Chapter 5

Edited: 1/25/23

Three more chapters until the Kokuyo Arc.

Chapter 5: Stolen Kiss

In another life…

It was a high upstairs veranda. The mansion had many balconies to hang around, with beach chairs umbrellas and their own mini bars to make your own drink. This one however wasn't being used to relax at all. It was being used to grasp the attention of someone who would never turn to look.

"Get down from there mistress! You're causing a commotion!" her personal maid tried to get her down from the stone balcony's rail before she could slip.

Two more people were home that day, it was a weekend and the whole family was planning a trip to Hawaii; but they were not going without the middle child.

The fifteen year old oldest daughter and the thirteen second tried to get their ten year old sister from jumping off that balcony in her room.

"Anya, think about this throughly," Lillian said approaching her sister carefully in slow steps.

"Get back!" Anya yelled not bothering to turn around to look at her tear stained relatives. "Don't come any closer or I swear I'll jump!"

Lillian and her sister Kristin heard the harsh gasps of her previous sobbing session. It was so hard to hear because these attacks on Anya's state were so severe, last time she had to go to the hospital for intubation.

The maid was panicking whether to call the mistress of their estate but even if she did, there would be no concern if her middle child attempted to end her life. Since her second husband died, there was no one that could comfort Anya when her mother would verbally abuse her.

It was exactly that reason why she stood on the balcony on bare feet, telling herself it was time to end her suffering and join her father.

"I miss Dad. He was the ONLY one who wanted me! I hate her! Why does she always bring me down! If she didn't want me, then why didn't she abort or give me up!" Anya screamed, her loose red hair bouncing with the cold wind.

"Mistress don't say that!" The maid, who was closer to her lady tried to grab her arm. Anya hated the pity in her eyes, so she pushed it away with force, sending her back and to the floor.

"I'm going to jump! And no one can stop me!" She readied herself to let go of the umbrella she was supporting herself with and let her hands go from the pole.

"Don't do it! You know that she always says things like that!" Lillian yelled, her blue eyes freezing from the cold hair hitting her. "We've always watched you get hurt! We know now that it isn't doing any good! We've let her do what she wants and we're no longer willing to let that happen!"

"Killing yourself won't do good! Think about the littlest one! Think about our two year old brother Anya! Do you know how much pain he and we'll be in if you die?!" Kristin stepped up and took huge steps to grab her sister's pale, skinny hands.

"You're only ten years old! You have a lot to live for! You can show Mother you don't need her!"

Anya turned around. "H-How can I? No one loves me... Not even you two!"

The oldest saw red. She balled her fists in the air and threw the cellphone she had in her hand violently, the screen breaking into pieces. "WE CRACK OUR ARSES TWENTY FOUR SEVEN JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY MOST OF THE DAY! DON'T YOU DARE SAY WE DON'T LOVE YOU OR THATS NOT LOVE! WE DO! MORE THAN ANYTHING!" Lillian roared and began to cry.

"You have no idea what we've gone through to keep you with us Anya! Dad told us to protect you when he passed! He told us to promise him to run away with you if we need to! How can you say we don't love you when we're willing to sacrifice ourselves for you!"

The next thing they knew the child that was about to jump off and end everything, came down. She grabbed her shoulders to shield away all the pain she was letting go, feelings spilling out from a cup that had been filled to the brim. Her siblings outstretched their arms and grabbed her in a comforting embrace. Anya knew she was safe now, that she was loved and taken care of. It was hard to believe after everything, so she started crying like a baby.

"You'll live your life to the fullest, Anya. And when it's time for you to die, you won't have any regrets."

Tsuri never thought what it'd be like if they had a bigger family. If they had a younger or older sibling, some cousins running inside their houses or some aunts and uncles, grandmas or grandpas living with them.

A noisy household would've been better than a silent one with just Tsuna and their mom.

Before, breakfast, and dinners were the dullest moments of their day. Nana would strike up random conversations that went nowhere because Tsuna would avoid going further into detail of school and his work. Tsuri chewed and filled her mouth with food so she wouldn't have to answer in long sentences. Tsuna would then excuse himself first and escape first. At first it hurt the younger twin in being ditched but it had turned into an unfortunate routine.

