X-X-X-X

Chapter 1

X-X-X-X

"Ricchan...! P-Please...Someone...Okaa-chan...Otou-chan...! Someone...help us...!" I said holding my bleeding side.

"Tsu-chan...r-run...!" Okaa-chan said coughing up blood.

"Nana!"

"Otou-chan!"

"Tsu!"

I saw a weird creature jump at me, but a warm body encased my own. Something warm hit my cheeks and I blinked staring at my older brother's face. His normally warm and happy eyes were shut in pain, there was also a trail of blood falling from his forehead.

"R-Ricchan...?" I asked unsure what's going on now.

"R-Run...Tsu..." Ricchan said before he fell onto my lap, his back bloodied.

"Ricchan!" I sat up, panting heavily. I wildly looked around the room to find my older brother. I calmed down a bit when I realized where I was at. "...Just a dream...Just a dream..." I said hugging myself.

Half a year ago, my brother and I were orphaned because Youkai had killed our parents. The memory was still fresh in my head. I jumped when the door slid open with a loud bang. Standing at the door was my older brother, Sawada Rikuo or Ricchan. Ricchan and I share the same chocolate colored hair, though his hair was a bit messier compared to my own. Ricchan may have brown eyes, but mine were a shade of orange-brown.

"Tsu, are you okay? I heard you scream my name." Ricchan said rushing to my side.

"Uwwwaaa…R-Ricchannnn!" I cried holding onto him.

"It's okay, Tsu, it's okay." Ricchan said patting my head as I cried.

"I-I thought I lost you...I'm scared...I'm scared, Ricchan..."

"I came by to see what the problem was, but why is Tsuna-chan crying?"

"Rihan-san!"

"..." I rubbed at my eyes and I stared at the male with long black hair and amber colored eyes. "Rihan-san..."

"Tsuna-chan, it was just a dream. Those bad Youkai won't hurt you anymore." Rihan knelt down beside the two of us, patting the top of my head. His hand is so warm, like Otou-chan's hand. "They're gone now."

"Rihan-san, I'm sorry if Tsu's scream woke you up."

"Don't worry about it, Rikuo. I was planning on going to sleep soon."

"Rihan-san is a night owl."

"Tsu!"

"Hahahaha, it's fine, Rikuo. She's just stating what she thinks." Rihan ruffled both our hair before standing. "Rikuo, don't you have to get ready for school?"

"AH! Sorry, Tsu!"

The two of us watched Ricchan rush out the room to his own across the hall. Rihan ruffled my hair one last time before leaving my room, sliding the door closed behind him. I got out of bed, folding up the futon before getting dressed for the day. I chose a simple pink kimono with red camellia flowers. I quickly brushed my hair before rushing out to go and wash my face and brush my teeth. Once that was done, I began walking towards the dining room. That's when I noticed Ricchan.

"Ricchan!" I hugged him around the waist before breakfast started. "Ricchan, you'll come home safely right?" I asked looking up at him.

"I will, I promise!" Ricchan said patting the top of my head.

"I'm glad." I said giving him a bright smile.

"Oi, you two are in the way." The two of us looked to the side to see Rihan's eight-year-old son, Yoru. Unlike his father, the top half of his hair is white and his eyes are bright red. "Stop acting so lovey-dovey in the morning, it's sick." Yoru said walking past us.

"S-Sorry..." I said holding onto Ricchan a bit tighter.

"Ignore him, Tsu. He's just jealous that I have a cute little sister and he doesn't." Ricchan said cheering me up a bit.

"Can't I be his little sister too?" I asked curiously.

"You can't because you two aren't related by blood. He's a Youkai and you're human."

"Ricchan, Yoru isn't a bad person though...He's Rihan-san's son. He might be a Youkai, but he's a good one too, right?"

"Hm...I guess so..."

"Come on, let's go have breakfast!"

During breakfast, I kept receiving odd glances from Yoru. It was as if he knew something I didn't and wanted to ask, but couldn't. I looked at a nearby clock and I stared for a few seconds before turning to Ricchan.

"Ricchan, you're going to be late for the bus." I said causing him to snap his head towards the clock.

"I'm late!" Ricchan shouted quickly finishing his breakfast.

"Ah, Ricchan today-!" I attempted to stand and chase after him, but I fell on my face. "Itai..." I said trying not to cry.

"Tsu!" Ricchan tried to stop me from crying and I gently touched my aching nose. "Don't cry, okay?" Ricchan asked hovering over me.

"Hey, you're going to be late if you don't leave now." Yoru said not bothering to look at us.

"Ah! I'm sorry, Tsu, but I have to go now!" Ricchan shouted grabbing his bag and leaving.

"Ricchan..." I wanted to cry a bit, he was older than I was by two years making him seven. "...Ricchan...Today..." I said hoping he remembered.

"If you want to see him so badly, why don't you go to preschool like the kid you are?" Yoru asked drinking his tea.

"...It costs money...even though Rihan-san said he wouldn't mind paying...I don't want to...be a bother..." I said returning to my meal.

