A/N: Welcome to chapter two, I hope you enjoyed its predecessor. Thank you to Reidluver, Sherry Leblanc, and MysticMaiden 18 for reviewing! Have a nice read!
In all honesty, Tsuna really did try to sleep for a decent amount of time, but despite his best efforts the future Vongola boss could not stay in the land of dreams for more than four hours. The past two weeks had been hellish ones in the lives of the Vongola Family, especially the lives of Tsuna and his Guardians. Not only were they constantly in little fights that always turned out to be more trouble than they were worth, but Yamamoto's father was killed when Byakuran sent some of his 'friends' to look for information on the Rain, and Reborn…
Tsuna sat up in his bed and hid his face in the palms of his hands. He was not going to think about the losses they had suffered, not while two of his Guardians were still not home. Hibari had checked in late last night before disappearing off to his own section of the headquarters, speaking less than twenty words in the process.
With a sigh, Tsuna stood up and made his way towards the living room where he had met Lambo earlier that day. Someone else in the base must have been having trouble sleeping because lights from the room lit the edge of the hallway. He wondered briefly who else would be up so early, but when he saw who it was he was not surprised.
"Ah, good morning Bianchi. Starting the day early, are we?" Tsuna said with a kind smile to the Italian girl sitting on the couch in her night clothes with goggles on her face. She had taken to wearing the eye ware around her neck even when her little brother was not around. Even though Gokudera was going on twenty-five in September, he still had not been able to get over his inability to look at his sister without becoming extremely ill.
"Hm, good morning Decimo," the Italian word rolled off Bianchi's lips in a way that was unique to her and her brother's upbringing. She turned after a pause and looked at Tsuna, dropping her ever-present shields for a few seconds. It was long enough, though, for the Sky to understand why she was awake.
"Would you like some tea, Bianchi? I have recently found that simple green tea in the morning is one of the best ways to relax when your life is anything but simple," Tsuna said with a smile in his voice. Being around Yamamoto so much had taught him a thing or two about comforting people when they needed it.
"That would be nice, Tsuna, thank you. I assume our reasons for being awake are very similar," she replied and shifted her position so that her legs joined the rest of her on the couch. Her arms wrapped around her shins, and her chin rested on her bent knees. "I still can't help but worry about him, even though he insists that he can take care of himself and that he should be the one worrying."
Tsuna chuckled and began the process of making the tea for two, "Yes that does sound like Gokudera-kun. He and Yamamoto checked in about six hours ago. He thinks that I can't tell when he is more messed up than he tells me, and of course he was more concerned about me than him," Tsuna's voice trailed off and after a glance at the man in question's sister, he decided not to finish his thought out loud.
"But, he and Yamamoto are a very good team. I suppose the Rain and would go along well with the Storm." Another chuckle and Tsuna carefully brought two cups of tea to the table in front of the couch. One cup he sat down, the other he held securely between his two hands. A few minutes passed where the only noise was the sipping of their drinks. Tsuna broke the silence, "They should be returning pretty soon now. I think the closest entrance to their location would be the North."
Bianchi glanced up and smiled, "I'm not so desperate, I will keep you company until the boys get back though."
"I would like that very much, thank you." Tsuna moved a few feet and lowered himself down into a chair not far from the couch. Bianchi was much like her brother- Tsuna could sit in a room with either of them in silence and not feel strange, or like he needed to fill the air with shallow words. His other Guardians had their own ways of making small talk but Gokudera was one with whom he could just sit in silence.
The two sat together, having on and off conversations, for almost two hours before they heard a very familiar sound.
"I cannot believe I spent five whole days with you and your useless self! Never again am I going on an assignment with just you, we were supposed to be back an hour ago!" Gokudera's annoyed voice echoed through the halls, Yamamoto's care-free laughter followed soon after.
"Maa, maa, don't be like that Hayato! We make a great team, and if you were so worried about making it back on time, you should have taken lead."
"I never gave you permission to use my first name! And I thought you could handle getting us back home without getting lost." The voices got closer and louder at a pace slower than normal, but after a few seconds, the two stepped through the doorway. Yamamoto had one arm across his chest in a make-shift sling, and the other hand was securing Gokudera's arm that was wrapped across his shoulders. Gokudera was leaning heavily on his friend and both of them were sweating and breathing much harder than they should have been. Gokudera was too busy glaring at Yamamoto to notice the other two people in the room they had entered.
"Yo Tsuna, Bianchi, what are you two doing awake?" Yamamoto said happily and let go of Gokudera's arm for a moment to give a wave. The Storm Guardian clutched at his crutch's shoulder before he could tip over from the lack of support.
"Aho! Don't let go without- Ah! Juudaime, Aneki, I didn't see you there! I hope you guys didn't stay up all night waiting. I told you to get some sleep," Gokudera said enthusiastically, but at the same time as if he were scolding a child.
