Before moving on to the next chapter, I'd like to ask if anyone is confused with the timeline? I'm sure it does but I'm the one writing it so I'm not affected. Before uploading this I've got a beta-reader who helped me smooth over the timeline and it helped a lot, else it would have been totally confusing than this.

Anyhow, I'll just explain a bit. If you're not confused by the timeline, you can just skip this note: Main part of this fic takes place 5 years after future arc. However, in the beginning of chapter 1 where Hibari reflected about Tsuna and TYL Hibari came to Tsuna, it was right after the future arc (not concerning the Inheritance arc which is recently out, I really thought Future arc would be the end, but…anyways, I should be happy with that). Then I jumped to 2 years later where Tsuna and his friends graduated and went to Italy, officially becoming Vongola boss and guardians. (What had taken place between those passed 2 years will be revealed in later chapters as Seriyuu-san suspected.). Then Hibari left for a year, came back, and stayed for 2 more years up until now which is current time in fanfic (starts from 2nd part of part 2 where Tsuna met up with Hibari in Vongola garden).

There. I know having to explain is not so cool .! but I just want to stretch things out. If anything is off, please let me know.

Chapter 3 Latent

"Done?" Hibari asked. He trod through the herd of fallen men, making his way onto the front porch of the enemy's estate where Tsuna was standing tall amidst the end of the rampage.

The operation was simple enough: head into the HQ, finish off the Don, bring down whoever was in the way. This time Hibari reached the Don first therefore he was the one who made sure the man could not return to his seat of power ever again. Hibari would have killed him, literally taking the Don's life if not for an agreement Tsuna had secured Hibari with.

Leading one of the most powerful Mafia Family in the world for three years, Tsuna had never taken anyone's life. He prohibited his famiglia as well, unless it was necessary. Countless times this kind of policy (or merely his conscience) threw him near the line of death. Still Tsuna just wasn't ready to kill regardless of how evil those people were. How he wished to defeat them without taking lives, only bearing in mind the inevitable day would come for him sooner or later. Wouldn't be today though.

He nodded to Hibari calmly while noting the blood on Hibari's tonfa. Tsuna could only surmise what Hibari had done to complete his duty by not killing since the Cloud Guardian didn't allow him a glimpse of his handiwork and Tsuna wasn't so keen on checking it out. Trust was the main issue that kept Tsuna in his place so he didn't probe.

Hibari had killed before.

His infamous dialogue of "bite you to death" wasn't all a threat but rather a statement. In school it was taken to a low extent because they were all students. Elsewhere however, he became a demon as Tsuna had pictured. Tsuna was shaken to the core when he learned about Hibari's killing happening right underneath his nose. The ill sensation that surged through his being was too overwhelming.

Even though the deceased were scum who deserved to be wiped out from the face of the world for crimes that cost innocent lives. Even though Reborn was the one who had sent Hibari to go solo on that operation. Even though said deceased were a threat to Tsuna's life and had attempted to bring down Vongola, it didn't change the fact that Hibari had killed.

Then again, it didn't change his feelings toward Hibari…whether his Cloud Guardian be a demon or saint. Shelving the bundles of unnerving thoughts away, he focused on the present.

"Aa, let's leave." No sooner had Tsuna said this, when his eyes caught a sign of threat behind Hibari who was trudging towards him. He shouted, "Behind you!"

Having felt the danger directed on him at the same time, Hibari swiftly pivoted with a defensive stance…only to find the object that hit him wasn't an assault of any shooting weapons the enemy specialized in but Tsuna.

The sound of explosion echoed while a petite body fell to the ground.

Not wasting a moment, Hibari dove forward. In a flash, he was in front of the last man supposed to be down on the ground with the others. The shooter didn't even have a chance to look frightened as he was sent into oblivion by one brutal strike.

This was what happened when Tsuna held back his strength against a man.

Setting aside that disturbing contemplation, Hibari passed a brief glance at the gun in the unconscious man's grip. Then he walked back to where Tsuna was flat on the ground.

He knew that gun and its effect. Having confirmed it, he let out a sigh he didn't know he'd been holding.

