Katekyo Hitman Reborn! belongs to Akira Amano
(1) This is a fictional work, elements of the original work can be altered for better compatibility with this story.
(2) This story contains yaoi / shounen-ai. If you don't like it, press (x) at the top of the page to exit.
(3) Spoilers of Inheritance Ceremony Arc.
(4) English is not my first language. I never wrote in archaic/old english, probably there are mistakes.
I hope you enjoy!
Yamamoto was bloody. Blood soaked through his clothes and formed a puddle around his feet. His brown eyes stared blankly for a second, surprised. Then he smiled, that silly, carefree smile he always had. And he smiles, more and more, as the blood flows and he becomes more ghostly.
Gokudera suddenly sat on the living room sofa. Frightened, sweating. He eyed the digital clock on a coffee table. Twenty past two in the morning. He hadn't slept even a full fifteen minutes. The nightmare came and went. Preventing the guardian from getting a night's sleep. The pack of cigarettes, his only consolation, was empty. It was going to be a long night. Really long.
He stared at his hands in the dim light. They were trembling. They were still shaking. They were shaking so badly he barely knew how he'd managed to pick up the phone and call the Tenth. Stupid baseball maniac, how could he be so careless? How could you let your guard down? Let himself be brought down in such a heinous way?
It took time to create courage and leave the hospital. Even after the Tenth, Sasagawa and Chrome left, he still stayed in the waiting room. He remained until Mr. Yamamoto arrived and sat down beside him. He stayed for a long time, waiting for Yamamoto to come out of surgery. He remained until Tsuyoshi sent him away, telling him it was late and he shouldn't take responsibility for what happened. How could he not feel responsible? Wasn't he the Vongola family's right-hand man? Second in command, responsible for keeping the family together and safe?
Yamamoto was in critical condition. He underwent a difficult surgery, maybe he would not survive. And if he did survive, it would certainly be with sequels. He would never walk again, probably. He could never again defend his family, never again wield a sword. He could never go to school with them again, never play his damn baseball again. If he could never play his baseball again, he might never smile again. Not in the pretty way that Gokudera hated and knew so well.
He would never forgive anyone who decided to face the Vongola. He would never forgive anyone who hurt Yamamoto. He would never forgive the rain guardian if he didn't fully recover. He would never forgive him if he died. He would never forgive himself if he didn't say it... This was it, he had decided. When Yamamoto recovered, he would put a smile on his face and warmly welcome him. No swearing or vulgar words. He would make it clear that he never hated him, quite the opposite. And he would promise to take care of him forever.
He got up, grabbed a coat near the door and left. The night was cold and dull. He needed to calm down, he needed the damn cigarettes.
=8=
"No, that's ridiculous." The boy's voice came out loud and strong, covering even the Tenth's response. The room fell into silence. "The Tenth would never agree to such an unfounded proposal." Gokudera slammed his hands on the table and stood up. He felt like screaming, punching, exploding with dozens of dynamites. But he just kicked over the chair and walked out the door.
Basil stared at Tsuna, he was visibly scared and disappointed. Finally, Tsuna managed to recover from the guardian's rage. He smiled: "It's not that we don't want your help, but I believe that this matter must be resolved by ourselves", he waved his hands nervously. "Sorry for Gokudera-kun's rudeness, you know how he is."
Basil nodded and smiled. He suggested at least being able to help with the preparations for the trip to the island where Shimon was waiting for them, to which Tsuna agreed.
Gokudera thought it completely inappropriate to accept Basil's proposal, to temporarily use him as a rain guardian. It would be ridiculous and unnecessary, even though the boy is, in a way, part of the family. Nobody could replace Yamamoto.
They were in the mansion where the disastrous inheritance ceremony had taken place. Gokudera walked through the garden, staring at the still-destroyed facade, remembering his pathetic performance in trying to protect the Tenth of the Shimon family. If he couldn't protect the Tenth, with the help of the storm ring and the other guardians, how could he protect Yamamoto? He was so lost in his thoughts that he only realized that someone was talking to him when he was called for the fourth time.
"My apologies, Gokudera-dono." Basil asked, with an exaggerated bow.
"Tsk."
"My sincere apologies if my idea was not in thy pleasure. My master said that it would be all right if Sawada-dono was in agreement. I just wanted to be of some use…" he completed, still in the bow pose. Gokudera ignored the younger's information, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked past him.
"Thou art worry with Yamamoto-dono..." Gokudera spun on his heels and glared at the boy. He had never cared much for Basil, even though he liked him, since he wasn't just another useless person getting in the way of the Tenth. But ever since Basil had suggested taking the place of the rain guardian, he'd felt hatred for the boy.
"All of us are. He's a family member, it would be weird if I wasn't." The answer came out sharp. Basil nodded, as if processing the information, and then continued, as if Gokudera hadn't said anything.
"Thy concern is evident. That can hinder thee in combat."
"Are you saying I'll just get in the way of the Tenth?" He grabbed the Italian by the collar of his shirt and threatened to punch him.
"Calm down, Gokudera-dono. I just want..."
"You just want to take Yamamoto's place, that's what you want. You will never be like Yamamoto. You can never take his place." The words came out in a scream, shrill and painful. The blue eyes stared into the green ones and Gokudera was sure he never should have said those words.
