Chapter edited 18th April, 2016.

Several weeks had passed by since the attack on Bel's family had occurred. The blond had been found half-dead in the burnt out wreckage of his home, and as expected, had been the one suffering the most from the loss of his home and best friend. He was living in a hotel room with his family for the time being, and Squalo had asked the younger kids to help keep an eye on the blond as he had fallen into depression from it.

It was because the teens had taken their duty as Bel's friend so seriously that they were all gathered at Mukuro's home for the day, not only so they could try and bring a smile to the blond's face, but also so that Yamamoto and Gokudera could make an important announcement to everyone. The two were sitting together on the floor of Mukuro's living room, finally ready to tell them that they had moved on from trial dating and were now ready to officially become an item.

"I am happy for you both," Mukuro said sincerely. He was sitting on the couch with Fran on his lap, holding his foster brother close. "I hope things go well."

"Ushishishi~" Bel's laugh didn't sound as cheerful as it usually did, but he didn't look so depressed as he leant against his crutch to keep upright against the wall he was standing against; his leg was in a cast, as was his left arm, a reminder of the fight that had costed him a lot more than he was ready to divulge to anyone. "If it doesn't work out, I will have Hayato~"

"Oi!" Gokudera got to his feet and pointed accusingly at the blond. "Say that again and I'll hide your crutches on you!"

Yamamoto laughed cheerfully as he pulled his boyfriend back down into his lap. His smile was as gentle as ever as he looked to his blond friend and said, "Sorry, Bel, but I don't think that's going to happen. Aren't you and Mukuro going out, anyway?"

Bel didn't reply to the question, but he and Mukuro did catch gazes and stare at each other for a few seconds, the blue-haired male with a knowing smirk on his face, and a slight blush on Bel's cheeks.

"Yeah, that's what Fran told me," Tsuna pointed out.

Fran glanced around as he heard his name. He blinked at the group of teens gathered in the living room, still a little drowsy and confused from the medication he now had to take after the attack. Bel frowned deeply as he noticed the lost expression on the child's face, and he lowered his head in shame; no matter how hard he had tried, he hadn't been able to protect the youngest.

Tsuna knew what was going through the other's mind. He gestured to the blond's body that had been found broken by the fire fighters and said, "You tried your best, Belphegor. He doesn't remember what happened; he's blocked it all out."

"Still…" Bel sighed before he turned to stare out of the window at the ruins of what had previously been his home. He looked down when he felt Mukuro reach out from the couch and hold his hand, and he couldn't help but rub his thumb against the back of the younger's hand.

Tsuna was the one to change the subject. "Ah… G-gokudera-kun, have you guys kissed already?"

Gokudera felt a blush coat his cheeks as he nodded and looked down at his lap. He was surprised the meek brunet had dared ask such a thing. "T-tenth…"

Yamamoto wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and dropped his face against silver hair. His smile was bigger than ever, just so happy Gokudera was here with him. "Yes, Tsuna, and there will be lots more to come, too!"

"You're too kind," Gokudera deadpanned, embarrassed by the younger's words; was it really necessary to discuss their private life together?

Before anything else could be said, the silver-haired teenager yelped as a crutch came out of nowhere and hit him in the face before a head of blond hair head-butted Yamamoto as its owner fell to the ground.

"What the – Bel!" Gokudera shouted. He tried to push the older male away from his boyfriend; Yamamoto was his, damnit, and he wasn't going to share with this freak. "Get the fuck off!"

"A-ah, Gokudera-san, h-he…" Chrome left her spot by Mukuro's side and moved instead to Bel so that she could help the older teenager back to his feet. "H-he just s-slipped, that's a-all…"

"Gokudera-kun, she's right," Tsuna pointed out, having seen how it had happened. He winced inwardly as he noticed the pain on the blond's face and reached out for the phone he had dropped that was the cause of this. "He was just trying to check his phone, Gokudera-kun; don't be so hard on him."

Gokudera grunted and wrapped his arms around Yamamoto's stronger one to hold the younger male close. Bel, who was biting his lip to stifle cries of pain, shook his head when the phone was offered to him. He leant against Chrome heavily, panting, feeling as if his body had just been crushed.

Tsuna read the message that was still flashing on the blond' phone aloud, trying to be helpful. "Squalo says that he's waiting out front for you, Bel."

"Oh, we'll help you, Bel." Yamamoto smiled as he stood up and pulled Gokudera to his feet. He wrapped his arm around Bel's middle and held him close as Gokudera fumed in jealously. The silver-haired teenager, in what could only be described as envy-fuelled rage, started shoving Bel along as if to rush him from their presence sooner.

Tsuna watched as the three disappeared around the corner before he turned back to Chrome and Mukuro. "Looks like everything worked out for them, huh?"

Mukuro nodded as he kneaded his long fingers through teal hair. "They look good together."

"I don't think they'll break up, either," Tsuna agreed. "Gokudera-kun's so much happier now, and Yamamoto is patient enough to deal with him. Thanks for helping Yamamoto out, by the way."

"Kufufu~ It was no problem, Tsunayoshi."

Looking out of the window, Tsuna watched as Yamamoto and Squalo carefully helped Bel get into the car, mindful of his injuries, while Gokudera just glared at the blond as if he were afraid of Bel stealing Yamamoto away from him.

It was quite endearing to finally see Gokudera beginning to open up and trust other people, and the teenager's friends could only hope it meant he would be happier in future. With Yamamoto by his side, they were certain of it.