"Lightning and Rain have strong bonds."

Takeshi sat on the porch of the Sawada household, desperately waiting for anyone to come home. In an odd situation, Takeshi was somehow stuck with watching over both the house and Lambo for Nana and the rest of his friends. He deeply regretted not fighting with Hayato to switch places.

Takeshi didn't care much about house-sitting, nor did he hate Lambo. It was just that the chemistry between the two guardians was rather strained. Takeshi simply didn't know how to interact with the little cow. Unlike Tsuna, who had so much love to share with everyone, Takeshi was rather guarded with his affection. Takeshi was an only child, so he never understood Hayato and Ryohei and their natural brotherly bonds.

To be honest, Takeshi really wanted to share the bond that Lambo had with the other guardians. He wanted to understand this "older brother" aspect, and to be able to have Lambo trust him like he did with the rest of the guardians. Heck, even Mukuro knew how to play with the child. Despite this feeling, whenever he turned to talk with Lambo, the child would fall unnaturally silent, and instantly have this odd look on his face. Guilt would flood Takeshi, and he would lose the words he wished to speak.

Which is why the two of them had already spent an hour and a half in mind-racking silence. That is, until Lambo tapped Takeshi on the shoulder.

"Yamamoto-san, can you play with Lambo?"

Takeshi inwardly flinched at the formal way the child said his name. Regardless, he forced a smile, and answered.

"Sure. What do you have in mind?"

Lambo looked a little lost, and stayed in thought for a while.

Takeshi bit his lip, and then said gently, "How about catch?"

The little cow nodded at the suggestion. Takeshi made a small smile, and went to his bag. He pulled out a baseball, and then turned to Lambo, only to see the boy look at him in shock. Takeshi widened his eyes, and looked back at the baseball he pulled out. His face slowly flushed a deep red, noticing his mistake, and went to find a softer ball. Lambo simply stood there, on the porch, waiting for him.

When Takeshi found a small rubber ball, the two of them started to play. It was still quiet, but at the very least they were interacting somehow. Throughout the first few minutes of their playing, Takeshi often threw the ball much too far and cursed himself for it. He apologized to Lambo, who only nodded in return.

It was slow, but Takeshi soon adjusted his strength and speed to accommodate Lambo's height. They stood out in the backyard, simply throwing the blue rubber ball back and forth, until Lambo accidentally hit Takeshi in the face with it. Both of them stopped in surprise, and the ball rolled off, forgotten, as the two stared at each other. Slowly Lambo started to apologize, with teary eyes, and a soft voice much unlike him, to Takeshi.

Once the tears came, Takeshi panicked. He instantly ran to Lambo, hugging him and patting his head, hurriedly telling him that it was okay, he was okay, everything's fine.

After a while, Lambo slowly looked up. "Really..? Lambo is, Lambo is, very sorry…"

Takeshi smiled softly. "It's okay. I've gotten hit by things much worse."

Lambo smiled and nodded, wiping his tears. Then Takeshi laughed, a light, gentle laugh, and picked Lambo up, holding him high like he saw his father do with little children. Lambo looked down at him confused, but Takeshi only smiled back. After all, Takeshi finally understood what Ryohei meant by simply loving.

"Lambo, you want to fly?" Takeshi asked, still holding Lambo up.

Lambo froze, and for a second, Takeshi feared he said the wrong thing. That is, until the little cow slowly replied, "Lambo wants to fly."

Takeshi then smiled brightly, proceeded to put him on his shoulders, then he ran around the backyard with Lambo sitting on his shoulders.

Soon, both of them were laughing, and Lambo no longer referring himself as "Lambo", but "Lambo-sama", and Takeshi as no longer "Yamamoto-san", but "Takeshi-nii". The rest of the time was spent like this, until the rest of the guardians returned, and then Takeshi lifted Lambo off of his shoulders. The little child instantly ran to greet Nana, I-pin, and Fuuta, whom were all holding bags of snacks. Takeshi smiled at the sight, and went to talk to the other guardians.

After that day, Lambo and Takeshi often played together, with Lambo instantly jumping onto him whenever they met.

It wasn't until the next day did Ryohei pull him aside to explain Lambo's attitude before their play day.

His explanation was: "Lambo admired you to the extreme, Yamamoto. He thought of you like some deity, you know? That's why he never knew how to talk to you before."

Takeshi was dumbfounded at that statement. Then he smiled. "Thank god it isn't like that now."