Disclaimers: Don't own KHR or its characters.

Warnings: FLUFF, swearing.

A/N: 'The Shifter Simply Weird' changed her name to 'AmbiguousThoughts'. She's still my awesome beta-reader, though! :D

Beta: Hey guys~! Beta here.
I haven't tried this method of communication until now, so I might sound a bit weird.
So, yeah. I changed my name. I think I'll actually stick with this one (unlike all those others).
Anyways, if any of you guys need a beta, I'm available (even with 4 writers). /Chagrined smile.
Sorry, MeLoNnAiSE-chan. You can share me, ne? ;P.

Okinawa, 2.43pm

SMACK.

"Ow-!" Tsuna yelped when a large, wet ball of sand smacked him on the back of his head causing him to almost fall into the sea water, which he was standing in.

"Woo! Right on target!" Ken, the assailant – also standing in the sea, pumped his fist into the air in victory. The animalistic boy turned towards his best friend who was reading on the beach and shouted, "Kakipii~! Did you see that?"

Chikusa simply put his book down momentarily, glanced at Tsuna who was still complaining about the hit, turned back to Ken and nodded before going back to reading.

"Oi! Ken! Look here!"

SMACK.

Ken turned towards the familiar voice from behind, only to be met with a wet sand ball directly to his face. Ken immediately rubbed the wet sand off his face, flinching at the saltiness of the sea water before pointing at the silvernette who threw the sand. "You!"

Gokudera stood smirking in the water, another ball of sand ready in one palm, "That's for picking on Tsuna." Smiling, Gokudera playfully gave Ken the finger before he threw the other ball of sand at him, shouting, "Game on!"

Ken dodged the sand this time, sticking his tongue out at Gokudera before he quickly scooped up another handful of sand, "Ha, fine! Challenge accepted!"

"Losers pay for ice cream!"

"Deal!"

That was how the two began their sand war, running around in the sea, with helpless Tsuna thrown into the mix. Gokudera's ankle was still injured, but that didn't stop the silvernette. As soon as his limp improved, Gokudera was up on his feet and sprinting whenever he could.

However, of course, Gokudera still couldn't move as fast as he used to – and he realized this was a disadvantage in the sand war, especially when he had Tsuna to take care of as well. Thus, the silvernette called out towards the beach, "Hey! Baseball idiot! Come join!"

Yamamoto, who had been playing sports on the beach with the other people from the school's sports team, laughed before he called back, "Sure! I'll be right there!"

Ken immediately complained when he saw the baseball player running into the sea and joining in, "Oi! No fair! It's three against one – even though no-good-Tsuna doesn't really count!"

"Heh, sucks to be you!" Gokudera smirked, throwing another ball.

Tsuna, crouching behind a large sea boulder smiled sheepishly at Yamamoto, "Ah, I guess I'll hand this over to you?"

"Ahaha, sure thing!" Yamamoto laughed, cheerfully touching his hand to Tsuna's to "tag" it before he ran forwards to join Gokudera.

Almost instantly, the participation of Yamamoto created a huge advantage on Gokudera's side – him being the ace baseball player of the school. Even when Mukuro joined in on Ken's side, the two still couldn't manage to beat Yamamoto and Gokudera.

"Oya~, isn't this situation a bit unfair, Ace?" Mukuro, tired and panting, called out to Yamamoto, who was expertly throwing the wet sand balls in a baseball-pitching style.

"Haha~, don't be a sore loser Mukuro!" Yamamoto smiled happily, breathing only slightly harder as he continued to pitch the balls.

The sand war went on for a little while longer before Ken collapsed into the sea, raising his hands in the air, his entire body covered in traces of wet sand as he panted heavily. "Okay…okay! I…I give up! I give up!"

Mukuro, also panting and covered in sand, rested his hands on his knees before he raised one hand in a giving-up manner as well. He chuckled tiredly between pants, "Ku…fu..fu~. I also… must give up…to you two this time…"

"Damn straight!" Gokudera smirked victoriously, before he turned towards Yamamoto, a huge smile on his face, "That was fucking awesome!"

