DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KHR AND ITS CHARACTERS. IT BELONGS TO THE RIGHTFUL AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER.
THERE LIES AN UGLY TRUTH
UNDERNEATH THAT BEAUTIFUL
MOON LIT SKY
Another year had passed. It is already winter, everyone can feel its coldness, like the empty side of the bed vacated by a lover.
Haru looks outside the window of her room. Everything looks beautiful, all white and glistening under the moonlit sky. Such beauty and perfection hurts her eyes for she knows beneath it hides a lie. It is white and pure but it is cold and she hates cold. She always feels cold inside, no matter what season of the year it is. The coldness inside her devours her everyday and the fears grow bigger. She hates winter and how it depressed her more than ever and she hates it specially tonight that she is alone in this big mansion. Sure, there are servants and guards but their presence never been a comfort to her in truth they scare the hell out of her. The two companions she has been used to being around left the house. They are in a mission and she's too scared to asked what mission it is. She's always scared about everything.
"When will Haru stop being scared?" she asked herself while she tightened her hug around her legs. Her brown eyes watched the falling snow outside her window and the shadows with their hungry red eyes started to crawl out again. She's seeing them everyday of her life but she never get used to them. They still scared her out, driving her nuts.
In times like this she needs him. She needs him and the soothing melody of his music. But he isn't here, he's out there in a mission that she does not know except that is dangerous.
"Ha – Ha – Haru must not scream. Ha-ru must not gi- give in." She told herself and bit her lower lip so no screams will escape her frightened lips. She closed her eyes and there it is again.
A pair of cold orange hatred filled eyes looking at her.
In that beautiful winter night while everything is bathe in snow and shining under the moonlit sky, a scream of the frightened girl dominates the air.
Haru's scream broke the silence of the night.
"Darn it! How many times will he esacpe?" Tsuna said frustrated as he punched the ground.
They've been chasing the same man for more than two years now but they never captured him. He is always close on killing him, but Amado will always found a way to escape. He wonders when will he ever bring him down? He wanted to bring him down so badly that he agreed to bring the whole Vongola Famiglia to Italy to hunt them down but their effort is so futile. They are also close yet not able to reach it.
"10th, I received a call from Dino that the Vongola Headquarters' has been attacked." Hayato's voice is in panic. This too alerted Tsuna.
Their HQ's been attacked. Kyoko and the others are there. They need to hurry up to their rescue.
"Let's go!"
He commanded and they waste no time. They all hurried to get there but they are late already.
Half of the Vongola's base is on ruin. Clearly there's a huge fight that happened in the area. It seems that both side put on their best effort just as not to lose.
"Sorry we came late Tsuna." Dino apologized but Tsuna's not paying attention anymore.
"Kyoko?! Lambo?! I-pin?! Bianchi?! Fuuta?! Gianini?!" Tsuna shouted their names.
He looked around for the signs of them but he can't see anything. He runs like crazy, shouting their names. Have he failed protecting them again? Who would suffer again this time? No, he won't let anyone of them down this time. He needs to see them.
"Tsuna!" Yamamoto shouted and Tsuna looked up to see shadows of people walking towrds them.
"Stayed back Judaime!" Hayato, who in a flash is already in front of him, lighting his box.
"God, Hurricane bomb! No need to be this hostile." A silver haired guy with purple eyes stepped out into the light. On his right arm is long silver claw stained with blood.
Ilusha smiled in a friendly way but for a split second Tsuna had seen the lust for blood on his purple eyes. Beside him walked Belvender, he grew taller since the last time he saw him. He wears a friendly smile. He's carrying Lambo and I-pin on both of his arms. They are followed but Kyoko supporting Bianchi and Fuuta supporting Gianini.
"Sorry for the mess Tsuna san." Belvender said in his usual excited tone.
But Tsuna's attention is all in Kyoko. She is once again being dragged in this crazy mafia world. He knows he won't ever be good for her. He should have not been in a relationship with her in the first place. But what could he do? He can't seem to let go of her.
"Kyoko chan." He said and hugged her as she cried on his chest once again.
