AN: So the story has been edited by my wonderful new beta reader The Neo Productions, and it is time to continue the story. Hopefully, ideas will be bountiful and with the help of Neo, I can finally take this fanfiction somewhere. Also, I want to give a special thanks to my slightly deranged fan Eriyum they gave me the push to keep going in the story, and their review made my day.

Written by Meikokuran999, Edited by The Neo Productions.

Numbers of Life - Ch.4 - Acceptance

Gokudera was shocked, to say the least; he just stared at Tsunayoshi not knowing what he should say. What was he supposed to say in this situation? He hadn't known that Tsunayoshi was the successor to such an amazing mafia family. Let alone the part about his friend wanting to deny his right to become the next leader of the Vongola Famiglia.

Gokudera grabbed Tsuna's shoulder, "You can't just throw away such a chance, Tsuna!"

Tsuna looked at his friend. "I never asked for this," he said, "and as far as I'm concerned if my useless waste-of-space of a father never wanted me as a child, then why should I use his blood as a stepping stone to get anywhere in life? Having his blood in my veins is nothing but a curse that I can't seem to escape."

Gokudera frowned but he still understood that there had to be more to the situation, "Your father didn't want you?"

Tsuna frowned, "He thinks I'm a freak."

Gokudera was surprised, "You're not a freak! I mean, you can see lifespans which is different, but there is nothing wrong with that. There are so many great things about you to love. You will go to the end of the earth for those you care about, and you never judge people by other people's opinions. You even became my friend! Who cares about what he thinks… screw him, his opinion doesn't matter!"

Tsuna shook his head, "But he left us alone and my mother was left to die. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Reborn finding me on one of his missions."

Gokudera didn't know what to say at this point. He knew mostly about how Tsuna started living with Reborn, but he was never told the whole story in detail, so he didn't know about Tsuna's father. He didn't know anything about the family that Tsuna had before he was basically adopted by both Reborn and Luce. Gokudera never thought to ask Tsuna about his past beyond what the other had already told him, and he strictly avoided Reborn as much as possible for the safety of his own life. Reborn tended to shoot when annoyed which was something Gokudera planned to stay away from if possible, even then he had still been shot at on several cases. Gokudera felt a shiver run down his spine as he was thinking about it.

Suddenly, Tsunayoshi looked past him with a smile on his face and started waving. Gokudera turned to look and instantly felt the need to run but remained in his spot next to Tsuna. He was too worried about the current situation that Tsuna was dealing with to run to safety simply because Reborn and Luce had returned. Tsuna looked up at Reborn as the two adults who had just arrived back walked over, "Reborn! Luce! You're both finally back."

Luce gave Tsuna a quick hug before Reborn ruffled the teen's hair, "How was your nap?"

Tsuna frowned and instantly the mood in the room darkened again, "I was woken up by someone who is really annoying."

Instantly, Reborn's gun was out in irritation, "Where is that son of a bitch? I already gave him too many chances."

Tsuna showed a thoughtful look on his face before he smirked, "Probably in the infirmary… wherever it is."

Everyone looked right at him, a little thrown off by that comment. Luce ended up being the one to question what he just said, "What exactly happened, Tsunayoshi?"

Tsuna pointed to the gun that he is holding before putting it away in a more hidden spot on his body, "He snuck into our room, Reborn. Well, I was sleeping, and he attempted to attack me. So, I shot him and probably shattered most of his arm if my aim was spot on. I told him that if he tried again, the next thing that's going to shatter would be his head."

Luce frowned, "We should head back as soon as possible, staying here seems to be more trouble than it's worth."

Tsuna laughed, "I've been saying that from the very beginning, I don't want to be the leader of anything."

Luce sighed, "Tsunayoshi, you have to understand that we just want to make sure you think about this before you give up this chance because of your father."

Reborn continued on after her, "She's right, Tsunayoshi. I've been with you for a long time and taught you everything you know, and being a leader is in your blood."

