Another Path Part 2 : That took an unexpected turn

I discovered that I am unable to make children talk like their age, so just assume that those kids are either very bright or live in an environment that pushed them to speak 'normally' rather than childishly. Or any other excuse you might think of, really. Please, you don't want to read my attempts at baby talk, I tell you.

This will be a weekly story, and I already have 7 other chapters written.

And many thanks to Ebona Nite, Queen Mo-Freakin and Nazuki Hanae for their review and to all those who favorite-d or followed. I wasn't sure if I should continue this story and you helped me keep going.

Disclaimer (that I forgot the first time): I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Tsunayoshi and Ienobu were now 4. On the one hand, Nobu had become one of the leaders of the whole kindergarten, even the older kids were kind with him and joined his large group of friends. It was commonly known that he was the one to follow to have the most fun. He was one of the smartest kids and his mother made him delicious cookies and cakes that he shared with all his friends.

Tsuna, on the other hand, had solidified his status as Dame-Tsuna. He always got bad grades, barely passing, and was thought to be stupid. He was allegedly clumsy and had many bullies (who made him trip on purpose, hence his continued reputation). He was not athletic (half true. He was not as athletic as his brother, but could still hold his own. He just didn't see the point of sports, especially if Ienobu was going to be the one praised anyway). He had no friends at all. After all, who would want to be with Dame-Tsuna, the stupidest, most clumsy, weakest and less social kid at school. And nobody wanted his bullies to pay attention to them.

The brunet had learned after many attacks that he would not be able to avoid having bullies. Not with Ienobu sending them after him with his blessing. He also discovered that no adult would step up for him due to his reputation as a loser and that the beatings got over faster if he just took it without a word. As such he stopped trying to speak to others unless prompted, and nobody minded. He knew it was pretty pathetic, but was also aware that he couldn't win against older children ganging up on him and that not even his mother would help him. She seemed to believe that it was only 'fair' that such a useless son was the scapegoat of others. Especially if it made her No-kun happy.

In order to avoid both his brother (who got nastier and crueler over the years), his many bullies and his mother, Tsuna created a routine to follow each day. He woke up early, earlier than his Mama and Nobu. Made some toast and quickly headed for kindergarten on his own (one of the other things Nana stopped doing for him, though she still brought her No-kun by car every day), the streets were mostly empty so early in the morning.

Once in the school building, he found a place to hide, like the roof or a janitor's office, and waited until it was time to show up for roll call. He tried his best to hide as well during breaks, but often his bullies caught him before he could escape.

At lunchtime, he went to the unlocked roof (the teachers were supposed to watch the other children and make sure they didn't go there, but they never paid him any attention) and ate whatever lunch he had found in the morning at home and his bullies didn't take (his intuition clearly told him that attempting cooking was a bad idea for his health right now). Then he returned to class, spent the second break like the first until it was time for parents to fetch their children.

He always managed to leave on his own (again, no-one minded him) and wandered the streets until dinnertime. Nana seemed perfectly fine with this arrangement, since it left her more time for No-kun and not once did she ask him what he did between the end of kindergarten and dinner. Weekends were essentially the same, with Tsuna roaming the city from early morning until evening, staying safe thanks to his keen intuition. After diner, the brunet just stayed in his room, reading borrowed books from the library or studying languages. He was already fluent in Japanese and English and was currently learning Italian. He had found some books in that language in his house along with an old Italian-Japanese dictionary and jumped on the opportunity.

Tsuna had many secrets (could they be called secrets if no-one actually cared about them?), but the biggest of them all was a strange ability he had developed : he could summon fire. Well it looked like fire, but it clearly wasn't the normal kind.

He discovered this ability during one of his city walks. A cat was stuck in a tree and meowing for help. The park he was in was deserted so he took it upon himself to rescue the kitten. Climbing the tree was easy enough, he wasn't as athletic a Ienobu, but wasn't as weak as others believed either. He reached a hand to grab the cat who let himself be held until Tsuna started climbing down.

The cat panicked and scratched the brunet on the arm. Surprised, Tsuna let go of the branch he was holding and fell. He barely had the time to catch the kitten and hold it close, hoping to shield it from the fall.

Just as he was about to crash painfully on the ground, his body was engulfed in bright orange fire that slowed his fall. He found himself uninjured, sitting on the ground and holding a scared but unharmed kitten who ran away in a hurry.

Once the shock faded, Tsuna realized the strange fire came from him. He could still feel it inside his chest, ready to burst out. He checked no-one was around and tried to summon the fire again. It answered his call. Less violently than the first time, he saw a beautiful orange flame shimmering on his hand.

