The four year old Hikaru was still weird, but the people around him had gotten accustomed to it.
Shunji had ordered Li to teach Hikaru endurance, and so, the albino had been running laps around the compound, while the other lackeys took turns on holding an umbrella above the youth. Though the boy still had that stoic expression on, his exhaustion on the first few weeks was seen by others.
Ekoda was given the task of teaching Hikaru on basic education in which the boy seem to slightly excel at. Hikaru made sure to answer in moderation as to not look like he already knew everything. Having his stoic expression only made it look like he was bored and wanted to do something else.
Gozu, well, he was the one who always accompanies the boy during his free time.
Shunji made it sure that his son received the needed education for his age. He had worries about making Hikaru attend school due to the rising problems with their branch family.
Himiko had also agreed with the decision of her husband, sending their son out right now will make it seem that they were an easy target. She doesn't want anything bad to happen to her child, especially with him still so young.
This was obviously noticed by Hikaru. During the past year, every single personnel in their compound was tense and on guard. People took turns on taking rounds at day and night, and guests were scarce, making it two people per week, sometimes even one. He rarely saw his grandfather and the news was that he was on a business trip.
The only thing that didn't change was the frequent visit of the skylark.
It was three months before Hikaru had seen the boy again, and it seems like Kyoya had read some book about animals. According to Kusakabe-san, Kyoya was spending his usual day of running away from him. In order to make their young master settle down, they mentioned that if he wanted to continue going to Hikaru, then he needs to start reading books, or else the albino might think he was dumb and won't meet with him anymore.
Cue Kyoya stopping his run, and making a dash towards his father to lend him some books to read.
Coincidentally, the book he was given were about animals... about herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores...
...and it seems like that was the start.
"Leave me alone or I'll bite you, herbivore!!"
Hikaru looked up from what he was reading and saw Kyoya holding a stick he found, and pointed it at a worried-looking Kusakabe. The albino was sitting on the porch of their garden, Ekoda serving refreshments for Hikaru and his guests.
"Kyoya-sama is lively today as well." Ekoda had his signature slight smile.
Hikaru didn't reply and just acknowledged what Ekoda said with a nod. The young Fujimoto thought that he was able to remove that chuuni-phrase from Kyoya but it seems like he picked it up when he was not around. Though, he would just convince the other of not calling him carnivore/herbivore. As long as its not him, its okay.
"Kyoya." Hikaru called, and the other had gone stiff.
The skylark had became accustomed to the albino. It could be called in-born instinct, but the young Hibari could easily distinguish the slight changes in the tone of Hikaru.
Despite the flat tone, Kyoya could hear the underlying annoyance in that one call.
"I'm reading." Hikaru went back to focus on the book he was holding.
Kyoya who was suddenly ignored, looked at the stick he was holding and let go of it. He silently walked to the engawa where Hikaru was and sat on the pillow that was prepared for him.
Kusakabe-san was already used to this scene, more like, it happens every time his young master visits the Fujimoto. His unruly young master sitting down quietly and reading a book, he never though he would witness such thing. All this happened with the influence of the young master Hikaru.
This was how the monthly visit of Hibari Kyoya in the Fujimoto household come to pass.
For Hikaru, that day was one of those times that his parents allowed him to go out. Though he was given some rules that he had to agree to before they let him.
One was that he wasn't allowed to go out of Li's sight. Then, the other was when his mother handed him a small pistol saying thatー
"If any bad guys try to take you or give you candy, make sure to shoot them with this toy gun, ok?"
ーbut Hikaru could feel the metal of the said toy gun, and the weight was not that of a plastic.
Hikaru nodded, understanding his mother's concern but his father had exclaimed that giving such thing to his cute son was not good.
Then was met with the scary smile of Himiko. Hikaru left at that point, not wanting to hear his mother's lecture to his father.
The albino was currently relaxing on a bench, a little spent from his three-hour walk around the area. He was accompanied by Li, whom as always, scared anybody who dared to get close to Hikaru.
Only four year old, and the child was already attracting the eyes of many. It might be because of his rare white hair and gold eyes that he was often stared at by people in long intervals.
"Li." Hikaru called out as he took out the gun that he was give. Even though it was small when carried by an adults hand, the gun fit his grip.
"What is it, young master?" Li asked as he had not glanced at the boy, still focused on observing their surroundings.
"Do you think I can handle the recoil of this gun?" It was the one thing that was currently bothering Hikaru. In real life, a person can't just keep shooting a gun without a care.
"That gun has 13lbs of recoil. With the recent training of young master, I am sure you can withstand it even with one hand." Li informed the young one as Hikaru nodded in confirmation.
Now that he knew that he could handle a small pistol like this, it made him feel a bit secure. Being a child of a yakuza clan had made him feel endangered whenever he went out, especially since he was still a child. There was no way that he could fight off an adult.
But he is confident he can out ran them. Not only did Li train his stamina, the man had given him a lecture that he needs to learn how to be agile. Thus his training for something like parkour happened.
