(Sophia's POV)

We walked down the hall, two guards tightly holding each hand. I could see a few eyes pass over us as the school tried to fall into some sense of normal. Teachers talked at their chalkboards but few listened. Chatter about the event was buzzing around the school. When we descended the stairs I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

None other than Jr. Detective Yanase Hamada. He lifts the cigarette from his lips, a confident smirk on his lips "Well I'd say I'm surprised but not really." I lunge at him slightly causing the two guards to grab me again "Birds of a feather do flock together."

"Oh don't listen to him Kaoru, he's just pissy because he has to get back to guarding the mall."

He snaps two fingers in front of my face "Hey, don't get snippy with me little girl, I'm not the one in handcuffs."

"Where's your boss Yanase? Is he grabbing another donut or did he finally take your training wheels off?" at his silence my smile grows "Yeah, he probably did huh? That's what this whole acts about. -Someone's trying to fill out his big boy briefs."

"It's detective Hamada to you criminal."

"Still scaring little girls I see." A third voice states and I feel myself smile when my temporary house mother Kinuyo Matsumoto walks into the school. For a woman wearing a traditional dark purple kimono, a tight bun on the top of her head and a soft face she was a force to be reckoned with. When she looks at me that smile deepens "Or should I say trying to scare little girls."

"Matsumoto-san, what are you doing here." He sighs

"Well, Sophia is under my care while her father's overseas. When something happens I'm here." By now she'd reached up, staring Yanase straight in the face. Her voice drops slightly quieter "If you think I'm gonna let you rip into Sophia like you did with my husband you've got another thing coming Yanase. I will protect my family with all my power god help me."

I couldn't help but smile at that. All of Yansase's ego had vanished and I got a glimpse of the man I'd met numerous times over the years. Due to her husband's line of work and the fact that she was housing Baki Hamna," the juvenile delinquent" as he'd put it Detective Kido and Jr. Detective Yanase showed up at our house more than needed. Actually, anytime something happened they showed up, trying to pin the blame on someone.

After the death of her father, Yanase got bolder. He'd gone after Kozue in school and me at home or Kendo practice. Trying to get us to crack. Only Kozue still doesn't know about her father's real job and I wasn't going to crack. I'd had quite a few long talks with Kinuyo, heartbreaking talks and I swore I'd do everything in my power to keep them both safe.

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"So let me get this straight, Imori walked into the school with a loaded crossbow and threatened to kill anyone who stayed. Not only did you stay but you choose to confront him?" Yanase looks over his notes "Why?"

"Well, you could say after dealing with you for so many years I've learned when someone's acting tough."

He sighs, leaning against the desk in a sad attempt to look tough "Sophia. Do you think you can answer the questions without the usual level of sass?"

"I don't know. Do you think you can ask the questions without the usual level of stupid?" the Principal spit his drink onto the table, coughing lightly as he apologizes and cleans up his mess. I turn back to Yanase "I grew up with Imori in Canada. He was my neighbor when he was living with his grandmother. After my mother and brother's accident, I went to live with her when Imori came here for school. I took care of her too her deathbed. Imori owes me."

"You risked your life on a debt?"

I roll my eyes "Look... I'll admit it wasn't the smartest decision I've ever made but if it came down to me or Hanayama there was a far higher chance he'd shoot Hanayama." I shrug "I was hoping I could keep him distracted long enough for help to come or for Hanayama to scare the shit out of him. It worked."

"It worked. It worked?! That's all you're saying?"

"Let me put it this way Yanase. When you let weapons do you fighting instead of your fists you will never win a fight. Facing off against Hanayama Kaoru Imori, the best street brawler in Japan -he lost that fight before it started."

"And Imori's injuries?"

"Oh, that was me." I state with a shrug "Dumb ass tried to shoot me with an arrow, he had it coming."

'When did you strike him?"

"After Hanayama scared him."

"And how did he do that?"

"He's a terrifying kid Yanase, you do the math." When he looks at me I sigh "He took his shirt off, sat on the floor with me in front of him and told Imori he could shoot him as much as he wanted but when he was done it was his turn. Imori cracked; I got angry and hit him."

"With what?"

"I don't know. Whatever was on the ground I guess. Lots of desks were tipped over. Bags were spilled, I didn't really look."

"It looked like a lot of damage."

I shrug "I was angry. Imori brought a custom made crossbow with him. Four hundred and fifty pounds of tension, people don't even hunt animals with that shit, it destroys anything it touches. I made sure he wasn't getting up again."

Yanase sighs, flipping down his book "I would suggest keeping your heroics to a minimum Miss Jones. You have your upcoming kendo competition, it would be a shame for you to miss it..." my eyes narrow as he opens the door "Stay in the city, I might have more questions."

When he leaves I glare at the floor "Bastard..."

Kinuyo places a hand on mine "Just ignore him. If you're telling the truth he has nothing on you."

The principal clears his throat "Miss Jones, considering the circumstances I think it would be best for you to take a few days off."

