Note:

Giotto:16 years old

Tsuna:11 years old

One Step at a Time

Chapter 9: Bits and Pieces

"Yamamoto! Slow down!" Tsuna exclaimed as he ran trying to keep up with his friend.

"Baseball idiot did you not hear the Tenth! He said slow down!" Gokudera exclaimed as he tried to remove Yamamoto's hand from his wrist.

"Don't worry Tsuna, Hayato! We'll be to the school in no time~" Yamamoto said with a grin.

"The Tenth said stop you idiot! And don't call me Hayato!" Gokudera yelled as Yamamoto just laugh.

"Ok, Dera-kun!"

"Stop it!"

"Dera-Chan?"

"No!"

"Hayato-Chan?"

"I'm not a girl!"

"…Honey?"

Silence…

.

.

.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Tsuna mumbled as he turned green.

"Y-you idiot! If you don't stop right now I'll freaking kill you!" Gokudera shouted.

"We're here!" Yamamoto exclaimed as he stopped in front of the school.

Tsuna slumped onto the ground and sighed as he looked up at the school. He had missed his friends during summer since most of them had went on vacations and he didn't get to spend time with them until the last 2 days of summer. During the summer Tsuna had spent most of his time helping his mom do things around the house and learning things his mom claimed to be necessary skills for the future. Therefore his summer was pretty boring so going back to school was a wonderful thing for him to do.

"Come on Tsuna, we need to see if we're in the same class this year!" Yamamoto exclaimed as he dragged Tsuna over to the Homeroom Board.

"Hey! Put the Tenth down!" Gokudera yelled as he ran after the two boys.

That was also something Tsuna was getting confused about. Ever since they turned six Gokudera has been calling him "Tenth" and it was weird. Many of times Tsuna asked him why he was now know as "Tenth" and Gokudera always answered the same way:

"Because the Tenth is the Tenth"

And then he would always smile afterwards.

After a while Tsuna just gave up and let Gokudera call him whatever he wanted.

"Tenth I'm not in the same class as you!" Gokudera exclaimed angrily.

"Haha, I am!" Yamamoto said happily.

Gokudera turned to the man putting up the rest of the lists and glared.

"Hey you!" Gokudera yelled as he walked over to the man.

"What ya want kid?" The man said as he put the last list up.

"Put me in the same class as the Tenth!" Gokudera said as he pointed to Tsuna.

The man looked over at Tsuna and then back at Gokudera before yawning and walking away.

"That Bitch!" Gokudera muttered as he balled his hands into fists.

"G-gokudera?" Tsuna said before said boy rushed at the man.

"What the fuck?" The man grunted as he was pinned down on the ground with the 11-year old sitting on his back holding his arm.

"I said put me in the same class as the Tenth!" Gokudera yelled as he twisted the arm.

"Ok! Ok!" The man wailed making Gokudera grin.

"Glad you see it my way" Gokudera said before he got off of the guy.

The guy was getting up as Gokudera spoke again.

"And don't think about making a run for it." Gokudera hissed as he glared at the man.

He just grumbled before walking over to the Board and changing something around before calling somebody on his phone.

"There. Ya happy kid?" The man asked as he pointed to Gokudera's name on the same list as Tsuna's.

"Very." Gokudera said before walking to stand next to a speechless Tsuna.

"Stupid Brat." The man grumbled as he walked away.

"Retarded Pansy." Gokudera said before smiling at Tsuna.

"Haha, you're really strong Honey!" Yamamoto said as he wrapped his arm around Gokudera's shoulders.

"You weirdo! Get off of me and don't call me that!" Gokudera hissed

Tsuna just stood there still in shock. No matter how many times Gokudera beat up older people Tsuna was always left in shock. How was he even strong enough to do that?

Italy

"What!" Iemitsu Sawada exclaimed as he stood up.

"Iemitsu! Sit down."

Iemitsu Sawada slowly sat back in his seat but it was clear that he was less than pleased with the current situation. As the room clamed down all eyes turned back to an old man sitting in at the head of the table with his eyes closed in deep thought. Nothing was said as everyone waited to see what the final decision would be.

"I am sorry Iemitsu but this has to be done." The old man said as he slowly opened his eyes and stared at the sad looking man.

"I understand Giotto…but why Tsuna too?" Iemitsu asked still completely confused about what was taking place.

"We have to follow the rules which means that anyone in the family qualifies." A man in all black spoke up from next to the head of the table.

"He's only 11!" Iemitsu exclaimed as he stood up, slamming his hands down on the table.