"...You're weird."

"Uwaahhh...!"

"Don't cry."

"I-I'm not crying..." I puffed out my cheeks, unshed tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. "I-I'm not...crying..."

"You're crying."

"I'm not!"

"You are."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Stop...picking on me...!"

"You're too easy to pick on, it's not fun."

"You're mean..."

"I'm a Youkai."

"...Rihan-san is a Youkai, but he's really nice. You're just plain mean."

"Oi, oi, oi! I said don't cry!"

"I'm not...!"

I was crying though and Yoru was staring at me awkwardly. I wanted Ricchan with me right now instead of Yoru! Today...Today was...I don't want to be alone today...! I shut my eyes, rubbing furiously at them. I felt a hand on my head and I quickly opened my eyes to look at Yoru. He was awkwardly rubbing my head, unsure of what he was doing.

"Today...you're allowed to stay beside me until your brother returns." Yoru said looking away.

"Yoru...kun...?" I asked curiously.

"Don't make me repeat myself. You're scared, aren't you?" Yoru asked removing his hand.

"...Un..."

"Come on, let's go."

"H-Hai!"

I followed Yoru around like a small animal. I was a bit curious about why he was doing this when the two of us barely talked even though we lived in the same mansion. That's right, Rihan was the one who saved Ricchan and I from dying. He gave us a place to live because we had no relatives that could take us in. Ricchan and I became a permanent resident of the Nura household, under Rihan's protection. Sometimes I felt Yoru was a bit jealous that Ricchan and I had Rihan's attention for the last year making sure we were settling in well. Ricchan hated Youkai a lot during our stay, but now he only hates the bad ones. I was really afraid of Youkai a year ago, still am, but I'm getting used to being around them.

"Ano...Yoru-kun, do you know why Rihan took us in?" I asked still wondering why he did that.

"Who knows what goes through Oyaji's head. I used to think it was full of sake and Okaa-san." Yoru said to my confusion.

"Okaa-san...?"

"Forget it. Let's go."

"E-Eh? We're leaving the grounds?"

"We're going to play some pranks on a few humans."

"I don't want to though..."

"Hurry up or I'll leave you behind."

"Ah! Wait for me!"

X-X-X-X

"I don't like this." I said from Yoru's back.

"It's fine, we're not doing anything bad." Yoru said jumping across the roofs.

"Hm...Ricchan's going to get angry at me later if he finds out..."

"Then don't tell him."

"But..."

"Should I just leave you in the middle of nowhere?"

"No!" I tightened my grip on his shoulders. "I don't...It's scary..."

"I get it, lighten your grip, would ya?"

"Un..."

"..."

"..."

"Hey, are you still scared of us?"

"Huh?"

"You were so afraid of us last year that you refused to leave your brother's side once. If he went to school, you always stayed locked up in your room."

"I'm still a little afraid, but I like everyone in the main house. Some of the Youkai have a scary appearance, but they're good people. Rihan-san is especially good, he's amazing."

"Tsk, Oyaji isn't all that great."

"Sou?"

"That's right! I'm even more amazing than he is!"

"...Pff...hehehehe..."

"Oi! Don't laugh!"

"I-I'm sorry...I-It's just...pff...Yoru-kun, you're a good Youkai after all! Rihan-san is an amazing person, but Yoru-kun is a good friend."

"I'm not your friend!"

"You are!"

"I'm not, ah, we're here."

"A park?"

"Yeah, children are easier to play pranks on."

"Eh..."

"Wait here." Yoru knelt down letting me get down. "Be back in a second."

"E-Eh?! Wait!" Yoru left not bothering to look back. "Y-Yoru-kun..."

I looked around nervously, I rarely left the Nura grounds unless it was with Ricchan or Rihan. For the last year the only contact with humans I had could be counted on one hand. I looked down at my geta and I tried not to cry, was Yoru just playing a prank on me? It would make sense, I don't think he liked me very much despite my attempts at befriending him.

"...Yoru-kun...wouldn't just leave, right...?"

I moved to a nearby bench to wait for him. I glanced at the clock every five minutes, but once half an hour had passed...I really don't think he was coming back. I stared down at my lap, drops of water hitting my small fists. Yoru-kun...I thought he was a good person like Rihan-san...Why...he said he would come back too...Yoru-kun is a liar. I rubbed at my eyes, getting rid of the tears about to fall.

"How am I supposed to get home?" I asked still trying not to cry.

"Oi, why are you crying?" I looked up quickly to see Yoru carrying a large bag. "I said I would come back, don't tell me you thought I ditched you." Yoru said giving me a small frown.

"You took so long..." I said looking at the ground.

"I had to get this." Yoru pulled out a frog. "Don't give me that look, these things are harder to catch than I thought."

"Why do you have a frog?"

"You're not scared?"

"I've seen Youkai, why would I be afraid of a small frog?"

"Good point..."

"Why are we playing pranks?"

"Because I'm bored and I didn't want to stay in the main house to play pranks."

