Amber eyes widen as they saw a certain silver haired bomber crash on the dry dusty earth. The impacted caused dust to rise, and even in the mist of the obvious pain, the Italian smiled. Blood spilled from his mouth as well as bite. Still, the bomber smiled, and with red lips he mouthed the words, "Sorry Yamamoto-sama."

That was when AU!Takeshi lost it. All he could see was red, the red blood of AU!Hayato, and that he wanted to see the blood of that Junko next. Fixing his grip on his sword, he felt his Rain Flame coat his blade and himself in its tranquil embrace. While the fire did not calm his range, it did however help him see clearly, he knew what he had to do. Charging directly at the muscular zombie the mad swordsman ignored the other mild attacks of the lackeys as he stood underneath the one zombie he was after. His eyes were full of cold seamless hate as he preformed a new style that he created on the spot.

"Shigure Soen Ryu ninth form, Hageshii Ame (Furious Rain)," AU!Takeshi whispered to himself as he made an ark with his arm, slashing the zombie across the chest, however when he followed through he brought his right arm around to slash him vertically. He kept these swings up at high speeds, cutting him into ribbons of cold dead flesh. He fished his slaughter with one final thrust straight into the zombie's abdomen before he was through with him.

Once that zombie was down and out for the count, the fatherless Yamamoto moved on to the one pulling the strings. He glared directly at the smaller girl, and moved to her. Using Hageshii Ame, he effortlessly cleared a path for him to the purple haired girl. In his calm and deathly state of mind he ruthlessly attacked the female Daoshi. Junko's screams and attempts to get away were useless, and only when the Guardians of the canon world forced Takeshi to stop did the one man massacre end.

"Wh-What are you?" Junko asked panting heavily looking at her trembling hands dyed with her own blood.

"Why did you attack us? Why you did you, you little fucking bitch?" AU!Takeshi demanded as the effects of the calming Rain Flame faded, leaving only blind rage in its wake. He tried to attack the zombie girl, but was held back by his alternate and his boyfriend. "LET ME GO FAGS!"

"Oi! Calm down bastard! You're only making things harder!" Gokudera hissed prying his sword away from the dangerous man. However, AU!Yamamoto moved so he elbowed the bomber in the chin, loosening his grip. "Damnit!"

"Yukari said we have till tomorrow, why attack us now?" canon Takeshi asked grabbing hold of the other Rain Guardian's arms and holding them behind his back.

The small girl stood up, as what remained of her undead army came to her side, some were missing limbs, and some were just limbs. Covered in blood and griping her arm she smirked and filched at the pain. "I do not come in the name of that soft spoken leader of mine. I don't want to be in this hell hole any longer! So if that means I must rip your rings off your hands I will!" She laughed manically before lunging at the bound Yamamoto, trying to reach for his ring.

"Fuck! Get back!" AU!Takeshi yelled attempting to kick the girl off him, with no avail. With crazed and blood thirsty eyes she reached out to grab the ring. Her laugh was like a lunatic, and with blood drying on her body and hair she started to look like one of her zombies. The other two who were in okay condition tried to pull her off their teammate, but she refused to let go.

"Ewahahahaaaha!"

"Oh my, this isn't good," a male voice tisked. With long smooth strides Iida from the Watatsumi came onto the scene. "What have you gotten yourself into now, Junko? I think it's time for a nap." And with one swift move Iida hit the preasure point located on the back of the skull causing her to fall unconscious. Sighing he picked up the girl, giving her a piggy back ride, and looked at the teens around him. Smiling he spoke, "I'm sorry about that, she's the most impulsive one out of us, as well as the one who wants out of here the most."

"That doesn't cover half of what she did to Gokudera," AU!Yamamoto said glaring daggers at the auburn haired man.

"I know, but seeing that you're the enemy I cannot offer you aid. But. . ." Iida closed his fiery eyes before removing his necklace and holding it out, "I hope that this could be my payment for my friend's mistake."

"You can't be serious," the motherless Yamamoto gasped seeing the man before him offer up his Mist Mare Ring.

"I am. While we may not seem like it, we of the Watatsumi are people of our word," He looked over at the girl on his back. "Well most of us."

"And yet you stole the stupid cow's rings," Gokudera huffed annoyed as he carried/dragged his alternate.

"Ah, but you see we had no deal at the time." The illusionist pointed out as he started to disappear in the Mist Flame, "I fear that I must bid you farwell, Junko needs to be looked over, and by the looks of it so does your friend." As the last words were said they disappeared without a trace, zombies, and all. The only thing that they left behind was a winged ring on a chain that made a clanking sound as it fell to the ground. The indigo gem glittered in the afternoon sunlight.