"That's enough Iemitsu." The old man said as he stood up.

"Ninth…" Iemitsu said as he bowed his head in shame.

"We will wait." The Ninth said as the room began to fill up with whispers.

"How long?" A woman holding a clip board asked as he pulled out her pen.

"2 years." The Ninth said simply.

At that point the room quieted up as everyone stared shocked at what was just said.

"B-but sir! That is too long, you're already too old and you might be targeted for assassination during that time period." A woman with thick glasses said as she nervously pulled at her lab coat.

"Well then, you guys better up your game because we are waiting two years." The Ninth said as he smiled at Iemitsu.

"But sir!" Another man in bad exclaimed before the Ninth threw him a dirty look.

"2 years and that's final." The Ninth stated, leaving no room for argument.

"Thank you, Sir." Iemitsu said as he bowed deeply to the Ninth.

"I happen to like little Tsuna so don't worry about it." The Ninth said with a kind smile.

"Is that all, Sir?" The woman with the clipboard asked.

"Yes, you are all dismissed." The Ninth said.

The room quickly cleared out and only the Ninth and Iemitsu were left talking.

"I think I want to take a trip to visit your family again." The Ninth said as he sat down in a chair.

"When?" Iemitsu asked.

"Soon. I want to have a talk with Nana about this." The Ninth said with a sigh.

"I hope everything goes well." Iemitsu said as he looked out the window.

"I hope so too." The Ninth said before they fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Sawada Residence- Two weeks later

Saturday-12:00pm

"Mama, is Papa really going to come back today?" Tsuna asked as he ate his Lunch.

Nana giggled since Tsuna had been asking the same question for a whole week straight.

"Yes he is Tsu-Chan." Nana said as she continued making a feast in honor of Iemitsu returning home.

"When is he going to be here?" Giotto asked as picked at his food.

"He should be here in a few more hours!" Nana said as she ran over to the oven and pulled out some cookies.

"It's taking forever!" Tsuna exclaimed as he pouted.

"You must really miss dad, Tsuna." Giotto said as he watched his little brother stare sadly down at the table.

"I haven't seen him in 5 years…" Tsuna muttered before getting up from the table.

"Where are you going? You hardly ate your food." Nana said as Tsuna walked to the Family room.

"I'm not hungry…" Tsuna said as he left.

There was the sound of a smack and then an "Ow!" that rang throughout the room.

"Mom!" Giotto exclaimed as he held his head

"You just had to upset him. He has barely been eating these past few days and now he skipped lunch." Nana said as she mixed something in a big bowl.

"He ate a bite of his rice ball." Giotto muttered

Another smack filled the room followed by another "OW!"

"Mom stop!" Giotto exclaimed before running out of the room.

Giotto sighed as he sat next to Tsuna on the couch. The room was full of silence before Giotto decided to cheer Tsuna up.

"Tsuna?" Giotto asked as said boy turned to look at him.

"Yes, Giotto-Nii?" Tsuna asked with a smile.

"Are you ok?" Giotto asked

"Yeah I'm fine." Tsuna said as he turned back to the T.V.

"Mom said that you haven't been eating lately." Giotto said as Tsuna visibly stiffened from that statement.

"I-I have been eating." Tsuna said as his eyes stayed glued to the T.V.

"Tsuna what's really wrong?" Giotto asked as Tsuna just remained quiet.

Giotto was saddened when all he was met with was silence. Hadn't he once told Tsuna that he would take care of him? He had promised that no matter what he would always protect Tsuna. If that was the case then how come Tsuna was sitting here afraid to tell him what was really wrong with him? How come he always noticed everything too late? Was he that much of a failure?

Giotto pulled Tsuna into a tight embrace as tears threatened to fall from his eyes. He had to make up for the empty space Tsuna had in his heart that their father couldn't fill. He had to be the protector of the family no matter what. Doing that meant that he couldn't let his own problems get in the way of helping his family no matter what it took. Since his dad wasn't there all the time it fell onto his shoulders. Whether he liked it or not.

"Giotto-Nii?" Tsuna asked surprised.

This was the first time Giotto had hugged him in a while and it warmed Tsuna's heart.

"I'll always be here for you, Tsuna." Giotto said before pulling back and smiling at Tsuna.

"…Thank you." Tsuna said as he smiled back.

In comfortable silence they begun to watch T.V. in wait of their dad's arrival.

4:00pm

Tsuna sat up upon hearing the doorbell ringing. He looked over to see Giotto still sleeping. He was getting up when his mom opened the front door.

