AN: I know that I haven't updated in a while and I apologize for that. I've been still fixing my chapters for this story and, to be honest, I've got a lot of distractions on my plate at the moment. Though, I'm still continuing this and I need some time since I want my chapters to be substantial not some load of things just to have a chapter. This is kind of a filler chapter but I this is somewhat crucial if you really understand its contents. So, I apologize in advance about the rather short chapter, especially those who expected more from it. But-

Enjoy.

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29.5

"I apologize," Satou bowed at him with an ashamed expression.

To which, frankly, Takeshi didn't get. At all.

They were currently in the hallway. And they have a few minutes to spare before their Alchemy session would start. Not that Takeshi would be too guilty in skipping said class if it meant he would finally get his answers. Satou had been avoiding him for two days now. Not that he exactly blamed him but after what happened, he thought that he at least deserved some explanation and some piece of truth.

"Why are you the one apologizing?" He grinned good-naturedly at the white haired boy, although, his eyes refused to show what his real feelings were on the matter. "Besides, I'm not stupid, Satou. You weren't the one who attacked me," He continued as he smiled at the other's wide blue eyes, the shock and confusion written plainly for Takeshi to see. It was kind of amusing, to see the normally expressionless boy show open expressions.

"H-How did you–?" Satou stuttered, fumbling. Ahh, so uncharacteristic of him, Takeshi mused.

"At first, I was kind of shocked when you mentioned the mafia," Takeshi mentioned almost thoughtfully as the other boy flinched. "But, I never once made any mention of it, other than my bright idea of abandoning my magic. Then, this boy comes in and mentions that I should die for joining the mafia. I was kind of confused when I initially thought that it was you. But, that guy, his eyes are gold. And his magic feels different from yours. I should know," The knowing glance he gave only made the white haired boy cringe.

"I didn't know he would actually attack you," Satou defended weakly, unable to meet his gaze. "Koutarou–"

"I think I can take it from here, Satoshi," A voice cut in sharply, a voice that was reminiscent to Satou's but at the same time with a deeper timbre, an almost demanding pitch that had Takeshi already on his guard.

Satou's expression instantly closed off as he and Takeshi both turned to the direction of the voice. There stood a boy that was practically a carbon copy of Satou. Except he stood straighter and prouder, a contrast to Satou's calm but serene disposition; he also has shorter white hair that exposed his face more openly and his golden eyes were narrowed calculatingly and with a touch of hostility towards Takeshi.

"Koutarou," Satou's voice was deceptively cool.

"You're twins," Takeshi realized with wonder as he looked back and forth between them. "Wow. I didn't know you had a twin, Satou!" He chuckled at his own discovery.

"It's Satoshi, not Satou," The other twin, Koutarou, cut in tersely as his eyes flashed almost angrily.

"Normally, Yamamoto-kun, it's the other way around," Satou–no, Satoshi, smiled at him exasperatedly but his eyes were giving him a questioning look that went hand in hand with an almost hidden acceptance.

The tension in the air heightened and Takeshi had no doubt that its source was from the intimidating twin.

"Eh? Really?" He decided to keep his clueless act together to lighten up the atmosphere. Judging by the hardened and relentless stare of Koutarou, he wasn't succeeding, and was mostly failing.

Sato – shi avoided his gaze.

"I mostly blend in with my surroundings and I'm not exactly noticeable, am I?" The humor in his blue eyes made Takeshi remember of how they first met. "Besides, Koutarou is currently dominating the freelance division." He informed him and ignored the glare that his twin gave him.

When the blue-eyed twin met the other twin's golden-eyed glare, a silent conversation seemed to be going on between them.

"You know me, Satoshi," Koutarou voiced out in a calm but brusque voice. "I won't apologize for something that I don't regret," At this, he sent Takeshi a dark glower but the dark haired teen only met the other's gaze head on.

He won't apologize for almost killing someone. Just what does the mafia mean to you?

"Why did you assume that I would be joining the mafia?" He questioned instead as he watched the other's hand closely but with a subtle grace that Hibari and Reborn had unknowingly taught him, staring at the way Koutarou flexed his fingers and knowing how each movement, no matter how slight, could turn deadly and physical in a moment's notice.

Koutarou looked taken aback at the blunt inquiry before his eyes went unreadable.

"Unless you're planning to die, the only way to abandon your magic would be to join the mafia," The golden eyed twin stated matter-of-factly as he stayed unfazed by Satoshi's hard stare. "You should know, one with their talent rarely comes in. I think you would know that they don't let such a thing go to waste," He continued and Takeshi didn't fail to miss the bitter note that his voice had taken.