Since then, every day before going home for dinner, Tsuna would find a deserted area of Namimori (he knew the town enough by now that it was an easy task) and practiced summoning and manipulating the weird, pretty fire from his body. The first times after the adrenaline rush, it was difficult to force the flame to appear, but he learnt fast. He tried drawing out as much as he could, turning it in different shapes, calling multiple flames on his fingers at once... He also discovered that the orange fire only burned what he wanted it to. It could be a calming, warm, harmless flame, or a violent, burning, dangerous one depending on his will.

()()()()()()

Tsuna's life took a turn for the better one day, while he was searching for en empty place to practice his control. He was walking across the deserted factories of Namimori when he saw three older boys, probably high-schoolers, laughing and kicking something on the floor.

Following his intuition and ignoring common sense, the brunet got closer to see what they were so focused on. It was a tiny little bird, yellow and round-shaped, with wings so small it was a wonder if could fly at all.

It was currently on the ground, his left wing obviously crooked and injured and receiving kicks from the laughing high-schoolers.

Let it be known that, while Tsuna never fought against his own bullies anymore, he couldn't leave anyone (or anything) else be harmed under his watch if he could help it. He raced to the bird, pushing the older kids and curled up around the fluff ball. He yelled for the bullies to stop harming the bird, that it didn't deserve this.

The high-schoolers were surprised, but swiftly got over it and started hitting the new kid instead. His already battered appearance clearly showed him to be regularly bullied and they didn't like others to interrupt their fun anyway. Nobody would mind.

Tsuna took the beating without a word, he was used to it, although the older kids hit harder than kindergarteners. He protected the birds who seemed to understand the situation and squeaked thankfully.

However, the high-schoolers rapidly got tired of the unresponsive Tsuna and picked up rusted pipes on the ground to hit him harder and make him react.

Tsuna saw this and understood that if he let them, he would have more than bruises and cuts to deal with. And the bird would be harmed farther. He did the only thing he could think of. Moments before the metal pipes connected with his body, he let his flames out violently, aiming to melt them and maybe burn the hands of his attackers. He knew he shouldn't let anyone see his power, but this was an emergency. And nobody would believe kids who said fire burst out of a kindergartener...

It worked exactly like he wanted. The pipes melted in a fraction of a second and the bullies' hands were just a bit singed. However, they didn't react like Tsuna had expected. Instead of running away in fear, all three screamed, panicked and began picking up more make-shift weapons, wanting to destroy the monster in front of them.

Tsuna realized that he wouldn't escape without seriously harming the older boys and didn't know what to do. He refused to use his ability to really hurt anyone, it would just be another way of bullying. But he was still stuck...

What neither Tsuna nor the high-schoolers knew was that their whole interaction had been seen. On top of one of the abandoned factories stood a figure. A 6-year-old who first saw the bullies kicking the bird and was about to descend on them when another child jumped in. He saw when the apparently-not-Herbivore released flames obviously controlled enough not to seriously injure the other Herbivores. He saw the not-Herbivore-but-evidently-not-Carnivore's reluctance to harm his attackers and decided it was time to step in.

Hibari Kyoya was interested in the not-Herbivore who could somehow summon such powerful flames that they melted metal and didn't want it to be killed so soon. "I'll bite you Herbivores to death".

He jumped on one of the bullies, tonfas out and already lashing, and made quick work of the three high-schoolers.

Once his job of keeping the peace was accomplished, he made for the still sitting brunet who was watching, scared. He knew who he was facing. Hibari Kyoya was already well-known as a demon child who 'bit to death' anyone who opposed him or destroyed the 'peace of Namimori'. His weird speech pattern about the animal kingdom was also infamous and people no longer felt offended at being called 'Herbivores'. Or just were too scared to voice their problem. Tsuna just prayed to any and all gods that he hadn't seen him use his flames.

"Fake-Herbivore, what was that fire you used?"

Apparently the gods didn't like Tsuna...

The brunet stayed quiet, which annoyed the raven head.

"Fake-Herbivore" he knew the creature in front of him was not a Herbivore, Herbivores don't catch on fire unharmed, but didn't have any other name to call him. A Carnivore wouldn't have hesitated to bite the other Herbivores to death. "Answer my question" he threatened.

Tsuna saw that he wouldn't get out without answering the other boy, but he didn't know exactly how to explain his power either. " It... It's an ability I have" he began shakily, knowing that if the other didn't have a satisfactory answer, he would be bitten to death. "I can summon orange fire from inside of me. It can burn if I want it to, or it can just be warm..." he trailed off, not knowing precisely what the raven head wanted to hear.

Kyoya was thinking. The ability the... let's call it an Omnivore for now, his father had told him about their existence once. Anyway, the ability the Omnivore displayed was pretty interesting. Perhaps...

