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.

Author's note: I did my best. Please do expect from now on of delays like this.

Engawa - wooden strip of flooring immediately before windows and storm shutters inside traditional Japanese rooms

Shoji - a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo

Zabuton - Japanese cushion for sitting

Sozu - type of water fountain used in Japanese gardens; it consists of a segmented tube, usually of bamboo, pivoted to one side of its balance point

*all of the definitions above are taken from wikipedia

... .. .

Chapter 7: Rivalry

The orange sneakers folded at the toes as Tsuna extended his hand up for a book on the highest shelf. With a bit more stretching (and quite a bit cursing for his still short stature), he finally got the book—but frowned the moment he saw the cover.

"Wrong one, again."

How many times has it been now? He placed the book back on a shelf much more agreeable to his height. After sighing heavily, he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and subsequently glared at damnable list given to him by none other than Hibari Kyoya.

"Since school is only half day today, you should use those additional free hours for the Committee. So go buy the things listed at the places specified on that paper. I expect you to be back after three hours."

That was what Hibari said when Tsuna had asked what the paper was for. A death glare was then given when he had questioned about the possibility of not being able to finish the shopping in three hours. He didn't really mind going out to buy things for the Committee (since it also meant his training time for that afternoon would be reduced greatly), but what he did minded—was that he had to go to a different store for each of the books and office supplies listed.

And Hibari-san has to be particular about that.

It had already been two hours and a half since Tsuna got the list, but however fortunate he was that he was able to buy almost all the items, he rather felt fate was just toying with him since almost an hour of that two and a half was used to find the last thing he needed to purchase:

- Discipline and Torture: The Perfect Couple!

He had decided not to ask Hibari why the Committee needed the book.

"Hahi! Tsuna-san!"

"Eh—" Tsuna turned to his left. "Haru?" He wasn't surprised at all to see the pony-tailed girl, considering there's only one person he knew that uses "hahi" regularly in their sentences.

"Long time no see, Tsuna-san~!" Haru quickly ran up to the boy while waving her right hand in the air, her cheeks tinged in pink more so from the sight of her love than from the run. "Are you here shopping like Haru? Though it's unusual to see you in a store like this if you are."

"W-Well, yeah… kind of." Tsuna blushed a bit. He had to admit that it was really strange for a guy like him to be in a girly stationery shop. He had checked thrice if he was in the right place, but the special book section the store had, which accommodated rare and uncommon books, not to mention its very queer name ("The S. Shop"—even the employees didn't know what the "S." means when he had asked around, and Tsuna didn't want to assume by the book he was looking for), showed him that he was indeed in the right store.

"How about you, Haru?" The lighter brunette asked in turn. "Buying some stationery?"

"Yup!" The girl cheerfully replied. "After all, Valentines is just two weeks away!" Her flushed cheeks became redder then as she swiftly hugged Tsuna's left arm. "That's why Haru is here to buy the perfect stationery to write my love letter to you, Tsuna-san!"

Tsuna tried his best to gently pry Haru off. "N-No, you really don't have to do that…" He wasn't successful.

"Ah, that's right! Haru is also here to buy some supplies for her next costume!" The boy lifted a disbelieving brow. They have those here too? He was staring to doubt the innocence of the stationary shop. "So do you want to see it? It's actually almost done! Haru just needs to add some final touches and it's finished!"

"Maybe next time," Tsuna declined with a raise of his free hand. "Besides, I still need to find this book. I've already wasted an hour looking for it and I still can't seem to find it." Even if all the books are already in one place. He suddenly sighed in defeat. And now I only have thirty minutes left. I wonder if I can skip training today with all the beatings I'll most probably receive from Hibari-san? But, knowing Reborn, he'll definitely proceed with the training even if I'm aching all over…

"Then how about Haru helps you, Tsuna-san?"

"Eh?" D-Did she read my thoughts?!

"Then afterwards, we can go see the costume!" the girl offered.

Tsuna sighed inwardly, in relief or loss, he didn't care anymore. He finally gave in. "Alright, alright." He also didn't want to get bitten to death, really.

"So what's the title of the book?"

"Ah, well…" The lighter brunette suddenly felt uneasy. He unconsciously placed a hand on his hair and began ruffling it. W-What if she misunderstands? "I-It's 'Discipline and Torture: The Perfect Couple!' "

Haru stared at her beloved for a good five seconds. "Umm… Tsuna-san, mind if Haru asks? What do you need that book for?"