Yamamoto chuckled as he slapped hands with Gokudera, who intertwined their fingers for one heart tripping second, before he let go again, still smiling as though nothing had happened.

But for Yamamoto, something most definitely did happen. That twinge in his chest was undeniable, and Gokudera's rare bright smile didn't help. He couldn't take his eyes off the silvernette; whose wet thin black t-shirt now clung to his slim body, clearly emphasizing his shape.

Ugh. Stop it, you idiot. Yamamoto scolded himself – but even so, his eyes couldn't help but keep stealing glances at Gokudera.

"Alright, losers! Pay up!" The silvernette demanded, reaching his palm out towards Mukuro and Ken who were now taking a rest on the beach beside Chikusa.

"Che. No fair, you had Yamamoto!" Ken pouted.

Gokudera wiggled his fingers, "Too bad…now pay up!"

"Fine, fine…" Ken muttered before he pulled out some money from his bag and reluctantly handed it over to Gokudera.

Gokudera counted the money, before he smiled, "Great." The silvernette then walked up to Yamamoto who was crouched next to Tsuna. He showed them the money, "Come on, let's go get something to eat."

Tsuna smiled and shook his head, "Ah, it's okay Gokudera-kun, I'm not hungry. You go with Yamamoto."

"You sure?" Gokudera asked.

The brown-haired boy nodded, "Yeah, I'll stay here with Mukuro and the others."

Gokudera hesitated for a moment, before he decided to respect Tsuna's decision. The silvernette then turned towards Yamamoto, "Let's go then, baseball idiot."

"Haha, okay," Yamamoto jumped up to his feet before he instinctually wrapped one arm around Gokudera's shoulders. Before he realized what he was doing, his arm was already on the silvernette – but Gokudera didn't seem to mind, so Yamamoto didn't remove it.

It's just my arm around his shoulders. Everyone does that. Yamamoto convinced himself.

The two were heading for the ice cream shop within the hotel area when all of a sudden, Gokudera noticed something, and had a new idea.

Yamamoto was confused when Gokudera slipped out from under his arm and started tugging him in a direction away from the ice cream shop. "Ah, Gokudera, what are you doing?"

"Shh. Look," Gokudera motioned over to the exit of the hotel where a few motorcycles and motorbikes were parked with a 'FOR RENTAL' sign standing beside them.

Yamamoto chuckled, "Ahaha, you've got to be kidding."

"Of course not, you idiot," Gokudera answered almost instantly, continuing to pull Yamamoto along with him. "Ken gave us quite a lot. We could rent one of these things and still get something to eat later."

Yamamoto was hesitant, "But sensei said that we're not allowed to leave-"

"Oh, seriously," Gokudera shook his head, "Don't act like you've never broken any rules." He turned towards Yamamoto, looking into those brown eyes, both hands on Yamamoto's arm, "Trust me. It'll be fun."

Yamamoto couldn't resist those emerald orbs. They were shining in a way that he'd never seen before, and he didn't want to kill that light – not when he had witnessed how broken they could look.

The baseball player sighed, before eventually, he smiled at Gokudera, "…okay."

Okinawa, 3.24pm

Yamamoto never really truly understood how people could be addicted to adrenaline rushes – especially when the methods were usually so dangerous. For him, baseball was more than enough. He never thought of doing life threatening sports as a hobby – sure, maybe once or twice, but definitely not on a daily basis. But on that day, Gokudera changed his mind.

The silvernette was a monster on the bike. As expected of a leading member of Dynamite, the way he drove was as daring as ever – expertly zigzagging across the roads causing numerous cars to honk at them in annoyance; accelerating way over the speed limit; taking sharp turns and drifts so abruptly the tires screeched and the side of the bike almost made contact with the ground. Half of the time, Yamamoto kept expecting Gokudera to lift up the front wheel, considering how much of a risk-taker the silvernette was on the road.