Tsuna and Bianchi both stood when the boys entered the room. As soon as his friends were in sight, Tsuna was taking inventory of their conditions. Worry coursed through him when he noticed that neither of them looked very steady. "Gokudera-kun, Yamamoto, you two look awful. I thought you said that you were fine!" The accusation was aimed at his Right Hand.
Gokudera seemed to falter, "A-Ah, Juudaime, it's not as bad as it looks, we will be fine in no time! Besides, you don't need any added worries than you already have." The silver headed man pulled away from Yamamoto and forced himself to stand up straight and take a step towards his boss. His hazel eyes showed exhaustion, pain, and the constant gleam of loyalty that Tsuna could always find in his friend.
Sighing, Tsuna set his glass down and moved next to his Guardians. Bianchi was right behind him. "Just, just get to the medical room, I will go wake up Ryohei," Tsuna's face relaxed into a smile as he looked from his Storm to his Rain. The three nodded once to each other before the Sky turned, "Bianchi, help these two to the medical ward, I doubt either one of them could make it there by themselves."
"Of course, Tsuna. I will assist in the care of your two idiot Guardians," the woman moved in-between the two younger men and jerked her brother's arm around her shoulders.
"Aneki! I don't need your help, I can walk just fine. Go get back in bed, those dark bags under your eyes make you look old…er," Gokudera muttered and received a poke in the ribs from Bianchi's elbow. "You crazy woman! Can't you see I'm hurt, don't jab me with your bony arm!"
"Maa, maa Hayato, your sister is just trying to help," Yamamoto added and followed the two as they headed at a very slow speed to the medical rooms. More complaints from Gokudera followed, and the last thing Tsuna heard before running to Ryohei's room was his Rain- laughing quietly in an attempt to make things clean, and his Storm- raging on even in the midst the hurt and pain.
Three days past since the Storm and Rain returned barley able to stand, and the only indication that they had ever been injured were the new scars that they added to their bodies. They displayed their rejuvenation through multiple verbal and physical fights, nearly all of them beginning with a growled 'yakyu-baka' and ending with care-free laughter and 'Maa, maa Hayato!'.
The battle with the Millefiore was going very badly, and the amount of stress that Tsuna felt piling up on his shoulders was growing with every passing day. He knew that something had to be done if his Family was going to survive. Ideas had been floating around in the Decimo's head that he wished would vacate his mind.
Tsuna found himself once again pacing his office. He had isolated himself from his friends the entire day in hopes that solitude would provide to him an alternative solution to what he was currently seeing as his only way to survive. Since becoming the official head of the Vongola Family, there were not many things that Tsuna truly regretted. He would forever wish that all of his Guardians and friends could live a life free from the dangers of the Mafia. But there was nothing that he could do to prevent that, and he figured that as long as they were all together, they could stay safe.
"If only we had the Vongola Rings…" The brown headed boss muttered and reached to touch where the ring in question used to sit on his hand. He heard footsteps stop outside his door right before it was opened and a blacked headed man stepped in. "You are late. Something go wrong?" Tsuna asked before he turned to face his guest.
"Hmph, what a stupid question. Everything is wrong, but I have the information you want." Hibari Kyouya paused before he took a step towards Tsuna. He pulled a brown package from under his coat and held it out for his official leader to take. "Irie is certain that his cover is secure, and assures me that he is ready to go when you are."
With a sigh, Tsuna took the offered package and looked at his Cloud before moving to sit at his desk. Carefully, he unwrapped the package to find a paper and a map. Beneath the papers were two watches, both black and of very high quality- fit to be worn by a Mafia boss and his men. "They are set to match Irie's exactly. The next notice he sends to me will give explicit details of the when and where." The Sky paused and turned his gaze from the papers to his Guardian.
Hibari sighed and moved to lean against the door frame. "You are making the right choice. The only choice, really," his words were meant to give some comfort to the younger man, but he noticed that there was something more to the Decimo's worries. "They will understand, herbivore, they always do."
Tsuna picked up the watch with an 'X' inscribed on the band and tossed the other to Hibari. The man caught the item easily and looked it over. "I will have my reply ready tomorrow morning, same time as last time. His answer will be the final run. All this is coming upon us too fast…" Tsuna said the last words quietly, but was sure that Hibari had heard him. "I've been trying to think of some other way to fix this- there has to be another answer we aren't seeing." The Guardian did not respond for a while, and after he did, he turned and exited the room.
"It's time to stop thinking like the kids we once were, and start thinking like the Mafia members we have become. The choices you have to make are not always going to be easy or fun. And sometimes, you are going to have to chose between the lesser of two evils, and then live with that choice. But know this, brat, these people around you, your Guardians, they will always stay by your side. No matter what," Hibari concluded his unusual monologue and silently left, leaving Tsuna alone to think over what the Cloud said.
"I hope you are right, but after all this is over, I am just hoping that I will still have Family left to be worried about."