Tsuna immediately blushed. I knew it! "I-I-It's not what you think!" he exclaimed as he flailed his hands. "T-That book is not for me, but for Hibari-san!"

"Hibari-san?" Haru scrunched her brows and tilt her head to the side. "…what for?"

"Y-You see… I'm actually on an errand for him," Tsuna answered, "and that book is one of the things he told me to buy."

Somehow, Haru took that the wrong way. "Hahi! Tsuna-san, is Hibari-san taking advantage of you or something?!"

"Wha—no, it's nothing like that!" I think… Tsuna ruffled his hair again. "It's a bit long to explain, and I don't really have much time left, so long story short, Hibari-san and I need to form some kind of bond, and this errand is somehow part of creating that." Okay, maybe not really. But he wished that that explanation was enough to not warrant anymore horrible misunderstanding.

However, that immediate blush on Haru's cheeks mockingly affirmed his failure. "Hahi! Bo—Bond?!" the dark-brunette exclaimed. "W-Wait—Discipline… Torture… Perfect Couple… Bond… Bond—Bondage?!" Haru now stepped back from Tsuna, a hand in front of a disbelieving face. "T-Tsuna-san, don't tell me you and Hibari-san are like—like—like that?!"

"No—NO!" Tsuna screamed. How the hell did she even came up to that conclusion?! "Hibari-san and I—"

But he was suddenly cut off by a palm in front of his face. "There's no need to explain, Tsuna-san," Haru said with a gleam of resolve in her eyes. "Haru will always accept you for whoever you are but," she then paused, and Tsuna dreaded the next line of words, "what Haru will never accept is for you to end up with someone other than Haru!"

WHAT?!

"That's why Haru will do everything to get Tsuna-san back!"

I'm not even yours to begin with! But before Tsuna could even open his mouth to protest, he was dragged by the very determined Haru out of the store and towards the direction of Namimori Middle School.

Now somewhere inside the shop, a pineapple-headed girl had witnessed the whole scene with one very attentive eye and a very pink blush on her cheeks.

... .. .

Tsuna had wondered why Haru had a Namimori uniform ready in her bag, but wasn't able to ask. He also wasn't able to make her retreat from her current mission of taking him back, even if he was, again, not hers to begin with. Nevertheless, he was at least able to convince her to return to the shop and buy the things they went there for. He was still terrified of being bitten to death for not accomplishing the task Hibari gave to him after all.

Although, he really didn't want to think what Hibari would do to him when Haru suddenly barged inside the reception room and slammed her hands defiantly on the prefect's desk.

Or when Hibari glared menacingly at Haru before turning to him with a very angry scowl.

Tsuna tried his best to hide behind the currently fragile-looking sliding door.

With one last narrowing of his blue-gray eyes to his would-be boss (huh), Hibari returned his glare back to the intruder in front of him and intensified it, wishing for Haru to leave without him lifting a single finger. This made the dark brunette to sweat-drop and her resolve to flicker, but her flame quickly steadied when she remembered her purpose.

"Hibari-san," Haru began, finally breaking the tense silence of the room, "Haru will not let you have your way with Tsuna-san."

…what?

"Love shouldn't be so hurtful and—and binding! Love should be gentle and filled with care!"

Huh?

"I never thought Tsuna-san could be lured by something like this, but Haru will do everything she can to get him back!"

Hibari was very confused now.

On the other hand, Haru took a deep breath, placed her left fist on her waist, bravely pointed her right index finger to Hibari's face, and with all the courage left she could master, declared:

"As a love rival, Haru is challenging you, Hibari Kyoya! To a battle to win Tsuna-san's heart!"

All at once everything fell into place in the raven-haired's mind. Hibari slowly stood up then, glittering metal tonfas ready in his hands, while a dark, very murderous aura slowly seeped out from his being.

"This again?"

Needless to say, Tsuna and Haru were promptly chased out by a super-irritated skylark, their screams and apologies echoing throughout the empty middle school.

A few hours and bitings later (on Tsuna ), Haru at last understood that it was all just a misunderstanding on her part, when Tsuna at last fully explained everything.

... .. .

"So how was your time with Hibari today?" Reborn asked after taking a sip of his favorite espresso, not at all hiding his all-knowing smirk. "And don't leave out any details, this is part of your progress report."

