I still remembered that meeting from 10 years ago; that moment when we first crossed each other's paths.

It was really by pure chance that we met although a naïve, childish part of me fervently hoped that it was a meeting of fate.

I was thankful that I'd decided to listen to that old man for once and bring my umbrella with me today. Giving a frustrated sigh, I watched as the rain poured down like there was no tomorrow.

Still eight at the time, I was having a miserable day. First, some of the girls at my school thought it would be funny to try and jump me (they won't be coming back anytime soon). Then, I was almost hit by a speeding car (the crazy bastard) and now…

Giving the world around me a blank stare, I let a grim smile paint my lips.

I was going to meet my new 'father'.

It wasn't that I disliked the man because he was a nice guy, really. It was more of the fact that my mother decided to re-marry when my father had only just passed away. That was utterly shameful in the eyes of my late father's clan.

So lost in my thoughts (brooding), I almost bumped into a raven-haired kid that sat drenched in the rain, bawling his eyes out. Well, not so much as bawling as silently crying. Then again…

Taking in the boy's rigid posture, his somewhat-blank expression and the air of control and authority that surrounded him, I supposed that that was as close to bawling as the kid could get. So, I did the only thing that I could think of.

I placed a hand on his shoulder and said, as kindly as I could,

"It's not very manly of you to cry, Chibi-chan."

The boy seemed to be processing what I just said before giving an indignant sniff.

"I'm not chibi."

A real smile graced my lips then. "No, I suppose you're not. You are, however, younger than me."

He frowned (although it looked more like a pout to me).

"You talk like an old person."

This time, a full-blown grin appeared and I offered him my hand. "I'm Hatori Yuuki, Chibi-chan. What's your name?" "I'm not chibi."

Yet, despite his words, he took hold of my outstretched hand. "Hibari. Hibari Kyoya."

-xxxxx-

It was strange how light I felt after meeting him but now that I look back, I suppose he felt the same way I did.

Light, and less burdened.

(A/N: I honestly didn't like this chapter. It's been a while since I wrote first person and Yuuki feels too goddamned shallow to me in this chapter. Well, no matter. Anyone want to beta this for me?~)