Prologue

Tanaka Hitori blinked at the fluffy bunny in front of her, well what she thought was a fluffy bunny. Her large, glimmering green eyes stared at the shivering bunny in front of her curiously, before they narrowed.

Her papa, Tanaka Saito, knelt, his honey eyes smiling gently at her. "Hitori, this is your cousin. Sawada Tsunayoshi." He introduced with a warm smile, pushing her towards the shaking child.

She tilted her head, taking him in with curious eyes. He was meant to be older, and here he was shivering like he had a cold. 'How odd.' She thought blankly, about to lose any and all interest when something swept past her quickly, hesitantly as it brushed against her.

Her head snapped up, staring at the cowering child, all the while something brushed against him comfortingly, soothing him gently. Her eyes softened. Despite his cowardly appearance, something inside her spoke of his future, how bright and warm it would be if she joined.

Her usually blank face warmed into a slight smile, surprising her father greatly, watching with wide eyes as she walked towards Tsuna slowly. "Tsu-nii." She murmured gently. "You're mine. My family."

Her father sighed in relief. Neither would be able to claim them as a flame. One less thing for Iemitsu to worry about and Nono to ponder. He barely got through his workdays without that idiot wailing about his worry if either of them bonded the other. Disastrous, he would screech loudly.

Tsuna's wide, honey – amber, her mind whispered surely. Prepared to prove her wrong in the future – eyes stared at the girl in front of him. His lips quivered before he thrust himself at her and balled in her arms.

She sighed, patting his head gently, humming soothingly as something inside them purred in content. Their flames intermingled, forming their own bond that was not to be broken. They were family. And they were prepared to face the world as such.

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Ever since that fateful day, Hitori had been quite protective of her older cousin. Especially when that older man with white hair and banshee of a blonde came to their home, talking with Tsuna privately as her papa chitchatted with Nana, who was quite happy that her husband and brother had come home for a visit.

She looked at three differently as they left, green eyes flashing purple and orange once they turned back to face her, surprise colouring their faces at her blatant anger and use of flames.

"You're ruining Tsu-nii's future." She snapped fiercely, something roaring in her ears, determined to roast them permanently. "You come back; I'll be laughing at your surprise in his success." Her eyes narrowed then, ghostly whispers purring to her to burn them, make them pay for touching what's hers. "Don't regret it too much now. Regret it later when he shows what he can do."

She turned on her heel, running up to her cousin's bedroom and locking the door as she comforted him, whispering every word of comfort on the tip of her tongue. Her pained eyes watched as he cried, wailed for something that he couldn't use anymore.

"I'm here Tsu-nii." She hushed quietly, eyes burning with promise. "I'll make them pay." Her flames reached out for their bond mate, wailing in distress of their own as they couldn't feel the flames that were as warm as theirs. "They hurt you."

"Hi-chan." He hiccupped, large honey eyes losing that touch of amber she always admired. "It hurts. Make it stop."

Her jaw tightened, making her hug him tighter as all she felt was unhappiness cling to something in her, hiding away with a click of a lock. Her flames fell into silence, unable to bear the pressure of their bond mate being sealed. So, they shut themselves away to push away that pain.