However, instead of being frightened and shocked…Yamamoto loved it. The adrenaline rush felt amazing every time Gokudera pulled a sudden, dangerous move. The wind was blowing against him, making him feel as though he was flying with the air cool against his damp clothes. Plus, Yamamoto couldn't deny that he enjoyed watching Gokudera from the back as the silvernette drove – that slim body that was hugged by his shirt along with that silver hair that blew freely in the wind. Furthermore, Gokudera's skills impressed him – especially how effortless he made each trick look.

No words were spoken, but occasionally, Gokudera would turn around to face him for a moment and grin at him, those emerald eyes sparkling – and with a flip in his chest, Yamamoto realized something.

This was Gokudera showing him part of his world – allowing Yamamoto to take a peek, a step, into a private sector of his life.

The privilege of that alone made Yamamoto's heart race uncontrollably.

After speeding through the roads for a while, Gokudera pulled up to the side before he turned towards Yamamoto, "…you wanna try?"

The grin on Gokudera's face was challenging – as daring as the way he drove – and looking at that messy silver hair, those deep green eyes and that – for once – genuinely happy expression…Yamamoto decided to take this challenge.

"Haha, sure," Yamamoto smiled, getting off the bike so that he and Gokudera could exchange seats.

Then, from behind him, Gokudera asked, "You done this before?"

Yamamoto nodded, "Yeah, I deliver sushi for my old man."

"Okay, just start driving then – I'll teach you extra stuff along the way," Gokudera said.

So Yamamoto started driving, and they were off once again. He felt a little pressured by having Gokudera with him – having just experienced how badass the silvernette was on the bike, Yamamoto couldn't help but notice how simple and slow he had been driving all this time.

But then, Gokudera did something that made his entire body immediately tense.

Without any warning, Gokudera slipped his hands around Yamamoto's waist and rested his chin on Yamamoto's shoulders, causing their bodies to be pressed up against each other – Gokudera's arms wrapped around Yamamoto's torso.

Gokudera noticed the tension, "Hey, no need to be so stressed out, idiot. It's just driving."

Yamamoto couldn't explain to him that it wasn't 'driving' that was the problem, but rather the body of a certain silvernette that was pressed up against his back.

Desperately trying to distract himself from the thought, Yamamoto focused intently on the road, diverting his concentration to driving, and not the perfect way those slim arms wrapped around him.

Unfortunately, Gokudera wasn't making anything easier.

"You see the next curve over there?" Gokudera mumbled next to Yamamoto's ear, his breath blowing down the nape of his neck, causing chills to run down his spine.

Yamamoto nodded, swallowing thickly – the grip on the handles of the bike becoming increasingly sweaty.

Gokudera continued, "We're gonna drift there."

The curve was quite far away, about two hundred meters from them.

"Go faster…," Gokudera murmured into his ear once again, his voice making blood rush right through Yamamoto's body.

You're driving me crazy…Yamamoto inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying – with difficulty – not to let his mind trail off to places where Gokudera's exact same phrase could be used in an entirely different situation.

"When you get there, twist the handle real quick," Gokudera directed him, "Wait until I tell you to turn."

Yamamoto concentrated on driving, accelerating as Gokudera told him to, until they finally reached the curve…

"Now!" Gokudera spoke, and Yamamoto abruptly twisted the handles, causing the bike to take a sudden awkward dangerous turn. The two almost crashed to the ground, but Yamamoto managed to quickly regain the balance and they were upright once again.

Gokudera laughed out as soon as they managed to past the curve, giving Yamamoto a quick hug from the back, "Woo! You actually did it!"

Yamamoto slowed down and turned to look at Gokudera, before his face unconsciously split in a smile when he saw the silvernette's laughing face.

He couldn't help it. Seeing Gokudera smile made him smile, and seeing Gokudera happy made him happy. He wanted to heal that broken empty look in those eyes. He liked the way Gokudera's body felt on him, the stray cat attitude, the rare laughter, the occasional blush that dusted those pale cheeks, the sound of his voice…everything. Everything Gokudera did seemed to strike a chord deep within him.

Yamamoto really could not possibly help it.

