So this chapter has given me a real headache trying to sort it out, but now that I have something to go with, things should move pretty smoothly. I hope you enjoy it and look out for the next chapter hopefully really soon.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own KHR nor do I claim any rights to it or any of the characters and/or locations in this fan fiction story that you may recognise from the anime/manga. I am only responsible for the plot and nothing else.

Fuuta made his way across town slowly and carefully. The authorities, though not generally bothered, tended not to trust kids like him in case, just like him, they were in packs that caused all sorts of mischief. He might even be caught for looking at an apple one moment too long.

A left turn at the river brought him to the cobblestone road that led to the wealthy neighbourhood. Somewhere in there, Haru was probably being put to work and tortured in other horrible ways. She was probably more miserable than he could even imagine. Clenching his fist, he made up his mind. It was no time to feel scared.

He ducked into the neighbourhood hiding behind a tall hedge and avoiding all the soldiers. Hime-chan had warned him about this, but he knew the perfect way to hide when it came to that. Hime-chan had even told him that he had improved a lot more than before. She never gave that kind of praise lightly. He peered around a corner and saw the gate of the estate. He was there now. The hardest part would be getting in but once he did that, he was sure he would be able to find his way back out eventually.

Before he could begin making his way into the compound, the gate was opened and a man came out. He was unaccompanied but he wore very fancy clothes. There was little doubt that he held a very high position in the household, probably a senior butler or even one of the masters? But would they really go unaccompanied? No matter. He waited until the man was a ways away then made his way to the wall. Climbing it wouldn't be that hard...

Hibari had decided that he would walk that morning. He needed to clear his head which was currently filled with thoughts of a certain fiery doe-eyed maid in the house. It was a lovely morning besides. He could afford a leisurely stroll.

He hadn't gotten very far before he bumped into a young girl, probably thirteen or so. She met his gaze head on, something which had never happened before but before he could ask her anything, she pointed to a scruffy little boy making his way steadily up the ten foot wall using the vines and no doubt some expertise. Puzzled as to why the girl would be in the neighbourhood let alone pointing out an intruder, he turned back to her but she was gone.

No matter. He might as well deal with the little one and then find time for his walk in the neighbourhood. He wondered though if he possibly knew Mari-chan. That would raise a lot of questions, but that would mean that they were in pretty much the same position so he could as well decide whether to take him in or not.

Mari-chan...

Pushing the thought aside, he walked calmly up to the struggling boy and cleared his throat. The boy lost his footing and slipped falling down on his bum. He seemed stunned and then looked up at Hibari first with alarm then with fear. He had been up to no good then. Hibari leaned down and picked the boy up by his collar. By the look, and smell of him, he had been out in the streets long enough.

"What do you want from here?" he asked. There was no mistaking the menacing look in his grey eyes. Child or no child, anyone who trespassed was to be punished. There was no underestimating criminals after all. The boy said nothing.

Deciding he had had enough and not really wanting to bother himself with further effort when he didn't have to deal with this immediately. He would leave the boy locked up and maybe have Takeshi keep watch over him while he went for his walk. The boy fought as best as he could but not for long. It didn't really take a genius to figure out which of them was stronger and, realising this, the child stopped resisting and followed him obediently albeit reluctantly to the house.

"Young master, you have returned early. Whatever..." began Akira-san until she saw the scruffy little boy beside Hibari. He handed the child over to the nearest servant and turned to the housekeeper.

"We have a guest, Akira-san. Please take him to the guest room at the top of the left stairway and make sure he's taken care of. Where is Takeshi-sama?"

"The young master is still training in the gardens sir. Would you like me to get him as well?" Hibari nodded and turned to head to his study.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Three maids came into the room that Fuuta had been put in and one by one they began fussing with him. One was running a bath and the other brought in a tray of food. The third one asked to take his clothes and laid a new set of expensive looking clothes on the large bed.

He had no idea what to make of it. Had the food been poisoned? Would he never find Haru-chan in this large house before it was too late? There had to be some special reason as to why the master of the house was being so nice to him and he doubted that it was out of the goodness of his heart...

The maids left and he walked cautiously up to the tray of food. He poked at the apple and the grapes wondering if it was really okay to have some. He was about to pluck one of the grapes from the bunch when the door opened again and in walked a tall man. He seemed to be a little younger than the master but he must have been maybe Haru-chan's age or slightly older. His smile was kind though so Fuuta decided maybe he wasn't so bad.

"Ah, so you are our new guest. I'm pleased to meet you," he said with a bow. Fuuta backed away from the food and at on the bed. He wasn't sure he had ever known such comfort in his life! If his stomach didn't growl in that second, he might not have seemed nearly so helpless.

"Ah, I see they brought you some fruit. Would you like some? It's really good." To prove his point, Yamamoto took a couple of grapes and popped them into his mouth. Fuuta jumped off the bed and walked as proudly as he could to the fruit. If the nobles could eat it calmly, then he probably had nothing to fear.

"Do you have a name?" asked Yamamoto looking down at the child. Fuuta blinked up at him wondering whether he should tell. For as long as he remembered, he had used fake names when asked that question. He had never really known his name and wasn't even sure Fuuta was even his real name, but it was what Haru-chan called him so he settled for that.

"Fu... Fuuta."

Yamamoto smiled and patted the boy's head. At least they were making headway. He had always been pretty good with children but he hadn't quite been sure how to handle a child as old as Fuuta was. He was pleased to find that it wasn't really that much of a difference.

"Now, I have another question for you, will you answer it for me? No lies? I promise I won't harm you or tell anyone who you don't want to know..."

Fuuta nodded.

"Why did you come here?"

Fuuta didn't reply but took a bite of the apple in his hands. Somehow, he wasn't sure if he could answer that particular question no matter how good this man seemed to be.

"Well, it's not important," said Yamamoto touching Fuuta's head, "enjoy your meal. I'll come back and see you later."

A moment later, Fuuta was alone again in the room. He had no idea what to do now. His first thoughts had been of escape but it would be a little too peculiar for the master's 'guest' to be crawling out of a window and running for all the world as if he had just escaped hell. Besides, he hadn't seen Haru yet and he had no idea how to get out again.

"The first thing to do when you get stuck is to watch and wait..."

Hime-chan had gotten out of enough scrapes, some by barely a hair's breadth, but she always escaped. That one piece of advice from her would come in very handy. Speaking of Hime-chan, he wondered if she knew that he had been captured.

He put down his apple and looked around and wondered where Haru-chan was and if he would ever be able to find her. The little bit of the house he had seen was a maze of corridors. Maybe of he managed to make a signal of some sort, Haru-chan might be able to find him. But then what? The first master had been nice enough to give him this room to stay in but he wasn't sure how long that kindness would hold out for.

Besides, he was being too nice and, from past experience, that was never a good sign. The door opened behind him again and as he turned, he saw the last person he had expected to see.

"Haru-chan!"