Author's Notes: Okay, I lied, there was a small bit from the very last chapter of the manga included, I'd forgotten the bit about Reborn coming back to train Tsuna to be the Neo Vongola Primo ^^; However, this really is the end of the manga now and the story continues. I need to get cracking on the sequel fiction to this in order to stay on my posting schedule. Nanowrimo was derailed by World of Warcraft, being sick, and the Case of the Missing Muse (even after I gave offerings of dark chocolate, cherry nibs, & Coca-Cola-don't ask, my muse is unusual).
Anyway, thanks for reading ^_^ KHR doesn't belong to me it belongs to Amano-sensei and now I am going to go back to writing.
Ciao Ciao.
Target 10: Bang! Reborn's Shocking Revelation
"Will you accompany me, Miura-san?" Madame Cho asked, rising from the table.
"If you'd like," Haru said and rose herself, reaching for her wallet to pay her bill only to have the check sniped by the older woman.
"You came to meet me here, it is only fair that I pay the bill," she said.
"I-if you say so," Haru said faintly.
"Santuario," Cho said with a smile. "Nothing will befall you while you are with me today."
"What is so important about Santuario?" Haru asked softly as they walked away from the café. "Dr. Tanpopo said the same thing…"
"Come and you will learn much today and still have time to return to meet your friend after she's out of school," Madame Cho said.
"Hahi! How…" Haru began.
"Don't make the mistake of thinking that you aren't being observed, Miura-san," Cho scolded. "You've been showing a surprising amount of ability, though I would expect nothing less from Nadeshiko's daughter, and it has caught the notice of a few people."
"Hahi…Kyoko…" Haru began.
"No one is currently stupid enough to go anywhere near that girl," Cho reassured her. "After what was witnessed at the Judaime's house a week or so ago, no one in their right mind is going to be messing with him for a while. Don't worry."
Haru's mind went back and she remembered all the men outside of Tsuna-san's house with the scary auras she was able to pick up now. "For a while?" Haru repeated quietly. "I—"
"Calm yourself for now, Miura-san," Madame Cho smiled and they reached what appeared to be a dead end alley and Haru stiffened.
Hahi! I let my guard down!
Haru started to whirl around to confront the Madame and was met with soft laughter. "Under Santuario no one is going to do anything to you, Miura-san," Cho said gently. "That is the rule. Not to mention you are a prodigal daughter of the Hanatachi Family and we do not harm our own under most circumstances. I see Dani's own view of the world has been passed on to you—she never did relax around anyone, but then it isn't surprising."
"Dani…was kind to me…" Haru said softly. "I don't understand…"
"You will eventually, Miura-san," Cho said and moved to the wall and pressed one of the stones in.
There was a grating sound and a heavy section of the wall groaned as it moved aside revealing a stairwell down. "Come, Miura-san," Madame Cho smiled. "I will show you the other way to get into our little area, one where you will not have to be blindfolded nor go through Viola's shop."
"O-okay," Haru said and took a deep breath, shoving the fear that was starting to worm into her stomach away, if she had to, she could find a way to take care of herself and get out if need be.
The stairwell seemed to go on forever, but a glance at her phone said it only took a couple minutes and as they hit the bottom step there was a grating sound and the area was plunged into darkness. There was a click and a light turned on illuminating another narrow hall. "We're almost there," Madame Cho said and led the way.
Haru followed her, fiddling nervously with the kanzashi in her purse that was also ready in case of attack. They passed through an arch into the familiar ruckus of the market that Dani had shown her what felt like a long time ago, though it'd only been a matter of weeks. Madame Cho was acknowledged by bows from a few members of the crowd and a few others eyed Haru questioningly.
They wound up at the familiar shop and Haru followed Madame Cho inside and was greeted with surprising warmth by the young man she recognized as Kenta from her first visit to the shop. "You're here with Madame, which means you are invited," he said in explanation to Haru's uncertain look.
"We'll be going to the back conference room, Kenta, don't let anyone near," Madame Cho informed the young man.
"As you command," the boy said and dropped in a low bow, nearly hitting his head on the top of the counter.
"The clumsiness is a ruse," Madame Cho said with a slight smile as she saw Haru's worried look. "You'll find much of this world is built on tricks and sleight-of-hand—what determines your survival is how quickly you can see through them or create your own."
They reached a door with an elaborately carved butterfly and the door opened to reveal Akai in full kimono sitting though she sprang to her feet as soon as Madame Cho appeared. "At ease, child," Madame Cho said gently and Akai settled back in her seat, her eyes resting on Haru.
"We have matters to discuss with this long lost daughter," Madame Cho said and the door was shut firmly.
"Long lost daughter?" Akai echoed and then her eyes fell on the kanzashi in Haru's hair. "Nadeshiko-sama…"
"You knew my mother?" Haru asked.
Akai looked startled and then nodded. "I trained under her as well before she left us to find a different life in the surface world," she said. "She met a young math student and fell in love and didn't want him to get dragged in to this world, so she vanished. It wasn't hard; no one really knew her real face except the Inner Circle of the Hanatachi Clan."