The small Vongola so-called boss (to Hibari) was lying flat on the ground, unmoving and eyes closed. His skin was torn and cut here and there although nothing too bad due to his own defensive posture from the explosion when he came to Hibari's side. Hibari nudged the tip of his tonfa to the side of the prone form. "You're not dead, are you?"

A groan was emitted, followed by movement of eyelids painstakingly opening. They were in a daze for a moment before searching Hibari. Tsuna rasped out, "…You're…not hurt…are you?"

If a moment ago Hibari was only disturbed, now he was pissed.

Should Tsuna be in the state to voice a coherent sound, he would have shrieked when a tonfa was shoved a mere inch from his face.

"When I ask you question, must you answer me with another?" Hibari scowled. He didn't wait for an answer, instead moving to a subject that he felt the need to drill into Tsuna's head right then and there. "You haven't learned not to intervene with me. I felt that gun. Even if you had not come in between the way, I'd still have defended myself as easily without any severe damage. And even if I were hit, I would have endured its effects much better than you."

Hibari waited, silently expecting a good answer from the other.

"I know…that you…knew. But…I couldn't help it."

Bad one.

Reaching down to yank at the suit collar, Hibari pulled Tsuna forward until Tsuna's feet dangled limply in the air due to his short height.

"Then why?" Hibari growled, voice lacing with impatience.

A moment of silence then, "My body…moved on its own."

Tsuna's nervous smile that came with that kind of answer had put Hibari on edge before. He had to learn to deal with it; it was needed if he was going to be around this man. Beating down his temper, Hibari forced himself to drop the subject but remarked nevertheless, "Stupid herbivore."

"Sorry."

Exhaling a frustrated sigh, Hibari hurled the small body on his right shoulder. "I'll repay your debt nevertheless." He ignored a squeak of surprise and without so much as a care to Tsuna's fragile state; he made his way out of the enemy's area.

'Argh, it hurts,' Tsuna could only keep that to himself, for the very assumption in mind was that this was the farthest concession Hibari would have allowed.

Before long, Hibari caught onto a few suppressed pained moans. True, Tsuna's injuries didn't look severe on the surface; internally however, was another story. But that didn't make Hibari able to improve the situation for the other, for now.

From the track out of the enemy's estate, they came across the trail that stretched along the river. That most mafia's estates were allocated hidden in the forest throughout the country to keep away from legal authority was common, save for Vongola whose purpose was to be close to nature.

Next to the river, Hibari came to a halt. He dropped Tsuna to the green grass and laid the brunet's back against the nearest tree trunk. He lowered himself before the smaller man, his eyes studied Tsuna up and down while disregarding the curious look on the other's face. Certain that the other wouldn't admit it out loud, he began, "Where does it hurt?"

"Aa?...No. Aside from the numbness…I'm fine—ahh!" Tsuna grimaced when Hibari's hand roamed on him, pressing against his chest and his midsections. "Hii! Hibari-san! Wha—what are you doing? It hurts."

"Checking for injuries," Hibari replied.

"Eh? I told…you I'm fine."

Hibari withdrew his hand. "Didn't you say it hurts just now?"

"Anyone would hurt with that kind of contact—"

"—if he was in a bad condition." Hibari cut Tsuna with a look. "Sawada Tsunayoshi, your words are not worth trusting when it comes to your own welfare."

For whatever reason, Hibari couldn't understand. How come this weakest herbivore of Namimori who would cry from the smallest prick to his finger became this way? It irked him to have seen Tsuna's crying over such a trivial thing back then; now it bothered him more than ever that Tsuna treated his own welfare as if it were the last thing needing his appropriate attention.

"I see you've not sustained any internal damage as I've checked," Hibari noted.

"See?" Tsuna braved a smile.

Oh how Hibari wanted to bite him to death. Tsuna was only lucky due to Hibari's perfect self-control at the moment.

"Sleep," commanded Hibari.

"Eh?" Tsuna blinked at that.

"That man drew out the wrong type of gun for his last resort. The blast that hit you is compounded with tranquilizer. Your body isn't critically injured; it should be safe to sleep. You're holding back your exhaustion. Since you'll be immobile for the next few hours, you'll be a burden for me to carry all the same. Better rest while you can so sleep," Hibari finished, leaving no room for argument.