"I'm home!"

Giotto jumped up quickly as Tsuna ran over to his dad.

"Papa! I missed you!" Tsuna exclaimed as he hugged his father.

"Dad!" Giotto called out happily as he hugged his father too.

"I missed you guys!" Iemitsu said happily as he picked them both up into a bone crushing hug.

"Don't forget me!"

As Tsuna and Giotto got released from the bear hug they looked behind their father and stared in surprise.

"Grandpa!" They exclaimed before enveloping him in a hug.

"I missed you guys too." He said with a grin.

"Why are you here?" Tsuna asked happily.

"I have something important to tell Nana." He said as Giotto looked confused.

"What are you telling Mama?" Tsuna asked as his Grandpa chuckled.

"It's for grown-ups only." He said as everyone moved into the house.

"That's no fun." Tsuna said as everyone sat down on the couch.

"Sorry kiddo." Iemitsu said as he ruffled Tsuna's hair.

The next hour went past calmly with everyone talking and joking around until the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." Giotto called out as he went to the front door.

"Giotto and Tsuna are growing up to be fine young man." Their Grandpa said with a smile.

"Thank you. I try my best." Nana said with a smile.

"Tsuna. Hayato, Takashi, Ryohei, Lambo, and Kyoya are here." Giotto said as he walked back into the family room.

"Why don't you guys go outside and play?" Iemitsu asked as Tsuna smiled and got up.

"Ok!" Tsuna said as he walked outside with Giotto following.

"Hey, guys!" Tsuna said as he stood with his friends.

"We missed you!" Yamamoto said happily.

"We saw each other at school yesterday." Tsuna said with a sigh before smiling.

"Who's that old guy in your house?" Gokudera asked.

"He's my Grandpa!" Tsuna said happily.

"Why's he here?" Ryohei asked

"He came to visit with my Papa." Tsuna said simply.

"Your dads never really here." Lambo said quietly

"Lambo, what happened to you?" Tsuna asked as he noticed the bandages covering the boy's body.

"I hurt myself this morning." Lambo said while avoid eye contact with Tsuna.

"Oh, ok." Tsuna said softly.

Tsuna had a feeling that that was not what happened but decided not to say anything else about it.

"Herbivore." Hibari said as he hit Tsuna on the head.

"Ow!" Tsuna exclaimed as he rubbed his head.

"Don't space out. That is first sign of becoming a low life bottom feeder." Hibari said with a scowl.

"How dare you hit the Tenth!" Gokudera exclaimed before charging at Hibari.

"Gokudera!" Tsuna exclaimed but it was too late.

The fight had begun.

Giotto was talking to his friends when a strong feeling to go into the house came out of no where. He tried hard to not go but his head began to pulse and he had to go, he just knew it.

"I'll be right back you guys." Giotto said as he quickly got up and walked into the house.

He closed the door softly as to not make a sound before quietly walking towards the family room. The closer he got the better he felt. The voices in the room got louder as he stood right next to the door, back against the wall listening.

"You can't!" Nana exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Nana but I have to."

That was his Grandpa.

"Iemitsu don't let them do this to me!" Nana sobbed.

Why was mom crying?

"I tried to stop it but I can't."

Dad

"In two years Giotto and Tsunayoshi Sawada will have to fight for the position of the Tenth Vonogla Boss. They must have 6 guardians to take part in the battle and who ever wins will be the Tenth Vonogla Boss. Before the battle they will both be given a Trainer and they will have 8 months to prepare. I am sorry Nana but that is final." The Ninth said before getting up to leave.

Nana busted into tears and crumbled onto floor while Iemitsu followed the Ninth out of the room.

Giotto hid inside of a closet and waited until he heard the footsteps leave before running upstairs. What was going on?

6:00pm

Tsuna was eating his food as he looked around the table. Instead of anybody talking everybody was avoiding looking in his direction. What was wrong? Did he do something wrong?

As he looked over at Nana he saw how she looked like she was holding back tears. Iemitsu was only staring at the table while slowly eating. Giotto however was giving him this blank stare every few minutes. Why was everybody acting like something was wrong with him?

Tsuna wrapped his arms around his stomach. For some reason his stomach felt horrible and it only made him feel worse. Something bad was going to happen. He could feel it.

Finally it took me forever to do this~ I'm sorry about this you guys hope you forgive me. I'm having a bit of writer's block so this was hard. I'll try to get through it. You want to know a good cure for writer's block?

REVIEWS!

So please continue to Read & Review!

Love you guys~

Until next time-Peace!