"You didn't bring your motorcycle," Tsuna blurted out. He didn't mean to say it. He was so nervous walking with Hibari.

"I figured you probably didn't want to ride it," Hibari replied. "Otherwise I would have brought it."

Wow, Tsuna thought, we're actually having a conversation.

"I know how to converse," Hibari retorted.

Shit.

Reborn was right; Hibari ended up taking him to the park. It was beautiful this time of year with all of the cherry blossom trees. Tsuna was surprised since he didn't think Hibari would ever be comfortable around them again. Hibari must have brought him here because he must have known Tsuna liked them so much.

They viewed the trees for a while, which made Tsuna glad because at least they didn't have to talk. Which was great because he had no idea what to talk to Hibari about.

"Are you alright?" Hibari asked. He actually sounded concerned, which was weird. Tsuna had to think of something quick. He said the first thing that came to mind; Gokudera.

"I need a cigarette," Tsuna blurted out. Hibari stopped walking and looked at Tsuna questioningly. Tsuna stopped too. Tsuna couldn't believe he said that.

"I've never seen you smoke," Hibari said slowly. He didn't seem to believe Tsuna.

Tsuna couldn't believe he was lying in front of Hibari, the guy who could easily beat him up. His palms became sweaty and tried to keep a normal posture. It took everything in his body to not run away right now. Tsuna took a deep breath.

"Exactly," Tsuna replied.

"I find that hard to believe."

"That's because you don't know me."

"Yes," Hibari said, walking again. Tsuna didn't. "I don't know you that well. That's why we're here."

"Who are you?" Tsuna blurted out again. Hibari stopped and turned around. Tsuna realized that Hibari looked different all of a sudden. He was wearing normal clothes, yes, but he looked more vulnerable. He looked more human. Tsuna felt bad for trying to get rid of him.

"My name is—"

"No no no," Tsuna cut off. "I know your name. It's just I find it hard to believe that you're you. You're not you. You're not in character; the real Hibari wouldn't do this. I wouldn't be here right now if you were being you."

"That's because you don't know me. I've never had one of those stupid conventions where you go around in a circle and flashback to your past."

"Well that's because you never hang out or talk with anyone. You know, maybe you wouldn't be so scary if you had friends."

Hibari looked apathetic.

"That's not who I am."

"But you're talking now! This is the most I've ever heard you talk before. Why are you talking now?"

"Don't people usually talk on dates?"

Tsuna cringed. Right, this was a date. He forgot that. It was time for Tsuna to get more serious. Tsuna had to act abnormal to get rid of Hibari. That would be the only way. Heaven forbid if anyone ever saw him like this.

"Well I don't like talking. I think it's stupid," Tsuna grumbled. He felt his checks sting from embarrassment.

"You seem to talk all the time with those people you hang out with."

He started walking again and Hibari followed.

"Well those people don't mean anything, you know. They're just like lackeys." Tsuna couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. "They piss me off. They're not my real friends."

"Hn," was all Hibari could reply. Hibari was shocked. He wasn't sure what to say to that. Sure, he spied on Tsuna before, but that was only during school hours where he was always around those friends of his. He didn't believe a word he said.

Tsuna and Hibari ended up sitting on a bench. It was in a somewhat secluded area, but more people seemed to show up in the park so they weren't completely alone. Neither knew what to say to each other. Tsuna felt as if this was the worst date ever. He noticed Hibari fidgeting though.

"Why?" Tsuna said.

"Why what?"

"Never mind," Tsuna said changing his mind. He wanted to ask why Hibari asked him out, but decided against it. "I should go home, I have homework."

Not a lie and not the truth. Tsuna stood up and started to walk away. He thought he had gotten away scotch free.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" Hibari asked awkwardly. Tsuna stopped and turned around. It was painful to look at him.

"I'll be fine."

"Well then are you free next weekend?"

"I don't know—"

"He's free," Reborn's voice said out of nowhere. Reborn, wearing his cupid outfit, floated down from a tree branch. Tsuna couldn't believe him. Reborn was ruining everything. He didn't want to go on another date.

"In fact, Tsuna's schedule is actually empty for the time being. So since this date was such a success, why don't you two have dinner next time?"

Tsuna, who looked normal on the outside, was screaming on the inside. The same could be said for Hibari, except each boy had different reasons to be screaming about.

"Alright, I'll pick you up at five next time." It wasn't a question; it was a statement. Tsuna had to go.

"Come on Tsuna. Let's go home," Reborn said, unlatching the suspending ropes and hopping onto Tsuna's shoulder. Tsuna walked away stunned form the event that just happened. He couldn't believe Reborn. He was so shocked and mad at the same time. Tsuna didn't feel as if he was in his body anymore.