"Fuck, we need to get him to the infirmary!" canon Hayato cursed remembering the almost-dead weight that he was holding up. The Yamamotos nodded and helped the injured Storm Guardian into the medic area of Namimori.

xXxXx

Time came and gone and AU!Gokudera was out of the red zone, however he still stayed in comatose. The sliverette suffered from ruptured organs, cracked bones, and a hit to the head that had a 60% chance of leaving him in that state forever. However, according to Verde, it could have been worse. Hayato was able to wrap himself in a blanket of his flames, saving him from the worse of the damage, broken spine or neck, shattered skull, or having his bones be dislocated and poke through his skin. After those who had Sun Flames and had medic experience did all they could do, mending the organs and bones, it still left a lot for the comatose pianist's body a lot to do on its own. Nothing time couldn't fix, but whether Gokudera woke up or not was a different matter.

It was a short while after Verde treated the injured Hayato and everyone was around the medic wing of the school, even the Mist Guardians, waiting for their teammate to get better. And while everyone was worried for the kind Storm Guardian, there was one who was on the cusp of insanity about the events that happened.

"Fuck it all!" AU!Yamamoto hissed as his fist met with the wall of the hall way outside the infirmary. How could he let that silver haired fag take the hit? Why wasn't it him, the cold mean heartless bully that no one cared for? Why?

"What the hell are you mad at?" the other Hayato questioned him.

"Ugh. . . Nothing just leave me alone for awhile," the swordsman huffed lying about the nothing part.

"Oi," the temperamental bomber spat grabbing hold of the collar of the taller teen. Despite the height difference, Gokudera could look menacing when he really tied.

"Maa maa Hayato, calm down. You don't need to be picking fights," the baseball star said trying to avoid conflict.

"I know, but I need to get through this bastard's thick skull," Hayato said ignoring his boyfriend. Looking up with fierce emerald eyes he began to give the taller Japanese a piece of his mind, "I don't give a rat's fucking flying ass about all the shit you give me, but what you have done to him is another story. You, you emotionless bastard, have caused him so much pain! It's because of you that Gokudera is in that messed up state!"

"You think I don't know that?" AU!Takeshi said as he felt himself shake, whether it was from anger, or fear he didn't know. "I know very well that I'm the blame, I'm the evil bad guy who everyone wants to kill; the big bully on the playground, the monster who no one wants, the fucked up person who was given life for God's twisted amusement. You don't think I don't know what I am?" Realizing his mistake of showing too much he looked away. The badass rather had been beaten to a pulp rather than show his ugly weakness to someone else.

"Tch. . . I honestly don't know what he sees in you," the Storm Guardian sighed after a few moments of silence. He letting his grip go and walked away, feeling the urge for a drag.

His words puzzled the Rain Guardian, but he didn't have time to ponder over the meaning, because a ball was tossed his way. It was a baseball, and when he was about to say something like, "Don't you have the wrong Yamamoto fag?" or something across those lines. His alternate spoke.

"Looks like Hayato is putting his faith in you."

"What do you mean?"

"I think Hayato thinks that you're the only one who might have a chance to reach Gokudera-kun," the friendlier Rain Guardian explained looking out the window to see his boyfriend taking a smoke. "You should to see Gokudera-kun yourself, because I believe that you can save him too," he said patting AU!Yamamoto on the shoulder before walking away to catch up with his Gokudera. That left Yamamoto standing in the hall way alone, with a baseball. He didn't understand what was going on, and honestly didn't know what those two expected him to do. Did they think that he could somehow magically revive the comatose Storm Guardian?

Sighing he decided not to think too much about it. Looking at the door that separated him and his old friend he decided to take his other's advice and see how AU!Gokudera was. Feeling the cold metal of the door knob he gently opened and closed the door to the room. The nurse's room was small, with only a desk and two beds, one which was being used at the moment. It was poorly lit, with only the one window giving off light, and somehow it only made the room look more colder, like death was at hand. But that was nonsense, Gokudera would be alright, he's taken much worse than this.

Right?

