AN: Finally, the long-awaited Hibari and Tsuna talk. This is sort of like a recap chapter, but so much is explained. Confession? What confession? /peers at chapter title

CHAPTER 28: MORE THAN A FRIEND

He thinks Hibari is ignoring him. No, he knows Hibari is ignoring him. If the brief pass in the hallway wasn't enough indication.

As soon as Hibari saw Tsuna, his eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly. His eyes glanced as if casually, over at Tsuna, quickly taking in his face, trying to analyze it. After that quick once-over, he walked away. Keeping distance from Tsuna.

He tried not to be upset at this and fails miserably. He shouldn't be though, he had expected this, didn't he? He would have nightmares about Hibari rejection of him, his new self. He would often think about it so much until it consumed him. When he had met Hibari again he had expected the forbearance, the shun and was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. Hibari had treated him no different than he had before. But this new...avoidance, this distance, it hurt ten times more than it would have had he been ready. He wasn't prepared for it, and Tsuna knows it had been a mistake to let his guard down to think there wasn't a catch to it all.

It was twisting his insides, ripping him in and out, because Hibari meant so much more to him than his friends, his parents and that—

In the quietness of Tsuna's room, he thoughts were violently halted with a force akin to a train wreck when Hibari strode in with a thunderous expression as he emerged from out of his bathroom. Tsuna knew he hadn't been in there earlier because Tsuna just used that same bathroom only seconds before. It should've been predictable but it came out as a surprise anyway. The teen stood up from the wooden chair, "Hibari-san?"

But the moment he called, Hibari was already in front of him. The boogie man grabbed his shoulder, tightly, and pulled Tsuna closer. Hibari squinted, glared really, down at him. But not at his eyes, but at his...oh. Tsuna swallowed thickly. Hibari was looking at his piercing. He immediately scrambled to explain, "Uh Wait, there's a good reason for that."

"You've changed." Hibari said indifferently, but it sounded like contempt to him. Hibari stepped back, relinquishing his hold on Tsuna's shoulder.

His stomach dropped, wanting to follow Hibari one step forward. This was exactly what he was truly afraid of. Not getting in trouble, no not really, but the fact that he had changed. Sometimes, he didn't even recognize himself. He wanted to be the same, but the deed was done. It was too late. There was no way he could revert back to that naive child he had been only months before.

"Hibari-san, I know I have, but..." Tsuna swallowed, his throat clicked audibly. He fell silent, at loss at words. I'm still me, you know.

The boogie man gave no verbal word of reply, but instead leaned against the door. It was the only way out of the room, the only escape. And somehow, Tsuna knew it was intentional. The seemingly subtle movement spoke loud enough for him to understand that whatever Hibari had to say next, he was forcing Tsuna to listen. Then curiosity: what could Hibari say possibly make him want to run away? Then nervousness followed quickly after, his unease leaking out in waves. He sat back down on the chair, the old wood creaking underneath his weight. "Tsunayoshi, I wish to speak to you on the matter of the night you disappeared."

Tsuna winced, leave it to Hibari to be completely straight to the point without any qualms of the strain between them.

"There was a misunderstanding that caused all this. And I want you to understand my intentions clearly." Hibari fixed his eyes at the wall behind Tsuna, "I said that I never wished to be your friend. That much is very true."

Tsuna began to turn red.

He was unsure if it was with either embarrassment or anger. He suspected both. Was Hibari trapping him here just so he could hear this? He knew his feelings of friendship were one-sided, and the man still decided to rub salt into old wounds. The boogie man seemed to see the change on his face and in turn looked frustrated. "That came out differently that I had intended."

Then what did you intended? Tsuna's expression seemed to say for itself, but Hibari didn't not see it, now staring at the table instead. "I can see this will be difficult for both of us." Hibari muttered before looking at Tsuna, then away again, "I suppose I must start at the very beginning. It began a year before we met." He let out a long-suffering sigh. He really hated speaking for a long duration, "Before, I was a very formidable man. Not many purposely crossed my path often. I was often given assignments that were," Hibari smiled darkly at this, "Not appropriate to mention." Tsuna shuddered.

"It was one day the infant had came to me with an unusual request. He told me to protect you, and I was in deep speculation of why he would choose me. He often tells me it's because I'm the strongest, but even I know that I am not the most reliable, to this day, to this very day I'm unknown of the real reasons why."

—

"Listen here Hibari," Reborn hissed, "I want you to take this very seriously. The entire fate of Cielo is in your hands."

Hibari said nothing, glaring darkly out the window. There was nothing to see unfortunately, but plain gray and the equally gray city below it. Nothing in particular that could distract him from this time-wasting moment. "I know you don't really care, but this kid, he needs someone. Gokudera has been exposed, so I need you to be there when he isn't. You have a cloud flame, and you can do stuff others can't. You are listening to me, aren't you?"

Hibari turned his heated gaze to Reborn, who stood tall with his arms crossed. He was an adult this time, and these are the few times Hibari is a little intimidated by him, though he'd rather not admit that, "There are plenty of cloud users in Vongola."

"But none of them are as capable as you," Reborn insisted gruffly, "This is the Prince of Spades we're talking about here. You can do it."

Hibari was rather smug that he could do something others couldn't but was suspicious as he ventured into the next question, "Then, how long?"

"What?" Reborn said, his face carefully blank.

"How long?" Hibari grumpily repeated. He was highly disdainful of saying anything twice. "Must I watch over the child?"

