AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story line takes place during the Inheritance Succession Arc and The Curse of the Rainbow. I've read summaries of these arcs, but not the actual Arcs (yet-working on that). As always, there may be a bit of creative license taken with some of what's going on, but this doesn't focus on Tsuna & Co at least for this story ^_^

To me, it always seems that everyone underestimates Haru and sees only the annoyingly energetic girl who is always hanging all over Tsuna. I've always liked Haru, even when she got annoying, and, to me, she's always had far more depth than Kyoko Sasagawa.

In the Choice arc, Haru stated that even though she knew the truth, she didn't know how serious the situation was, and therefore she felt that she was very selfish when she didn't know anything.

I think upon returning to the modern time in the story, Haru would set out to correct this very quickly and thus came up with this idea.

Please read and review. I hope you enjoy it ^_^

As always, Katekyo Hitman Reborn and the characters don't belong to me, they're Akira Amano's creations, but the original characters and storylines contained herein do. I'm just borrowing Amano-sensei's world for now ^_^


Prelude: First Hit

CLICK!

The sound echoed hollowly in the empty warehouse as the shackle closed around a slender throat. Chains rattled as the tall silent shadows of the Vindice closed in around the bloodied form and my breath caught. The golden tube hung in my hand for a long moment before tumbling in what felt like slow motion to the ground only to be caught by the fedora-bedecked toddler.

"You did it."

"I—"

I barely recognized my voice, it was so faint and I could feel myself starting to shake even as I watched the cloaked and bandaged-wrapped forms I'd only heard about collect their prize.

"What's going to happen to her?"

The words were helpless, I already knew the answer, but it didn't make it any less devastating when it came.

"She will be taken to Vindicare. What happens after that is not your concern."

An explosion of smoke filled the room and when it cleared there was no sign of anyone else except myself and my companion and the huge swath of destruction that ran the length and breadth of the abandoned warehouse facility.

"Congratulations."

My first hit as a hitman was against the one who taught me how to be one.

I didn't feel very victorious.