A/N: Yes, I came back after a long time of hiatus. Now I'm making a story that just popped out of my noggin' For the readers of All About Acceptance, I haven't abandoned it. It's just under construction and will be updated soon. SO please read and review.

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR!


Juxtapose



Hundreds of voices overlapped each other. Dozens of footsteps echoed and a huge deal of sighs, complaints, farewells and happy greetings mixed in the huge Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Adult and children alike were running around to catch their flight while some sat on the plastic seats to wait for their plane. The civilians outside were waiting on the other side of the gate, anxiously catching a glimpse of the person they were going to fetch. And among them stood a twenty three year old young man with silver hair. His back was poker straight and his face was void of any emotions. A formal crisp black blazer covered his white polo and red neck tie. His shoes were shiny black Italian leather and he adjusted his gloves before he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. It was already nine in the morning and the arrival time of the person he needed to fetch should have been here two hours ago. If he was his old self, he would have cursed up a storm and proceeded to glare anyone who looked his way. Yes, Gokudera Hayato had changed. Even after releasing the curse of the arcobalenos, he remained dutifully at Tsuna's side. The young Sawada had also changed into a calmer and (usually) composed demeanor. Everyone grew up, except Reborn who curiously retained his infant stature, and they got their normal life back. In a normalcy sense of being the most regarded underground mafia group.

They entered college together, though Gokudera graduated first because his grades, they accelerated him so he graduated two years earlier than intended. Shockingly, Tsuna managed to pass a spot at Tokyo University, which most cannot even perceive. Ryohei, Hibari and Hana all went to the same college and Yamamoto took a baseball scholarship in Namimori University so that he could still help his father's growing sushi business. Things have indeed quieted down. The Shimon had left at the start of their high school and the Kokuyo gang just left without any notice. All except one, though she already stripped off the gang from her identity after the fight fr the arcobalenos.

The girls was let in the secret with Reborn's blessings though it earned many tears and worried glances from both Kyoko and Haru, they understood everything and they managed to teasingly remark, "So that's where your wounds came from!"

He and Bianchi were in good terms before she flew back to Italy. They can't really grasp the whole 'sibling love' thing but they act civilly towards each other and they promised to call each other every now and then. Sawada Nana... she seemed content on being the blissfully happy housewife who didn't know what her husband and son were doing.

"No parking in the white zone"

The scratchy voice on the PA system boomed. And several people began to file out from the double doors of the airport. Gokuera shifted his light green eyes towards the throng of strangers to look for the one he was waiting for. Bu then, how will he know where that person was? He had not seen that person for five years, who knows what they look like right now?

Then, a glimpse of a beige trench coat and a black scarf covering a head caught his eye. Yep, that's definitely that person. He fluidly maneuvered his way through the crowd and held up his hand. The person saw his signal through their black sunglasses and nodded in confirmation. Gokudera briskly walked towrds the person and stared at the smaller figure in front of him, "I'm here to pick you up, Dokuro Chrome."

-

Gokudera offered to carry her luggage but the girl- or rather, young woman declined politely and was straight to the point when she told him that the plane she was boarding experienced a bit of engineering problems that cost them two hours therefore she apologized for her tardiness. Gokudera shook his head and internally sighed. It wasn't her fault that the plane had problems yet she was acting as if she was the one who caused the delay. He led her to the parking lot where a sleek black limousine was waiting for them. The driver was a silent man who kept the upper half of his face hidden with the rim of his hat. He walked of the car and bowed at Gokudera and Chrome. He turned to Chrome and held up a hand, "May I carry your bag into the car miss?" Chrome hesitated for a moment before she nodded and placed the handle of the bag to his pre-offered hand. Gokudera slid first into the car before she followed the fashion.

The dark tinted windows locked the glaring sunlight as the limo travelled from Tokyo to Namimori. Gokudera was slightly taken aback when Chrome removed her sunglasses and scarf. Instead of an eye patch wearing girl he had known in his youth, she stared at him with two doe eyes, they shone like bright amethysts and framed with thick, long eyelashes. Her nose was small and dainty and her lips were shaped in a cupid's bow and shiny with light lip gloss. Her hair was released from that ridiculous pineapple style which she started sporting after her departure from Mukuro's shadow and it flowed to the middle of her back that ended with a wave. "Will the boss be present at the debriefing?" She asked. Her voice was soft like a bell but it was roughened by the professional and urgent tone.

"Iie," he answered before he crossed his arms against his chest. "Jyuundaime has something to attend to. He will contact us by phone though." Chrome hummed in understanding before she shifted her attention towards the scene outside though there was little to see because of the tampered windows. Gokudera began to send a message to the guardians except for Hibari when her voice rang out; "How's Kyoko-san and Haru-san?"

Of course she would ask about them. The girls were the ones she would not have any awkwardness with. "They're fine. Kyoko' studying to be a child therapist and Haru's taking up... fashion designing." He had no intention in offending the latter but he can't help but sometimes wonder what university accepted the designs she presented in her application form? Bizarre and downright outrageous get ups were her expertise. "Oh, and Jyuundaime and Kyoko's engagement party will be at the fourteenth and he wants everyone to be there" he added.