The tall fedora-wearing man shifted, "About until he turns eighteen or so?"

"And how old is he now?" Hibari's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Reborn hesitated in answering. "About seven."

—

"I was furious of course." Hibari mumbled, "But after months of thinking it over, I decided to observe you to see if you were really worth looking after. I watched you for more than five weeks when you discovered me." Tsuna looked out the window, a smile threatening his carefully blank expression. Oh he most definitely remembered their first meeting.

"You screamed in my ear." Hibari groused.

"You scared me." Tsuna retorted easily back. "You said you were going to 'bite me to death'. I was so scared, I didn't want to sleep in my room ever again. Do you have any idea how incredibly frightening that concept is for a seven year old? I thought you were a monster or something."

There was a short pause as Tsuna's words sunk in.

Obviously, Hibari didn't think that much into what he had said up until now, if his replying blank look was any indication. "You thought I was a monster?"

Tsuna quickly changed the subject. "I remember what you told me that night, the first night I slept in my bed after that."

—

He was slightly irked. Annoyed even, and it wasn't everyday he felt it. So he had slightly panicked when the child actually opened his closet door and found him, but did the herbivore really had to go through such lengths to stay away from him? Even away from his own room? Hibari found it annoying, felt disgusted at the weakness. It had only been so easy to drive Tsuna out, to fear him so much, and he honestly hadn't even tried. Had it been himself, he would have waited until Hibari came back and challenged him. Probably beat him half to death, but he wouldn't leave the room, because this was his room, and why should he leave?

But no, he thought sulkily, staring as Tsuna quivered underneath his blankets, this child was truly a herbivore. He never really had a definition of one until he met this cowardly child. Then, quite suddenly, Tsuna sat up and said to the darkness, "I'm not afraid."

Suddenly, he was hit with the desire to scare this child even more, to teach him a lesson. He wanted to test this courage, to see the strength behind it. Hibari smiled maliciously, his teeth glinting whitely in the dark, "Is that so?"

He couldn't believe how incredibly amused he felt when he saw Tsuna stiffen and pale.

He had been originally leaning against the further corner from the boy and used his flames with a roll of his eyes. Hibari moved out from under the bed, and was further entertained as he saw the instant fear that plastered on, the blood draining quickly out of that small face. He was expecting the boy to scream for his parents, and was mildly surprised when he didn't. He straightened his suit casually and tried to fight the blatant loathing at seeing the child flinch at the subtle move, "I know what you're attempting to do, pathetic little herbivore."

Tsuna flinched away mutely as Hibari sat on the foot of his bed. Tsuna leaned as far as he could away from him, almost teetering over the edge of the bed. He had only been observing this entire time, growing increasingly agitated by this herbivore's insistent cowardice.

He narrowed his eyes down at Tsuna, and the boy's eyes widened impossibly wider, "Clawing at the floors, screaming and begging. I've watched you the whole time."

Hibari let the words sink in. He wanted this boy to know how ridiculously weak he was. This little boy was going to be a prince one day, and he wasn't even close to what Hibari had envisioned. He had to tell him. At least he would have some idea what the future had ready for him and would be ready for it.

But when Tsuna's fearful expression didn't change to one of mulling, he decided that perhaps physical contact would show him. Hibari reached out slowly, and tugged the boy closer to whisper, "Live up to my expectations, child. You can never escape your fate, Sawada Tsunayoshi." The fear seemed to only intensify and, irritated, he repeated with a mocking smile, "Never."

And Tsuna screamed, again, in his ear.

"Papa! Papa! Papa!" He thrashed away from Hibari, going as far as he could and smacked against the headboard of his bed. Hibari's eyes widened comically, because that hadn't been the reaction he had been expecting so soon. He thought the little boy was going to question him, or indulge for more information and such. He sighed, when he vaguely realized that he had to leave, lest the herbivore's parentals discovered him.

—

"What you're saying is," Tsuna began, his hands running down his face, glaring crossly through the gaps of his fingers at the man in front of him, "That you were only warning me?"

Hibari looked somewhat irked as he nodded.

"And how was I suppose to know that? You were about to kill me!"

The boogie man looked indignant at this. "I hadn't believed I had ever approached you in any hostile manner."

True enough, Tsuna's dry expression seemed to say, but still, he scared the skin off him regardless. And all this time, he thought Hibari had been trying to kill him, maim him when he was younger. And the man had only tried doing him a favor in warning him about his future? He sighed and gestured Hibari to continue, "And? What about the night Haru babysat me?"

Hibari seemed to not understand what he had said or he was playing dumb.

"The glass of water?" He questioned, and repeated in more clarity, "You wanted a glass of water."

Now this seemed to remind him, and Hibari huffed, reluctantly resuming his story.

—

It had been a state of international CEDEF emergency. He couldn't in his life understand why he was here, involved with CEDEF affairs. He didn't even understand why he put up with the Vongola, honestly, for all trouble they constantly put him through.

In the sterile walls of base, the halls were teeming with nervous pacing and pent up energies that just willed to be in action. Everyone was on edge, the princess was missing, and no one had no idea what to do. Hibari hated being around so many people, hated to be in such proximity of those beneath him, but it had been on the request of the infant that his presence was needed. He made sure Gokudera Hayato was there to mind Tsuna while he was away though. He wasn't that heartless to abandon the child.

