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Hope you enjoy the story. The plot'll only thicken as more light will be shed onto what happened :)

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Chapter 3

A price for protection

"I want to protect my big brother."

Sasagawa Kyoko could vividly remember the sting from her watery eyes as she saw her brother come time and time again to protect her and to protect someone else. Where she tried to convince people to stop getting rough, he jumped right in and put a stop to it.

It was like words couldn't get through those people, who fought amongst themselves to compete over her. They tried to prove themselves to her or they tried to protect her stance.

When the first fist flew, the second came in retaliation, and soon a flurry of limbs came here and there. It was much more cathartic to see the other wince in pain, a perfectly natural reaction than win them over with a silver tongue. They called those who employed such means as snakes.

Hana was the only one who deeply understood the need for her pacifism. She snorted over the boys' need for rivalry and the sometimes primal instinct that took over them. Even if there were exceptions, Kyoko couldn't help but notice this group of people instead – looking on in fright as her brother gave up chinks of his armor to win a fight.

She couldn't care less about the bonds that developed through fists, as she saw with her own eyes how violence begets violence.

Her brother was one to never give in, despite the odds. He was the only one who stood back up when facing that Hibari Kyoya. In fact, he was one of the stoppers that prevented her brother from pulling in all the aggro. But it didn't change the fact about the horror she saw when the other pummeled her brother to the ground.

Her brother stepped right in, pulling her over to his back. She was more familiar with that sight than seeing him face her. It was as if his attention was pulled over those around her and those interactions wove a web that grew larger and larger.

She had seen him win against all odds, as people bigger than him that towered over him came for an eye for an eye- seeing that their family member was injured. They were faster than him, stronger and more well-built than him. They were smarter and more experienced than him.

Her brother… wasn't a machine. The bruises that he collected like badges of honors, some leaving scars, and some breaking bones. The first time she saw his arm dislocated from his shoulder after a particularly mean punch left her horrified. The thing that looked very similar to her own dangled in an odd angle- no human should have been able to do that. Then her brother put the arm back to place like a doll and simply continued.

It had gotten so bad that she even saw people bringing metal pipes or sharp blades to the fight. And yet, he… insisted on fighting bare-fisted- claiming that it would be unmanly of him to do otherwise. While his expression of triumph showed whenever he won difficult, and downright impossible fights was awe-inducing, it also brought out a sense of dread that pooled in her stomach- never quite fading away.

Kyoko wept incessantly.

Yet, her brother never listened.

Her brother's back was small, even if it bigger than hers. Yet, he insisted on taking the whole world on it. He boldly challenged, leaving a big target sign on his back.

Ryohei promised her sometimes when he got moved by her tears that he would never fight yet fighting became ingrained in his blood as he went and took up boxing.

While he claimed that it was a form of communication, it was a terribly inefficient form. Kyoko didn't know his limits and didn't want to have known it from experience.

Her morbid curiosity let her approach Tsuna as she asked him, "What do you think would happen if they went too far?"

After all if there was someone who took beatings for breakfast, it was the scrawny boy in front of her.

"Does it seem that bad…? They do tend to go too far, but my fear keeps me safe."

That was right. People put down cowards, but they were the ones to survive. Heroes, on the other hand, lived only in memories, leaving a blazing history while burning up like firecrackers. They were inscribed in history and forever inspired and gave hope, but rarely lived to tell the tale.

That was the difference between the brunette and her brother. It was a notion that made the girl's face pale rapidly.

What could she do to increase her brother's chance of survival?

How could she protect her reckless brother? He was practically an adrenaline junkie.

And so she asked Yamamoto, "What would you do if you collapse under your training? Wouldn't everything go down the drain if you don't pace yourself?"

Yamamoto looked like he was remembering a particularly bad memory. It was a thought that implied a version of him that was dragged down to the realm of ordinary beings, maybe even those subpar.

"I wonder how people would look at me if I wasn't amazing anymore. Maybe it'd make them a bit more honest with me.

That'd be great. But it'll be a shame if I can't play anymore. Even though it's so interesting…

Mmm… that's a hard choice."

But Yamamoto was different from her brother in that he was somewhat lonely from being put in a spotlight, on a stage and a different plane from other people.

Initially, it was Kyoko who decided to make him have a taste of his own medicine from her frustration.

Mochida Kensuke was a person who made her uncomfortable with how he looked at her, but when she started hanging around him, her feelings even infected her brother.

"Do you have to hang out with him? It's just that, Mochida's… problematic."

The kendo captain had a record of trying to put people in their place. He had a penchant for wanting to look like a king, despite being a big fish in a small well. On top of that, he tucked his tail and ran when he was faced with a stronger opponent like Hibari or Yamamoto.

'In what way? He's almost a mirror image of you when it comes to picking fights.'

"…It's not only me, you know. Even Kurokawa thinks he's got bad vibes. And she's super smart. Mom says it's a phase but-"

"Big bro, you don't know anything!"

Surprisingly, the only good thing that came out of it was a damper in her brother's ginormous spirit. But the wariness that her brother had could only last until he stopped viewing Mochida as a threat.

That's why she openly displayed her disinterest in the boy. It infuriated him, bringing him close to his tipping point.

"Kyoko… reconsider it will you? It's really hard to watch you two."