"I'm so scared Tsu kun! I thought they will kidnap me again and use me as a hostage to get you." She sobbed on her chest.
"Sshh... They won't ever get near you again. I'm here now."
"I don't want to ruin the romantic atmosphere the two of you are creating, but it is cold out here, we might freeze and beside most of you needs an urgent medical attention." Reborn broke the silence between the two reconciled lovers.
Tsuna let go embarrassed and looked around. All of his guardians are injured. But where will they stay tonight? Their HQ has been devastated. Maybe Dino will be kind enough to offer them shelter.
"You can stay at our place while your men building up this place." Illusha offered. "Our base is more of a house than an HQ so I guess these girls and children will feel comfortable there."
"We also have superb medical equipment that will help you recover faster." Belvender said with his usual grin.
"I think that's better. We need a place to stay in while we are planning new attack to Fuoco Famiglia." Reborn said.
True to Ilusha's words, their headquarters seems more like of a mansion than a base. It is a Gothic mansion built in the top of the mountain. Thick high walls barricade the grounds. The house seems to be in flame because of the light inside.
"This is your headquarters?" Tsuna asked.
"This is our house. Every family needs a house." Belvender said with a warm smile.
"Wow this looks like the castle mentioned in every fairytales." Kyoko said amazed.
"Hahaha." Illusha's laughed broke the stillness of the night. Kyoko suddenly feel ashamed and blushed. "Castle eh? Hahaha."
"Brother it is not right for a gentleman to laugh like that to a lady." Belevender reminded him. "Senorita Kyoko, I apologize for my brother's rudeness sometimes he forgets his manners."
"It's okay." She said blushing ahìgain.
"I guess you haven't brought her to the Vongola mansion yet?" Illusha said to Tsuna.
Tsuna just nodded. He had visited the mansion once but did not bring Kyoko with him.
"Let's get inside."
Inside their wounds are tended and they are served foods to replenish their energy. Then they are brought in their own separate room before Tsuna called themn for a meeting. Illusha made them used their family room.
It is a huge room, with tall bookshelves in the left side of the room and a grand piano on the other side. They sat on the couch facing each other.
"We will hunt down Amado and bring end to this." Tsuna said as his guradians look at him.
"Why don't you ask for the assistance of CEDEF? Amado is a marked man in the mafia world." Illusha suggested.
"There is a reason why I want to be the one to captured him." He answered.
"What is that?"
"I appreciate the help you showed us tonight but my reason is too personal. I just want to be the one to bring Amado down."
"You don't have to mentioned it. I promised you before that I will be loyal to Vongola."
"Thank yoou very much."
"I'm on this wether you tell the reason or not."
"Thank you. But how can we ever find him?"
"You got your men, I got my men, Dino got his men. In our combine efforts we will find him."
"Great thinking." Reborn said.
"Thank you Reborn chan!" Illusha said and made an attempt to hug Reborn but the infant transformed Leon into a gun. This made Illusha stay on his place just looking please that the Hitman praise him.
"While aiting for the search result each one of you must train." Reborn said.
"Tch, only these herbivores need training." Kyoya said.
"We will train to the extreme!" Ryohei shouted as energetic as ever. It is as if he wasn't covered in bandage.
"This will be fun." Yamamoto said with his careless grin.
"You can count on me boss." Hayato said eyes sparkling as he talked to his boss.
Tsuna is glad the flames of enthusiasm does not die in his family. It is what makes the Vongola strong. They are like coals, if you apply enough pressure to them they will be polished in the hardest mineral on earth, diamonds.
"We will also support you Tsu kun." Kyoko said with a smile and Tsuna smile back lovingly at her.
They are voicing out their enthusiasm, when the door suddenly opened, revealing a scared Belvender. He runs towards his brother ans whispered something into his ears. They saw worries in Illusha's purple eyes but he remained calm when he stood up.
"An emergency occured." Seeing their worried face, he explained himself. "Don't worry, this does not concern you or the Fuoco famiglia. It is just some small incident that happened in my family. Feel free to use the house. I'll get back later. Come on Belvender."
