1. Innocence
Word Count: 877
In a Universe where they are still burdened by the Vongola, yet the Sky and Rain have been friends since childhood.
Shrill peals of screams and laughter warmed the already toasty air as children raced around the park. Summer was evident in the park's atmosphere; children littered the field as some chased each other despite the relatively warm temperatures, mothers and fathers holding their children's hands as they lined up in front of ice cream vendors, and adolescents in loose clothing as they hung around benches, too hot to attempt to do anything other than chat amongst each other.
The swing set off to the side of the park wasn't immune to the atmosphere the heat created. Two of the three swings hung occupied as the other slowly rocked to the summer wind's whistle. Two men occupied those swings, sitting on them basking in the heat as they carried their suit jackets on their arms, also rocking slowly.
A particularly warm breeze blew against the two, and a smile enveloped the lips of the brown haired man as he raised his head, embracing its warmth.
"It's nice out here, huh…?"
The man beside him, lips upturned already in a quiet smile, widened his smile contentedly as he turned his hazel eyes to the brown haired man on his right.
"Funny. I was just thinking the same thing."
The man let out an airy chuckle in response, his golden ochre eyes transfixed on imagery before the two of them.
"You know," the man paused as his short black bangs lightly brushed his forehead in a manner that lightly tickled, "we should head back to the base soon. Gokudera and the others might wind up worrying."
Dark brown eyebrows crinkled ever so slightly, an expression the man always had even when smiling.
He hadn't seen his friend's expression so clear in a long time, and now it was gone.
"Yamamoto."
The black haired man slid his eyes to his friend's face, not even quite realizing he looked away.
"Do you remember all those summers ago…" the man tilted his head toward Yamamoto, face slightly turned but eyes remaining on what was before them, "when we were just little kids?"
Yamamoto stared at the man's face, eyes flicking back and forth, studying the man's gentle features. It was a vague question, too vague at that, and Yamamoto was at a loss at how to answer. He turned his gaze to what the other was watching.
A small group of kids were heavily immersed in their game of tag, laughing in delight as one was tagged and squealed happily when the child who was 'it' chased after them. It was a normal sight here in Namimori, yet just taking the time to watch them and their only waxing smiles brought a warming feeling in Yamamoto.
"It was a long time ago, huh? Since the last time we were able to smile like that," Yamamoto responded quietly and heard a quiet, pleased sound from his partner.
"But such is the innocence of children. It would be cheapened if adults had such innocence."
Yamamoto chuckled, "Oh, really now? You don't regret losing your innocence?"
Because his partner's hands were blood-stained, an invisible red from the lives he's taken but blood burned away by the flame of his Will before he could see it trail down his arms. Yamamoto remembers the night the man first took a life, how it was only the first of many that night, and how he cried brokenly in Yamamoto's arms, screaming how much he hated this.
"No."
The man's voice sounds, deep and rich in its resolution, and Yamamoto stares, silently asking, 'Why?'
"The loss of my innocence was a necessary sacrifice. It was a virtue I needed to lose to understand."
He turned his head to sky and Yamamoto can see in his eyes, the fire that burns so strongly and that this was part of his resolution, his Will; it brought a smile to Yamamoto's face.
"I don't go by blind justice and pure morals anymore. I understand that the loss of my innocence is something that I went through and needed to protect the younger generation from suffering the same way I did, or worse."
The air is thick with determination and silent exuberance and Yamamoto grinnned, getting swept in it. He turned to his friend, standing, and outstretched his hand.
"Then, I guess we should get you home! A Boss has his duties to protect the innocence of children!"
Yamamoto winked, "Right, Tsuna?"
Tsuna gave him a mock glare and pout, before smirking lightly. He placed his hand in Yamamoto's, and as the taller male pulled him up, Tsuna muttered lowly,
"If you insist, Yamamoto."
Yamamoto laughed, "Of course! I gotta do my job by making sure you do your job! Somebody's got innocence to protect!"
Tsuna lightly jabbed him with his elbow and Yamamoto laughed loudly, throwing his arm around Tsuna's shoulders and leading them back to the base.
(If any of their friends were to walk behind them, they'd see two acting as if they were fourteen and young, when death by their hands wasn't their burden, when their blissful ignorance to the mafia's true colors was their innocence.)