Hi. I hope you enjoy the chapter, um i think as the story goes on it will start out with nice fluff, but get more dramatic as it goes, because I want it to grow first, if that makes sense.

Chapter 2

The lonely guardian

Boss and Chrome bursted into the classroom. They were both breathing heavily. Chrome couldn't understand what she just went through. She never believed Hibari would be an enemy of theirs. Boss tried to catch his breath, talking to the teacher. "S-Sorry... We were late... Hibari cha-chased us..." He was going to finish his explanation, but he felt a horrible presence behind him. "Chrome look out!" He placed his left hand on her head, forcing her down. He had his other hand on his strawhat and aslo ducked. A tonfa swung over their heads, grazing past her pinapple hair. She dared to peek back and grew scared at the death glare Hibari was giving them.

"Tardy students well be bit to death..." He stated, standing in between the doorway. Chrome froze, she didn't know how to act. He was an ally of Boss, why would he attack them... for being a little late.

"Hiee!" Tsuna quickly lifted himself and Chrome. He backed away from Hibari. He turned and pulled Chrome behind his own self. He could tell, from her frozen body language, that this was her first time almost being bit to death. She never felt such a murderous intent and tried to shrink behind Boss. "H-Hibari! we don't want to be bitten to death!" He pleaded for Chrome's sake and his own.

His glare intensed. How dare they ask for mercy. He didn't care if they assumed he was a comrade of theirs. If someone broke the rules of his school, he would deal with it appropriately. Biting them to death. Chrome had her hands on Boss's right shoulder, peeking at him, she snuck back behind Boss's back when she noticed that he grew more angry, after his plea. Boss felt her fear, and looked back at her. She dared to meet his gaze. He gave her a wink and a smile. He whispered, "Don't worry Chrome, just stay behind me." He wanted to reassure his scared friend.

Boss was also terrified, but didn't want her to be. He stood his ground, albeit with fear in his eyes. Hibari stared at the two. He would of ended their lives right then and there, but that would be an interruption of class, and he wouldn't break his rules.

He lowered his tonfa and walked away casually. Tsuna let out a sigh of relief, along with the rest of the class, when he left. Chrome's fear changed into confusion. She felt relieved, but couldn't believe that was how the cloud guardian acted during times of peace. Tsuna turned around. "Are you ok Chrome? Sorry... nobody really warned you about him." He said with a cringe. He was looking at her, concerned. He felt guilty for letting his friend experience that for the first time.

Her confusion grew. Boss was worried about her. She couldn't understand why. She slowly nodded, still in disbelief at the actions of both, Boss and the cloud guardian. The teacher tried to regain order as they walked to their seats. Chrome had an absent walk. She was thinking why Boss was kind enough to hide her behind him. She was scared, so she was grateful for his defensive action, but why did he do it.

She sat down next to the window. Boss sat next to his family and friends. Enma was behind him. Chrome was next to Enma. Yamamoto in front of her, to Tsuna's left. Gokudara sat in front of his Tenth, to protect him. Kyoko sat to Tsuna's right. Hana in front of her friend, next to Gokudara.

Tsuna felt a tap on his shoulder he looked behind him, and saw Enma, his bestfriend. He had a sympathetic smile. "Hibari almost got you this time." He said. Tsuna paled at his words. He didn't want to remember almost dying, even though it was pretty recent. He nodded, but the purple hair, and eyepatch facing the window caught his eye. Chrome was staring out the window with confusion etched on her face. He smiled. It was fine, because his friend was safe.

"I rather it be me, than my nakama!" He smiled at Enma, then at Chrome, before facing the front again. She was still facing the window and didn't see his smile. He didn't hear the quiet gasp she released when he called her a friend. They were friends? She never had any growing up. She was able to open up to I-pin and the girls, but a friend? She never felt she truly had one.

'Boss thinks we are friends?' Chrome couldn't comprehend that thought. 'Why would he want to be my friend? Is trying to achieve a goal or task, by using me...' She pondered. Boss had no reason to stay close to her, unless he seeked something from her. That was the reason most of the people she felt she cared for stayed close to her. Chikusa and Ken didn't really pay attention to her after Mukuro came back, only when they needed a favor. Although, Mukuro was kind to her, he usually was when he needed something in return. M.M. never was kind to her. She then reflected at that honest thought. Those people weren't her friends, but she did care for them. They gave her a new life. 'So did Boss, he accepted me as his mist guardian.' Chrome was so confused. Boss was... well Boss. Could that be consider a friend?