They exit the room leaving the Vongola alone. He run around their mansion and looked at every hallways and rooms. There's no way that Haru is missing again. He needs to find her, maybe she's lost again in one of the rooms in their house.
As he run looking for her, he imagines how scared she already is by now. Haru is always scared and she will tremble from head to foot, screaming in her dreams. She is such a frail girl and he wants very much to protect her. Everytime Haru's fears will get the best of her, he will play her a music and this will bring even a little peace inside her. She will be able to sleep as soundly as possible without the help of drugs whenever she hears his music. That's the reason why Dr. Shamal entrusted her to him. He needs to find her, the Primavera of his life. The spring that melt the winter in his heart.
The Vongola continued on discussing their plan on how to captured Amado, when the door of the room suddenly opened. At first they thought it is Illusha and Belvender returning back it is a petite girl wearing a white night gown and barefooted with her long brown hair falling down on her shoulders. They know that girl. But it seems like she does not know them.
She looks the same but different.
She's more beautiful but there's something wrong.
She looks pale, as if she has not been under the sun for a very long time. There are dark circles under her eyes., it seems like she spends the night crying. Her cheeks are hollow. And her eyes.
Her once beautiful eyes, full of life, seems dead now and as she looks at them fears filled them.
She is beautiful but pitiful.
"Haru!" Tsuna's the first one to get over with shocked.
After a long wait, she's finally in front him. How many times at night that he prayed for this moment to come. For him to see her again and asked for forgiveness. Now she stands in front him, all thoughts vanish. He got lost for words. He just hugged her tightly.
"Let go of Haru." She whispered, voice shaking with fears.
"Why?" he asked but let go of her.
As his orange eyes met her brown eyes, he saw the fear on them. She's trembling from head to foot, eyes wide with fears.
"Don't go near Haru." She said scared taking a step backwards.
"Forgive me Haru, I never meant to." He said taking a step towards her.
"Stay there." She said taking another step backwards.
"I never meant to hurt you."
He took another step towards her.
"Please get away from Haru."
She took another step backwards.
"You are not least of my priority."
Another step closer.
"Please stay away."
Another step backwards and she feels the wall behind her.
"I'm sorry for what I've done."
He took another steps and he is nearer to her just an arm length and she can't move backwards anymore. He got her cornered.
"Please stay away! Haru is scared!"
And he saw how she broke down. She closed her eyes and covered her ears as she slide down on the wall to the floor. Tears falling down her eyes and screaming.
Her screams is full of fears and pains. It is like she is being tortured by someone they can't see. Before their eyes the once cheerful girl shattered into pieces like a porcelain doll being dropped from the high place down to the floor.
What have Illusha done to her?
Tsuna's shaking from anger.
He's back on his oath flame again.
"Primavera, are you alright?" Illusha who have heard Haru's screaming immediately run to her aid.
He is too concern about her that he does not see Tsuna, who suddenly grabbed him.
"Get away from her!" he said and throw him across the room toward the bookshelves. Then he run towards him. "What have you done to her sick bastard?" Tsuna asked grabbing the front of his shirt and pinning him against the wall. "Answer me!"
Illusha does not hear his question nor he appeared concerned on the situation where he is in. All he can here is Haru's scream and all he can see is her small frail frame, shaking with fears and there's nothing he wants to do but to wrap her in his arms and play a song to calm her down. He grabbed Tsuna's hand so he will be realeased from his grip. Murderous light is in his purple eyes.
"Get out of my way." Illusha said as his grip on his wrist tightened and he threw him smashing the grand piano. Then as fast as the light he is already at Haru's side and lift her. Bringing her closer in his heart and humming a lullaby.
Tsuna is about to get up when he noticed how Haru slowly calm down.
"Tsuna, Illusha has nothing to do to what happened to Haru." Reborn said as Illusha carrying Haru left the room with Belvender at their heels. "Calm down and I'll explain these things to you."
He exhaled and inhaled calming himself.
He needed an answer why she becomes what she is.