Hey everyone! I'm hoping that everyone has been waiting for this chapter! I'm so excited to see how you all feel about it. So, I guess you could say that Hibari and Tsuna are somewhat hitting their romantic stage, but not quite just yet. They'll realize when the time comes, heh. Anywho, please read and review my story, and most of all enjoy!

-Butterfly Daydreams

-Chapter 11-

'We're going out to eat? And he's paying?' What exactly was Hibari thinking? Normally, from what Tsuna knew, the disciplinary head would send Kusakabe out to buy him food instead of him having to go out and get it himself. It was weird, but he guessed it was Hibari's way of trying to make things more comfortable between them. Tsuna himself knew there was an awkward rift that was slowly widening between the two, and although he didn't have that much of a relation with the prefect aside from him being his Cloud Guardian, and at the moment, his boss of sorts, but at the same time, he couldn't fathom why there even was a rift in the first place. 'Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. I mean, Hibari asking me to go out and eat with him is pretty weird, but maybe it really is only to go out and eat. Maybe he doesn't like going out to public places like that? Oh right! He absolutely hates crowds and normally attacks anyone who he feels is crowding around him.' Huffing as followed behind the prefect, he stared at his back. They had been walking around Namimori for about ten minutes already. 'He really is a loner, isn't he? I wonder if he ever feels lonely behind all of that tough exterior..' Not paying attention as he spaced out, he walked into Hibari's back. Jumping back, he saw that Hibari was looking on ahead to one of the very few American restaurants. 'Hibari likes American food? That's surprising.'

Hibari stared off into the burger joint, contemplating whether or not he should go in there. It was filled with a huge amount of people, unfortunately, but there happened to be perfect seating at the far back of the place, away from the most part of the other customers. Turning back to the smaller boy, he nodded his head in the direction of the place as an indicator that he had chosen this place as a place to eat. 'Not that I've really had American food before. I actually only remember having it all of two times.' Hibari shook his head unconsciously at his thoughts. 'Hopefully this place is good, and this one over here better like it, or I'll Bite him to death.' Opening the door, he immediately felt the cultural difference as soon as he took in the store's décor. The tiles were black and white patterned, the ordering counter had steel stools with red seats all around it. And the juke box was as neon as one could imagine. It was retro, but thankfully quiet and looked comfortable. 'Perhaps I'll try a..strawberry milkshake after eating?' Maybe eating here wasn't such a bad idea after all. And then he'd realized something that he hadn't before.

Sitting on the counter, taking orders was no other than Colonello. Smiling cheerfully as a woman finished relaying her order, he looked over to the door to greet his newest customers. Noticing it was Hibari that had decided to visit, he smiled at the prefect knowingly, and called him over. Sighing, Hibari complied. 'Hopefully he won't say anything that'd blow this whole plan up. Although I think he has more sense than that, anyhow.' Finally reaching the counter, Colonello greeted Hibari with a pat on the shoulder. Irked by the sudden feeling of being crowded, he casually brushed off Colonello's hand and greeted him with a nod of his head. Turning towards the seats that he had intended to sit on, he heard the baby call him back.

"What brings you here Hibari? I never thought that anyone within the family would even find this place. They tend to stick to their Italian and Japanese food clicks. I myself prefer a good old American burger. Hell, I even look American." Laughing at his own joke, he laughed to the point of nearly choking himself to death. Hibari just stood there, not finding the joke comedic at all, and waited for the baby to stop choking. Colonello, red in the face from both laughing and choking, and possibly a mixture of embarrassment abruptly turned around and began to prepare the ground beef for Hibari's burger. Hibari noticed, and had to inform him that Tsuna was also there, and to put another burger on the grill for him. He was surprised that Colonello hadn't acknowledged the little boss, or maybe it was because he had been so quiet that he didn't realize he was there. It was a little unusual, but maybe he'd come around to talking when they finally sat down to eat. Colonello, shifting himself in such a way that he could see Tsuna behind Hibari, gave him a casual wave. "Yo, Tsuna. You and Hibari are eating out together? Is this like a date or something?" Never in his life had Colonello expected to see a shadow of a blush creep onto the Cloud Guardian's face. Tsuna, well, he was red to the point the Colonello thought it could be borderline unhealthy. Neither of the boys looked at eachother, and neither denied or confirmed it. Scratching the back of his neck, he felt a little sorry for the two. 'I probably just messed up their lunch. They're barely going to speak to each other, I can practically smell the awkward coming off of these two.' Trying to laugh it off, he continued, "Aha, I was only kidding you two, no need to take me seriously. Anyways, what do you guys like as toppings? Or would you rather me just set you two up with what I think you guys would like best?" Finally, that got the two boys to look at each other. Deciding quietly with each other, both looked at Colonello and nodded in agreement. "Okay then boys, you go on and have a seat. I'll bring the food to you both when it's done." And with that he turned around, paying attention to his cooking once again, in hopes that the awkwardness would gradually fade before the food was done.