"You're suspending me?"

"Only for a few days yes, it will allow us to get a handle on the situation."

"Just me?"

"No, the three of you. When Imori is out of the hospital the board will decide what to do with him." He pulls out my file and writes some stuff down "I want you off the school grounds immediately. You may return next week."

Kinuyo nods, gently pulling me off my chair before bowing. I bow as well apologizing for my actions and we leave, walking down the hall quietly. Her hand never left mine. Her thumb gently brushes over the back of my hand.

"I'm only going to ask you this once alright?" I spare at glance at Kinuyo and nod "Did you honestly feel in control of the situation?"

I ponder it for a moment as we walk to lockers "Yes. Had it been anyone else probably not but I felt confident in myself. I knew Imori would break." She nods, stepping down to my locker "Kinuyo, I'm sorry for scaring you."

"You're safe, that's all that matters," she pulls out my shoes and I quickly switch them "though I doubt your dad will be as calm."

I freeze, my shoe half on "You called my dad?!"

"Who do you think called me?" she muses "You're lucky he's not on the first flight home young lady."

This time I snort "Please it would take more than this for my father to come home." I pause, choosing to keep my shoes with me rather than leave them here and slide them under my arm "He would only come if I was in the hospital."

I could tell Kinuyo wanted to argue but the simple fact that she was here and my father was still halfway around the world and not on a plane spoke volumes. She simply smiles softly, placing a hand on my cheek.

I lean into it, cupping my hand over hers "I'm okay, I promise."

I turn, stopping when I come face to face with Kaoru. He stops, clearly not expecting me. We both wait for the other to move first.

"Bringing weapons to school, involving a student in a fight! You told me you were only here for school!" An angry voice shouts and an older man in a black suit comes around the corner. His hair was slicked back with jell and an arrogant look on his face "Boss! Are you even listening to me?!" The man stops, clearly shocked to see us standing there and glances between both of us "Is that her?"

"Kizaki, go wait in the car."

It wasn't a suggestion but an order. This man, Kizaki stops, a bit of sweat on his face before he turns, grumbling angry words under his breath. I step closer to my locker as he goes by and jump when the door slams open then closed behind us. He was certainly charming.

I turn back to Kaoru and jump. For the second time today, he'd crossed the hall and was now standing before me, a soft look on his face "Are you alright?"

His voice was deep and very smooth. I swallow and nod "Yes, a bit shaken but alright."

"Why did you do that for me? No one has ever done that but my men."

I shrug "I knew Imori." At his silence, I continue "Besides, I did stab you with a pencil so I kind of owed you..." I blush and rub my neck awkwardly.

To add to my humiliation Kinuyo laughs and steps back "I'll wait for you in the car Sophia."

The room fell into tense silence "Do you often risk your life like that?" I think back to the way he casually kneels down, exposing his back to Imori's wrath. I was terrified but Kaoru was calm, prepared for the onslaught.

"I have a family to lead, so yes." He looks away quietly "Though I try not to fight in school..."

"You saw what that crossbow did to the wall, he could have killed you."

"Fighting is just that, fighting. A person agrees to fight or they don't. Even if I'm sleeping, sick or with a woman in bed... throw your best shot first and I won't even block it." He looks at me again, eyes too soft for a man with his life "it's how brawlers are."

I felt a flash on pain in my chest "Has your life always been this hard Kaoru?"

He looks away from me quietly "You should stay away from me Sophia... You'll only get hurt."

He goes around me and out the door. A shiny black car was pulled up by the gates. It was fancy and new and screamed money but my eyes only followed the large man leaving the building. Throw your best shot first and I won't even block it. His words shock me more than the fight had.

(Kaoru's Pov)

I sat in the car, ignoring Kizaki's disapproving rant and stared out the window. Today had been very confusing. Other than her occasionally violent tendencies I hardly knew anything about Sophia. She was a foreigner, lived close to Kozue Baki-san girlfriend. Her father lived overseas and she knew Imori who owed her some debt.

For the first two months she couldn't look at me, she worked hard in class, got good grades and didn't speak to a lot of people. She was a member of the kendo club, often spending her afternoons there and from what I overhead she had a championship coming up. I had no doubt she was skilled. While she was angry, the movements of her swing were too refined. The hit was clean, precise and deadly.

Then there was the way she acted around the detective. Even though I wasn't scared she actually comforted me during the tense meeting while simultaneously tearing down the cop. She had every right to sell me out, to blame me for the fight but she didn't. Sophia protected me, from the fight, the cops and the school board. She even stroked my ego a bit 'Facing off against Hanayama Kaoru Imori had lost that fight before it started.'

I close my fist, still feeling the way she shook in my arms. The softness of her lips on my rough hands and the clear fear in her eyes as I did what I typically did and made everything worse. Arming Imori with more weapons had been foolish with her so close. I had put her life in danger and yet she looked at me with pain, feeling sorry for me...

Very few people in my life have surprised me; this was one of those times.

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