"Can I learn it?"

Tsuna was flabbergasted. He didn't know how the other would react to any answer, so he settled with the truth. "I don't know, Hibari-san. I have never seen anyone use the same ability before, but maybe you can learn it."

That settled it for Kyoya. If there was a chance he could have such a destructive ability, he would take it. Even if it meant crowding with the Omnivore. He seemed to at least not be the overly-chatty or overbearing type, so the raven could bear his presence for a while... Or bite him to death if he became too annoying.

"You will teach me how to use those flame" he declared and the brunet's face paled even more. "You are still in kindergarten, so I will pick you up after it ends every day until I can". There was only one big kindergarten in all of Namimori, so he knew where to find him. He would also research about the Omnivore while he was at it. Maybe it would help him gain those flames.

Without another explanation, Hibari jumped to a nearby rooftop and left the area, leaving a shell-shocked Tsunayoshi behind with an injured bird.

After half an hour of opening and closing his mouth, the brunet remembered where he was and the three knocked out high-schoolers around him and promptly left as well, the bird carefully cradled in his arms.

They reached an empty park (it was only the beginning of spring, still too cold to play out) and Tsuna began treating the bird's injuries with the healing kit he always carried. He had some experience with his own wounds and did his best to bandage the left wing of the fluff ball. Once again, the little thing squeaked in thanks.

Now Tsuna didn't know what to do with the bird. Bringing it home was out of the question, it would be a catastrophe if his mother or brother stumbled across it. He eventually settled with creating a small shelter for it in a tree (to avoid predators) and to cover the inside with his spare clothes to try and keep it warm. He would visit it tomorrow with something to eat. Too bad he didn't have any money with him, but his mother never gave him any and his bullies would probably end up taking it either way.

He totally forgot about Hibari telling him he would pick him up after school. After all, it sounded so unreal...

()()()()()()

The next day went like all the others until kindergarten was over. Tsuna was about to sneak out with some leftover toast to feed the bird when he was caught by the collar.

"Where are you going, Omnivore?" growled a kid in elementary school clothes.

Tsuna hadn't seen him coming, and started when he recognized him. Oh my god, how had he forgotten about that?

"Hi-Hibari-san! I-I'm sorry I forgot about that! B-But I have to go ch-check on that bird, I have to g-go feed it!" he said, his voice so low from fear that only Kyoya heard him. The other kids and parents had stepped back from the 'demon child' and were watching terrified, and a bit amused in the case of the kindergarteners : Dame-Tsuna was obviously going to get one heck of a beating.

Hibari was thinking. He would never admit it, but he had a soft spot for small animals. He had expected the Omnivore to take the bird home after that, but it apparently wasn't the case. That meant the bird was outside, injured somewhere and waiting to be fed...

He pulled the brunet outside, away from prying ears, and asked "Where is the bird, Omnivore?" Tsuna was surprised both at the question and the way he was called, but pointed to the direction of the park nevertheless. Kyoya kept dragging the other, who sometimes pointed in the right direction in silence, until they were under a tree with a small shelter in the higher branches.

Retrieving the bird and setting it on the floor, he observed the bandages on the wing. Hibari's love of small animals meant he had saved a number of them and had some knowledge about treating them. The bandage was OK, not the best, but still showed some experience. Not that he was surprised : after investigating the Omnivore (he found his name in the student registry, his photo was easy to find thanks to that ridiculous hair), he discovered that he was supposedly stupid and clumsy with the nickname of Dame-Tsuna. It was easy to guess that such a pathetic student would be frequently bullied and injured.

Though somehow, the record didn't seem very accurate. Not to talk about the flame power, but the brunet's reaction time when threatened or questioned, his knowledge of how to build shelters (he made a nice one, to be honest. It blocked the wind and kept the bird inside warm) didn't belong on a hopelessly useless student. And he hadn't fallen or even stumbled once while dragged by the arm by Kyoya, so how could he be so clumsy?

Anyway, Tsuna proceeded to feed the bird his toast. Checking the injury himself : it seemed to be healing nicely. Suddenly a stupid idea went through his head and he found himself talking without thinking. "You seem to like birds, since you went with me to see this one. Could you keep it at your home until it heals? I can't take it to mine." He suddenly shut his mouth. What the hell was he (not) thinking? Asking HIBARI KYOYA to keep a bird? He was going to get bitten to death!

Hibari was staring at him and seemed to be contemplating. He did want to take the bird home, but didn't want others to know of his love of small animals. But then again, if the Omnivore ever talked, he could just bite him to death, along with anyone who heard him.

