"Th-this is so not fair…I curse it." He threw his hands in the air, head tilted back to groan at the sky. "I curse my life!"

"Herbivore, stop your pathetic act. You're too loud." He pointed at the untouched meal before Tsuna with a chopstick. "Start eating. I won't tolerate you being late or wasting food under my watch."

A vein on his temple throbbed. "Hibari-san, it's five in the morning. Aren't I up too early? School starts in three hours."

His azure irises turned violet as he narrowed his eyes. "I won't repeat myself." Nevertheless, he said, "You will be accompanying me on my patrols from now on." His glare relented, his irises returning to their original tint.

With a resigned sigh, he picked up his chopsticks and clapped his hands together as he mumbled his gratitude for the meal.

Hibari stood up, picking his used plates in the process, ordering for Tsuna to hurry; he only had five minutes left.

Tsuna shrieked. Already?! Why can't I ever eat breakfast without it being stolen or having to choke it down in world-record?

The splash of water and the squeak of foamy soap echoed from the kitchen to the dining room. It stopped. Hibari's baritone drifted into the room in the fluidity of smooth velvet: "I'll wait outside. Be late, and I'll bite you to death again."

Tsuna's head ached simply remembering the force of the blow of a "bite" he received yesterday. It should be "beat to death", not "bite to death". He swallowed the last of grains of rice as he stood hastily up. Running into the kitchen with his dishes, he placed his stuff in the sink as he shrugged on his messenger bag on his shoulder and over his chest. I'll wash my dishes later…if Gokudera-kun doesn't do them before I do, that is. He ran out the house, nearly forgot his shoes in the process, and almost bumped into Hibari as he closed the gates behind him.

With a slight frown and a downwards curl of the lips, Hibari announced, "You are one second late. Expect proper punishment later." He twirled around, the coat on his shoulders flapping behind him. "Let's go."

Reluctantly, Tsuna followed, a sort of creeping shiver crawling down his back—the woods at night always gave him a fright, especially since he knew there was something there…something he most definitely did not want to discover what it was. He pulled at the hems of his scarf, cold pricking his cheeks and nose till they colored a light pink. "Where are we headed to?"

A wet cough past his lips unnoticed as he glanced from the corner of his eye at Tsuna—not down, mind you, but up. The herbivore grew taller than me. He didn't want to admit even to himself that was a blow to his pride as a carnivore—he remembered two years ago he was able to see the crown of the brunet's head. But…he had forgotten all about the herbivore that never failed to arrive late to class every morning; Tsuna had moved on to high school while he stayed behind, protecting what he loved most of Namimori. He mentally shook such thoughts away. Instead of speaking (for he knew the endless flow of blood was surfacing up again) he pointed with a tonfa at the general direction of their destination.

Tsuna, being one with a bad sense of direction, could only stare at Hibari, a weird sense of concern brewing in his chest. "Are you alright, Hibari-san?"

Hibari pretended to clear his throat to wipe away with the back of his hand a trail of crimson that had begun to dribble out from the corner of his mouth. He ignored the question since he never was one to answer such things. Herbivorous things.

He shifted the strap of his bag closer to his neck. His vision went from Hibari to a random tree continuously until he mustered enough courage to inquire further. "Is it…umm…you know…from the accident? I know someone who might know someone who can help you with…ah…that."

Several coughs responded him.

Tsuna pursed his lips, not liking the feel of being ignored. "Hibari-sa—"

His shoulders tensed, mind stuck between accepting the offer to receive help and finally rid himself of his injuries by sucking up his pride or suffering of constant coughs, the staining of everything with his essence if he ever accidentally rubbed his back against a surface, the discomfort of sleeping in midair as the autumnal breeze wrecked his body temperature, the flare of pain—ah, curse it. The pros and cons are too off balance. "Sawada Tsunayoshi, if you speak of this to anyone, I'll arrest you."

He blinked. "Eh—are you accepting my help?" He watched in mild amazement as a blush bloomed on Hibari's cheeks. W-wo, so cute…! He blanched. I did not just think that! He coughed awkwardly onto his hand, a blush of his own shading already pink cheeks red. "Th-then, when will you be free today?"