Tsuna blinked again once, twice and laughed lightly. "Well…I guess…if that's fine with you."

No one in their position would ever think sleeping in such a state would be a good idea. Yet one thing had always helped Tsuna.

He felt safe with Hibari around, always had since Reborn came along. Even before realizing it himself that it wasn't just about the strongest guardian grounding out Vongola's enemies. Even before Hibari seemed to care about whether he lived or died.

The heaviness settled in Tsuna's eyes and he gave into sleep after murmuring, "Thank you."

Hibari watched Tsuna in silence. Once it was certain that the young boss had drifted off to sleep, he picked the other up in a different way he did earlier. Then he headed out of the forest trail.

"Tenth ought to have been back by now!" grumbled the Storm Guardian who paced around in restless circles. Despite the fine spell of weather in the breezy garden of Vongola mansion, the air of impatience tensed above the silver-head.

"Calm down, Gokudera," Without breaking a sweat, Yamamoto always tried his best to calm the Storm Guardian down. Doing so was becoming another full time job of his which had yet to prevail. To arrive back after their duty and not having Tsuna to welcome them back home was something Yamamoto wasn't looking forward to. As with Gokudera, the effect always doubled. "I'm sure Tsuna will be back soon. The kid said he's with Hibari, no need to worry."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about! I don't understand why Reborn-san would pair Tenth up with Hibari, especially lately," Gokudera complained, his face pinched in thought as he looked the other way, "Worse, I'm stuck with you baseball-freak."

In response to that last comment, Yamamoto laughed already well aware the other was free of ill intention despite his biting words. Then his eyes grew distant as he reflected on Gokudera's main concern as well. Since sometimes ago, he'd been suspecting the atmosphere of his boss and the Cloud Guardian together but knew it wasn't his place to meddle with. While at that, he spotted a lanky form from the woods and announced in a cheerful tone, "Ah, there they are."

Gokudera followed Yamamoto's pointing finger and saw Hibari, on his shoulder heaped an injured young man who could only be his precious 10th. Gokudera stormed towards them with Yamamoto close behind.

"TENTH."

As soon as Gokudera was a meter away, Hibari pulled the back of Tsuna's collar and handed the heap to an approaching Gokudera as if the human in his hold was just a cat. "The herbivore's just passed out from the anesthetic. Otherwise, he's fine," Hibari explained, knowing he had to but didn't go further than that. Gokudera Hayato and Yamamoto Takeshi were no doubt far better than him when it came to looking after the young boss.

Or so Hibari believed.

Gokudera gathered Tsuna into his arms with care then he glared vehemently at the former prefect, "You could have at least heeded his injuries and carried him with some caution! Hoisting him over your shoulder would have caused blood to rush to his head!"

"Easy, easy," Yamamoto said with his accustomed grin.

Hibari only remained indifferent as he always did around them. Five years had rolled by and the majority of things, such as their interactions were unchanged. Soon, the 10th himself would wake up because of his right-hand man's roaring.

"You—!"

"…Gokudera-kun…" came a groggy voice from Gokudera's arms. "Please stop shouting at Hibari-san, he's done all he could."

While Gokudera hushed at that instant, Hibari noticed the look on Yamamoto's face. 'Why does this brat listen to only one person?' would be Yamamoto's thinking if Hibari had to guess. Setting that aside, he turned to leave. "I've repaid that debt, Sawada Tsunayoshi. Until next time."

"Thank you, Hibari-san," Tsuna smiled at Hibari's back.

"Unn," With that, Hibari left.

"10th! Are you all right?" Gokudera asked, worried as he did every single time.

"Aa…just exhausted but I'll be fine," Tsuna reassured, smiling at his two closest friends, "Sorry I couldn't pick you two up at the airport. But…welcome home."

His smile was contagious to the two.

Then Yamamoto said, "Let's get the boss patched up."

A day of recovery found Tsuna in bed alone in his room (to Gokudera's annoyance about having to report his duty to this and that with Yamamoto while the Tenth needed him), thinking back to the event yesterday that made his stomach flutter like butterflies.