"Hn" he nodded. Tsuna was stunned. "I was taking you to my house either way, so you can show me those flames. I can take the bird too". And he picked up the yellow fluff ball, turned and walked to his home. A threatening glare towards Tsuna got the brunet on his feet and promptly following in silence.

Hibari's home was a huge Japanese mansion. The kind you see in movies with paper sliding doors and a koi pond. Tsuna was awed as the raven gently set the bird on a table and he was led to the backyard, that seemed to double as a training ground. The few servants they passed were obviously just as stunned to see their young master in the company of another human being.

Kyoya just sat them in the center and ordered "Start".

Tsuna had the whole trip to figure out how to 'teach' the use of flames. For some reason, his intuition told him that everything would be alright, and it calmed him a bit. He had relied on it since very young and had absolute trust in it. "Well, the first time my flames appeared, I was about to fall and hurt myself." Hibari arched an eyebrow. "But I'm not sure you have to be in danger to use it. I mean, since then I can summon them freely whenever I want" he called a flame in his hand to demonstrate. Hibari was focused on him, but his intuition kept him calm and he continued. "I know those flames come from somewhere inside of me, so, if you have them too, you have to find a way to call them out."

"And what if I don't feel any flame inside of me now?" questioned Kyoya. He was obviously very serious about learning that ability and it set Tsuna at ease. He knew he would not get randomly bitten to death as long as he gave it his all in teaching. And that, he could do.

"It probably doesn't mean anything" he explained. "I didn't feel any fire inside my chest before I first summoned my flames either. But since the first time they appeared, it's always been there."

Kyoya nodded while thinking. "Was the first time your flames appeared the first time you were in danger?"

Tsuna winced. He had been in danger plenty of times before that. Due to his mother's neglect, his bullies or his brother's beatings at home. But the flames never appeared before the cat incident. It suddenly clicked in Tsuna's mind. "I know! I've been in danger and hurt before, but the first time the flames came was when I wanted to protect something, a cat actually."

The raven seemed doubtful and a bit disappointed. "I protect Namimori all the time and I've never felt any flames."

Tsuna shook his head. "The flames are more of a mental sort of thing. It's not what's outside of you that matters, but what's inside. I think I first summoned my flames because I really wanted to protect that cat from the fall. So if you do something you really want to do, maybe yours will appear, if you have some that is" but he didn't honestly doubt that Hibari Kyoya had flames. For one the boy was much more amazing than himself. It seemed odd to bullied and neglected Tsuna that 'Dame-Tsuna' could do or have something that the 'demon child of Namimori' could not. Also, his intuition seemed convinced that the older child could do this.

Hibari frowned. "What I want to do the most is to have those flames."

Tsuna sweat-dropped. The other boy was really not helping him. "Well, maybe if you focus very hard on that wish it will come true. It took me a while for me to summon my flames on purpose once the rush and the panic of the first time fell down."

"Hn, so meditation could help? My family has some techniques to help focus" asked the raven. He really wanted the ability to use flames and would be 'civil' (well, Hibari-civil at least) if it meant he could achieve that. And he also understood that the Omnivore in front of him didn't have any theoretical knowledge of his power. He could only teach according to his own experience and guesses. Pushing him and threatening him even more would be of no use, apart from scaring the boy and making him less willing to teach.

(Remember that Kyoya is still a 6-year-old. He's not nearly as ruthless and uncompromising as he would be growing up).

Tsuna's intuition flared at Hibari's suggestion. That seemed like a good starting point. "It could work, you'll have to try to see for sure".

Kyoya nodded. Then he realized that with their detour to see the bird (whose shelter was located on the other side of town) they had no time left before his next patrol. "I have to go patrol. You go back home, Omnivore, I'll fetch you tomorrow after school."

The brunet just went along, already knowing that whatever issue he had with that plan would be at best ignored, at worst dealt with a tonfa in the face. Better to stay quiet and obediently go home. It was almost time for dinner anyway.

Kyoya didn't realize until much later, after beating two groups of peace-disturbing Herbivores, that not once had he felt like bitting the Omnivore to death during the day. Which was a first. His family members, he could tolerate since he recognized them all as Carnivores and he didn't spend a lot of time with them a once. Even his parents were rarely home (not that any of them minded, all Hibaris needed their space). It was the first time since he could remember that he spent hours at once with another human being without murderous urges. It goes to show exactly how strange the Omnivore was.

When he came home late at night from his patrol, he checked on the bird in the living room. It was sleeping, but woke up when he got close. Kyoya fed him some bread and vegetables (why did they have that in his house while he was a Carnivore? Well, the servants liked to eat other things than meat). He took the bird to his room, settled it on another table, surrounded by cloth to be comfortable and went to bed. He dreamt of bright orange flames and deep purple fire.