A/N: This chapter used to have 2k plus words. But in order to avoid the much hated cliffhanger, the second part of this chapter became chapter three. ^_^ (Well, I hate cliffhangers too, you know) Plus, chapters with 2.5k plus word count begin to scare me. XD

The second sentence in the paragraph above means chapter three is half-way done. Yay. XD

Warnings: I get OC with deciding the chapter titles too. So you'd have to forgive me if I don't update right away because I'm undecided with the chapter title. XDD

Things that are contained in this story that everyone shouldn't do: Copy homework, use mood swings as an excuse not to do school related responsibilities, and bet whether someone lives or dies. O_o (I don't think thinking about kissing someone like Hibari is a sin, though. Ovo If what I said is untrue, or if someone objects, tell me, okay~XD)

Also, this chapter is a bit boring in comparison to chapter three, which is more…ah…interesting. /gg

Of Luck and Choices
(chapter 2)
by chumee

There were four things Tsuna was sure of.

One, he was late.

Two, it wasn't his fault.

Three, if he had went straight to the gym and faced Hibari later, he would have made it for the physical examinations.

And four, he had the worst possible luck allowable for any human being.

So much for the great Vongola the tenth who arrived on the classroom to find it empty. Quite annoyingly too, the words 'physical' and 'examination' were written on the blackboard, mocking him.

"Tsuna?"

Tsuna turned to look at Yamamoto who had just taken a seat beside him. It seemed like the physical examinations ended forty minutes after he arrived on the classroom.

Why didn't he catch up with the physical exams, you ask? Well, illogically, he acquired the mood swing syndrome after he saw the words written on the blackboard awhile ago. For him, there wasn't any point in catching up. He was late. He already met with the feared DC leader. And anyway, he could instantly tell the nurse his measurements and weight at any given time. It wasn't like he was experiencing growth spurt every week, was he?

Studying Yamamoto's face, it looked like he was worried, and for a good reason too. One might say Yamamoto looking worried is a rare occurrence. And Tsuna thinks he knows the exact reason why. The primary factor would be everyone's knowledge that it's the DC room for you, once you're late. The secondary and less important factor is that Tsuna knows he looks exactly like a starved prisoner of war that (was harassed and) has mood swings.

He laughed weakly and told him he might be sick to avoid the questions he could plainly read on the boy's eyes.

The rest of the class didn't seem to notice him as they entered the room in high spirits. He studied his classmates' faces. They all look normal. And why not? It was just another physical examination. Kyoko-chan even looks really cute today. Although Tsuna couldn't get exactly why he couldn't appreciate her cuteness.

He tried to think, but his brain only processed the last face he wanted to see today. And the face had an unusual expression of amusement. With the lips slightly curving upwards, and the eyes like those of a predator regarding its prey. And even though Tsuna knew that the owner of that face was undisputedly dangerous, still, he wondered, could those lips do anything else besides frowning? It could smile once in a blue moon, maybe, or touch his lips for a little ki—

"C-crap;;;" Tsuna said and groaned. What was he thinking? Was the last word, 'kiss'? Holy mushroom…Was he just thinking of sharing a kiss with Hibari? Hmm…it wouldn't be so bad, would it? Because— Wait, did he just think that kissing Hibari wouldn't be so bad?! Just being in the same room with Hibari is bad enough!

Tsuna clutched his head. Arguing with himself is a bad enough sign. Thinking of kissing Hibari is much worse. He knew it. He was definitely going crazy.

Yamamoto cast another worried look. This time, Tsuna only looked away and straightened up just as Gokudera entered the room. He looked sick, with cold sweat breaking on his forehead and his hands holding his stomach. Tsuna watched as Gokudera tried to walk upright to greet him 'good morning'.

Tsuna tried to smile but the smile his lips had formed looked like some sort of a grimace. Gokudera looked at Yamamoto, looking concerned as well. Tsuna noticed this exchange and only looked ahead. Their concerned faces were worse than them talking to him about it.

Focusing his attention on other things, he realized something he should've realized as soon as Gokudera entered the room. As far as he knew, Gokudera got sick for only one reason. Meaning Bianchi was playing nurse in the physical examinations. Tsuna frowned. That would also mean Bianchi would only be there if Reborn is there. And so it proved his theory. Reborn was hell-bent on NOT having him there. But was switching channels that much of a mortal sin?

Tsuna made a face and sulked.