Tsuna did his utmost to will down his blush as he searched for bandages.

"Shut up, Reborn."

... .. .

"Itsuki-san of the Kokawa family filed a complaint saying that the Disciplinary Committee has been too lax with their duties, and questioned if the Committee can really maintain the peace in Namimori."

Hibari listened quietly as Kusakabe reported, his bare feet also silent with its steps on the old but well-maintained engawa, while his black gakuran jacket flew gently in accordance to the night wind.

"Noburu-san of the Samurakami family, on one hand, said that the new system of filing for a new business projects is too strict and meticulous, and that this would ultimately discourage the creation of new businesses."

The skylark's eyes remained steady as he tread on the familiar path, not letting it even wander on the rather large and elegant courtyard garden by his left side.

"In addition, Ryoko-san of the Okamoto family said that there's no need for us to build an animal sanctuary for homeless animals, and that it will only be a waste of our funds."

Finally, Hibari stopped in front of a shoji door.

What weak herbivores, the young heir of the Hibari clan thought as he waited for Kusakabe to fully open the door. He then took the papers from his second-in-command when he strode inside, before he sat on the only zabuton inside the room. To his front was a long block of carved wooden desk; while on his side was a small round table of freshly brewed tea.

As Hibari thoroughly read the papers, and skimming the parts Kusakabe already reported, he suddenly heard an obviously deliberate cough by the only other occupant of the spacious tatami room.

"What happened earlier with Sawada-san was hilarious, wasn't it, Kyoya-san?"

Hibari immediately stopped what he was doing. The tap of the sozu on stone was then heard, before the skylark slowly turned to his second-in-command, seated by the entrance, and raised a single, incredulous brow.

"Are you trying to make small talk, Kusakabe?"

"Uh… not really?" Kusakabe offered. Hibari still had that eyebrow raised. The man with the pompadour sighed. "You see, Kyoya-san, I think you shouldn't be too hard with Sawada-san, like earlier. He is doing well with the tasks you've been giving him, right? Besides, beating him too much and then abruptly dismissing him won't really help much with your, umm… bonding."

"And do you really think I care about that?" Hibari spat, which made the other male blinked in surprise.

"Eh—but, isn't Sawada-san your—"

"Was, Kusakabe. Was. Former. Once. Previous. Forgotten."

Kusakabe sighed again. I guessed he's still irritated about earlier.

The current second-in-command of Namimori Middle School's Disciplinary Committee, and basically Hibari's right-hand man, had learned of his boss's past friendship with Tsuna from the skylark's mother, Hibari Yuuki, back when they were all still living in his hometown.

Kusakabe's much younger self had once asked Yuuki about the woven ring Hibari had always wore, but got destroyed in a fight. The raven-haired mother had smiled sadly at first, before she told him of the young boy who was able to warm her son's once cold heart and made him his best friend. She also narrated to him the adventures the two had, the fights they had engaged, and the goodbye neither had want.

She revealed to him that the boy's name is Sawada Tsunayoshi—a small, but brave child. It didn't take Kusakabe that long to figure out that the Sawada Tsunayoshi Yuuki had mentioned, and the Sawada Tsunayoshi of their school, is one and the same.

Though he did doubt the "brave" description.

Back to the present, Kusakabe was currently trying to lighten his boss's mood. "But didn't you find it funny, Kyoya-san, when the girl Sawada-san was with thought there was something between you and him?" He then tried to laugh a little. "I don't really know why people thought you and Sawada-san have something going on. Even Sasagawa Ryohei made a—" Clamp. Shut. Sweat-drop. Kusakabe instinctively moved back a little when he finally saw Hibari's murderous glare.

The skylark seriously wanted to bite his second-in-command to death right then and there, but he restrained himself since he needed him to finish the task at hand. And besides, Hibari thought as he angrily straightened the papers in his hand, why are people even pairing me up with Tsunayoshi? We're both males, for god's sake.

The young heir now closed his eyes as he felt his irritation arise. He really had enough of those misunderstandings, and hoped that the one with the dark-brunette herbivore was the last.

... .. .

But as fate would have it, that didn't end up the last.

On the Monday afternoon of the next week, as Hibari was working in the reception room alone, Tsuna already dismissed for he had nothing left for him to do, a far too familiar and irksome laugh suddenly filled his office. Cold, white mist slowly materialized in front of his desk then, and revealed with its passing a blue-haired male with a trident in hishand.

