A/N: This chapter has been slightly edited, so I re-uploaded it. Chapter 7 has been removed because it needed serious story revision, but I should update it in the closest few days. Sorry for taking so long.

Hibari woke up from the sound of papers being moved. It wasn't a rushed sound, it was more systematic, so he didn't open his eyes the very same moment. Then he noted that his abdomen tingled unpleasantly, which made him open his eyes in a glare, remembering what had happened. He would bite the girl to death. He moved his head to his side to see the girl he just thought about with papers in her hands.

"What are you doing, herbivore?" He growled.

"Sorting paperwork." Sakiko answered, not even looking at the boy, but then paused her work and asked "… or are you kicking me out of the committee?"

Sakiko didn't look at him – didn't dare to look at him – now that he was conscious. She regretted the words she had said some hours ago, and there was no way of taking them back. Sakiko very well knew that her words had hit him where it hurt the most. She had called him weak. She very well realized that she might have completely ruined her relationship with the boy even before it really started.

"I'll bite you to death." Hibari growled and sat up, forcing himself not to wince as the pain assaulted him, and looked around for his weapons, only to see them laying next to the girl.

"Another time. Now you need to rest, if you don't want the pain to carry itself to tomorrow. I applied a healing salve on you, but it takes its time to work." Sakiko told him, still looking at the papers. But then she paused, debating whether to continue or not. She didn't see Hibari glare at her even harder.

"Although I said what I said, you are stronger than an average person…. I've gone through Hell and back in training from three different mentors for six years of my life and then had to survive for three years in unforgiving dog-eats-dog conditions…. I want to help you get stronger, Hibari-sama." It took a lot of control for Sakiko not to let her voice waver, as saying her life in summary was painful to admit. But she still loved the six years, since she was supported by those who loved her, and had explained her the necessity for such training… even if more than one popped in their desire to train her.

"I don't need your help." Hibari growled as an answer.

"How will you know you've gotten stronger than me, if I won't be there to see it through?" She countered, catching herself in the last moment as she was about to look in his eyes, but directed her gave outside. "It's late. I need to return to my abode before others get worried."

With those words the caramelette took her bag and left the room, stopping by the door to say: "Kusakabe-san had came in, but I told him that you were asleep, and he told the rest not to disturb you."

By the time Sakiko returned to the Sawada residence, it was late and completely dark outside. When she opened the house's door, she heard hurried footsteps coming towards her, and soon Nana appeared by the stairs.

"Sakiko-chan! Where were you? I was getting worried that you might have gotten lost, since you are new to the area." Nana asked, concern fully visible in both her eyes and voice.

"Everything is alright, Nana-san. I was in school doing paperwork for my committee. This most likely won't be the last time I return late, as paperwork has tendency of multiplying no matter how much you do it." Sakiko answered calmly, trying to reassure her grandmother.

"But what if something were to happen to you, while you come home?" As the word 'home' was spoken, Sakiko's eyes widened in surprise. Shew had not been expecting to be accepted in the household so quickly, if at all. It made a nostalgic smile appear on her lips.

"There is no need to worry, Nana-san. No matter how late I stay at school, I will return safely."

"But…" Nana wanted to insist, still worried.

"If I couldn't protect myself, I doubt Hibari-sama would have accepted me in the Disciplinary Committee." Sakiko decided to drop the bomb. That made Nana's eyes go wide in surprise.

"D-disciplinary committee?" Nana repeated in shock. "What made you want to join it?"

"My desire to help maintain peace, even if for now it is just assisting with paperwork." Sakiko calmly answered and then let out a yawn. "I'm sorry. I am tired. May I retire for the evening?"

"Of course. But let me get you something to eat before you go to bed." Nana answered, backing away with her worriedness.

"That would be very nice. Thank you." Sakiko answered with a smile and took off her shoes as Nana went to the kitchen. As Sakiko went past Tsuna's room, Reborn came out and said: "It is not polite to worry mama."

"I know, Reborn. But I had to remain in school till he awoke. It would be rude just to let him lay there alone, after what I did." Sakiko answered, her smile dropping, her expression turning somber. "I shouldn't have lost my control and attack him like an enemy. It has been too long since I had last been in a place where I don't have to look twice at every shadow and disable an opponent as fast as I can…. Hibari-sama got lucky that I hadn't enhanced the hit with Lightning flames…. It could have ended a lot worse..."

"Seems like you need training in self-control." Reborn simply stated, which made Sakiko tense up at the word 'training'. After a moment of pause of thinking, she nodded her head and said: "I do need to adjust to this peaceful era…. May I ask you to observe my spars with Hibari-sama after the club activities so that I don't go to far, at least for now?"

