5986 MINI-SCENE ~ SECRET ISSUES

PLOP. Some dark-red drops smashes soundlessly on the grey dirty ground of a perpendicular narrow alley where the light from the open street of Namimori Shopping District barely reaches.

"Huf huf…" Gokudera pants heavily while resting his back on the wall of shady bricks.

He shoots a tired glance on the right, and the sight of Tsuna, his mother and the kids finishing their shopping happily and safely in the main street of the commercial district makes him smile and forget the pain of his bleeding shoulder.

"… go...od… huf huf… Nobody targets the 10th and walks out safe, damn it…!" He mutters while letting his knees finally surrender under his weight, sliding back to the wall to recover.

He gazes at the blurry narrow sky beyond his reach, not even sparing a glance for the smoking-charcoal bodies of the yakuza now beat down at his feet.

TILT. But a presence he hasn't felt approaching makes him snap with widening eyes, giving him cold sweats of apprehension.

"… d...amn… you… why…?!" "… H-Haru saw everything…"

Everything, from back then at the shopping district when Gokudera-san said to Tsuna-san that he would 'go ahead' but that his grin had turned dark serious when disappearing at the first street corner to run into a narrow alley.

Everything, from when Gokudera-san had intercepted a group of yakuza hired by another Italian famiglia to take down the Vongola 10th under pretence of an ordinary street-fight.

Everything, including fighting all alone against six to prevent them from leaving the alley and reach Tsuna-san.

Everything…

"… d-don't you dare start crying, Stupid Woman! Just what is your problem?!"

BAM. Haru's arms fall on Gokudera and he freezes of utter disbelief.

"… o-oy… w-what are you trying to pull…?" "… f-frustrating… So frustrating-desu! Haru was here but couldn't do anything…!" "Aah?! Don't mess with me! It's not like I expected anyone to help or even know about it. Protecting the 10th no matter what is MY mission as his Right Hand and…!"

GRIP. Haru's hug tightens and tightens at each word, making Gokudera fall gradually silent and leaving him at a complete loss.

Long minutes of silence pass, until ultimately:

"Aouch ouch ouch! D-Don't touch there!" "Ahiii! Stop clenching your fingers on the wound and let Haru see, Aho!" "I don't need your help, Stupid Woman!" "Ooh really? Then how are you planning on protecting Tsuna-san when you can't even stand anymore?! Selfish, stubborn, reckless-desu!" "Guh! Don't bring up the 10th name as if he would agree with you!" "Ahiii? So maybe you want Haru to go and ask Tsuna-san about that…? Let's see what he would say!"

And Haru stands with a fiery pout to turn heels. TILT. Gokudera snaps and holds out his hand, pulling back on her wrist to stop her from leaving him behind to go and report to Tsuna.

BAM. Haru loudly lands heels over head at the pull-back, scowling angrily at the one trapping her under his free arm and not planning to let go. It can't get more obvious that Gokudera knows Tsuna would worry yet doesn't allow it. When she finally stops struggling and turns her head to try and stare at him in her back, his expression is hidden under the shadow of his hair.

"… that was low, Stupid Woman…" Gokudera's murmur agitates a couple hair strands of Haru's ponytail.

Aggravating-desu… his blood is still staining his sweater like that and yet this Aho doesn't let anyone care… What if Haru had not found him, would he have gone home all hurt like that… Protecting Tsuna-san shouldn't mean hurting all alone in the shadows like that… Why should he be the only one hurt when he's not the only one wanting to help Tsuna-san… Frustrating… So-frustrating-desu…

"… Don't bother the 10th for something so cheap, you get it…?" Gokudera's murmur keeps on.

SNAP. Haru's thoughts have frozen. Once the shock passed, she swallows back everything she knows she has to hold back and takes a deep breath, trying to look normal when she lifts Gokudera's arm from around her to be able to turn to him.

"Haru agrees to keep it secret." She answers while staring calmly yet stubbornly at him.

Gokudera's eyes leave the shadow of his hair to gaze at her, bewildered.

"Haru will keep Gokudera-san's mission secret… as long as you'll come to Haru to get your wounds treated after!"

TILT. Gokudera's eyes widen as he stares deep in her serious chestnut eyes.

What is this Stupid Woman saying… Why would he have to agree to that… No, way before that, why does it feel not abnormal to hear her say that… Why has it almost made his heart remember how to beat to hear her say that… She has nothing to force him to agree… He never agrees for no reason, never mind threats… He shouldn't be agreeing… Why is he letting her hands pull the collar of his sweater to take care of his wound if he's not agreeing… Damn, he can't really be agreeing with her, can he…?