The color on his cheeks slowly dissipated as he replied, "After the morning patrol." He narrowed his eyes at Tsuna, his irises changing hue. "Don't plan on using that as an excuse for skipping school."

There it is again: his eyes turned violet. "After school?"

He softened his glare as he tilted his head back to the road in front. "Afternoon patrol, which you're coming to."

Ah, they turned blue again; what's with that, anyway? "R-right. Umm, how about after that?"

"Depends on the time."

Don't tell me there is also an evening patrol? "Right after that patrol, perhaps?"

He huffed. "Fine."

Two girls—one of auburn, long hair with golden irises and the other of shorter, dark hair and purple irises—turned the corner, the auburn-haired one giggling as the other blushed shyly. Both wore the uniform of Nami High.

Recognition instantly dawned on Tsuna. "Chrome-chan, Kyoko-chan!"

"Kaichou, good morning."

"Morning."

"Good morning." He chuckled, a smile gracing his features. "You can call me 'Tsuna', you know, Chrome-chan?"

Chrome shifted nervously, looking away from the glittery substance Tsuna was emitting.

"Tsuna-kun, what brings you so early here?" Kyoko smiled, depression obscuring her laugh. "Hibari-san would have loved to see you arrive at school on time, don't you think?"

Tsuna took a brief gander at Hibari, suddenly realizing he was the only one able to see the Head Prefect. He fumbled for an excuse. "Y-yeah. I—err—thought I should do this in name of…of his memory, I guess."

Hibari fought the urge to roll his eyes as he huffed. Idiot.

Chrome blinked, raising a hand to point at Hibari. "But Hibari-san is—"

"Ahh! I better get going; I have some paperwork of the Student Council to finish." He took Hibari's hand, waving at the startled girls behind him. "See you in school!" Not waiting to hear their reply, he quickly turned the corner, making Hibari almost trip over a crack in the sidewalk.

He heaved a sigh, hand over his chest as if to calm his rapidly pulsing heart. "That was close. I forgot Chrome-chan had that ability."

Hibari wrested his hand away from Tsuna's. "Don't touch me."

Tsuna blinked. "Sorry."

He huffed, folding his arms over his chest as he raised a curious brow. "You are the Student Council President?"

Shifting nervously as he scratched the nape of his neck, he blushed, chuckling with obvious discomfort. "Reborn forced me into it, saying it was training for being the next leader of the Vongola. Ah, I don't know how or why I was elected as the president." Reborn probably threatened everyone...as usual.

"The Infant did?" He shrugged. "I have no objections, then." He turned around and proceeded to cross the road, not minding the cars that phased through him as he went by like the vehicles were not even there. Being a ghost is useful at times. Hibari stopped once he reached the sidewalk, raising his voice above the noise of passing vehicles. "Hurry. I don't have all day."

Tsuna ran after him after looking both ways for any incoming vehicles. Once they continued their stroll, he inquired, "Hibari-san, if you don't mind me asking, how do you know Reborn?"

Hibari yawned, a hand politely muffling it, moisture collecting at the corners of his eyes. He rubbed away the moisture with the back of his hand, a tired moan slipping past his parted lips. "I met him a few years ago."

God, why does he look so cute? He blinked at his own thought, paling. How is this tormenting tyrant cute?! He shook his head, inwardly chiding himself for conjuring sentences that contained "Hibari" and "cute" simultaneously. "He didn't do anything weird, right?" Please tell me Reborn did not do anything to Hibari-san.

The skylark remained silent for several minutes, his head swiveling to and fro alley to alley, checking for anything miscreant. "Sawada Tsunayoshi."

W-what did I do this time? "Yes?"

"You speak too much."

His eyebrow twitched. "…Is this your way of saying 'shut up', by any chance?"

Hibari beckoned him closer, and, when Tsuna leaned down to his level, he said, "I would tell you to shut up if that is what I meant, or—" His eyes traveled to Tsuna's luscious lips. His tongue darted out of his mouth to moisten his lips. Or I could do that.

"Or…?"

The cacophony of glass breaking resounded from the alley to the right, the bovine steps carrying their owners becoming louder with each stride they took. "Well, well, if it isn't Dame-Kaichou." Two young men—hair bleached in lime green, blue, and gold and styled into mohawks; school shirts open to reveal shirts décor with crude slangs; and pants hanging low littered with chains—sauntered closer to Tsuna, to the point where they were practically breathing down Hibari's neck unknowingly.

