A/N: Hi everyone, so it's been a long while since my last update. I would like to apologize for taking so long for this update. I would like to give an excuse for why but truth be told I don't really care if you're hating on me. Mostly because I'm so happy to do this update. I've been having troubles for a while, but thankfully I still continued to write ideas down for this story and what not. I just wasn't able to type them. Mostly because I easily get distracted and stuff, but whatever. You don't care about why I haven't update, only that if I'll update again which I do hope I will, because I love this story and I want to see it to its end that's why. But anyway before you continue to read on with the story and if you haven't skip this already but I am back Bitches and I'm here to stay. Yeah!

Chapter 6: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

A month after Tsuna's birthday party, things were relatively easier for the boy. His days went in a sort routine. His mornings were occupied with tutoring from Gokudera, Generally about every other day. He tried to ask him what he did outside their sessions, but all he was told was that the silveret was doing "part time" work. The brunet always tried to get the other teen into meeting his other friends- friends, just say the words made him feel all giddy inside. The first few times that Gokudera stayed long enough to meet the others, who he missed at the birthday party, it didn't go too well. He didn't seem to deal with Yamamoto well, the jolly teen irritated him to an unhealthy extreme. With Hana, both just constantly bickered about one thing or another. It was like seeing two roosters fighting on another, it was scary at times. And, he didn't want to remember the meeting with Ryouhei.

Which was why for the most part after Nana returned for lunch, Gokudera left afterward for whatever it was he really did. She always had some bent or food for him to take. He always took it even when he told her not to. After wards Tsuna would wait and watch dramas with his mother until Kyoko, Hana, Ryouhei, or Yamamoto would come to visit. Well, not all of them together, it would generally be about one or two of them who would visit him that day. Hana and Kyoko would continue to help him on his schoolwork. Yamamoto would also ask to get help whenever he was around as well; he also had troubles with his schoolwork. When it was just Tsuna and Yamamot, they would just shoot the breeze for hours, talking about everything and nothing mostly about manga and baseball. At first they were all confused over why the taller teen wasn't with the baseball team or hanging out with his friends, but he said that because he had a broken arm he wasn't allowed to practice or strain it until it was all better. It sounded iffy to Tsuna, but he couldn't argue with it.

He felt great.

After the 1st week from Tsuna's birthday all of his burns were healed as best as they could. Sure he had skin grafts on him, but there wasn't enough skin to cover all of the burns. So he looked a bit of a patchwork doll but it didn't look that bad. Gokudera said that it made him look like a bad ass. No one would want to mess with him. He agreed with the silveret they did look terrifying.

And, by the end of the 2nd week the brake on his left wrist healed as well. Which was great for Tsuna now he could use both hand, making him feel less and less of an invalid. He was getting his body back, a bit banged up but he was getting there. He couldn't wait to be out of the hospital bed, and on his feet. Hell, he couldn't wait to go back to school. With new found friends maybe things were looking up in his life.

However, before he could get out of the hospital he had to get out of the casts on his legs. Fortunately, by the 4th week he was allowed to get his casts removed. Of course, after about two months without having used them, surgery to fix them, and allowing the cracks on his bones to heal made learning to use his legs again difficult. Tsuna was surprised to find that he didn't have as full control over his own legs.

Of course, he was told that without physical therapy full recovery of his legs would be impede. When Ryouhei and Yamamoto heard about that they took it upon themselves to physically train him. Since the two were good with physical training, it was good to know that they were there to encourage him. Sadly, it was embarrassing and at times dangerous to have his therapy supervised by them. They just weren't normal.

Tsuna supposed that with Ryougei attempting to aid in his recovery it wouldn't be easy. It was nice to hear his "extreme" encouraging, but he just had unrealistic goals of Tsunas therapy, or training as he had gone to call it. He assumed that the brunet was capable of running and jumping like a track athlete seemingly unaware of Tsuna's difficulty in just taking regular steps. But, even with his hard therapy regimen he wouldn't let Tsuna so until he completed his warm ups and the training set up by the actual therapist. Sure it was hard and painful but he was certainly improving in his mobility, which was great.