"You're afraid Rihan-san would punish you if you woke him up, aren't you?'

"I'm not afraid of him!"

"...I hit the mark..."

"Shut up! Let's go already!"

"Ah, wait for me!"

Yoru and I spent the day in the trees pulling odd pranks on children. They were very harmless and it made Yoru laugh a bit. I didn't like it very much, but Yoru was the one doing all the work while I followed him around. We returned once it was lunchtime, but Kubinashi scolded us for leaving the grounds without telling anyone.

"I'm sorry, Kubinashi-san..." I said fiddling with my fingers.

"Tsuna-chan, you must understand that it's dangerous for you to leave without us knowing where you're going." Kubinashi said patting the top of my head.

"Come on, let's go." Yoru said dragging me away.

"Waka!"

"Yoru-kun...?" He looked annoyed, but for what reason. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!"

"Ah, look it's Waka."

"He's with that human girl, did something happen?"

"Perhaps he'll be more like the Soudaishou."

"Then he'll be very strong in the future."

"Yoru-ku-!" I tripped over my own feet, falling face first on the ground. "Itai...!"

"Oi, oi, oi, don't cry."

"It hurts..."

"That's because you fell on your face. Come on, don't cry."

"I'm not though."

"You're about to."

"Uwaahhh..."

"Oi, oi! I said don't cry."

Yoru tried to stop me from crying, but it was really hard because it hurt a lot. His face was suddenly closer to mine and I felt something on my lips. I blinked a few times not understanding what he did. I tilted my head to the side curious about what he did, while he had a small blush on his face.

"At least you stopped crying..." Yoru said walking away.

"?" I was confused, what did he just do? "Yoru-kun?" I asked still sitting on the ground.

"Hurry up or I'll eat your share!"

"I-I'm coming! Please wait for me!"

"Don't run or you'll trip!"

"H-Hai!"

X-X-X-X

"Yoru-kun kissed me because he likes me?" I asked as Kejourou brushed my hair.

"That's right, you don't kiss someone on the lips unless you like or love them." Kejourou said as I looked upwards at her.

"Eh... Then can I give Ricchan a kiss like that too?" I asked wondering if I could or not.

"You can't, you and Rikuo-kun are siblings."

"Why can't I? I like Ricchan just like I like Yoru-kun."

"It's a bit complicated, Tsuna-chan."

"I don't get it."

"You'll understand when you're older."

"Hai..."

"Tsu!" Ricchan slammed the door to my open. "I heard that you went out, are you okay, you didn't get hurt did you?!"

"I'm fine, Ricchan."

"I told you that you're not allowed to leave unless you have permission from Rihan-san!"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Now, now, Rikuo-kun, don't yell at Tsuna-chan. She had a tough day already."

"Tough?"

"It seems Waka is smitten with her, isn't that just adorable?"

"It's not! Tsu, he didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"Hm...He spent the day with me, we played pranks, we had lunch..."

"And?"

"Hm..."

"Waka kissed Tsuna-chan."

"WHAT?!"

"Ricchan, my ears hurt now...!"

"Ah, sorry, Tsu! Ah, I brought your medicine." Ricchan handed me two small pills and Kejourou poured me some water. "Remember, two each day a few hours after lunch."

"Hai!" I placed the pills on my tongue before drinking the water. "It tastes funny."

"You have to take it, you know that, Tsu."

"I know..."

"You and Tsuna-chan always takes those pills, what are they exactly?"

"Tsu and I have a condition and we need to take two of these pills each day. If we don't, we'll end up fainting or worse."

"Is that so?"

"It is, Kejourou-san, don't you have work to do?"

"Ah, you're right, excuse me!"

"Bye-bye. Ricchan, they still taste funny..."

"I know they do. We're running a bit low so I plan on asking Rihan-san to take me to purchase more."

"Why can't I go...?"

"You're too small, I'll tell you when you turn 10, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Good girl." Ricchan patted the top of my head and I enjoyed the attention I had. "I'm sorry, I rushed home as soon as possible when I realized what day it was."

"It's okay, Yoru-kun kept me company. I wasn't afraid at all thanks to him."

"I still don't like that guy..."

"Ricchan, let's go take a bath together before dinner starts."

"Hai."

I liked being with Ricchan whenever possible, but now I don't have to be lonely when he goes to school. Yoru promised to play with me again in the future, but only ones that won't get us in trouble. I should probably keep this little fact from Ricchan seeing as he doesn't like Yoru very much.

X-X-X-X

Chapter 1 Ends

Female Tsuna/Night Rikuo seems very appealing to me. As you can see Rikuo is now Sawada Rikuo instead of Nura Rikuo, I always thought Rikuo and Tsuna are pretty similar to one another. Both refusing the position as boss, but eventually taking up the mantle. Also, both Rikuo and Tsuna are just so cute! Now i only came up with this story because I kept thinking about how the two are so similar then I thought of them as siblings then this story somehow came to be. Don't worry about Tsuna's guardians, I have plans to introduce them to Tsuna, but not right now! Bye-bye~!