Summary: Life's a bitch and no one knows it best than the Mafioso. The world changes drastically when your best friend gets married to your childhood prince and you are yet to have a boyfriend.

The Diary of Miura

Entry #3 Runaway

I tried keeping my cool but just his presence alone had such a dreaded affect on me that I couldn't help but shudder every time our eyes met.
Everything's cool Haru, everything's totally cool. It's not everyday you get to have coffee with a Vendicare runaway, breakaway would be more like it. This is the guy who walked her to the stage and who was against Chrome's marriage, so I like him … that's not the least bit reassuring. There are so many bright sides to this –that I can't think of right now- but if Chrome can stand him and trust him, there's no reason I can't.

"I like the way you think" He smiled. Great … he's reading my mind. I inhaled heavily and let out a sharp breath.

The morning didn't start out very favourably for me. I woke up in Hayato's house, nearly puked at the heavy scent of rich breakfast, flatly refused eating and jumped out of a moving vehicle just to annoy the Tenth Generation Storm Guardian. God has a funny way of punishing people. Hayato probably cursed at me because no sooner I got a call from Rokudo Mukuro which was more of threat than an invitation to coffee. So I wrote and submitted a sick leave on the spot, crossed five blocks on foot and went in to a café where he was already waiting for me.

This café had a fond memory. Originally I had hated that night but over time I had come to secretly love it, even though I acted like I'd rather die than let something like that happen again. When I ran away from home back in my teens, this is where I crashed. It was a stormy weather and the café was closed. Hayato and I bumped into each other exactly in front of the door. He started yelling at me but slowly stopped. I guess he took in the sight of a familiar face with makeup running down, a dress soaked –I had come back from the farewell party of a lecturer at high school- and shivering skin. Even in my despair I started yelling back at him because I didn't recognize him with my teary vision. The first words that came when he recognized me weren't very consoling.

"You bitch! Look at the hour! Look at yourself! Even your mother won't recognize you like this!"

"HAHI! Who do you think you-eeep!" He grabbed my arm and roughly shoved me under the extension of the roof that started protecting us from the harsh rain. My simultaneous crying, sobbing and mental movie murder of my grandmother –yes, it was her fault- wasn't helping in coming up with witty insults. He started picking the lock.

"Come on"

"Aren't we breaking into- AH! Are you going to harass Haru in here! As if I would enter here with a total stranger! I know self-defense!" I can imagine how ridiculous I might have sounded to him with the state I was in.

"Wah? You're really a bitch!" He grabbed my wrist and dragged me in. When I started thrashing he slapped the back of my head. "It's me! Gokudera!"

"Huh? Gokudera-san? What are you doing out so late and in such a weather?"

"I'm on drugs, what about you?" It never occurred to me that he could be humoring me. I took him so seriously that I squeaked and jumped quite a height before starting to chide him. When he managed to shut me up, he asked "You look horrible, woman. What happened?" I bit my lip so hard, it started bleeding. I started crying and broke the whole story to him, continuously mentioning that I had abandoned my home. He didn't seem to be affected at all. He reached across the table and pinched my nose. "I've never heard anything more ludicrous"

"You're just a stone-hearted, cold-blooded bastard!"

"Yea" He smirked and blew up a side of the café with his dynamite "I am." Then he disappeared and left me to deal with the police that swarmed in minutes after the blast. They had tried to return me home but I told them I'd run away and would never go back. Next hour, I was home. No one would really have found out I ran away, no one in home even noticed me missing! But, because I opened my mouth more than necessary, it felt like the whole country knew what had happened. It was even published in the paper!

I had never hated anyone more in my life the amount I hated Hayato at that time. I refused to see him and screamed at him every instant he was in my sight. Then Tsuna told me that Hayato was a runaway too. He knew about the consequences, the sacrifices and the hell that one has to go through when they do such irrational things. What Hayato did was best for me, even if he did it in the least consoling and most retarded way, but that's his way of showing he cares. He's not one would turn for pity. It took me a long while to accept that. I grew to like Hayato more after that incident but I think I liked him more because I found out that he was a runaway –at the frigging age of eight.

That's a pretty old story. Hn, my teen years sure were something.

