Disclaimer: Don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. But Reggaebear does, cos he's awesome. xD

Enjoy this chapter and...

It was by pure coincidence that Tsuna met the boy who would come to be his first friend.

It was a Saturday afternoon with the sun high in the blue, cloudless sky and a gentle breeze blowing. Tsuna had asked his mother for permission to meet with some friends and Nana couldn't have been more thrilled. Gushing that her cute son finally had friends and making him promise to invite them over someday, she practically pushed him out of the door, reminding him to be back before the sun set.

The boy offered a wobbly smile and a wave, running out of sight. Even if he knew it was necessary, he didn't like to lie to his mother; it left a sour taste in his mouth. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he continued determinedly down the road, towards a dojo he had heard of last time. If he wanted to protect his small family, he had to learn to be strong.

But, what if the dojo didn't accept him? He didn't have any skills, nor a lot of money, and he was young and weak to boot. Sure, he could search for another dojo, but there was no guarantee that he could get into any school at all. Then, would he have to teach himself martial arts? Worriedly, he wrung his hands and furrowed his brows. He had never been exceptionally talented in any area; he wouldn't be able to self-teach.

'But I have to!' his mind muttered, slightly frenzied and panicked.

Preoccupied with all sorts of anxious thoughts and unfavourable possibilities, Tsuna didn't look at where he was headed and crashed headlong into something. Yelping in surprise, he stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

As he sat groaning in pain, a sudden voice caught his attention, snapping his head upwards to where a black-haired boy stood over him, a scowl on his face.

"Watch where you are going, herbivore. I'll bite you to death." The scowling boy produced two tonfas out of nowhere, ready to act on his threat. On an eight-year-old who had yet to lose most of the baby fat on his cheeks, though, the scowl looked more like a pout than anything else.

Even though bringing out his weapons was only just a threat - he wasn't going to carry through with punishing the younger boy, he wasn't cruel - Hibari had expected that the little brunet on the floor would stutter out an apology and run away with his tail between his legs but Tsuna only cocked his head to the side and asked innocently, "Herbivore? I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi; why am I a herbivore?"

The answer was short and to the point. "Herbivores are weak."

The younger boy appeared to consider that for a moment, then proceeded to ask, "Why must carnivores be strong, then?"

"To survive," the older fired back immediately.

The brunet paused, then nodded slightly to himself, as though confirming one thing or other. He then addressed the other, not seeming in the least bit fazed by his bloodthirst, "Hibari-san is right. But carnivores must be strong for something other than to survive."

The tonfa-wielding boy growled quietly, not entirely appreciative of the fact that someone was defying his logic.

"Tell me, herbivore."

Tsuna only smiled wistfully, eyes filled with a deep sadness. "That, you'll have to find out for yourself."

Hibari's scowl deepened, ready to launch into an attack once more.

However, the brunet spoke again, an almost adorably serious and defiant expression on his chubby face, "And I'm not a herbivore, Hibari-san. I am not weak."

The older boy's response was the quickest this time - fighting was what he was most familiar with. A smirk-smile hybrid floated onto his face and hands tightened on his metal weapons.

"Prove it," he said simply.

Tsuna's eyes widened, quickly holding his hands up before him as though to defend against or stop the tonfa-wielding boy's attacks. "Hibari-san, please don't misunderstand me! Being strong doesn't mean you have to be good at fighting. There are other ways to be strong too."

That only succeeded in making Hibari pause for a moment, before the smirk on his face returned full force, even a little more bloodthirsty than before.

"We'll see."

Rushing in, Hibari dealt a quick blow to the boy, swinging the other tonfa around as the brunet stumbled back, a small gasp escaping from his throat. When the next hit connected, Tsuna crumpled to the ground, clutching his right arm which he had held up reflexively to block the attack.

The black-haired boy spared only a glance for the fallen brunet, before putting his tonfas away and turning to leave. He's even weaker than I thought. For a moment, Hibari had believed what the boy said but it looked like he was just another herbivore; all bark and no bite.

Heavy footsteps and panting made him turn around. One elegant eyebrow raised a miniscule amount. That boy…

He was standing.

