Days turned into months and Tsunayoshi and Kyoya got closer. They met every day at the raven's place to teach each other fighting, English and how to use flames. Hibari was slower than the brunet when it came to learning to summon his power at will. Once he managed to reach that point, they both realized that Tsuna was actually very talented with his orange flames. Kyoya had a harder time controlling his and couldn't call as much out as his friend could after the same amount of time and training. It frustrated him slightly, but he also understood that people were different and that the Omnivore was truly a genius in that field. He would just continue practicing until he reached the same level as his friend.
His languages lessons also progressed smoothly. Kyoya wasn't very interested in those, but he was smart, and always gave his all in anything he started (slacking was the epitome of herbivorous behavior). Plus, Tsunayoshi was very enthusiastic about it and was a decent teacher. He adapted his explanations to Hibari's thought pattern (some grammarian rules turned to herbivores bitten to death by stronger carnivorous laws somehow) and the raven head could speak almost fluent English after just 6 months.
Tsuna's training was more hectic. He had built up enough muscle by the end of the second week for his friend to begin showing him some moves. The theory was fine and the brunet memorized the techniques quickly. However, when the time came for them to have spars (Kyoya was deliberately holding back for Tsuna to progress) there was an issue. Tsunayoshi had a hard time fighting and hitting his friend, even when he knew he couldn't really hurt him. It was to the point that any time he was about to start a move, defensive or offensive, he stopped half-way and Kyoya could just stare.
Thankfully, the now 7-year old raven found a solution when he offered to have Tsuna follow him on his patrol once. A delinquent, seeing that he couldn't do anything to the demon of Namimori, decided to have a petty revenge by attacking the smaller brunet that followed him. The Omnivore quickly demonstrated that his reservations were only relevant in the face of a friend and used one of the moves Kyoya showed him to send the teenager delinquent to the ground, knocked out. Hibari was very proud.
After that incident, the two boys agreed that Tsunayoshi would follow Kyoya on his patrols from then on, and practice his techniques on anyone who came after him. And when someone had to choose between facing the terrifying, tonfa-wielding monster and the small, cute, harmless-looking kid behind him, well... Let's just say Tsuna had plenty of practice targets.
Hibari caught Tsuna's eyes glowing orange a few time when he was focused on his opponent. He mentioned it, but Tsuna couldn't explain it. He hadn't even known about this phenomenon until the raven head told him. Hibari just left it at that. The Omnivore was weird, nothing new.
When summer holidays came, the boys started hanging out together. Not just staying at Kyoya's home (the servants had warmed up to the strange brunet after seeing that he wasn't another bloodthirsty demon. They loved their young master, but they adored his kind-hearted friend) or going on patrols together (the trouble makers still didn't register Tsuna as a threat and still went for him first. It became a battle strategy to send him first and have Kyoya attack from the back). They went to the arcade, to eat ice cream and other things kids their age would do. Well, as long as the amount of crowding in the place wasn't too high and it wasn't one of Ienobu's favorite area.
Speaking of Ienobu, Hibari finally came face to face with him. And he hated the brat.
He and Tsuna had agreed on meeting in front of the public library that day : Tsuna wanted to start learning Chinese now that his Italian was fluent. He arrived early and was waiting for Kyoya when he came face to face with his twin and some of his friends (read : Tsuna's bullies).