Hibari immediately took his tonfas out and stood up. He glared at the trespasser.

Rokudo Mukuro. "What are you doing in my school?" The prefect demanded.

"Hmm? Oya, Oya, what kind of greeting is that?" Mukuro asked with an amused smile. Hibari intensified his glare. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to see my dear Chrome, but got lost, you can say, on my way to her," the blue-haired explained with a few dramatic hand gestures. "That's why I ended up here, unknowingly."

Hibari scowled at the obvious lie before he lunged at Mukuro. The latter easily deflected the attack with his trident, causing Hibari to jump back behind his desk.

"You know, I heard something interesting from Chrome yesterday, about you and Sawada Tsunayoshi," Mukuro baited before he paused. His wry smile widened when he saw Hibari still to listen. "She told me how you two had a… strange relationship over bondage. I never could have imagined the both of you having that kind of inclination, though," he paused again to laugh his peculiar laugh, "if it's you, then it really isn't a surprise at all."

The skylark attacked again. Mukuro blocked. Hibari kicked. The illusionist impeded the attack once more. With his close combat moves proven to be ineffective for now, Hibari widened the distance between them and released his chains, enclosing it securely around Mukuro's trident. He then yanked, but the illusionist saw through his plan and purposely released his hold as he pulled, making him lost his balance. Mukuro then took this chance to swiftly punch Hibari on the face—only for it to be block by a tonfa.

The blue-haired smirked, before he moved back from Hibari and plucked his trident from the loosened chains. He nursed for a bit his probably cracked fingers. "Oya, oya, you're really sensitive. I'm sure anyone who would've heard will realize that it's all just a misunderstanding. Well, on another note," Mukuro stopped to evade a fast-moving chain, "there's another thing I heard, but this time from a former Arcobaleno. It seems that you two were ordered to form some kind of bond, and—"

Mukuro abruptly sprinted towards Hibari, and soon the sounds of metal clashing against metal filled the once-silent room. Their weapons then caught with each other—faces snarled close—a standstill—"isn't such an arrangement the perfect way for me to finally defeat Sawada Tsunayoshi? To earn his absolute trust and then stab his back using it—I can even use the bond to take that revenge on the Mafia, and maybe start the third world war, by using my old plan of possessing his body."

Hibari's eyes turned deathly cold at the last line, and quickly he let go of his tonfas in favor of using his hands to balance himself when he leg sweep a surprised Mukuro.

The blue-haired fell—hard—on the marble floor. But he was able to roll to his side as a tonfa lodged itself on the ground where he once was. He stood up unsteadily next, barely missing another tonfa strike as he jumped back from the enraged skylark.

Hm? Mukuro touched his cheek, and smelled first before he saw the familiar red of blood. He smirked darkly at the sight. "Don't you think we're similar?"

Hibari narrowed his eyes. He wanted to attack again, but held himself back. He could feel something different from Mukuro, could no longer feel the latter's desire to fight—actually, he barely felt it in the beginning—"What are you trying to say?"

Mukuro never left his gaze on the smear of red on his black glove. "I also hate to admit the fact, actually—but it may also be the reason why we hate each other so much, because we could see, sense, the annoying similarities in the other." He rubbed the two blood-coated fingers together, not at all minding the intensified glare from the confounded skylark. "We're both the most distant from him, from Sawada Tsunayoshi, our supposed to be Sky."

He continued to rub his fingers, feeling the density of the iron-scented blood between them. "So shouldn't I also have a right to form a strong bond with him? Or at the very least, form a much better connection than what we already have?"

Hibari stared at Mukuro. He couldn't tell if the Mist Guardian was really sincere or if he was just feigning it, but there was one thing he was sure—they both had lost the will to fight.

"Tell me then, Rokudo Mukuro," the skylark began after he had turned to his side, to stare up beyond the reception room's window at the orange sky, "what do you think of Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

Mukuro finally looked up from his gloved fingers. It was now his turn to stare at the Cloud Guardian. He actually wanted to snort and mock at the melancholy Hibari was showing, but found himself couldn't. Why are we being so honest today? "…kind, Sawada Tsunayoshi is much too kind, and accepting," he finally answered with a frown. The brunette had accepted them after all—criminals—they who had deceived and killed for their own benefit, and would readily do it again if needed. "He is a fool too, a very naïve fool."