"Why did you give Gokudera a scavenger hunt list?" Tsuna asked when they got home.

"So there wouldn't be any interruptions on your big date," Reborn replied.

"But that list was ridiculous. You put the weirdest stuff on it. I've never even heard of half that stuff on that list."

"Well, it certainly kept him busy."

"You lied to him!" Tsuna hollered.

"Yeah, and?"

Tsuna groaned. "You were the one who told me not to lie."

"I told you not to lie poorly. A lie is only good if it doesn't hurt anyone and if you can get away with it."

"I thought the whole point of being truthful and honest was to be truthful and honest."

"The mafia doesn't work that way unfortunately. Honesty is your number one priority, but sometimes other people can't handle the truth. So when you can't tell the truth, you lie. Or shot the guy. Depends on the situation."

"I don't like this. I don't like any of this. I don't want to kill anyone and I certainly don't want to date Hibari."

"Then why didn't you tell him that? You had your chance."

"Why?" Tsuna exaggerated. "Because he's like a ticking time bomb. I bet if I don't do something right, he'll bite me to death in the name of love. And for that matter, I don't even believe he actually likes me. I bet you put him up to this. I bet you're trying to teach me a lesson or something."

Reborn whacked Tsuna in the head with a giant hammer.

"Don't use that tone with me. And is it really hard for you to believe that Hibari might actually like you?"

"Yes. Yes it is. Hibari is… well Hibari. He's not supposed to be in love with anyone. I'm not sure he has any other emotions besides pride and anger. He's not human. He's a cyborg. This isn't how my life is supposed to go. My life's a disaster."

"Well I'll say," Reborn mused. "You better get it together before your life really falls apart."

"You think this is a game?" Tsuna shouted.

"What's going on?" Futa asked as he walked to the front of the house. "I heard shouting."

"Well, Tsuna?" Reborn asked. "What is going on?"

Tsuna paused and thought to himself. He tried his best to calm down.

"Sorry Futa. Nothing is going on. Don't worry about it," Tsuna softly said. "Where is everyone else?"

"Well Bianchi went off with mama to do some shopping and they took Lambo and I-Pin with them."

"Who's watching you?" Tsuna exclaimed.

"Dino."

"Where is Dino," Reborn demanded.

"I don't know."

"Great," Tsuna sighed. "Let's go find him."

Dino was found eventually. He had tripped upstairs, hit his head, and fell unconscious. Dino came to Japan as a surprise since all of his meetings were cancelled in Italy. He hadn't seen his little brother in so long. Tsuna didn't like that one bit. He had no idea how he was supposed to explain Hibari to Dino. And even worse, Tsuna had no idea how he was supposed to act at school.

Would Hibari randomly come up to Tsuna and act all bubby buddy with him? Would he call him some pet name or call him into the disciplinary office to hang out? Would Hibari start eating lunch with him and all his friends? How was he supposed to explain that to them?

Surprisingly, nothing happened at school the next day. Life seemed to carry on as if the date never happened. Tsuna was still on high alert. He was more alert than usual. However, everything was normal until Hibari cornered him at the end of the week.

"Wear something nice tomorrow for our date tomorrow."

"Where are we going?" Tsuna asked. Being alone with Hibari made him uneasy. He wasn't expecting this.

"Somewhere nice out of town. And bring a jacket; we'll be on my motorcycle this time."

Hibari walked away. Dread came back to Tsuna. He'd forgotten about date number two. There were also going out of town. Hibari was probably taking Tsuna somewhere reclusive where Tsuna wouldn't know how to get home by himself. He would be trapped.

Tsuna couldn't focus for the rest of the day. It wasn't saying much since he never really seemed to focus in class at all.

"Tenth, are you alright?" Gokudera finally asked at the end of school. "You've been acting strange."

"Ha," Yamamoto laughed, "I'm sure he's just nervous for the test on Monday. Right?"

"Yeah," Tsuna responded. "The test. I got to go home guys. You don't have to walk me home."

Yamamoto frowned.

"Are you sure Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked. Tsuna nodded and walked off without his friends. He left them behind stunned.

"Hey Tsuna," Enma called out, running up to him.

"Not now."

Tsuna kept walking, leaving a shocked Enma behind. He really didn't mean to put Enma off like that, but he wanted some time to think to himself. The more he thought about it, the more he felt guilty. He considered walking back and apologizing. But he never turned around.

"That wasn't nice what you did to Enma," Reborn said to Tsuna as he walked home. Reborn had appeared out of nowhere and landed on his head. Tsuna ignored him until he got home.

"Hey, Tsuna. How was school?" Dino greeted when Tsuna got home.