Haru's eyes went wide. "How?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"How what?" Akai said.
"How did she hide herself so effectively they didn't know her after she left?" Haru asked.
Madame Cho chuckled softly. "That is a matter we will discuss further once our other associates arrive."
Haru was about to ask who they were waiting for, but the door opened and Dr. Tanpopo entered followed by the large form of Kashiwa and three others. For a moment, Haru froze, her eyes going over each of the new arrivals. With the exception of Dr. Tanpopo and Kashiwa the others all wore masks of varying creatures that Haru recognized from legends. "This is the inner council of the Hanatachi Clan or perhaps you would be more familiar with the term Guardians?" Madame Cho said with a smile. "You have met Tanpopo and Kashiwa, but the others are Kei, Sakura, and Suiyo. Don't worry, there will be no quizzes on if you remember them or not."
There were murmured greetings and Haru felt her nervousness ratchet up a few notches as they all settled around the table. "Thank you for coming," Madame Cho said. "We've gathered today to welcome back a very important member of our family though she will not be with us long as she has another family that will desperately need her as the time marches on."
Haru stumbled into the sunlight and massaged her temple lightly what felt like hours later, her hand immediately dipping into her purse to get her phone and check her messages. She was relieved to note that Madame Cho had been correct about them being done in plenty of time for her to meet Kyoko as planned. She was reeling at everything that had just transpired, but there would be time enough to contemplate it later, right now she needed to be here and now and focus on Kyoko and keep her thoughts away from the mafia, her future training, and how she was going to pull this off and still appear relatively normal for everyone else.
When she arrived at Kyoko's, the other girl was nearly bouncing with excitement. Reborn had vanished and this afternoon she'd received an invitation along with everyone else to go to a party at Tsuna's house celebrating a new round of tutelage under the toddler. They met up with the other members of the family on the way and Haru concentrated very hard to keep herself fairly normal, but with her new awareness, she could feel the auras from the others in the group though they weren't scary like the men she'd seen at Tsuna's house the time before—it was warm and protective and Haru felt herself relax just a bit. No matter what Dani said, she knew these people would not betray her.
Tsuna seemed to be looking at her oddly and she blushed just a bit and dropped her eyes to the food on the table. She hadn't seen him since the day she'd brought the cake to his house just before Reborn left and he'd rescued her again—she had only been a couple moments late realizing the danger, but Tsuna had stepped in before she could reveal anything. However, she simply kept up her normal chatter and admired how cute Tsuna looked in his school uniform and how flabbergasted he was by Reborn's announcement he would become "Neo Vongola Primo".
The party went late into the night, but Haru had lost track of time until the clock chimed eleven. "Hahi…school's tomorrow!" she exclaimed. "We should…"
"Yes, we should probably take our leave," Kyoko said rising.
"We are leaving to the extreme, Tsuna," Ryohei said, jumping to his feet and nearly knocking the table over.
Gokudera rained rebukes down on the white-haired boxer's head, but as usual Ryohei shrugged them off and guided them out the door with Yamamoto's laughter echoing in the background.
She separated from Kyoko and Ryohei at her street, assuring the siblings she'd be fine and hummed to herself as she walked towards her house.
"You went against Tsuna's wishes, Haru."
Haru jumped and her eyes flew guiltily to the toddler gazing down at her from the top of the wall. "I don't know what you're talking about," Haru said.
"Don't lie, Haru, it doesn't suit you," Reborn said. "When I turned you down, why did you go and do it anyway?"
"Because someone has to protect everyone while Tsuna and the others are away taking care of big things like what happened last month," Haru said, her voice almost defiant. "But, wouldn't you have already known that? She said that you had accosted her on the street and sent her my way."
"She?" Reborn said flatly. "Who is this woman you refer to?"
"Shirokaia Dani," Haru said, her eyes met Reborn's under the shadow of his fedora. "You didn't send her?"
"I told you I would have no part of putting you on that particular path," Reborn said. "Why would I turn around and send a tutor to you after all?"
Haru dug through her bag and handed the card that Dani had given her to Reborn. "She was my tutor," Haru said. "Haru will not leave the family undefended in Tsuna's absence. It is not in my nature to do so. You could almost say it's in my blood…"
Reborn's gaze snapped to hers. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Haru shook her head a small smile on her lips. "Nothing," she said. "I will continue to train because I want to protect them as much as you do, Reborn-san. Kyoko is my best friend and Tsuna is my beloved—I won't be a liability. This is my resolve."
As if in echo to her words, the ring she wore on her finger crackled to life with green energy and Reborn almost looked surprised. "You've grown too much for me to divert you from this path, Haru," Reborn said, his voice was regretful, but Haru almost sensed a small bit of pride in the undertone. "I want to meet this tutor of yours."
"She hasn't been around in a while, but Haru will try to get a hold of her," Haru said slowly. "Do you have a particular place and time in mind?"
"Namimori Middle School, tomorrow after Tsuna goes to sleep," Reborn said. "I will be there."
Haru nodded and took the card back from Reborn.