Though, while what Koutarou said was basically true, one would know of this harsh truth only if–

"You know someone who joined," He stated straightforwardly, trying not to react at the pure rage on Koutarou's face. "Otherwise, you wouldn't know of this. I was told that it's forbidden. Unless a connection is made." Takeshi sighed as he combed a hand through his hair.

"What would you scum know?" Koutarou snarled furiously and appeared as if he would attack again, Takeshi didn't hesitate to shift in a defensive stance this time around, but Satoshi got a hold of his twin's elbow as if sensing his thought.

Though, as he pondered that question, Takeshi thought of Tsuna, of Gokudera, of Dino, of Bianchi, of Reborn, and even if the cruelty had yet to be fully revealed, if it were them, he knew. He already knew. That those people were strong and they would change but they would still be who they were and nothing's going to affect that. His days as Yamamoto Takeshi that even with struggles and pain, as long as he had all that, he wouldn't mind it all.

"That bad things come with the good," Takeshi answered sincerely with a smile. "I don't know what you went through or what happened, I'll probably never understand, but I've seen the good and I'll stick by that," He thought of his days with the Dursleys and how he came to be who he was today. He also wondered when Tsuna would realize it but the mafia would need someone like his friend. And Takeshi would push the brunette forward.

For a moment, Koutarou looked honestly surprised by such an unabashed admission before his eyes grew unreadable.

"You…" The golden eyed twin trailed off as if to emphasize his point. "–are an idiot."

With that, he pulled Satoshi with him as they left a thoughtful but sad Takeshi behind them.

17.5

Takeshi had never been into any fights before.

The reason had been that he was quick to avoid conflict, choosing to placate the offended party with apologies even if they had been in the wrong. It had always been easier to make friends or acquaintances that way. He supposed that that had been a reason why he had been well-liked. But, still, one would think of him as a pushover, which, in a way, he had been considering how he had put thoughts into putting up acts to cover for himself.

But people knew not to push him too far, as if sensing what would happen if they did, instincts or intuition, Takeshi didn't know. It was just that they did.

If they spoke ill of him, he knew very well that they did it behind his back, as cruel as that sounded. He had gotten used to that treatment. That was why it had been hard to sometimes differentiate honesty from the lies. Though, he had gotten better if he said so himself. Then, there were those who openly showed their distaste with him. And they didn't get very far especially when Takeshi always reciprocated with unfaltering exuberance, showing them that he wasn't to be deterred.

They had been quick to switch targets unless they wanted to be victims to social suicide when Takeshi continued his popularity streak.

People were too abrupt to change their opinions, Takeshi knew, especially when Dame-Tsuna hadn't been so for the past few months ever since the brunette had skinned Mochida bald. As Gokudera had pointed out though, for some reason, Takeshi had been exempt to that rule. He had done things that normal popular students would get mocked for but his popularity either stayed constant or rose in level.

It was different from Sasagawa Kyoko's because, no matter what she did, people didn't get to do or say anything antagonistic towards her. Not if they valued their lives with her older brother whose overprotective tendencies were quite legendary in school.

Still, he wondered if his exemption had anything to do with his continuous avoidance of fights. But, that wasn't right either. He and Hibari always had fights on the school grounds for the whole student population to witness and that had only increased the members of his fanclub. And most students had gained this wary edge when interacting with him because Hibari was frighteningly strong and Takeshi could keep up with him.

To be honest, he didn't use to in the beginning. Fumbling with parries, punches, and kicks but Takeshi had instincts and experience. He had been quick to cope and Hibari had been quick to adjust in trying harder into either trying to dismember him or simply shed his blood.

He had been attacked once and Takeshi had learned to never let his hesitation speak before him after that.

What happened today was an exception, however.

During his ascent in Namimori Middle School's baseball team, most of his peers had been welcoming. But, it never meant that there were no oppositions. Quite the contrary, if Takeshi remembered correctly. He had to prove that he could keep up and play his role as the team's ace. It made him happy to be able to always play to the best of his abilities due to his love for the sport. But, he never realized just how burdening that could get when the team started piling up the responsibility solely on his shoulders.

They won, it was Takeshi's effort. If they ever lost, it was Takeshi's fault.

Worse, he had been of the same mindset until his dad had set him straight when he had taken how they almost lost too seriously during his sixth game. That had been around the time when he had been invited by Tanaka Ichirou.

Members who resented his presence were mostly the older students.

Takeshi knew why. A rookie, in their opinion, just joined the club and instantly gained the position as the team's ace in just a short span of time. They never spoke openly about it but Takeshi had learned from experience how to spot that familiar resentment that always mixed with the respect. One that he learned to acknowledge, never ignore, and just accepted it as part of how their relationship as teammates were going to work for them.