Tsuna's lips curled down in distaste, brows furrowing. "What do you want?"

The taller of the two sneered, "Yah got the fucking guts to tal' back now?" He spit on the ground, disgustingly near Tsuna's shoe. He snarled. "Shitting brat."

Hibari nudged the brunet with the end of a tonfa. "Sawada Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna glanced at Hibari as a silent query.

"Improper uniform and foul language will be tolerated under no circumstances." He folded his arms over his chest. "However, I can't touch humans."

Panic rose in his chest. In a whisper, he said, "Hibari-san, it's against Vongola law to ever exert harm on humans. Reborn will have my head if I so much as accidentally bump into someone in the hallways at school."

The other one curled his hands around Tsuna's shirt, lifting the brunet till Tsuna stood on the tips of his toes. "The hell did yah say? Improper uniform and cursin' won't be tolerated?" He shook Tsuna from his grasp, sending the brunet tumbling a few steps back. "What? Now that that Hibari Bastard's dead, you think you can take the bastard's fucking place? The Committee is a'ready crumblin' without his fucking presence. Imagine; if you become Head, you'll send all of fucking Namimori into fucking hell."

That's more "fuck"s than I hear Gokudera-kun say in six hours. "I haven't said anything."

A vein on his temple throbbed, threatening to burst at any moment. "Herbivore, I care not about your edicts. These herbivores deserve punishment."

"Hibari-san, as I said, I can't do that." His eyes widened, and he mumbled a curse. I forgot to say that in a low voice…

They crackled with laughter. "I don' see the fuckass anywhere but the cemetery. Did yah loose a screw in the head or somethin'?"

At first, he thought it was because he had recently died and some of his life energy remained that the Committee members were able to hear him, but now he was certain he could be heard as though he was actually part of the living. A smirk played on his features. "Herbivores, you'll be sent to the cemetery if you don't shut up and follow the rules."

The taller of the two snapped his head in all directions, eyes widening in horror and knees commencing a terrible shaking—Tsuna's mouth had not moved. "Wh-what—" He gulped. "I'll be damned…!" Bereft a second thought, he pivoted on his heel and ran at full-speed in a zigzag manner, hollering something about the existence of ghosts and revenge.

The last of the two did not bother with his manly pride either as he mimicked the other's reaction.

He burst out laughing, clutching his sides from the intensity of it. "You—" He snickered, gasping for breath. "You are amazing, Hibari-san!" His laughter began to die down to a chuckle. "I don't think you need my help much; you scare them just with your voice."

"An herbivore should know its place under the rule of a carnivore."

A droplet of sweat dribbled down his forehead. "Right…"

Hibari yawned, hand (as always) politely over his mouth. He turned the corner, and the massive building of Nami High School was the panoramic view. I've never been in Nami High. He twisted his body towards Tsuna. "Give a tour of the school."

"For you?"

"Who else, Herbivore?"

He blinked, rather confused. "I thought you had already been to Nami High. I mean…I see D.C. prefects all the time here."

Nodding, Hibari sauntered towards the school, Tsuna following right at his side. "I send them here to keep order. I stay at Nami Middle."

Tsuna tilted his head back to stare at the greying sky, a sort of contemplating air befalling him. Hibari-san seems to be rather talkative. He smiled as he tilted his head back to its regular position. I like it. "I'll be more than glad to show you around."

He stretched his arms over his head and his legs as far as they could go under the desk, eyes clutched close in a moment of bliss as the first bell of the day rang. He chuckled to himself, recalling how Hibari trailed behind him, eyes wondering curiously and inspecting every detail—so scrutinized was the school, Tsuna had a mild suspicion Hibari was even perusing every last grain of dust—as they passed countless classrooms, the libraries (Tsuna had absolutely no idea why a school needed three libraries), the gyms, the unused Reception Room, and the Student Council Room. Hibari had refused to go the lunchroom, giving a half-assed excuse of it being crowded. "Hibari-san," Tsuna attempted to reason, "not even the teachers are in school yet." He was ignored, of course. And, in the end, Hibari-san apparently forgot all about the morning patrol. Tilting his neck back so as to stare at the blank ceiling and his chair's front legs to leave their safe stand on the floor, the long strands sprouting from his shorter locks draping like a smooth cascade from their previous rest upon his shoulder towards the center of his wooden chair, he mumbled, "I wonder where Hibari-san went."