"Salve" The seated male raised his hand then gestured to the seat opposite him and I sat down meekly. I'm sorry Tsuna, Kyoko and Hayato! I really, really, really feel like repenting right now. The man placed his elbows on the table, knitting his fingers together and leaning forwards. Gwah! He's staring at me so intensely! Is he going to possess my body again? The last time he did that I was in so much shit when I came back to my senses. Mukuro jerked his head to the side and I jumped. He chuckled. I had no idea I was so frightened of him. He had only tilted his head a bit and I thought he was going to lung at me over the table.

Dude, you are one scary male.

"I know"
I was surprised and it showed on my face because he seemed to get more entertained by the minute. Ah! I forgot! He can read minds! How can I forget that so soon? Why the hell am I even here?

"It is regarding Chrome" His voice turned grave and the smile on his face reduced.

"Is she alright?" I leaned closer to him. Why are we whispering?

He shook his head. "Here I am with some outrageous intelligence and there you sit wondering why we are whispering" I felt my face heat up.

"Ha-Hahi! So sorry Rokudo-san!" I fiddled with my thumbs. No thought is safe with this guy around. I've got to stop thinking! How do people stop thinking? Is it even possible for a person to stop thinking? Why am I asking myself this? God, this feels so stupid. I repent Holy Forces up there! I repent! Is he still reading my mind? That's intrusion of privacy! Women need more privacy then men! At least they don't have menstrual and stuff to worry about. I can't believe I thought of menstrual in front of him!

He chuckled. "You can say I raised Chrome, so such minor thoughts do not make me curious" Crap. He explained menstrual to her. That had to be weird … or awkward. "Back to Nagi now"

"Hm?"

"Chrome will be arriving in Namimori in a few hours time" I felt the blood stop flowing in my vessels. No friggin' way. "Yes. Friggin'. Way. And she is prerequisite of your assistance, seeing as you are the only one she is left with to rely on" Hm? Did everyone else die or something? Chrome and Kyoko get along better than the two of us. "The Poison Scorpion and Sawada's fiancé are both directly associated with the one Chrome is trying to avoid" Kyoko and Bianchi are both directly associated with … Vongola? "Close enough" I frowned.

"What happened?"

"She will explain it to you herself. In the mean time I want you to prepare a shelter for her" If this has something to do with a mafia war, I'm so screwed. "Keep her away from all Guardians. The best option is for you to take her back to your residence and I will have you both shielded" It sounds so serious. I wonder what happened. Hold on!

"What about Hibari-san?"

A dark smirk crawled onto his face. "As I said, Chrome will explain it. This trouble won't last very long. Perhaps a week or so, until things settle down. She will handle it herself from there on, but understand" He inched his face closer to mine and lowered his volume by degrees "Chrome is in a weakened state and I trust you will take good care of her until she is over her crisis" I wonder what Hibari did to her. It has to be that bastard or his family, I can't think of anything else. "Protect her from the Guardians"

I huffed in air and balled my hands. For some reason, I felt determined. Determined to protect my friend. What ever it was, who ever it was, that person was not getting to Chrome until I was dead and cold. I built up a strong resolve to protect her. For one, I became sure that what ever Chrome was going through had to be psychological. I could help her with that. Chrome was like a little duckling, so naïve in the ways of the world, and if anyone was causing her pain, well, that person had better watch out.

"Good" Mukuro nodded his head. "Keep up the pep talk and something excellent just might come out of it" He took a sip of the coffee. "Don't try anything on her, only keep her distant from the Guardians, there's nothing more you have to do"

I nodded enthusiastically. But there was one major problem. "My house…"

"Yes, I know" He looked out the glass wall. "It is taken care of"

Things were silent after that. The flame building inside began to fade as I realized just whom I had made a deal with. I am in so much trouble. The guys said that Mukuro never did anything unless there was something in it for him. What was he going to gain out of this? Maybe, just maybe, this was purely for Chrome. He didn't seem like such a heartless person now that I had talked to him. He really cared. "You must excuse me now. Chrome's flight will be arriving shortly, you must head up to the terminal" Ah, the use of 'must', he's a real authoritative person. "I have things to attend to. Addio" He stood up.

I followed his actions. "Yea, bye. Have a nice day"

"Oh, it is certainly going to be a thrilling day"

His words echoed in my head the entire time. Even as I stood waiting for Chrome's arrival –with absolutely no idea which flight she was getting off- his words scared me. I didn't have to look for Chrome because she found me rather effortlessly.

"Haru" We both just stood there for a while, simply staring. I opened my arms and glomped her.

"I missed you Chrome-chan!"

