A/N: READ. THANKS. LAVENDER. Another preview for you guys! Hope you enjoy and please tell me what you think!

P.S. I will be erasing all the updates so read while you can :)

Preview: Forging bonds and Figurative Speech

"It hurts...kaa-san...outosan..." Rain poured down heavily drenching everything in its wake, sparing nothing—no one—even him. Covered in the branches of the tree he found comfort in, he looked up feeling the harsh downpour on his body. High in the tree, his wet locks covered his face, shielding him from the surrounding, disallowing anyone to see his tear stained face. Why was it that out of all times he could remember, it had to be now? He never wanted to remember, he never wanted to relieve that caged feeling from the past.

"I'm scared, Reborn..." His beautifully sown kimono, delicate in color, and detailed in embroidery, now looked dull and lifeless, just like endless amounts of rags covering his body. His hands hung lifelessly by his sides. Tsuna laughed lowly to himself. Pathetic. It's been two years since then, so why was he still haunted by them? They were long gone but the memories still linger. Everyday grappling him like a shadow, awaiting his one moment's weakness. He knew Reborn helped him, made him want to forget, and he hoped deep inside that it was done and over with, but look at him now. He's shaking out of fear and unable to detach himself from the plaguing memories.

There's no escape for you, young one...

"Maybe, there really isn't." His body felt heavy and in actuality, it really was. With all the layers of this kimono, it wasn't surprising. But even so, his body felt weak, soaked to the core with the cold piercing even to the very bone.

You will never ever be free...

"No...No...STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" The brunet cried out along with the sudden gush of tears. The harsh rain drowning out his screams. No one would be able to help him. No one else could. Impossible.

"Midori tanabiku namimori no~" Eh? Tsuna's brown orbs widened. Something was approaching. A movement on his right and he was met with a yellow ball. Ball? No... Balls don't fly! In his hazy state, he realized that maybe it wasn't a ball after all, but a small fluff ball of a bird. Within moments, it now lay on his lap, staring curiously back at him.

"It seems like I found a lost bird." What? Hesitantly, his gaze shifted from the small bird to the ground below. His eyes widened once again, because the one standing there wasn't the one he's expecting at all. His weakened state seemed renewed with slight fear of the male that stood just meters away from his perch.

"H-Hibari-san?" Said man stepped forward, within his line of vision just directly below him. His eyes cold, nevertheless, less intimidating than they usually were.

"Come down, herbivore." His body trembled, and he shook his head. He didn't want to. He didn't want to remember, and bringing him back would only reawaken what he's trying to put to sleep for so long.

"I can't." Steel-grey eyes narrowed in displeasure, and Tsuna would've shouted his usual 'HIEEE,' if it weren't for the fact that he could hardly feel anything. Come to think of it, his body felt numb for quite a while already. How long was he here? Right, ever since the rain started falling. How long was that? He neither knew nor cared, but he relished the feeling of being unable to feel, even for just a few moments.

"Annoying herbivore." Footsteps resounded once again and he sighed heavily. Hibari already left, it was reassuring, but why was he disappointed? The little fluff ball now lay asleep on his lap. As gently as he could, Tsuna petted its cottony feathers, and smiled a bit. He'll stay in here for a while, though all he wanted to do was rest, and drift off to dreamland. Hoping no nightmares would plague him. He could feel it already, his body was already at the brink of exhaustion, and his eyes were already closing. The leaves rustled suddenly, and the he felt the branches being rattled.

Surprised, the brunet looked down, and a mop of raven hair greeted his eyes. Grounding his back against the bark of the tree behind him, Tsuna moved back, and watched as Hibari climbed to his branch. The soaked maiden stared wide-eyed as Hibari settled a few feet before him. His steel-grey eyes narrowed and Tsuna flinched. Of all the things you should never do was to piss the Hibari Kyoya. That was a hard rule in his school. Well, the whole world actually. Hibari raised his right hand, and Tsuna's eyes widened in fear. I-Is he going to hit me?

"Your herbivore friends are making a disturbance, you must go back." My friends? Hibari's hand reached out to him, Tsuna realized then, that he wasn't intending to lash out on him, but bring him back. How stupid could he be? He was being selfish, hiding like this, turning away from reality, just wanting to run away. Hibari stared indifferently still waiting for him, and after what seemed eternity, his trembling hand settled on the other man's own. His cold hand just as quickly enclosed in Hibari's own before pulling him forward.

"Hieeee!" The brunette squeaked in surprised, as he was pulled forcefully forward, and into Hibari's arms. His pulse raced again and he wondered why. A warm hand pressed his face into the raven-haired man's chest.

"Sleep, herbivore." It was gentle yet husky, an undertone of warmth just like a lullaby. A few words, only two actually, had him nodding his head obediently, replying with a quiet 'yes'. His eyes were closing of their own accord, lulling him gently to sleep. In the recesses of his mind, he wondered if the small whisper after that was just a dream, and maybe it was. Tsuna hoped—in the recesses of his mind—that somehow, this raven haired man did utter it. No matter how impossible it was. He hoped still.

It'll be alright, Tsunayoshi.

...

"Kyou-san! You're soaked! Are you alright?" Kusakabe fussed over him like a hen would to a chick, and he frowned in irritation. Having noticed this, the panicking right-hand man stopped abruptly, and coughed in embarrassment. Instead, he opened the car door for his boss, and quickly drove them away towards their next destination.

"Kyou-san? Where were you?" His steel-grey eyes watched the passing sceneries, absentmindedly petting his bird. In normal situations, he would have snapped at Kusakabe, but today, he'll let him off and humour him.

"I found a lost bird and returned it." Kusakabe looked at the rear view mirror, and was stunned speechless. Never, in his whole life service to his young boss, that he'd see him with an expression which isn't of anger, indifference, or irritation. He actually looked amused for a change. So he really liked birds, huh? Kyou-san is surprisingly like a child. If only Kusakabe knew what kind of bird Hibari was referring to, then, he might have thought differently.

"You really like birds, don't you, Kyou-san?" He smirked and laid back. He closed his eyes, deciding to take a nap. Really, what a stupid question it was. If only you knew, Kusakabe.

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