A/N: This chapter will have a different tone compared to the other ones. It just call out to me to be written. Weird muse.

Disclaimer: I don't own the KHR stuff of any kind or form.

Chapter 8
The shower at Twilight

The two Yamamotos sat in the closed TakeSushi shop.

"Starting today there will be no more sword lessons," Yamamoto-san told his son.

"Is it because of that weird thing outside of the dojo?" Takeshi asked his father. He glanced at the strange energy area just outside their backyard. Yamamoto-san had it enclose in a newly built shed, so prying eyes cannot see the unnaturalness or lure any of those mafia people.

"Partially, but also, I realize you are young and the whole reason we move here was to get away from..." Yamamoto-san glances a picture of his wife, "I want you to play baseball like you always wanted or play games or whatever makes you happy."

"I..." Takeshi began, but stares at his mother's picture with a deep look that Yamamoto-san began to worry. He looks up to him and it quickly changes with a big smile, "Ok, I'll play," then grinned, "I will be the best baseball player ever!"

He is a strong boy, Yamamoto-san thought. If his son is happy, so he is. So Yamamoto-san move on with his life and let his son play like any child should.

He had nothing to worry about...

Sometimes Takeshi Yamamoto looks back in his life and wonders if the darkness came from the mafia, impossible to escape it. It loved to whisper things to him. He knows its bad, but its alluring voice is hard to ignore for long.

Then he decided to make it a game out of it. Him versus the darkness. He "won" every single time. Takeshi smiled and laughed (empty and never genuine) with his (fake) friends. All the while playing baseball in memory of his mom (and didn't he saved someone with a baseball once?).

"– Fwee! And I score a homerun!" Takeshi related his recent baseball game to his father.

"Good job, Takeshi! Don't ever stop playing baseball for anything," Yamamoto-san smiled at his son. Takeshi turned to look at his father at this, but the man already turned around and kept washing a persistent dirty plate.

"Just don't forget to bring your friends here to celebrate," Yamamoto put in.

"Nah, they went to celebrate with their families and stuff," Takeshi (fake) grinned at his father, the same smile that fools everyone at school.

"Shame," he father murmured when a worried look came over, but it was too quick for Takeshi to catch it. His father smiled fondly at his son and went to dry the dishes.

Yes, what a shame, indeed, Takeshi darkly thought. All the while wishing a true friend to talk normal with and not always trying to reach people's expectations.

It wasn't surprising when the darkness won.

He had became too confident in his victories. It was obvious when it attacked after his mother died. He suspected it began to bid its time and somehow stole his memories of Yoshi-sempai's words. Or maybe he already lost then and it only gave him false security.

Then the darkness took his baseball away, his way of life, and the last strand of his most precious memories along with it. With that loss, it was easy picking for the darkness overwhelmed him.

Takeshi easily ignored the people who stood behind him calling out to him to not jump.

They don't understand.
They just scared that their conscience will forever haunt them for hurting him.
Its not worth it. No one truly cares.
Those who you truly were, are no longer part of this world-

Then a bright strange light in shape of the familiar orange flames caught him when he fell.

It was so beautiful. Thank you Yoshi-sempai for saving me again, wherever you are..

"You Baseball-Idiot! You better walk with Juudaime, I need to reload my stuff!" Hayato-kun yelled at him.

Takeshi laughed, "Oh your cigarettes? I thought Tsuna told you to stop."

"No! My other stuff! And shut up about my cigarettes," Takeshi laughed as Hayato-kun gave him his worst glare, "besides I am cutting down."

"Alright I will tell coach, I am busy," Hayato gave him an unreadable look so Takeshi tried to reassure him, "don't worry I will keep an eye on him."

"Um, guys, you do realize I am here, right?" Tsuna sheepishly smiled, but blushing all the same between the two guardians.

"Of course Tsuna!" Takeshi put his arm around Tsuna's shoulders and they walked to his coach.

"B-but your practice!" Tsuna insisted. At the background Hayato-kun was cursing about touching Juudaime so casually and being a show off. Takeshi glanced at the blank faced kid over the fence near the baseball field. He nodded at him over Tsuna's flustered look. Takeshi mentally frowned how Tsuna's doesn't understand how someone will take the time to be with him.

"Nah! I need to rest up since I been practicing too much, I don't want to break my arm again, you know!" Takeshi grinned at Tsuna, "Besides I am failing math right now and we both need the tutoring from the kid!" Tsuna paled at the last word.

Why he never notice the kind boy who everyone for some reason pick on, he will never know. But he isn't going to ignore him no longer. He will protect and be the friend Tsuna is to him. It is the least he can do for saving him from the darkness. Strangely, the darkness no longer has a hold on him. He will fight with his blue flamed sword to protect his (true) friends for his new life.

Takeshi smiled nostalgically. If he went to baseball camp 4 years ago, he will be pumped by the fact he is a step closer to international baseball playoffs. Now he just cannot wait to see his friends again and play the mafia game (he only does that to mess with Hayato-kun since is so much fun!). He waves at Hayato after getting his baggage.

"Let me call Juudaime– " just when Hayato-kun phone Tsuna, something shifted and he blinked.

"Didn't Reborn said he went to some training?" the words blurt out subconsciously from Takeshi's mouth.

Hayato slowly lowered his hand and nodded blankly.

Later Takeshi will realize he didn't feel well. He felt dread that something bad just happened and its only the beginning.

He thinks the mafia is like a game. Something in league with the darkness that use to follow him, which now try to attack him in a different angle. Takeshi knows he has to win no matter what. At first it was for himself, but that was a couple a years ago (yet it feels so long ago). Now its for his friends, for the one who brutally defeated the darkness and its hold over his soul.

The very same vengeful darkness that decided to prey Tsuna instead.

He isn't naive to believe that the darkness will not be more ruthless than before. Which is why Takeshi trains and keeps guard until then, to prevent it from going too far like that day on the roof. Takeshi fears, but knows this time their places are going to be switched if it happens (he prays that its if nor when, but the kid watches his student like a hawk or a mother hen). Even now he can feel it grow stronger once more as he and the others watch Tsuna who was acting strange when he returned from the time jumps and Wonomichi is no more.

Just recently, he almost see it wrap around, trying to taint and break his sky. Takeshi will not let it.

He will save him just as Yoshi/Tsuna waited outside his room, giving silent comfort to Takeshi when he locked himself in his room after his mother's funeral. All showing Takeshi is never alone. The rain will wash away the darkness that dares to taint from his precious sky, even if its from sky itself.

A/N: Yeah this one was actually finished for a month now, but it wasn't time to be uploaded yet. See you in two weeks for the last chapter (it might be 2-part chapter or 1). Thanks for reading!