Title: The Unlikely Duo
Summary: No one ever thought that the shy, easily-scared, five-year old Sawada Tsunayoshi and the aloof, very scary, six-year old Hibari Kyoya could become friends—much less best friends. It was such an unlikely pair after all, a really unexpected duo. But to everyone's surprise, they still did, eventually.
Warnings: OCs, since they're kids and almost (or more than?) half of the crew is from Italy or is not from Japan, and of course, OOCness—but hey, since they're still young and all, their personalities have to yet develop to that of we know (that's what I would argue anyway).
... .. .
Chapter 43: The first goodbye
Tsuna hummed happily as he walked the familiar path to the back garden of the now sleeping sakura trees, as he always did after their class ended.
He then paused his wordless song, and let his smile widen as he gazed at the small bag of birds seeds in his right hand—new arrivals that he had bought with Kyoya just the other day. Isamu would definitely love it, Tsuna thought. The bird loved trying out new things after all.
Tsuna continued his humming then, his pace now faster with his barely contained excitement.
It was one of those happy, ordinary days of feeding their little brown bird—days that had started awkwardly but now seemed like it had always been a part of his life.
It was supposed to be.
"Isamu! Isamu! ISAMU!"
Kyoya's slow stride immediately turned into a worried run when he heard Tsuna's desperate calls. When he arrived at last at the back garden, he saw the brunette was standing by himself, his back to him, the bird seeds they bought the other day laying depressingly on the ground next to his feet.
"What happened?" Kyoya asked when he was finally at Tsuna's side, though he could already guess what.
Tsuna wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. "Isamu... He—He's—" he abruptly paused, to will himself not to cry. He clenched his trembling hands. "Isamu's gone, Kyoya-san. I can't—I can't find him!" he shouted as he turned to the raven-haired. He then looked down on the ground as dark thoughts invaded his mind—circumstances and what ifs that could have happened to Isamu—all of it not ending too well to their little bird.
"What if—What if Isamu—"
"Shh..." Kyoya said as he gently patted Tsuna's head in an effort to comfort the brunette. Tsuna relaxed, though only a little. "Do you want to look for him again, together?"
Tsuna could only nod.
The two looked for Isamu everywhere then—at every nook and cranny they could think of where the little brown bird might be. For hours they searched, but they could still find no sign of the bird. It was the beginning of nightfall when they finally stopped.
"Maybe he just went out for a little adventure today," Kyoya suggested.
"Maybe..." Tsuna wished, but something inside him told him it wasn't. He prayed that feeling was wrong.
... .. .
The next day, and the days after that, they searched for Isamu again—in the early morning and immediately after the end of their class. But as the days went by the truth slowly sinked in to Tsuna.
Isamu was gone, and he would never come back.
Kyoya now sat beside Tsuna, who was silently crying on his folded arms. The raven-haired then looked up at the orange sunset, at the flock of birds passing by high above in the sky.
"When I first met Isamu, I looked up at what kind of bird he is," Kyoya recalled. "Though I never found out what, I think he's the kind that changes home when it gets too cold where he currently is." A loud sniff could then be heard from Tsuna, before the brunette raised his head and looked at Kyoya. "So I think Isamu didn't really want to leave. But he can't stay here, since it's not good for him."
Tsuna sniffed again. "Do you think... do you think Isamu is in a better place now?"
"Yes, I think so."
Tsuna rested his chin on his folded arms, contemplating. "I guess it's been really cold these past few days..." he finally said after a while. It wouldn't be after a few days more until Tsuna at last fully accepted Isamu's leave. It was the first goodbye the brunette had ever experienced after all, a goodbye by someone he dearly loves.
It was the first, and it was not the last.
