oooOooo

"Celina..." he called out.

"Yeah, lil' bro?"

"Why do you watch that?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Reborn?"

"Yeah."

"Pft. You're too young to know." She grinned.

"I'm seven and you're watching cartoon."

"Hey! It's not cartoon! There's a big difference between cartoon and anime!" She pouted.

"... big sis, mom said you watched this 'anime' since you were five. Why can't I know why you like watching a baby torture a thirteen year old?"

If she could sweat drop, she would have already.

oooOooo

"... lil' bro..."

"... hm?" he hummed with a tint of sadness.

Celina sobbed, clutching her brother's cold and smaller hand in hers. His condition had deteriorated these past few days and even without the doctor saying anything.

They knew—they all knew— that he woouldn't last any longer. Two months at most, three weeks at least.

"Do you wanna know why?"

At first, her brother adorned a confused expression on his pale, pale face before smiling (it pains her to see her brother force himself to smile just for her, even though it pains him to do the action) and nodded.

His once vibrant eyes were now dull, like those of her dolls decorating her room.

"... w-why?"

"... because somehow, you're like the main character."

"... Celina... I'm not clumsy..."

"N-No, it's not that. You don't realize it but you draw people in. People surround you; they want to be near you."

"... I... don't understand, Celina."

"How do I put this? Even though you're not as outgoing as me or as optimistic as Sarah, you manage to make friends with people who don't want friends. Remember Kyle?"

"Uh huh."

"He's your best friend. Even though he's a difficult person to deal with and despite him saying that friends are burdens, he became friends with you. I was fascinated, really. How similar you are with a fictional character."

"Celina?"

"Yeah, lil' bro?"

"... I love you."

"I love you too, Cecil."

Her words were filled with love.

oooOooo

Cecil Isles

July 1, 20*-December 25, 20*

A beloved brother and son

"Don't mourn; I'll haunt you if you do."

oooOooo

Hibari Kyoya hated crowding, even at the age of five. So, he searched for an abandoned place or a park without too many people.

At the age of five, he was already a bloodthirsty person, seeking fights with the local yakuza despite his lack of training.

He acts before he thinks, he knew that it was his weakness but he didn't bother. None could even compare to his strength, well, at least he thought no one did.

At the age of nine, he saw her. She had short, choppy white hair, alabaster skin, and big, round crimson eyes.

She was small, smaller than him and she wore red from head to toe that it was a bit unnerving. But he was a Hibari, being unnerved was not acceptable.

It wasn't her appearance that caught his attention, however; it was the stick in her hand.

No, it was no ordinary stick but a short metallic pole.

He was quite a distance away and had hidden in the foliage the leaves on the tree had given him. Observing from afar wasn't his thing but he didn't regret it. Why? Because he found his new prey.

The girl with alabaster skin. She was trained; her moves were graceful. She wasted no unnecessary moves. She moved with purpose, with a goal. Aim for that vital point.

He was mesmerized, not that he would admit it to anyone.

Once those herbivores that surrounded her were sprawled on the ground, he landed on his feet silently and approached the girl with a predatory expression.

"Go to hell." He stopped, as gray eyes met crimson ones. The herbivores around her twitched, forced themselves to stand, and run away in fear, shrieking.

He smirked. Walking away, he couldn't help but think, 'How interesting', ignoring the lingering gaze on his back.

At age ten, he found out that she went to Namimori Elementary. She was a second grader while he was in his fourth year.

Despite her foreign physical features, he couldn't find her in school grounds, frustrating him to no end.

He saw her again, at age eleven, when he was starting the disciplinary committee he wishes to enforce in Nami-chu once he reached Middle School.

The gymnasium was closed that day because of renovations when he heard grunts and groans coming from inside.

For disturbing the peace, he would bite those herbivores to death. But the sight surprised him, though he's not willing to admit it.

He was stunned; her movements were even more graceful. The short metallic pole she once used was now half a foot longer than her.

Every swipe, every step, every hit resembled a dance. Hibari Kyoya was fascinated beyond belief.

The herbivores fell to their knees, bruises and cuts littered their body. The girl stood at the center, a smirk adorning her pink lips. "Go to hell."