Chrome shook her head at the thought. 'I don't have friends, just people who need me in their life. Boss is no different.' Although she didn't think harshly at that, she was happy. She wanted to be helpful to these people who gave her a new life to live. Even if she was only going only end up being used.

But having a friend was something she would never relate too.

The class was released to lunch. Tsuna and his family all had their bentos, ready to walk up to the roof and eat. They were all waking out of the class, Tsuna was behind them, casually following them, but it felt off. Someone was missing from his family. He was still in the class, close to the door, and searched for her. She was sitting there, alone. The sunlight from the window reflected off of her. Tsuna saw her loneliness, through the mid day shine that surrounded her. It was her only company.

She had her bento on her desk and a book. She didn't look depressed, but neither did she seem content. She only looked like she was accustomed to being alone. Tsuna paused, he wasn't frowning, but he wasn't smiling. He made a decision, before reaching the door, and turned away from it.

"Tenth is something wrong?" Gokudara asked, he noticed that he was the only one still in the class. Tsuna just shrugged as if it was no big deal. He smiled at Gokudara, Yamamoto, and Enma as they stared at him.

"It's nothing, I just feel like eating here today, you guys go to the roof, ok?" He smiled at them. They gave him a confused look, before they nodded and slowly left him alone. Gokudara would have stayed with the Tenth, but he listened to his request.

Chrome was not really focused on her food, only picking at it. She stiffened a little. She saw someone take a seat in the desk next her. Enma usually sat there. She looked away from her food and noticed Boss sitting next to her, with a smile.

"Boss?" She asked. Why was he sitting with her? He usually ate on the roof, why would he bother to spend time with her?

Tsuna grew nervous. Chrome was looking at him confused. He didn't know what to say really. He just wanted to spend time with her. "Is it ok if I eat with you?" He asked nervously. She stared for a while, not understanding his question.

"Why do you want to?" She asked innocently. Boss was visibility hurt by that question. Did he need a reason to spend time with a treasured friend. He had a nervous blush as he answered.

"Um, I just want too..." He mumbled while scratching his cheek, looking to the side nervously. He looked back at her, she only continued to stare at him, expecting a better answer. "I want to spend time with you, Chrome, but I can leave if you want..." He said honestly. He didn't want to bother her, but he still wanted to talk to her. He barely knew anything about her. 'She doesn't know anything about me either...' Tsuna mentally beat himself up at the thought. He considered them friends, but they honestly knew nothing about eachother.

"You can stay." She said, but it came out as a question, as if she was searching for some hidden meaning behind his words. Tsuna mentally sighed at her approval. He smiled at her. He wanted to start a conversation with her, but she seemed worried for some reason.

Chrome was just staring at Boss. She couldn't fathom why he would want to spend time with her. His answer seemed honest, but there had to be a reason behind it right? She only stared at his eyes innocently. Tsuna didn't know how to act, she was looking at him so confused.

"Um, did Hibari scare you today?" He asked, Chrome could hear his nevousness, but didn't think much about it. She thought about the question before answering.

"Yes, thank you for, um..." Chrome couldn't finish her sentence. She didn't know how to explain what Boss did. He shielded her behind himself, but she didn't know how to say the words for the act of kindness Boss showed her.

Tsuna blushed more at what she was trying to say, he understood her. He had one hand on top his strawhat before laughing nervously. "Hahaha... it was no big deal... I guess, I just didn't want you to be scared." He finished with a mumble looking away shyly. His hyper intuition and instincts took over when they were attacked by Hibari, he didn't think about what he did, he just acted.

Chrome was taken back at the answer. He did it to protect her. Tsuna stared at her innocent expression. Her face was scrunched together, but only a little. Her eye was staring hard into space, as if trying to figure out a code he just spoke. He blushed at her cute face.

She kept staring hard, but eventually gave up on her internal question and asked him. She made eye contact with her Boss before asking. "Boss, why did you... You had no reason to help me?" She asked. Confusion and curiosity etched on her face. Her eye widened at his smile.

He had a big grin on his face and answered her question. "You're my friend!" He simply stated, as if that answered all her questions. He laughed after he said that. Chrome wanted a better answer. A complex one she could grasp, but the simple concept of friendship... she grew frustrated. His answer was honest and full of life, but for that to be the only reason he shielded her from the cloud guardian. She was staring at his smiling face thinking about his answer.

She felt a warm feeling spread through her. She didn't know what it was. His smile was so sincere. There was no lie in his words either. He honestly seemed to just want to be with her, no strings attached. Her lips pulled up and smiled back at Boss. His smile grew seeing her face of joy. They both had a smile for the blooming friendship of theirs.