Once Sakiko was done with her shopping, which also included a present for Tsuna and Reborn for their upcoming birthdays, she went back to her new abode. About half-way there, she heard the squeaky voice of Reborn order: "Help her, Dame-Tsuna."
Since she had felt three familiar flames, so she wasn't surprised to hear Reborn's squeaky voice, but still wondered how the arcobaleno managed to escape her 'radar'. Flames weren't generally known thing at this point in time.
"Eh?" was all Sakiko heard before the Sky flame owner move in her direction very quickly.
"It's a man's duty to help a woman in need."
The relatives would have crashed together, if the female caramelette hadn't stopped her movement, letting her future-father land on the ground in front of her.
"Auch, auch, auch…" Tsuna mumbled, rubbing her sore cheek where Reborn hit him and shoulderon which he landed. When he turned to look at Sakiko, he was met by a calm, unwavering gaze. The more Tsuna looked at her, the more unnerved he became. But something deep inside told him that she was not a threat to him or his friends.
"Reborn, there is no need to force him to do such minor task." After few moments of looking at Tsuna, Sakiko moved her gaze to Reborn.
"A woman should not carry heavy loads."
"I am fully capable of carrying my own load." Sakiko countered Reborn's words. Sure, her bags were heavy since there were plenty of them, but they contained her belongings. If it were bags of food supply, she would have agreed to Reborn' words.
The two of them got into a gaze-fight, neither giving in. Tsuna got scared for Sakiko, since it was Reborn she was facing and defying his will. With a heavy gulp, Tsuna stepped in saying: "It's alright, Sakiko-san. I don't mind."
Sakiko broke the staring contest, by turning her gaze back to Tsuna. He seemed sincere, so she said: "Fine." Yamamoto also volunteered to help, as well, while Gokudera glared daggers at her and couldn't help himself to voice out his thoughts. "How dare you make Juudaime carry your things!"
Sakiko's gaze drifted to the bomber but didn't say a word, only looked at him till he couldn't handle anymore and dropped his glare to the ground. After giving some bags to both Tsuna and Yamamoto, the group went to the Sawada residence, but not once Sakiko relaxed, her muscle tense and observant of the surroundings.
Upon reaching the Sawada abode, Sakiko took off her boots, took her belongings upstairs and then joined everyone for dinner that Nana had prepared. The whole time by the table Gokudera glared at Sakiko, while she calmly nibbled at her food, letting Reborn take her food 'cause she wouldn't finish it on her own, but not Lambo. However, only everyone got upstairs and out of Nana's earshot, the bomber exploded.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Sakiko, and I am a friend of Reborn. As for what I am doing here, at the present moment this is my abode." Sakiko answered "but don't worry, I'm on Tsuna's side."
"Eh! What do you mean by that?" Tsuna exclaimed, but then it clicked to him. "You're also mafia?"
"Yes." Sakiko answered. "I'm here to protect you."
"Eh?" Tsuna let out once and then the second time it highly increasing in volume till Reborn wacked the boy on the head, slamming it to the ground.
"You're lying, woman. You want Juudaime dead, so that you could take his place!" Gokudera proclaimed both loudly and angrily only to suddenly shut up as he felt something cold pressed against his neck.
"Gokudera Hayato. If you dare to say something like that one more time, you will no longer be able speak at all." Sakiko warned, eyes flashing orange as green lightning slightly snapping around a dagger that was now in her hand and slightly pressed against the boy's neck. "I am here to protect him, even from your toxic nature, if need be."
"Sakiko, calm down." Reborn ordered, but without the threat of his gun. He recognized the Sky element in her eyes but was surprised to see Lightning flames around her weapon. He didn't know that one could harness more than one flame actively.
"Fine." Sakiko said after a second of lingering before replying and pulling her weapon back. She didn't like this Hayato. Unless he matures quickly and reigns his temper like her uncle has, he will bring ruin to Tsuna. She wasn't going to kill him, even if she really wanted him dead at any point, because he was very loyal to her to-be-father.
With a quick turn on her heel, Sakiko left the room. What the boys didn't see were the tears in her eyes, as she left the room.
The next day Sakiko woke up early to have plenty of time before school. Quickly rummaging through her bags, she found her new jogging outfit which consisted of some simple trousers with some pockets and a shirt. After quickly getting dressed, she went downstairs, put on her new sneakers, pulled her hair in her a low ponytail, and went outside in the chilly morning air. Once her lungs were used to the cool air, while slowly logging on the spot, she started moving and slowly increased her speed to around 8km/h. She could run faster, but she wasn't running away from anyone.
After about 45-50 minutes she returned to the house, the moment she opened the door, her nose was assaulted by delicious smell of home-made food.
"Ara? Sakiko-chan? Where were you?" Nana asked, coming to look to see who opened the door.
"Good morning, Nana-san. I was out jogging."
"How nice. I wish Tsu-kun would do the same." Nana said wishfully.
"I could try to arrange that" Sakiko replied and then added after a slight pause "however, I can' promise it."
"It would be nice of you." Nana said and then returned to the kitchen to stir the food before it got burnt. Sakiko went upstairs, took a shower, and did the other morning necessities. Once they were done, she went downstairs to the dinning room, where Reborn was sitting in a chair and drinking coffee.
"Good morning, Reborn. Where is Tsunayoshi?"