"I can't imagine how important Yamamoto-dono is to thee. I don't want to take anyone's place. Nor am I worthy to take the place that Yamamoto-dono occupies." Gokudera didn't say anything. Basil lowered his head, staring at his feet. "My master said that all flames are linked together, and some are closer to each other. The flames of the rain are always attracted by the storm." The words came out extremely low, almost a whisper and Gokudera had to strain to hear all of them. Was he declaring? Was Basil confessing to him? Of course not, that didn't even make sense. "I know I may not be to thy pleasure. But I don't want thee to dislike me for suggesting to take the rain guardian position." The words were rolling in the air.
Gokudera was confused, not knowing what to say or act. No boy had ever said they liked him, and of all people, Basil was the last he would think of. Nothing made sense, they weren't even close enough to develop any kind of feelings. The events of the last few days had left everyone fragile. Basil shouldn't be thinking straight, letting his rain be drawn into the only nearby storm. It wasn't love, Gokudera was sure. It wasn't the same feeling he had for…
"I..." but the sentence was interrupted by Ryohei, who arrived noisily at the garden, looking for the guardian. Preparations were complete and they would leave shortly.
Gokudera stuffed his hands in his pocket. Basil bowed for a long time, not meeting his eyes, but the flushed cheeks were visible. That strange confession had only made Gokudera sure that when Yamamoto returned, he would be honest about what he felt.
=8=
What was that idiot doing? Had Gokudera worried, cried, despaired over this? For him to appear triumphant, wielding his sword, as if nothing had happened? As if he hadn't almost died? Damn baseball maniac. Still having all the sense and dignity to protect Kaoru. It was just his style. The stupid, brainless style.
Everything had revealed itself. Demon Spade was defeated. The two families made peace and everything ran in the most holy peace. But that didn't stop the guardian from berating the sushi boy whenever he got the chance. In his opinion, Yamamoto was showy and irresponsible, very irresponsible.
Gokudera failed to keep his promise. The kind words weren't even uttered, it was just cursing and the usual rudeness. No feelings revealed or smiles. Never would the mighty storm guardian stoop down and admit his feelings for an idiot like that.
However, even if he didn't say a word, he suspected that somehow the idiot knew that behind every rude word was concern and affection. Strangely, after all, the two had become closer. And Yamamoto was always hugging him for no reason, or accidentally brushing their hands on the way home from school. He waited for Gokudera, even when their schedules didn't coincide. But Yamamoto had never said anything, and he wouldn't (despite the promise he'd made) be the one to say it.
"Are you listening to me?" Gokudera was deeply irritated.
"Gokudera, I already told you it's okay..." Yamamoto replied with a serene look, that idiotic smile.
Gokudera opened his mouth to argue, but stopped when he noticed Basil's gaze on him. The Italian was sitting next to Tsuna, in the small restaurant. There was no accusation in that look, but Gokudera felt terribly transparent.
The afternoon went more pleasantly than the boy expected. The mood was light, despite Basil's stares he received. That is, until the girls show up, accompanied by the children and make everything chaotic. The Tenth was unsuccessfully trying to impress Kyoko, while Lambo and I-pin kept Haru and Yamamoto quite busy.
"Thou hast not told Yamamoto-dono the importance he has for thee". Basil whispered laughing when he saw that everyone was busy.
"Why would I comment on that sort of thing?" Gokudera replied with a grimace.
"For nothing. Art thou still upset about the things I uttered?" Gokudera wasn't sure if the question was referring to assuming the position of rain guardian or confessing, but he thought he should answer.
"I'm not upset and I don't dislike you either, in case you still think so." He felt the blood rush to his face and he looked down at the floor.
"I'm glad Yamamoto-dono found his storm."
"One day, you'll find your storm too." Gokudera replied without thinking. His face flushed even more, he was such an idiot.
"I hope so," Basil replied. Gokudera didn't know that he was assuming defeat, of not having his feelings reciprocated or had accepted, as Gokudera assumed, that it had just been a momentary attraction. "But if thou, one day, art looking for another rain, remember me." Gokudera stared at the other, surprised. He was smiling, but his eyes looked very serious.
"I don't need another rain" The voice got louder. Basil wasn't as troublesome as Yamamoto, but he wasn't someone Gokudera wanted to get involved with.
"What about the rain?" Yamamoto butted in, curious.
"Nothing, you idiot and don't interfere in my conversations" he roared.
"But weren't you talking about me?"
"Who here would talk about a useless person like you?" Gokudera crossed his arms and frowned. He was furious, or pretended to be. Yamamoto put an arm around his shoulders, trying to make amends, which made him even angrier. But it wasn't lost on Basil, the smile that formed on the storm guardian's lips as he was embraced by the rain.
Gokudera would never say what he feels, but for Basil, he didn't have to. It was clear that day that he was in love with Yamamoto. And probably Yamamoto felt the same way. Basil wasn't sure if he liked Gokudera that much. He had his good points and his charm, but maybe Basil just thought he was in love. Perhaps it was time to seek out his own storm.
N/T: I wrote this story 10 years ago. I thought Amano was going to use Basil as a replacement for Yamamto and the idea was born from that. How it almost became a GokuderaxBasil, I don't know.
Gosh, Basil's lines gave me a hell, my English is average and I had never seen or learned old English. I tried my best but feel free to correct my mistakes.
Thank you for reading.
If you like, please comment!