Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn
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The next day, it was Gokudera's turn. "Let's start." Tsukasa continued. "I'll give you 3 minutes without me attacking. I'll just dodge your attack but when 3 minutes passed and I'm still not unconscious or you still haven't even land a punch on me, I'll attack and when I beat you, you lose."
"Che, and when I land a punch, you will fail me?" Gokudera stated rather than ask.
"Gokudera-kun, I have different kind of tests for every guardian. For Yamamoto, I tested his judgment. For you, it's a different matter. I won't do that to you. I need you to prove something that different from that." Tsukasa said calmly. They began. Tsukasa easily dodge Gokudera's attack. She can even dodge his dynamites. She looks like dancing rather than dodging. 3 minutes passed, Gokudera did his best to keep Tsukasa away but the moment 3 minutes finished, before anyone can even blink, Tsukasa appeared in front of Gokudera and punch him sending him flying towards the wall.
"Gokudera failed" Reborn stated. He walked toward the unconscious Gokudera and proceeds to get his ring. The other guardians brought Gokudera to the Infirmary. Hibari and Mukuro went to do whatever they're going to do. The guardians who brought Gokudera looked somewhat shaken up while Hibari and Mukuro is still the same but Tsukasa know that they're the same as the other guardians. Yamamoto stayed behind. "Do you have any business with me, Yamamoto-san?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yo, just call me Yamamoto." He said cheerfully but after pausing for a moment, his cheerful and carefree expression changed to serious. "About Gokudera, would you give him another chance like you did to me?" Yamamoto requested and he sounds like he's making a deal with somebody. Tsukasa stared then started laughing. Yamamoto turn back to his usual self and Yamamoto became confused.
"Yamamoto-Kun- Ah, may I call you that?" Tsukasa asked and looked at Yamamoto. She saw him nod. "Don't tell anyone. I think I'll make an exception and tell you. The moment Reborn took his ring, his real trial start. His trial is not about strength. It's about he's loyalty. He protect Sawada and always tell others that it's because he's the storm guardian so I want to see what he'll do once he's not a guardian. Will he stop protecting Sawada or continue being loyal? Like I said, what I'm testing is not strength. It's up to his decision whether he'll get the ring back or not. Don't tell Gokudera. Don't give him clue. I'm sure he'll choose the right one. I trust in him. Please trust in him too and watch him quietly." Tsukasa said. Yamamoto nodded happily.
"You always pretend to be bad but you're really just helping us. I trust in Gokudera and you. I know you won't put him not a test that you know that he's not going to pass." Yamamoto told her. Tsukasa smiled at what Yamamoto said. She's really glad to know Yamamoto trust her again. Yamamoto looked at the smile and for some reason, he blushed Tsukasa didn't notice it. Three days passed, Tsukasa and Yamamoto watched Gokudera as he walks. Tsukasa sweat dropped.
"He's really depressed that he can't seem to think of the right answer." Tsukasa said. "Yamamoto, can you help me beat some sense out of him but not directly." Tsukasa asked Yamamoto. Yamamoto smiled.
"Of course." He answered. Tsukasa whispered something to Yamamoto. After a while, while Gokudera was inside his room, Yamamoto suddenly barged in.
"What are you doing in here?" Gokudera asked.
"You don't deserve to be Tsuna's right hand man." Yamamoto said seriously.
"What did you say?" Gokudera asked angrily, standing up and getting some of his dynamites.
"Someone who doesn't know what to do in times like this doesn't even deserve to be a guardian. If somebody attacked, will you stay depressed and let Tsuna get killed because you're not a guardian. Are you only protecting Tsuna as a guardian and right hand man?" Yamamoto asked calmly.
"I…"Gokudera couldn't answer.
"What is Tsuna for you? Your boss?" Yamamoto asked again.
"Hime is… For me, hime is…" Gokudera started. He thought of Tsuna. 'What does hime means to me?' Gokudera questions himself. Suddenly, he reminisced the day he met Tsuna.
-FLASHBACK (Gokudera's Pov) -
It was the same boring and useless time of my life. I was wondering aimlessly without a home to return to. I don't consider that hell my home. It brings me nothing but pain. I discovered that the kind woman who taught me piano was my mother and that she is already dead. I'm still inside the Vongola mansion since I can't go out. My father sent me here. It suddenly started raining but I couldn't care less. Suddenly, I felt the drops of rain stopped falling. I looked above and saw an umbrella. I looked at the one holding it. I don't clearly remember her face. It's kind of weird because it's hime's face when she was still 4. I felt my heart stop for a second when I saw hime's breath taking face. She was smiling sincerely and innocently. It's the first time I saw that kind of smile. I didn't see any pity like the one I saw in adult's face whenever they see me. My heart suddenly felt weird.
"You'll get sick if you stay here. You shouldn't play in the rain." Hime said worriedly. I was stunned. It's the first time I encounter someone who's worried about me sincerely. We went inside the mansion. The maids just greeted us and she greeted them back. She knew all their name and the maids seem to know her so she lives here. I haven't spoken a word but she still won't give up and keep on talking with me. I was about to say something when, "Ah, I forgot. Sorry I need to go. I'll introduce when we meet again and that time; tell me your name, okay." She said and ran. I watched her as she slowly disappeared from my sight. That night, I can't seem to forget about the girl I met. It's the first time I saw her. I went outside my room. I went to the piano room. I started playing the piano. When I finished, I heard someone clapped. "You're good at playing the piano. Can you teach me how?" Hime asked.
"You?" I said. I was surprised to see her. I never thought I would see her again. She just continued smiling and started to walk towards me. She stopped in front of me.
"Tsuna. Sawada Tsunayoshi. That's my name. What's your name?" she asked cutely.
"Go- Gokudera Hayato." I answered. Her smile suddenly grows wider if that was possible.
"You finally spoke. It's not good to keep all the things you want to say to yourself. Anyway, nice to meet you, Gokudera-kun" She told me.
- END OF FLASHBACK (End of Gokudera's Pov) -
After that flashback, Gokudera think of what Tsuna was really is for him. The next day, while training, Gokudera suddenly barged in. All the guardians stopped moving, even Hibari. Tsukasa and Yamamoto looked at each other. They know their plan succeeds. Gokudera bowed like a knight. "Hime, I promise to protect you with all my life even if I'm not your guardian. I'll protect you as a friend. Please accept me." Gokudera said to Tsuna. Tsukasa smiled.
"Gokudera Hayato." Tsukasa started. She tossed something to Gokudera and Gokudera easily caught. He looked at it and his eyes widen. It was the Storm ring. "Gokudera Hayato, Vongola Storm guardian, I've seen your resolution and you passes. I've seen how loyal you are and how strong your will to protect Sawada." She said.
"Then that means-"Gokudera said.
"You never failed the trial from the start. When Reborn took your Vongola ring, the real trial for you started." Yamamoto cut him.
"How did you knew, yakyuu baka (Baseball idiot)?" Gokudera asked him.
"When you failed, Yamamoto asked me to give you another chance. I told him what really the trial is. It proved to be useful because you're so depressed to think straight." Tsukasa told Gokudera. "Do you understand now? Do you know why you protect Sawada and what she is to you? Have you found the answers to those questions?" Tsukasa asked him. Gokudera suddenly realized why Tsukasa is doing the test.
"Yes" Gokudera simply answered but deep inside, he's really thankful. His resolve to protect Tsuna had strengthened. 'That's the answer to the question inside me. I will protect hime because she's… my first and most important friend.'
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Author's Note: Thank you for those who reviewed. Please tell me who should Tsukasa test next chapter.