but he still felt like he was a failure.

He tried to defend his boss from enemies, but Juudiame didn't seem to like that.

He refused to share a room with his boss so that Juudiame would have his room to himself, but that just made him look sad.

He tried training more to protect his boss, but Juudiame always fussed and worried when he came back with bandages and burns.

He always seemed to cause the Tenth more trouble than intended and he didn't know how to change. He was a born and raised Mafioso, he wasn't sure how to make his still very civilian Boss happy. He glared at the perfectly trimmed backyard, wondering if he should just move out. He was sure he could find a cheap apartment somewhere.

"Gokudera-kun?"

He flinched jerked his head to meet the bright green eyes of his Juudaime's older brother. He grimaced and looked back at the yard, trying to pretend he wasn't startled. He didn't really know how to act around the older boy.

Apparently, the redhead didn't understand his dismissal and proceeded to sit down next to him.

"You worry Tsuna sometimes, you know that?"

Hayato scowled his hand reaching for a cigarette compulsively.

"He thinks you're forcing yourself to be his friend because of Reborn and is worried that you're pushing yourself too hard."

The cigarette dropped from his fingers as he turned, wide-eyed towards the older boy.

"D-does he not want me as h-his guardian…?"

"No-"

He stood up abruptly intent on leaving the premise immediately but was yanked back down. Hayato looking down at his feet feeling lost. To his utter horror, he felt tear prickle in his eyes. He glanced up in shock when he felt a hand on his head.

"Would you let me finish?" There was a glint in his eye that reminded Hayato strongly of Reborn. He swallowed and nodded, even though his eyes were burning and his chest hurt.

"Tsuna doesn't want guardians, Gokudera-kun. He wants friends."

Hayato blinked. "What?"

The redhead smiled. "He's still confused about guardians and mafia in general, so it's sometimes hard for him to understand why you do certain things. He doesn't want to be a mafia boss, but he would like to be your friend. He's worried that you only want him as a boss."

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!"

He was on his feet again.

How could his Juudiame think that? Of course, he wanted to be his friend! (He ignored the quiet voice in the back of his head that snidely reminded him that he wasn't good enough to be the tenth's friend.)

"Then why don't you tell him up front, so he knows?"

"I will." Hayato clinched his hand, he could feel his storm flames stirring from the intensity of his resolve.

He stormed into the house, intent on finding his boss before remembering something and running back to the porch. He bowed deeply to the still sitting teenager.

"THANK YOU, SAWADA-SAMA!"

"You don't have to call me that. Just call me Shuichi…"

"Then, thank you Shoichi-sama!"

"Ah…."

Hayato was off again like a shot. He didn't know why his boss would want to be friends with someone like him, but he wanted to make sure that his kind-hearted Juudiame didn't think Hayato only wanted him for power.