Hana, on the other hand, looked at Kyoko amusedly,

"Your bro's been hovering around you like a mom over a rebellious teen. While it's not bad to see you so relaxed… Kyoko, that idiot is a chauvinistic pig. He only acts kind to people to show off. He's utterly insufferable.

Your idea's only working now. You're walking on a tight rope. I don't think it's worth it. I don't want to see you get hurt.

Your bro's a separate case. I can see why you want to keep this up, seeing that idiot will only stop if his entire body breaks down."

"Hana-chan, you've seen how much my big bro gets hurt every day. This much is nothing."

"Gosh, you've even started swapping roles. I'm not a fan of it. I hear people say that siblings resemble each other, but you're taking up his worrying aspects."

"I'll protect him."

Then it finally happened.

"Why don't you stop sending me mixed signals, you bitch."

Kyoko's collar was grabbed as she stood on her tiptoes. The tightness around her neck was suffocating and she could feel her face burning up. Mochida's voice was thunderous, making her flinch.

Kurokawa's moved immediately. She shoved him with the force from the momentum, making him drop her from the shock.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to Kyoko, you shitty ape?!"

She stood in between them, putting her face right into Mochida's sight as she berated.

"Just try to pull this shit again and I'll make you pay dearly. Don't even think of appearing in front of Kyoko again.

You think you're hot shit, acting like you're prince charming or something and then you pull this?!"

"Stay out of this Kurokawa. It's none of your business.

This is all her fault. Baiting me like that- I don't want to be toyed with like an idiot!"

"You lay your hand on my best friend and have the gall to say that?!

You're the idiot for not taking a clue. And yet you stick around every single day."

"She clearly likes it because she stayed-"

"Your definition of sticking around is you approaching her every time.

What era are we in? Your way of picking up chicks is ancient!"

"What do you care? I'm not aiming for you-"

Kurokawa stopped paying attention to the blathering idiot and instead looked at her shaken friend. She was shivering as her fingertips touched her collar. A red ring was imprinted as the other wheezed.

As the ruckus grew, more and more people gathered around as the peanut gallery started to butt in with their own opinions. It was claustrophobic. Kyoko wasn't looking any better.

Finally, an arm pushed right into the crowd and pulled her right out of her. Ryohei silently pulled her out of the situation, his face severe. It seemed that he prioritized over getting her to safety over trying to enact justice on her behalf.

"Are you all right? Is there any place that hurts?" he asked in a worried tone.

It seemed like the overly bitter medicine played its part. It was an ominous thought that rung in Kyoko's head. It was a price well paid for, given the rewards. It seemed like she could teach her brother to shelter him carefully if she paid for it in pain.

She could use this.

"…It hurts so much big bro." Tears fell from her eyes like a drizzle.

"Mochida-kun was so scary. But he won't leave me alone."

Ryohei looked furious immediately going into attack mode. But he couldn't go after him, not with his sister crying her eyes out like this.

"Kyoko… Everything's going to be ok. I'll protect you.

I'm right here. Nothing's going to get you."

He hugged her tightly to provide a comfortable shoulder to cry onto. Kyoko's hands clutched the fabric strongly as her eyes sparkled.

The effect was quite strong. Ryohei had stopped frequently staying for after-hours in the boxing club as he decided to personally be her chauffer to and from the school. It was definitely a step in the right direction.

Turns out that fear was a great emotion. She felt grateful to Tsuna for making her realize that.

Later on, things got even better for her. Rather than easing up, the situation got worse, with Yamamoto getting an arm fracture while several other boys got injuries of similar severities. The latter had a common link, they were all Tsuna's bullies.

"I don't know what you did, but it worked great. Looks like it's a win-win situation for the both of us!" she chirped while looking at the innocent look sported by the brunette. In response, the other frowned uneasily.

Hibari was busy trying to resolve the incident and her big brother was strung uptight from the string of cases. With the situation expanding like this, her brother wasn't even left with a target to solve the situation. It was like he was forced to realize that not everything could be settled his fists, especially given that these occurred in a close time interval.

Mochida was even moodier when he saw that Yamamoto decided to abandon baseball and focus on kendo instead. It was like his thunder was stolen at an instant, leaving him with nothing in the end. It was like dropping him from heaven to hell.

Seems like Tsuna profited the most from it as the victims could easily link their identities together. It brought about a healthy fear that made them avoid him like a plague. Not to mention that Yamamoto was sticking around the brunette. He got rid of his tormenters and even got a friend.

From a tree in the school, Reborn looked at his current disciple with a look of contemplation. The dying will bullet would have to go. While it would have been fun to see the kid run around in his underwear as he did stuff, it wasn't a great choice for the current situation.

The dying will bullet was ordinary if the other lacked the regrets. So far, the kid was able to do whatever he wanted to and didn't have lingering attachments from that twisted ideal of his. The only regret was from Reborn's explanations and triggering that would put Vongola right into a hot pan. Iemitsu was already devastated by the loss of his wife.

It was only one incident so far, and yet the brunette had a penchant for bringing out the sinister aspects of people- despite his responses. That alone made him a risky candidate.

For a moment, Tsuna's eyes met with his own, startling him. Those eyes were blazing gold and bore a startling resemblance to the founder. If these weren't coincidences, but rather spurred by those flames of harmony…

Didn't Nono manage to seal those flames?