"I-" She hugged me back very gently. I had forgotten how frail she was. "I missed all of you too" She didn't have much luggage on her. Factually speaking, she had no luggage at all, just a large handbag in which she was carrying around necessities. I took her to have some snacks then we went underground and caught a train to the suburbs. The way was silent. I was eagerly waiting for an opportunity to ask her about many things

and she was only replying to simple 'yes' and 'no' questions. It didn't look like she was in any mood for any talking.

When I stood at the gate of my house, I was surprised to see the front door attached and brilliantly repaired. Mukuro had outdone himself again! Now that I think about it, it might be an illusion. "Hayato busted my front door you know" Chrome looked up to me, a bit surprised. Her look alone asked 'Why?' "Because he was being an ass" I replied. "So I'm wondering if it's an illusion"

"It isn't"

"Oh" I guess Hayato must have repaired it just that day, only, he was keeping me from my own residence. Men, seriously! "Come on, let's go" I led her through the gate and opened the lock. The place was clean as ever. No sign of a certain Storm ever coming. "Why don't you sit down" I offered. "I'll fetch you something to eat"

"I-I don't feel…" She looked around nervously. "… not… not like eating" … Yep, the girl was in a confused state. I can't imagine what's wrong with her.

"Let's get you in comfortable clothes, at least" She nodded, thankfully. I took her upstairs to my bedroom. Unlike me, Chrome was a fan of skirts. I don't wear skirts but I know I keep them somewhere around here. I looked around my wardrobe. I hate this part. Whenever you need something, it never comes out, but when you don't need, it keeps slapping you in the face. Life's a bitch. "Ah!" I pulled out a bright spaghetti strap sundress. Who the heck gave me this because I sure as hell didn't buy anything like that. "Ah, I hope you don't mind this"

She smiled as she took it from me. "It's really decent" I felt my cheeks flaring up. Expect the Vongola to make comments on how low I am on the financial scale –compared to them. During the ten years that I'd known Chrome, she progressed financially and now Kokuyo Land wasn't some abandoned play land, that place was a total mansion for the Kokuyo Gang, at least inwardly it was. It still looked like a miserable wreck from outside, so I had heard. She generously donated her money to Ken and Chikusa and they gave no indications of ever paying back. Expect Chrome to be Chrome because she had no intentions of taking it back either. Now that she was Hibari's wife, her finances had doubled. Lucky girl –in terms of money of course.

The clock struck full twelve. Noon already. Mukuro sure did take up time without giving you any feeling of wasting it.

I went around making preparations for lunch. All the time Chrome sat on the lounge seat going through the contents of her cell. She sure looked miserable. Really, depressingly miserable. I felt so sorry for her. I left the pot on the stove and went back to check on her. I stood behind Chrome and looked at her cell over her shoulder. She was watching a prerecorded video, over and over again and it kind of freaked me.

The screen was centered on someone's hair. The person was sitting at a table with his head covered in his arms. As he raised his head –well- it was Hibari Kyoya. He went on to sit properly, unfold his arms and slightly tilt his head sideways. "Are you recording?" There was a giggle which was unmistakably Chrome. Then the sign of apocalypse came, Kyoya actually smiled and stuck out his tongue to which I nearly tripped on my feet right over the sofa. Another round of giggles followed. Kyoya cupped his cheek placing his elbow lazily on the table. "Are you going to eat that?" His free hand pointed towards an unseen object and a hushed apology followed from Chrome's side. He reached out his free hand and the screen was blackened. Then things went in a blur as the camera changed hands. When the focus was readjusted, Chrome was centered, a fry hanging from her lips. She quickly ate it up and waved towards the camera. The video ended.

Over and over again.

It made me wonder if something had happened to Hibari. Was he dead? That is highly unlikely. In fact, I should be hitting myself for even considering that. Hibari Kyoya is just one thing that refuses to die. There was a possibility that he was mortally wounded but wouldn't that make Chrome obliged to stay by his side and serve him as a faithful wife should. Jeez, I make it sound like they're an old couple. They just got married. How long has it been? Definitely around six months or more.

What could possibly have happened to make Chrome travel all the way back to Namimori on her own?

"I should probably explain things to you now, shouldn't I?" She looked up at me weakly. Yea, it's about time. I was going to die!

"You don't have to if you don't want to" I smiled reassuringly. "All that you have to tell me is that you need help, and I'm there" Let's take things slowly; I don't want to appear a selfish wart. And it's her secret to keep. If she doesn't want to speak I guess there's nothing I can do about it. There have been hundreds of things she's kept from Kyoko and me throughout our relationship.