Hibari must have been unaware about Tsuna's intermittent alertness when they were making their way back from the area of their field operation

---At times, Tsuna's conscious kicked in and he was mindful about what was going on around him. Once he was awake, feeling himself in a fetal position and having blurry vision of his arms folded before his legs. Behind his knees…was that Hibari-san's hand!? Only then did he realize that another hand was behind his back and there was warmth pressing on his left side. Not the bridal style!

It took everything in him to beat down the steam that threatened to blow off from his ears eventually exploding his head and so he maintained his supposed-to-be-sleeping posture. Thank God Hibari didn't notice as he seemed to be focusing on ahead of him.

Apart from that, when Hibari put him in the back seat of the car stationed miles from the enemy's estate, he did it with gentle hands that Tsuna had been unsure they still existed. Last of all, Hibari even bothered to cover him up with a spare blanket.---

…That was what had happened.

"Was it all just a dream?" Tsuna asked himself aloud, hands gripping the blanket. Back then he was groggy and everything was in a haze. Yes, his intuitions and feelings were always accurate but did, once in a blue moon, overlap with false impressions when it came to something exceptionally sensitive. Was he imagining things?

…No, he wouldn't take it as a figment of his imagination. His heart knew it was real. Tsuna drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, pondering it. 'Hibari-san…his warmth was exactly like four years ago…since I last—' His eyes widened realizing he was being dragged back to those times. "Ah! NO." He pressed his hands against his head, a ghost of a rueful smile appeared on his face, "I shouldn't get my hopes up too high."

For there was a big reason glaring at his face. Hibari could or would do that even though it didn't mean anything special. After all, their agreement was done. The Cloud Guardian would guard his boss from danger and that included preventing the death of the boss in duty.

'But that doesn't mean he had to carry you that way or even bother to—'

"Agh!" Tsuna shouted at the voice in his head. He shoved the blankets away and slid off of the bed. He was too restless. Leaving his room, he wondered around the compound to check up on his family.

Gokudera and Yamamoto were less of a worry now that he had partnered them up. In spite of Gokudera's vehement protest, he knew Yamamoto would look after him and his right hand man would learn from the Rain Guardian better than Tsuna could ever teach Gokudera himself.

Lambo, who was currently in school, the place where Tsuna insisted he go to, was an important part of life where one would find something that couldn't be found elsewhere.

Ryohei was Tsuna's least worrisome guardian since from the beginning. He became the best means of communication with Varia and often came and went, bringing news between them.

Chrome, however, was unwell.

Years back when they first arrived in Italy, Chikusa and Ken weren't happy about her staying with the Vongola.

---"Why don't you stay with us here? There're plenty of rooms here," Tsuna said, and added on afterthought, "Plus nice bathrooms and flavored gums." For a moment they hesitated…then they rejected it. That was when Tsuna had tried to reason with them, "How can I allow it? Italy's street is littered with thugs and criminals. Although not totally defenseless, Chrome is still a girl. I can't allow Chrome to stay in such abandoned places like Kokuyo Land." With the two Kokuyo boys still trying to take Chrome away, Mukuro at last had to show himself and agree with Tsuna on the matter.

'If you promise to look after her,' Mukuro said.

"I did, remember?" Tsuna reminded.---

Chrome had been well up until now ever since Tsuna managed to get her the donor organs that were right for her. Yet from time to time she fell into illness because of the link to her missing half, Mukuro.---

'Mukuro,' Tsuna mused. If only Fran arrived earlier than he did in that alternate future, they wouldn't have any qualms about getting Mukuro out before he had to be imprisoned for ten whole years. Worse still, no sign of that huge frog hat anywhere.

Thinking about it made him fume. His future self was unable to free Mukuro, but he couldn't let this repeat itself. This future free of Millefiore's malice was supposed to be the future for everyone including Mukuro. Tsuna was anxious to do something which brought him to Reborn.

