AUTHOR'S NOTE: First off I wish to apologize to everyone who has been keeping up with this story. I truly haven't meant to not deliver my chapters when I say I am, I'm just running into a lot more problems writing this story than I thought I would.

Katekyo Hitman Reborn doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Akira Amano as it always has. The original characters and this story line belong to me.

I've been writing the Future Revised fan fictions since August of 2013 and have actually managed to keep myself really well on schedule for the most part with a couple hiccups between now and then. That means it's been two solid years of almost nothing but Reborn fic and I've realized that I've burned myself out a bit. I have a solid idea of the story and I know where everything is going and what's going to be coming up, but getting the words to cooperate with me on paper has been a feat in and of itself. It is because of this I've come to the reluctant realization I need to take a break from these stories and go do something else for a little while. Before you panic, I fully intend to continue this story (and the stories that follow), but I need to take a break from the mafia world for a few months and see if I can get back on track again.

I feel like the last few chapters of my stories have been rushed and aren't nearly so well written as what I've presented in the past and I feel that as an author that is one of the ultimate let downs for my readers.

Thank you very much to everyone who has commented and reviewed everything that I've done so far and I hope that you will be patient with me while I get everything back together.

I assure you that this story will be finished and I will see this through to the end.

I appreciate your time and patience with me and I hope you will forgive me. I hope to pick this story back up towards the end of the year, but I am not going to set a firm date for it (we've seen how well I've been doing that).

Best wishes,

Yuki Seki

PS: In the mean time, I'm trading in my mafia suit for a stint in show business and have started publishing a Skip Beat! fan fiction. If you are a fan of Skip Beat! I hope you will give my new story "Transparent Wings" a shot.

Target 03-04: Stirring the Pot

Haru heard the bell ring and set aside the soapy rag she was working with, drying her hands on the towel before heading for the door. Chrome emerged from the one bedroom in the apartment at the sound of the bell and glanced at Haru in question. "Probably the delivery guys," Haru said and made sure that everything was put away.

Chrome nodded, but pulled her retractable trident out just in case as Haru made her way to the door. Haru checked through the peephole and one of the men flashed the prearranged sign and Haru unlocked the door and opened it. There were two delivery men outside and she opened the door wider so they could wheel in the furniture and office supplies she'd ordered. "Iemitsu sends his regards and says to inform you that by tomorrow morning the security alarm you requested will be installed," the man who displayed the signal informed her as the other went back out to get the other part of the order. "He also says let him know if you need anything else."

"Thank you very much," Haru said.

The man cast his eyes around the small apartment. "Not much of a headquarters is it?" he murmured.

Haru shrugged. "We have to start somewhere," she said and pointed to the other wall opposite the makeshift table. "You can put that stuff there, please."

Everything was brought into the apartment and Haru thanked the delivery men and once they were gone, she and Chrome went to work unpacking the boxes. She and the other girl chatted as they put things in order according to the layout that Haru had drawn up a few days ago before ordering the furniture and equipment. Haru's phone alarm went off and she sighed. "I'd better get going. I can't be late on the first day."

Chrome nodded. "I'll get the rest of this pulled out and put in the appropriate places. You'll be coming back here afterwards to finish?"

"As long as I can escape Chiharu long enough to do so," Haru said wryly.

The boarder at her father's house confused Haru. One day Chiharu wanted nothing to do with her and would go about her usual business without acknowledging Haru existed. The next day, Haru couldn't take a deep breath without the other girl hanging over her shoulder and demanding why she was ignoring her. Today, so far, had been one of those in between days. Chiharu had made civil conversation with her and Chrome this morning, walked with them to school and summarily ignored them for a couple other girls for the majority of the day. After school Chiharu insisted on walking home with them, but didn't want to go anywhere with them afterwards because she had homework.

Haru disappeared into the bedroom and freshened up, checking her hair and changing into a clean skirt and blouse and withdrew a pair of clear lens fashion glasses from her bag and put them on. She'd always admired how Gokudera's glasses made him look so intelligent and decided to apply it to her own wardrobe though she didn't actually need glasses. She swung her bag onto her shoulder and swept out of the room and Chrome waved at her as she exited. "I'll let you know if anything comes up," she said.

"Sounds good," Haru said and shut the door behind her.

To her surprise, Akai was waiting outside the door.

"Is something wrong?" Haru asked worriedly.

"Since when did you need glasses?" Akai asked.

"I don't, but don't they make me look more intelligent?" Haru asked.

"I suppose…maybe," Akai said. "Where are you going? I thought you were going to be here all day."

"I have a job," Haru said.