Yamamoto walked into the kitchen after training with Ryohei for the past two and a half hours. The Sun had insisted that they take a break sooner than normally because of the Rain's recent injuries. Despite the protesting that Takeshi tried, Ryohei created an excuse to leave early, knowing that Yamamoto would follow soon after. So, having nothing better to do, the Rain found himself in the kitchen looking for something cool to drink.
"Yo, Gokudera, Lambo, what are you guys up to?" The swordsman smiled and greeted his friends while heading towards the fridge. The Storm was sitting at one of the tables holding a glass of something iced. Lambo was standing next to the stove watching a pot full of water with great vigor.
"Hey, Yamamoto. You wimp out of training early today? I thought you said that your shoulder was fine," Gokudera jabbed but Takeshi did not miss the flash of concern that crossed the hazel-green eyes. Yamamoto chuckled and poured himself a half-full glass of milk. Neither Gokudera nor Lambo missed the fact that their friend's smile did not reach his usually care-free eyes.
"I'm fine, promise. Senpai had other things to do, so I decided to take a break as well. What are you two doing here? I thought that you had studying to do, Lambo," Yamamoto answered and redirected the question back to his friends. Regardless of Lambo's status as a Guardian, Tsuna had insisted that he be educated as best as he could- which often left Gokudera to tutor him. Such an occurrence would occasionally involve other members of the family having to intervene when situations became overly violent.
"I was given the day off by my aho-sensei over there. Apparently, he and Tsuna have some meeting to go to," the black haired Italian boy snuck a glance towards his silver headed counterpart. Gokudera was trying to hide a growing twitch in his right eye and, Yamamoto assumed, resisting the urge to throw the cup in his hand at the teenager.
"A meeting? I did not hear that something was going on, who else is going with you?" Yamamoto ruffled Lambo's hair before joining Gokudera at the table. His voice hinted at concern, but kept its normal casual tone. Hayato quickly flashed his temporary student a vulgar hand gesture before turning to the Rain.
"Yeah, it came up earlier today. Should be nothing to worry about, so just he and I are going. An allied Family needs Juudaime's advice over some matter. I looked into them, they have always been loyal to the Vongola since before the Nono's time." The Storm said and took a sip from his glass. Yamamoto noticed the haggard look about Gokudera and briefly wondered how much sleep he had been getting. Tsuna was worse off than his right hand man, and the two of them going off together with no back-up worried the usually calm man.
"Let me come with you guys. Even if it's nothing, it never hurts to have some extra protection." Yamamoto hoped that Gokudera would agree to the proposal, but had a feeling that it would take some convincing. Normally, Takeshi would be assured that if Gokudera claimed it to be safe for Tsuna to attend, there would be no threat of danger. But recently, nothing they did seemed safe. Every time any of them left on Vongola business, something came up.
Hayato did not respond right away, and looked to be considering the option. "I really don't think it's necessary. Juudaime was going to go without bringing me along, but I talked him into letting me come. The place we are going to is less than thirty minutes away, and I sent men over already to secure the area," Gokudera was explaining when Tsuna appeared.
"Sorry I'm late, Gokudera-kun. I got a call from Dino," the Decimo reasoned. He was pulling his cloak around him as he spoke and sent a kind smile to the other two in the room when he noticed them. "Yamamoto, Lambo, it's good to see you two." Lambo returned the expression happily and asked Tsuna if he wanted any of whatever he was cooking. The Sky declined politely and moved to stand next to where his Rain sat.
"Tsuna, why don't I come with you and Gokudera to this meeting? Or at least bring another Guardian with you," Yamamoto requested and looked up to his boss. Like Hayato, Tsuna thought about the offer for a second before answering.
"I don't feel it necessary. These are good people we are going to meet; they wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Besides, I want you to have one more day to fully recover. I have something I want you to do for me starting tomorrow." Tsuna placed a strong hand on Yamamoto's shoulder and gave his best reassuring smile.
With a sigh, Takeshi accepted the fact that Tsuna had made up his mind and stood. Gokudera mimicked the motion. The three looked from one to the other in silence for a few seconds before verbalizing their partings and instructions to keep safe. Yamamoto wished them luck on their journey and Tsuna told him to contact either himself or Gokudera if something came up. After saying goodbye to Lambo, both the Vongola Decimo and his right hand man left the room and headed towards a waiting car.
Yamamoto sighed and sat back down when they had gone. Something about Tsuna was bothering him. He tried to pay close attention to the changes in his friend, but could not find a reason for the feeling he had. Takeshi trusted his leader with every fiber of his being, and knew that Tsuna always made the choice he thought was best for his friends, but a small nagging in the back of his mind would not leave him alone. Yamamoto just hoped that he figured out what was going on before it was too late to fix.
A/N: Well, I hope that this chapter was not too boring. It did not turn out as good as I had wanted it to, but I felt like I needed to lay the foundation for the upcoming action and drama. Thanks for reading, don't forget to review!