With more people in the house, it wasn't like that anymore. Or in this case, the people Reborn was bringing in totally destroyed that habit and was converting it to new ones.

And don't get her wrong, Tsuri enjoyed having Lambo around, but he was madly annoying for a five year old. Not to mention he was involved heavily in a mafia family that at first wanted to assassinate their tutor at one point. He also was spoiled, threw tantrums for the simplest things and had such a potty mouth that it was a wonder he hadn't gotten smacked by anyone.

Bianchi was another story. She had only been here two weeks, with the same circumstance of murdering her and Tsuna because they had stolen Reborn from her. Needless to say that had also ended and now she was playing peaceful and enjoying her time with their tutor. She didn't know if had actually wanted to murder them, or if she had been blinded by love to choose morally. Oh, did she forget to mention that she was Gokudera's older sister? One that made his sight of her go her queasy and make him fall faster to the ground than a bowling ball? She'd take reference to use her face to win an argument nowadays.

In total, these new people in the house just made the house livelier. Besides the literal killing side of things, everything just seemed about better. Their mother was especially happy she got to take care of Lambo and have Bianchi to help out with chores. Their mother was a stray keeper. Wasn't too surprising given her nature of being kind.

"This is getting too normalized here."

"Kaasan is happier though."

"Do you not see the issue here?!"

Tsuna and Tsuri had come down to eat breakfast and found it noisy and chatty with Lambo eating and crying about his gratin being hot and with Bianchi feeding it to Reborn. Tsuna's eyes were nearly out of his sockets.

Tsuri greeted by giving her mom a morning hug. She greeted the other people weakly as she went to get a spoonful of the gratin by the stove. Best to keep the morning greetings brief and short. Having some sort of social relationship with these people were not an option.

"Oh Tsu-kun! Better hurry and eat or you'll be late for school!" Nana turned to her naturally pale son that wore his usual purple waves of defeat.

"Tsuna, do you want some gratin or not? There's only enough for half a bowl."

"Is anyone really just not seeing how normalized this is?!"

'Of course I do but the more you complain the less peace we have with Reborn,' Tsuri gave him a wide eyed warning. 'Shut up and eat something or he'll turn them on us to have us killed. Again. And I don't want Kaasan's cooking to turn into poison cooking like it did last week.'

Tsuna wanted out of this situation.

When didn't he?

Her twin ended up digesting his food rather quickly with how stressed he was and dragged them out the door, already tired with his day. Well, a bigger portion for Tsuri meant she would be more content with her day. She didn't like feeling cranky with a light breakfast. Tsuna's sacrifice would not be in vain.

Speaking of Tsuna… She had tried to eat quick and catch up to him before she was left behind once again. The boy was weak but when it came to escaping places or situations Tsuna had quick feet.

"The day hasn't even started and you're already sulking," she sighed, pulling her bag over her shoulder. "Is it really that bad that we have other people in the house?"

"You're one to talk! These people have tried killing us in more ways than one regular person can imagine! Is that normal for you?" He almost pulled his hair out and if his bag hadn't slid off his own shoulder she was sure he could have smacked his face with it.

"Nope" Tsuri said with a blue face, the literal fact almost cutting off the blood supply in her body. "Kaasan looks happy though. Its been a long time since she's cared for others than ourselves."

Tsuna watched her sister's body language shift. It was that one emotion he hated to see her wear. It was always related to their absent father. There was never a moment where both twins would remember the lack of his presence and how their mom was battling in raising her twins because of it.

"Wait a sec. Isn't that the girl who attacked you because of Reborn not too long ago?"

Both twins stopped walking once they saw the Midair Middle School uniform and the somewhat happy go lucky face of Mirua Haru dashing towards Tsuna, hold a massive blue container in hand. She would have made a clean hello if it wasn't for her falling face first on the floor right under their feet. Tsuri quickly bent down to see if she hadn't hurt herself. Haru had caused a nosebleed and just giggled like nothing, making her and her brother back away in fright.

"H-Haru?"

"Yes it is I, Mirua Haru, whose life you saved the other day and whom you promised would become Mrs. Sawada in the future!"

A tree branch surely snapped somewhere by Tsuri's ears. What did she say? "Mrs… Sawada…?"