It has been a long time since he's last seen him, nearly four weeks really. He too, was growing nervous over the stretch of time, but everyday, Gokudera reported (grouchily) to him through phone with no urgent news of any sort. The young boy was growing tired, Hibari could tell, he wasn't used to watching Tsuna for all hours of the day. As much as he respected Tsuna, he was about to collapse under the amount of work it took to remain unseen, he was at his absolute limit. He wasn't like Hibari, he wasn't gifted in stealth to that duration.

The matter he was needed in was the Princess of Clubs' search party. She had gone missing and not even her closest bodyguard, a man named Gamma, hadn't a clue of where she could've gone. She was only eight, only Tsunayoshi's age, and he thought about the man he hadn't, didn't, care to meet. Many people often compare himself to Gamma, as he was also childminding a royal. The only difference between the two of them, Hibari realized, was that he had no desire of any sort to feel that pain, that amazing loss. In fact, he laughed in the face of it. But it didn't lessen the knowledge that he knew somewhere out in that city that man was going mad. Torn between helplessness and rage and despair.

They say he scarcely slept, barely eaten for days in favor of searching for Princess Uni.

Hibari never wished to be like that. It only made you weaker, made you vulnerable.

After mulling over this, Reborn seemed to sense his unease. "You can go you know." Reborn said solemnly. "We found out where Uni has gone to."

"Where?" Hibari asked, wondering if the man named Gamma was now at peace.

Reborn was quiet for a moment before answering, "With the Millefiore. Uni has made a pact with Byakuran, and she won't listen to anything we say, completely unresponsive. She hardly speaks. Gamma had seen her," Reborn looked slightly haunted, "He was absolutely resolute, she refused to come back to us so he left Giglio Nero and joined the Millefiore to be with her."

Hibari expelled a mocking huff of laughter, muttering, "Foolish."

Reborn looked disapproving at this jab, "She's my niece, Hibari. I may have done the same." He watched as Hibari's amusement only seemed to heighten at this. "This is what you cloud-users don't understand, I suppose." He turned his back to Hibari, walking with a stiffened posture, it looked slightly defeated. Without turning back to look directly at him he said, "You look exhausted. I suggest you go back to Tsuna, Hibari. I can tell you're worried."

Worried? Hibari thought snidely, turning his heel. He wasn't worried.

When he reached the Sawada residence, he was mildly surprised to find an unfamiliar girl sleeping on their couch. He had long dismissed Gokudera, and the boy eagerly went to go get some rest, but not before laying down the usual threats against him if he so much as even brushed Tsuna the wrong way.

Hibari moved to sit on the coffee table, mindful of the stray bits of popcorn strewn about. Tsuna was still staring, wide-eyed at him, but no longer as fearful. After he saved Tsuna's life when he had fallen from the roof, his opinion of Hibari had changed, he assumed. Secretly, Hibari was just slightly pleased, slightly annoyed. He was grateful the herbivore was no longer screaming at him but he was irritated at the shy timidness. Really, this kid, he was a stranger, for god's sake, shouldn't normal children be thinking of plans to kill him and such?

He ran his hand through his hair, willing himself to not think about it. He could practically feel himself growing attached. He trampled on those kinds of weaknesses with vicious conviction. Tsuna was fidgeting nervously on his feet, he could tell through the darkness of the living room, save for the lamp near the sofa, that he was waiting for Hibari to do something, say anything. Hibari knew he wasn't at his best appearance at the moment, and he tried to ignore the child.

His agitation rose when Tsuna timidly spoke to him from the distance, "Where have you been?"

He didn't want to give Tsuna the leisure of the knowledge, and he didn't feel like indulging in small talk, "Places." He said simply.

"O-Oh." Tsuna said weakly, looking slightly disappointed.

Before he could stop himself, he asked, "Do you have water?"

He was slightly berating himself for succumbing to the instantaneous need to appease when Tsuna nodded fervently before jumping off the couch and scrambled to the kitchen. Willing for a distraction to appear, just so he could convince himself that he could still take his eyes off the small boy, he turned to give the slumbering girl an antagonizing stare.

Although Haru was not awake, she squirmed; as if she knew danger was near. It amused him somewhat when Tsuna gave wary looks at the two, and he hurried faster to get the cup of water ready. He hadn't anticipated the spilling though. Hibari watched with an aggravated gaze as the water sloshed violently by the boy's shaking and stumbling caused water to be spilled onto the floor as he returned. Hibari gave Tsuna an irritated frown before taking the glass of water from Tsuna's shaking hands and gulping down what was left of the drink.

After draining the cup dry he put it on the coffee table, he sighed gratefully for the cool water. He stood up and stretched a bit, getting the kinks out of his neck. It was best he go. He wouldn't really go, but it would give Tsuna the illusion of believing that he was alone. Hibari moved back to the kitchen cupboard and opened it wider so he could squeeze back inside.

"W-Wait!" Tsuna squeaked fearfully.

Hibari faltered and turned to look at the squirming child, waiting for him to continue. "W-Who…" Tsuna trailed off. Gulping, he raised his voice again, "Who are you?"

He didn't know why he gave Tsuna his name that night. He could've easily remained anonymous, easily able to watch the child from afar. Because names surely gave attachment to those you gave it to. Despite knowing this, he did so anyway, thoughtlessly. "You may call me Hibari."

—

"I began to find myself becoming...attached to you. Perhaps I believed you were so pathetic that it couldn't be helped."

Tsuna looked thoughtful at this, scratching absently at his forearm. "Then you started helping me at school. On those drawings in art class. And saving me at lunch."

