I've gone back and re-written the previous chapters to what I believe is a far higher quality. Please feel free to go back and re-read and let me know what you guys think.

"Have you guys heard from Mukuro?"

Yamamoto looked up from where he had been playing with Gokudera's hair. The three of them were seated together on the floor of Tsuna's bedroom, school having let out an hour ago. Their homework lay scattered around them, incomplete, but none of them cared; it was a wet, miserable day and homework was the last of their worries.

"I haven't. Why?" Yamamoto let out a yawn as he waited for an answer; oh, how at peace he felt right now.

"I saw him yesterday, and he said that he and Belphegor were going to that new island resort. He invited us along with them."

Gokudera rolled his eyes. He welcomed the hand that ran down his side, finding that laying with his head in Yamamoto's lap was one of the most relaxing positions he had ever rested in. "I ain't going anywhere with that blond creep."

"Belphegor isn't that bad," Tsuna defended. "You just haven't gotten to know him yet."

"Don't think I want to…" The silver-haired male muttered.

"Well, if Tsuna was going with them, I was going to, as well." The tallest of the trio offered his usual bright smile. "I was really hoping you would come with, Gokudera; we probably won't get another chance like this in a long time. Besides, if Bel bothers you, I'll be sure to send him after Mukuro instead~"

Gokudera snorted when he felt the stronger male lean down to nuzzle his nose against the silver-haired male's throat. He pushed at the other to get him away, hating to admit was just a tad ticklish there. "Get off me, idiot! I don't need your protection from him anyway! He just needs my foot up his ass."

The brunet laughed softly. "Ah, Gokudera-kun, I think that'd only encourage him more…"

"Ah, fuck…" Gokudera's shoulders slumped as he realised his friend was right; from what they had gathered over the past few months, Bel was a masochist and would probably enjoy someone trying to shove their foot in him.

Yamamoto laughed. "Come on, Gokudera; it'll be fun!"

Gokudera certainly wasn't thrilled at the idea of going to some shitty resort; he would much rather just stay in his apartment and read a few books instead – but the idea of spending time with his friend and boyfriend was also something he really didn't want to have to pass up. He sighed, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he nodded reluctantly; they had better not make him regret his decision…

"I'll –" Before Tsuna could even start his sentence, he was distracted by the polite knocking on his bedroom door. He wasn't sure who it could be as he didn't have that many friends and it was really only Gokudera and Yamamoto who came over. "Come in!"

The door opened and a head of blue hair poked in. Mukuro's mismatched eyes peered over the small group before a small smile crossed his face. He looked a little more comfortable now than he had when the door had first opened, and he stepped in. "Oya, I hope you do not mind; everyone else is busy and I was feeling a little lonely."

"That's fine, Mukuro." Tsuna smiled. "We were just talking about the resort. We'll go, too."

"Oh, great." Mukuro took a seat on the floor by the kotatsu with his friends. He smiled in contentment before he said, "Squalo knows Belphegor hates being stuck in the hotel room all the time so he said he would pay for him and his friends to go somewhere and he chose the resort. He is very much looking forward to this."

"Where is he, anyway? I thought he'd have followed you here."

"He is out shopping with Squalo to get him ready for next week; he lost everything in the fire and does not have enough clothing to take." It was at those words Mukuro directed his gaze solely on Gokudera. "Hayato, please be kind to him; he has not been himself lately and is in a lot of pain; he greatly misses his friend."

Gokudera bit back a frown; as much as he disliked the energetic blond, he wasn't in the habit of kicking those who were down. "…"

Mukuro was the one to change the subject. "Are you doing homework?"

"Well, we were, but now we're not doing anything."

"Oya, sounds relaxing." Mukuro's smile became more natural as he settled in, having never been very good at socialising. He all of a sudden felt how heavy his eyelids were, and he couldn't help but yawn. "Forgive me; I am feeling very tired."

"It's okay; you can sleep if you want to."