Walking up to the bed that held the silverette, Takeshi pulled up a chair and sat next to him. The peacefully way his chest rose and fell made it look like the teen was simply sleeping, and that everything was going to be alright. It also made it looked like he was dead, and that the Rain Guardian should pull up the sheet out of respect. Unsure of what to do, he looked at the small baseball, studying it more closely. The feel of the white leather felt good between his fingers, as they reminded him of more happier times of his life. Rotating the ball in his hands, he caught a glimpse of something that didn't belong on the while and red ball. It was black, or more precisely ink; ink that spelled out his name in messy but legible hand writing.

Now this small baseball held more meaning to the Japanese, because over the years in his youth, Takeshi had signed many baseballs, and handed them out as much as he could to people. Back then he thought that he would become a pro baseball star when he grew up, so he wanted people to say that "I've met Yamamoto Takeshi before, and I even have his signature!" Did that mean, that he met Gokudera before, and after all these years, he still kept hold of the baseball?

Guilt infected the amber eyed teen's mind. He always felt a little culpable when he terrorized someone, especially Gokudera. However, despite all the hell Yamamoto made the bomber go through, and he still kept onto the baseball and even risked his life for the swordsman, he was completely disgusted with himself. And those feelings of self-hatred turned into tears, as he began to cry for the first time in what seemed like forever. It wasn't the over dramatic sobs that were in movies, just the silent cries as his breathing became slightly more irregular.

"I-I'm sorry," the Rain Guardian whispered trying to stop the damn water works. He wanted to say more, he wanted to say that he was sorry for everything he had done to the poor silverette, but his stupid pride held his tongue in an iron grasp. After a few minutes he was able to apologize to Hayato again in a way that summoned up everything his felt, "I'm sorry for being so weak. . ."

With that confession, Yamamoto Takeshi's pride and whatever else was holding his words back dropped. He could finally voice his side of the story. Even if his words were falling on someone who may never be able to respond back, he had to speak. Takeshi needed to, if not for himself, but for the man in front of him.

"I know that doesn't erase the memories of what I've done to you, but I have to say this. Just so you know my side of the story. . ."

+ Flashback + AU!World + 1-2 years ago +

Gokudera went over to Yamamoto's house to help him study for an upcoming math exam. However, they didn't make up much progress, mainly because they were goofing off too much for the swordsman to learn and retain the knowledge he was given. Well they always had tomorrow morning to cram the whole lesson into Takeshi's brain, if they were lucky he would get something passing.

"Thank you for letting me over Yamamoto-dono," Gokudera said at the door bowing to Yamamoto Akane.

"Oh that's fine," the widow said smiling sweetly, pulling her long wavy black hair behind her shoulder, "I hope you two boys had fun, and drop by anytime!"

"Arigato!" the silverette thanked before turning to his friend and crush, "S-see you at school Yamamoto."

"Yeah, thanks for dropping by. Catch you later, Gokudera," Takeshi said smiling as he ruffled the pianist's long silver hair.

These simple actions caused blood to rush to Hayato's face, and with a short goodbye he quickly left the apartment. Smiling warmly at the kind and loving gestures that his crush bestowed upon him. Why couldn't he admit his feelings? Surely Yamamoto would return them, right?

Inside the small apartment Akane's sweet smile faded as her true personality reviled itself. She didn't like at how her son treated that boy that was just here. Sure Takeshi brought over plenty of friends in the past, but that boy was different. That last scene was almost like two lovers saying goodbye for the night after they had sex. Awkward, but still loving, nothing too flashy or romanticize. And maybe the widow drunk would be okay with it if her son was doing this with a female, but a boy? Outrageous, impossible, preposterous. She and her late husband did not raise a homosexual son, and would be damn if her suspicions were true.

"Takeshi, do you have feelings for that boy?" Akane asked bluntly when her son turned around to face her. When he didn't respond fast enough for her liking, an eyebrow arched as she spoke again, "Are you gay for him?"

"What?" the ex-baseball player said confused. Where did this come from? Was her mother drunk?

"Are you attracted to that boy? Do you harbor feelings for him?"

"N-NO!" Takeshi answered honestly. Well somewhat honestly, he had to admit that the silver haired genius did have good looks. The high cheekbones, crystal clear eyes, soft silver hair, the small and dedicate frame work of his body, he was naturally eye-catching and he couldn't deny that. However, Gokudera Hayato wasn't gay, he was interested in females, he would never even think about going out with a guy much less him.

Not that he cared what his best friend's sexual orientation was anyways. It wasn't like he was gay for the other teen. . .

