Eyelids fluttered open as an arm was raised, covering his sight from the sudden invasion of white entering his eyes. Tsuna looked around and realized he was in the infirmary. He looked at his hands and noticed they were bandaged carefully, leaving no trace of the scorch marks seen. Scenes of what happened before he blacked out flew back into this mind. He immediately rose from his bed, jumped off of it, sliding the flimsy curtains aside, and headed towards the door. His balance, however, was not back, resulting in the young male falling forward. He closed his eyes, waiting for impact, but only felt being caught in warm arms. "Who…?"

He looked up and chocolate brown eyes were locked with violet indigo ones, brimmed with worry. "Tsunayoshi, you're still not back to normal. Get back on the bed and rest." She ran her thin fingers through his messy locks of hair like an older sister soothing her scared little brother. "Please?"

Tsuna wanted to say no, but eventually released himself from Ibara's arms and climbed back on the bed, his body facing the ceiling. His arms covered his eyes, shielding him from the world. "Ibara-nee… Can you please close the curtains? I want some time alone to think to myself."

Ibara hesistated but did as she was requested. "I'll be back to check on you later, so please rest."

From the corner from his eyes, he could almost sweat Ibara-nee was glaring at him, but the curtains flew between them before he could take a double take. He was soon asleep, not knowing Ibara had inserted a sedative into him when he fell on her. "I still need to apologize to Hibari…"

Ibara sighed as she faced the person, who was sitting on a tree branch outside the infirmary window. "Get out of here, Reborn."

The baby did not bat an eyelash at her order, but disappeared before a dagger was thrown at him. Luckily, the window was open or else someone would have heard the glass break.

"Cerevello and Vendice hanging around the Vongola heir, this is definitely new." Reborn looked up at where the dagger was thrown and frowned. When did the heir meet such people?

The bell rang as a swarm of students were released from school. Two adults stood behind the school, not wanting anyone to hear their conversation. And if there was someone who overheard, that person would be knocked out before anything else could be said.

"Ibara, why did you attack that boy?" Tsuru slammed her back against the wall.

Both of their eyes held no emotion like the true Mafia assassins they were.

Ibara looked to side as her partner glared at her. "That boy needed to learn his place."

"He's not a part of the Vongola Decimo's Famiglia. What makes you think you can do that?"

Ibara bit her bottom. They were going to go in circles if she allowed him to question her like this. "If I had not intervened, then he would have been killed." She turned and faced Tsuru, looking at him straight in the eyes. "Do you think I would want Tsunayoshi to kill someone he did not need to kill? I don't think so."

Tsuru's eyes widened a bit before returning to their normal shape. "Tsunayoshi wanted to kill him?"

Ibara scoffed at him. Her emotions for Tsunayoshi were taking over her quiet personality. "Yes, he did. It was a response to that Arcobaleno's murderous intent leaking out. Hibari happened to be the closest one at the time, so it would make sense."

Tsuru continued to glare at Ibara, who equally met his gaze, holding her ground against his. "Then why did you save that boy?"

Ibara's lips tightened this time, her words leaving an inaudible whisper. "He resembles him…"

"What?" Tsuru heard what she said, but if she was going to be like this, then they were going to end up beating around the bush.

Her eyes revealed hesistation, but her voice was quavering with irritation. "He resembles him."

Tsuru let out a sigh. "Who resembles who?"

Ibara bit her lip, enough her it to bleed. "Hibari Kyouya resembles Alaude…"

Tsuru took a step back in response. If she had come to this conclusion, then… "Who else have you have been analyzing?" His eyes were almost filled with fury.

Ibara knew she was in trouble, but there was no way she was going to shake in fear to defend what she said. "Yamamoto Takeshi. He resembles Asari."

Tsuru almost snapped and wanted to slap Ibara. He ended up punching the wall. His knuckles were bleeding as a result. "What makes you think they're made out for the world we're in? How do you think the Decimo is going to feel when he finds out about this? That you're picking out potentials for his group of Guardians." He looked down at the female, only to see her regretting her actions. Tsuru dropped the quiet act, and ran his fingers in frustration. "Well, that makes three out of seven, including the Decimo. That's almost half of them. What are we going to do now?"

Ibara knew what Tsuru meant. "We won't make a move. I'll continue to analyze other potentials… And if the time comes, then…"

"Ibara, you do know that we are not suppose to look for them, right? Why are you when you know that he has choose them himself?" Tsuru shook the girl bu her shoulders.

Her violet indigo eyes broke away from Tsuru's eyes. "Tsuru, you know we won't be here to protect him all the time. No matter how much we want to stay by his side, we are still going to end up leaving him…"

Tsuru let o fo her and kicked the wall out of frustration. "You don't have to remind me."

"Tsuru…"

He noticed the pleading sound in her voice, but he was already walking away. He did not want to look at her for now. "I know. I won't do anything to hurt the Decimo. Just give me some time to cool off."

She watched him walk away as she slumped against the wall, curling up in a fetal position. "Tsuru, why don't you call him by his name when he's not here…?" She looked ahead as her eyes became dull. "I understand how you feel, but… Have you ever wonder if we are replacing the Decimo with him…? Is Tsunayoshi a replacement?"

Notes:

Wow, the chapter keep on getting shorter, huh... Well, it's okay if it gets the plot moving. Hahaha. Well, it seem like Ibara and Tsuru have some sort of secret, we wonder what that's about? If you're wondering, the fight with Hibari took place a few days after Ibara and Tsuru entered the school. So that kinda explains how Ibara is analyzing potentials. Yeah, there is bad blood between Ibara and Tsuru with Reborn. Wonder why though? Even we don't know. Hahaha... Well, please review and tell us what you think.