Tsuna could feel his sister's menacing aura and he was ready to book it to school with or without a dying will bullet right then and there. "I-I did not! I didn't promise anything like that!" He denied fervently.

"Should I leave? Is this a private moment I shouldn't be seeing?"

"Ah! Tsuri-san! Good morning! I hope you don't mind, I made my beloved Tsuna-sama a bento for today!"

"A bento? For me?"

"I was up for two night making it!"

'Two nights? That's terrifying.'

'Remind me never to fall in love. By the looks of it, it makes people crazy' Tsuri rubbed her arms to get rid of the incoming goosebumps this gave her.

"I-Isn't that too much Haru-san?"

"Oh don't worry about it! This is all part of being a Mafia boss's wife! Its nothing!"

'YOU"RE KIDDING ME. TSUNA ARE YOU KIDDING ME?'

She could see Tsuna's panic slipping from his controlled expression on his face. 'I want to run and hide! Help me!'

And when Kyoko came it seemed to just get worse for Tsuna. Talking about misunderstandings and not getting to defend himself. Tsuri decided to get a head start for school and leave her mess of a brother alone with his crush and stalker.

While she paced faster so she could get to homeroom on time, she shuddered at the mere thought of boys surrounding themselves around her like a flock of puppies, with bouquets, and imagining herself making bentos and offering them. She wanted to gag at how cringey everything seemed. Maybe it was because she wasn't so interested in relationships for the time being or anything. It was gross. "Remind me never to have a crush. It makes girls look insane!"

As she got to the gate she'd been seeing on a daily basis, she flinched when she took a glance at the school clock, then at the familiar figures by the gates, entrances and whole school campus, with their freaky rolled up hair and scary guarding.

'Thank Kami I made it on time. Last thing I need is to mess with the Disciplinary Committee and their leader, Hibari Kyoya.'

Class was a hoot. It was a bore for Tsuri most days, especially when it came to literature and english. Today was independent partner study and because they were assigned by the teacher, Tsuri had the unfortunate honor to have the italian bomber working with her today. She wasn't the study type, but there was a test coming up and it was based on a book they were reading for the class and if she didn't pass with a 75 or better, Reborn was going to make sure she would pay for the lack of effort.

So, here she was, yet again arguing with Gokudera Hayato for the most pettiest things. And it wasn't like she wanted to, but the idiot just picked any small reason to get on her nerves and act like he knew better.

"Are you going to keep lecturing me on how I'm reading or are you going to listen?!"

"You sound like a monotonic robot! How am I going to understand how the tone in the dialogue makes the main character feel if you're not putting any emotion in it!"

They were sitting in the back, shooting and breathing fire at each other non stop since the minute their butts touched their seats.

Tsuna who was sitting upfront with another student, refusing to work by sleeping, couldn't help but sigh again. When would it ever end, he wondered, if his sister and friend got along? He tried imagining them strolling and skipping with each other, arms linked and smiling as if they'd been shoved with sugar in their blood for how sickly sweet it looked. Tsuna didn't like it, it just didn't suit their personalities and just decided he'd take what he could get.

Tsuna's thoughts were then interrupted, as were many others in he classroom when they all heard a loud smack reverberate the whole room. He sweat dropped nervously and turned. Everyone in the class followed, with slight fear of what was to ensue.

They wondered why of all people, Gokudera Hayato, the transfer, was hanging out with the Sawada twins; the loser and the outcast. He was probably forced to hang out with Tsuna, maybe he was holding something over him and was blackmailing him. But Sawada Tsukairi? How in the hell were they even friends when they were chewing at each other's heads like chew toys?

Gokudera was holding his head and shot deadly piercing glares at the copy. Tsuri's hand was holding their hardcover textbook in the air, meaning that she had used it as a weapon to hit the bomber on the head.

"Are you fucking kidding me you stupid copy? How dare you!"

"How dare I? Are you fucking kidding me? If I fail this class I'll make sure that your ass is handed to you by any means necessary!"

Gokudera blinked three times. Everyone in the class sweat dropped.

"How dare she hit Gokudera-sama!" a fangirl sitting near the door fussed. The girl next to her nodded in agreement and shot knives at Tsuri, who just rolled her eyes in annoyance. They'd get the end of her stick too if they wanted. Both girls felt a sharp chill creep onto their backs and flinched, turning back into occupying themselves in their work.