"It was alright," Tsuna said, going up to his room. Reborn hopped off his shoulder and Tsuna slammed the door to his room. Everything was going downhill for Tsuna and he didn't know how to stop it. He pulled his hands to his face and sighed into them.

"What's up with him?" Dino asked Reborn. "Should I go talk to him?"

"I don't know what's up with him. He's been acting strange," Reborn said nonchalantly. "Maybe you should just let him have some space."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm never wrong."


"Here, wear this," Hibari said as he handed Tsuna a helmet. Tsuna nodded and put it on. He awkwardly got on the bike behind Hibari. They drove off, not noticing that Tsuna's friends saw them.

"Was that Tsuna getting on the back of a bike with Hibari?" Enma asked stunned.

"There's something EXTERMELY wrong with Sawada!"

"Let's have a talk with Reborn," Gokudera said. "He'll know what's up."

"Yeah," Yamamoto agreed.

All four of them went to the house hastily. The day before, the four of them talked. They were concerned with the weird behavior coming from Tsuna. Now they were worried because since when did Tsuna ever hang out with Hibari. They rang the doorbell and waited.

"Hello, come in," Nana said as she opened the door. "Tsuna's not here right now though. Would any of you like to stay for dinner?"

The four boys walked in.

"We'd love to stay, but we're on official business," Gokudera said.

"Do you know where Tsuna is?" Yamamoto asked. Nana went back to the kitchen to finished cooking.

"He's hanging out with one of his friends. Hibari, I think his name was," she told them.

The four boys looked at each other with worry. Tsuna never told them that he was friends with Hibari. In fact, Tsuna barely spoke all week.

"Tsuna has got some weird behavior, doesn't he?" Dino asked.

"Do you know what's going on with him?" Enma asked.

Dino beckoned them to the living room. Reborn was already there. They all took a seat.

"I don't know what's going on with Tsuna," Dino replied. "He's been acting weird around the house."

"Reborn, do you know what's going on?" Yamamoto asked.

"Tsuna has been acting weird. Maybe the five of you should have an intervention. After all, Tsuna has been lying more often. In fact, I even heard he's started smoking, although I can't find any evidence of that. It seems he's picked it up from you, Gokudera."

Gokudera looked hurt.

"But I've quit! Oh no, what I have I done," he said. "We need to have a talk with him. I never meant for him to pick up my bad habits! I'm the worst right hand man!"

"It seems as if Tsuna has picked up many bad habits," Dino added. "Gokudera is right. We need to have a talk with him."

"I think that Hibari guy is making an EXTEMELY bad influence on Sawada!"

"Agreed," Enma piped in. "We need an intervention. Should we wait up until he gets home and talk to him tonight?"

"You shouldn't wait up," Reborn said. "He'll get back late. Sleep tonight and in the morning talk to Tsuna. By the way Gokudera, have you completed the list?"

"Shit."


Being on Hibari's motorcycle was a new experience to Tsuna. Sure, he rode one in the future, but that was different. Being on the back of a motorcycle was… relaxing. It was peaceful. But Tsuna knew something bad was about to come, he just didn't know when. But the motorcycle gave him a sense of peace for the time being. It almost made him more confident.

It was a while before they came to a stop. Tsuna had never been to the restaurant before, but Hibari seemed to be familiar with it. Neither said anything when they got to the table.

Tsuna noticed Hibari had dressed in normal clothes again. His hair was combed more so than ever before, but it wasn't combed back. He looked nice as if he was trying to make an effort. Hibari's stare made Tsuna feel uncomfortable, even though it wasn't a glare.

The server came to their table. She was tall and brunette. Her long hair was blocking her nametag and Tsuna never caught her name. She looked surprised to see Tsuna, but she treated Hibari like a regular.

"Can I get you anything to drink?"

She made it clear that Tsuna didn't exist at the table. It made Tsuna mad. He wasn't sure he was supposed to say anything. He felt he should but he didn't want to be rude to the server. It was odd thought, Tsuna never got mad like this before. Both teens ordered their drinks. Tsuna set down his menu and swallowed his heart.

"So why did you ask me out? Twice?" The question burned the back of his mind. Hibari shifted in his seat. Tsuna had to know. Hibari set down his menu.

"I wanted to go on a date with you." Hibari almost struggled with the words. It was different. It was also nice for a change. Tsuna finally wasn't the one who was fidgeting under interrogation. Tsuna set up straighter.

"But why?"

"I like you. I thought I made that clear when I first asked you out."

"Why though."

The server came back with their drinks.

"Are you two ready to order?" This time she acknowledged Tsuna, but he noticed a short glare that she threw at him. Tsuna ignored it, but he wondered why she did it. They ordered their food, but Tsuna wasn't very hungry. It was so awkward sitting at a table with the skylark.