Gokudera, too, couldn't help but feel tired; it must have been the cold, wet weather they were experiencing because he didn't usually feel as if he were going to fall asleep like this – but even so, as the minutes passed by, he found himself slowly nodding off into sleep until he had fallen into oblivion on Yamamoto's lap.

Yamamoto couldn't help but smile down at his boyfriend; he was just so relieved he had finally been able to get Gokudera to come around and accept him.

~~XX~~

When night had fallen and Yamamoto and Gokudera found themselves back at the silver-haired male's apartment, the storm outside had grown much more violent, and they had been inside for all of a few minutes before the power went out.

"Shit." Gokudera slid his bag from his shoulder so he could rummage around inside for his phone to illuminate their surroundings. "Give me a minute and I'll – oww!"

"Ahah! Sorry!" Yamamoto sounded as happy as ever, despite having walked straight into his boyfriend and knocked them both to the ground, sending the smaller male's bag somewhere in the darkness. He smiled and made no move to get up; instead, he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and moved even closer. "Gokudera… This is nice, isn't it?"

"…" Gokudera was silent, not quite sure how to respond; the truth was, he was in an uncomfortable position on the cold, hard ground, and Yamamoto's heavy body wasn't making it any better – if they were going to do this, couldn't they at least move to the couch or something? "…Yeah…"'

"Hmm? You don't like it as much, Gokudera?"

Sometimes, Gokudera had to credit the taller male for being much smarter than he would let on. He sighed. "It's just… Couldn't we find somewhere more comfortable…?"

Yamamoto hummed happily. He still didn't get up; he instead rolled over so that he was on his back and he had pulled Gokudera on top of him. "There. Now we don't have to move and you're more comfortable."

"You idiot, that's not what I –" Gokudera was cut off by a pair of lips that had found his in the blackness of the night. He felt himself relaxing and his tension ebbing away as his eyes became half lidded and he slowly reached out to grip the other's jacket. He parted his lips when he felt Yamamoto's tongue licking at them, and he couldn't help but purr softly when a large hand cupped his cheek.

Yamamoto was the first to speak once they had broken apart for air. "Gokudera… I love you…"

"…Yeah…" Gokudera hissed in surprise when he felt a hand come to rest on his hip. He shuddered, not entirely in disgust but more discomfort; sure, they had been together for quite a while by now, but he was still uncomfortable with intimacy. He reached down to push the questing hand away and mumbled, "Y-yamamoto, I… I'm not… ready for that…"

Yamamoto didn't complain; he instead peppered small kisses over his boyfriend's face and whispered, "That's okay; take your time."

With the power outage, neither of them were certain how long they'd been laying in the entrance hall for, but even after what felt like an eternity, neither of them had gotten up; they instead continued laying in the dark entrance hall, just kissing and holding each other. Neither of them minded; it was actually rather romantic for them.

When at last their kissing session died down, Yamamoto threaded his fingers through Gokudera's hair. "Are you sure you'll come with us to the resort? You don't have to if you don't want to; it's up to you."

"No, I'll… I'll go…" Gokudera sighed. "I just… I guess I'm feeling uncomfortable; it's not something I'm used to doing…"

"It's okay." Yamamoto took the younger's hand and held it tight. "We can do it together."

Gokudera nodded. He didn't know what to say to that, so he instead laid quietly in the other's arms. He was getting tired again, so he whispered, "Wanna go to bed…?"

"Okay." Yamamoto stole one last kiss before he allowed Gokudera to get back up. He, too, was tired, but even so, he could have happily laid there for the rest of the night as long as it meant he was close to his boyfriend; all he ever wanted was to be near the younger.

Secretly, Yamamoto was looking forward to going to the resort; he would get to spend so much time with Tsuna and Gokudera, and he hoped that in turn, the silver-haired male would finally break down the last few walls he still had around him.

Even if that wouldn't be the case, Yamamoto was patient, and he didn't mind waiting until Gokudera was ready to knock down the last of his protection. f lately and is in a lot of pain; he greatly misses his friend."