Why was math time the same time as nap time, again?

It was good Gokudera made him copy his assignment before the said subject. Gokudera also managed to teach him a bit about it. But getting zero on his assignments, quizzes, and even exams wasn't exactly the problem. It was their teacher's 'powers'. Once the teacher said a word, it was as sure as drinking a potent sleeping draught on large quantities.

It wasn't only him who has this opinion. Everyone was doing their best to look awake and stay awake. He glanced at Gokudera who was snoring. Well, he was the only one who can sleep through this class without being embarrassed when the teacher called him, anyway.

Life is just so unfair.

"Sawada!"

Tsuna almost fell out of his chair in surprise. As did all of his classmates. The teacher looked pissed. But also worried. He gestured to the figure on the door. Everyone's eyes followed.

Leaning against the doorframe was the DC leader himself. Tsuna squeaked and both Gokudera and Yamamoto turned to look at him. It was obvious, now. Well, not really obvious, since they didn't know about the harassment part, but still.

"Sawada." The teacher repeated, this time, his voice in the normal volume. "Hibari-kun wants to talk to you."

"In the Discipline Committee room." Hibari added.

This time, not only Gokudera and Yamamoto, but all of his classmates looked at him openly. As he stood up shakily, the whispers started.

"What did he do?"

"Dunno. Maybe he's late."

"Well, hope we can see him alive again."

"Wanna bet?"

"Yeah. Ten thousand yen."

"Bring it on!"

'These guys…' Tsuna thought, sighing. 'Betting whether I live or die…'

"Tsuna-kun."

He looked reluctantly at the voice's direction. It was Kyoko-chan. And seeing her looked worried made him want to cry. Instead, he tried to smile, but again, it looked awkward and forced. He tuned out the whispers and passed the teacher who looked like he wanted to pat Tsuna's back.

'Now it's my funeral?' Tsuna thought, wincing at the word funeral. But it did felt like it. The atmosphere in the room changed. And people were suddenly wide awake. Mourning, maybe. Why, the only thing that will make the mourning more effective is if their uniform would change to black. And speaking of black uniforms, his executioner's uniform is in this color.

"Thank you, teacher." said his executioner, when Tsuna was at the door, waiting to be taken to the guilloti— DC room. Hibari started to walk away. And Tsuna turned to follow, careful to keep his eyes on the floor, afraid that Hibari might mistake the look on his face as a look of defiance. But Hibari doesn't seem to mind him. For the time being, anyway.

"By the way," Hibari said suddenly and stopped walking. He turned back. And so did Tsuna who had a bit of courage to look at Hibari's face. Hibari looked a little smug. Tsuna only saw this facial expression today. And it was incredibly overwhelming when seeing it up close. Maybe he should jot down these expressions? Lessee…Amusement, smugness…

"The answer for that problem is wrong."

Tsuna looked up, looking a little lost. Then he remembered what was happening, and looked at the blackboard where the problem Hibari was talking about was written. It was their assignment, actually. And their teacher's answer, he noticed only now, really is incorrect. (Well, he doesn't exactly know how to solve it, but he had copied from Gokudera. And Gokudera's answer is always right, so the teacher must be wrong.)

And as if he only said he was going to take a bathroom break, Hibari turned to walk away again, without saying another word. Tsuna followed quietly, thinking what caused Hibari to go to their classroom. Does Hibari even go to classrooms to fetch students who broke the rules? Usually, it was his henchmen who do these kinds of things.

He looked at Hibari's back, for he is leading the way. From this angle, he still looked intimidating, with the billowing black uniform, but also very…lonely.

'Lonely..?' Tsuna thought. 'I must be hungry enough to think about Hibari-san associated to that word.' But still, the thought nagged him. So he looked down, not wanting Hibari to see the face he made that might spell concern.

A/N: This chapter was written while my six-year-old cousin is sitting beside me. I don't think her vocabulary's that large, anyway, so I think my secret is still safe. XD I also made her watch cartoons while I write the kiss thing. But the cartoon she watched seemed a bit more…um, intimate? than if she were to read and understand this whole chapter. XD

Credits:

~miyaken23 – who always help me with my fics and is very patient in answering my KHR related questions. B-b-but…I can't steal Leon for you. O_o Reborn's got missiles and stuff. XD;; But I think you know what gift you'll be receiving from me this Christmas, anyway. XD

...Review? ovo/