A/N: Hey yah, everyone...! Thanks again for all who read and have reviewed... ARIGATO!
...So here's my sixth chapter ^-^
...(sigh) I finally were able to write it...
...kyah~ I'm so excited on your reviews XD
...enjoy reading ^-^
It's the end of the third day of his training and Tsuna's really tired. Reborn let him rest for a few minutes to restore his energy with his last run of the day. So, he gathered up all his energy for this. His tutor's reason was so they could get the result of his training and so, they'd know how he has improved.
He panted and gasped for air as he waited for his tutor's response.
"Twenty minutes," Reborn said with an it's-not-so-bad tone, "Better than the first time. It has a one-hour and forty minute difference."
Tsuna sighed in relief as he collapsed in his knees.
"Can I take these off now?" he asked and pointed the weight bands.
"No," Reborn answered coolly, "In fact, I'll increase the weight tomorrow."
"Eh?" he looked at his tutor while the baby hitman only smirked evilly.
"You should rest well tonight. We'll start out next training exercise after your morning run," Reborn immediately left him there.
He sighed. He was going to proceed to their house when he decided to take a walk. He walked around with nowhere in particular until he found himself in the middle of the bridge where he rescued Haru previously.
He smiled in that memory with a soft expression on his face. Then, he paused as he noticed the setting sun in front of him. He leaned down on the rail of the bridge and watched as the rays of the sun flowed through everything, enveloping both the land and the sky by an orange hue. He lifted one hand in front of him and observed how it blocked the light to pass through.
He frowned as he took back his hand and his ring got in his view.
I refuse to be part of the mafia and I refuse to let my friends take part in it as well. And this ring signifies my inheritance and even though I refuse to accept it… why am I wearing it in my finger now? He closed his eyes in confusion, is this my acceptance?
"Juudaime!' a familiar voice called from a distance, startling him for a second before turning to the said person with a warm smile.
"Gokudera-kun,"
His self-proclaimed right-hand-man ran to him with a baseball fanatic that he knows very well.
"Yo!" "Juudaime…!"
The two greeted in unison. Yamamoto has his usual cheerful smile while Gokudera have a quite overwhelming happiness sparkling around him.
"Hey, you two," he greeted back, glad to see his two best friends.
"Juudaime, we heard that you're training. What kind of training did Reborn-san gave you? It must be really amazing," Gokudera beamed with admiration.
"Yeah, it must be really amazing if I wasn't the one running around town all day long with eight kilos added to my weight," he sighed at his sarcastic remark.
"That's so great, Juudaime!" Gokudera praised, not paying any attention at his sarcasm while Yamamoto laughed at his comment and patted his shoulder.
"Maa~ Maa~ I bet you enjoyed it anyway," Yamamoto said, making it sound light. He sweat dropped over his friend's comment but nonetheless smiled at the two.
"Juudaime," Gokudera called, sound a bit more serious this time around, "You don't have to work so hard for us. We could take care of ourselves. You can lean on us, too."
"There's no need for you to push yourself too hard for us," Yamamoto added with certainty on his voice, "Remember that you're not alone, we're right beside you."
"You guys…" he smiled softly at the two, feeling touched by what his friends' said.
"…A boss should be the source of the Famiglia's strength and at the same time, his strength must be taken from the Famiglia as well…"
He remembered Dino's words to him. He smiled but then shook his head in confusion. A-Am I actually accepting myself as a Boss? he though then a call from a silver-haired teen tore him off from his thoughts then a question suddenly popped up in his head as he saw the bomber.
"G-Gokudera-kun… Yamamoto-kun… may I ask you something?" he lowered his head as his joyous aura subsided.
"Of course, Juudaime…! Anything for you," Gokudera said with anticipation as Yamamoto only grinned.
"…What will you do if I… if I weren't to be the Tenth Vongola Boss?" he asked and closed his eyes, not wanting to hear their response despite his questioning.
"Simple," he heard Yamamoto replied, "I just have to swing the bat. Whatever kind of pitch comes… I just have to hit it hard to get a homerun then I'll celebrate it together with our team."
Tsuna opened his eyes and looked at the baseball jock, stunned.
"But what will you do if it was a foul ball?" he asked and the other just laughed.
"Then, I'll just have to try it again the next time I bat. And if I wasn't able to do it in that game then, I'll practice hard for the next game until I succeed. And of course, I'll be with my team so whether we won or lose we still have each other, and be happy and enjoy the game," Yamamoto grinned wider, lifting his gloomy feeling. Then, his raven-haired friend tapped the unmoving figure of Gokudera, "Right, Gokudera?"
Tsuna's depression reverted back as he waited for the dynamite-expert's reply. He saw his friend open his mouth but nothing came out. And the next thing he knew, the young Mafioso have already run away with confusion in his eyes.
"Gokudera-kun," he muttered, watching his friend's retreating back. His other friend was going to follow the silver-haired teen when he made Yamamoto stop.
"But… Tsuna… Gokudera… he's…" Yamamoto stuttered in panic. It was the first time he ever heard his friend like this but he understood. He wanted to follow Gokudera as well but his intuition had left him at bay for he knows it was right to let Gokudera go.
Yamamoto looked straight at him as he tried to express his battered emotions for his confused friend. Yamamoto seemed to have caught on to this as well and have agreed to him.
