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Chapter 14

X-X-X-X

X-X Rikuo X-X

I felt guilty about forcing Tsuna to remain home, but we can't let her go out with us...not at such a dangerous time. Yoru and I agreed that no matter what happens, we won't allow her to come to harm. We may have hate one another, but we will always agree whenever it comes to my sister's safety. I felt something go amiss as we continued to patrol the area. It's as if something horrible has occurred...something incredibly horrible.

"What's up?" Yoru asked gaining my attention.

"...It's...just a bad feeling." I answered looking ahead.

"What do you think?" Yoru asked sparing me a glance.

"Don't know, just..." I thought of Tsuna...no...she's well protected. "...I don't know." I said shaking my head.

"Hn...Kurotabo." Yoru stated noticing the monk youkai.

"Waka, Rikuo-san? What are you two doing out here?" Kurotabo asked looking panicked.

"Something happened, didn't it?" I asked frowning.

"Ah, that's right! We met at a good time! Rikuo-san, it's about your classmate, Torii-san. She was attacked by an unknown youkai."

"Was this...the bad feeling I had?" I got the feeling it wasn't. "...Why do I feel as if I'm wrong...?!"

"Go to the hospital, Rikuo."

"What?"

"Tsuna is quite attached to those human classmates of yours. You're only in the way, this is a youkai problem. Don't bother to follow unless you plan on taking up a weapon like your sister."

"Fine, I'll return as soon as soon as there is a change in Torii-san's condition."

Yoru gave me a slight nod before I ran off. Even though I was running, I can't help this feel as if...as if I'm wrong about something. That it wasn't Torii that was in danger, but my little sister. I made it to the hospital and I didn't stop until I found Maki sitting in the hallway with tears in her eyes. While she was surprised to see me, I quickly ran up to her, grabbing her shoulders.

"How is Torii-san? Has there been any changes in her condition?" I asked out of breathe.

"S-Sawada...N-no...There hasn't been any changes." Maki said rubbing at her eyes.

"It'll be okay, I know it." I said giving her a small smile.

"H-How can you be so sure?! Natsumi, s-she just collapsed!" Maki shouted at me.

"I know she'll be okay." I repeated staring her in the eyes.

"She'll be okay...Yeah, Natsumi's strong after all." Maki said as I got her to sit back down.

I glanced at the door to see a light coming from the room. I suppose a youkai with healing powers was doing this, but was there such a youkai in the Nura Clan? The bad feeling I had...still hasn't disappeared, I sincerely hope...I hope Tsuna was really okay. If only I had said something to Yoru before we separated...maybe then...we could have found her faster.

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I tried my best to act as if nothing was wrong the next day. Torii was discharged after staying in the hospital for a day, but...it's already been two days since Tsuna was kidnapped. Damn it, she was even kidnapped so close to home too. Whoever kidnapped her was skilled...skilled enough to go undetected and kidnap my sister without anyone noticing a single thing. Yoru and I were with her moments before her kidnapping as well and we haven't noticed a thing!

"Rikuo-san, are you sure you are all right?" Yuki-Onna asked looking at me in concern.

"It's fine, Yuki-Onna. Are you sure you shouldn't join the others in searching for Tsu?" I asked glancing at her.

"Someone must protect you, Rikuo-san. You cannot have go without a single bodyguard. Since we're both attending school, it's only natural for me to be the one to protect you." Yuki-Onna explained even though she was just as worried about Tsuna as I was.

"...Thanks, Yuki-Onna." I said giving her a weak smile.

"Tsuna-chan is strong and...well, she's been trained by Rihan-sama himself. She's not weak, nor is she defenseless."

"Yeah, you're right."

I spent the rest of the day as usual, doing my best to smile to avoid worrying anyone. Thankfully, it was during lunch that I was finally able to get away from the crowd. However...I wasn't exactly looking forward to Yuki-Onna's bento. Don't get me wrong, she's not a bad cook...it's just all of her food is frozen or incredibly cold. I didn't have the heart to tell her that there was something wrong with it either.

"Hn. It seems the students are gathering in the gym, Rikuo-san." Yuki-Onna said staring at the gym.

