Chapter 3: Unfamiliar Friend

Little Falcon: I still can't decide who is better for Haru. Takeshi or Kyouya? Help me decide! Together with that, read and review okay?

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

"10th?" the storm guardian walked up to his boss that was zoning out again.

It had been a week since Kyoko was saved by that stranger and still the 10th Vongola boss wasn't able to get it off his mind. Of course, he was thankful that Kyoko's unhurt but something in his gut tells him there's something else that matters more. "Ah, Gomenasai (I'm sorry), Gokudera-kun," Tsuna immediately recovered and tried to talk about something else to get his mind off it.

"I see you're still wondering about that stranger, right, Tsuna?" somehow even with their status as boss and subordinate, it was never an issue that Yamamoto still calls him so casually. Tsuna actually preferred it that way but his other guardians begged to disagree.

The young Vongola turned to his rain guardian because he, too, was wearing the same curiosity as he is about that stranger. "Yeah, I can't deny that I have been thinking about him a lot," at that moment, his phone rang. Seeing who was calling, Tsuna excused himself to talk privately in a distance. "Kyoko-chan," he was relieved to hear her cheerful tone slowly returning after her encounter. "Please be careful okay?" being overprotective with her will not work all the time. She needs her freedom and privacy just like a normal person does. After all, they already dealt with her attackers thoroughly and without doubt, they would think things through thoroughly if ever they decided to attack again.

"Oi Sawada!" his sun guardian ran up to them with apprehension in his face.

"Onii-san," it's still unclear why he ended up calling him brother too but Tsuna already got used to it and Ryohei doesn't seem to mind.

"Turf head, what is it?" Gokudera got impatient almost immediately and asked despite the sun guardian still far away.

"We got a problem…" Tsuna was disturbed immediately. His sun guardian's usual energetic mood is disrupted so easily.

"What is it, sempai?" somehow his hand itched to grip the katana resting on his back.

"The guys that attacked Kyoko are back…" Ryohei looked directly at Tsuna, waiting for orders. Although he was older, he recognizes him as his boss evidenced by his silence as well as the other guardians'. "Kyoko is safe with Bianchi. I followed them around a bit. They don't seem interested in Kyoko anymore. It was as if they're looking for something else,"

The three guardians watched their young boss confidently. Knowing that whatever decision the 10th would make will be absolute. His words are their law and they are honor-bound to follow. The school bell echoed just across the empty high school as the sun began to set.

The sound of racing engines interrupted his chain of thought. Just across the street a motorcycle sped up followed by five others.

"That's…" Gokudera instantly recognized the one being chased. Just with the cloak alone, it was enough to give him away. He was the one who save Kyoko the other day.

"So they're after him now," Ryohei caught a glimpse of the identity of the others. They were the same people who attacked Haru.

"What now, Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked but his blade was already in his hand. If Tsuna decided to let it go, he wasn't sure if he, as his guardian, would follow obediently. Somehow his protective nature kicked in as if someone was calling his name.

"We'll help him. Let's go!" the 10th Vongola boss' decision was quick and simple and with that they moved out.

Constantly dodging the bullets released by his pursuers, the stranger was having difficulty taking note on where he was going. It was only when he was facing a concrete wall did he realize that it was a dead end. Jumping out of his motorcycle, he let it crash on the wall, creating a huge explosion behind him.

The wind cleared some of the smoke away enough for him to realize that he was surrounded. Without hesitation, they pointed their pistols at him- their fingers on the trigger.

His hood fluttered against the wind together with the smoke. This is bad. His left foot began to step back, triggering the first shot. The bullet penetrated his shoulder in a flash. The others were about to fire as well when the three Vongola guardians appeared with their boss.

The pain in his shoulder was excruciating enough to make him lose his strength rapidly, standing itself was a struggle. The pain dulled his senses enough for two attackers to get behind him and attack.

The wind blew fast and hard. The hood he was wearing fell to his shoulders as his eyes widened in surprise to see the rain guardian dealing with one enemy and the cloud guardian with the other one.

Takeshi…Kyouya… her half-bound waist length hair played with the wind as her chestnut brown eyes reflected the two.

"Haru?" out of the corner, Kyoko called out and was about to run to her friend.

"Don't! Stay out of this!" her voice was cold and distant. It held no traces of the friend she used to know. The blood trickled quickly from her wound down her arm and to the ground. Her breathing was growing short and labored because of the pain. Her grip on her shoulder tightened to prevent anymore blood loss.

While Haru was struggling to keep track of her opponents, mist crawled in from nowhere and covered the battlefield yet again.

"This again?!" Gokudera blasted his enemy away and looked around to see the place surrounded by thick mist, making visibility impossible.

His impatience and agitation only made his battle longer than it should have. Out of my way! I need to see her! She's back! I need to see her! Stop bothering me! By the time he was able to knock out his opponent, the mist itself seemed to oppose him. His grip on his weapon tightened as his jaw clenched. Where are you? Blindly wandering through the mist, he searched and searched.

When the mist faded, each guardian was standing and their opponent was kissing the dirt. "Where's Haru?" Kyoko ran to the battlefield only to be stopped by her lover.

Tsuna tenderly embraced her as he whispered "She's gone but we'll find her. This time… we will," with his arms around her, his determined eyes looked at his guardians and made his point crystal clear even without saying.

"Why do you keep on saving me?" Apparently, Haru has lost consciousness while being carried away and was only able to wake up now.

With his long hair tied back, his unmatched eyes looked at the girl glaring at him. His eyelids closed to cover the symbol on one of his eyes. "You look like you needed saving," he settled his back against the ruined couch in their usual hideout.

"Just because I broke you out of that place, doesn't entitle you to protect me. I was just bored and I needed excitement so I let you out. Go do whatever you like instead of wasting your time following me around, Rokudo Mukuro," Haru stood up abruptly. The blood rush made her vision sway and her body fail to respond appropriately.

Automatically, Rokudo caught her and settled her gently back down. "I am doing what I like," there was a smirk on his face that she couldn't read. For now, she decided to save her strength to argue later.

I never thought I can ever see you again. Now that I have, I'm afraid that I'll never be able to forget you… just when I thought I already have.

Little Falcon: Read and review please!