But that wasn't anything special. Plenty of the "disturbers of peace" he had bitten were able to get up after being beaten to the ground - especially Yakuza members, who were definitely able to withstand more than two blows. They would clamber up, proclaiming that their pride did not allow them to lose to an eight-year-old and blabbering on about one thing or another.

Hibari never really listened to them. Just beat them up until they couldn't stand anymore.

What was so different about the brunet was his eyes. They were clear and naive but full of pure, strong resolve. Untouched and untainted by the world, so unlike the usual herbivores that he bit to death. Those had clouded eyes with pools of hatred and anger swimming in them, filled to the brim with wild, frantic fear.

With such a huge difference in strength between the two, how could the six-year-old not be afraid of Hibari?

Scowl deepening, the black-haired boy ran in and with two more strikes, Tsuna fell to the ground once more. Shakily, he pushed himself up but his knees shook and buckled and he collapsed into a heap. As Hibari watched on, the little brunet tried repeatedly to stand properly but he never once succeeded. His limbs trembled violently and his breaths came in short gasps and yet…

He didn't give up. Even if, physically, he was beaten, the resolve in his honey brown eyes was untouchable.

Tsuna tried and tried and refused to stop until he was once again on his own two feet, wobbly and weak but stable enough to face the boy before him. He assumed a stance that he could only hope was somewhat of a defensive position, the only thought filling his mind a single sentence: I have to be strong.

Hibari brought out his tonfas again, prepared to fight. But, as his gaze locked onto the younger boy's pure and cool one, he hesitated. Certainly, the herbivore was weak. He hadn't even put full force into his attacks, seeing as the target was a pitiful-looking, doe-eyed six-year-old but he could see that the boy was already close to unconsciousness. His pupils contracted and dilated and his legs were shaking so badly that Hibari wondered how he could even stand.

Was… was this the strength that the herbivore was talking about? The brunet wasn't good at fighting. In fact, he was downright terrible at it; even his defensive stance was completely incorrect. But being able to keep standing up after you fall - that was a trait that carnivores possess. It was strength.

As the boy - Sawada Tsunayoshi was his name, wasn't it? - finally lost the fight against his own body and keeled over into a dead faint, Hibari thought that perhaps this time round, he would make just one more exception.

Tucking his weapons away, he walked to the brunet and picked him up.

The boy did not stir.

His whole body hurt. He was certain that he was black-and-blue all over. It was like his usual beatings, except worse. He couldn't even fathom the thought of moving.

Cracking open one heavy eyelid, he surroundings. slowly took in his surroundings, the grey cement walls and undecorated room. Uncomfortably, he wriggled a little on the hard mattress, tugging a thin blanket up to his neck.

He… didn't recognise this place.

Suddenly, his eyes flew open, all traces of sleepiness gone as he sat up abruptly, heart pounding and cold sweat running down his face. The sudden movement made his entire body throb with pain and he winced, though that only made it hurt more.

The door creaked open and blood rushed to his ears in a deafening roar, his heart thudding heavily against his chest. But before he even had time to react, a head of ice blue hair with light violet streaks poked around the door, eyeing him curiously for a second.

"Oh, you're awake," the boy said, a bored expression on his face. He pushed open the door and walked into the room, before turning around and calling down the corridor, "Oi, Kyouya, the boy woke up."

Without waiting for an answer, the new arrival sauntered over to Tsuna's bedside, completely ignoring the fact that the latter was scrambling back with his eyes wide with fear. When his back hit the wall, he finally managed to open his mouth and stutter, "W-who are you?"

The blue-haired boy examined the brunet carefully, his eyes looking him over once. He gave no sign of acknowledging what he had found, though he replied monotonously, "Yakami Kazuyuu."

Recognition flashed across caramel brown eyes, quickly followed by fear.

Yakami Kazuyuu.

He was said to be the most dangerous boy in Namimori - on par with Hibari or perhaps even more fearsome - no one knew for sure. If Hibari was known to bite people to death for breaking rules, then Yakami was known for watching idly by with a sadistically amused smile, stepping in only to implement even more brutal punishments. The two together could make grown men and even Yakuza members cry like infants.

What did they want with him?

Thank you to all who favourited, followed the story. Also thanks to I see you see and Skylar18 for their reviews.

...Wait for the next one.

Until next time... If I don't update, assume my dog, Hei Jun, has buried me. :P