Here's a completely AU story, all because I have nothing better to do than imagine plots like these. You'll see a character from New Blood pop up here, just because I can.
I own nothing.
Sticks and Stones
Six-year-old Tomoe Tachibana was new to America. Everything was different to her than it was at home. The cultures, foods, even the people. Her parents had sent the young child to this new continent through the ever-popular foreign exchange student program, hoping that she would continue her path of honor, all while learning more things about life. For only a mere tyke, Tomoe was smart. And impossibly smart, at that. Yoshikage Tachibana and his wife only wanted the best for their daughter; however, Hamako Tachibana cared more about Tomoe's freedom. If she were to stay with them, Yoshikage would have arranged a marriage for the young one when she was of age. While it worked well for the two of them, not all cases worked just as well. Hamako wouldn't have her daughter resenting her for that. So, against her husband's clan, she sent Tomoe to America for a chance at life. This would eventually lead to their separation but, in the end, Mrs. Tachibana never regretted her decision.
The Japanese child resided with a fairly older couple, who took pleasure in housing and taking care of children. They never had a child of their own, seeing how the two got married late in life. Amongst the household was one other child. A rambunctious eight-year-old named Maria Torres. At first, the older of the two kids wasn't exactly impressed by the new houseguest. She was quite rude, as a matter of fact. But Nancy Fitzgerald assured Tomoe that Maria wasn't always spiteful like that. She never had a steady home before; her attitude was purely a façade for fear of losing what she had. The Hispanic child would warm up to her eventually. She wouldn't completely lose the attitude, but it wouldn't be as blatant as it currently was.
And they were absolutely right. A few months after Tomoe and Maria started to get to know each other, the two became close friends. The older of the two would always stick up for her best friend. If the two got into trouble at home, Maria would always take the heat. Now, she wouldn't do that with just anyone and everyone. Even as a child, Maria was always very prideful. But for Tomoe, she would do pretty much whatever it took to make her happy. If anyone bullied her at school, the eight-year-old would step up and take care of it then and there. She would get in trouble, sure, but it was worth it.
Tomoe would never forget one of the first times Maria tackled a bully to the ground for picking on her. It was just like any other day at Portland Elementary School. Children were running out onto the playground, anxious to get their amped up energy out of the way after being cooped up in class for so long. The short-haired child hooked her arm through her younger friend's as they headed out of the school at a much slower pace. Maria and Tomoe were just chattering about their classes; the younger of the two was in the same grade as her best friend, seeing how Tomoe's level of intelligence was much higher than most children her age. And her fellow classmates made fun of her for it. They would pull on her hair in class, snicker when she would raise her hand and answer a question. It didn't seem to bother Tomoe any, but it sure as heck bothered Maria. That was her best friend! If they didn't stop, she would surely take matters into her own hands. While the two of them were walking, Leonardo Bello rudely shoved through the two girls. Leonardo was one of the main bullies in their classes, and Maria hated the very ground he walked on. He was snide and just plain mean. He tried to copy off Tomoe's test once; her best friend proceeded to call him a loser, putting the attention of the teacher on both of them, instead of him and Tomoe. Again, she got in trouble for it but she didn't care. Nowadays, he just insisted on calling her names and pulling her hair. Talk about acting like a little girl, huh?
"Get out of my way!" Young Leonardo yelled, colliding with his two classmates. They both went opposite ways, falling face down onto the mulch surrounding the playground. "Only the real winners get to play on my turf!" He called back to the girls as they began to pick themselves up from their fall.
Maria didn't even bother brushing herself off, she ran right over to her best friend, making sure she was alright. "Did that loser hurt you?!" The Hispanic child asked, dusting the mulch off of Tomoe's now dirty knees.
"No, Maria, I'm fine," she answered curtly, softly pushing Maria away. "Let's just go to the swings, okay?"
"Huh?" the eight-year-old spoke, dumbfounded. "And let Leonardo get away with that crap? Uh-uh. We're going to the monkey bars." Her big green eyes took Tomoe's purple ones in carefully. "He ain't ruining our good time! He's nothin'!"
Maria took Tomoe's hand in her own and led her over to the monkey bars, to which they started to climb like normal. The younger child got about halfway across when Leonardo made another remark. He was now standing at the top of the slide, just glowering down at his adversaries.
"Didn't I tell you only winners could play on my turf?" He scoffed, shaking his light brown head of hair.
The Hispanic child hopped down from the end of the monkey-bars, making her way around to the ladder of the slide. "Who do you think you are, huh?!" She shouted to him while climbing up the ladder. Young Leo had already ducked down the slide, running this time to the one tire swing on the other side of the monkey bars.
"I'm Leonardo Bello, that's who!" Their fellow classmate retorted, sliding into the tire swing stomach down. Maria knew he was just showing off now. "I'll be a master surgeon someday, and you and Tomoe will just be tiny little peasants!"
"Alright, buttface, you're about to get the crap beat out of you!" Maria growled, shoving herself down the slide. As she made it to the ground once more, she looked around. Leonardo was still smugly swinging. But, where was Tomoe? The eight-year-old sighed, seeing her best friend swinging softly at the far end of the playground.
"Tomoe…" she began, coming around to see the Japanese child looking as calm as ever. "What're you doing?"
"The path of honor frowns against cruelty in any way. We must look forward and be the better person," Tomoe explained quietly, scuffing her sandals against the mulch as she took each dip to the ground.
"I don't believe in any of that path of honor bull crap. You can sit here all you want, but I'm not letting him talk to you that way," Maria countered, "he—
"Maria, we mustn't do anything to disrupt the path of honor," the six-year-old told her best friend, though it didn't seem to matter. When Maria Torres had a mission in mind, there was nothing anyone could say to change her mind otherwise, not even Tomoe.
The older girl just rolled her eyes and stormed off to finish what Leo had started.
Leonardo saw Maria coming from an upside-down angle. He was hanging up by his ankles on the monkey bars this time. "You just don't listen, do you?"
"Sorry, I don't take orders from kids my own age," the dark-haired child snarked, coming up on Leonardo. She didn't even care that there were teachers watching. This was for Tomoe.
"I'm far richer and wiser than you will ever be. Why do you even bother?" Leo let a tsk or two roll of his tongue before continuing, "at least my parents love me. They didn't put me in foster care. You've got nothing, Maria. Just a sorry excuse for a friend."
Little Maria could feel her blood boiling in pure anger. No one talked about her parents or her best friend like that. No one. In the child's fit of rage, she yanked Leonardo onto the mulch and proceeded to beat the ever-loving snot out of that brat. While she didn't get very many punches in before the teachers broke up the fight, Maria still managed to knock quite a few teeth out.
One of the teachers yanked the Hispanic student up by the hood of her green and yellow jacket, making her squirm around blindly as she tried to get loose. Maria trekked to the principal's office with pride. Just before being taken back inside, she got one last look at Leonardo Bello, who was bawling his eyes out and cradling his already swelling face.
Needless to say, that was the last time that Leo tried to mess with Maria Torres or Tomoe Tachibana.
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