It sent shivers down his spine and it was only when he took a better look, that he realized that the person he kept referring to a girl had actually been a boy.

She— HE wore the male uniform, his face more masculine than he last saw the alabaster-skinned. Once again, he fascinated Kyoya, though he would never admit it out loud.

At the age of twelve, as the day of graduation comes to an end, he finally builds the Disciplinary Committee, its members his loyal followers.

On the first day of middle school, he visited the Namimori Elementary early in the morning to find that person beating up high school students by the field.

Kyoya smirked. He couldn't wait for that person to enter Nami-chu. He waited until he knew that that person raised his already high physical stat.

Hibari Kyoya can't wait to bite that person to death.

oooOooo

Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion wasn't always Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion. He had been someone else before, someone with a loving sister, a loving mother, and an overprotective father.

Someone with a whole family.

As Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion, he didn't have anyone. He grew up in an orphanage and the headmaster — a man who knew martial arts — had taken a liking to him.

He was trained, and he put his all — everything that he had bottled up, all the frustration, the anger, the sadness, all of it — in his training.

As a four-year-old who knows none and has slightly uncooperative limbs, he could get through the training with little difficulty.

And as a seven-year-old with unnatural physical appearance, he was bullied.

His training had been a blessing; he was able to defend himself against those bullies. He was happy.

At night, he would dream of Celina, the last person, family member, friend, sister that he saw before death caught up to him.

At morning, he would train — train until he let out all his frustration and sadness out or until his body gives up, whichever comes first.

Training and fighting were ways — his medium — to let his bottled up emotions out, so he didn't have to hide it all in.

So he wouldn't self-destruct. All was good; he steadily rose in the ranks in his class and kept up with the headmaster's training regime.

And then, he met him.

The person — the fictional character that Celina was head over hills with — that he was compared to in the past.

Even though he couldn't see what Celina saw in Sawada Tsunayoshi that was similar to him, Cecil Isles, he couldn't help but feel like he was a butterfly being attracted to a flower.

He observed him from afar. He didn't know whether he should approach him or not because Sawada Tsunayoshi had once been a fictional character.

But the boy was sitting by the swings at the park, very much alive. It was scary. Outright terrifying. Why was he here?

It was supposed to be a cartoon — anime — that his sister watched. Though, really, he had to accept his new reality.

This was a lie.

But he knew that it wasn't the case.

He died and was born in a universe that wasn't supposed to exist, a universe which Celina loves.

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

He was no saint that he was sure of. He's not kind to others, only to his family but what family was he talking about?

He was no longer an Isles but a Hakucho.

He was no saint, and he didn't like to barge in other's business. So pray tell why did he interfere and chased away Sawada's bullies?

"Are you alright?" he asked. "Why didn't you run or fight back?" He bit back his tongue. It came out harsher than he intended.

The boy flinched, whimpered, and stepped back. He sighed. His crimson eyes softened and his body relaxing.

The boy didn't speak, his patience running thin. In both lives, he didn't like being ignored. When he asks a question, an answer must be spoken.

"Are you or are you not alright?" The Sky flinched, the Hail sighing. Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion refused to be ignored

"Hieeee!"

The Sky fell on his buttocks, the Hail kneeling down like a prince to its princess. "It's okay, I won't hurt you. I apologize if I was too harsh. Are you alright?"

Big brown innocent eyes pierced ice-cold heart, enveloping him with familiar warmth that had been lost for years.

"... I-I'm okay. Tsu-Tsu-kun is okay."

"Well, Tsu-kun, I'm Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion."

"Ha-Haku-Hakucho wha—?"

Laughter was restrained, cheeks were pink. "Why don't you call me Hyo, Tsu-kun?"

"Hy-Hyo?"

"Hm."

"Th-Then, H-Hyo-san, Ts-Tsu-kun's name i-is S-Sawada Tsu-Tsunayoshi b-but you can c-call me T-Tsuna. I-It's nice to m-meet you, H-Hyo-san."

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

They were seated by the bench, Tsuna's wounds being treated by him. They were only minor scratches, so it wasn't a big deal.

The bandages on his person would be enough to treat Tsuna. "Why were they bullying you, Tsuna?" he asked.