With Yamamoto on the other hand, it was most definitely weird. He made even less sense than Ryouhei in his method to help Tsuna with his therapy. Hearing the strange and random sounds coming from the taller teen made his spine shiver. The wawooshes, k-kashzes, and loulwandos confused him more than helped him, but who was he to deny the aid of someone who obviously thought he was actually helping. But, even though he wasn't a great trainer he was still there to help guide Tsuna whenever he had trouble with a particular set of exercise.

Fortunately over the course of the week that he took on his therapy, it greatly improved his mobility. Although, he still wasn't strong enough to walk for long periods of time nor run in any capacity. He was able to walk with a pair of crutches. He was allowed to go home so long as he returned to the hospital for his physical therapy. Which was great, to go back home and sleep in his own bed. He wouldn't be surrounded by the whiteness, of the hospital. He could finally relax at home.

Of course, going back home also meant that he had to return to school. While he may have missed the familiarity of such establishment, he also felt dread over returning to such building. Sure considered him as a friend and that outside of school they treated him fairly. But, how they would act towards him at school still worried him. After, all they had a social life outside of him, belonging in groups that he had no right to intrude. Especially, considering how he really didn't belong to any group. Just outside the school's social hierarchy, with no tone to vouch for him.

Which in any situation would leave him vulnerable to the predators in school, and now that he's still recovering, he'd lost the option run or even put himself in the fetal position, his bullies would have a field day. He didn't want to bother his found friends, mostly because he still had his doubts. He didn't want to bother them if they couldn't help him. Just associating himself to them would make them lose any position they have at school and set them up for ridicule. He didn't want to do that to them, they'll just end up hating him, which scared him more than anything.

Of course, he not only had to deal with that but with him out of the hospital, the deal with Gokudera was completed. Now that he was going back to school and he was back on track with the school curriculum. The silveret no longer had anything to with him. It was, after all, a matter of time before they had to part ways.

For Tsuna, it was because even though Gokudera was harsh and difficult at times to deal, he was a good person. Even though the silveret teen acted as though he didn't want to be around him, he did help tutor him well. He was very smart which in truth surprised the brunet. Considering how the silver haired teen conducted himself anyone would've assumed that he was a brawn over brain type of person. But, man was he glad that he was wrong, for without his help the brunet would never had caught up with his school work.

And, that was the problem, even though Tsuna had grown to appreciate Gokudera as a friend he didn't know who his friend was. Outside of their tutoring session that they had the others life was a complete mystery. Tsuna could only guess what was going on with him and he barely divulged anything about himself.

No one knew anything about him, but there were guesses over who he was. Kyoko thought that Gokudera was a teen detective. Which was why he didn't go to school, he'd already went through it. Hana thought that he was an anarchist, who didn't acknowledge the government and a secret genius he was a member of a terrorist cell that sought to overthrow the current government. Ryouhei thought that he was an octopus alien from the sea that wanted to conquer Japan, and then the world. So that when the time came Ryouhei would defeat the sea alien overlords and boxing will be declared as the world sport. Yamamoto thought that he was just a regular teen who liked hanging out with Tsuna. He was just shy that's why he acted the way he did. Tsuna just thought that Yamamoto's explanation was the weirdest one.

Sadly, it did nothing to remedy the situation any attempts to figure out more from the silver haired teen were met with disappointments. When the day came to part ways between the Sawada's and Gokudera, and any attempts to continue seeing the boy afterward were shot down.

When Nana tried to give Gokudera a Tupperware full of snacks, the silver haired teen declined. Stating that she didn't owe him anything, same way that he didn't owe them anything anymore. Truth be told Nana had believed that maybe if she gave him a Tupperware with food that he had gone without ever declining, he would return the Tupperware. As long as she could give him tupperwares of food they may have had more time to help him. However, he figured out her scheme, which was why he had to decline.

Even though, he accepted their contact information he didn't give his in return. They knew that he wouldn't contact him, but maybe if he was in a when he really needed help he may contact them. They prayed and hoped that something like that would never happen, and they felt bad to have thought such a thing.

So they departed, mother and son said their goodbyes to the genius hoodlum, Tsuna thought it was better like this. If the others were here it would have gone that maybe in a later time he wouldn't reject their invitation. So long as there was a next time.

Getting home was uneventful, mother and son were depressed that Gokudera had to leave them. Fortunately, they didn't stay in such funk because the others came to visit. When they found out that the silver teen had left they did their best to cheer up the Sawada's. Hana on the other hand was glad to see him leave, which made the others scowl at her. (What? It's not like she liked him, he acted like a wild monkey, plus everyone knew that he was dangerous so there.)