"I guess you're right… Maybe he just needs time for himself," Yamamoto said and smiled sadly.
Then, he looked up at the now indigo filled sky turning to black, "I hope I'm right."
Gokudera suddenly felt an irking feeling on his chest as he observed his Boss' melancholic state. The feeling elevated when he heard his Boss ask him a question he never thought he'd ever encounter.
"What will you do if I…" he waited for his precious Boss, who's being hesitant over his question, to finish, "if I weren't to be the Tenth Vongola Boss?"
He stopped moving from his spot, processing that question on his mind in an unusually slow pace.
He felt blank.
His blank state was cut when he felt a pat on his shoulder. He mentally shook his head and turned to his friends. He wanted to spat at the Baseball freak for touching him but he didn't feel like doing so. Not now that his mind was not processing properly.
He tried to say something but there was nothing his mind could provide him. He could see the desperation for him to answer the question in his Boss' eyes. He couldn't take it. He doesn't know what to do.
He ran away as far as he could, not caring of where his feet would take him. As time has passed, his feet have given up and he fell on his knees with his palms pressed against the ground. He panted heavily.
It was dark around him and he doesn't know where he is. No matter, he doesn't care.
He then sat up straight as he caught onto his breath and had calmed his mind, trying to remember all that just happened.
I ran away… again… his mind screamed as guilt crawled on his mind, I ran away from Juudaime…
…
…how could I do that? Why have I done that? Why must I always result to running? Am I really that much of a coward? I just have to answer a question… but I don't know how to respond.
"…What will you do if I… if I weren't to be the Tenth Vongola Boss?" that question kept on running in his mind.
I came here so I could see who Vongola Decimo (Translation: tenth) is… he told himself in his native language, I heard how he was of the same age as I am so I came here to see him for myself… If someone of the same age as me could be the Capofamiglia (Translation: Boss) of the Mafia bourgeoisie (the richest and most powerful classes)… the capo di tutti capi (Translation: boss of all bosses) then maybe… just maybe… I could be someone important too… someone that could be acknowledged…
As I met Decimo, I was struck in awe… he saved me even though I have tried to killed him… I felt like I was someone important… that's why I swore to be loyal to him and protect him even If I were to die… I never felt that warm and pleasing aura other from my Mother… He welcomed me to his Famiglia even though others have declined… And I just ran away from him…? How could I?
His eyes widen as he realized something… something that has been there but he never took any notice.
He stood up and ran yet again. He ran as fast as he could, looking for a certain house he was quite familiar with. As soon as he has found it, he didn't waste any time and went to ring the doorbell. He pressed it so many times and was, alas, welcomed by a warm smile from his Boss' mother. But he didn't stop to greet her back and went searching for his Boss. He found his Boss sitting in his room getting ready for bed. Then, Gokudera immediately went to bow in front of him in shame.
"G-Gokud-"
Before his Boss could even say another word any further, he has cut in with an apology.
"Please forgive me for running away from you like that… I was being stupid and I… I'm sorry… It doesn't matter to me if you won't be the Vongola Decimo… I didn't swore loyalty for that… I swore because you were the only one who has deemed me worthy of your presence… for making me feel like I could be someone important and not just some junk. Juudaime will always be Juudaime to me, no matter what happens…"he paused and looked up at his shocked Boss, "Sei la mia famiglia… sei il mio Capo…"
"What's that Gokudera-kun?" his boss asked in a confused manner. He didn't realize he has said the most important thing he could say in his native tongue and he has forgotten how his Boss doesn't understand it.
He bowed again, embarrassed at his mistake and repeated his last two phrases while adding a little more to this, "You're my family… You're my Boss… and that will never change. I will stay loyal to you even if you're not Vongola Decimo. I will do my best to be your most loyal subordinate, to be the best Right-Hand Man."
His Boss paused in a moment. Then, he smiled warmly at him.
"Gokudera-kun… you're not just my subordinate or my Right-Hand Man…"
Gokudera felt saddened by his Boss' words. Is he declining as well… I'm so stupid I shouldn't have run away. And now my only family… has forsaken me…he thought and had gotten ready to leave but was held when his conversant continued.
"…Gokudera-kun… no, Hayato… you're my friend… my best friend," his Boss' smile widen.
He couldn't help but be happy. He felt honored that his Boss has even treated him as not only but a friend but his best friend. What made him happier is that his Boss has called him in his first name for the first time.
"Juudaime… you've just called me in my first name," he said in astonishment.
"Oh… uh… is that a-alright?" his Boss stuttered while rubbing the back of his neck.
He nodded enthusiastically with so much delight.
"You could call me Tsuna now, too," his Boss suggested but he quickly shook his head.
"No," he answered flatly then reverted back to his usual self, "I cannot do that. I'm not worthy."
His Boss had tried to convince him but he strongly refused until his Boss just sighed in resignation.
"Ara~ Gokudera-kun… why don't you just sleep here tonight. It's already dark," his Boss' mother advised with a smile but he declined and had gone off to his house.
"Thank you for having me… and sorry for intruding like that," he bowed before leaving.
"Ie… Its fine," his Boss said and had waved him goodbye as he left completely.
He walked silently in the dark sky with a smile, that's right… Juudaime is family…. My family.
A/N: …uuuwwwaaahhh…! Gokudera-kun's pov… kyah~ I hope you enjoyed reading… please review ^-^