Even though the guilt was stinging him like a needle embedded in the core of his heart…

…he was inevitably falling for Gokudera Hayato.

Yamamoto promised himself to not hurt Hibari. He promised himself that even though he was now fully aware of his feelings for Gokudera, he would not act on those feelings – because not only would it be wrong to Hibari, but it would be wrong to Gokudera as well. He couldn't do that – especially not to the two people he now knew how much he cared for.

…if only promises were not so easy to break.

Okinawa, 4.29pm

"Haah-! Damn, I missed doing that!" Gokudera sighed as he threw himself onto the bed of their resort room, not caring whether there was still sand on his body or not.

Yamamoto, who had already been lying there beforehand, laughed lightly, "Ahaha, you're really good at driving, Gokudera."

Gokudera, lying on the front of his body with his face muffled in a pillow, muttered, "Duh. I'm in Dynamite."

Yamamoto – lying beside him and facing the ceiling – asked, "…you've been in Dynamite for a long time?"

"Three years," Gokudera mumbled, still half-muffled by the pillow.

That's quite some time. Yamamoto turned his head to look at the silvernette, before he questioned curiously, "How did you join Dynamite in the first place?"

Gokudera raised his head up at that, before resting his chin on the pillow, facing the wall. "Hmm…my sister's a friend of Lal, who's the sister of Lancia, and he's the leader of Dynamite."

"Eh? I didn't know you have a sister," Yamamoto said.

"Ah, she's a half-sister – doesn't live with me anymore," Gokudera murmured, thinking of Bianchi on the day that she took off with her boyfriend. His sister never looked so happy – she had tears in her eyes when she looked back at him and waved goodbye. Gokudera was happy for her, but he also envied her a little. Bianchi found her happiness so easily, whilst he was still stuck in a hell hole with an alcoholic, abusive father.

A jab of pain attacked Gokudera, and he forced it away. He never showed vulnerability in front of anyone – but Yamamoto made it all too easy for him to crack.

Yamamoto watched as Gokudera stared intently at the wall, before he continued, "So you live with your mum and dad?"

"My mother's dead," Gokudera spoke in monotone, though he could feel the pain crawling back into him. The subject of his mother was usually so easy to brush off – so easy to ignore…but everything was different in front of Yamamoto. Yamamoto had that something about him that made Gokudera feel like he could release, and for once, give in to the pain that had been building up inside him for so long.

"Ah, I'm sorry…" Yamamoto's voice immediately softened, "…are you okay?"

Gokudera shook his head, pushing himself up to a sitting position, still staring at the wall as if he's trying to bore a hole through it, "…I'm fine."

'I'm fine.' - The most common lie in the world.

Yamamoto sat up as well, turning to face Gokudera – observing him, before he murmured quietly, "…I lost my mum as well. I know how much it hurts."

Gokudera was surprised – somehow, he just assumed Yamamoto came from a complete, loving family. But now he knew that wasn't the case. The silvernette wanted to turn towards Yamamoto, but he didn't. He didn't dare to. He knew looking into those eyes would make him crumble. So instead, Gokudera kept on staring at the wall, only occasionally blinking. The pain seemed so close to him now, so close that it was surfacing – causing his eyes to burn and a lump to form in his throat.

Yamamoto continued speaking, constantly watching Gokudera, "It used to be too hard. I tried to escape. I didn't want to take it…" Yamamoto paused, looking down at his own hands before he uttered in a faint whisper, "…I nearly…jumped."

Jumped. In other words… suicide.

Gokudera took a deep intake of breath at that, though his eyes never left the same spot on the wall. He wasn't sure how the information settled with him. Yamamoto always appeared to be so perfectly happy and complete – so unlike Gokudera – in a way that made him both attractive and alien to the silvernette. But now that Gokudera knew there was a chink – a crack – deep down inside of Yamamoto…

Is it foolish of me to hope that he would understand…?

Gokudera's vision was clouded now. He could feel it – the tears welling in his eyes, a blink away from falling.

