"I'm off mom!" He left his house. He believed he was old enough to walk to school all by himself now.

He hummed a joyful tune.

"Hey, isn't that one of the first years?" An upper classman walking to Namimori elementary, asked his friends.

He stopped his song, and picked up the pace. He could hear their whispering, and hurried steps. If only he had his mom walking with him. He glanced back. He grew scared from their plotting eyes. He took off running, he broke left at an intersection. He gulped, hearing them run after him. He squeezed his eyes shut, he wasn't going to cry.

He huffed, finally making it to the park? He searched left and right. Why wasn't he at school? "I must of made a mistake." His legs wobbled. He knew the school and park were close to home, but he must of messed up the two. He didn't know how to get from the park to school. He wasn't to sure about the way home either. He just always followed Mom.

"Baka ran to the park, instead of the school."

So began their teasing and bullying. He flinched back, but stumbled and fell on his butt. "Ow."

"Leave him alone!" He ran to his aid. He stood in front of him with his arms spread across.

So they turned their attention to him.

The upperclass men left, after a few good swings at the one who came to the rescue, realizing they would be late. The other one was crying the whole time seeing him take the bullying meant for him.

"Hiba, Hiba." Tsuna was dirt riddled and scraped up, but his toothy grin was as happy as ever. "It's a good thing I followed you. You can stop crying. They're gone right?"

Sniffles and tears. "But," Hibari wiped his eyes with his wrist after his fingers got tired, and cleaned his nose with a sleeve. "But you."

"I'm fine! How 'bout you? Did they hurt you?" He was inspecting his friend for any injuries.

Hibari tried to stop crying but couldn't and his words came out slurred. "Why did you jump in front of me like that?!" He was upset, because Tsuna was always protecting him. Why couldn't he be strong like him? "I want to protect you too sometimes, Tsunayoshi-kun!" He cried louder.

Tsuna sweatdropped. "Eh?" He shook his head and focused. He clamped his hands over Hibari's cheeks and rubbed the rest of his tears away with his thumbs. "Hiba, family always keeps eachother safe. I'm always going to keep looking out for you, because I know you'll do the same for me, ne?"

"You mean it? We're really family?"

Tsuna chuckled a no good smile and nodded. "Yup. So I'll be strong for you when you can't be, ok?"

His tears stopped and he let out a final sniffle. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Hibari forced himself not to scowl. He was such a crybaby. Why was he thinking of that memory now. He breezed through the halls, finishing his final rounds. Kusakabe was in the office, wrapping up paper work. He smirked seeing a light on, in a passing by classroom. He decided he would blow off his frustration on the students breaking the rules. He pulled out his tonfa, ready to bite them to death.

"It's past school curfew." He thrusted the door open and barged inside, ready for his prey.

"Hiyaaa!"

"H-Hibari?!"

"...Tsunayoshi-kun?"

"Hiee!" Tsuna almost fainted, before catching himself. "Oi Hibari, what are you doing here? It's the middle of the night." Tsuna threw the blanket off, and scratched his hair with a no good yawn.

"Tch." He knew it was a mistake. He decided to take his leave out the window.

"W-Wait up." Tsuna sighed before he left. He walked up to Hibari. He brushed his bangs away with a frown. "You're still picking fights huh?" A bruise, scrapes, and cuts. Tsuna left to get the first aid. "Sit."

Hibari made an attempt to leave again.

"Now." Boss reaffirmed.

Hibari was stuck between leaving and staying. He wanted to leave, but how he wanted to stay even more.

Tsuna came back with Yuni. "Sorry, I'm not really good with patching up others." He faced away with a cringe. 'But I fix myself up all the time.'

Yuni chirped a joy. "Don't worry. Onii-chan just doesn't want to hurt Hiba-chan's cute face."

"Oi, Yuni!" It was dark, but Hibari swore he saw Tsuna's face heat up.

"Nani? What's the big deal, hohohoho!" Hiding her obnoxious mouth with a back hand, pinky up. She lost her giggle to a yawn. Onii-chan did wake her up out of nowhere.

"It's just, I haven't called Hibari that since we were kids. Y-You should drop it too Yuni, right Hibari?"

"..." He wasn't good with crowds. Three was company.

Tsuna instantly flinched. "Hehe, actaully, I can handle it, Yuni. Don't worry."

Yuni was confused and slightly annoyed. "Don't wake me up next time, baka." She shoved the first aid kit into his arms. She halfheartedly stomped to her room.