"I need to keep an eye on Tsuna, but I'll think of something." Reborn answered and went back to Tsuna. Sakiko entered her and Bianchi's room, quickly changed her clothes and returned downstairs, just in time to stop Nana from putting a normal portion for her to eat.

"There is no need to put so much food on plate for me. I won't be able to finish it all."

"But you have to eat more to have energy and to put some meat on those bones." Nana answered worriedly.

"I know, but if I eat a lot more than I am used to, I am afraid that my body won't like it and it all will come back." Sakiko answered. Seeing that Nana was saddened by the though, she quickly added: "How about we simply increase the amount from what I am used to eating little by little, so that it could adjust?"

"Sakiko-chan… have you been… starving yourself?" Nana asked hesitantly, remembering how little the girl had ate both yesterday and this day.

"No, I have not. I… haven't had the chance to have normal meals… in quite some time, so… my body adjusted to the small amounts of food." Sakiko admitted to her grandmother, which made the elder female's eyes go wide in surprise.

"But it is alright. I got enough of energy to do things I needed to do." The girl tried to reassure her grandmother. Though it was a lie. She hadn't received enough nutrients in the last three years. It had been only due to the inborn instinct of survival that she survived fights during the war. As well as the thought that she was not allowed to die, that she had to survive not to let the lineage end so easily.

Nana pressed her lips together, wanting to say something more, not really believing what the girl said, but decided to let the girl be as she did look tired. With a sigh in her mind, she put only third of a normal portion on Sakiko's plate and gave it to the girl. It was still more than Sakiko was able to eat but didn't voice it out-loud as she took the plate. The caramelette ate as much as she was able to force herself to eat, which was only 3/4 of the portion, and even so she felt the food coming up a bit, but without stomach acid mixed in it. She dared not eat more and looked at Nana apologetically, who was sitting next to her by the table.

"I'm sorry. But that is all I can stomach." Sakiko was earnestly sorry for disappointing her grandmother by not finishing the food on her plate. Nana sighed heavily but nodded her head in submission to the fact.

"I hope those nightmares you are having will back away now that you have a full stomach." Nana said, which made Sakiko tense up and then cast her gaze down.

"I'm afraid it won't happen in the closest time… those nightmares… are memories…" Sakiko said but dared not say to Nana the contents of those memories. Nana seemed to pick it up, as she hugged the girl, making the girl go rigid.

"It's alright. You are safe here."

"How….?" Sakiko started to ask, not being able to finish.

"Sometimes a mother can tell." Those words made Sakiko tear up. She could not find explanation to those words, as there was no way Nana knew about their relationship.

"But… how…?" Sakiko stumbled across her words.

"I am certain we are family, Sakiko-chan. You look like I did when I was younger." Nana explained. Sakiko bit her lip not to reveal the truth.

"Sakiko, we need to talk." The two females were surprised by hearing Reborn's voice coming from the stairs. Sakiko swallowed her tears, thanked Nana and went to where Reborn was waiting.

"Yes, Reborn?"

Reborn didn't say anything, only observed the girl but then motioned her to follow him upstairs. Once were both in the safety of her room, both of them sat on the bed, but he didn't say anything, only observed her.

"You wanted to talk to me, Reborn?" Sakiko asked after a while of silence.

"No." Reborn answered, confusing the girl.

"Then why did you say that you did?"

"To preserve your secret." Reborn answered, making Sakiko's eyes widen in surprise but then turn gentle, yet sad as she thanked him.

"Go to sleep. You are a mess." Reborn said and then left the room. Sakiko did as told.

The next day Sakiko went to school even earlier than the previous day, even before Tsuna got downstairs to eat, wanting to check on Hibari and to find out if she had been kicked out of the Disciplinary Committee or not. Upon reaching the school's gate, she saw some low-ranked members simply being there to keep order. She greeted them out of politeness and continued to the building. When she reached the Reception room, she decided to knock not to have a tonfa flying in her face for simply opening the door.

"Come in." She heard Kusakabe say, so she opened the door to see both him and Hibari working on some papers. Both of the looked up at her – Hibari's gaze quickly turning into a glare – but didn't say anything.

"Good morning, Hibari-sama, Kusakabe-san. Is there any assistance needed?" She greeted and inquired, looking at the shorter one. Hibari returned his attention to the papers in front of him. Sakiko's tense shoulders relaxed a bit, seeing that she was not requested to return the armband on spot, and turned her attention to Kusakabe Tetsuya.

"Not at the present moment, but there will be more as the Athletics festival is approaching." Kusakabe answered. "For now, attend to your classes,"

"Alright." Sakiko nodded her head, glanced at Hibari and left the room. Once she was out of the room, she sighed in relief. Hibari did not hate her that much as not to want to see her. She continued her way to class with a slight smile on her lips.