Title: Their Bonds

Summary: He may have forgotten, but they never did—not the days they ran underneath the scorching sun in the name of adventure, or the mundane breaks where they talked about rumors that only held truths. No one would ever dare to forget those days—most especially, a certain lone Cloud.

Genre: Friendship, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Humor

Warnings: Swearing and OOC-ness.

Episode(s)/Chapter(s): Ep. 59, 61, 64 & 65/ Ch. 127, 130, & 133-135

Author's note: Okay… I won't say sorry anymore for the hours of lateness, since in other places it's still Saturday (it's already Sunday here in my home turf), and also because I know you would all understand. (Thanks!)

So here's the next interval, which I hope you will all enjoy. Chapter 6 will be up on Wednesday (hopefully).

ETA: Shinai - the bamboo sword used for Kendo practice and competition

... .. .

Interval V: After the fight

What Kyoya hated a lot more than crowding—that, at least, he could tolerate, even for just a bit—and actually, more than anything else, was being restrained.

It was no wonder then that he was able to overpower the subduing poison, though he destroyed the pole out of pure spite. However, smashing the aforementioned pole wasn't enough to soothe his irritation, that's why Kyoya was glad to meet the so-called genius of the Varia (if he remembered correctly)—he got to vent his anger out on a much more durable target, and he got to fight a strong opponent. Two birds with one stone.

Smirk.

It was just sad that the blonde herbivore wasn't much though. "Not as big as his talk."

As Kyoya walked on the school grounds, the ongoing fight in the dark sky igniting flashes of orange every now and then, he could feel his annoyance rise. Wherever he look he could see destroyed school property—shattered windows, ruined buildings, freaking smashed grounds—he would definitely bite Tsuna later for this, even if the school would be fixed like a battle didn't even happen. For now though, Kyoya needed to make sure that no dead bodies would litter in his school. That silver-haired herbivore he saved earlier should also do his part and free the other dying herbivores, like what he was about to do.

Upon entering the very much ravaged south tower, Kyoya immediately saw a familiar face lying in pain on the concrete floor: Yamamoto Takeshi. In his state, the fellow raven-haired didn't even notice him until he took his hand and gave him the antidote.

Freed from the poison but still feeling disabled, Takeshi crouched for now. "Thanks. You're a lifesaver."

Kyoya turned his back to him. "If you died on the school grounds, it'd disrupt the peace," he answered. "If you're going to die, do it outside."

Takeshi laughed a bit. "What's with that?" He knew better than to be deterred.

The older male didn't answer him. He began to walk instead, when he suddenly felt weak—he needed to collide against a wall just to prevent himself from falling.

"Oi, are you alright?"

Kyoya righted himself. "What are you talking about?" he asked nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.

Takeshi just smiled weakly at the other raven-haired's stubbornness.

"We're not done cleaning the school grounds yet," Kyoya said next, blue-gray eyes gazing forward; his voice, almost a whisper. He was not about to stand down.

"I know." Takeshi tightened his grip on the strap that held his shinai. He stared resolutely forward too. "We'll trade. I'll take care of it from here."

Again, Kyoya didn't feel the need to reply. And once more, after walking a few steps, he was stopped—but this time by Takeshi's voice.

"Wait, Hibari!" Takeshi shouted. "Why don't we celebrate with everyone after this?"

Kyoya turned just enough to stare at Takeshi with one eye. He raised a dark eyebrow. "It's not even sure if that herbivore will win, or if we're going to be alive after this. And you're talking about a celebration now?"

Takeshi grinned. "Don't worry, Tsuna will definitely win! But if it looks like he'll be in a pinch, we'll, of course, save him. And everyone's strong, so no one will die just like that, Hibari."

"So what do you say?" Kyoya moved so that he was facing forward again. He stayed in place though, and kept silent. Takeshi decided to continue. "You're the only one missing now, Hibari. You're part of us again, and because of that, you have a reason now to go with us."

Even after all that, Kyoya remained mute. Takeshi rubbed the back of his neck as he remembered something. "Don't tell me you don't want to go 'cause of the crowd?"

"…I'm not part of anything," Kyoya finally spoke, though it wasn't an answer to Takeshi's question. "And whatever we may all had is gone now, Yamamoto Takeshi. It's all in the past." He began to walk. "The only reason I'm participating in these battles is because I still have some unfinished business with a certain pineapple-head herbivore, and nothing else."

"Even if that's so, we'll still wait for you, Hibari! Don't forget that!" Takeshi could only shout as Kyoya finally exited the damaged building.

Later that night, with the Sky Ring's rejection of Xanxus, and the latter's subsequent disqualification, Tsuna won the battle, and became the rightful successor to the Vongola Famiglia.

The next day, they celebrated at Takeshi's house. Takeshi told Ryohei and the others what he had talked about with Kyoya, and with anxious hearts, they waited for his arrival.

Kyoya never came.