Hello! How have you guys been since the new year?

I'm not even going to try and give excuses about why my updates are sporadic, other than because I am a lazy person...

Oh well! Here's Chapter 5 Part One! Enjoy!

5 The Disciplinary Committee's Slave (Part One)

Present time

Breathe in, breathe out.

Pacing back and forth before the Reception Room, I let out a small whimper. I fidget with my hair and wipe droplets of sweat on the side of my head with the back of my hand.

This will be fine… you'll be fine, Suzume...

"Bah, who am I kidding?!" I pull at the ends of my hair. "You totally bullied me into this, Reborn!"

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Somewhere between the thick walls of Namimori High, an arcobaleno sneezed.

The Night Before

The doorbell of the Rikamori Residence rang.

"Suzu-chan, will you please get the door?" My mother called out distractedly from the living room.

Lazily dragging my feet to the front door, I could only hide my surprise when what greeted me was Tsuna-kun in casual clothing and Reborn still in a suit. Tsuna waved shyly while Reborn smirked as he judged my sleepwear.

"That's a cute pattern, Suzume." Reborn started slowly. I raised a brow. "…for babies, maybe. But for teenagers like you? Not so much."

Tsuna frowned at his tutor.

"Is that why you're here," I huffed, crossing my arms against my chest, unimpressed. "To ridicule my choice of sleepwear?"

Reborn pointedly glanced at Tsuna's palm which held a small box. "Course not. We just dropped by to give you something important. Something all Vongola guardians have."

Tsuna gave an assuring smile before dropping the box into my waiting hand. I glanced warily at them before opening the box to reveal a bulky silver ring with golden embellishments. The jewels were arranged to resemble a small, golden sun.

"A ring?" I lifted it curiously and held it against the light.

"No, a firetruck." Reborn deadpanned. I glared at him.

Tsuna sighed tiredly at our banter. "It's a Sun ring. I have the Sky ring, Gokudera-kun has the Storm ring, Chrome-chan and Mukuro-kun both have the Mist ring, Sasagawa-senpai has a Sun ring as well. But Hibari-kun has a Cloud ring." I nodded slowly. "The rings embody your will to fight, or your resolve… it varies for different guardians. But mostly who you are as a person defines which ring you receive."

"So… a Storm ring owner has the wildest outbursts, Mist users have the tendency to delude their opponents, Cloud rings don't like being restricted, Sun users are constantly enthusiastic…. And you're a Sky user because you can put up with everyone else?" I cracked a small smile at Tsuna. "That is just so you."

"I should say the same about you, Suzu-chan." I blushed. Suzu-chan… "Will you be okay on Monday?"

I grimaced. Oh yeah.

"It can't be so bad," Reborn muttered. "The most he'll make you do is sort papers."

"That's easy coming from yo—hey wait a minute!" I point at him accusingly. "Aren't you the reason why I have to put up with the demon prefect that hospitalized me?"

"Well, a guardian has to be tested somehow—"

"So it's no good then? You don't want to be part of the family… Suzu-chan?" I stiffened at Tsuna's suddenly gloomy voice. His eyes were downcast, and a frown marred his face. Panicking at his reaction, and glaring at Reborn who smirked at my guilt, I waved my hands frantically in front of him.

"O-Of course not! Nooooo…. Don't make that face, Tsuna-kun! Of course I'll be your guardian!"

Reborn almost guffawed. "Well that's settled. Let's go, Dame Tsuna."

Tuna suddenly let out a knowing smile. "I knew that, Suzu-chan. Good night."

"G-Good night…" I blinked, head tilted to the side as I stared at their retreating form.

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Did...

Did I just fall into Tsuna's trap?

Present time

I checked my watch. 6:04AM.

Let's do this.

After one last breath, I bravely slid the door of the Reception Room open. A pencil rapidly passed the side of my face and embedded onto the wall behind me, nicking the side of my face. My hands rose to cup the small graze on the cheek.

"What the hell?" I snarled.

"A-Ah, you must be Rikamori-san," Kusakabe Tetsuya came into view as he rose from the blue sofa. He ushered me into the room after turning on the lights to reveal a spacious reception office with mostly brown tables, blue and black furniture, and wooden cabinets. Behind the center table sat Hibari Kyoya on a black swivel chair, now looking directly at me with narrowed eyes. "I was just re-orienting the Chairman that your work with us starts today, upon Reborn-sama's recommendation."

I slowly stepped into the room, my hand still caressing my left cheek. "That pencil was unwarranted."

Hibari completely ignored me and stood to address Kusakabe. "You will orient her with the paperwork, and then introduce her to the members." He lifted the jacket hanging from the side of the sofa and slid it on. "She is to work here strictly as a favor—" His lips twisted at the word, displeased. "—from the akambo."

My eyes glared at his shoulder that now held a Disciplinary Committee band. I cleared my throat. "This isn't a favor, Hibari-san. We now work together. It's called a truce." I sniffed.

"Truce?" Hibari repeated sharply. I flinched as he finally faced me. "The akambo referred you into my committee. Your presence here could be simplified into finally obtaining a slave."

My mouth dropped. "Slave? With all due respect, I am actual guardi—"

"A-Ah, I'm sure she means well, Kyo-san," Kusakabe interrupted us nervously. Hibari's eyes hardened as I suddenly relaxed my features and looked at him directly.

"I will do my duties efficiently, Chairman." I said sweetly, performing a mock bow. His frown deepened. "I will be in your loving care from now on."

A dangerous killing intent rose from the head prefect. Kusakabe sputtered for a moment at my actions, before situating himself between Hibari and I, effectively hiding me from the dangerous gaze of the Demon of Namimori. I heard a hmph! as Hibari stepped out of Reception Room, most probably to manage the school's opening ceremonies.

Kusakabe sent me a disapproving look and I sighed guiltily. "I couldn't help it."

"You should know better than that, Rikamori-san!" He admonished. "He already sent you to the hospital before!"

I flinched. "I apologize, Kusakabe-san… It's just," I scratched my arm. "When he looks at me, and I just know he doesn't think I should even be near him, and it gets to me."

Kusakabe shook his head at me and sighed to himself. "Please refrain from making things more difficult for me, Rikamori-san. You're here to help us."

I bit my lip. "Yes sir."

Suddenly, Kusakabe's heavy hand ruffled my hair and I instinctively swatted his hands in protest. He smirked at me and let out a knowing smile. His arm ushered me to the left side of the room, where a broad wooden secretary table was placed, next to five, grey metal file cabinets. "Let me show you how an executive secretary manages the paperwork then. We have less than an hour before the first period starts. It's not going to be easy," He warned warily. "Most of the time, paperwork piles up into mountains—" He grimaced. "—because damages resulting from the guardians' impromptu rampages in Namimori turn into summons from the city hall, and coincide with the weekly reports of disorder from the neighborhood… and on top of that you would have to manage the school's daily penalties and listings for latecomers, absentees, and, well… Sawada-san's group." He scratched the side of his head, as if remembering the Tsuna's misadventures. I laughed. "Well then, let's start…"

Here goes nothing!