AN: So, yes, I'm trying to update this too. A hundred times apology for the readers for leaving you hanging for a year now! T^T Updates might still take a while, but not a year-long while 'while' anymore. A few weeks, at most. While I still do have school, it ain't that stressful this time. I'll try my best! Thank youu for those who are still around to support! To all new readers, thank you!

WARNING: Unbeta'ed. Short chapter.

Vongola Prince

by pseudonym08

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"To become a blessed shower that settles conflict and washes everything away."

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Chapter Six: The First Guardian

Gokudera clutched his chest as he fell down, the pain nearly suffocating him. His head won't stop aching. The oath kept ringing on his head. Gokudera's brows crossed. This feeling was the same feeling he felt that day. His King was suffering. His Sky… needed him.

Gokudera clenched his hands. That stupid Rain guardian must've said something that troubled his… their Sky again. He cursed. Seriously? Suicide? Of course, who wouldn't be troubled by such?!

The silverette lad forced himself up. That stupid brunette had already ran up straight ahead to the rooftop, where his Heika-sama followed after. Staying here any longer, and looking so pathetic, would be a huge slap for his King. He needed to be there to support Heika-sama. This time, he had already sworn he would be there.

"Tch," and so, one Gokudera Hayato dove in inside the building and ran like there was no tomorrow towards the rooftop.

When he reached the topmost steps, the door was already open. Riku stood a few more steps ahead. Gokudera hurriedly crossed the remaining steps.

"Heika — ack!" Gokudera's chest throbbed in pain again. The pain was twice as much this time however, as the oath rang more loudly in his ears. He fell on the floor, just a few steps behind Riku. One hand on his chest, he briefly saw a flash of orange, and then it was gone.

.

Gokudera Hayato panted. The pain was slowly vanishing. Riku still did not say anything. He stood still as a rock in front of him. The silverette lad raised his head.

In front of them was the brunette lad, unconscious on the floor. The baseball freak stood right in front of him.

"Tsuna!"

— Vongola Prince —

Tsuna opened his eyes. What greeted him was a grinning Takeshi. The brunette lad couldn't help but smile in return. He didn't know what had happened. Warmth, as well as the feeling of acceptance and power, had flooded him a while ago. His strong desire to save a friend had propelled him to stop being such a wuss and just say what he had wanted to say, like that time he had saved Riku. Looking at Yamamoto, he was glad he really did it.

"I'm sorry, Yamamoto. Because of my incompetence, you had suffered."

Tsuna did not know why the words came off like that. He just wanted to say sorry for being so thoughtless, for pushing Yamamoto to the brink of exhaustion and depression… for being insensitive. Then again, saying it was because of his incompetence wasn't exactly far off either. I guess my next few words cleared that up? Tsuna struggled remembering.

"I want you to think of the people you'll be leaving behind if you die, Yamamoto. They wouldn't be able to accept this easily. Your father, your friends… me. Yamamoto Takeshi, live. I don't want you to die with regrets."

"..."

Hold up! That doesn't sound like an apology at all! Why does it look like I was giving him an order instead?!

"Ahahahaha!" Yamamoto laughed as he slung his good hand around the brunette's neck. "What are you thinking, Tsuna? You had a funny expression on your face!"

"Ya-ya-yamamoto-kun!" I have to clear this up! "I'm really sorry for being so thoughtless yesterday. I really am!" Tsuna pulled himself free and bowed to their baseball idol. "I told you to practice when I know you must've been tired! I've become smug because someone like you had talked to someone like me-"

"Tsuna!" an irritated expression was on Yamamoto's face. Tsuna mentally panicked. It was the first time their baseball idol had put on a face like that after all. What did I do? So, I really did anger him, huh? "You are not just someone, Tsuna. We're friends now! I'll follow you and protect you as well, Tsuna! So, please, don't be so formal and rely on me more!"

Tsuna's brows crossed. Huh?

"Ahahahaha! Nothing," Seeing the bewildered look on the brunette, Yamamoto just laughed again. "Seriously, I'm sorry for worrying you. It's fine now, Tsuna! You don't have to apologise. Hahahaha"

Tsuna's sweat dropped. I really do not know... What's happening?! But! Seeing Yamamoto back to his old self, I guess… this is fine as well?

"You really had us worried back there, Yamamoto!"

Tsuna turned around. "Riku…" he can't help but mumble. The Vongola prince was slowly approaching them, both hands inside his pockets. A few steps behind him stood the silverette human bomb. Eh?! Gokudera?!

"You too, ba~ka!" Riku glared at him. "When you rushed up that time, I worried you'd end up instigating Yamamoto to jump instead."

"What do you mean by that, Riku?!"

"Ahahahaha!"