"I see. That's wonderful."

There was a small smile on her face before she looked out again and the smile widened when she saw the familiar buildings she hadn't seen in five years since her sudden departure. "Yamamoto and Sasagawa will be meeting with us in the headquarters. Reborn-san said they will call between three to five to check with the progress."

"Hai..."

The Vongola activities grew quiet after the battle for the curse but things started to unsettle once more when a new threat occurred in the form of suicide bombers who used mafia rings and flames appeared, once again catching the attention of the mafia families. Reborn ordered an immediate gathering of the tenth generation Vongola to discuss the matter. But Gokudera couldn't grasp the idea of also including Chrome. Mukuro wasn't really in his favorite people list but he's the rightful Mist guardian and therefore Chrome is a liability if it came to power. True she was useful on the last battle but her physical prowess was subpar compared to the sadistic Mist guardian. But all he could do was act on Reborn's orders and don't question the arcobaleno's judgment.

The car stopped in front of a normal looking building within the business district. Several people gawked at the sight of a luxurious vehicle before the driver, Iwagari, shooed them off with a rough glance that was not unlike Hibari's. Gokudera stepped out and waited for Chrome to follow before they stepped into the building. The lobby was small and decorated with dismal white offset tiles. A single guard who was sitting on the reception area looked up from the newspaper he was reading and began to stand before Gokudera shook his head. The guard looked at Chrome for a second before he cleared his throat and sat back to his chair and returned to his paper.

There were three elevators on the right side of the lobby. All of them were vacant and mirrors were placed around them. Chrome was about to enter the left elevator when Gokudera stopped her and tilted his head on the right, "We'll take this one". The middle elevater looked the same as the two. Mirror-paneled walls and ceiling and a gray carpeted floor. It was small but it can accommodate at least ten people. They entered the elevator and he pressed the CLOSE button. The door clamped shut and they stood inside the enclosed space for a moment or so before Gokudera took out a small card and slid it across the control panel that held the call buttons. A small beep sounded off and a black box under the panels next to the emergency phone clicked open. He lofted the cover to reveal another set of call numbers. He punched in several numbers in great speed before he pressed the button with an icon of a number dial on it.

Before Chrome could even ask what he did, the elevator beg an to move downwards and Gokudera just stared at the doors with a bored expression on his face. The elevator rang to signal its arrival and Gokudera spared a glance at Chrome who was holding on to her stomach with a slight look of nausea but she automatically composed herself when she caught his eye. Gokudera slowly directed his eyes to the opening doors to reveal a long narrow hall that was illuminated by dim orange lights.

"Come on" he ushered.

He led her towards a door which didn't have any knobs or handles but instead a black box and a small hole that looked like an ordinary peephole. He swiped his card again and entered the numbers before he looked into the peephole with his right eye. A beep sounded off and the door opened to let them in. Inside was at least a dozen people wearing suits and sat on their cubicles. The ones who saw Gokudera bowed and greeted him while some just looked at Chrome warily. "Gokudera-sama!" a young man with reddish brown locks ran up to them and bowed, "Yamamoto-sama just arrived and just went into the conference room."

Gokudera just nodded at the man who still had head down and motioned Chrome to follow him. More people bowed at him but he kept his steady pace with Chrome behind and turned left to a hall filled with doors. At the end of the hall was a large door made of oak. He opened the doors and Chrome stifled a gasp. The room was large enough to seat at least a hundred people and a large monitor was in front and so was a podium and projector. It's dome shaped ceiling was decorated with the world map and curiously, it also showed the different rings they've all encountered.

"About time you showed up" Gokudera drawled to his right side. A soft chuckle was emitted and when Chrome turned her head, there stood a tall tanned man with a small scar on his chin. Yamamoto Takeshi placed his hands on his hips and grinned, "I should be saying that, you were the late ones!" Gokudera just rolled his eyes and moved through the aisles and walked to the first row.

Yamamoto's eyes widened when he saw a smaller figure behind the storm guardian. "Chrome?" he asked in disbelief. The woman nodded once and gave a small hesitant smile before he rushed towards her and ruffled her hair in a brotherly affection manner, "It's been years huh?"

"Five actually" Gokudera clarified as he fished in his pocket a box of cigarettes and took out a stick, "Where's Ryohei? I thought everyone's already here. Not counting Hibari 'course."

Yamamoto shrugged but his smile was still in place, "Ryohei said he was just caught in traffic. He'll get here by thirty minutes tops."

Gokudera scoffed as he lifted the lighter to the cigarette stick, "Tch, traffic my ass. I bet he's just caught in his girlfriend's sheets. Again."

Chrome cleared her throat at his bluntness but Gokudera just took a long drag and blew a long rope of smoke from his lips. Thankfully the ventilators installed in the room immediately sucked in all the smoke so the smell didn't linger for long. The double doors opened once again and Gokudera anticipated on seeing the silver haired man to find the infant in his signature hit man costume and a chameleon sitting contentedly on his fedora.

"Ciaossu minna" Reborn greeted, "Ready for your new assignment?"


A?N: It's just a prologue that's why it's short. It'll be longer. Read and Review please. No FLAMES.