"But then I realized…that I wasn't alone…" Yamamoto continued, looking back up at Gokudera before murmuring, "…nobody's ever alone."

His words struck deep, right at Gokudera's very core.

Yamamoto saw the tears in those emerald eyes that the silvernette was so desperately trying to make disappear; that broken, broken look so clear in that moment.

Gokudera…

Slowly, carefully, Yamamoto reached out to Gokudera before he gently smoothed his hand down the back of the silvernette's head.

Gokudera trembled, his breath stuttering as he closed his eyes and allowed the tears to fall. That one touch was all it took to finally break him open. One touch from Yamamoto's hand was enough to make him pour out every emotion he locked back inside.

"Gokudera…," Yamamoto felt his heart quaver when he saw the other cry. Seeing Gokudera completely broken like that broke him. He moved closer to the silvernette before he wrapped his arms around that petite body, one hand holding the back of Gokudera's head, the other around Gokudera's waist, holding him close – embracing him.

A warm rush came over Gokudera as he was folded into Yamamoto's arms, and he bit his lips as more tears fell. Slowly, weakly, he raised his hands and held on to Yamamoto's back.

Gokudera never realized how empty he had always felt until now, as Yamamoto held him and filled in the hollow spaces he never acknowledged within his heart.

For so long they stayed there, Gokudera crying, releasing, and for the first time feeling like he could fully breathe into his lungs, whilst Yamamoto held him closer and tighter every time that body shuddered. It was as though Yamamoto was trying to absorb the pain from Gokudera, to lift it off him – even just a little; even if it was only for this one moment. The fingers on Yamamoto's back gripped his shirt tight, Gokudera's head pressing onto his shoulders – and Yamamoto rolled in his lips when he felt the tear drops fall on him.

From the way Gokudera was crying – the way Gokudera clutched onto him, that small body shivering every now and then – Yamamoto could tell just how great the pain Gokudera suffered was. It wasn't just about the death of his mother – there was something more – something that made it that much more painful.

Yamamoto wondered what could have hurt Gokudera so deeply and intensely – and he was very certain that it had something to do with those finger marks on Gokudera's pale neck. Holding Gokudera closer, Yamamoto decided that if he ever found out, he would not forgive whoever did it to the silvernette.

Eventually, Gokudera slowly, reluctantly lifted his head of Yamamoto's shoulder, raising his arm to wipe his face. The tears were still falling, but it was better now – just the few final drops.

Watching Gokudera harshly wipe his own face, Yamamoto couldn't help but pull those slim arms away before he gently wiped away those remaining tears himself with a soft brush of his thumb.

Gokudera looked at him, those emerald eyes glistening, before he raised his own hand to hold Yamamoto's – which was still lingering on his cheeks.

"Yamamoto…," He whispered breathily, looking right into Yamamoto's dark brown eyes, wanting – needing – to feel something from him… something akin to comfort and connection, but much more meaningful than both combined.

Yamamoto could read the message well and clear. He fully understood what Gokudera was asking for. This was it – the moment. If he could resist this, he could be assured that he would be able to keep his promises from now on. If he could resist this, he would know he had the power to keep himself from hurting Hibari…

But he couldn't. He couldn't resist it.

Not when Gokudera was looking at him that way. Not when Gokudera was crying. Not when Gokudera was so vulnerable. Not…when it was Gokudera.

Anybody else and Yamamoto wouldn't even hesitate to pull away – but it was Gokudera.

There were no more hesitations when Yamamoto leaned in and sealed Gokudera's lips with his own.

The moment their lips met, it was as though the two of them had wanted this and had been waiting for it forever.

Gokudera gasped only slightly, but closed his eyes and kissed Yamamoto back. He needed this comfort; this sense of having someone for him – someone who could reach into that part of him that no one ever even brushed upon.

Gokudera needed Yamamoto.

Yamamoto's hand on Gokudera's face moved to the back of the silvernette's head, sifting his hair through his fingers and tilting him slightly backwards. Gokudera parted his lips to take a breath, and Yamamoto took the opportunity to glide his tongue into the other's mouth. Gokudera trembled, but experimentally met Yamamoto's tongue with his own.