Still, to think that his mother would give him a real gun. He was a bit surprised that his mother seem to be the alpha of the family. His father was totally whipped.
"...ᵘʷᵃᵃʰ..!!" A faraway shout was heard by Hikaru.
Now that he had snapped out of his thoughts, he noticed that there were hardly any people left at the area where he was. Li had also become more alert in case of an ambush.
Hikaru made a move to look for the source since it sounded like a child.
"Young master." Li simply said as if telling Hikaru that it was dangerous to go off on his own.
"I'll just check." Li followed Hikaru as he walked, making sure that the albino held his umbrella right to be in the shade.
When they reached the near playground, there were children crowding at the dome-like structure. Three who looked to be older than the fourth one. By the actions of the older child in the middle, Hikaru could easily tell that this was some case of bullying.
Unsurprising and very expected for a bunch of brats. They ought to pick somebody their own size.
"Stop it..." now that Hikaru had a closer look, there was a smaller child behind the one being assaulted by the three older kids.
It was also then that the albino saw the appearance of the smaller children.
The older one of the two had short white hair, while the younger one had orange. One look would make it seem like the two are not related, but Hikaru knew that these two are siblings.
"Shut up, we're asking Kyoko-chan! Not you!" Said the one whose appearance looked the oldest of the group.
"S-She doesn't want to play with you guys!" When Hikaru heard the conversation; it was a typical argument of children.
The three bullies didn't seem to notice Li and Hikaru since they weren't facing the direction where they were, while Kyoko seem to see the two from where she was.
Hikaru knew that look. Such pleading look would make anyone want to help them. But rather than feeling empathy, Hikaru's first thought was how irritating the three bullies are. If not disciplined, they would likely grow up to be not that good in terms of the present society.
"Young master." Li called his attention and gave Hikaru a look.
The albino held out his hand.
"Umbrella." He said and Li handed the youth his source of shade.
It was a good thing that Hikaru was in a good mood, or else he would have ignored such event.
Sasagawa Ryohei had made it his responsibility to ensure that his new little sister wouldn't experience any troubles in Namimori.
Those past few weeks, they had experienced peaceful playtime in the nearby playground, only for that peace to be shattered by three older kids.
Ryohei had shielded his sister from the three other kids who wanted to play with them. He had no problem with Kyoko making friends, but it was obvious that his sister didn't like the three boys in front of him right now.
When they couldn't get what they wanted, they resorted to violence and sent a few kicks and punches to him.
His body hurt from the strikes, but his sister who kept clinging behind him kept him up in his feet.
"Shut up, we're asking Kyoko-chan! Not you!" Was the reply of one of the older kids when he refused their invitation for his sister. Yet the hold in his shirt said otherwise that they were not giving up any sooner.
"S-She doesn't want to play with you guys!" He once again said and saw that the three didn't like that. Their faces with a frown, brows furrowed together.
The one that held his collar raised his fist and was ready to strike him again.
Reflex made Ryohei close his eyes and wait for the impact.
"Onii-chan!!" His sister had shouted in distress, still clinging to him in fear and worry, unable to do anything to the larger kids.
He waited for the punch.
He waited.
"You act as if you're younger." An unfamiliar voice sounded, and a sound of something being hit. Ryohei felt the hand holding his shirt let go, followed by the simultaneous shout of pain of the three bullies.
Ryohei slowly opened his eyes, still afraid of what was happening. But when he did, he was astonished to see the three bullies on the ground, and to the side was another kid who looked a bit older than him holding an umbrella.
"What a bunch of brats." Ryohei flinched when that child's gaze landed on him. He didn't know what to do and his mouth kept gaping like a fish out of water.
"U-Uh.. Uhm, Thank you..!" Ryohei managed to show his gratitude for his savior. He also noticed that his sister kept fidgeting behind him.
"Kyoko should also say thank you." Ryohei urged his sister.
Kyoko managed to have some courage to step out and greet the other. She kept twiddling with her fingers and looking at her feet.
"T-Thank you..." she murmured.
Ryohei watched as the kid who saved them stared at them. He didn't make any action or said any acknowledgement for their thanks. He only moved when an adult appeared beside him.
"Young master. It's time to return." The scary-looking man made Ryohei stand rigidly where he was.
The kid, young master* it seems, nodded and handed the adult the umbrella. Ryohei and Kyoko stared as the two began to walk away, leaving them and the groaning unconscious bullies there.
But young master stopped and looked back at them.
"You should hurry home and treat those wounds." His voice was flat and wisp that Ryohei might have not heard it if he was a few steps away.
He only snapped out of his daze when he felt a tug on his shirt. His sister staring at him.
"Nii-chan.." she whispered, already wanting to go home, tired from all that had happened.
"Yeah, let's go home." Ryohei grinned.
He made sure that the next time he will meet that person, then he would ask for their name.
A/N:
*in this part, the young mind of Ryohei thought that Hikaru's name was young master or in Japanese 'bocchan'.