Hibari looked away, "That's correct. I was...surprised by what you had told me that day. Even if you had admitted you were useless." Hibari's eyes turned distant in thought, "That was the moment I decided. The moment that I realized, despite your cowardice, you had the resolve of a prince. And I made it my life to protect you."

Tsuna looked incredulous at this. "Really? You made your life decision on what I had said?" From what he could remember, he was close to wetting his pants when he told Hibari that even if he was incredibly good-for-nothing, at least he tried hard to prove otherwise.

"They were very powerful words, ones I hadn't expected." Hibari grudgingly complimented. Tsuna expected Hibari to end it there, because Hibari was admitting much than was normal, but the boogie man was far from finished. "I began showing myself to you, staying more frequently in Namimori and spending little amounts of time in Cielo. I found myself going out of my way to ensure that you were comfortable. I began cooking for you, taking care of you when you were ill. I hadn't realized it all before it was too late. I grew...worried."

Tsuna found himself scared when he took in the little emotion in Hibari's normally neutral tone, like he was listening to something he wasn't suppose to. But that was ridiculous, he thought, because whatever this led to, it had very much to do with him. He busied himself briefly by fiddling a little with the watch in his pocket.

"I found myself slipping."Hibari continued, voice tight, "You began to grow curious about me." Ah, Tsuna recalled distractedly, the comment the boogie man made about the stars on the night of that rainy day. That had been the start of his intense desire to understand the mystery around the man.

Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows, confused, "There's one thing that bothers me, Hibari-san." He leaned forward, "Why was it that you gave me that dying-willed leaf on my tenth birthday? If you didn't want me to know too much about you, why did you do it?" Because if what Hibari said was true, then his gift had been all but counterproductive. Why did he choose to further entice Tsuna more about him? About Cielo?

"No," Hibari shook his head, eyes closed briefly before they opened to look back at him again, "I was never trying to hide things from you. I was under strict instructions to tell you of nothing. It was not as if I didn't wish to, it was that I couldn't."

"Strict instructions?" Tsuna repeated, "From who?"

"Dino Chiavarone." Hibari said stiffly. Oh. Tsuna thought, blinking. Dino had already told him this. The reason why had been to protect him, to let him grow up safe and normal without fear. "I thought his methods, his need to keep you sheltered, were foolish." Hibari shifted slightly, "I preferred to have you understand what you were going to have to do. Of your duty." Just slightly bitter, Tsuna agreed in tensed silence. He wished he was more prepared than this. Perhaps he could've been spared of the traumatic shock that he was going to die an early tragic death. "It was under my own jurisdiction that I gave you a gift for your day of birth."

"I took great care in giving you the smallest of information, slowly. Eventually, you began to grow comfortable with me, much to my relief then. I was in great tire of your screaming. And then it happened." Hibari said lowly, menacingly. In surprise, Tsuna looked up to see the rage under the reserved expression. "Someone attempted on your life."

Well.

This was the first he heard of this. "What?" Tsuna asked, shocked. "I don't remember anyone trying to kill me when I was a kid."

"But I do," Hibari said in a strained voice. "I was under further instructions to insure that you never knew the truth behind your attempt assassination. It had to look like a accident."

There was a short silence before it clicked, eyes very wide, Tsuna rasped out, "The car accident..."

"Yes," Hibari affirmed, closing his eyes, composing himself. "A very monstrous man. And I nearly got there too late."

"Who was it?" Tsuna asked, slightly scared to hear the answer. He hadn't known, in his safe town of Namimori, that somewhere someone had tried to kill him. Hibari's protection just hadn't been for show: there truly was danger, even in Namimori.

"A man named Leonardo Lippi. He sometimes goes by Guido Greco."

—

Damn. Damn.

Hibari had no idea where to start. He wasn't even sure where Tsuna was. The boy had not come home at the time expected. Gokudera Hayato was still in school and Hibird was no where. In other words, there could be no one watching him. He tried to quell the instant surging emotion that washed over him, leaving him to feel pale and withering. He felt as if he was cleaved into two entities, stricken with horror and close to getting a hemorrhage out of pure rage.

There was helplessness there too, a festering pore easily spreading throughout his entire body. He didn't know what to do. Where to start. Who to tell.

A thousand things were racing through his head, giving suggestions, futilely trying to ease his worries. He felt too numb to listen. He was in no state to even reassure himself.

It was rare he was ever tired, Hibari thought as he breathed heavily through his nose when he paused to catch his breath. His gritted his teeth. It wasn't good to be so attached. It made your body do things they never did before. Had it been a year before, Hibari was sure he could've went through this situation coolly, sure he would've remained calm and find Tsunayoshi fast. Now, he felt in no state to search, he felt as if he himself was having a heart attack. His pulse was beating too fast, faster than normal, fueled by panic and rage.

It wasn't like him. He hated it.

When he reached the crossing intersection, he was immensely relieved to see Tsuna, his pulse slowing. The boy's head was ducked, his eyes downcast. The boy's shoulders were slumped and he was dragging his feet on the sidewalk, occasionally pushing a small pebble or debris by his feet lazily out of the way. He was also proud to see Hibird above the buildings' rooftops, circling Tsuna. The little herbivore was keeping strict sentry even while Hibari was gone. He would have to reward him later.

The two was on the other side of the intersection, waiting for the light to turn red and give pedestrians permission to walk. It was Tsuna's normal intersection, the one he always passed on the way home. It was also one of the busiest in the neighborhood due solely on the fact that it connected everything in Namimori. His mood considerably lightened from the normalcy of the situation, to see the same cars that came at the same time of day passing.