"What?! I forgot, I was supposed to help with the student council election speeches today!" I said quickly putting away the bento.

"What's that?" Yuki-Onna asked blinking in confusion.

"Let's go, Yuki-Onna!" I shouted running ahead.

I was running down the stairs two at a time when I thought I passed a girl not wearing out uniform. I quickly stopped and I turned around to see no one there. It wasn't my imagination...was it? I thought with a small frown. Yuki-Onna appeared, running down the stairs. She gave me a confused look, but I just gave her a nervous smile. I continued to rush to the gym before they closed the doors. Thankfully, the two of us had made it just as they were closing the doors.

"Rikuo-san, hey..." Yuki-Onna said looking a bit nervous.

"What's wrong?" I asked glancing back at her.

"It's just..." There was a change in the air, it was almost immediate too. "That's...not a youkai...but it is at the same time..." Yuki-Onna said now on high alert.

"It's not one of us, is it?"

"No...They wouldn't have hid their presence and then suddenly revealed it like this."

"This way, Yuki-Onna." I quickly dragged Yuki-Onna to the door leading to the back of the stage. "Why is a Youkai here...wasn't it enough they took my sister?"

"Rikuo-san, we must get you to safety. If they are indeed after you, then it's best to sneak away while we have a chance."

"We can't, what if they harm the students while we run away?"

"I can't let you get hurt!"

"...Then do as I say, Yuki-Onna."

"Eh?"

Yuki-Onna listened to my plan and she nodded on occasion. Yuki-Onna ran off and I released a small sigh, wondering if this will work. It would have been a lot easier if there were others here, but they weren't here because I insisted I didn't need so many bodyguards and that they should join the effort in finding Tsuna. I walked onto the stage, but just as I was about to say something, the fire alarm went off. Good job, Yuki-Onna. I thought.

"Everyone, please calmly, but quickly make your way to the exit. There is no need to panic, just calmly leave the gym." I said into the mike.

I repeated this a few more times as the students filed out before I left as well, but I purposefully looked into the crowd before disappearing behind the curtain. I was baiting them into following me. I quickly left through the back door after hearing someone following me even though most of the students had already evacuated. I ran off when I saw someone with blond hair looking around...looking for me. When he spotted me, he was quick to follow.

I was leading him to the most abandoned part of the school that no one would bother to check especially when the fire alarm had gone off. Thankfully, Yuki-Onna wouldn't mind taking the blame for 'accidently' pulling the fire alarm since I said I would be running back the Nura man as quickly as possible. However, I can't run off and put others in danger, plus...I need to see who it was that was after me.

"Tell me, why are you coming after me when your group already has my sister?" I asked turning around to face two pair of teens.

"Heh, so this is the future Vongola Decimo? He's not much, byon."

"Ken, Mukuro-sama wants him alive. Don't go killing him."

"I got it, I got it, Kakipi. Seriously though, how is this guy related to that midget Mukuro-sama brought back with him? The midget managed to at least show she's able to defend herself, but this guy is totally weak, byon!"

"So you were the ones who took Tsu."

"Ken, stop talking."

"Don't go ordering me around!"

"If you harmed even a hair on her head...!" I was growling, orange flames leaving my fingertips. Normally, I had so much more control...but right now, I wanted to know where they took her. "If you harmed her, I will not hesitate to bring you down!"

"So you do know how to fight. This'll be fun!"

The blond haired teen pulled out what looked to be fake teeth. He put one on and he gained a wolf like appearance. Before I could ponder on this any longer, he lunged for me looking ready to bite my head off. I quickly moved to the side, kicking him in the side. I sent him flying into the fence. I adjusted my stance, holding one hand out covered in orange flames.

"That hurt...not bad, for a civilian."

"I'm not weak, not even a bit." I stared at the blond with cold eyes. "I live with youkai, the strongest youkai clan in this region. The Sandaime and I fight on a daily basis, so I can't afford to be weak when my opponent is a youkai of all things."

"Eh...So I better step up my game then."

"No matter what you do, I'll give it back three folds."

