OOCness for almost all the major characters here! Bad material here. I'm really not satisfied.

~K27~

Boys and girls be ambitious!

Boys and girls keep it real!

-LM.C 'Boys and Girls'

~K27~

I hate the fact the enemy is so much better at everything and manages to overtake you after three years. What's worse, that person from three years ago wasn't technically all that. I mean, like he sucks at everything.

It's a wonder what three years of training for sumo in Italy makes!

Hate it.

I hate the fact that from across me, he's solving the problems in the board with only a small glance in a textbook that takes me two hours to memorize. I hate the fact that his soufflé's much better than mine at Home Economics when it took me half my lifetime to find out that subject as my calling. I hate the fact that from the 'No-Good Tsuna' I remembered in junior high was absent in this tall, able and medium-eyed #$%&*!

Most of all, I hate the fact that he isn't friendly to me at all anymore.

Jerk.

I double check to stop making unnecessary ramblings in my mind before skipping lunch and heading for some baseball practice.

~K27~

"Are you out of your mind, Kyoko-chan?" Haru keeps reminding me from the stands as I spun my bat like a baton and walk to the home plate. "There's no way you can win! He'll just pawn you like what he did to your brother."

"I'm agreeing with big-mouth here," nods Gokudera-kun (who I still don't know if he's an ally or enemy to begin with due to his 'friendliness' to Sawada...san)with a sage-like face. "Never in a million years will you and baseball freak be able to beat the Tenth."

"I'm not saying I'm on your side, Octopus Head!" she reminds him as she folds her arms defiantly. "It's just-well- it's impossible for you to beat him. I mean- come on! What the hell can you do against that Tsuna? It'll take a MIRACLE for you to win!"

"Has he played baseball in Italy by any chance?" I squeeze into her Haru's warnings and shout at Yamamoto-kun.

"Nah. Our favourite past time is playing soccer at the fields after training." He brushes off with a smile like what Yamamoto-kun would usually express. "But I want you to know Tsuna's no ordinary guy. When Reborn-san tapped that intuition of his, he starts to learn things easily like crazy. He can memorize or do anything in a flash. Learning and being good at baseball is a piece of cake for him."

How can Yamamoto be so nonchalant about this?

"What's our chance then of winning?" I ask Yamamoto-kun as he readies for a pitch.

He grins, as he lifts up his foot to prepare for lift-off.

"50-50. We can win with the baseball freak." He says confidently as he releases the ball.

I swing the bat. But the ball spiralled out of control and grazes past me as it rushes to the place. Strike.

"That's how Tsuna will probably throw the ball. No mercy." He says as he flashes the peace sign.

And for Yamamoto-kun to use signs like that so carelessly when I know everything will depend on the match tomorrow…

"Three innings." He says as he grabs the ball from me and returns back just as fast. "If you get struck out just as easily, how can we stand a chance in those few innings?"

He then lands another quick pitch that almost howled as it swooped past my face, sending quick chills. If that ball ever manages to hit me, I know I'm a goner. What a monster...

"Strike two, Kyoko-san. One left and you're out." He grins, catching the ball and preparing for another blast off. "Don't be afraid of Tsuna. He's hell itself but hey, hell can be cheated."

Yamamoto-kun, can I really cheat that person?

"Tenth can make the baseball freak bow to his freakin' knees!" I hear Gokudera-kun say in the stands.

"The hell will Tsuna-san literally do that. Think logically, stupid Octopus Head!" Haru shouted back in equal measure. Sometimes, I wonder why they wouldn't stop arguing about mundane things.

"Kyoko-san!" said Yamamoto-kun as he threw the ball. I poised my left foot, preparing them for the ball. The ball suddenly became more matrix than reality. I coiled my hands on the bat and brace myself to hit. This is it, Kyoko. Concentrate...

The ball was closer now as it whizzed straight at me. And before it reached the plate...

WHAM!