Still, he thought that he could've handled it better.

And Takeshi thought that he was already past his inner monsters. He had reacted without thinking. That was the thing that mainly bothered Takeshi. He hadn't done that before. Even when he had been annoyed, angry, and even distracted. He never did something without doing some thinking or planning ahead. He had learned that from his first few days in Japan.

Not to mention, the flash of something in his emotions. It was but a moment and it made him feel detached. The rage was so overwhelming as if it weren't really his.

"Yamamoto-kun," His middle school coach, Yamada Izumi, called him. "It's good to see that your game play has improved once again," There was a pleased note in his voice but Takeshi didn't miss the slight concern.

After telling the student body that it was due to baseball that had led to his near 'suicide', the coach, who was normally hard and strict, had gone easy on him. Takeshi didn't know how to exactly feel about that. As if his older teammates didn't hate him before now, the obvious preferential treatment must've done the trick already. He could intentionally overlook this and pretend that nothing was wrong, like he was always prone to do, but if the attack of Satoshi's twin brother taught him anything, it was that he couldn't always delude himself that everything was fine.

"Thanks, coach," Takeshi simply said with a smile as he swung his baseball bat and leaned it on his shoulder.

"See to it that it remains that way," Yamada-sensei reminded sternly.

He laughed as he saluted to the coach in agreement, even though he knew that he would normally get a scolding despite his efforts. That pseudo-suicide on the rooftop was not a good idea after all. His team was treating him as if he was made out of glass if his skill in baseball wasn't acknowledged.

It slightly unsettled him.

With that, he should've expected that the silent animosity towards him would finally be expressed plainly. Takeshi just didn't expect that they had the guts to do it in front of the coach. Or, as his eyes narrowed suspiciously, it was exactly what they wanted.

"Yeah, you should," Nakano Seiji, a senior, delivered mockingly. "After all, we don't want you jumping to your death, now, do we?" He smirked as his dark eyes flashed with derision.

"Nakano," Yamada-sensei growled warningly.

"No, coach, I'm tired of the special treatment you're giving him," The brown haired boy waved the man off. "Besides, what kind of nutjob would try to commit suicide over a broken arm? A professional baseball player wouldn't so stupid or selfish," He sneered as his distaste became very much visible.

Takeshi didn't let his smile falter. Admittedly, the older boy was right. That was stupid. He had been stupid. And selfish. Tou-san…

"It's fine, Yamada-sensei," He placated the man. "What he said was actually true. I've learned my lesson already," He grinned at his senior, trying not to let the words pierce too deeply. At least, not in front of his team. He couldn't let them know just how far to the truth those words were.

Instead of growing satisfied that Takeshi became admonished, Nakano was angry as he marched towards him.

"You think you can please everybody with that nice boy act? Well, do you?" The senior snarled at him, positively livid.

"Nakano-senpai," Ichikawa Mana, a fellow second year, cut in sharply. "That's totally uncalled for! We all have our own issues! Just quit trying to pick a fight!" He demanded curtly as the atmosphere around the team became tense, their other teammates staying silent and obviously not wanting to get involved at what was evidently a confrontation. All of them knew that Nakano was unsatisfied with the team, the older teen always had been, and had taken his frustrations out by periodically lashing out on them.

Takeshi had only remained untouchable due to how well-liked he was and how he didn't let the senior's words get a rise out of him.

The smile slid off Takeshi's face.

"No," He answered truthfully. "But I don't want to upset or offend anyone,"

"Of course you would say that," Nakano scoffed. "I'm sick and tired of you–" His face darkened as he looked at his junior with burning eyes.

"Nakano, I said that's enough!" Their coach raised his voice angrily.

But, the root of the matter was, Nakano obviously didn't care anymore as he blatantly ignored the man.

"No, shut up!" The teen exploded furiously at the man before rounding on a bewildered and worried Takeshi. "Throughout the years, I've always worked my ass on playing baseball. I've worked till night just so I can make sure that I'm not removed from the starters. I've always, always worked damn hard. So, of course, I'm angry! You suddenly enter middle school and instantly become the ace! I mean, what the fuck's up with that?!" He ranted heatedly, his voice already gruff with tightly repressed fury.

"Nakano-san–" Another senior, Sakaki Chihiro, interjected harshly.