"You stupid woman! There's something called using words instead of hitting me with a fucking book!" he bellowed, making his fangirls secretly cheer for him in their minds to destroy the girl.

Tsuri let out a breath of air to calm her boiling rage, swore to anything holy that she would try not to commit murder and opened the book to the page where they left off. She wasn't wasting her time with the pointless argument.

"I'll tell Tsuna you're bullying me if you don't do our assignment properly. Do you want that to happen?"

Gokudera was taken aback at picturing his beloved boss hanging him from his toes at swearing at his only twin sister. He looked at Tsuna in the front who had been watching the whole excahnge and quickly turned away as if saying 'I don't know them!'

The silver head, taking that sign as an act of action, muttered in displeasure, violently opened his own book and started reading without the robotic voice Tsuri had complained about. After he finished the chapter, he was going to begin their discussion on their character analysis questions when he saw her raise her right hand approach his space, and rub his head where the book had landed harshly on him. He froze in place like a statue, obviously shocked that she would be doing that in the first place.

Tsuri was doing it gently, to soothe the hard hit as she tried biting down on her guilty expression. He gave her a confused gaze and she slightly blushed.

"S-Shut up and don't say anything. I'm only doing this because I could tell it really hurt."

Gokudera tried not to let warmth consume his face but it was all visible.

"I should give you a taste of how it felt if you want."

"Go ahead then! Lets see if you can even try!"

The fangirls in their class could only watch the scene in jealousy, while the rest began to complain again at their interrupted silent time for work. They would get that Sawada Tsuri somehow for hitting and trying to steal their beloved Gokudera-sama. They swore in the name of beautiful men.

If they could get past her glares of mortal death, they thought.

Hibari Kyoya. The most feared man in Namimori, both inside and outside of school. No one knew about his life. The rumors on him piled on like a mountain of books; all the horrors and violent acts a boy like him could cause and get away with so easily with a snap of his fingers. It was scary to say and think of.

His family bloodline was unknown. His ethnicity ( besides being Japanese) was also unknown. His very own file didn't have that much information about the boy other than knowing he was the leader of the Disciplinary Committee

He was Reborn's next target to be apart of Tsuna's forming family.

Reborn, who was always roaming around the school to observe his students was waiting outside to find a way for Tsuna and Tsuri to come face to face with the demon of Namimori. Then as he heard the conversation the committees were having during lunch he found the perfect opportunity.

Tsuri however was moping about the soreness in her arms and back. It had been her turn for clean up duty and the person who was supposed to help her sure enough was someone in her soccer team who hated her guts and refused to even collaborate. So, to spare herself a trip to the teacher's office, Tsuri took it upon herself to fulfill her tasks, even though she secretly wished she could kick that other girl's face with a soccer ball after school.

She had wandered off in her own thoughts, thinking about lunch and how she wished Gokudera could drop himself off a cliff and break his bones. Stopping herself from another anger spasm, she decided to take it out with the trash disposal. But before she could make that sharp turn to get there, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw some people in familiar black coats swinging their fists and legs at some students she was sure belonged to the Plant Committee. Her whole face went white and she could feel the bin slipping from her fingers… but she caught it before it could fall and cause a commotion and hid behind the wall.

How ruthless the Disciplinary Committee truly were. It pissed her off at how people really thought they called the shots and made people's life miserable for any obstacle they had in their path. Those destructive people, when would they ever be stopped? She sighed when she finally saw them leave by the other exit and she made sure to run, drop the trash and dash away, tiptoeing and making sure she wasn't see nor heard by anyone. She held her bin like a lifeline and booking it back to their class, not long before looking up at an open window from the third floor and making eye contact with grey black steel eyes with the a glare she knew screamed avoidance at all cost. She whipped her head to the side so quickly she felt a bone crack.

Upstairs, Hibari Kyoya watched the mysterious girl run away like her life depended on it, away from the displayed scene of unconscious bodies. It bode her well not to say anything or do anything. If she did, he'd probably target her next.