Tsuna forced a chuckle. "Sorry about that Hibari. I should of figured you would be uncomfortable. It's better with just the two of us, ne?" He sat beside him, opening the kit. Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows, confused. 'Now how do I go about this? I usually just patch up what I can. But I should clean his wounds first, right?' "Eh, what hurts?" Tsuna scooted closer, their thighs touching, no big deal to Tsuna. He rubbed his thumb over the bruise on his forehead. "Here?" Feeling the skylark wince. Tsuna frowned slightly, dabbing a cotton ball with alcohol. "Please stay the night? I would be worried otherwise."

Hibari gulped. Alone with him, in the middle of the night. Could he really handle this? No, he couldn't. He would devour him if he did. Hibari yanked Tsunayoshi, by his pajama collar. He brought him inches from his face. "No." Seething it out. "Ask again, and I'll-"

"Bite me to death?" Tsuna had half-lidded eyes, staring right through Hibari's scary nature. "You wouldn't hurt a fly," Tsuna rose an eyebrow, with a crooked smirk. "Huh, Hiba?"

Hibari's eyes grew and then darkened. The way he said that.

In an instant, Hibari shoved Tsuna down on the bed and straddled him, he pinned both his hands above his head, ready to prey on the cub.

"Hieee?! Eh, Hibari? What are you- owwww!" Tsuna's head snapped back in pain. A tear almost slipped past his eye. "You actually bit me?" He sniffled.

Hibari finally refocused. He had bit his childhood friend! On the shoulder, exposed from his poorly buttoned pajama top. Then Tsuna's words reached him. The guilt of losing to desire, crushed his pride in discipline. "Sorry, I-." Hibari didn't have an explanation. Well he had one, but he could never tell him. "Sorry." Letting go of him, but still on top of him.

"I was joking around, geez. You didn't have to take it that far. I didn't think it would bother you that much." Tsuna was frustrated. 'Who the fuck does that?' "I was just trying to be a good friend." Tsuna either didn't notice, or wasn't bothered, by the fact that Hibari was still straddling him.

His raven bangs hid his face. "I told you, I don't want to stay the night." But it was weak, desperate for a promised strength.

"Huh?" Tsuna scrunched his face, annoyed, but also worried. Hibari was acting weird.

"I don't want people's help."

Tsuna gasped. He balled his first and rose his upper body, supported with his other arm. "How could you say that? You know, I'll always go out of my way for you!" Hibari felt something in his chest. "And Chrome!" Then it dropped.

There it was... Chrome. Again. Everytime. Every single time he gained an inch of hope, Chrome manifested to reveal the harsh truth.

"Don't worry Hibari, a promise is a promise, ne?" He grinned a no good chuckle like always, rubbing the cut across Hibari's cheek, with his thumb.

And it always gave him hope.

Haru covered her almost rebuttoned blouse. Tsuna lept back, trying to buckle his belt. He instantly stood in front of Haru to give her privacy. 'Thank God, he didn't catch us in the middle of it.' Tsuna sighed in relief. Tsuna fastened his belt, facing Hibari, when Haru gave the blushing ok.

Tsuna was ready to face the worst. 'In a classroom, past curfew, doing it. Well fuck, I'm dead. I had a no good life, but it was a good one. Wait that's a contradiction. Ah, whatever.'

"Eh?" Tsuna didn't quite understand. Hibari was standing there, not moving, only staring at him, with parted lips. Haru was peeking around Tsuna's back. "Hibari?"

Hearing his voice snapped him back to the situation. Hibari cleared his throat and straightened himself up. "I have other matters."

Tsuna and Haru both winced when the door slammed shut. "Is Hibari ok?" Tsuna crossed his arms with a confused tilt of the head. 'Is he still mad at me? I ended things with Chrome so I could at least try to salvage our friendships. I have to fix things with both of them.'

Haru walked around him. She kept adjusting her uniform. It felt dirty. She gave up, and focused on Tsuna-san's question. She leaned her bottom against the table. She tapped her index finger to her cheek, staring up. "He looked kind of sad."

Tsuna kept staring at the door. His eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Haru did have a point. "Why would he be sad?"

"Hm, Tsuna-san..." She debated, between telling him or not. She decided on the truth like always. "Have you ever thought, that maybe Hibari-san likes you?"

"Huh, of course he does. I mean, I know we aren't on the best terms right now, but we'll always be there for eachother!" Tsuna nodded to himself, reassured. 'We're family, after all.'

Haru shook her finger and head. "No Tsuna-san, I mean, like, like, you?"