Then Hibari noticed something peculiar when red light turned on and the pedestrian crossing lit up.

It was a man standing on the opposite side of both Hibari and Tsuna, and he was sure he had seen him somewhere before, but not in Namimori. It suddenly occurred to him that he indeed did seen this man before. But because it was so alien in the normalcy, he hadn't identified him right away. The white uniform stood out in start contrast to everything else, and he realized, he should've seen this man, but hadn't until now. In other words: this man was an illusionist. A Millefiore illusionist.

And Hibari could do nothing to stop him as the man smiled pleasantly to himself and kicked the car in front of him.

The man's foot made perfect contact with a bang as loud as a gunshot, and with the sound of screeching and tumbling metal, it hurtled itself towards Tsuna.

He didn't even have to think. With a savage, unattractive snarl, Hibari threw himself bodily forward, his tonfas already there. By now, Tsuna had taken notice of the danger and screamed, eyes screwing shut, falling on his back in terror. Hibari ran in front of the boy, pushing his heels into the ground, and held up his weapons. The car slammed into him with blaring boom of metal snapping to meet each other, and it hurt, it really did hurt, but Hibari pushed back the spasming pain that threatened his arms and focused on not letting his car even touch Tsuna. He was unable to stop the glass though, and it popped viciously and rained like large hail on them.

Then all went quiet. The screams and yells of other pedestrians was the only remaining sound.

"Someone call an ambulance!" A man yelled.

"Oh my god, that boy! That boy!" A woman wailed.

He heard Tsuna gasping for air, and deliriously, Hibari felt like he was the one who was more relieved by the sound than Tsuna himself—it reassured himself he was alive, okay. And with a crunch of glass and gravel Tsuna propped himself up shakily and finally saw Hibari. He stared at him with wide, uncomprehending eyes, frightened.

For his moment, he felt cold when he saw the blood, grotesquely spreading from the shards of glass from Tsuna's forearms. It wasn't fatal, he knew that, but it still made him uneasy to know that it had been his fault he couldn't have prevented it.

Hibari ripped his tonfa out from the dent in the car and turned to face Tsuna, "You're hurt. Stay here, I'll meet you at the hospital." He said in hushed curt words while Tsuna was distractedly looking at his arms, the boy only just noticed it after he said so. Hibarid hurriedly crawled out the tiny space he looked, with maniacal rage, to where the man had stood. He expected him to be there, still smiling eerily, but was further angered by the empty space where he once occupied.

—

"Did you find him?" Tsuna asked softly, watching the ferocity play on Hibari's face from the memory.

Hibari took great effort in relaxing. He look defeated in his reply, only just so. "No," He murmured roughly, "I've tried to search for him. All I found out by his description was the named Leonardo Lippi. But he had died, from all things: a car accident, was what I have been told." Tsuna understand, by Hibari's tone, that the man didn't believe it for a second. Tsuna wasn't so sure if he did too.

And Tsuna really was sure Hibari was done but he wasn't, and ventured on again, "I began visiting you in the hospital, I never left your side once after that had happened. You needed me more than ever, and I couldn't leave you in wake of that...that man coming back to finish the job." Hibari seemed to push himself further on the door.

"I...when you began middle school, I realized you were growing up very quickly. Faster than I could keep up with. I began to realize: that I cared for you more than I should have. But for the first time, I wanted to have something. At the same time, I was afraid of losing it. That is why at some point, I tried to separate myself from you."

"We argued that night," He rammed on, "It had been the first time you had ever confronted me so directly. And," Hibari looked tired. Suddenly tired. "I had made a mistake. No one had been watching you. In the wake of my anger, I had forgotten all responsibilities and neglected my duty. When I left, someone had opened that hole leading to Cielo in your closet as soon as I had closed it."

What? Confused, Tsuna was so sure of otherwise..."No, that can't be right. Only people with cloud dying-will flames could have opened that hole." He ended it with a uncertain lift in his words, "That must've been you?"

Hibari shook his head, eyes brimming again with quiet rage, "No. I realized soon enough that someone wanted you to come to Cielo before your designated time, opening that rift when I was at my most vulnerable. For what purpose or intent, I am unaware of. I am certain I had closed it behind myself when I left you."

"How did you know about how I got here then, if you weren't the one that did it? How did you know about that hole?"

The boogie man hesitated in answering right away. "Your father witnessed it. He told me."

Oh. That was another question he had been curious about. "Dad said he knew you. How did you two meet?"

Hibari looked out the window briefly, "Your father was a suspect accused of Gokudera Hayato's and your own disappearance. He was running away from the authorities when I found him. I quickly brought him here. However, I do not know what has happened to your mother in result. Your father said she helped him escape, however." Hibari turned to look at Tsuna, narrowing his eyes, "He has been searching for you. I had promised him to bring you back." Tsuna did not react to the last piece of information, only settling with a neutral stare.

"Me and your father, we came to Vongola. He's currently staying in my residence there with my subordinate, Kusakabe." At the mention of this, Tsuna's curiosity heightened. He had always wished to see what kind of home Hibari lived in. "We searched for leads together with the infant under strict secrecy. We knew that if anyone had gotten hold of the knowledge that you were now in Cielo, it would bring you much danger. We later found out you were with the Kokuyo. Before we took action however, it was too late and you were sold to the monkey king—"

"Monkey king?" Tsuna repeated, slightly amused.