Break meant lunch. Lunch meant food. Food meant it was a well deserved rest after working their brains to learn so much (even though the knowledge would slip like butter and be forgotten). Tsuna had been surprised when Yamamoto came to him a few days ago, asking if he wanted to eat lunch together. He could see the dislike coming from his baseball friends behind him that day but it was as if Yamamoto didn't care for their opinion because he made sure to make it clear to them that he was going to eat with Tsuna no matter what. And it didn't matter if Gokudera or them were against that idea, it was going to happen whether anyone liked it or not.

Tsuri had been there and honestly didn't object to it. If anything, she was admiring on how bold and determined Yamamoto was for having her brother as company. Gokudera was a pest who didn't give him a chance to say no in an aggressive way and even though the baseball dude was doing the same, it was more with the intention of friendship.

And so here they were after a few weeks, a used to be trio, now quadruple, relaxing on top of Nami-chuu's outside roof, eating like they haven't eaten in years and enjoying the calm weather and wind. Tsuri was initially supposed to eat with Kyoko and Hana today but they said they needed to talk to her brother and Tsuri treaded delicately when it came to Sasagawa Ryohei. He was determined to get anyone to his club with that persistent personality of his, Tsuri especially even though she was a girl and in a club already. To escape that, she came here today.

As Tsuri opened the lid to her bento, she eyed Tsuna's huge package. She, Gokudera, and Yamamoto stared at it freakishly. "Don't tell me you're actually going to eat all that without sharing."

Tsuna paused from launching a mini octopus sausage in his mouth and his face froze. "Eh? What do you mean?"

Tsuri shoved rice into her mouth and chewed. "Sharing is caring Tsuna. I want to test Haru's cooking."

Gokudera was confused at the mention of the name. "Juudaime, your mother doesn't serve something so huge does she?"

"If you think our mom's name is Mirua Haru, Bakadera."

Yamamoto laughed. "Oh, I see! Did a girl give you this Tsuna?"

Tsuna nodded, pale faced by the intense stare Tsuri was giving the bento. "I-It was the girl I rescued from drowning the other day."

Gokudera sensed a dark aura being emitted from somewhere and he shivered.

"She's already declared her love for my brother. Isn't that so strange? Having someone who barely knows you, making you food?"

Tsuna nervously laughed and handed her the first row of the box so she could take the first bite. Tsuri was an overprotective sister, but never this bad. She probably was weary of the Midori girl considering she had almost made Tsuna drown by the river and make him rescue her because of her stupidity. Tsuna was the same however, he was sure if there was anyone who wanted Tsuri at any point in life he'd make sure they stayed away and proved they deserved her. As if. He wondered if this was hereditary because this was the first time a thought like this ever crossed his mind.

Tsuna shoved more food into his mouth to keep him from talking. He nodded. Tsuri sighed and only kept smiling while she ate like no problem. Seemed like the food was subpar because she was making sure that the tamago slices she was picking weren't sweet.

'Shes a weird girl, and she's pretty dangerous,' she said to Tsuna in his mind. 'Watch yourself...'

'I hope Kyoko-chan didn't misunderstand' Tsuna fake cried as he bit his chopsticks disappointed.

'Who knows. I prefer Kyoko-chan than Mirua any day.'

Tsuna''s face reddened. 'Hey, can you lower the hostility here? It's not my fault she decided to declare her love for me and stalk me.'

Tsuri rolled her eyes, stealing her brother's sausage from his chopsticks again.

Yamamoto peered at the twins' facial expressions and just gave them his usual grin when Tsuna offered him some of what was left to eat. After a few instances of choking on rice and eating with a few glares, everyone finished. Gokudera was refreshing himself with a drink. When everyone was done eating each let out a yawn of being terribly bored out of their minds. It made Tsuri smile at the chain of yawns.

"Don't go yawning like that in front of Juudaime without permission!" Gokudera snapped at the baseball star.

"Oh come on it's just a yawn," he replied. "They do say that yawns are contagious." Yamamoto explained.

"Next time you yawn in front of the boss Im going to shove one of these in your mouth!" Gokudera took out a pair of dynamites and lit it.

"Come on guys! Don't start that again!" Tsuna waved his hands all over trying to get his two friends to stop arguing.

"Stop picking fights with both of us you old cranky man" Tsuri sighed and stood up to lay her back on the fence to get away from the tension with her two friends. "I'm starting to go deaf by how loud you are."