Of course even though that had happened, everyone was excited that Tsuna was going back to school. But, like many things in life he shelved his worries away from the moment and did his best to enjoy the day. His worries returned, however late at night when everybody returned home and he was alone in bed.

He really had no idea what tomorrow would hold. It was both exciting and terrifying feeling. For the boy but, he was safely assured that they wouldn't leave him. But, he never really had any friends for a long time, besides his sister, and those he became acquainted with generally left him once they knew of his reputation. True his new friends would never do that, (or so he thought, never let it be said that he wasn't a pessimist), he knew it in his guts that they were true friends. They would no more desert him than kick a puppy, (although, Hana did act like someone who loved to kick puppies). However, that voice of doubt in his head, cultivated by years of bullying and ostracizing, that's never really left him for a long time keeps telling him that they're just like everyone else. They'll leave him alone and he'll go back to Dame-Tsuna. And, that terrified him more than anything.

( :: [ ] :: )( :: [ ] :: ) Early the Next Day ( :: [ ] :: ) ( :: [ ] :: )

Waking up after a fruitless sleep, Tsuna dreaded heading to school of all days. True, after 2 months of being stuck in the hospital, being anywhere else was an improvement. But it was even more difficult to go today because he still couldn't walk that well. He had to walk with crutches; he had to do his morning exercise. The good thing about the morning was that Yamamoto had promised to walk him to school. However, like every time he had ended up late at school.

Of all days, he shouldn't have gotten late to school. The head of the disciplinary committee, Hibari Kyouya, would be patrolling the school for any late stragglers. He was merciless in his punishment of anyone who broke the rule. (Although he broke many himself, not that anyone would complain against him. How could they, he would simply bite them to death.) He was renowned for his cruelty, and no one was safe from his wrath. Because of that he really shouldn't have gotten late, he'll most likely get sent back to the hospital.

As Tsuna and Yamamoto got closer to school, they had to figure out a way to get to school without meeting Hibari. It was then that Yamamoto proposes that hey separate. He would go first that way he would get spotted by the prefect. While he was being chased, Tsuna would head to class. When he heard the taller teen's suggestion the brunet refused.

"No, there's no way I can let you do that. You already have a broken arm. If Hibari hits you in the wrong place then you'll never be able to play baseball again," pleaded a worried Tsuna.

"Haha, don't worry my arm's mostly healed, and all I have to do is make sure that he won't hurt my arm," assured Yamamoto.

"Okay, let's go," spotting the prefect, running away towards the opposite direction, allowing him to be chased around the campus.

Left alone Tsuna knew that he didn't have a lot of time before Hibari came back. Straggling to his classroom, Tsuna vowed to honor Yamamoto's sacrifice.

Hearing the bell ring, Tsuna was glad that he could sneak into his class without getting in too much trouble. Of course he had to turn in his class work, but he could do that after school. Sitting on his seat, he noticed Kyoko who waved at him. Blushing over such obvious display of acquaintanceship he waved back at her. He felt the angry stares piercing him from the other boys in the classroom. Great not even one hour back and he's back as the bottom bitch of the class.

Squirming in his seat, the brunet was aware that he'd just declared being chummy with the most sought after girl in the whole school. This meant that he'd just made himself public enemy number one. Augh, as if he didn't have enough to worry about now he had to worry about getting home alive. With his limited mobility there really wasn't much he could do, it just wasn't his day.

Continuing with the class and taking notes as best as he could, Tsuna had to bear the papers and bits thrown at him by jealous classmates. When 2nd period ended and the teacher left the class for home room, he was accosted by a bunch of his classmates. Even though it was obvious that Kyoko and Hana were heading towards his desk.

Taken out of the class and slammed to the wall it didn't take long for the boys to show their displeasure.

"Eek!"

"Do you think that just because you got banged up a little that you can get all cozy with Kyoko-chan. Maybe if we rearrange your face you'll think twice before you even lay eyes on her."

As his attacker raised his hand with the encouragements of the others, Tsuna closed his eyes bracing for the pain that would soon take him back to the hospital.

But, the impact of fist on his fact that he's felt many times before never came. Hearing the sound of protest and struggle, he opened his eyes to find Yamamoto holding his attacker's wrist with his left hand.

