Sawada Tsunayoshi didn't know what to make of his so-called cousin. For his short nine years of living, he had never even heard of a relative named Sawada Nishigami, which awfully sounds like shinigami.

"Tsu-kun?"

His mother chirped his too adorable nickname and even if he wanted to, he couldn't just ignore the woman who has been there for him for as long as he can remember. "Yes, Kaa-san?" A bright, naive smile was all he needed.

"Mi-kun will be staying with us from now on, okay?" Something was nagging at the back of his mind to ask the why but refrained from doing so. Something else told him that it wouldn't be a good idea and it might destroy the only friendship he may get from someone near his age.

Staring back at the silent and older boy sitting on the couch, he wondered what he liked to do in his spare time. A pair of narrowed fluorite-like eyes gave him a startle, and Tsuna failed to take into account whether or not Sawada Nishigami was willing to actually play with him.

Nor did he even partake in such child play. The young Sky knew he would never, and will never going to, man up. Never going to have the courage to speak up or initiate conversation with someone else. Never going to have the initiative to actually do something productive in his lifetime.

Too much of a coward, really.

Tsuna never did take the chance to talk to him when the older boy locked himself up in what Tsuna thinks was his new bedroom. A sigh of disappointment wasn't going to do anything, that much he knew.

The Sky just didn't know what to make of his cousin. He's just too quiet for him and too recluse. Too closed off from everyone else... he wasn't much better, now that he thought about it. Things relatively remained the same even with the new addition to their household.

Even when eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, it still felt as if it was just him and his Kaa-san. He sometimes forgets his cousin was eating there with them. At the dining table. Just across from him. He was too quiet. Too silent to be noticed by someone.

One time, he thought his cousin was a ghost during a night when he needed a glass of water down the kitchen.

The Sky started his fourth grade with a similar beginning. Nothing changed at all during the summer. He was still the same Dame-Tsuna everyone likes to tease and bully. He knew he was hopeless, he can't change at all. They would say insulting things about him, push him around, beat him.

Even the teachers in his school turned a blind eye and acted as if he wasn't bullied at all.

He had a passing thought during those times. He... He wanted to die. Today might be the last straw, he noted with dull muddy eyes. A small boy like him would definitely drown in the river. A small boy who was bullied almost his entire life. A small boy who knew not how to swim. A small boy who knew not how to go on with the world.

His world tilted as he began to fall, apologizing to his Kaa-san because he wasn't the boy who she could be proud of. He wasn't the boy who she could brag about. He was a worthless boy. A useless human. Even if he wasn't born, he was certain his Kaa-san would still be happy.

That his Kaa-san wouldn't change even if he wasn't born into the world. That everything would go on without fail. Even if he wasn't there, he thought that maybe it was better that he left.

"Tsunayoshi!"

Before he hit the waters, a pair of warm arms wrapped around his shoulders. Tsuna did not feel the impact that should've been there. He only felt the water burning his lungs as oxygen became a needed source. Just a few seconds ago, he wanted to end it all. He wanted to be gone.

So, why?

When he heard someone calling his name, a flame inside of him that died down long ago suddenly flared back into life. The flickering orange embers made him want to crawl out of that darkness. Out of the water. He could feel the rush. The splitting of water as he arose out of the river.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw purple flickering with worry. He gasped when they reached the river bank, he coughed up a handful of water he drank not long ago. Why? He wanted to ask. Why did you save me? He needed to ask. Tsuna didn't even need to open his mouth to do it. His savior just knew what he needed to ask him.

"Why?" His savior parroted. "Why?!" He flinched when purple burned with hatred and fury. "You were hurting. You were going to die, Tsunayoshi and you want me to answer why I saved you?!" He didn't know what to answer. His mind blank and mouth unresponsive. What was he supposed to say? That he didn't really expect anyone to save him? That he lost hope in everyone else?

Tsuna remained silent.

"You think I'm heartless enough to watch another brother of mine to kill himself?!" Tsuna jolted in shock when his savior grabbed him by the shoulders. "I won't allow it! I've had enough!" Hurt laced his voice, Tsuna noticed. The Sky barely noticed it but he did.

"Too much... you're much too like him, Tsunayoshi. Clumsy. Airheaded. Adorable. You remind me of my brother. Even this... this!" He did not have the words to describe it. "Watching you... watching you become... become like this... so dull and lifeless... I can't take it anymore..."

Purple bored into his brown. "I'll be here, Tsunayoshi." His savior stated with burning determination. "I won't leave you. Don't... Don't take your life... please... I've had enough of losing my precious people..."

That day, Tsuna learned more about Sawada Nishigami more than the days he had spent at their house.