So I completely forgot I'd already written this part and it's (along with another part for later in the story) have been sitting on my computer for a long time. Like...months. ;)

When Haruichi and Haruna arrived for their first class, the youngest Kominato was nearly tackled by a blur of white and brown. Blinking up at the young, brown haired boy hovering over him, Haruichi was terrified.

"You must be Haruichi!" The boy said. "I'm Sakamoto Mito! You can call me Mito!" Narrowing his eyes and leaning forward so their noses were almost touching, Mito didn't notice how Haruichi's bottom lip was quivering or how him eyes were starting to water. He stayed like that for a few seconds before sitting back up and nodding with a smile, seemingly pleased with something.

Pointing at the boy beneath him, he declared, "You're cute. I'm gonna make you my little sister."

Haruna wanted to help, she really did, but the scene was just too much. She started giggling which soon turned into full on laughter. Rin shook her head and smacked her son on the head. "Mi-chan, Haru-chan is a boy and you're scaring him. Now let him up. Practice is starting."

Grumbling to himself about mean old ladies (which earned him another smack on the head), Mito stood up and held out a hand to Haruichi, smiling widely. The pink haired child rubbed his eyes and hesitantly took the offered hand, letting Mito pull him up and lead him over to their mothers.

"All right!" Rin said, clapping her hands together. "It's been awhile since I've gotten some beginners! Nobody in this town seems interested in learning and if they do they wind up quitting soon after because they thought they could just take a class or two and be a master."

"Rin-chan, you're scaring the children." Blinking, Rin rubbed the back of her head and laughed a little nervously.

"A-Anyway! Since Haru-chan and Mi-chan are still so young, I don't want to push them too hard. So for today we'll start with what karate is and why you're learning it." She gestured for the three to sit in front of her and cleared her throat.

"Karate is one of the many forms of martial arts. It's a way to center ourselves, and create balance in our lives. It gives us strength not only physically but emotionally and spiritually too."

"So cool Rin-chan."

Frowning at the smile Haruna wore, Rin pouted slightly. "You're making fun of me."

"No, no, of course not."

Huffing and glaring weakly at her smiling friend, Rin continued. "Anyway, karate is a way to defend yourself and to protect others. It is not to be used to purposefully hurt others. Training will be hard, but if you are willing to work hard and keep at it, then I can guarantee you that you will be stronger."

"You've grown up Rin-chan."

Slamming her hand onto the mat below her, Rin growled at her friend. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing~"

"You are making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Why would I do that?"

Pouting and turning away, Rin grumbled under her breath. "I won't reach you if you keep picking on me."

Leaning forward, Haruna wrapped her arms around her friend. "You're so much fun to tease Rin-chan~"

Shaking off the hug, Rin jumped up and pointed at Haruna, her eyes shining with tears. "You always pick on me! Ever since we were kids you would tease me!"

Grinning, the pink haired female pounced on the taller woman. "It's because I love you Rin-chan~"

"No! Get off! Ha-chan! Stop it!"

"Not until you tell me you love me Rin-chan."

"No!"

Mito turned to look at Haruichi. "Wanna come play with me?"

Glancing between his mommy and the boy next to him, Haruichi eventually nodded. He got up and followed the older child to the other side of the dojo. Mito grinned and puffed out his chest. "Watch this!"

Falling forward, he tucked his head into his arms and did a somersault before jumping back up onto his feet. "Cool, right?! Want me to teach you how to do it?"

Shuffling his feet, Haruichi shook his head. "Looks scary."

"It's not scary! It's really fun! And easy! I'll even help you!" Grabbing the smaller boys' hand, Mito tugged him to the ground. "You just put your hands in front of you," He set his hands on the ground, "And put your head down between them, and then push off with your feet!" He did so and then twisted around to look at his new friend. "See! Easy!"

Haruichi hesitated a little, but copied the older boy. He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed off with his feet, but barely got his feet to his head before they came back down to where they were originally.

"Push harder!" Biting his lip and pushing off harder, he felt hands on his legs helping them over his head until he landed on his butt, blinking up at the grinning boy. "See? That wasn't too hard! Wanna try it again?"

Nodding, both because Mito was right, it wasn't that bad and because he didn't want to disappoint his new friend, Haruichi closed his eyes and tried it again, barely able to get his feet over his head on his own this time. Blinking a few times, he smiled up at Mito who was cheering. "I did it!"

Nodding enthusiastically, Mito tackled the smaller boy in a hug. "You did it!" Grinning, he wrapped his arms around Haruichi tightly and proceeded to roll around the floor with him, getting surprised giggles from the younger child.

Smiling as they watched the two, Haruna giggled. "That looks like fun~"

Rin's eyes widened and she started shaking her head, attempting to get out of her friends surprisingly strong grip. "Ha-chan! No! Stop!" She couldn't help but laugh as she and the pink haired woman started rolling around like their sons. They didn't get very far before they ran into a wall, causing them both to laugh.

Finally sliding out of Haruna's grip, Rin shook her head. "We're never going to get anything done if we keep goofing off like this."

"Oh come on Rin-chan," Haruna giggled, playfully nudging the other woman's shoulder, "You know it's fun. And admit it, you haven't had this much fun since we were teenagers."

"I wouldn't say that. But Mi-chan and Haru-chan seem to be getting along."

"Ah," Haruna watched the two with a soft smile, "I have the feeling they're going to be good friends."

/

Having Mito for a friend, to Haruichi, was the best thing in the world. He finally had someone he could call a friend, and when he was with the older boy none of the bullies bothered him. He had someone to laugh with, who wouldn't make fun of him if he cried (which he wasn't doing as often anymore), and who enjoyed video games almost as much as he did.

It was almost a year after he and his mother had started their karate lessons that the bullies showed up again. In fact, Haruichi had started to think that they had moved on from him.

"Where've you been crybaby?" The supposed 'leader' of the three laughed, the other two following along.

"Please let me through," Haruichi said quietly. He wasn't afraid of these three anymore. They may be bigger than he was, but the adults at the dojo were a lot bigger than they were, and a lot stronger too.

"Why would we do that?" Ignoring them and deciding to take the longer way around, Haruichi turned away. He didn't get far before a hand on his shoulder forced him to turn back around. "We're not finished."

"Please let go."

"Make me." Sneering, the 'leader' opened his mouth to say something else when Haruichi landed a punch straight on his nose. Falling back with a cry, the older boy held his nose, tears leaking out of his eyes.

The shortest of the three went to help his 'leader' while the last one rounded on Haruichi, fist pulled back. He didn't get a chance when the smallest boys' fist slammed into his left eye, sending him tumbling down. The last one dropped his 'leader' and ran, not wanting to wind up like his friends.

Grinning to himself for finally standing up to the bullies, Haruichi readjusted his backpack and continued home. He couldn't wait to tell Mito!

/

Ryousuke slowed to a stop. He'd seen the three surrounding his baby brother and was about to run to help when Haruichi knocked the biggest one onto his butt. It didn't take long for the next one to be down and the last to run off.

'He doesn't need me to protect him anymore.'

Feeling a mix of pride and sadness, Ryousuke wondered when his little brother had gotten so strong.

Let me know what you though!