a/n: Special thanks to Shimaki-33, TheLuciferPerson and RejectedByMostButLovedByAll for the awesome reviews. I really appreciate it! Here's the next chapter just for you guys.

Summary: 8059 Yamamoto has a crush on Gokudera, but Gokudera is hopelessly oblivious. Then he overhears something and misunderstands. Soon everyone in the mansion is a victim of this unfortunate circumstance.

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn or any of its characters.

"speaking" thinking

Victims of Circumstance Chapter Four: Tsuna's Question

"WHAT THE HELL? NO, I WON'T BE YOUR BOYFRIEND!"

"Oh, okay, I kind of already knew that. Can't hurt to ask though, right?"

"Che, whatever idiot, since when are you gay anyways? Don't you like girls?"

"Actually, I do like girls, but I like guys too, and I don't like anybody nearly as much as I like you, Gokudera!"

"Stop saying that crap, and get the hell away from me! Can't you see this is all your fault?" True to his flame's namesake, Gokudera stormed out of the training room and headed straight for the Tenth's office.

Without a word, he burst into Tsuna's office and immediately spat out, "Tenth! I just talked with that damned baseball idiot and-"

"Didn't anyone ever teach you to knock, herbivore?" A decidedly disgruntled cloud guardian was standing behind Tsuna's desk next to the Boss's chair. His tonfas were already out, and he looked ready to beat Gokudera to a pulp.

Even Hibari's threats were not enough to deter Gokudera who said, "Whatever, Hibari, I have something really important to speak to the Tenth about."

"I'll bite you to death."

"Now, now, Kyoya, I think Gokudera and I actually do have something important to talk about. We'll continue our...discussion later."

"Very well." Kyoya strode out the room, but not before casting another furious glance at Gokudera's direction that clearly said: I'll get you for this.

Che, what was that about? "Anyways, Tenth, I just spoke to the baseball idiot, and I just wanted to make sure he didn't give you the wrong idea. There is nothing going on between us. I hate that idiot!"

As Gokudera uttered that last sentence, Tsuna's face took on a faintly disapproving expression. It was one Gokudera rarely saw, but every time he did, it broke his heart. Tsuna's eyes were so full of compassion and understanding, yet Gokudera couldn't shake the feeling that the Tenth was somehow disappointed in him. It was quite possibly the worst feeling of his life. "Do you really hate Yamamoto, Gokudera?"

"He's such an idiot! I don't like him at all, but he still asked me to be his boyfriend!"

"Gokudera, I know that you may not want a romantic relationship with Yamamoto, but don't you think you could at least consider him your friend?"

"No, the Tenth is my friend. Yamamoto is my rival."

"You can have more than one friend, Gokudera, and what are you two rivals over anyways?"

"The position of right hand man of course! Yamamoto may be a born hitman, but I've worked my ass off and no one is more loyal to-"

"Gokudera, stop. You don't need to fight with anybody over being my right hand man. You are my right hand man. You have been for years. Out of everyone I ever met you were the first to see past no-good Tsuna. You were the first friend I ever had. There is no one else I could ever consider for the position of my right hand man."

As Tsuna said this, Gokudera's eyes began to tear up. He wiped at them quickly with his shirt sleeve before sniffling and saying, "Thank you, Tenth!"

"But now that you know that, you have to figure something out. Where do you stand with Yamamoto? You're not rivals. You never were. So what are you? You don't have to tell me right now or answer at all for that matter, but give it some thought, okay? Come back any time if you want to talk. Just, uh, try to knock first in the future."

"O-of course! Thank you for your time, Tenth."

xxxxx

It has been a couple of weeks since Yamamoto's confession and Gokudera still has yet to answer the Tenth's question. If he and Yamamoto were on shaky footing before the confession, now there didn't even seem to be any footing for Gokudera to stand on. What made it so awful was how normal it all felt. Gokudera couldn't detect the slightest change in Yamamoto's behavior. It was as if the confession and subsequent rejection had never happened. That was what made Gokudera so irritable. Yamamoto didn't mope or seem upset at all. If he really likes me Gokudera found himself thinking, shouldn't he be a little more upset that I rejected him. That idiot's acting like nothing happened. Like everything is still normal!

Gokudera constantly found himself questioning Yamamoto's every little action- every word, every touch, ever smile. The Tenth said they were no longer rivals, but they had been at first. They were rivals and perhaps even enemies. When had that all changed? From the start Yamamoto had rubbed Gokudera the wrong way- that stupid laugh, that laid back attitude, that too-bright smile, and yet he was so damn good, the bastard! Gokudera puzzled and puzzled and couldn't find the answer. In the mean time, he stamped around the Vongola Headquarters, snarling at everyone and everything in his path and generally making everyone miserable.

One night, after a particularly annoying altercation with Ryohei, Gokudera sulked in bed pondering once again his relationship with Yamamoto. It seemed to him that everything had made perfect sense in the beginning, but somehow it had gotten confused later down the road. The only logical step, then, was to track the changes of their relationship overtime. That's it. Gokudera realized triumphantly. All I need to do is make a timeline, detailing how things have changed from the start of our relationship. With the data laid out clearly in front of me, I'll be able to analyze it and come to a clear conclusion.

Now, at last, Gokudera was on familiar footing. When it came to theory and data points and logic, he could do no wrong. He immediately pulled out a pencil and paper and got to work charting the course their relationship had taken. To his surprise, it was somewhat more difficult than he had anticipated. Gokudera had to make a lot of guesses and estimates. He noted that from start to present he still referred to Yamamoto as "baseball idiot." There were many things, however, that remained inconsistent. When did Gokudera begin allowing Yamamoto to sling an arm around his shoulder without complaint? Why was it that their arguments no longer ended with Gokudera threatening to shove exorbitant amounts of dynamite in every orifice of Yamamoto's body? When had that stopped?

Most startling, Gokudera realized that he had always taken his ability to cooperate with Yamamoto on missions as a given. After their fight with Gamma in the future, it seemed they might be able to cooperate after all, but that had not proven to be the case. In the beginning of Tsuna's reign as Vongola Decimo many missions they had partnered on went horribly awry. When had they become able to work together as a team? More than that, when had it become normal? He had naturally assumed that he and Yamamoto were the best pair for that diplomatic mission. They were an understood team. When they guardians were paired up, they were almost always together. When had that become the norm? When had the status quo changed?

In the end, Gokudera was only able to make estimates. He plotted out each year, month by month, but at times he was forced to guess by nearly an entire year about the changes in their relationship. Frustrated, confused and tired, Gokudera slumped back in bed. Nearly four in the morning? How did it get so late? I'll analyze the chart tomorrow. With the data laid out, I can feel the result right in front of me now. Tenth, I'll have an answer to your question soon.

xxxxx

a/n: Moving right along at my usual snail's pace. I don't mean to drag it out, but I want a chance to really show how things have changed. I can give you a hint about things to come, though. The next and final (I think) chapter is going to be: Yamamoto's Answer. I promise we'll finally get some well deserved 8059 fluff after all this build up.