"I feel like I owe you a lot" She flipped close her cell and put it in her bag. "Shall I help you with preparing lunch?"

"Oh it'll be fun! Just like old times!" She nodded and followed me to the kitchen. There wasn't much left to do, we just had to wait for the dish to heat up and mix it from time to time. Just for the sake of keeping her busy I proposed we make a cake. That had the exact reaction I was hoping for. Good thing I had everything present. Because of the visits the Vongola troop trio i.e. I-pin, Lambo and Futa, I always kept my kitchen loaded with teenage goods. I loved preparing handmade recipes for them but my work didn't allow much time for relaxation so I had my store full of readymade goods too.

I found the self-made manual for deserts and dishes and we both started on it right away.

"Mukuro-sama will be visiting us tonight" Chrome said out of the blue.

"Really?"

"Yes" She nodded her head. "He just informed me" She worked undeterred, as if I wasn't bothered by the mere mention of his name at all. "He also says that Gokudera-kun might come looking for you"

"What!" I bellowed. "Why!" I cried out.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I hope he doesn't find out I'm in Namimori"

I froze up. They didn't know she was here? Is that why Mukuro asked me to keep her away from the rest of the Guardians? It might make sense. I didn't really contact any of the familiga on a regular basis. My job kept me on my toes and the only time I met them was on special occasions; like Chrome's wedding. That was the last wedding from the family I'll ever attend.

"Chrome?" She looked at me questioningly. "Can I ask you something about…?" Her eyes encouraged me onward. "Wh-Why aren't you with Hibari-san?"

Her hands froze and her eyes widened to some extent. I saw a shiver move through her frame after which she took a heavy inhale. "Hibari-san…" Her lower lip quivered. "I need… I need some distance from him" Her voice cracked mid-sentence and suddenly tears slipped out of her eyes, the beater dropped and she slipped to the floor.

"Oh God! Chrome!" I quickly bent down and hugged her. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" I tried soothing her. "I really am. I can be such a horrible person" I hope you're happy Tsuna and Kyoko. "I shouldn't have asked. I'm so sorry" I managed to take her to the lounge where I had her drink two glasses of water after which she finally calmed down.

"I don't know what came over me. I just have to hear his name to start crying" She mumbled as I apologized profusely. "It really isn't your fault Haru-chan. It's mine. I feel like I'm a burden to you. I feel like I'm always a burden to everyone"

"No, Chrome. You're my sister! You can come here in the middle of the night, at sunrise, when it's doomsday, any day, anytime, you can come in and I'll have your room ready for you. You're not a burden to anyone Chrome. Here, have some more water"

We both sat silently for, I don't know, an hour or more. The half made cake remained forgotten in the kitchen and the dish for lunch was ready a long time ago. After what seemed like ages Chrome turned to me "Haru-chan, do you think I'm naïve?"

Is that a trick question? Because yes, Chrome my love, you are still naïve. "Maybe, a little bit" It doesn't hurt to lie when you're protecting someone, right?

She sniffed and nodded. "I didn't know exactly what making love was until after I got engaged" She laughed lightly. "No one ever gave me the details on it" Her cheeks flushed as she probably recalled something private. "I never wondered to myself how babies are made or what rape is. I just knew that both were frightful experiences and I was never going through them" She paused for a while, and then turned to me. "Do you think it was naïve of me to ignore such things, Haru-chan?"

I thought about it. "I guess, it kind of was. You have to know because these things are more common than we can imagine. And being a girl … it was important, to know, to be able to protect oneself better. I think it's very important, especially in your teen years"

"Kyo-kun and I…" Good, she said his name without wavering "…had to spend the days together to get to know each other better, after we were engaged" She continued. "One day, he tried something on me and I was left so confused and felt very humiliated. I couldn't understand myself. I had never felt like that, never ever before. It was such a warm feeling and it was welcome and unwelcome at the same time. He said he wanted to make love to me" I gasped. Sorry people, that part could not be helped. Hibari actually tried to have –God I can't even say the word when it associates with Chrome. What was he? An idiot? One look at Chrome gives you her character on the plate! And that moron goes on to have -ARGH! Men are so impossible! At least he had the decency to ask her.

"Sorry" I apologized.