Raven locks invaded his vision, a set of cerulean irises staring an unnerving apathy into titian ones. "Sit straight. Class commences."

He almost lost his balance and clattered to the floor if he had not already been accustomed to such surprises (courtesy of a certain Spartan tutor); instead, he jolted out of his seat, and the chair suffered the fall alone, hand over his mouth to muffle his shocked shriek, which had only become more feminine as the years went by, the opposite to the few, lower octaves his voice had adopted. "What are you doing here?" whispered he, albeit loud enough for those close to hear, causing them to turn Tsuna's way, eyebrows arching when they found the brunet speaking to the air.

"Kaichou, are you going delirious? No one is there."

Tsuna gave a façade of a laugh, nervous sweat beading on his forehead, as he forced a smile towards the brunette sitting diagonally from him. "I—ah—thought I saw my—umm…mother."

Hibari clicked his tongue, voice lowered, mindful of the fact humans could hear him. "Have you been told you suck at lying?"

He shot Hibari a dirty look, puckering his lips.

The door to the class slid open, and the students scrambled to their respective desks as though the icy flames of hell had been ignited. A tall man dressed in an onyx suit along with a matching fedora obscuring his already obsidian irises, with peculiar sideburns of the twirl-iest curls; a yellow pacifier hung around his neck and rested over his chest. The professor placed the stacks of papers he carried onto the desk, the jolting that resulted startling the students. "Inutile students, as usual, don't bother standing and bowing; I may just make you kiss my shoes instead." He pivoted on his heels, polished soles squeaking, and roamed his gaze over the classroom, searching for that empty desk of the student he could torment for arriving late/being absent. With slight dissatisfaction, he found all seats to be taken…and a humanoid silhouette hovering behind Sawada Tsunayoshi. The corners of his mouth tugged upwards into a smirk. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence in my classroom, Hibari?"

Confused, the students—barring Tsuna, for he was gulping in fear, hoping Reborn would not suddenly decide to murder him—turned this way and that, searching for this "Hibari" person; the only Hibari everyone knew was gone from the living, so it obviously had to be someone with the same name…right?

Hibari gave a curt nod in greeting, a smirk of his own already in place.

Reborn mimicked the action and then set his stare-almost-glare on Tsuna. "Dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna heaved a resigned sigh. "Understood."

It remained the mystery of the day who Reborn had so kindly—"kindly" was an adverb barely used to denote an action of the Spartan tutor—welcomed—he usually kicked (literally) anyone who disrupted his teachings out of the classroom.

"I've had my eyes on you since the first time I saw you, Hibari."

Said object of interest had no response to that.

Reborn smacked Tsuna upside the head.

Wincing, Tsuna shot him a dirty look. "What was that for?!"

"He stays no matter what." His lips curled further, obsidian irises glinting with mirth as Tsuna paled at his next words. "As a Guardian, of course." He tapped his chin contemplatively several times. I wonder what kind of trial I should make Hibari undergo. He chuckled, a plan that shall not be revealed to the reader brewing majestically in the corrupted section of his mind. "Now, what colour do you like best, Hibari: yellow, indigo, or purple? Yes, I think purple suits you best; good choice. Mind being a Guardian? Glad you don't." He paused momentarily. "How about courting? Really? I thought you would have dated someone by now. I'll fix that for you."

Reborn was formulating answers (even if some were right) to the random queries that made no sense with the topic of discussion (if it could even be called that), not bothering once to allow for him to give his opinion on the matter of staying in the Vongola Mansion with mingling, boisterous, aggravating, foul-mouthed herbivores and how he desired to handle his social life—it pissed Hibari off to no end.

Yay…update~…so…tired…nine past…three in the morning…lovely…

Please ignore any and all grammatical/spelling mistakes.

Ah, I am planning on a Monster Tamer Tsuna x Hibarin (in that order) fic. Would anyone be interested in reading that? I would appreciate your opinion!