"I can't believe it. . ." Akane mumbled as her hand moved to the counter where a butcher's knife was only centimeters from her hand. Holding onto the wooden end of the potential weapon she spoke, "I can't believe my son it a liar and a fag!" She showed how much she was disappointed in her son by throwing the knife at the amber eyed teen. Takeshi ducked as he heard the metal clank to the floor. He was shocked that his mother would do something like that, while yes she did have these episodes in the past, she never picked up a knife. Was she really that torn up about the idea that her son maybe was playing for the other team?

"I'm not gay! Neither is Gokudera!"

"Lies! You don't think I saw how you two looked at each other. The way that, that gay whore leered at you?" the drunk mad woman said throwing random objects at her son. "I suppose it's fitting the monster and the gay whore."

"Stop it!" Takeshi demanded finally able to grab ahold of his mother's wrist. Akane dropped the items in her hand, as she looked up at her son with tears in her eyes. Her ebony hair was now a mess, as it stuck to her face because of sweat. She then hugged her son, crying and sobbing.

"Ta-Takeshi, Takeshi p-please tell me yo-you're not. . . not," she choked out between sniffs.

"I'm not gay, I will never be mother," the swordsman confirmed returning the hug as the two Yamamotos fell to the floor. While yes he wanted to hurt his mother, tell her to snap out of it, Takeshi couldn't. He couldn't hurt his own mother dispute everything she was, he just couldn't.

"Good. . ." the older female sighed, "Promise me that you won't hang around him if he does turn out to hold feelings for you?"

"But I told you-"

"Please, Takeshi?" Akane cut him off pleading for her son's word.

Closing his eyes, Takeshi made the promise, making his mother happy once more. She cuddled and started to return to her "sane" self. He only made the promise because he was sure that his best friend wasn't homosexual. Who knew at that time that those words would cause so much pain in the time to come?

+Present Time +

Somewhere between Yamamoto saying that he was sorry, and telling the sleeping Gokudera his story, Hayato regain some sense of consciousness. He couldn't open his eyes, speak or move, but he could still listen. And with every sad sentence, he wanted to cry for Takeshi. Hold and comfort him, and tell him that everything was fine, and that he forgave him, but he couldn't. All he could do was listen as the words kept spilling out from his crush's mouth.

"I know shouldn't have rejected you like that, but I couldn't accept your feelings. And as much as I hate my mom, I couldn't break the promise. Every time you came over, she made me promise that over and over again, and one time she even threatened to kill you if I didn't keep it." Takeshi's voice was shaking, and Hayato desperately wanted to reach out to him, but he frozen. His body refused to move. "I know it's a lame excuse, but like I said before, I'm weak. I. . . I just . . . couldn't. . ."

"Don't cry! It's alright! I forgive you!" Hayato wanted to say. He wanted to jump out and embrace the Rain Gaurdian, he wanted to do so many things but he was trapped within his own body. Why was there always something in between them? Yamamoto's mom, the swordsman's bullying, and now his stupid body. This was not how things were suppose to be! It just wasn't!

"Uunngh. . . fer. . . ginnn. . ." the silverette struggled to speak. It hurt to move, to talk, but that pain would be worth it if he could reach out to his old friend. He was so desperate that he began to cry behind closed eyes. However, as much as Hayato was trying to communicate with Takeshi, he couldn't. He felt hopeless, and weak. He couldn't go on, he groaned as he gave up. Losing all hope of recovery for himself, and letting the darkness take him back. That was when he heard something fall to the floor and felt something warm around his right hand.

"Go-Gokudera?" the surprised and worried voice of Yamamoto said. The way he said his name kept echoing inside the said teen's head, giving him a new reason to open his eyes. Even if it was for a short while, he needed to see the Rain Guardian. Giving it one last try, he clasped onto the hand that was holding his, and forced his green eyes to open.

It was difficult, and painful, but it was worth it, just like Hayato thought. Even though Yamamoto had blood shot eyes, and looked like hell, it was worth it for the Storm Guardian. Even though the teen before him was his bully, he was also his friend and crush.

Smiling he spoke in a crackly voice, "Yaa. . . moto. . .sam. . ."

"Don't call me that anymore Gokudera. . . I don't deserve such titles," Takeshi said dropping the bomber's hand. With sad eyes, he smile and got up from his seat, the Japanese figured that the other didn't want him around anymore. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Stay," was the simple command as the Italian tried to stop the other, weakly holding out his hand that had needles poking at the skin. "Pleaseee. . ." Gokudera breathed out feeling faint. Yamamoto took his seat again, not looking at the hospitalized guardian. Happy that he got what he wanted, the pianist let his hand drop, making sure it was evident that he wanted to hold hands with the swordsman again.