Sky fidgeted, Hail kept him still. "Ts-Tsu-kun's dame a-and e-everyone m-makes f-fun of m-me. Th-They say Ts-Tsu-kun c-can't do a-anything ri-right."

Hyo stopped moving, his bangs shadowing over his face.

"Lies."

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

"Huh?"

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

"Those are lies, Tsuna. Do not believe what anyone says so easily."

"B-But..."

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

"You make your own person, not them. You decide whether you stay the same as you are now or grow stronger as a person."

(The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.)

"Wh-What do you mean, Hyo-san?"

His lips curved slightly at the edges as he kissed Tsuna's bandaged knee, just like how Celina did it.

"You shall understand someday. Now, go home, it's getting late."

He watched as the boy with pink cheeks leave, waving at him shyly. Hakucho 'Hyo' Shion smiled.

Sawada Tsunayoshi was... adorable.

At the age of seven, they became friends.

At the age of eight, he saw it fit to send those fools to hell for making fun of his friend.

He didn't regret it. Not. A. Single. But.

oooOooo

The Hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.

It takes one moment and too many tries

To eliminate those fools who dare flies

Too close to his beloved Sky

oooOooo

Age Ten

"Carnivore."

He stopped, adjusting the grocery bags on his arms. Steel gray eyes stared right through his crimson ones. What Hibari-senpai was doing at the market, he wondered.

"Good afternoon, senpai. What do I owe you today?"

Hyo smiled like he always does. Hibari's eyes flickered to him then to his grocery bags before he grabbed half of what he was carrying and walked away.

Baffled, his legs automatically followed after his senpai. Hibari had only been integrated into his life a few weeks ago when the Cloud confronted him in front of the elementary.

Cloud's eyes flickered to the back before flickering to his front. Hyo tilted his head and wondered what the Cloud wanted.

"Do you want a spar, senpai?"

"Hn." No.

"Burger steak?"

"Hn." No.

"Then, what is it, Hibari-senpai? You only come when you want what I mentioned."

"... accompany me on my patrol."

Curious but he nodded. Upon seeing him agreeing, Hibari Kyoya felt accomplished and smug. Once they reached the orphanage, Hyo let his upperclassman enter as well. The kids were taking their nap so he's certain that no one would be bitten to death.

The pair placed what the Hail bought by the kitchen counter and left as silently as when they entered. Hibari's presence was like the plague, everyone avoids him. The Cloud was impatient; he couldn't wait for Hail to attend Nami-chu so he had sought him out.

He was astonished, the alabaster-skinned boy improved fast and he couldn't restrain himself any longer, he wanted to bite him to death. So he attacked, the Hail unprepared and didn't bring his weapon. Crimson widened in shock, its owner jumping back, his bag of groceries ripping, letting its contents fall.

It was their first meeting.

After a few hours of patrolling, a group of thugs made themselves known, causing disruption in the marketplace. They forced the store owners to give them free food, and Hibari didn't like those herbivorous thugs disrupting the peace of his Namimori.

Silver glinted under his sleeves, "For disrupting the peace of Namimori, I will bite you to death." He charged. The thugs, taken by surprise, were easily hit on their face, stomach, chest, shoulders. Each hit causing a grunt. Hibari swung his right tonfa, slamming his silver rod on the thug's head.

He didn't let the others go away, no, he would make sure that each one of them received proper punishment. The fight was boring as to be expected, they weren't Carnivores, after all. "St-Stop!" Cloud kneed another, letting the latter fall on his knees in pain. Steel gray eyes found themselves staring at a scene that made him scoff.

The last of the herbivores had taken a hostage, a pocket knife pressed against the hostage's neck, drawing a thin line of blood. "I-I'll slit her throat if you mo-move!" He scoffed. Does he truly think this kind of thing would stop him? A glint of metal caught his eye, smirking. The slight curve of his lips unnerved the herbivore.

"I'll send you to hell." The thug glanced at the boy in his arms, letting him go, and stepping back in fear upon hearing him speak. "And for your information, I'm a boy, you insolent fool." Something small and round planted itself on his stomach, causing him to violently cough from the sudden force.