The blond was about to attack again when I quickly jumped to the left. The spot I was standing in was covered in needles. I looked at the one who remained silent until now to see he had a red yo-yo in his hand. Was that his choice of weapon? Not good, I'm outnumbered and weaponless. In this situation...and this location...I'll end up losing eventually. When that happens...it won't be good.

"Really...what's up with this noise." All three of us quickly turned our gaze to the water tank where an unknown girl was sitting. She wasn't wearing my school's uniform. So she's the girl...I saw earlier. Her face was quite blank, but I could tell she was annoyed with how her eyes were narrowing. "Hm...a fight..."

"Who the hell are you, byon?!"

"Hm...I wonder about that."

"So...she's not with them..."

"While I hate getting involved in other's fights...this looks quite interesting."

"Civilians should stay out of the way."

"Look out!"

The girl's face didn't change and she didn't even bother moving when the yo-yo was sent flying in her direction. The yo-yo was cut before it got too close. The girl looked quite annoyed...a...a kunai in her hand? Why the hell would she have a kunai of all things?! The girl jumped down, her purple hair flying behind her. Purple hair and silver eyes...is she a foreigner? I thought when she landed beside me.

"Truthfully, I hate getting involved in other people's business, but I can't turn a blind eye to something like this." The girl spun the kunai in her hand, a slight smile...no...a smirk on her face. "After all, there's nothing I hate more than judgmental idiots...are those who like to fight someone who is weak and unarmed."

"What the hell, I thought Mukuro-sama said he didn't have a guardian..."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but trust me when I say I fight for my sake and for my sake only." The girl pointed the tip of her kunai to the blond. "I'm fighting because this is the first time in a while since I've seen someone who might give me an interesting fight. So...bring it on, dog breathe."

"I'll kill you!"

"I don't even need my kunai for this."

The girl flicked her wrist, the kunai embedding itself into the ground. She dropped kick the blond and she...she even broke the concrete tiles of the roof with how much pressure she put into that kick. I stared at the blond male whose head was embedded into the ground and I thought I heard him groan. I'm surprised he's still alive.

"Seriously, is that all this guy is worth? So pathetic, he had so many damned openings. How about you, four eyes? You want to take me on next?"

"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice."

"Sadly..." She was fast, faster than I could see. She was suddenly in front of the hat wearing male and she kneed him in the abdomen. "I really hate boring fights. You and that dog have too many damned openings, it'd be a boring fight."

"So strong..." She downed these two guys without a weapon...who...who the hell is this girl? She finally turned around to face me. "Who...who in the world are you?"

"Who, you ask..." The girl ran her fingers through her bangs, looking tired. "The name is Fukushima Misaki."

"...Do you have anywhere to go?"

"What?"

"D-Don't get me wrong! I-It's just...I get the feeling...you have nowhere to go..."

"...You have a pretty unique intuition." Fukushima gave me a weak smile, she looked quite tired too. "You offering me a place to stay?"

"I...You're strong...so...in exchange for giving you a place to stay...will you help me find my sister?"

"A siscon...eh..." She had a sad look in her eyes. "...Why not, I'm quite curious about those flames of yours."

"Thank you!"

"Let's go then. Unless...you want me to kill these two."

"No! No killing!"

"Fine, fine, you're a temporary employer anyways." Fukushima retrieved her kunai and she began walking ahead of me. "Let's go already."

"Ri-right!"

Fukushima Misaki...I have a good feeling about her. There was also this feeling in me...that tells me she's one of the people I've been waiting for. She's one of my Guardians and judging from personality...I'm guessing she's either a Cloud or a Mist. Fukushima turned and looked at me, raising a brow. I gave her a small smile, feeling a...connection with this girl. My first Guardian...I never actually thought...I would meet her.

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Chapter 14 Ends

I realized that since I didn't want to make new OCs as Rikuo's Guardians...I could just use OCs I've already created! Fukushima Misaki from my Children of the Eyes is his first Guardian, but which one is still a secret~! Rikuo's other Guardians will be OCs from stories I've already posted or stories I plan on posting. However, which ones I'll pick will all depend on what flames needed to be filled and how well their personality fits the flame. I got nothing more to add at this point so...Until next time my dears~! Bye-bye~!