It was as though fire ignited between them then.

Yamamoto deepened the kiss, alternating between sucking on Gokudera's tongue and Gokudera's bottom lip, then moving back to explore the bittersweet tinge of tobacco within the silvernette's mouth.

"Nnh…," Gokudera moaned softly, his hands quivering as they found their way around Yamamoto's neck, holding onto him as one hand moved further up his neck to weave through his dark hair. Yamamoto pulled Gokudera closer, moving that slim body onto his lap and pressing it against his own. He then allowed a short breath before he kissed Gokudera once more; a growing, continuous need to claim those pink-tinted lips.

Both hearts were racing, and as Yamamoto captured Gokudera's lips time and time again, Gokudera felt like crying… because – for the first time since his mother's death – he felt truly alive. This happiness – it was real; so real that it was tearing him up from within.

…but happiness died all too quickly when Yamamoto eventually, reluctantly pulled back.

Because on Yamamoto's face, there was nothing but guilt as he looked into the other's eyes.

He regrets it. Gokudera thought bitterly. The pain came crashing back at him – just when it had managed to disappear a moment ago.

Yamamoto immediately saw the hurt on Gokudera's face, and felt even guiltier than before. "Gokudera… I'm-"

CLICK.

"Eh? Yamamoto, Gokudera-kun, where have you two… oh…" Tsuna, who had just entered the room, trailed off when he saw the position and tension between the two. Gokudera was on Yamamoto's lap, his arms still around Yamamoto's neck; whilst Yamamoto had his arms around Gokudera's waist. Their faces were far too close to each other, it was impossible not to be able to determine what just happened between them, especially judging from the way they were both panting softly with flushed faces.

More than the initial shock that his two closest friends were kissing, Tsuna felt like an intruder with the most horrible timing, "Ah…I'm sorry! I – uh – I should leave…"

"No," Gokudera shook his head, cutting Tsuna off as he abruptly got off the bed and stood up. "I'll go…" he muttered before he quickly walked out of the room, right past Tsuna. But Gokudera wasn't quick enough for Tsuna to not notice his tear-streaked face. Tsuna's eyes widened.

Yamamoto sighed heavily, putting his head between his hands, "Shit…"

"Yamamoto…are you okay?" Tsuna asked uncertainly – it wasn't often that he saw Yamamoto depressed like this. But then again, Tsuna hadn't seen Gokudera cry ever since Kindergarten school, either.

Something really important must've happened… something other than the kissing…Tsuna decided, before he felt like banging his head against the door…and I had to interrupt them at the most crucial time!

Yamamoto shook his head, "Ah…Tsuna, I'm sorry…can I have some time alone?"

"Ah, of course! It's fine! I'll go see if Gokudera-kun's okay…," Tsuna said.

Yamamoto nodded, not looking up at him, "Yeah, you should…"

Tsuna looked at Yamamoto for a moment before he eventually decided to say something, "Um…I don't know if I'm right or not, and I'm not too sure what happened between you two, but…after this, you should talk to Gokudera-kun, ne?"

Yamamoto nodded again, "Yeah… I will."

"Okay…" Tsuna rolled in his lips, "I'll go now, then." The brown haired boy took one more glance at Yamamoto, sighed, before he exited the room.

CLICK.

As soon as Tsuna was gone, Yamamoto flopped himself onto the bed, sighing with one arm over his forehead.

…what the hell did I do…?

Okinawa, 4.58pm

"Gokudera-kun…! There you are!" Tsuna called between pants when he finally found the silvernette.

Gokudera was sitting on the beach, staring out into the sea, and he turned around when he heard Tsuna's voice. "Tsuna…" He looked at him, before turning back to look out into sea, "…sorry, I didn't know you were looking for me."

Tsuna stood there panting for a few moments more, before his normal breathing eventually returned and he walked over to sit next to Gokudera. He looked at his friend with his big, light brown eyes, noticing Gokudera's obvious kiss-swollen lips. Tsuna carefully approached with a question, "Uh…do you…want to talk about it?"