"Like, like?" A dense silence. "...Eh?! But that's impossible. He likes Chrome." He waved off. "Nope, there is no way. We have known eachother since we were kids and he's never said anything."

Haru's face tilted, confused. "I don't know who started that rumor, but he doesn't like Chrome." Matter of fact.

"Huh, how do you know?"

"Because I've interviewed Hibari-san before. When I got to the subject of who he likes, he didn't answer, but kind of deliberately went out of his way to say he wasn't interested in any female. His fanclub went nuts hearing the news. They still don't know who to pair him up with. Some go for Kusakabe others with Yamamoto, some even like the idea of the delinquent Gokudera with him." She rambled not realizing Tsuna's lost of interest. He was packing his things, and slung his school bag across his torso.

"Hibari probably said that so he would be left alone. You know how he is." He waited at the door. "Let me walk you home, Haru."

Haru smiled with a nod. They walked out of the classroom, as she continued the conversation. "No Tsuna-san, I don't know how he is. Only you do."

"Haru," He rubbed the back of his neck frustrated. "I don't like where you're going with this." There was no way Hibari liked him that way. 'Defintely, no way. I'll never forget that winter night. We were waiting for her. He even had a gift for her...' But was it really for her...

"But Tsuna-san, he only gets close to you." Haru was trying to get Tsuna to see the truth. "You could say he is clingy."

Tsuna stopped walking. They had reach the front gates of school. He stared at the cement. His mind replayed one important memory. A promise is a promise, ne?

"I... I know why he's clingy but that doesn't mean anything." And they kept walking.

Haru rolled her eyes. "Even when the truth is in front of you, you don't want to admit it. I guess your integrity was compromised."

"Haru it's not that, it's just we aren't in the best terms right now. If I bring up this," gesturing his hands about the conversation between them. "I don't want to make things worse."

They arrived at her house. She stood and turned to him, after reaching the front gate. "Why do you do this to yourself?"

"Ara? What do you mean Haru?"

"You always put others feelings before you're own. You're scared of hurting Hibari again, so you're avoiding him, but it's killing you isn't it, that you guys aren't friends anymore?"

Tsuna smirked. "Hm, I vaguely recall alot of people saying I was inconsiderate of others."

Haru sighed, staring away. "There you go again, using your sarcasm as a defense."

Tsuna felt a sting of guilt. Haru knew him well. "Sorry."

She faced his eyes again. "It's ok to be selfish with your emotions Tsuna-san." She rose to her tiptoes. Her voice soft, eyes whispered closed, and cheeks with a tint of pink. "Because I'm going to be with mine." Stealing a kiss. She giggled and winked at his blush. "Thank you for walking me home Tsuna-san!" She skipped inside her house to the rythem of her own heart beat.

Tsuna's heart kept thumping in his chest. 'Is Haru my girlfriend?' His chest swelled with the thought. He grew a smile.

He almost skipped down the street. He didn't, but his steps had a cheerful bounce.

Bzz, bzz. His pocket was vibrating. Tsuna pulled out his phone. He rose a curious eyebrow at the screen. "Kusakabe-san?" He flicked the answer button with his thumb, and placed it next to his ear. "Hello?"

"Sawada-san." His voiced sound on edge. He was usually calm and collected.

"Kusakabe-san, what is it, you only have this number for emerg...-encies. D-Did something happen to Hibari?!"

"Yes, that was very intuitive." Taken back slightly by his deductive reasoning. "But Sawada-san, the chairman never came back after his final patrol of the school."

"Um."

"He always comes back to the disciplinary committee office before leaving. For someone like Kyoya-san not to fulfill a duty is bizzare. Is he with you?"

Tsuna's grip on his phone tightened. "H-Hibari's missing?" 'It can't be because he saw me and Haru. It can't be.'

"I was afraid you would say that. Sawada-san, do you have any idea where he would be?"

"Have you checked the school roof? If not there," He ignored the weight that fell in his chest. "Then check Chrome's apartment."

"Thank you Sawada-san. I'll check the roof right away, but can you check her apartment for me? I woud be grateful."

Tsuna almost chocked on his spit. He sucked in his breath and squeezed his eyes shut. "N-No, I can't, sorry." He opened them with a resolve focused on the situation. "I'll text you her address. I'll look for any where else he might be."

"Sawada-san?" It was a hesitated response. He didn't want to see Chrome? He ignored his own thoughts, he wanted to find Hibari. "Alright I'll head over there right now. He wasn't on the roof."

"Thank you Kusakabe-san. And sorry again."