"Don't tell me none of you felt the same way!" Nakano continued, undaunted, as the other members fidgeted in discomfort. "That you all did your damn best and this freak of nature–"

When Nakano went sprawling on the ground, the team just stared down at him dumbly. Not exactly aware just yet of what was going on. Then, the brown haired boy wiped the blood from his busted lip and instantly jumped on Takeshi. The person who had punched him first. Before Takeshi was even aware of it, the situation had escalated into something that resembled a street/floor brawl.

Though, thankfully, before the situation could degenerate further, they had been pulled apart by their teammates.

"You see?" Nakano taunted with a bloody grin. "I knew you had it in you! You're not fooling everyone, Yamamoto! You hear me, you fucking son of a–" He snarled as he tried to shake of their teammates' hold but was unable to and could only continue to thrash and seethe in his place.

Takeshi blinked. In a daze. Did I really do… that?

"I-I'm sorry, senpai," He apologized shakily as the implications of his action steadily sunk in.

Why had he reacted violently? Over the years, he had learned to curb his temper in order to avoid these situations. Living on the streets meant that you had to learn to manage your anger seeing as he didn't want to enrage the wrong person. It had helped him over the course of his survival course in the streets of Namimori. The closest thing that he could constitute as losing his cool was when his friends had been in danger.

And the last time that he had actually reacted base on it had been during fourth grade in elementary, when some stupid kid had insulted his dad and baseball.

But he had already learned his lesson by then.

Not to mention, that one time that he had literally seen red had been when he was still with the Dursleys. That time had been understandable, considering how he was being treated like a dog– and obviously wasn't something as petty as this.

So, he couldn't understand what came over him.

That sudden dark rage–

It was only for a moment. He hadn't been aware of it until he had actually punched Nakano and it had worsened into an actual fight. Takeshi was afraid to think what would have happened had he not been stopped or had he given in to that unknown emotion. He didn't even notice it when his teammates, unlike Nakano, had let go of him. His eyes were focused on the loathing from Nakano's eyes and Takeshi wondered for a moment–

"I'm really sorry, senpai," He apologized again with a bow, feeling shame creeping up on him.

Nakano tried to spit on him but was dragged to the shower room by their teammates and out of Takeshi's immediate line of sight.

Takeshi could feel blood trickling down his brow to his right temple from where Nakano's sharp nail had cut him when the older boy had tried to make a swipe for his face. Even though that was the only injury he had gotten from the brawl, the worry at his own actions was weighing heavily on him.

"Maybe you should take a break," Ichikawa put in carefully, eyeing Takeshi cautiously.

He tried not to flinch at the reaction he got for this skirmish. This- This was the last thing he wanted. He could even see his other teammates fidgeting in his presence.

"Agreed," Yamada-sensei cut in sharply with a disapproving frown. "Nakano was out of line so I'm not going to put this on your record. But, you are required to take a leave from baseball. A week should suffice and a three day time off from school as well. Yamamoto-kun, after that stunt you pulled by the rooftop, the School Councilor had advised me to keep an eye on you and to take action when you begin to show any signs of distress. So, I already got permission. For now, go home and rest, Yamamoto-kun," He ended gently as he tossed a white handkerchief to the distraught and confused teen.

"I–" Takeshi hesitated but, seeing the hard glint in the man's eyes, conceded defeat. "Fine," He sighed as he ran an anxious hand through his hair. "I really outdid myself this time. But, I apologize for my actions," He bowed to the man before wiping the blood from his face.

Actually, he had expected this to happen after he had gotten out of the hospital, considering his injuries. But, his obstinacy could only get him so far, it seemed.

"Good, then, you're dismissed," Yamada-sensei ordered in that familiar strict way of his. "But have that checked with the nurse before going home,"

Takeshi nodded and did as the man instructed as he walked out of the clubroom, a little numbly as he could still hardly believe the situation, but his mind was already speculating over the situation. This was unheard of. He needed to research about this as this may be related to magic. Because he couldn't come up with anything substantial at the moment.

And, to be honest, he could really use the break.

TBC..

Important Notes: These two didn't necessarily happen right after their story numbers but they're some kind of reference as some sort of continuation. Now, I know some of you don't like OC's but the twins involvement with Takeshi-Harry is necessary for him to come to terms with his choices, his magic, and the mafia overall. As for the second part, if you understood what happened, it's going to be a factor to the circumstances regarding Takeshi-Harry. And I needed to add this one, other than the magical problem because one didn't just get to do something, especially try to commit suicide, and expect things to be back the way they were. This needed to be addressed, really, since none of the characters in KHR really looked deep into it, no matter how it may seem silly considering that Yamamoto took taking his life lightly for my own peace of mind, and he's not even aware of the mafia yet at the time.

Thank you for bothering with this rather short chapter but I wanted to put some things into perspective.