"Xanxus," Hibari supplied deftly, "And we followed your movements for a long time. And finally, the perfect opportunity arrived as the Varia, including you, attended the invitation the Millefiore sent out to meet at the Al Forne theater. I suppose you can connect the rest together. I found you, but I had to leave Sawada Iemitsu back in Vongola basely on the fact that it was just simply too dangerous for him to accompany me. My premonition had been correct, and many people died that day on the turf war or on Varia grounds. It was fortunate he fell to my insisting on his inaction."

"You know, I'm sort of glad that I came to the Varia. Despite being sold as a power-slave, it gave me a lot of experience, information." He thought of the moment he controlled his dying-will flame, the moment he found out who he was, that there was a purpose for everything. Even if it had been ridiculously excruciating being kept away like that, it gave him knowledge.

Hibari said nothing at this.

Only, easing his breath in then out slowly. "After that time away I became conscious of what I experiencing. It was new, foreign, I didn't understand it. That matrimony ceremony. Of the infant and Gokudera Hayato's sister, in that garden, I...I felt things that I thought once long ago was a cruel punishment, a thing that made you weak and foolish. I had succumbed to temptation and allowed myself to be with you that night, allowed myself things that I knew I couldn't have."

Tsuna didn't understand where this was going. Weren't they talking about Varia just now?

"I wanted you, I realized," Hibari whispered, "I wanted you and I knew I couldn't have you."

There was silence as the words couldn't sink into what Tsuna thought it was. Because there was no way, it wasn't possible. "It was why," Hibari said, voice rising in speed and volume with conviction, "That night, I resolved in taking what I wanted. I told you that I never wanted you as a friend."

It felt like a slap to the face.

He was convinced, that Hibari meant something much more, but now here they were, putting up that wall again. "Hibari..."

"I'm not letting you go." He said simply, very suddenly once more.

"What?" Tsuna was confused at the sudden turn of conversation. It was turning quickly from subject to subject, and he was having a hard time keeping up. It was as if Hibari was only saying whatever came first in his rapid trail of thoughts.

"To the Millefiore. You're not going. You will not go." Hibari fisted his hands at his sides, uncrossing his arms. "I won't let you go. You didn't live this far to become this. It's not in your nature. You're meant to be something above that." Hibari began pacing, while looking at Tsuna, like an animal. "I have made my resolve long ago. At first I believed that letting you acknowledge who you are was beneficial. Now, I do not think the same." He stopped in front of Tsuna. "You will live. You will go to your father and both of you will return to Namimori."

For a moment, Tsuna was close to the temptation of letting Hibari control him, letting him go see his dad. The man was willing to keep him alive, much to Tsuna's relief. He was almost frightened that Hibari was going to make him march him to his death. But then he realized, once again, why he couldn't go with Hibari's proposal. "No."

Hibari looked like he hadn't heard him or at least, hadn't comprehended it.

"I said no." Tsuna said, standing up, "Hibari if I don't go then you'll die. Not only you, everyone will. The Vongola, the CEDEF, the Kokuyo, even the Varia and Millefiore. Everyone in Cielo will die." He would refuse. He wouldn't be chained down like this. Even if he was afraid of it, even if he didn't want to, he had to. Because if he didn't Hibari would die.

Hibari listened in fuming silence until, "Why? Why would you do this for a place that has caused nothing but grief to you? Your father is waiting for you. I know how changed you are. Why do you fight for this place? Why would you give your own life for it?"

"This is your home! This is your world, Hibari! Why would you not let me go?" Tsuna then gritted out, "It's because you're a cloud-flame, isn't it? You think that places like home and love are irrelevant?" It was a low hit. He knew it but, "We can't keep pretending. I can't go back to the way I was. Let the end begin and be done with it. I think it's time you realize that there are more things out there than protecting me. Once I'm gone, you can finally be free. You can live and be your own self! Don't you want that?" If he were to be completely honest, Tsuna didn't want that. He wanted it, but he wanted to be with him. But as long as Tsuna was here, Hibari would forever be inclined to protect him.

He had to cut those ropes loose.

Hibari turned his eyes to the floor, boring a hole on the wooden planks. "...I can't age."

There was a bout of silence.

"Come again?" Tsuna asked.

"I cannot age." He said again, louder.

He immediately began to feel as if he was mentally incapacitated. And then Tsuna realized, belatedly, that yes, Hibari hadn't changed at all. He had grown so used to seeing the man, seeing him the way he was now, that he hadn't realized that the man hadn't turned a day older than he had the first time he met him. Tsuna struggled to think of a reply, only making out a quiet, "What?"

"I have lived. For a very long time," Hibari said lowly.

Another pause.

"Hibari-san," Tsuna asked hesitantly, his anger ebbing away. Unable to think of a delicate way to go about this, he decided to put it out there bluntly, "Why...?"

"The curse." Hibari replied, "Time...has stopped for me when I turned of the age twenty-five. When the sky disappeared, we became unable to grow and age any further. Like a flower, they cannot grow taller or bigger than they are without the sun." The boogie man turned away, "I'm fine with ending my life. I have lived long. I have had plenty of opportunities to do things I have wanted, and I have. It's my time now. But you," Hibari looked at Tsuna. Gentle, almost, "You need time. You need it more than anyone. And you can have it."