"…"

Eh? Tsuna glanced behind Riku once again. His brows creased back a little. Tsuna had expected the silverette lad to be running towards them and fuming by now, perhaps even yelling, "Teme! How dare you make Heika-sama worried like that?!" while pointing at Yamamoto-san…? Was he wrong? Was it just his imagination? Had he been wrong about Gokudera all this time?

"Ah! Before I forget, Tsuna, my cousin-"

"Gokudera… kun?"

The laughter subsided the moment Tsuna spoke. Gokudera Hayato was lost on his own world for a while, deeply thinking about something, when the call of the brunette lad had startled him back to reality.

Tsuna flinched when the silverette glared at him. Scary…! Gokudera-kun is really scary! Tsuna tried his best to push the fear aside, and look straight back at his friend's Storm guardian. "Is… is there something wrong?"

There was a flash of surprise on the silver-haired teen, before he had masked it with indifference. Still, he needed time to think. Thus, uncharacteristically of him, he had excused himself afterwards. The strange expression on both Yamamoto and Riku right after didn't escape unnoticed by the brunette.

Was it… ah!

"Matte, Gokudera-kun!" Without even thinking, Tsuna had sprinted right after the leaving silverette teen.

.

It didn't take long before the brunette had caught up with Gokudera. He had reflexively pulled the latter by the sleeve. When the silverette turned around, Tsuna immediately let go. Normally, he would've panicked and screamed by now. Still, the urge to clear the matter up had steeled his resolve and pushed the anxiety at the back of his mind.

"Please don't be bothered by what Yamamoto said," Tsuna began.

Tsuna had guessed perhaps the weird expression on Gokudera earlier on was because of this: Yamamoto had "sworn his allegiance" on him, rather than Riku's. Well, he said that but it wasn't anything like that at all! Tsuna had convinced himself that wasn't what the Rain guardian had in mind. Yamamoto had meant to be friends. Otherwise, it would be soo abusrd! After all, he was just Tsuna… Villager A, Normal Citizen #27 or something. Still, that one sentence of his (Yamamoto) really was misleading. Thus, Tsuna felt the need to explain. It would've been better if Yamamoto had followed as well and clarified this himself. Unfortunately, he hadn't.

Gokudera was a guardian of the legends, and Tsuna reckon Yamamoto was too. Well, actually, Tsuna had sensed a long time ago Yamamoto was one… he just wasn't sure, since the aura was too faint. However, back then at the rooftop, as if Yamamoto had gotten his resolve, his guardian aura had turned on at full blast. Thus, even if it was just a misunderstanding, Yamamoto saying those words was indeed troubling… especially to a fellow guardian like Gokudera.

I'll follow you and protect you as well, Tsuna!

"When he said that, I'm sure he had only meant it as a friend," Tsuna added. "After all, I am just Tsuna." Tsuna scratched his head as he offered an awkward smile.

Saying all these things really was shameless of him. What if he had been wrong with his guess, doesn't he feel shame? Gokudera was probably cussing and cursing at him for being so arrogant by now. Nevertheless, right or wrong, Tsuna was still glad he had said what he wanted to say. Moreover, if he was right, Gokudera would be assured with this. What he didn't expect however, was it only complicated things instead. Gokudera's eyes narrowed as he looked at the brunette kid.

"You can... sense… us?"

"…eh?"

The us could've meant a lot of things, but one Sawada Tsunayoshi understood.

For a while, Tsuna did not know what or how to answer. Should he just say it was all a coincidence? Or admit the full truth that he had somehow probably developed some sort of guardian radar as well? As a result of, y'know, being a fanboy…? But saying that would be too embarrassing! Not to mention, unbelievable. Despite anyone claiming themselves diehard fans, considering not one had seen the guardians for years now, finding them was a very difficult feat. Moreover, even just the sensing itself was impossible. Not just anyone could sense a guardian!

Apart from his fellow guardians, Gokudera believed only his Heika-sama, descendant of the One True Sky, could truly sense him. But now, seeing the suspicious brunette in front of him, the silverette bomber began to doubt the specialness of his existence... if even Villager A could "sense" his true identity.

"Ahh… eto…" hyper senses flared, the brunette lad immediately pushed the silverette away. Then, an explosion went off as a bullet wheezed past them. Tsuna turned around. Seeing seven very familiar faces, surprise was all over the brunette's face.

"We're back, Tsuna-chan~!"

"Shishishishishi."

"Trash."

"HIEE~!" Why the hell are they back right now?!

FINALNOTE: Okay, I'm introducing a new set of characters next. Who could they be? lol

Also, in all seriousness, I'll be moving the plot a bit faster this time. Well, I say that 'cause I don't think I've even reached half of the Kingdom Arc. T^T Still, I hope you had fun reading! Thanks again! Your opinions and thoughts are highly appreciated!