"I expected as much" She smiled. "Kyo-kun is a very different person behind the curtain" Wow, she's calling him 'Kyo-kun' that had to count for something. Because of the curtain she mentioned I'm getting perverted images that I'd rather not discuss, even though what she means by 'behind the curtain' could certainly not mean what I'm thinking about right now. "Nothing happened that night" She folded her legs and placed her chin on her knee. "I didn't understand what he meant and he realized that. We couldn't look at each other for a long while and Kyo-kun was especially very embarrassed" This is the part where I want to hoot and stuff but for the sake of Chrome opening up to me, I resist this strong tendency to do something indecent. "I feel like it's my fault that it's come to this"

"No one can ever take the complete blame for something. It isn't your fault. If you think he's upset because you didn't know what 'making love' meant, that's not your problem, not your fault. No one told you and you certainly aren't the type to have your head in the gutter so you're not the one to blame. If he was going to spend the rest of his life with you he should first know your character better" Instead of jumping straight to bed. I can't understand what he was thinking. Though, come to look at it through a neutral point of view then it's not Hibari's fault either. How was he supposed to know that a twenty-three year old has no idea how sex really works? That's pretty impossible. "I hope he didn't hurt you in any way"

She looked dazed. "I forgave him for not attending our wedding ceremony. I understand how he feels about gatherings" She sighed. "Then I had a transplant for my illusionary organs because Kyo-kun felt that with them Mukuro-sama owned me" I frowned. Men are ridiculously possessive. I speak from experience. "We went upcountry" She smiled. "Oto-san and Okaa-san liked me" Her smile turned upside down. "She was there too and while I was healing and getting used to my real organs, she cooked and took care of Kyo-kun, even though he could handle himself very well"

"Who's she?"

"Asura-san" Her lips tightened. "She was the family's choice"

"Hibari-san's ex? She was there? What the hell was she doing there?" Holy crap! The in-laws probably brought the Asura bitch on purpose! Why in the world would you bring the dumped fiancé when the suitor has gotten married!

"I also met a gynecologist to help me understand the … physical intercourse better" Oh my God! How cute! She can't even say the word 'sex'. "But I was too scared to go through it. Kyo-kun and I tried, and he was patient with me and supportive of my fear. He-He said it was reasonable and I thought he understood. But I couldn't understand why he was so frustrated with me and … and recently he started leaving early and returned late or came back after days. He never told me why. He didn't pay attention to me anymore. It was too late by then, I guess. No one can wait forever"

"What happened?" I asked gently, hoping I wasn't prying.

"Kusakabe-san took me out because he thought I was stuffed up too much in the house and at a sea shack I … I saw Kyo-kun with Asura-san" She palmed half her face, spreading her fingers and her voice shook a bit but she continued after she composed herself. "I didn't think much of it"

She inhaled deeply. "I thought Kyo-kun was away on a mission but he was with Asura-san, again" She looked down at the carpet. "A parcel came addressed to me and it was a recording of Asura-san and Kyo-kun" She trembled. "They were in a room, and they were so close. So very close and … I could hear them so clearly … I wanted to die than and there" She started sobbing. "There were times when Asura-san teased me but I couldn't understand her and now I can only think 'why me?' Was it because I wasn't ready? He seemed to be so patient with me!"

One thing I was very certain of at the moment; Hibari Kyoya was a lot of things, but the one thing he wasn't, was a cheater. And I am damn well ready to bet my house that the video was probably a load of crap. Even though Chrome has come across so much crap she still thinks there's goodness in everyone. She's too forgiving and too much trusting. You can easily lie to her. However, there are times when you think you're playing her and she's the one who's actually playing you. I think it's an illusionist thing. "Chrome, is there any chance that-"

"I thought I should talk to him about it when he got back, but he didn't come. So, I took my things and left. He can go and do what ever he wants and I will leave and do whatever I want. That's fair game, right?" That sounds more like Mukuro than Chrome.

The bell rang. "What kind of moron would be here at this hour?" Any sane person would know that this was a time when working people took their naps.

"Haru! I know you're in there!"

At that time I felt the term 'blood ran cold' for the first time in many years.

Why was Hayato here?

Close

Special thanks to springrain28 who made it possible for this chapter to be re-uploaded. Thank you ~

And in ancient posts:

Salve – Hello

Addio – Goodbye.

Oto-san means father and Okaa-san means mother. When a person gets married the grooms parents become 'mother' and 'father'. I'm sure most of you know this unless the custom is different in your place.