Gokudera sighed, before he replied, "…I don't know."

"How are you…feeling?" Tsuna questioned.

"I…," Gokudera considered this, before he sighed once again. "…I'm not sure. There's a lot going on in my head and I'm just…," Gokudera paused, before he turned towards Tsuna, "…how should I feel?"

"Um…well…" Tsuna searched for the answer, "…I don't think there's a 'should feel' or 'shouldn't feel' about this."

Gokudera nodded, without saying anything else. The two were left in silence after that, except from the sound of waves crashing against the shore, both Tsuna and Gokudera looking out towards the sea.

After a long moment of peace, Tsuna bravely disrupted the silence, "…I think you like him."

"No," Gokudera answered all too quickly, before he realized what a bad liar he was. Tsuna didn't even need to mention the name, and already, only one face popped up in his mind. The silvernette turned to look at Tsuna and sighed, before he asked, "…why would you think that?"

Tsuna turned to look at him as well. "It's just…the way you look at him and the way you act around him. It's different. I can kind of see it," Tsuna replied, before he continued, "…and I don't think someone like Gokudera-kun would…uh…kiss anyone…in that way…if you didn't like him…"

Gokudera's cheeks flushed at that – and he mentally kicked himself for it. It wasn't like it was his first kiss or anything. He'd been kissed before – many times, actually. Hell, he'd even kissed Spanner before – even if it was just an experimental thing. Spanner's a guy, and that didn't spark anything in him like it did just now. Thus, if it wasn't just because of the guy or girl matter…why was it so different with Yamamoto?

Somehow, Gokudera knew. He knew the answer to that question – but he was unwilling to accept it.

Gokudera looked down, suddenly gaining interest in a sea shell lying on the sand, muttering, "Why does it matter if I like or don't like him anyway? He's dating someone. That prefect."

"Gokudera-kun…," Tsuna continued, "…I think Yamamoto likes you too."

"What?" Gokudera looked up at that, before he shook his head, "No he doesn't."

"I think he does. I can tell. He always looks at you with this look in his eyes ever since the first day you came to Nami…and when he came out to us about the bisexual thing, I thought it was about you…" Tsuna said, before he rolled in his lips, "…I was actually surprised to find out about him and Hibari-san."

Gokudera smiled bitterly, "Yeah. Well, that prefect's the real thing. With me he was just confused and-"

"I don't think so," Tsuna interrupted Gokudera, shaking his head in disagreement.

"Che. I don't know, Tsuna, and I don't fucking care…he can do whatever the fuck he wants to, I don't even give a damn…," Gokudera mumbled.

Tsuna watched Gokudera carefully, before he spoke softly, "…but you do care, though."

Damn. I hate it when he can read me like that. Gokudera bit his lips.

The memory of Yamamoto's kiss was still incredibly clear in his mind, every detail of it buried deep into him. The way he placed his hands on him, the way those fingers ran through his hair, the way those lips moved in time with his own, the way that tongue glided over his bottom lip…

Stop. Gokudera quickly rid himself of the idea, momentarily closing his eyes. Tch. Stupid baseball idiot. Just who the hell do you think you are?

"Well…no matter what, I think you should talk to him," Tsuna suggested, "Whether you like him in that way or not…he is rather special to you, ne?"

Gokudera was hesitant, but eventually, he nodded.

…fine. You are…kind of special. But that doesn't mean you can mess with my head.

Tsuna sighed quietly as he observed the silvernette – this was a troublesome situation for all of them it seemed. Yamamoto and Gokudera-kun and Hibari-san as well…

Fujiyoshida, 4.48pm

Hibari had just finished showering when he saw his phone flashing and vibrating on the table. Wiping his hair and frowning, he walked up to the table and picked it up.

[:D]

The smiley face. Yamamoto.

I thought I told him not to call during the day…

But even as Hibari thought that, he picked up the line anyways.

"…" The prefect kept silent as he waited for Yamamoto to start talking first, just as he always did.