I see the ball fly straight out past the metal walls (for audience safety measures) and out into the sun-draped horizon.

I can't believe it.

Neither did Yamamoto-kun, who was gaping as the ball rocketed past Namimori High.

I really can't believe it.

"Wow, Kyoko-chan!" I hear Haru's bellow after a couple of seconds. "How the hell did you do that?"

"I practice!" I shout back, waving at her. But the truth is, I don't know how I did it too. Perhaps... onii-chan's lending me strength even when he's gone.

"Kyoko-chan! What are you doing here? Ah, I see! With Yamamoto eh? I never knew you'd be joining the baseball contest. Come on, Sawada! You suggested practicing this noon!"

And so, I finally face him. My enemy. He's now wearing those outfits people normally use on games. Also, he keeps looking away, unable to meet my gaze. Geez, he can look at me bad when brother's not around! Why not now, eh?

And just as he's about to hog the spotlight once again, I hear Gokudera-kun's screams of joy.

"TEEEEENNNNTTTHHHHHH!"

He then jumps straight out of the metal rails simply to join us.

"Why is the Tenth here? And with Lawn Head?"

Now he can look at us more properly. Those steely eyes are focusing on all of us, with his smile forever lost in that blank expression. But I don't mind. This isn't Tsuna. This is enemy #1.

"Practice." He just mumbled, digging his hands once more in his pocket to my displeasure.

"Ooh. Nay-suh!" Gokudera replied enthusiastically. "Good luck then tomorrow. And if you need any good substitutes..."

I face-palmed. This isn't the obvious time for me to be listening to Gokudera-kun's high-spirited praises for enemy #1.

"Yamamoto." He said, still not losing his gaze on mine. I stare him down also. There was no warmth to be seen inside but then... a flicker of flame-

"Yeah, Tsuna?" Yamamoto-kun laughed as he landed a high five on Sawada-san's palm.

"Don't try belittling me." He just said, before passing us by. Onii-chan flashed a smile and thumbs up at us before following him.

So... he leaves us here.

"Is that a threat?" I ask, loud enough for him to hear.

He halts walking.

And for the first time, he really looks at me with those eyes. Those soulless, empty holes of an excuse.

"I'd say more of a fact, Sasagawa-san," he says in that lifeless tone of his before fully turning his back on us, like what he did a couple of nights ago.

"He sure makes my blood boil," I fold my arms as Yamamoto-kun pats my head.

"Chill, Kyoko-san." He says encouragingly. "Well, I guess it's time to go. We'll probably practice this afternoon. Let's go, Gokudera." He calls Gokudera-kun, who upon awakening from his childish fantasy with Sawada-san straightened up to follow (all the while saying a little few swear words).

"Why is Tsuna-kun acting that way?" I finally sputter out, as we walk from the field.

He just shrugs.

"Maybe because things have changed." He grins, albeit with a little grim touch in his cheerful lips. "And in Italy, sometimes people... aren't like the ones in Namimori. Tsuna had to take care of those people."

"I don't understand you." I just answer back, as we then take our respective places at the locker rooms, where Haru was waving us to hurry up.

"You'll see, once the time is right for you to know." Yamamoto-kun assures, trying to be tactful and secretive at the same time.

The combination isn't working.

~K27~

When I went to my locker to obtain my clothes, it turned out they weren't there to greet me.

Oh sweet Sanmyaku.

Thankfully, Haru is a resourceful friend and gladly lent me an extra uniform (which she normally brings now that Gokudera-kun became a classmate in case their argument escalates).

And as usual, they're arguing again.

"Die already!"

"Sorry, but your wish ain't working. Loser!"

"Oh, okay. So you're happy now?"

"Uh... duh!"

"So you're happy now?"

"Yeah. And you're hot now? Losing your top, BIG MOUTH?"

"No Gokudera-kun. I'm cool. I'm cool."

"K!"

I can't even squeeze a thank you because of their almost never-ending bickering.