"Good morning. He's still sleeping."
"Nana-san noted that she would love for Tsuna to jog in the mornings as well. I would offer him to join me, but I am afraid that after yesterday he is afraid of me." Sakiko voiced out. "Speaking of which, have you started training him seriously yet?"
"No. He needs to establish close relationship with his guardians first." Reborn revealed a but to the future Vongola Donna and she nodded her head in understanding.
"I will go and see if Nana-san needs any hel in the kitchen." With those words, the girl went to ask about it, however the matriarch dismissed it, but allowed the girl to watch. While there, Tsuna's scream echoed the house, which caused Sakiko to go investigate, but was stopped midway by Bianchi who said that it was Reborn waking up Tsuna. It made Sakiko relax a bit and wonder if every morning will be like this.
By the time Tsuna fell down the stairs, Sakiko had already finished her breakfast, so she went to the boy and offered him a hand to help him stand up. Tsuna took the hand, letting himself be pulled up on his feet, but when ha saw that it was Sakiko helping him up, he froze. The conscious part of his brain told him to run and hide, since she was a mafiosa and was dangerous. He had not seen from where she had gotten her weapon, but she had been very scary at that moment.
"Good morning, Tsunayoshi-san." Sakiko said to start a conversation and then waited for his brain to decide how to react; to see just how much did yesterday affect him. However, he was not let think about it very long, since Reborn's foot connected with his head, as the baby said: "A mafia Don should always be polite."
With a sigh, Sakiko went upstairs to get her school belongings and then returned downstairs to put on her shoes. Then she said a "I'm going now" and received "Have a nice say" in return, and left the house.
Upon reaching the school's gate, she heard a familiar voice say "Sawada Sakiko", so she looked in the direction to see Kusakabe Tetsuya along with some other Disciplinary Committee members.
"Good morning, Kusakabe-san." She said as she approached. He nodded his head and introduced the girl to the other committee members. While being introduced, a half-naked boy ran past her, dragging his two friends, but the girl ignored it by asking: "I you said you wanted me to go to the reception room before class. Did something change?"
"The president is resting there at the moment. It is better not to disturb him." The vice-president answered, taking the girl's lead to ignore the surrounding commotion. "The president decided that you will need to attend all classes, at least for now, help with the paperwork during lunch and fight him after classes and club activities."
"Alright." Sakiko agreed and Kusakabe gave her a red armband of the committee, which she took and attached to her blouse's right sleeve. After bidding good day to her committee boys she went to her class not to be late, however she didn't enter the class, deciding to wait for the teacher to come first, which he soon did.
"Ah, you must be the new student. Come with me and introduce yourself to the class." He said and entered the room, calling the students to attention.
"Good morning. My name is Sawada Sakiko. It is a pleasure to meet you all." The caramelette introduced herself with a small bow.
"Ehh?!" A certain boy with gravity defying hair exclaimed loudly.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi, be quiet!" The teacher snapped at the boy and then turned to the girl "is he your brother?"
"No. We are not related. To dispel any confusion, please call me Sakiko." The girl, her unwavering gaze directed at the teacher's, which slightly unnerved him and made him think of a certain raver-haired boy.
"Why do you have an arm-band? It is forbidden to accessorize the uniform without special permission." The teacher tried to gain high ground by trying to degrade the girl.
"I'm allowed to have it, since I am part of the disciplinary committee." Sakiko answered, her eyes narrowing at the teacher's actions. As a mafia Donna at a very young age, she was familiar with such underhanded actions, however it didn't mean she didn't find them annoying.
"A-alright, Sakiko-san. Please take the free seat by the window and we'll start the class." Although the stutter was slight in the teacher's voice, more than one person in class noticed it. Sakiko expression didn't change as she nodded her head and went to her seat, deliberately stepping on the leg that was there to make her trip.
Lunch break came quickly for Sakiko, however, even before she was able to put her belongings in her bag, she got surrounded by classmates who wsked question after question. To some of them she did answer, the innocent ones, but then shooed the classmates as they were blocking her way to the Reception room. After the mention of the Reception room and Hibari, everyone parted in fear that, if they made her be late, she would tell on them to Hibari and then he would bite them to death.
Once the caramelette reached he destination, she knocked on the door and entered after having heard a 'come in'. The room looked the same as before, only Hibari was sitting on one coach, while Kusakabe took the other, and piles of papers were between them on the table.
"Good afternoon, Ky- Hibari-sama." Sakiko said, for a second forgetting that this Hibari was not hers. As a reply she only received a glare and an order to close the door. The girl did as told with a small nostalgic smile on her lips. She missed her guardian, not as her Cloud, but as mentor and the person who had to take care of her, while her parents were both busy.
"What are you smiling about, herbivore?" Hibari asked, glare still directed at her.
"Just a fond memory. There is no need to pay attention to it, Hibari-sama." The caramelette tried to dismiss the topic. "How am I to assist you with the paperwork?"
"For now, please organize the papers in two piles. One for Hibari-san hat need either his signature or immediate attention, and the rest for me." This time it was Kusakabe who answered, as Hibari turned his attention back to the papers. Sakiko nodded her head and sat down next to the tallest person in the room, leaning her bag against the couch on the floor, and pulled the closest sack of papers to her and started to browse through them with a critical eye.