"I can't believe this!" Kuwabara's mom said as she marched him into their house. "You had one week of school left, one week, and you get yourself suspended for fighting!"
"But Mom," Kuwabara started.
"No buts!" she said. "Kazuma, I'm tired of hearing about you getting into fights. Why do you have to keep doing this?"
Her question reminded Kuwabara of the time, several months ago, when she'd asked the same question. He hadn't been able to answer her then.
"Those boys were going to hurt him, Mom," Kuwabara said. "It wasn't right; I had to help Urameshi."
She finally paused long enough to listen to what Kuwabara was saying. "What happened?"
"Those fifth graders had attacked Urameshi," Kuwabara said. "They were going to hurt Urameshi bad, so I tried to stop them."
His mom snorted. "Tried? I will never understand how two six year olds managed to beat up three ten year olds."
"Dad's a good teacher?" Kuwabara offered.
She sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"
Kuwabara shifted. "I know why I fight now."
She looked at him. "Do you?"
"I fight to protect," Kuwabara said.
That got a smile from her. "I see." She stared at him for a moment. "I guess your father's right. You were a fighter born, weren't you?"
Kuwabara shrugged, uncertain of the best way to answer her.
"If you're going to fight, there are some things I want to show you," she said.
Kuwabara perked up then. "Like what?"
Her blue eyes twinkled down at him. "Wait in the living room and you'll see."
Words: 264