With a soft smile that didn't quite reach his rather sharp eyes the sportsman lowered the wrist away from Tsuna. "I don't think that Kyoko-chan would like you if she found out that you were hitting Tsuna, who just got out of the hospital. You wouldn't want to end up like Moshida did, do you? Of course you wouldn't. Anyway Kyoko isn't all that petty so for all our sake please stop this nonsense, Takaharu-kun. Oh, look here she comes now. Hiya, Kyoko, Hana."

Seeing the two girls, who had followed the group of boys who had taken the brunet arrive at the scene. Takaharu had let Tsuna go, pretending as if he and the smaller teen were buddies in front the gals. Unlike Kyoko, Hana was not fooled by the dramatic display of companionship displayed by the monkeys in front of her.

"Jesus, the boy has been here for only one period and he's already being mobbed. Get out of the way and scat." She barked at the boys, glaring sharply at them as they fled.

"Are you okay Tsu-kun?" asked Kyoko worriedly, while Yamamoto helped the brunet up. She returned the brunette the crutches that he had left behind. Adjusting himself, Tsuna mumbled a thank you. He was emotionally torn by the fact that his new found friends had decided to help him from getting the crap beat out of him again, which made him happy, but with their actions obviously declaring that they had a soft spot for him at school, worried him. He didn't want them to get in trouble for him.

Returning to class, he and Yamamoto caught up with their missed lecture with help from Hana and Kyoko. He had to will himself to concentrate and ignore the stare around him (again). Not only was he with some of the popular students, but Hana was sharing her notes with him. She was notorious for never sharing any of her class notes with anyone but Kyoko. When that was over with Tsuna remembered that he had to turn in his schoolwork. Even though he told them that he didn't need a chaperone, Hana still decide to go with him to the faculty room.

As he left the room, he was still surprised that he had to do makeup test for the tests that he had missed and that he had to stay after school to do them. Once back to homeroom Hana forced him to study for his upcoming tests.

When lunch rolled by everyone was surprised when the brunet suggested having lunch on the roof. After all, it was against school rules to be up there, plus it was locked. Ignoring their apprehension, Tsuna took them to the roof, certain that the prefect wouldn't bother them. Gathered on the roof, Tsuna was happy to show off his only haven in school. The place he went whenever school got too much for him and one of the few safe places he knew of outside his home.

"Man this is awesome. I always wanted to eat on the roof. How did you get the keys to roof?" Yamamoto asked as everyone got ready to dig in their lunches.

"I, um, I found it on the floor, and well, I tried it out and it worked on the door to the roof. I guess I got lucky." lied the brunet. He didn't this sister gave it to him.

"Really?" Hana asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I found the key on the floor, but before I could return it I got chased by some bullies. They cornered me on the way to roof. So I used the key in desperation, and it saved me. They didn't want to get near it, like you guys did, so I've been coming here for lunch ever since." clarified Tsuna.

"Ha ha, you were lucky then. I can see why you come here, the sky is so pretty isn't." spoke the baseball player through a mouthful of food.

"Yuck, don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting. Monkeys should learn to talk when they have food in their mouths," seethed Hana, while Kyoko giggled.

Soon lunch ended and they returned to class. The rest of the school day passed without a hitch. When school ended for the day Tsuna had to stay behind for his test. Yamamoto wanted to wait for him but Tsuna declined his offer. Even though Yamamoto was worried that the smaller teen still had some trouble walking on his own. Tsuna assured him that he was alright, by the time he'd be alright. By the time he'd finish no one would be around to bother him. Unsure, the taller teen conceded to the smaller teen's assurance and waved him goodbye

The tests weren't that bad, the brunet was glad that he had Hana to tutor him until the last minute. However, a passing grade would still be too much to hope for afterall he was still Dame-Tsuna, but he knew that he has been getting better, so fingers crossed.

The tests were hard work, so by the time he'd finished it was dark outside. As the last person in school, the brunet took his sweet time walking home. Passing by a convenient store, he was caught by surprise when a hand grabbed him from behind. Squealing in surprise, he came face to face with his morning attackers.