"Bad news." Yamamoto-kun says darkly as he takes the chair Haru was sitting in earlier. "Kusakabe told me Hibari's sick. Maybe that's why bullies are taking their time in messing things off."

I look at Sawada-san's direction. He's still looking at Gokudera-kun, who's in front of us and now having a shouting match with Haru.

This is really nagging me now. Why is Sawada-san not with his friends this time around? And for him to be giving that really irritating stare-!

"Oh, so you think that Tsuna-san's a freakin' god? Get real!"

"So what? Why can't you just believe that you can't even shave that moppy hair of yours?"

She gasped theatrically. "How dare you-!"

"Admit it." Gokudera-kun finally gains the initiative. "That hair of yours is too messy to even look at! Hag!"

"Oh, then why don't we put a bet then? You're the one to talk!" said Haru, slapping the table before launching her foot at my poor desk. "Winner gets to cut the loser's hair!"

"Deal!" said Gokudera, fists in the air and pumping up. "The tenth will definitely win!"

"If Kyoko-chan wins, I'll cut my hair!" said Haru, eyes flaming. "So shut up!"

And so, I never manage to understand at how Gokudera-kun can agree with that.

But the party, as they say, was still yet to come.

"What the hell...?"

"Who in the right mind can even be doing this?"

"Hibari-san, get out of the friggin' hospital!"

I looked at the window to where my classmates were looking at. As my eyes glide past the glass, my brain just couldn't process what I'm currently seeing right now.

There goes my underwear. Flying on the flag pole.

That's not all. My clothes and lots of more uniforms were dangling like raggedy ribbons at that pole.

Did I mention to seeing a plushie?

DIE FEELERS/PARASITES OF SAWADA-SAMA. They emblazoned the flagpole in shine letters. My classmates all were shocked as their eyes now become glued at Sawada-san. He shrugged, as he once more put his hand in his pockets.

This is his entire fault. For Michiko's sake, why won't he, himself die?

Yamamoto-kun whistled as he looked on.

"Everyone's really lenient when Hibari's not around." He used the 'l-word' wrong.

I face-palm and double check if Sawada-san still didn't ruin my way of thinking.

~K27~

"Last one on the bicycles will treat us some sushi!"

"You're on, baseball freakazoid!"

After baseball practice (to where, Haru safeguarded my clothes) we are finally taking a breather by going home.

"We'll be walking then. See you tomorrow, Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto-kun."

"What?"

"Haru-chan forgot to bring hers and onii-chan didn't want me to use bicycles so..."

"Oh... then hop on!" Yamamoto-kun orders us to our delight.

"Don't pair me with Octopus Head here."

"Whatever."

Sure enough, it's Haru who's in the backseat of Yamamoto-kun's bike while I'm grabbing hold of Gokudera-kun as we zoom past the school and immerse ourselves in the golden glow of the dissipating sunset.

But from there, I pause my thinking and reflect on what's happening here. Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto-kun. No Sawada-san. Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto-kun. No Sawada-san. Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto-kun. No freakin' Sawada-san.

I'm really going nuts.

"Gokudera-kun?" I ask, noticing his fierce gaze on Yamamoto-kun's and Haru's smiling faces.

"Agh-" He finally snaps out and looks at me before fixing his sights on the sunset-ridden road. "Yeah?"

"I know this might be rude to ask but..." I take a deep breath before taking the plunge. "Why aren't you hanging out with Tsuna- uh- Sawada-san anymore?"

He stops his bike, just in the edge of the cliff (which surprisingly, is included in the Namimori road map) where we had a vivid view of the sunset beyond us.

A smile worms through his frowning lips.

"It's only in Reborn-san's orders!" he yelps out, laughing. I frown in reply. I know there was something else he simply wouldn't tell us.

I was right.

"And... I guess times have changed since then in junior high. You know, the times when we could just hang out and pretend the world's a small place? I've just found that out the time he-" Gokudera-kun stops talking. He looks in the distance and sighs before launching a cigarette to his lips.