Takeshi starred at the pale limp hand before getting the message. Gently he took the small hand within his large one and looked up at the silverette. "Why would you want me here?" the raven haired teen asked quietly. Even though he should make the other talk, he wanted to know.

"Still. . . love. . . Yamamoto," the tired teen mumbled as he felt his eyes drop. He was too drugged up to worry how Yamamoto would react this time, as long as he was here with him, everything would be fine.

Yamamoto was absolutely shocked at Gokudera's words. Even after everything that had happened, everything he did to the poor soul, the bomber stilled cared for the damn swordsman. With misty eyes, Takeshi did something he did out of purely impulse. He leaned down and kissed the resting boy on the lips. It was short and sweet, but the warmth of the other boy's pink lips still tingled on the Rain Guardian's own. While the Japanese didn't know exactly what he felt for the small boy, it wasn't a bad confusion because he felt at peace and happy. As well as the fact that deep down, in a place where he forgot even he had, he knew that he too loved Gokudera Hayato back.

It just may take time for the rest of Yamamoto Takeshi to realize this.

Subconsciously the tall swordsman shifted around so he had his head resting on Gokudera's bed, still holding on to the other's hand. Looking over to see the now sleeping Hayato, Takeshi smiled as he felt sleep pull at him as well. However, before he fell into unconscious he murmured one last thing, "Wait for me please Gokudera. . ."

A pair of gentle smiles graced the faces of the two teens, as they fell into a sweet sleep. Neither male loosening their grip on the other, because now there was nothing in the way anymore. They were free to feel and do whatever now. Or at least that's what they felt inside right now, and they didn't want to lose that feeling anytime soon, or each other.

xXxXx

Inside the head quarters of the Watatsumi Famiglia, the seven Mare Ring Holders sat around a long table, with Yukari at the head. They were all gathered to discuss what they would do tomorrow, and how they would act if things didn't go the way they wish.

"I call dips on killing that bastard Rain Guardian," Junko hissed glaring at her bandaged fist. How dare that poop head embarrass her like that! The nerve!

"You're not going to kill anyone, they may agree with us," Yukari said calmly.

"Bah! Yeah right, those guys won't agree to help us!" the purple haired girl spat kicking her feet on the table.

"You need to stop thinking like that, and acting so rashly Junko," Kondo sighed annoyed by the youngest teammate. "It's because of that, that Iida gave up his ring." That scolding kept the small girl quite.

"Let's move on to a different topic, shall we?" the said illusionist laughed lightly. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"So if things do turn out for the worst, who shall we fight? Or will we enter battle without a plan?" Kiuchi spoke up after a moment of silence.

"If anything, no one will go after those who cannot fight," Yukari ordered looking down at the necklace that held her ring as well as the Lambos'. A wave of sound went through the Watatsumi in agreement.

"I suppose we should go after the ones we can beat," Ichinose sighed speaking up. "Meaning Junko shouldn't fight 'that bastard Rain Guardian."

"And that you shouldn't fight at all," Suguru spoke teasing his punching bag for his sword.

"Hey! What did you say?" the blond yelled standing up on the table pointing fingers at the samurai across from him. Thus turning the serious atmosphere into a more comical one.

"What, along with stupidity are you hard of hearing?" the dark blue haired man asked, jabbing at his teammate some more.

"Why you!" Ichinose then tried to jump across the table to strangle the Rain Guardian however Kiuchi held him back. And even though he struggled to get free and kill the man in front of him, he couldn't.

"Looks like we won't get anything accomplish today," Kondo sighed looking over to his boss. "I'm terribly sorry for this. Forgive us Yukari-sama."

"It's fine Kondo," the Watatsumi Boss giggled, happy to see that her famiglia was enjoying themselves. Now if only they could enjoy themselves in the real world.

Aly: Done with chapter no.12! I don't think I did a too well of a job with the AU!8059 scene, but if I went any further I would feel like I'm rushing things. Yes I did make up a 9th form of Shigure Soen Ryu for AU!Yamamoto. And it was all because of his Gokudera! Also I think that the characters are taking a life all their own, because I did not plan for Junko to go all crazy, or to have Iida give up his Mare Ring. However, I think it turned out better this way. What do you guys think? And now next chapter we get to have the Vongola meet all of the Watatsumi face to face! And I wonder if I should end this series soon. Things are starting to fall into place, and unless I can come up with something crazy to put our heroes into, I just may. Well anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, reviews are always nice, and till next time. . . Bye-bye!