A long metal hit him on his nape, making him kneel with eyes wide in pain, saliva dripping from his open mouth. Hyo curved his lips, a smile bordering on the line of innocent and sadistic. "Know your place, peasant." A leg swiftly swept and knocked him on his back.

Hyo huffed, placing his metallic pole on his back, a weapon holder strapped around his waist. Facing the Cloud with a smile, he said, "Shall we continue, senpai?" and made the Cloud smirk in a predatory expression. "Hn."

Honestly, he couldn't wait until Hail went to Nami-chu.

The next time Cloud saw him, Hail was wielding a naginata. The ishizuki (the butt end of his weapon) stroked down an opponent, the monouchi (the sharp - blade - side) glinting under the sunlight. His bloodlust contaminating the air, he pulled out his tonfas and attacked.

Hail's laughter became his fuel and hit harder, thrust harder and moved faster. However, they were on equal grounds. Despite the long reach the Naginata allowed him, Hibari's natural skills allowed him to evade the monouchi most of the times.

"Senpai, I will be late for class. That fool already took a fraction of my time." But his words were ignored as Hibari aimed for his cheek, barely dodging the carefully aimed tonfa. Hyo sighed, planting the ishizuki on his senpai's side before taking off. "Apologies, senpai! I don't want to be late!"

Hibari stood, holding his side in slight pain. Hyo had attacked him with more force than usual- or was it the alabaster-skinned boy growing stronger? A bloodthirsty smirk found its way on his lips. "I can't wait to bite you to death, Hakucho Shion." Hiding his weapons, he made his way to his precious Nami-chu.

oooOooo

"Tsuna, let's eat lunch together."

Hail said to the Sky. The meek and timid boy glanced up and found his only friend standing in front of him, hands behind his back, a bento gripped in his hands. The clumsy boy nodded and grabbed his bento box. Hail grabbed an unoccupied seat and placed it in front of Tsuna's table.

Hyo's Naginata was a great intimidator to Tsuna's bullies; they didn't dare come any closer whenever Hyo was around Dame-Tsuna. "Are you reading the notes I gave you?" he asked the Sky as he took a bite out of his lunch. The brunette nodded with an excited glint obvious in his eyes.

"Y-Yeah, Hyo-san's notes are really neat and really easy to understand. Tsu-Tsu-kun even managed to get a thirty in his math test this morning." Hyo nodded in approval, his Sky improved, even by a little bit. Silence enveloped them when Tsuna suddenly shrieked.

"H-HIEEE! H-Hibari-san!"

Glancing behind him, there, indeed, was Hibari Kyoya standing behind him, arms folded across his chest, an impatient expression on his normally stoic face. "Carnivore." It was as if it was a reminder. Hyo rummaged through his bag and grabbed another bento. "Here you go senpai. I made it just the way you like it."

Grunting in gratitude, Hibari left with a nod, the crowding students parting like the red sea as he left. Hyo faced Tsuna, who was still in shock that he was able to survive by facing the Demon of Namimori. "Wasn't that an exciting meeting, Tsuna?" Hail smiled and resumed his lunch.

On the other hand, Tsuna stared wide-eyed at his friend and thought, HOW WAS THAT EXCITING? I COULD HAVE DIED JUST BY BEING IN HIS PRESENCE!

"U-Um, y-yeah."

oooOooo

(I spent years in that void. I died when I was eight but suddenly found myself in darkness, the blanket of coldness and nothingness became a fear that I could not overcome. When all of a sudden, I found myself somewhere warm and I was surrounded by books.

With nothing else to do, I read and read and read until out of the blue, a voice spoke and said, "It's time, Cecil." The voice was scarily familiar; it almost sounded like Celina, my beloved sister. It was the only voice, after so many years of being trapped in there that I heard. Being trapped in there, however, made me think, and think I did.)

"Furiage."

Hyo lifted his Naginata overhead and strikes at his imaginary opponent.

"Mochikae."

Hyo swapped grips, giving his Naginata to his left from his right hand, and attacked from a different angle than he did earlier.

"Furikaeshi."

He lifted his weapon over his head and spun it around.

"Kurikomi."