"He what?" I piqued.

"When he took on the world we launched ourselves in using his shoulders." He continues, blowing out a small puff of smoke in front of the bright orange sun. "You'll understand when the time comes, I promise you. Like the baseball idiot there. When he found out the truth the moment he joined us, it shook him a little when he used his weapon to take someone's life. It shook all of us. After that, the tenth... I didn't know him anymore. He used to suggest to Reborn in stopping the evil of it all but Reborn-san just wouldn't budge. Then that's it. He became more distant and no matter how we try to cheer him up... he's just lost in it all, y'know."

I look at Gokudera-kun as he manages a strained smile before finally pedalling to catch up to Yamamoto-kun and Haru's pinprick figures.

"He's okay with us hanging out with you two anyways." He promises, going full speed ahead. "And besides, I guess with him not around much, I manage to get to know you two a lot. I don't know that much about big mouth though. But with that... Yamamoto." Never in my life did I manage to hear him say his name. "I guess I got to know him more. And I was too stupid for not seeing that he doesn't want all the glory I fathomed... Ha! The right-hand seat is in the bag!"

"LO-SER!" said Haru by the time we reached Yamamoto-kun's place. "The sushi's on the Octopus Head!"

"Hey! No fair!" He protests, with a quick stoppage by Yamamoto-kun.

"Come on Miura-chan. Let's forgive him just this once. Please?"

I then look at Haru, who's now crimson-face and unable to look at Yamamoto-kun, who pats her head.

"K..." She mumbles. "Well, let's go eat then. You have any jobs today, Kyoko-chan?"

"I already told you." I laugh, both at her earlier expression and unending 'idiocy' on the matter. "I'm quitting my part-time shifts till my grades go up."

"You really have high aspirations there, Kyoko-chan." Haru huffed before going inside.

I then did a signature shrug, remembering Tsuna's tic at the same time and giggle. What Gokudera said earlier then flashes pass me.

"Kyoko-san." Gokudera's hand suddenly finds its place on my shoulder. "I hope you'll forgive the Tenth for what he did before. He's too afraid to apologize. He often asks us about it. Heck, he even glances at your direction in class if you're okay with what he did."

"Yeah right. He often glares at me when he has the chance." I inform him, pouting as we charge inside. "And he was always looking at YOU."

"Geez. You realize both of you have really big egos?" Gokudera-kun shakes his head.

"I do, thank you." I remind him. "And mine's definitely bigger than his."

He heaves. "You definitely have no idea how wrong you are."

Yamamoto-kun saved to seats for us in front of the counter. As we gobbled up the sushi he prepared, the captain (and now ally #2 with Gokudera-kun temporary ally #4) prepares the game plan.

"Tomorrow, you'll be the catcher. Don't be late." He heavily emphasizes the last sentence before grabbing the sushi with tuna.

When Yamamoto-kun says such things in that tone, he's not taking things lightly.

~K27~

By suppertime, onii-chan's telling me to skip playing them.

"If by any chance you get to play against us," He says as he chews the sushi I brought home, "don't expect us to be soft on you. Sawada said to be ready against the opposing team at all times. With a veteran on their side, triple that to the extreme."

I reassure him that I'll be completely fine, since I'll just be the catcher.

"What is that Yamamoto thinking?" screams my outraged brother. "If by any chance that ball flies too hard then- oh am I gonna kill that bastard-!"

"Relax!" I say quickly. "I'll try to be safe at all times. And we can't be sure of us winning you know. Don't worry, onii-chan. You already know I'm not a little girl anymore."

And just like that, he bursts into tears.

"K-kyo-ko! NO!"

Things are now settled just like that.

Also, as a gift my brother gives me a pen with the pushy things on top that he told me to push only when needed. I can't push it anyway so I stow it in my bag just in case.

~K27~

Idontbelieveit.

Really. This seriously can't be happening.