"Then, if what you said is true, that we are alike, then you must have realized it too," Hibari said as he placed a hand on the windowsill, his gaze, after it was distracted by the slow moving clouds, refocused on the far too welcoming sky.

"That we don't deserve someone like him."

Mukuro tightened his hold on his trident, and stared at the raven-haired's back. His frowned deepened. "How about you then?" he asked. Hibari remained staring outside. "What do you think of Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

"…" The skylark finally removed his sight from the sky. However, he still didn't face Mukuro, and only lowered his head. Memories from those days were replaying in his mind. "…he's nothing but a weak herbivore," he answered, his voice a bit distant. He narrowed his eyes then. "But, when the need arises, he can be incredibly strong."

The sly smirk swiftly returned to Mukuro's lips. "Is that all?"

Hibari upped his defense at the playful tone. He glared at the blue-haired. "What do you mean?"

Still smiling, the illusionist sat down on the armrest of the empty green couch. "I'd done a great deal of research on Sawada Tsunayoshi before we had met. And during that time, I learned some very interesting things," Mukuro paused, to meet with his heterochromatic eyes the angry gaze of the skylark, "about him, you, and them."

Hibari predictably lunged at the other male—and in a split second his left tonfa was against the blue-haired's neck. He would've finished Mukuro if the latter hadn't move his trident at the same time and pointed it on Hibari's own neck.

"You know, bonds, no matter how shallow they are, can make you strong, make you want to live—" Mukuro spoke as if there was nothing against his throat, "I didn't went through six lives learning nothing. But, at the same time, in just a blink of an eye, these bonds can become astonishingly fragile." Hibari gritted his teeth. He pushed his metal tonfa harder against Mukuro's neck. The illusionist retaliated by inching his trident closer to Hibari's skin, piercing it. "With just one wrong slip, one wrong move—"

With effort, Hibari spun his left tonfa and smashed it on the side of Mukuro's head. The trident cut him deeply in turn, but the skylark didn't mind the injury. He instead immediately followed the attack with a kick to the blue-haired's stomach—but irritatingly enough, Mukuro wasn't that disoriented to not block the strike. Hibari stepped back.

"With just one wrong word, these supposedly unbreakable bonds shatter, and then become the source of a great disaster." Mukuro faced to the side to spit out some blood. He wiped with his gloved hand any remaining trace of the liquid off his lips. "I don't think you know this, but since that day he defeated me, Sawada Tsunayoshi's mind and mine became connected. Though the link is not as strong as Chrome's, so telepathic communications are impossible, I can, at the very least, feel his mind." He turned to the skylark, his smile no longer bearing any mirth. "And curiously, when I first visited that head of his, I felt part of his memories are blocked, strongly too."

Hibari glared at him. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Everything crumbles in time," Mukuro answered indirectly, his face now strangely serious. "Just like my connection with him now that my real body is back. And I don't know why, but the last time I visited his mind, I felt whatever it was that's blocking a part of his memories is rapidly crumbling." He then paused, his wry smile suddenly creeping back. Hibari narrowed his eyes in turn. "Maybe your bonding thing is actually having some kind of effect? And now surely, the only thing needed is a trigger, and then, Sawada Tsunayoshi will finally recall everything."

For the last time, the skylark attacked. Mukuro was able to block it with his trident, but instead of retreating back after the unsuccessful strike, Hibari pressed on, willing to make the illusionist submit with sheer strength. "I'll ask you again, Rokudo Mukuro," Hibari said, angry blue-gray eyes staring down at amused heterochromatic ones, "why are you telling me all of this?"

"Then let met repeat what I said earlier, Hibari Kyoya," Mukuro replied, tone mocking, "everything crumbles in time. Even strong bonds like yours, and you know it."

All too suddenly—Hibari felt strangely cold, his body—heavy, and for whatever unfathomable reason—he couldn't move.

Mukuro now smiled darkly at the impact of his words. He then stepped back, and almost immediately white mist began covering his entire being. "I guess it's about time for me to go," he announced. Hibari could only stare at him in anger and confusion. "Kufufufu, you'll realize soon enough what happened to yourself, Hibari Kyoya," the rapidly disappearing illusionist disclosed, his voice strangely echoing throughout the room. "And when you do, do know that I'm happily waiting for the day you both crumble, the day when I can finally defeat him."