"Its him Juudaime! He should be more respectful!"

"It's not my fault. You don't have to be on my case all the time Gokudera," Yamamoto said.

Tsuri smiled a little and lifted her head up to face the big blue sky. It felt good to have company, but a little hard to get used to. She liked the way Yamamoto just let Gokudera slip over like soap on water. If Reborn hadn't really helped Tsuna get him off the roof, would he be here with them, with that relaxing an happy smile he wore? She wondered if the circle would grow. She was looking forward to it, but couldn't help but feel a bit distressed by it.

Before she could stretch and get a head start back to class she jumped in alarm when something sharp and spike hit her in the ribs. "Yikes! What the hell?!"

"That hurts!" Tsuna barked after from the ground. When both twins blinked out their the tears in their eyes after being shot with two more balls, they saw something brown and pokey, to the size of a chestnut. No food was ever this sharp especially if it were a nut. Both felt their exhaustion and stress come back when Reborn whipped himself out of nowhere, like the usual, wearing a costume with the same spikes details the little golf-ball sized things were.

"Are you trying to send me to the nurse's office again?" Tsuri made sure any blood wasn't drawn on her school shirt.

"Have quicker reflexes next time," the baby smirked. She wanted to take one of the weapons in her hands and throw it at him.

"What are you..? A big chestnut with spikes?"

'Seems like he's throwing a Japanese gag here' Tsuna thought.

'Knowing him he'll pass it off.'

"Its a sea urchin. This is my camouflage spy suit used when tailing targets who commute in packed trains."

Yamamoto laughed at the self considered joke.

'Demented. Or crazy. Or likes to cosplay too much'.

"What does that even have to do with spying if you stand out too much?" Tsuna asked with an incredulous look to his face.

"Bianchi made it," Reborn ignored the question to answer Tsuri's own in her mind and she jumped. "Home Ec. So you know you need to be cautious around it."

"Why?"

"Anyone who gets pricked by one of these spikes will be on their way to heaven in thirty seconds."

"Heaven—" Poison cooking. The Italian woman's specialty. Oh shit. She looked down her shoes. She was shot with three of the little balls. Tsuna froze when he realized he was right beside the suit since Reborn had arrived.

On cue, both twins toppled to the floor in one go, though Yamamoto used his quick reflexes to cushion tsuri's fall.

"Tsuri-chan? Tsuna?"

"Juudaime! Don't die! Reborn-san what do we do?!"

"I know where we can take them in the meantime," Reborn said. "The effect will wear off in ten minutes."

An interaction none of the twins could avoid was going to happen soon. It was not going to be fun.

'Tsuri? Tsukairi-chan!'

Who was that voice? It sounded oddly familiar. Not one she knew but someone else... was she dead?

'Anya, you need to stop your memories from leaking! Ugh, tell me she can hear me!'

'Not if she's sleeping this heavy. You would think her reflexes would be quicker considering she's dealing with Reborn. And stop calling her Anya, that won't reach her if you're calling her past name!'

Huh. There was that name again.

'You're not helping! Anya, if you keep this up you're going to break!'

'Oi! Stop! She's coming to, its time to leave!'

'Tsuri! Oi Tsuri wake up.'

Tsuri opened her eyes slowly, the room feeling like it was spinning and her head felt like a rock had fallen on it.

'I don't learn. Reborn is such a sneaky predator!' Tsuri raised herself slowly to see that she was not sitting on cement but on a plush seat. She turned back and forth. Since when had they been inside? And what was this room? Only clubs and teachers ever reserved rooms like this.

"Ah, Tsuri-chan, you're finally awake!"

"Yamamoto? Where are we?"

"Reborn-san brought us here," Gokudera muttered from another corner. "He says this is our hideout for the family. You can see yourself out now."

"There you go again with your idiotic comments!" She dusted her skirt and went toward the couch right across from her to check on Tsuna's breathing. Sleeping like he had a long day. She shook her head slightly, and sighed in relief.

"Its a secret base! Its going to be fun," yamamoto agreed, even though he was oblivious as to what that meant for everyone. "I'm pretty sure this room was up for grabs by some other people though. Are you sure we can use it?" he then looked over towards Reborn, back in his normal suit with his legs crossed.

"The reception room hasn't been taken by anyone."

