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The After Years

Title: The After Years

Genre: Family

Rating: T

Summary: Takes place 15 years in the future from the current timeline of the story. Centered around Haru's apartment and the memories left behind.

The apartment had been empty for a long time. Five years of disuse left a fine layer of dust coating every visible surface within its parameters. Cobwebs and dust bunnies crowded together in all the niches and cracks available to them. The air was stagnant and somewhat putrid from the growing mold in the bathroom. Yet nothing was out of place. The dishes had been neatly put away. There were no loose papers, books, or bobbles. The laundry had been ironed, folded and put away. The bed was made and the pillows fluffed. Sterile and perfect…if not for the haphazard picture frame in the middle of the coffee table.

It appeared to have been knocked over, but as the inhabitants of the abode had long since gone it would be impossible to tell if they had been the culprits. Lying on its backside and tilted slightly to left it would remind one of a misfortunate turtle who fell on his back. It seemed forlorn in its forgotten state. As if all in the tiny apartment had been remembered, cleaned, and put in its proper place except for the picture. How sad to be left behind in such a way! Now it served as the only reminder that there had been life in the otherwise crypt-like household.

The only things visible of the picture itself were the silhouettes of five people and three children. Though from the size of the five one would think that they were children as well…perhaps no more than middle schoolers. The occupants of the picture were crowded together and one of them appeared to be tackling his or her way into the middle. Only the three small children featured appeared to be facing the camera and smiling. One had a strange hat only suited for an adult and the second's head was shaped like an oval and the third had cow horns. All three seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.

In the middle was a short, and apparently male, figure with hair that defied the laws of gravity. He was being tackled on his left by the figure who was so desperately trying to get to the center. On his right was a more female version of himself clutching the child with cow horns. Standing behind the female on the right was another male, though he was taller than the one in the middle, and he had his fist raised with something like dynamite in his clutches, aimed towards the figure who had tackled the boy in the middle. Upon closer inspection said tackling figure was more female than male and had long hair tied in a ponytail, whereas the female on the right had shorter hair. Behind the ponytailed girl stood the tallest figure whose open mouthed smile was visible even through the dust and grime.

It was such a happy picture. Why had it been left unattended so?

There was no answer. Only silence…

…which was then shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. They were heavy footsteps, accompanied by uneven breathing as the owner of the footsteps ascended the stairs leading to the apartment. The door was thrown open unceremoniously and quite rudely. There stood a man in his late thirties with the beginnings of a beer belly. He was dressed in a finely tailored black suit and trench coat with matching sunglasses, which he tore off to survey the unoccupied space. Attached to his hip were a glock and a radio which fizzled with static…a voice permeated the calm.

"Come in Mario…what's your status?" "MARIO!"

The man in black ignored the voice and began to peruse through the cupboards and bookshelves.

"MARIO, DAMNIT ALL, WHAT IS YOUR STATUS!" The man sighed with impatience as he reached for the device.

"Yeah, yeah I'm here. And why are you bothering me about my status? We both know this mission is a dud."

"STILL, we have to act professional otherwise it'll reflect badly on Boss and the Family."

The man, Mario, merely grunted in response before continuing his search. The air filled with dust particles as he emptied the contents of the linen closet onto the floor. He continued in a similar fashion around the rest of the abode; emptying cupboards and upsetting furniture. Breathing became exceedingly difficult as the air thickened. Unable to stand it any longer Mario flung the curtains open and slid the glass back so that air could flow freely into the apartment.

Sighing in relief he turned back to his work before pausing at the sight of the misshapen photograph. In three quick strides he was beside the table and reaching for the picture. Using his decorative handkerchief to wipe away the layer of dust, he was confronted by the sight of the young Vongola Decimo and his original Family. He just stared.

He gently set the picture down again, this time upright, and then seated himself on the couch so that he was eye level with the frame. And he stared some more. For an indeterminable amount of time he remained in that position and studied the children in the photo. They looked so young and so innocent it was hard to believe the infamy they had gained.

A loud screech from the radio startled him out of his musings almost violently.

"MARIO, MY GOD MAN, HAVE YOU GONE DEAF?"

"What, what no need to yell I'm right here!" his eyes never left the photo as he spoke to his partner through the mouth piece.

"Jesus, man you've been quiet for almost ten minutes I thought something happened to ya."

"Hmph, as if. Would you mind telling me why we're here again? I mean it's not like they're ever gonna come back so why am I going through some woman's stuff?"

His partner heaved a deep breath, "Look I don't know what the story is and you're right they ain't coming back and they didn't leave any clues behind either so I'm assuming that this is for the sake of keeping peace with the Vendice. You know politics..." Mario mad a noise of reply before his partner continued.

"...All I know is this used to be Haru Miura's apartment and we're supposed to see if any of them have visited it recently. Yeah, it's useless grunge work and below our pay grade but orders are orders."

Mario's brow furrowed at the name before glancing back to the picture. There on the left of the Decimo was Haru Miura, a much younger version than the one he remembered. So this was her apartment huh? He never met her in person but she was famous for her eccentric ways and merry disposition. She was one of the original members of the Vongola Decimo's Family and widely considered as a sibling to the Decimo. Mario knew little else of her.

"Hey Lucci, what happened again?"

"Huh, whaddya mean what happened?"

"I mean what happened to the Vongola Decimo's Family."

"Oh, five years ago they just vanished. Poof! Off the face of the earth."

"Why? From what I've heard of them they were the most powerful force in the entire world! It's even suggested that the Decimo and his Guardians surpassed the Primo and his lot."

"Yeah well, all I know is that it had something to do with the war. After the cease fire was declared they just sorta…left. I've heard rumors though that the Vongolas were responsible for the war's end so maybe whatever agreement they signed entailed them leaving."

"What's that got to do with us and the Vendice?"

"Hell if I know! Those kinda questions will get us whacked and you know it. Why the sudden interest anyway?"

"It's nothing. I just found this picture of the lot of them when they were young. They look like regular kids Lucci…it coulda been us."

"Well we all gotta start somewhere. Just hurry it up I'm almost out of coffee."

"Right…"

Mario stood and headed towards the door. Pausing one last time at the threshold he glanced over at the picture frame. The sense of disquiet hadn't left him. Shaking himself mentally he crossed the doorway and slammed the door shut with unnecessary force. The footsteps faded away and all was quiet in the Miura residence once again.

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