He lowered his Naginata and pulled it in, holding it in the middle, shortening its length and strike down his imaginary enemy.

"Kuridashi."

This time, he extended the length of his Naginata, enabling him to reach a further distance, attacking his imaginary enemy further out.

Hyo lowered his weapon when his master clapped his hands together once. "Good job, Hyo-chan! You really are talented for a ten-year-old." The headmaster chirped and ruffled the white-haired boy's shoulder-length hair. "Don't you want to get a haircut soon? People might mistake you for a girl." Hail shook his head.

"I don't think I have any intention of doing so, Shishou." He smiled, wiped his sweat and drank a bottle of water with three mere gulps. "Again." His Shishou shook his head, exasperation on his feature. "Starting from the last Kata, Kuridashi."

And training he did.

(When the books disappeared, I found myself once again blanketed by coldness — no, warmth and darkness instead of what I was in a few years ago. The walls — since when did this place have walls? — started moving, as if they were trying to push me out. And then, the cold breeze hit me. For years of not being able to feel anything, that breeze terrified me. I cried.)

Cecil hadn't always been a fighter.

He had been a coward once.

Then, he became stronger.

He didn't like how they were bullying him, saying how weird his sister was.

So, he fought back... using words.

After all, words were sharper than swords; they dealt more damage than any other weapon in the world.

Hyo hadn't always been a white-haired boy with crimson eyes.

Once, he had been a boy with brown hair and green eyes.

"Hyo-san?"

Crimson eyes glanced up from his desk and found his Sky standing in front of him, inside his classroom. His cheeks flushed red, eyes staring at his, fingers twirling in nervousness. "L-Let's eat lunch together." Smiling, Hyo ruffled his friend's gravity-defying hair.

"Sure, Tsuna, I would love to."

He loved his Sky more than anyone else, more than himself, more than his life. "D-Do you want some r-riceballs, Hyo-san?" His crimson eyes softened and he gladly accepted the riceball his Sky offered to him. "Do you wish to have some mousse cake then?" Surprisingly and shockingly, the headmaster knew how to bake.

His Sky meekly nodded, he scooped up a piece of his cake and offered to feed his friend. Tsuna flushed red, amusing Hyo to no end. The former took a bite, accepting the offered cake. "How are your studies, Tsuna? Are my notes helpful or should I put more effort?" Sky gulped down the rest of his cake.

And said, "N-No! I-I mean, my studies a-are fine a-and your notes a-are already easy to u-understand." Smiling, Hyo wiped the chocolate cream near Tsuna's mouth, earning him an adorable expression of confusion on his Sky's face. "I'm glad to be of help, Tsuna."

Tsuna had this expression of pure determination, determined to get a higher score on his math test tomorrow. What he didn't realize was his effect on his friend. Tsuna looked absolutely adorable; Hyo noted and wished that he had a camera to take a photo of him. If legal, Hyo would have already kidnapped Tsuna and locked him in his room.

He was just that adorable.

oooOooo

Age Twelve

(A few months passed by when I grabbed hold of what had happened to me. I was reborn and it was a terrifying experience. I was helpless, I couldn't do anything. However, I was glad. The ring Celina gave me - magically - came with me to my new life. At the very least, I had a part of her with me in this strange world.)

Hyo took a glance at his Ring, the one chained around his neck acting like a necklace of some sort. "Celina..." he caressed the ornament as he whispered her name. He could never see her again; never hear her irritating yet soothing voice again. He could never experience her overprotective side ever again.

In truth, he was lonely.

Despite who he was now, he couldn't help but be reminded of the family he left behind.

"Carnivore." Crimson eyes met Steel gray. "For skipping classes with no feasible reason, I will bite you to death." He quickly jumped out of the way. Steel tonfas replaced his previous position, earning himself a click of a tongue from the prefect. It was only a year ago when Hibari built the DC.

The crime rate in Namimori drastically decreased upon the presence of this particular committee into town. Hyo grabbed hold of his Naginata, his body in the position of Kuridashi. He held his weapon near the ishizuki (the butt end of the pole) and made several consecutive strikes at Hibari.