It's a cool yet sunny day, along with a flying yellow bird that must symbolize good luck. Perfect for pitching. The Yamamoto fangirls (excluding my best bud Haru) are on our side. And good grief, they consist 25% of the female population. That doesn't include Yamamoto's friends.

Haru's blowing her horn as well as shooting fireworks every time we pitch right.

And good god, we won all of it!

Our strategy, especially with the other council members (though still newbies but learn fast) work like a charm. It was working.

We. Are. WINNING!

We're now in the semis. Enemy #1, here we come!

~K27~

I don't believe this.

I don't f-ing believe this.

Oh darn it, what's happening? Why now?

Stupid, Kyoko! Stupid! I chastise myself as I slam the door of the basement, a couple of feet underground from the baseball field. Everything's pitch-black, except for a hole fit for three fingers at the far end. I can't see anything at all even with that.

I was fooled. Fooled by those giggling girls. I thought that they're just going to warn me of laying off Sawada, but they took action this quick.

Leading me here, to this wretched place in the semis... and I thought those girls were nice and stupid! Oh, gawd. It might be almost two hours since they lead down here 'under sensei's orders' and locked me up. Just for that Sawada...

Gawd.

I never liked him since I saw him again. Why can't they see that? He's a selfish, annoying, scary bastard for all I see! He hates me as much as I hate that apathetic look on his face! Are they even that stupid to not notice that? He ditched meeting me a couple of times without apologizing. He didn't bid me hi at all. He took my freakin' spot as top honors in every subject I aimed hard to excel. He's the friggin' reason why my parents separated because brother went to Italy?

Why... why can't they see that?

Why can't they just switch places with me, and see just how cruel he is? For being Sawada and not Tsuna?

For not being that Tsuna I remember so well?

"Piyo!" A tiny chirp echoed through the dim prison I was in.

"H-hello?" I reply back at the top of the cracked ceiling. I didn't notice that angry tears are already waterfalling down my sweat-stained cheeks. Stupid Kyoko! Stop crying over such childish matters! You already told your brother that you're not a little girl anymore!

"Piyo!" That same voice answered. "She's here! She's here!"

I now ran just a few inches from it. "Please help me, little bird. Please!"

"I hear you, Hibird. Stop making noises. It irritates your master a lot."

And then, it was like heaven opened up for me.

In the form of a black-uniformed Hibari-san.

He just examines me for a few seconds before losing interest.

"Since being absent for a few days, people have become this lenient?" He then extends a tonfa (from his uniform which I still don't understand how he manage to conjure out) for me to reach out. I grab hold of it as he effortlessly pulls me out.

"You used the 'l' word wrong." I smile, dusting my baseball uniform.

"Are you correcting me, by any chance?" His eyes dart dangerously. His bird, Hibird (the yellow bird in the sky, AKA good luck charm) then chirps 'Hibari' before snuggling to my shoulder. I pat it lovingly.

"A little." I smile, no longer afraid of Hibari-san. I guess I'm just too stupid to not be afraid of him since he rescued me. For now, that is.

"What are you waiting around here for then? If you keep correcting me, I'll bite you to death." He warns as he puts more emphasis by showing his tonfa.

I titter. "Sorry Hibari-san." I then give the bird one final pat. It pecks me back just as affectionately. "Thank you." I wave. "Your bird is really cute." I add before clapping my mouth. What the heck am I saying?

"Hey you." He stops me as I feel an electric shock run through my body. Oh gawd, stupid mouth!

"No one ever complimented this little thing before." I glance at him. Hibird is now sitting on his head. He smirks. "The bird likes it."

I bow before laughing.

"Bye then Hibird!" I wave as I now run to the field. That's definitely one side of Hibari-san one rarely sees.

Yamamoto-kun smiles when he sees me. "Where have you been?"

"To heaven." I joke before putting a serious face as I look at the score. Last inning. We were leading 3-2.