"Well, well, look at what we have here. It's the Dame-Freak, what are you doing here all alone at night by your lonesome self." sneered Takaharu, grabbing on the struggling brunet tightly. "You think that you can just walk wherever you want, because you have Kyoko, the bitch, and that faggot protecting you today at school. Now look at you all alone, I think this bitch here should learn his place don't you think boys?"

Seeing that he was surrounded Tsuna, knew that there was nothing he could do to escape from another trip to the hospital. Why did he think that he could go anywhere without getting in trouble? He really was asking for it, he'd been spoiled by his friend's security that he'd forgotten, that to everyone else he was just scum.

Slammed to the wall of an undisclosed alley, the brunet couldn't help feel the déjà vu of the situation as he fell down, his legs no longer able to support him. "I'll make sure that this time you won't get out of the hospital, you little shit," mocked the crazy teen, urged by his companions to finish it quickly and painfully.

And just as he was raising his leg to impale on his smaller victim, yelps of pain were heard, but it wasn't Tsuna's voice that made those noises. Turning to see what the commotion was about, the bully was surprised, as well as Tsuna, to find that his friends were on the floor.

"Who, the fuck, are you?"

"Gokudera?"

"Bitch, you know this guy?" yelled Takaharu to Tsuna frightened to find himself alone with a threatening silver guy who was walking towards him.

"Eek" squeaked the brunet as his savior walked up to him ignoring Takaharu.

"What are y-" Tsuna froze as Gokudera knocked out Takaharu with a single punch.

"I don't know whether I should have just left you alone or beat you up myself. Seriously, how do you get yourself in these situations? It hasn't been too long ago that you left the hospital, and now you almost went back today. Are you asking for it? Of course you are, being out at this hour. Shouldn't you be at home with your mother?" lectured the silveret, as he grabbed the brunet by the shirt. "Does she even know you're her out late? Wah, why are you laughing? You want me to blow you up, shut up!" He screamed confused as why the smaller teen began to laugh, even though he was being dangled up in the air.

As the figure of his once aggressor had fallen, Tsuna had no idea how to react. Today had been nothing more than a whirlwind of strange events and changes that he couldn't help but laugh at how absurd his life had become. Chuckling uncontrollably, the brunet couldn't help himself. Relieved to see such a familiar face after facing a terrifying situation, he had told himself that he was okay with never seeing him again. It seemed as if he was wrong, the silver teen holding him had become his friend.

Smiling with genuine happiness Tsuna replied, "I'm sorry, I think its's funny that you had to save me from a beating. I'm happy to see you too, Gokudera-kun"

Dropping the boy, Tsuna yelped in pain missing the blush on silveret's face. "You- Your girlish shrieking did all the work –daze. People go to a girls rescue more that a guys-daze"

Pouting at the jab to his masculinity, the brunet quipped, "So what, you want to be my knight in shining armor?"

"Wh-wha-what!? Hell, no! You know what I'm leaving you here now." Turning away from the boy, the silveret began to leave when he felt a tug at his shirt. Turning back to the brunet holding him back, he raised his eye to him.

"I don't know where my crutches are without them I don't think I'll make it back home. Can you help? I don't' want to worry, Mama," pleaded the brunet to the silveret. Tsuna really didn't want to worry his mother, and he knew that the Gokudera didn't want that to happen as well.

Looking down at the pitiful teen, Gokudera wordlessly helped the teen to his feet. Locating the missing crutches was easy. Both walked back in silence with Tsuna's direction being the only source of sound coming from both of them. As they came to the house, the silver teen wanted to leave the brunet at the doorsteps, but with an invitation for dinner and an empty stomach he went in. Damn, it.

A/N 2: Thank you for reading and all those people who favorite, followed, and reviewed me. I just want to say I love you guys so much. And, so like the phoenix I rise from the ashes and came back strong. I'm back I have more to write for this story cause this story isn't over. I'll say when it's over and right now it ain't it. So from what we've seen in this story Tsuna is having feel moments all throughout. God I feel weird. So anyway I love you guys please continue reading my story and future stories. Yeah, While I was on my 8 month hiatus I've still been writing on pen and paper. Some stories and this one as well, I just have trouble typing them down and posting them on the internet so hopefully you'll see more of my stories, and I hope you'll love them as I love them. All reviews are welcome, so please tell me whatever you want and I'll see what I can do. So thank you and I hope that the next update won't be as long as the last one but we'll see. R&R BYE.