"GOKUDERA-KUN!" he exclaimed in shock, apparently that was the only word he is capable of forming at the moment. After two years of absence, the storm has finally returned to the sky once more.

"TENTH!" grinned the right-hand ignoring the gasps of shocks and girly squeals emanating from the class.

While the thought of 'He's back!' played in his head, his smile grew even wider as his right-hand returned the gesture with a grin, exclaiming the familiar greeting he had missed since the bomber's departure.

"Gokudera-kun! You're back!" exclaimed the girls, which basically only compromised of Kyoko and Haru.

"Welcome back, Gokudera-kun." Chrome calmly said giving the bomber a warm gentle smile.

"Yo! About time. " greeted the player as a wide grin graced his tanned face.

"Che! Like I'm going to leave the Tenth in your hands!" snorted the newcomer but his friends didn't have to be geniuses to know it was more of a joke rather than his old harsh tone.

"Ah, so you know each other. Your Sawada Tsunayoshi right?" asked the teacher gaining the boy's attention as Mr. Honda started flipping through attendance record.

"Yes sensei. Gokudera-kun and I went to Namimori Middle together." Confirmed Tsuna awaiting his teacher's next words.

"Then I suppose you don't mind showing him around. You two could start now if you want, the first days are always for introductions. Besides, from what I can see, Gokudera seems to be the only one whose new here, all of you retained the same sections from last year." said the man as he unintentionally gave the two a chance to talk in private.

"Of course sensei!" said Tsuna with obvious elation.

"Oh, don't forget your pass! We wouldn't want a misunderstanding do we. Oh, and orient him with the school rules while you're at it. They rest can get to know him better at recess." Added the teacher as he gave each of the two a laminated red card, which says 'HALL PASS'.

"Thank you, sensei." Thanked Tsuna as they proceeded to leave the classroom, still ignoring the sad pitiful groans of the bomber's new set of fans.

Once they reached the halls and started the rather unneeded tour – he had the school's layout memorized before coming back – silence hung around them, as both of them tried to open up a conversation.

It's been two damn years, what the hell am I going to say? He thought as he began observing the subtle changes in his boss, the Tenth was still lanky, the chubbiness and softness in his features seemed to have faded a bit over the years and he could not disguise the fact that his friend seems a bit more able and confident as they continued to walk.

He's taller too. He added to his conclusions while taking a deep breath deciding to finally strike up a conversation, but apparently Tsuna beat him to it.

"So how was Italy?" asked the teen rather randomly, it was a good open question, perfect for starting things.

"Oh, it was all right! But I really didn't manage to get to see the sights since I was training my ass off with that sadist of a tutor." Answered Gokudera, rolling his eyes at the memory.

"Really, I hope your trainer wasn't too hard on you." replied the boss, briefly recalling all the things Reborn has forced him to do.

"It was hard at first, but I eventually got the hang it. In fact, my tutor isn't really that bad, once you understand the reasons behind those crazy methods." He assured after seeing the flash of empathic horror in the Tenth's face.

Reborn-san really must have been hard on him. He noted briefly while he went back on the times the little acrobaleno had placed their lives in danger in the name of making the Tenth the best mafia boss ever.

"Oh. Hey, Gokudera-kun. Now that you're back, does that mean – " Tsuna tried to conclude but was cut off and he didn't like the answer.

"No, my training continues, I'm just on one of those 'get some rest before I train the hell out of you again' breaks. But don't worry Tenth, it would be a while before I resume my training." He assured once more when he saw those eyes darken.

"When?" he asked in a solemn way lacking the usual aura of cheer that was around him earlier.

"I don't know." He reluctantly answered, unable to return the light comfy atmosphere from earlier.

"Then we just have to make use of our time. Why don't we just leave out that issue for a while and deal with it when it comes." Said the boss in determination while wearing a smile, surprising the right-hand.

Hm… As expected of the Tenth. He's taking it well. He really has matured. He mused at how his boss had changed as well but he wasn't blind to not see how the smile held a rather melancholy hue.

He's changed. He noted, after the rather awkward silence, they continued with the tour, although his friend seemed to have been oriented with the place. Aside from his appearance, Gokudera seemed a bit more stable. His joking tone with Yamamoto told the boss that the right-hand had learned of control and a bit of camaraderie.

"So Tenth, how's everybody? My last update was from Haru a year ago, so I really need to catch up." He finally said shaking the last remnants of the previous solemnity of the atmosphere hovering around them.

"Oh! Not much. Yamamoto still playing baseball, Onii-san is still finding recruits of the boxing club, Hibari's still imposing his discipline, Reborn still torturing me half to death…" he trailed on pausing briefly as he noticed something.

Actually, except of the usual crazy training regimen, everything was really uneventful. Wait. Did Gokudera-kun just called Haru by her NAME! he realized a bit surprised.

"Tenth? Are you okay?" asked the bomber as he eyes the teen in concern as he noticed the boy stop in his words.

"Y-Yeah! I'm fine. Hehehe…" he said a bit nervously since he'd been caught in one of his musings.

"You sure? We could stop by the clinic… unless of course that perverted Shamal decided to chase after high school girls." Said Gokudera, his silvery green eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"No. He's still at Naminori Middle. And I'm fine Gokudera. Really." He said assuring the rather over-protective friend.

"Okay. So how's the cow? I heard that he's started grade school last year." Continued the silver-haired teen.

"Lambo's doing fine. His short-attention span is a problem though. But aside from that, his grades seems alright." Informed Tsuna as he remembered a certain child on the day of Gokudera's departure.