Reborn had his own room in the mansion, just an office with enough space and the basics. It was used only once in a while but the former arcobaleno made it for the purposes of document storage and a spot to sit with a title of his position. Reborn did love to go around and once his compact size had given him that benefit. Although a curse, Reborn had made the most of it, having his fun of designing his secret base in Namimori School, cosplaying around, and sneaking up on Tsuna most of all.

"Are you out of your mind, baka-Tsuna?" Reborn studied his student.

Tsuna maintained his determined posture, not in the least wavering. On that, Reborn sighed lightly, "Guess I won't have to recap with matters you are well aware of. I'm not talking about the loads of paperwork but the actual obstacle. Even in the event that you managed to free Mukuro, you know nothing hinders him from unleashing disaster If Things end badly, you alone had better hold responsible. By the way, don't ever expect me to save your sorry ass if that time comes."

His determination was kept intact. "Yes, Reborn. I'll take all responsibility for him." His hands shook slightly but they weren't from fear. "I can't bear to see Chrome in such pain anymore." He understood it best, how one's heart could ache until the pain became physical from being unable to see the person one wanted to see the most.

At that, Reborn closed his eyes, "For Chrome as well as Mukuro? You really are a softie….Well, if you are prepared then…"

"Wha…what is this place?" Tsuna questioned himself as he looked around the scenery of green grass, the crystal clear of the blue sky, the beauty of nature that stretched beyond an endless horizon. Everything here was illuminated, as if they were unreal to Tsuna. "I must be dreaming—"

"What a surprise…"

Tsuna jumped at that voice. Although he hardly ever heard that voice, he had never forgotten it. He turned around slowly.

There stood before him was a blue-haired young man with mismatched colored eyes. Slightly different from how Tsuna remembered him, the young man was in a plain white shirt and simple black pants.

"Mukuro!" Tsuna's voice didn't conceal his surprise as he rushed closer to Mukuro only to stop a meter away and looked hesitatantly once making out Mukuro's expression.

Mukuro looked puzzled…for a moment before replacing it with his signature smile.

"How…how are you, Mukuro?" Tsuna asked. Why had he stumbled over his words? He wasn't the same insecure kid he used to be anymore. He hadn't seen Mukuro for a while though. Aside from the mundane routine of Mafia business, things had been peaceful enough that Mukuro himself needed not appear for Vongola's aid.

With Mukuro, Tsuna found his old self returning just because he'd never gotten to grow up with Mukuro like he did with the other guardians. The thought saddened him.

"Oya? I didn't know you think of me that much, Vongola." Mukuro remarked and turned his face sideways for no apparent reason, "Now that you're in my place, it's not that surprising I guess."

Mukuro's words sank in and it struck Tsuna what the other had meant, "You read my mind?"

The mismatched eyes turned back to Tsuna and smiled, "Not quite. Your weighty thoughts were running wild in the atmosphere. Everything that goes on in here cannot escape my knowing."

'Ah, right. It's his place,' Tsuna thought as he eyed again the picturesque scenery. It struck as a surprise to Tsuna, almost shocking he'd say. Tsuna had been through Mukuro's subconscious before. There was nothing there but darkness and the cold of Vendicare Prison. So this was where Mukuro really lived. It led Tsuna to the feeling that Mukuro was not anywhere near a creepy mad hatter as he had thought. "But…why am I here?" he wondered aloud.

"You were watching my sick Chrome and fell asleep beside her I suppose? Our mind and yours must have synched."

Tsuna's cheek went a little red. He remembered fleetingly that Chrome had confided to him about the place Mukuro found her. Without doubt, it must be special to her and Mukuro. "Ah, this place is yours and Chrome's…I shouldn't be here." Tsuna blurted out, "I'll leave now…" He shut his eyes tight and focused on his departure. Well, if only it worked. He reopened his eyes. Mukuro still stood as clear as daylight in front of him.

The illusionist chuckled. "Don't worry about that. You're not originally welcome here but I don't have any intention of chasing you away, for now. The fact that you are here in the first place is because you're thinking of me now more than ever. Why is that?"

"I'm—" Tsuna failed to catch on what the other was hinting in an attempt to kid him and instead declared, "going to get you out of Vendicare prison."

Note: Gun with tranquilizer, that was made up :P

Thanks for your interest :D