"Sweet!"

"Nope, I don't believe you," Tsuri shook her head. "You're up to something!"

"What ever do you mean? Why would I do that?"

"Don't do that! I know you! You're trying to pull something here—"

The doors burst open. Tsuri squinted her eyes and shrieked inwardly. They were the same people she had seen during her trash duty. The gangster haircuts that resembled rolled up cabbage and the arm bandage pinned to the side of their uniforms….

The disciplinary committee! And they were not happy one bit.

Tsuri didn't even blink and without any explanations given the men started attacking. Typical macho reaction for dominion of space. Might as well they should pee on the room and claim it like pets. In the struggle, they tried to reach Tsuna so Tsuri shielded him with her body, She expected someone to pull her off and give her a punch, but it never came. Yamamoto and Gokudera were hovering above, untouched and uninjured. She thanked them with a sigh of relief.

"D-Did you two serious beat them up, just like that…?"

"Heh, they weren't even that strong," Gokudera huffed with pride. She puked inwardly. His feathers were too ruffled.

"I didn't want to, but they gave no choice to explain," Yamamoto looked at the people on the ground. "Mops are for cleaning, not hitting."

She got up slowly, pointing at their club label. "You do know that they are from the Disciplinary Committee… right?"

"Who cares! This room is ours!"

"Don't be an idiot Gokudera, you don't know who you're dealing with—"

"…You people…who are you." A cold demanding voice immediately changed the whole atmosphere. Tension and some mild bloodlust. There was the prefect she'd caught a glimpse of earlier, the so called Demon of Namimori. Tsuri felt a cold sweat consume her.

Hibari Kyoya, raven black hair, grey black steel eyes. His white button shirt looked soiled and he had his famous tonfas out on both sides of his arms, ready to strike. She was scared to know at how he managed to use them to knock out teeth and spill blood with it.

"Are you kidding me Reborn?! You brought us to a room they had control over?! Why are you brewing coffee for Nami's sake!"

"You are not allowed to be here without permission. I will bite you all to death." Hibari said.

Gokudera was the first to step up. He was about to say something but Hibari quickly smashed his weapons toward him in a flash, he didn't even have time to whip out his dynamites. Tsuri watched as he sent him flying toward the wall with a slam.

"One down." His voice was void of emotion. It made Tsuri's nerves stand up. She stared at the other boy from the side of where they were, body prepped in alarm.

Yamamoto knew better. He knew of their school's ruthless club that sought out and maintained order for a peaceful Namimori. But to beat up someone without getting a word in was not a cause for violence. He told Tsuri with serious eyes to stay by Tsuna on the couch while he dealt with it. It didn't serve him well.

Tsuri rarely watched the baseball team after school. She was busy running in the fields with her own soccer club, kicking the balls in the goals on her own and practicing her balance. On instances where their coach made them run around their field for a warm-up, she caught glances at Yamamoto play. He was sporty, and had good skill and reflexes too. So seeing the way he was dodging Hibari Kyoya from hitting him was impressive, but it wasn't enough. The other boy got to him quickly, getting a closer range.

"Your better than the other one…but you're protecting your right arm. I see…the baseball club." Hibari said. He took the chance to beat his tonfas down on Yamamotos arm when he paused and caused him to also collapse near Gokudera.

"2 down… 1 more to go…"said Hibari while turning towards her. She started to stir Tsuna awake as harshly as she could.

"Tsuna! Tsuna!" There was no response. "Oh for nami's sake Tsunayoshi wake up or we'll be toast!"

It took a few slaps and nail clawing to get Tsuna awake. And when he opened his eyes and realized where they were, well, it didn't help to have Reborn sitting by the sidelines and sipping on his coffee while his two students yelled at him to help. He loved watching them squirm around, the way they flailed around was just so entertaining.

Besides, this was a time for learning. And handling the demon of Namimori would be one of many methods to use to make sure they realized that they wouldn't be able to escape situations such as these.

"T-Tsuri! Get back!" Tsuna cowered as he leaped off the couch, leaving Tsuri on the ground, suffering the glares that Hibari Kyoya was throwing.