"We're pitching next, Kyoko-san." He tells me as I then see the enemy pitcher throw the ball only to make my teammate scream in terror as the blazing thing went though the plate. I then hear the umpire cry out.

When the pitcher looks up did I realize the one with the cap.

Sawada Tsunayoshi.

It's now or never.

~K27~

Yamamoto-kun readies himself as I focus everything I got in this ball. My brother's already out, too slow against Yamamoto-kun's fast (and furious) pitches. Two outs. One left.

Sawada-san's at first base. If this one's not right then...

WHAM!

Wood struck ball as the ball flew in the air. Home run- no! The ball rocketed to the outfielders. Sawada's reaching second base...

He catches the ball! I quickly stand up and prepare to eat dirt.

Sawada's at third-

Yamamoto-kun's hand finally obtains the ball. Now Yamamoto-kun-

Sawada-san's halfway home-

Yamamoto-kun unleashes fury-

Sawada's almost here-!

The ball! The ball for goodness sake! Almost here! Come on!

Wait- Sawada's-

5 centimeters... 4 centimeters... one...

BAM!

All was a swirl of dirt and sweat as I grabbed hold of the ball and holding onto the plate. Sawada-san's beside me, now gasping for breath. The umpire examines our panting figures before...

"OUT!"

I don't believe it.

The crowd is screaming and booing at the same time-

Yamamoto-kun's firmly giving me a group hug with the rest.

No way.

I see him walking away to the appreciative claps of the crowd...

We-

He stuffs his hands once more in his pockets...

Really-

I see Gokudera despairingly pull his hair and Haru also pulling her own hair...

"WOOON!" I squeal. No way. This is all real, right? I really beat Sawada-san, right?

Oh my g-

"Hey! Hey, you!" I scream at his direction as I walk past my teammates who're now planning a Sushi Pool Party at Saturday. I walk past everyone who tries blocking the way. Onii-chan... Fangirls... Club members...

I then grab the hem of his shirt, to only realize that he's much taller and stronger than the Tsuna I know so well.

"What do you want?" He says irritably as he tries to walk in the locker room.

"You made us win." I accuse him, forcing him to turn around. "I saw what you did. You slid a little to miss the plate. I know you can win that but you didn't."

He stopped and is now looking at me. I don't remember the coldness I often see at class. His eyes are different now. I even wonder if I really saw ice within them at all.

"What is done is done." He says as he backtracks. "I have no time for this foolish talk. I have to prepare for training later with Ryohei-san-"

"Hey! Look at me straight!" say, now walking forward. "Why did you purposely lose?"

He doesn't look. His gaze was down below. To my surprise, I find his hands shaking as it burrows more into his pocket.

"I'm talking to you!" I snap, my voice breaking. "I still have a lot of questions to ask you, Sawada Tsunayoshi! If you won't answer that, then tell me why you didn't show at the places Reborn-chan told you to show. Tell me why you won't talk to me or even just look at me. Tell me why you can't even tell me the truth. Tell me-" I also drop my gaze onto the ground at the far right. "Who the hell are you?"

And just like that, something falls out of his pocket.

There was it, a tea-bag shaped charm with a sewn Tuna fish included on it.

I know this.

The charm I gave him, the old him, years ago.

He looks at me one last time before taking it with him and eventually leaving me.

So maybe that's why he often puts his hands on his pockets. It's probably with him always since I gave it to him. He's putting his hands on his pockets... to know if it's still there.

The tear is already too late to showcase the emotion I'm in.

~K27~

Did another upload since the first one has a major error upon publishing. Also, expect the other update mid-January. Aside from projects and homework, I still have to upload another chappie in another fandom.

Sorry for the shortened baseball match! As I said, I'm busy rushing everything. Also for the OOCness... sorry guys.

Final thing: Please review and criticize this. Pretty-pretty please?

Next chapter: I wanted to reach out to him and tell him what a real idiot he is. But only upon seeing the truth did I realize maybe I'm the real the idiot after all.