Tsuna looked down, hiding his face.

"It's my blood… that is the problem. If I didn't have his blood in me, my mother never would have died to begin with. Had he not basically abandoned us and treated me like a monster, maybe she would have survived."

Reborn reached out and touched Tsuna's shoulder. "I'm not going to say anything about you rejecting your father because he's a piece of shit. But, I don't want you to hate yourself for having his blood. Without his blood, you wouldn't be the Tsunayoshi we know today, and we all love you the way you are, and no matter what you chose we will support your choice in the end."

Gokudera decided to speak up. "Tsuna… I just wanted to say that I think you already are our leader. At least for me and Takeshi, we would follow you if you do end up choosing to become Decimo. I think you would be a great leader."

Tsuna looked at Gokudera, "Why would anyone follow me? I'm an anti-social freak who never does anything but watch people die."

Everyone in the room was shocked to hear that. Luce kneeled and took Tsuna's hands in her own.

"You are the gentlest person I know, and if you think you can save someone you always will… even at the risk of injuring yourself. You saved that boy – Hibari – even at the risk of your own life, and you've saved so many other people before."

Tsuna looked at her before saying, "I only saved him because I liked him. He had never been harsh to me specifically, and he had even protected me before, so I thought it was only right to protect him in return."

Luce smiled at him, "You saved Chrome and Mukuro from poverty and stopped them from trying to get revenge against the people who killed their family. They would have died if they had continued on that path."

Tsuna looked up, "I couldn't just leave them staying in an abandoned half burned up house, when we live in such a nice place. And when I found out about the truth of their plans, I had to stop them; they were already like siblings to me. So, I did the only thing I know that would get them to stop. I told them the truth about seeing lifespans, and that if they didn't stop then they were going to die."

Luce nodded, "They stayed because they trust you like family, and they know that you would never lie to them."

Reborn put his arm over Tsuna's shoulder, "You are easily the kindest person I've met. You always have been even after being abused for all your life as a child, even when you were scared you always protected and cared for those who deserved your help if you could. I think that if you are given the chance to lead the Vongola, you should take it, and you should throw your success in your father's face. If you become his boss, it will drive him mad, which is personally something I wouldn't mind seeing."

Tsuna smacked him gently saying, "Jerk", with a joking tone on his voice. Tsuna thought for a few more moments about the situation before he finally came to a decision, "I think, I wouldn't mind talking to Nono again, and if he would agree to a few conditions then I might consider becoming his successor."

Nono and Tsuna had been in the room alone talking for easily an hour while Gokudera, Luce, and Reborn, all stood outside waiting to see what was going to happen. Tsuna hadn't mentioned what his stipulations for becoming Decimo would be, so they had no clue if this talk would end well or not. Yet, after another 20 minutes, the doors opened and Tsuna bid Nono goodbye before walking out to see them. He smiled at them all, "I agreed to become Decimo, but I get to remain in Japan until I am ready to take the helm, unless an emergency happens, and my presence is necessary."

Gokudera smiled and moved towards Tsuna, "That's absolutely amazing, Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna nodded and threw a small shiny object at Gokudera, "Put that on, you said you would follow me, so this is your role in all of this. You're my first Guardian, and naturally my Storm Guardian."

Gokudera glanced down at the small ring with a tornado on it that now sits on his finger. Tsuna showed Gokudera his own hand where the Sky ring was now sitting comfortably in place. Tsuna turned to Reborn and smiled, "Can we leave now?"

Reborn nodded, "Let's go then, no point in staying since our business here is done. Better to leave before stupid Iemitsu finds out and decides to throw a fit, like he is very well known to do."

Tsuna nodded, and they headed back to their rooms to pack. Gokudera agreed to head back with them that night since being made into Tsuna's Storm Guardian would put a target on his back too, which meant it wasn't necessarily safe for him alone in Italy.