"Sawada Tsukairi. Hn, you're this herbivore's sister," Hibari eyed the girl who resembled the tuna fish he was going to beat up on the floor. He seemed like he wanted to chew her out too like the rest, but she watched his arms retract when he said her name. "Get out. This does not concern you."

Tsuri shivered at first. This is what she wanted to avoid, getting caught by the toughest boy in school and get beat up. But was she really just going to let Tsuna deal with him alone or was she going to try to help? She wasn't a quitter and she wasn't going to run away just because someone like him was demanding it.

Hibari Kyoya wasn't royalty. He ruled by fear and power. But was that the only thing he could use to make someone fearful and run just by his presence. Tsuri had watched scarier people, and he definitely frightened the shit out of her. But she wasn't going to tread eggshells just because of a room.

She gained composure in her jelly-feeling legs and stood up straight, glaring at the prefect in his own eyes. Hibari rose an eyebrow seeing a quick flash of orange in her caramel colored eyes. Hoh, these weren't the eyes of a cowering herbivore like her brother.

"I'm not leaving my brother here with you alone. I refuse."

"Tsuri! What are you doing! Just leave!"

"Like hell. We owe an explanation and instead of letting us give it to you, you beat up my friends? Talk about abuse of power."

"Tsuri stop!"

"I may be a girl, but I'm not going to back down. Want to test me?"

Hibari was fairly tempted, but he'd never let himself get taunted by a girl who appeared weak and ran every chance she got. But was this the same person he saw earlier today who ran from getting caught by his goons? He took his target off the male twin and cocked his head to the side. "Hn. Are you strong?"

Tsuri smirked and Tsuna prayed his mom wouldn't lose both of her children today. "Why don't you find out for yourself, Disciplinary boy? Wanna bite me?"

Hibari grew mad at the given nickname. "I will. I'll bite you to death, Sawada Tsukairi."

Right when Tsuri walked up front while Hibari charged, she didn't notice the floor she didn't notice that below was the previous unconscious body Yamamoto talked about. She forgot to scan the room and as she took the first near step where she could throw a kick, she slipped on the handle of a mop, then a body and came toppling down with the body in front. The impact was surprisingly soft and when Tsuri came to, she realized she had landed on him.

Too close. Her mouth was not supposed to be there.

Why were her lips on Hibari Kyoya?

OUT OF ALL PEOPLE. Not only did she embarrass herself by tripping, she had lost something precious and innocent to her. Tsuri shrieked as loud as she could, not caring if Hibari would swing a tonfa for his bleeding ears, and scooted her body up and away as far as the room would allow her to be. She swore she could see her skin turning blue. She had just kissed the prefect of Namimori. 'I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes...!'

Hibari stood up from the floor and pretended as if nothing had happened and picked up Yamamoto and Gokudera. Tsuna saw that he was about to throw them out the room by the window and started to feel dread consume him.

'T-Tsuri! Hibari-san is about to throw Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto out the window!'

'I...I... I see white stars... Hehe they're so pretty...'

Tsuna's face drained out of blood. 'Well you're going to be of no help...'

The trio were walking home, with Tsuna earning some praise for his quick act of saving the day. He was too tired to even process what had happened. They escaped by a mere hair away, and in a way they also had Tsuri to thank for stalling him and give him a chance to get shot with the deathsperation bullet.

Reborn was smirking the whole way over, perched on Yamamoto's shoulder.

"The day is over Baka-Tsuri. Are you going to keep sulking?"

"Respectfully Reborn, I do not want to speak to you. Leave me alone."

"Ma ma Tsuri. Everything turned out okay! Tsuna saved us!"

"Okay? OKAY? You have no idea what happened because you both got knocked out, and you're telling me everything is fine?"

"You were bound to do with someone."

"NOT LIKE THIS. Ugh you boys are so stupid when it comes to girls. Leave me alone," Tsuri sucked in tears full of regret and turmoil, running toward their house a few feet away.

Yamamoto stood still, flabbergasted. "…Did she just call us stupid?"

"Juudaime, I want to kill your copy."

"Please don't," Tsuna took a breath of air. Hibari was scary, but he was sure he wanted to murder the man for what he did to Tsuri. Black waves were surrounding him whole, as if urging him to go back and finish the job.

Reborn sipped his cold coffee.

Well, if that was motivation enough to cross paths with Hibari Kyoya again, so be it.