It wasn't fair, Tsuna thought, on the verge of tears, it wasn't fair that Hibari would tell him this. It was fair that he would use that tone on him. And the fact that Tsuna has been worrying about time, had Hibari noticed it? "Do you understand now?" Hibari asked, gently."I never wanted you to change, I only wanted you to stay the way you were, to be safe and ignorant of the world's hardships."

The boogie man reached across the wide space between them and stepped closer. He put a hand behind the back of his head, and the other hand at his back. "To stay a herbivore. I wanted you to need me. And when I saw you, ride back on that herbivore's animal, all by yourself, with no assistance from anyone but yourself...I...I felt like I was no longer needed. That is why, when we returned here...I tried to distance myself, to make the separation easier for us." And he realized, with a choke, that Hibari was hugging him.

And it wasn't the fact that this was the first time the man had done so willingly that made Tsuna's tears slip, but the fact that it felt so much like goodbye. With an edge of desperation, he threw his arms around Hibari, startling the man, who drew his hug tighter. "That's not true," Tsuna whispered, "I'll always need you. Changed as I am, I will always need you."

Hibari pulled back slightly to stare, "Promise me," he said roughl, "Promise me that you'll go home with Sawada Iemitsu and remain alive. Do not do it."

I'm sorry, Tsuna thought with a violent spasm in his chest, watching something like a faint smile lift itself on Hibari's lips, I'm saying goodbye, but I'm still going. I'm sorry. You'll live. You'll live. I'll even try to get that aging curse lifted before I go, even if I don't know how. "I promise." Tsuna whispered back, lying softly.

The moment was broken when they heard shouts of panic from downstairs.

The two jerked in the embrace, shakily stepping back from each other, hands lingering at the other's sides before breaking away. They listened tensely as footfalls, loud and urgent, stomped up the stairs, ran down the hallway and reached their door. "Kyouya! Tsuna!" It was Dino, who knocked, practically pounded at the door, voice apprehensive, "The Millefiore—It's Byakuran and the Funeral Wreaths, they're coming this way!"

Already? Tsuna was confused on how fast they had arrived. He was so sure that it would have been much later in the day. Both agreeing silently, the two only exchanged quick looks and wasted no time in wrenching open the door and following Dino down the stairs.

"Reborn!" Tsuna called, skidding to a halt in front of the baby, who stood at the end of the banister. The others were gathered around, all crowding into the entrance of the Acrobaleno house. There were loud exchanges over each other as they considered their plans of defense. There was the Kokuyo, not afraid of giving their own suggestions, and Gokudera and was wondering if he should go get Uni and go to Alato together before Reborn answered,

"Tsuna," Reborn acknowledged. He did not beat around the bush, instantly in action, "I have a plan." He turned to Basil. "Basil," then to Chrome, "Chrome. I need you two to go into town posing as Tsuna and Uni while they escape."

"No," Tsuna protested immediately, then more stronger, "No!" The others turned to him. "I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me!" Uni looked as if she was going to say the same thing, had Tsuna not beaten her to it first.

"They won't go alone," Reborn said. He turned to Hibari, "You and Gamma will accompany them. Everyone knows that both of you will follow Tsuna and Uni anywhere. They're more likely to fall for the guise. Are you okay with that?" Tsuna was even slightly more concerned. But with Hibari and Gamma, he knew the two would be safe. Both men nodded. Both looking more at Uni and Tsuna than Reborn himself. Reborn turned to Gokudera, Dino and the Kokuyo, "Are you all alright with defending this place in case something goes wrong?"

Silence met his answer and Reborn took that as a yes. He looked to the decoys and Uni and Tsuna, "I need you four to change clothes, so Chrome here doesn't have to use most of her illusions. It would be beneficial if you didn't use any at all. I heard their Millefiore illusionist is powerful enough to easily dispel any false deceptions without much effort."

"I'm also an illusionist," Mukuro said and it spoke for itself: powerful than any, was the silent words that followed.

But Reborn shook his head in decline, "I need you to be with Uni and Tsuna." Hibari snarled before Mukuro could further comment, but Tsuna put a hand to the man's forearm and the snarling stopped, distracted by Tsuna's touch.

Ignoring the now-stifled air, the infant addressed everyone in the room, "This...may be the last we see of each other. I want all of you to be careful. Don't let your guard down for a second."

And Reborn left, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

Tsuna was about to comment to Hibari, of what he wasn't sure, but a tug in his arm momentarily distracted him. Basil stared with his unusually blue eyes sadly at him, and he noticed belatedly that Chrome and Uni had already gone upstairs. He followed quickly up the stairs, at Basil's heels, sending glances at Hibari, who he noticed had been doing the exact same thing.

The two girls already occupied another room and Tsuna stumbled ahead to herd Basil in his. They were already stripping as they crossed the threshold, throwing their shirts on the bed. Tsuna kicked off his shoes and socks and barefooted, immediately went to his all but bare cabinet, which only held the dress trousers and blazer he had worn in Varia. He buttoned up the shirt with fumbly fingers and wrenched on the black tie,nearly wringing his neck in the process. He looked at Basil, who had all but finished already. He was wearing Tsuna's orange sneakers, his favorites ones, and already had his jeans on.

"All the Millefiore know is that they're searching for a boy with outlandish clothes, presumably that the Prince of Spades is from the other side." Basil looked at him thoughtfully, "We're about the same height, Sawada-dono. I doubt they'll look for my face, but just in case..." Basil tugged his hoodie on, pulling it low over his give-away eyes.