"So?" Tsuna demanded.

"I like you, isn't that reason enough?"

"No. Not even close."

Hibari shifted uncomfortably in his seat again. Tsuna took a sip of his water. Tsuna had built up anger inside of him. He didn't think it was all Hibari's fault. Reborn had a great deal to do with it also. Still, Tsuna didn't feel right. This wasn't like him. He didn't know what gotten into him, but being like this made him feel as if he was more in charge.

"Do you really smoke?" Hibari asked. Tsuna shifted his eyes for a second before looking back at Hibari.

"Don't change the subject," Tsuna demanded. Yes, he was in charge.

"I answered that. Answer mine," Hibari growled. Nope, Tsuna was not in charge. He looked away to avoid Hibari's glare. He almost forgot how scary Hibari could be.

"I do smoke." Tsuna took another sip of his drink. "Is that really hard to believe?"

"Yes, it is. I think you're lying. What kind do you smoke?"

Oh snap. He really got Tsuna there. He wasn't sure how to reply.

"I... don't know what kind," he said weakly. "I get them from Gokudera."

"I don't think should be friends with that idiot," Hibari said.

"Why is that?" Tsuna asked angrily.

"He's obviously a bad influence on you. Before he came here, I knew you never smoked. I find it despicable that you do now."

"Maybe," Tsuna said taking offense for his friend, "but he was technically my first friend. I clearly don't remember you ever coming up to me to be friends."

"I've made some regrettable decisions in the past."

"That's hardly believable," Tsuna huffed. He sat back in his seat and looked over to the wall.

The server came back with their food.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?" she asked.

"No," Hibari replied. She left and they were alone again. Tsuna ate a little bit, but he mostly picked at his food.

"Do you come here often?" Tsuna asked.

"I come here occasionally. Why?"

"Just wondering."


After dinner, Hibari took Tsuna to a small festival that was going on in that town. It was amazing to see. There were many craft booths. Tsuna didn't buy anything. He didn't have much money on him, even though Hibari paid for their meal. Walking around the festival washed away all of the anger in Tsuna. He was actually having a good time with Hibari, despite their conversation earlier.

Hibari stepped away for a minute from Tsuna to talk to someone running one of the booths. Tsuna noticed that the person looked similar to Hibari. Tsuna thought it was possible that he was family, but it was hard to think about Hibari with any family. Tsuna always pictured Hibari like the lone wolf, never needing anyone for company.

"Who was that?" Tsuna asked when Hibari came back.

"That was my older brother," he replied. They started walking again.

"Really?" Tsuna exclaimed. Hibari nodded. "So, part of your family lives over here?"

"All of my family lives do. I live in this town."

"Wait a second, then why do you go to school in Namimori? Why not go to school here? Don't they have a school here?"

"Yeah, they do, but I got into some trouble so my parents sent me to school in Namimori. It's a long commute, but I find ways to make it worth my while."

He smiled at Tsuna. It was an actual real smile. A heartwarming smile, not a "bite-you-to-death" smile. Tsuna blushed.

"What happened that made your parents do that Hibari?" Tsuna asked. He felt awkward saying parents when talking to Hibari. In the back of his mind, he always thought Hibari was an orphan or something.

"I'd rather not say," Hibari sighed. "And from now on, can you call me Kyoya?"

"Oh ok. So you're still not going to spill the beans on your past, Hiba—Kyoya."

"Nope."

"Then how is this supposed to be an honest relationship?" Tsuna couldn't believe he said that. He didn't want to be in a relationship with Hibari. He didn't, right? In the back of his mind, Tsuna wasn't so sure anymore. There must have been something in the air.

"Is this an honest relationship?" Hibari asked. Tsuna looked into Hibari's eyes.

"Yes. I've been honest."

Hibari looked away, indifferently.

"Come on, I should take you home."

"What if I don't want to go home?" Tsuna asked. He stopped walking. Hibari stopped also and looked at Tsuna. Tsuna tried to stand his ground. He didn't want to leave. He was having such a good time.

"Everything will be closing soon."

"Isn't there somewhere we could go?" Tsuna really wanted to stay with Hibari more.

Hibari thought about it for a while.

"Yeah, there is," he finally replied. Tsuna smiled.


Tsuna didn't get back home until after midnight. He had a lot of fun staying up this late with Kyoya. After that night they had, Tsuna wasn't sure of his true feelings for him anymore.

Tsuna had successfully snuck into the house without waking anyone up. He stripped quietly and put on his pajamas. He stumbled a bit to his bed and when he hit the pillow, he was out like a light. It had actually been a pretty good day. He had a good time with Kyoya. A thought he'd never thought he would have.