"No, thank you Sawada-san. I won't pry either. It's your personal business with Dokuro-san and the chairman."

They both clicked and went to look for Hibari.

Tsuna sent Kusakabe the text and then booked it for the park. 'Thank goodness I brought my gloves from the club room.' He equipped them, running down the street. He instantly entered Hyper dying will mode with out the need for pills. He lept up and took off with a high speed burst across the sky.

"Hibari!" Tsuna landed at the center of the park, scaring a few people. He did a quick scan of the area. 'It's too crowded for him to be here.' He ignited his flames again, and blasted away.

'The abandoned shrine.' Tsuna flew towards there. It was the most isolated place in Namimori. He increased his flame output, leaving a blazing trail behind him.

He landed with a tired breath. "Not here either." He clutched his fist shut. "Where is he?" He prayed he was at least with Chrome. At the same time he wished at least he wasn't with Nagi.

Tsuna bit his lower lip. "I'll check Kokuyo land."

He headed straight there.

Tsuna busted through the door. He ran to the room he knew Mukuro would be. The room with a stage, the same room where they had their first fight.

"Kufufufu, Sawada Tsunayoshi, to what do I owe your presence." He was sitting on stage, his fingertips pressed together like a plotting pyramid.

"Mukuro." The natural disdain in Boss's voice. "Have you seen Hibari?" He might of come here to pick a fight with him.

Mukuro's red eye gleamed with amusement. "Oh, lost your play thing? How's mine, by the way?"

Even in hyper dying will, Mukuro knew how to pull the strings of his emotions. "What did you say?!" Tsuna closed the distance in an instant. He transmitted in front of him, and shoved him against the wall. His forearm pressed against his neck to keep him in place. The flame of his gloves burned dangerously.

"Hit a nerve, did I? Kufufufu. Did you already break her?"

He lodged his elbow deeper like a rigid pike, causing him to cough, before letting him go completely. Tsuna knew better than to continue this argument. He just wanted a reaction out of him. "I just came looking for Hibari, if he's not here then we're done." Tsuna turned and began to walk away.

"Kufufufu. That's not true at all, is it Sawada Tsunayoshi?" He rubbed his throat, then gave his sly grin. "You want to find out how to fix her. Unfortunately for you, I don't know how, or care for such a weakling."

Tsuna's gloves made a tight grip noise. "There was a time when you did Mukuro."

"And there was a time when I tried to see you as family. But times change. The sooner you realize that the better." Mukuro's smile grew. Tsuna's was petrified in place by his words. He wanted to play a little more with the vanurable Mafioso. "Like when the Arcobaleno Reborn left you. Everything went back to 'normal' didn't it Dame-Tsuna?"

The quiet minute was a special gratification for Mukuro. "Goodbye Mukuro." Boss left with shadowed eyes.

His smile broke into a laugh. "Kufufufu, I do enjoy our talks, Sawada Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna left Kokuyo land with out a whisper.

Kusakabe knocked on her door. "Please be here." Although the back of his mind wondered why Sawada-san refused to come.

He heard a few locks come undone. It squeaked open only a crack. "Hello?" Only a little bit of her face and beautiful amethyst orb visible.

"Ah, Dokuro-san, I don't mean to be a bother, but is the chairman inside with you?"

"He isn't here."

"I see. Do you have any ideas where he could be?"

Her eye grew then faded to unwanted thoughts. "No, I don't know."

He noticed her slip up. "Please, if you know somethi-"

"I said I don't know!" It was still her quiet voice but filled with anguish. She slammed the door.

Kusakabe stood there dumbfounded. "What happened to them?"

He sagged his shoulders and decided to take his leave, until he heard a gentle click. She reopened the door, the same as last time. "Sorry. But don't worry Boss will do something. He always does." She tried not to smile, but couldn't help it. Boss is always going to be Boss after all.

He was slightly surprised, because he also came to that conclusion. Sawada Tsunayoshi had a no good reputation, but he was the only one the chairman trusted. That had to mean something. "Thank you Dokuro-san, now, if you'll excuse me. I also beg your pardon for bothering you."

She shook her head. "You are also our friend aren't you." She sighed, content with her own conclusion. "Thank you for taking care of them."

"Ara, I'm not quite following."

She giggled opening the door more. "Even if it doesn't look like much to you, you have done a lot for us. The least I could offer is tea. Please come in." She looked down guilty for a moment. "I also need a friend to talk to." Asking Hibari's vice chairman, no, asking one of their friends.