Tsuna was at a loss for words. That had to have been one of the most awkwardest moments he had ever been in so far in his life. He could barely look at the prefect right now, let alone sit directly in front of him. Unfortunately, since Hibari had decided to sit in the far corner away from people, the table happened to be only a two-seater. Grumbling at his unluckiness, he turned around slightly in his seat to take in the place. It was nice, he liked it a lot, and the juke box was practically a mini-rainbow within the place. He liked the classic rock that came out of it as well. What was even more surprising was that Colonello owned this place. He had figured that Colonello was more for Italian food than American food. Tsuna himself has never had American food, so it'd be his first time eating a burger. Realization dawned on him. 'Crap. How do I even eat a burger? Do I cut it was a knife and fork? I rarely even have to use forks and knives. I use chopsticks on a daily basis! Aside from that, does Hibari even know how to eat a burger? Maybe I'll just ask Colonello when he gets here with our food.' Speaking of Hibari, he hadn't really spoken since Colonello had mentioned that they were out on a date. Looking over at the Raven, he noticed that he wasn't really paying attention to anything. Normally constantly sharp and overly aware, Hibari was spacing out, staring at the strawberry milkshake picture on the menu. 'Perhaps he wants one? Maybe this would be a good conversation starter.'

Hibari was livid, to say the least. Colonello had stupidly put him into a situation that he had so desperately wanted to avoid. Now that it was just he and Tsuna sitting at the table, it felt as though there was an elephant that was slowly growing in size between the two of them. Tsuna just sat there uncomfortably, twiddling his thumbs, while he continued to stare off at the strawberry milkshake photo. 'How can I start talking to him without it being awkward?' Not realizing that Tsuna was about to speak, he jumped inwardly with surprise when he meekly asked, "Does Hibari-San want to buy a milkshake?" He guessed that meant the Tsuna had been watching him. Shifting uncomfortably under Tsuna's curious gaze, Hibari merely gave a grunt as a response, looking at the milkshake once again afterwards. Looking at the boy, he noticed that he seemed disappointed.

Tsuna tried, and Tsuna failed. That was by far the most horrible attempt he had ever made in his life. Hibari barely acknowledged him, and what's worse is that it seemed as though a photo of a freaking milkshake had more of his attention than the person in front of him! Tsuna couldn't tell if he was upset because he wasn't being payed any attention to, or if it was because it was the person who asked him to come out that was bothering him. 'If he really wanted to remain silent the whole time, he shouldn't have asked me to come with him.' Tsuna began to feel the angry heat in his cheeks rise as he huffed. He could've been in school right now, with Gokuder and Yamamoto. Instead, he was here, feeling as awkward as ever, with Hibari Kyoya. He could've listed over a thousand things he'd rather have been doing at the moment. 'Maybe I should just relax. I should have known that Hibari wasn't going to be speaking all that much anyways. While he was huffing in his own thoughts, he had failed to realize that Colonello had set out the cooked burgers with fries in front of them, and had already left. 'Crap, how am I going to learn how to eat this now? I don't want to disturb Colonello while he's with a customer.' Looking down at his food, he inwardly drooled. The food smelled extremely good. He just didn't want to eat it improperly. Slightly clearing his throat, he looked towards Hibari for the answers. "Do you know how to eat this right Hibari-San?"

Hibari had been so engrossed with his food that he barely heard the Herbivore ask him how to eat his burger. "Well, there's two different ways to eat it, if I'm recalling correctly. It's considered okay to pick up the hamburger with your hands and eat it, since it's considered a 'finger food'. You could also cut it with a knife and fork, although it's not as much of a common sight as eating it with your hands. Would you like me to cut it for you?" Not waiting for Tsuna's answer, he got up, and stood behind Tsuna's seat.

'Oh my God, Hibari's helping me eat. Am I dreaming? Why is it always me that has to encounter these extremely awkward situations. I think I know how to cut things with a knife and fork, he doesn't have to help me.' Tsuna's mind immediately went blank when he felt Hibari's back pressed up against his and saw his long arms come around both sides of his body. Cutting in the burger, Hibari softly instructed Tsuna in the ways of cutting a burger without having the condiments fall out of it. Tsuna's ears were turning red, he felt the heat. Hibari's warm breath and soft voice against his ear was not what he expected to happen. And what's more was his scent. It washed all over him, and it was a rather pleasant scent. It smelled as though Hibari wore cologne, which was more surprising to say the least. But it wasn't an overbearing scent. And then it happened. He saw Hibari stab one of the many cut pieces of burger and bring it to his lips. "Open your mouth Herbivore."

'Somebody, please, save me from this nightmare!'