A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.


Hibari's don't lose.

So how is it possible that a little girl from a weak family and no notable bloodline was able to best me?

"Kyoya what are you thinking so hard about?"

"Hn."

"Is it the girl?"

"Of course not." I turn away from Obaa-san's lingering gaze. Of course I wouldn't waste my precious time thinking about her. I was just thinking about how I was going to take over my 5th grade class. No one can prove otherwise...

She smiles knowingly - "They've agreed to send her here for the school year. It's a pity she's a Vecchio though. A dying family with a weak heir and many problems on top of that." Even as small of an association as this would help their family. The Hibari's have a reputation that is not only respected, but also consistent. We are strong. She must be grateful to spend a year in our presence.

"School together?" This is both deeply annoying and mildly - very mildly - intriguing. Crowding my space for an extended period of time... but also discovering how exactly she managed to trick (best) me. And making sure it never happens again.

"Yes, I hear it was her idea to stay for a longer time. Maybe she's fond of you."

I blanch. "Obaa-san." If that's even remotely true, I'd have to beat the notion out of her.

"Just teasing."

A year to watch her. A year to fight. A year to win.

A year with Htasu.


None of my potential marriage partners had really...how do I put this? Liked me. At all. I know, shocked. Couldn't have seen that coming at all.

"Unrefined" or "brutish" were thrown around quite a bit.

Kazumi comfortingly let me know I would receive much more attention when I truly grew into a lady. So that's when I decided never to become a lady.

Though nothing with marriage had panned out yet - THANK THE LORD - I had received a formal invitation from Chieko Hibari. I guess she wants to see how much potential I really have.

I watch as Dario launches himself into the arms of his nanny.

"Oh dear, Young Sir what happened to your new clothes?"

This was actually hilarious to watch. He had dropped a dot - literally a single dot - of strawberry jam onto his new, white suit shirt. And then in an anxious flurry had tried to rub it out, only to smear the whole thing about in an even larger stain. To which he'd then tried to PAINT over it in white, which was like trying to draw eyebrows on the Mona Lisa with a sharpie. Obviously not turning out quite as he'd hoped, Dario then proceeded to glue pieces of white fabric on top to cover it in a weird patch job. AKA, by the end of it all, it looked like a complete piece of shit.

He sniffles cutely, putting on his best puppy face - "I-I was just on my way to bring Papa an iced tea - because it's so hot outside and he works so hard. But some of the paint melted off the house and fell onto my shirt."

L.O.L. Pray tell how?

"A-a-and then some clothes hanging on the clotheslines came loose and tore up in the wind and got stuck on me!"

It's beautiful moments like these that remind me why I don't just ignore him the entire day. Kid's got a wild fucking imagination.

"Oh dear, how unlucky. And so kind of you to bring The Boss something to drink."

"I know, I just wanted to do something nice for him. Can we have another shirt made and not tell Papa? I don't want to cause him any worries."

"Of course, Dario."

He smiles, wiping the fake tears from his face.

She turns to me and in a suddenly patronizing tone - "And why didn't you help the Young Sir when all of this was happening? You should have protected him."

I see him smiling mischievously from behind her legs. "Yeah, I should've paid more attention to all that melting paint..." He sticks his tongue out at me. Oh he will definitely regret that.

"We'll do better next time. C'mon, Young Sir, let's get you changed for dinner." She doesn't turn as she addresses me. "And Hatsu, Kazumi and Guido are at the front gate to pick you up."

And as they leave, Dario glances back over his shoulder and shyly waves a goodbye. Guess he will miss me a little.

I instead mimic stabbing him and twisting the knife, then sweetly smile and wordlessly mouth "I'm coming for you."

Ahh, one year in Japan without shits like this.


Kazumi hovers over me as I toss the suitcase into the trunk of the cab. "Are you sure you have everything? Toothbrush? Phone charger?"

"Yes - and either way I can just buy it there."

"That's true... Well did you remember to bring -"

"- She's fine, Kazumi. She has to go now." Guido interjects.

Kazumi pulls me into a quick hug, but immediately and awkwardly lets go. Kazumi, while much warmer than Guido, is hardly a mother figure to me. Though she has these small periods of guilt where she'll attempt some gesture of affection. It is always incredibly awkward for us both.

Guido walks up to me, all business. Guido makes it very obvious how little emotional attachment he has to me, but this is actually preferable. He doesn't leave any room for me to disillusion myself into thinking we are a functioning family.

"Remember your promise and our sacrifice for you. Your past is behind you."

"You don't need to remind me." I always remember.

"Good. Do as your told in the Hibari household. If we can secure a strong relation with their family, Edoardo will be very pleased." He opens the cab door and I slide into the back seat.

"Goodbye Kazumi, Guido."


A/N: Took out the POVs since actually it is quite easy to tell whose head we are in - thanks Cloudy for the note :).