[…] Strangely, today, Yamamoto kept silent too.

Almost right away, Hibari knew something wasn't right. So the Skylark sat on the bed and sighed before he asked, "What's wrong?"

[…] Yamamoto was still silent, but Hibari could hear the other's breath through the line so he knew Yamamoto was there.

"If you're not going to talk, I'm hanging up," Hibari stated.

[Ah… Hibari, wait…] Yamamoto's voice was uncharacteristically sulky.

Hibari frowned – he didn't like that tone on the baseball player. "What's wrong?" the Skylark repeated.

[I just…] Yamamoto sighed. […I just needed to hear your voice.]

Hibari narrowed his eyes, "…something's definitely wrong."

There was a long pause.

[…I can't hide from you, can't I?] Yamamoto murmured weakly.

"You're stupid if you think you can hide anything from me," Hibari replied.

Yamamoto sighed once again. [I… I did something bad. Really bad.]

Hibari leaned his head to one side, "What did you do?"

Another long pause.

This is definitely something… Hibari decided.

[…I'm sorry, Hibari…] Yamamoto's voice was a quiet whisper.

Hibari frowned, more confused than before, "…for what?"

What could he have possibly done…?

[I…] Yamamoto paused. […I really, really like you…]

Hibari softened at that, but he was still curious. Yamamoto didn't sound anything like himself. Using a calmer, gentler tone, he quietly replied, "…and you know how I feel about you."

[…I do…] Yamamoto sounded as though it was internally hurting him to say those words.

The Skylark didn't understand what was going on. "…I don't like this," He said, "I don't like hearing your voice like this."

Yamamoto sighed once again. […I'm sorry… I…]

Hibari waited.

[…can I tell you about it later…? I still need to…figure things out…] Yamamoto struggled to phrase the sentence.

Hibari rolled in his lips, before he sighed. There was no use pressing Yamamoto now. He mumbled, "hn… fine."

The Skylark was about to hang up then, but Yamamoto whispered something through the line just before he could.

[…I don't want to lose you…]

Yamamoto's voice was so faint, so quiet it was almost inaudible – Hibari couldn't even tell whether he was supposed to hear it or not. But before Hibari could say anything back, the line was already disconnected. The prefect sat there and looked at the screen of his phone, rubbing his thumb across the surface of it as he frowned…

'…I don't want to lose you…'

For him to say that… Hibari considered all the things someone could've done wrong in order to speak that sentence, but when he thought about Yamamoto's smile, the Skylark just couldn't imagine Yamamoto doing any of those things; and even if he did, the tone of Yamamoto's voice was guilty enough to show how much he regretted whatever he'd done.

'…I don't want to lose you…'

That line alone already proved to Hibari how much Yamamoto cared. Surely, even if Yamamoto did do something wrong… it would only be that one time – and that was forgivable. If it was anybody else, Hibari wouldn't have let them go so easily – but with Yamamoto, if it was just once, then Hibari was willing to forgive; no matter what the mistake was.

'…I don't want to lose you…'

Because – even though he wouldn't admit it – Hibari didn't want to lose Yamamoto, either.

A/N: You guys are so friggin' awesome! Already over 100 reviews~! xD I'm overjoyed by all your compliments, thank you so, so much! Your support really meant a lot! –cuddles-

And as you can see, the story's climbing up the intensity hill now~ :D The 8059 finally came into action (please don't kill me 8018 fans xD don't worry, this is NOT the end of 8018), and I'm really excited to write the upcoming parts! :D

So, as always, PLEASE review and tell me how you feel about this chapter~! This chappie is kind of like the launching pad for the more intense stuff, really… ;)

ps. OH, and I want you guys to tell me who you want Tsuna to be paired up with – Reborn-sensei or Enma? Or someone else who hasn't already been paired up/mentioned in this fic? CHOOSE! :D

Beta: …Beta has something to say MeLoNnAiSE-chan~. I can't choose between Reborn-sensei and Enma. Maybe another triangle as well? But less intense than the 8018 and 8059~.