"Hey! Where's Stupid-dera going?" asked the boy as they began their goodbyes to the right-hand.

"He's going back to Italy for a while." Said the boss a bit dejected since he was still upset by the terms they had to follow.

"Eh? Why?" asked the child now wide-eyed with curiosity.

"Just stuff." Answered Tsuna as he place a gentle smile on his face.

"Oh. When is he coming back?" prodded the boy not noticing a flash of sadness in the teen's brown eyes.

"Soon." Answered Tsuna reassuringly.

"How soon?" asked Lambo, obviously unsatisfied by the answer.

"I don't know. Just soon." Replied Tsuna tiredly in a way as he released a sigh.

"But – " he protested only for his statement to be cut short went he was lifted by the said bomber.

"Oi! Stupid cow, I'm not even gone yet and you're already giving the Tenth problems." Stated Gokudera in a rather annoyed tone as he held the squirming child in the air.

"AHH! Let me go, Stupid-dera!" screamed Lambo as he struggled from the boy's firm hold.

"Tsk, you are so loud! Try to lower your volume down a notch would you!" exclaimed the teen looking at him rather sternly.

"Lambo the Great doesn't follow orders." He said but lowering just a bit for fear of angering the Storm Guardian in such a close proximity.

"Flight 59, is boarding. Passengers please proceed to the waiting area." Said a woman's mechanical emotionless voice as the statement made its way to everyone's ears.

"Whatever, stupid cow. Try not to give the Tenth too much trouble just because I won't be there to beat some sense into you, okay." Said the bomber placing him down, instead of dropping him on the floor like he usually does.

"Well, that's my flight. I guess, I'll see you soon Tenth." He said to Tsuna as he grabbed his bags and left.

"Have a safe trip Gokudera-kun." Called out the boss as the remaining members of the Family exited the area.

It has been a three months since Gokudera departure and somehow, a certain little boy managed to get Tsuna's attention as he asked a rather expected question.

"Hey, Tsuna when is Octupus-head coming back? He's been gone for a really long time now?" asked Lambo jumping on top of Tsuna's desk where he was currently taking a short nap.

"I don't know, he's still in Italy. Why?" answered the teen groggily as he started shaking off some of the sleepiness.

"N-Nothing." Replied the boy as hopped down the desk and proceeded leave the room of teen he had just disturbed.

"You miss him don't you?" stated the now fully awake brunette stopping the raven-haired child in his tracks.

"Eh! Why would I miss that stupid idiot? He's loud, annoying, mean and STUPID!" exclaimed Lambo as he turned to face Tsuna in denial, before deciding to run out of the room.

"I miss him too." He confessed as he saw the boy halt in his tracks.

Lambo may not admit it but he was quite affected by the silver-haired teen's departure. Over the course of the changing weeks, the boy started to become a bit less hyperactive and loud. He didn't cry with the usual frequency, in fact, the house has not been suffering the usual cases of temper tantrum caused explosions for a more than a month.

"He didn't leave because he was mad at Lambo was he?" asked he child in a shy way, completely unexpected from his rather brash personality.

"Of course not! Where the heck did you get that idea?" asked the surprised teen, not expecting the kid to blame himself for the bomber's absence.

"He's always mad at Lambo." Supplied Lambo rather guiltily.

Despite of his decreased cases of tantrums, Lambo was still a bit self-centered, therefore, he still thinks the world revolves around him. So when a certain someone left, he thought it was his fault to begin with.

"That's because Lambo was very troublesome and wouldn't listen to Gokudera-kun." Said Tsuna in a gentle way awaiting the child to say he doesn't follow anyone's orders. Only the reply never came, only almost inaudible sniffles were heard.

"Lambo, are you alright?" asked the now concerned teen as the sniffles continued.

"I'm fine. I just got something in my eye that's all!" said the green-eyes child rather defensively as he quickly rubbed his eyes in emphasis.

"Of course." Smiled the boy, allowing the child this escape.

They won't admit it, but they really do care for each other. Thought the mafia don as he recalled the times Gokudera and Lambo would fight and make up like two squabbling brothers.

"He isn't having a hard time on his studies?" he asked with a bit of disbelief while the boss shook his head in confirmation.

The cow actually has a brain then. he thought as images of a hyperactive bouncing brat flew past his mind sending him slightly in a reminiscent mood.

"Ipin has been helping him." Said the boss as they continue their walk.

"That's good, he'll need all the help he can get. By the way boss, why's Chrome here?" he asked as he was reminded by a certain illusionist.

"Oh, she enrolled with us. Reborn said, that everyone has to have a complete education. So far, she managed to pass the tests that qualified her to enter high school." Said the boss glancing at how his friend would react since he was never on good terms with Mukuro.

"Well, I'm not much of a fan of Mukuro but Chrome's alright. Besides, it's good to have your guardians close." He stated rather off handedly walking ahead not seeing the surprise look Tsuna was wearing.

"Hey boss, why don't we take a break we've been walking in circles for a while." Suggested the teen turning to once more to his boss who gave him a smile of agreement.

Chrome's getting closer to the Family. That's good. Geez… I've been gone for so long. How they heck am I going to be his right-hand when I don't even know the Family's current status. He frowned at the thought as they made their way to the roof.

… to be continued…

A/N: What do you think? I'll be honest with you, this thing is already done… why don't I just publish it as a whole you ask… well… I got carried away and ended up with a 44-page story… yes it's THAT long. So I decided to cut it into chapters which I'll be updating after I receive some feedbacks from you all… so pls review…

P.S. I don't own KHR *too tired to think of something witty to add* this applies to all future chappies of the story…