He grew a smile, the first one since looking for Kyoya-san. He felt a weight off his back. "If it's not a bother, I would also like a friend to talk too?"

She nodded with a raise of her shoulders and that everlasting charm. "Of course."

Tsuna barged through the doors of the exclusive mafia lounge. He wasn't wearing the proper attire, but wasn't focused on that. He headed straight for the bar. "Basil, have you seen Hibari?"

Basil was caught off guard. "Sawada? Um, no, the last time I seen him was when he escorted Dokuro after her last performance."

Tsuna gritted his teeth. 'It's already 11:30 I've looked and looked, but still can't find him. Hibari...' "Thanks Basil." Tsuna began to take his leave.

"Wait a minute Sawada. Aria has been asking for you."

'I don't have time to play mafia family with her, but it's for Yuni's sake... Fuck, why now.' "I-I'll call her tomorrow." And left.

That distant winter night. It was cold. The snow burned, but he didn't care. The small animal had passed out, waiting for her. Hibari admired his features. How his lips looked so warm. His body looked so inviting. His arm was outstretched on the bench behind Hibari. His other arm was on the arm rest. His head hung back, with his jaw, dropped, snoring peacefully.

It was ok, right?

Hibari hesitated.

It was ok, to just let himself believe for a moment.

He ignored the tingles coming from his stomach.

It was ok, to pretend they were together. Just for this lonely night of theirs.

Hibari, as quietly as he could, snuggled against the small animal. It was warm being with him.

It was the closest he could ever be with him.

Hibari enjoyed the falling snow. It twinkled down. The night lights illuminated every snowflake in his eyes. It didn't burn anymore. It was beautiful. 'I want to stay like this with you.'

Tsuna sneezed awake. Hibari froze. Was he going to push him away? He did the best to pretend he was asleep.

"We really are idiots." Was all he mumbled, before going back to sleep.

'I really am.'

The small animal was going to wait the rest of the night for her. Hibari couldn't. It would of killed him to see Boss's face lit up if she did show.

He stood on the roof. His eyes focused on the shivering small animal. Hibari took of his coat and draped it over him.

"Don't worry Hiba." Tsuna mumbled in his sleep. "I'll always protect your cute face." He had a stupid grin and it made Hibari uneasy.

'Cute?' He didn't like the way it made him feel. At the same time, he really did like the way it made him feel.

He gulped with the risk in his mind. 'Just one is ok, right?' He leaned down, brushed a few snowflaked bangs away. He closed his eyes, gently pressing his lips to Boss. He broke it, ever so quietly. He opend his eyes, staring at the peaceful face of Tsuna. He sighed to the honesty of unrequited emotions and left.

The moonlight guided his path. He was too tired to fly anymore. He trudged home. He searched everywhere but nothing. Tsuna lost the no good bounce in his step.

He would try searching for him again tomorrow.

He sighed opening the front gate for his home. "So much, for trying to be a good friend."

He naturally loosened his uniform tie, entering the house hold. "I'm home." He mumbled even though it was the dead of night.

Tsuna climbed up the stairs with dread. "Another day of being Dame-Tsuna. How useless can I get."

He held the doorknob for a moment before deciding to open it.

The gentle breeze hit him as he entered the room. The window was open. The curtains flowed to the melody of the wind. Tsuna's hair swayed with hope. His tired, baggy, bloodshot, eyes were wide. "Hibari?"

He was sitting on his bed, for god knows how long. He stood up.

"Hibari." Tsuna took a few steps foward.

"I-..." Hibari didn't know what to say. He waited the whole time here for him. Seeing Tsunayoshi-kun now, it was evident that he had been looking for him the whole time as well.

Tsuna took a few more. Hibari felt uneasy. Tsunayoshi-kun was so worried about him, that he searched tirelessly for him. He really did, the honestly in the small animal was hard to deny.

Hibari remained unmoving. What could either say to the other. He came here out of habbit. Tsunayoshi-kun always comforted him. Always.

But now...

"Hibari." Tsuna took a final step, before embracing him in a desperate hug, he grabbed the back his head and buried his face against his neck. "Thank god you're safe." Tsuna was so tired, but that didn't matter. "I was so worried." His voice cracked a tear.

Hibari's eyes were wide. The small animal was holding him so tight and crying. He rose his arms and shared the hug. He snuggled into it and closed his eyes with a sleepy smile. He let himself lean on Tsuna, because he always has depended on him.

I've always kept my distance, because I knew you didn't feel that way, but how can I not feel this way, when you, every single time, you come and save me?

Tell me how to stop loving you.