He twirled his Naginata quite a few times to create distance, he was successful and made Hibari take several steps back to evade the monouchi (the blade). "Woa. You've improved, Carnivore." He commented. He saw an opening, used one of his tonfa to stop the twirling pole.

He proceeded to attack, only for it to be dodged by the alabaster-skinned boy by jumping overhead of the prefect. While in midair, he swept a kick, aiming for the Cloud's neck. However, this was evaded, his attack a bit too obvious, yet it served its purpose. It created a distance between them.

"So, I did but you improved as well, senpai. Your attacks are far more vicious than they were a few months ago. Please don't tell me, you're actually trying to incapacitate me." Hyo could feel a drop of sweat drip from his forehead to his chin as he blocked a tonfa aiming for his shoulder.

Hyo proceeded to the stance of Kurikomi. Holding his Naginata near the middle, he made several short strikes at his opponent, the latter barely dodging them because of how quick Hyo was able to perform each strike with grace and power. Two strikes landed on his right shoulder and chest, making him wince in subtle pain.

"Shut up and fight."

Sweat dropping, Hyo nervously chuckled. Maybe it wasn't a great idea to skip today. And because of that, he wouldn't be able to eat lunch with his Sky. He should have thought this through. Hibari's tonfa planted itself in his stomach, earning the former a satisfying groan in his ears. Hibari liked this, this kind of fight that makes his blood boil in anticipation.

In excitement, the two of them exchanged blows for blows, rarely even shielding themselves from each other's vicious and scarily precise attacks. The park they were currently in was being avoided like the plague once they realize that it was Hibari who's one of the fighters.

(From afar, Kusakabe facepalmed. Shouldn't Hibari-san be patrolling right now? He seems to be enjoying their little spar.)

Hail performed Furiage. Hail lifted his Naginata overhead and with one swift movement, he struck down. The monouchi (the blade) sliced through his uniform and nicked his bicep, drawing out blood. An eye for an eye, Hyo thought when Hibari aimed for his cheek, hitting said part with a strength of ten men.

This is gonna bruise... for how many days again? he thought with pursed lips. He didn't like the thought of having a bruise on his face for several days and said injury would make his Sky panic. Making Tsuna panic is not on his list, thank you very much. Hyo twirled his weapon and thrusts the ishizuki (the butt end) to Hibari's stomach.

When it made contact, the Hail smirked.

(The Hail shall bring forth chaos and destruction.)

With three more consecutive strikes and successful blows, Hibari was forced to his knees when the pain in his stomach was too much to handle. Likewise, Hyo fell to his buttocks once adrenaline left him and the pain traveling his body became too much for him to handle.

(However, Hail not only disrupts and breaks peace but also destroys and annihilates chaos caused by others.)

"I apologize, senpai. I shouldn't have skipped." He heard the Cloud grunt. The latter approaching him and throwing his body over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Cloud grabbed the fallen Naginata and proceeded to walk, to where Hyo didn't know.

Though, he was pleasantly surprised to see that his senpai brought him to Namimori Hospital. Hyo smiled, burying his face on his senpai's back. Hmm... senpai smells pleasant, oddly enough. I would have thought he would smell of steel and blood.

oooOooo

Age Thirteen

As Hyo prepared for his first day of middle school, he remembered that he and his Sky agreed to meet at the school entrance. Hail had a slight bounce in each of his step as he trudged his way to Nami-chu. His seven feet long Naginata strapped to his back, the monouchi glinting under the early morning sky.

As he near the school entrance, a familiar silhouette entered his vision. Crimson eyes narrowed in an almost predatory gaze, lips curving in a devilish smirk as his right hand clutched the ishizuki of his weapon. The silhouette wore his gakuran on his shoulders, an armband with gold linings pinned to its sleeves.

There was a familiar glint in his hands; Hyo pulled his Naginata out as Hibari charged at him. He blocked both tonfas with his pole; Hibari's face a ruler s length away from his.

"Good morning, senpai."

"Hn."

Meanwhile, Nami-chu students stared fearfully as the both of them battled it out before classes. Hibari smirked, only for him to notice. Hyo read the hidden message and beamed.

'Welcome to Namimori Middle School, Carnivore.'

oooOooo