Tsunayoshi Sawada, successful in this world of darkness and betrayal, slipped on his short sleeved t-shirt with ease that came easier as time passed. Time faded wounds, time healed them, and that principle applied to the decade old scars littering his arms and back.

He's still unsure how no one noticed the scars from a time where darkness ruled. A time before them with laughs that mended his wounds and love that cleansed his soul. Before Reborn brought people around him that believed in him, Dame-Tsuna, and his abilities. People that filled the hole in his heart that his mother couldn't fill, that his father never came home to see, the kind Tsuna picked at until it grew. He doesn't understand- not with all the observant people around him- but part of him believes that he healed so well because they didn't notice. As oxymoronic and ass backwards as it sounded, he truly believed it in his slightly bruised but healed heart. He'd probably never get over the feeling of helplessness and simple inferiority that his bullies instilled within him, but at least now he had the power- the confidence- to make them finally stop. (The fact that his family would beat them into the ground, as well, was just a relieving back up plan.)

It's taken him years to finally feel 100% comfortable showing his arms and back, and even now there're days he covers them up in the returning of haunting memories- feelings, the feelings that make him feel like he's drowning and can't breathe and cause so much pain. But his family smiles to him at breakfast, Lambo eager to impress him, Mukuro joking around, and Kyoya relaxing in the familiar setting. Hayato checks up on him every few hours, asking if he needs a break, sneaking snacks, and overall being incredibly endearing. Chrome sometimes wanders in- smiles and laughs and giggles that lift his mood because she's been opening up to everyone and he's so proud of her- to give him a hug, a shoulder massage, or to drag him out for a break. Takeshi slinks into a chair and just talks to Tsuna about anything and everything, creating a refreshing atmosphere in the bland little office. Tsuna can't find it in himself to be so selfish as to fall into that dark time that he knows will break his family's hearts, so he fights every ghost for those bright lights that have permanently come into his care.

He's proud of how far he's come, but he knows how much he's leaned on other's even if they themselves didn't notice and he's grateful. He'll gladly fight Death and God for any of them, and they know this.

At the bright young age of 23, Tsunayoshi Sawada sat listening to Lambo go on about what he's learned in health about depression and self harm. (Lambo's too cheerful and loved to fall into the downward spiral as Tsuna did, but he still fears and watches for any signs from any of his siblings.) He's still uncomfortable talking about it, but they've never really noticed, so he breathes easy.

This is until Ipin starts staring at him. And doesn't stop. He's about to question her, but she jumps up and grabs his uncovered arms. The room's silent as Ipin narrows her eyes as she spots scars scattered on the arms. Her voice is tight and clipped in worry, "Tsuna-nii, are these cutting scars?"

Suddenly there's a tension in the room that Tsuna doesn't like. There's silent worry in the air as they wait for an answer, all eyes on him. He doesn't really want to answer, but he hasn't cut in a decade and he really hates lying. So he sighs, removes his arms from Ipin's grip and pulls her down to sit beside him, "Yes they are Ipin. But, all the scars are at least a decade old."

There are angry cries but only Chrome's serious disproval reaches everyone's ears. "Why didn't you tell us Tsuna?"

"Well, for starters you are all the biggest worry warts I have ever met." Tsuna started with a huff, trying not to give into the urge to hide his arms from all the staring, "Secondly, I had just stopped by the time Reborn came by. I wasn't about to bring it up seeing as everything started exploding. When things finally calmed down, I really didn't think it was a big deal. Thirdly, you all were basically strangers when I stopped. I haven't even told Mom about this."

"What pushed you that far?" Lambo's concerned curiosity voiced, only to be cuffed in the head by Hayato.

"Everything." Tsuna said with a small laugh, "It's a stupid reason looking back at it now. But then it was overwhelmingly painful."

"Everything did, but the Mafia didn't?" Mukuro asked in disbelief

"Bullies, the name calling, being ignored," Tsuna started, "how Mom cried when Dad called but never came home, when he cancelled on my birthday, not being important to anyone, the like. That's what really affected me."

"How did you stop?" Ipin asked, wrapping her arms in a hug around her brother.

"I ran out of excuses to use for the bandages." Tsuna laughed, "Mom was so upset that they kept going missing. Then Reborn came and I figured he wouldn't approve."

"Damn right I wouldn't Dame-Tsuna." Reborn growled

"Anyway, you guys are the main reason I didn't start again. Fuuta, Ipin, and Lambo needed a good role model. Hayato, Takeshi, and Chrome were looking to me for hope. Kyoya and Mukuro needed someone to calm them down. Ryohei and the girls respected me." Tsuna shrugged, "I needed to step up to everyone's expectation of me, and I couldn't do that if I was still cutting. I especially couldn't let the kids catch me. So I stopped permanently."

The silence that followed was unexpected with his guardian's nature. Ipin placed herself on his lap, snuggled up as his warm- but scarred, so very scarred- arms wrapped around her, and his head leaned onto her own. Tsuna absentmindedly rubbed his sister's back and hummed a song his mother sang to him when he was little.

Tsuna didn't say anything when Lambo planted next to him, and placed his head on the shoulder Ipin wasn't using. He didn't say anything when his younger siblings teared up. His eyes softened and his put one arm around Lambo to rub his back.

Chrome was the first to break the silence, "So, we are the reason you stopped?"

Tsuna softly smiled, "Of course, you saved me."

Tsuna ignored the mutters of "You saved us" and instead spent personal time with each throughout the week.

Heeeeyyyyy

Imma leave this here