Nodding once, the two departed the room and was surprised to find the girls outside. Chrome was dressed in the same white elegant drapes Uni had been wearing, even going as far as to wear Uni's hat.

"It's my trademark," Uni said, and Tsuna was shocked by the amazing amount of long dark green hair that tumbled down her shoulders, he had always assumed Uni had short hair, but the hat must have hidden the most of it. As she spoke, Uni pulled her hair into a low pony tail that trailed behind her back in skinny strands, "Many people know me by my headdress. It's rare I ever go without it in public." Despite this, Uni seemed to be comfortable in her shorts and blouse. Her boots clicked as she led the way downstairs, immediately zeroing in to Gamma's side. The man, naturally, unconsciously, slipped a hand over her shoulder.

Gamma opened the door, Uni still at his side, as they followed behind him to the outside. Hibari was flanking his own side, abandoning his silent mission on sending antagonizing stares to Mukuro, who distractedly was speaking lowly to Chrome as they briskly walked far behind. Instead he favored in exchanging gazes with Tsuna. Their eyes flitted to each other once in a while, almost as if to check that the other was real and still there. Hibari studied Tsuna's face clandestinely, trying to analyze the face and emotions of the person that puzzled him so much. This very same person had caused him to worry, to care without any effort at all.

Basil was at his other side, and didn't even looked the least bit nervous in throwing himself out there, risking his life for Tsuna. He gritted his teeth and tried not to think about it, but the regret and guilt was there. If only it was him instead, he wouldn't have minded so much. They had to confront Byakuran some time.

When they reached the gates, Hibari brought out his motorcycle, which was still leaning snugly on his brakes, from beside the porter's house. Dino and Reborn was already there, both watching with no mirth in their eyes as they crowded in closer. Dino had a horse ready for Gamma and Chrome and the Chiavarone boss gave the blonde man the reins. "Be careful out there, you four. The Millefiore are desperate and would do anything necessary to get their hands on the royals. I can't guarantee what would happen to Chrome or Basil if they are caught."

"Good luck everyone," Reborn said, "Come back when the time is right. Remember, your job is steer their direction away from here. When all else fails, Uni and Tsuna will have to escape with Mukuro as backup."

The porter, whose name was Giovanni, a heavy-setted man who Tsuna had believed was exuberant and carefree, wore a look of dead seriousness as he spoke, "I'll open the gates whenever you all are ready. I suggest you hurry though, I got wind that the Millefiore has already set this town up as their next target."

Uni hugged Gamma tightly, pushing her face into the man's chest. They pulled back slightly so that Gamma could hold the girl's face in his hands. They stared at each other, saying nothing. Chrome was exchanging goodbyes with Mukuro and, the Kokuyo, who Tsuna hadn't noticed following them. Basil was speaking to Dino and Reborn, shaking hands with them. Tsuna turned to Hibari, and the man, surprisingly, looked helpless.

"Don't give that look," Tsuna whispered, reaching up to squeeze at Hibari's shoulder. "You'll be fine. But you have to take care of Basil and Chrome, you hear me?"

"No," Hibari said roughly, shaking his head, "If I fail...then you, you will be in the line of fire." The man closed his eyes, staving off the horrible possibility, "If they get you...I would not be able to forgive myself for as long as I will live."

Tsuna smiled, sadly, "Then don't fail." He felt guilty as he said the next words, "Promise me something?"

Hibari said nothing, staring at Tsuna with tired eyes.

"Promise me that you'll come back safely. Come back here safely, that's all I ask." Tsuna bit his lip, to distract himself from the regret, because he knew that Hibari would keep this promise. But Tsuna would not keep the one Hibari made for him. "I'll be waiting right here, okay?"

"I'll be back." Hibari said, he nodded to Giovanni, who scurried back into the porter house and stood next to the gate's controls. Gamma had mounted the brown horse with white speckles, Chrome wrapping her arms tightly around his middle. Hibari swung one leg over his motorcycle, and paused to let Basil scramble up behind him. The boy made sure his hood was on low once more. Chrome was tucking her purple strands under the hat, making sure no stray give-aways were present.

Uni was pressed to Tsuna's side, not bothering in hiding her tears, she dabbed at them futilely, but more kept springing up right after. Her watery gaze was glued on Gamma and Tsuna's was likewise fixed on Hibari. With a punch of a button, Giovanni opened the doors with an ominous mixtures of clicks of machinery and creaking from both wood and grinding stone.

Hibari looked one last time at him and with a roar of the motor engine, he shot off to the distance, Gamma's horse galloping closely behind.

AN: Merry Christmas everyone! I bet you all probably opened your gifts before reading this, I would too! Hope I was able to convey stuff through Hibari's point of view and making it in-character. I wrote and rewrote it so many times, I'm not sure anymore. I just recently found out that the ending of Boogie Man could be further away than I thought. I tend to make things more complicated for myself and managed to turn a single concept into 11,000 words. But I do have a ending in mind, one I'm sure that will appease to all of you whether you support Tsuna becoming part of Cielo's sky or not.

EnglishNight has also made a lovely fanart of Tsuna discovering his flame: ( http :/ englishnight. deviantart. com/#/d4jtuae )

There is a fan soundtrack made for Boogie Man! With an awesome-socks album cover! It's my Christmas gift to you all including this chapter! Here is more info/instructions and the direct download links to mediafire and megaupload: ( jikage. tumblr. com/post/14637123759/direct-download-link-is-here-in-mediafire-direct )

Enjoy the soundtrack! Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!