"A job?" Akai repeated, a worried frown furrowed her brow. "What kind of job? Did you actually read the entire contract? Did you show it to someone else who knows more about the mafia than you do? What—"

Haru giggled and shook her head. "Not that kind of job," she said. "I was accepted as a member of Takanamori's tutoring services and I tutor elementary students.

"Since when?" Akai frowned.

"About two days ago," Haru replied. "One of my senpais from Midori is in charge of the tutoring services offered by the Education Club and recruited me for it."

"What happened to gymnastics?" Akai frowned.

"I'm continuing with private lessons, but with everything else going on, I can't focus on gymnastics the way the team here deserves," Haru said. "It got pretty bad last year and I can't do that to my team again."

Akai frowned. "Aren't you going to have enough to juggle with everything else already?"

"It's something I have to do," Haru said. "Sawada-san arranged with Kudaime for some supplemental income, but I have to have a part time job in order to make sure all the bills are covered."

"Is there even time for that?" Akai frowned.

"I have to make time for it," Haru said. "They're already helping with so much, I can't ask them to provide everything. That would definitely cause trouble."

Akai grimaced. "You're going to regret it," she announced, "but I'll do my best to help you when I can."

Haru gave her a smile. "Thanks," she said. "It should be okay."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Akai said. "Where are you headed?"

Haru dug the folder out of her bag and flipped it open as she made her way down the stairs. "I'm tutoring a fourth grader in math at 4 PM then at 5:30 PM there's a second grader I'm helping with English."

"I'll accompany you to your first appointment. There's been a few other incidents where multiple people from rival groups are working together," Akai said.

Haru glanced at her in surprise. "Is everyone going crazy?" she asked.

"You kind of predicted it when you heard that Vongola Decimo was leaving," Akai pointed out. "Bet you wish you weren't right this time around…"

"More than you'll ever know," Haru sighed and the two made their way towards the address on Haru's file.

A bit more than a block from the house, Akai abruptly stopped. "I think this is as far as I go right now," she said. "We're entering Fabrizzo Territory and we're currently at a cease fire with them and me heading in here, even on chance, could be construed as violating the agreement."

Haru's eyes widened and she nodded slowly. "I don't know why I haven't requested it before, but is it possible for you to get me a map of Namimori with all the territories marked out?"

"I'll see what I can do about making you one before this evening," Akai said. "We're still meeting at Take Sushi?"

"Yes, Yamamoto-san gave his permission," Haru said. "The apartment isn't quite ready for a full-fledged meeting yet."

Akai nodded. "I will see you then," she said. "Be careful. This isn't exactly safe territory—even if they don't realize you're Vongola."

Haru nodded slowly and made her way up the sidewalk after Akai had turned another direction. She checked the address on her file to the house in front of her and took a deep breath. She made it up the sidewalk and rang the doorbell. It was answered by a man in a pressed black suit who regarded her with suspicion. She presented her card to him and he relaxed a little bit and bowed. "Please, come in Miura-san," he said.

Haru followed the butler in and settled down in the library he showed her. He informed her that her charge would be along shortly and that she was to stay right where she was and not go anywhere other than that particular room. Haru nodded in agreement and set everything up for the study session and then glanced at the clock. A voice was raised and she could make out faint words through the partially opened door. After a moment's hesitation, she let her curiosity get the better of her and under the guise of exploring the book titles on the shelf inched closer to the door.

"…what do you mean we have to work with the Hermosillos?" an angry voice demanded. "We've been trying to figure out how to scour them from Namimori for the last three months since rumors had them in talks with the Vongola."

Haru froze as the words echoed.

"Yes I know this is what Kagami wants, but why the Hermosillo?" the other voice demanded. "I'd rather work with the Rossis and the Martinellis and we've been at war with them for generations."

Haru's ears picked up the sounds of someone walking towards the door of the room she was in and she snatched a book off the shelf and moved to the table, opening it to look like she was reading when the door opened to admit a tiny girl with the butler behind her. "This is Mori-sama. Mori-sama, please meet Miura Haru-san, she will be helping you with your classes this semester."

Mori bowed low to her and Haru couldn't make out the words that she whispered. "Speak up, Mori-sama, Miura-san can't hear you."

"Please treat me kindly, Miura-san," the little girl said in a louder voice.

Haru put on her best smile and pulled up a role in her head the way that she'd learned from Lady Tomi during one of her study sessions with her and helped the girl to a chair and settled down next to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mori-san," Haru said. "Today we are mostly going over what your last tutor was helping you with so I have a better idea where we need to start on your studies this semester. Shall we?"

"Y-yes, Miura-san," the girl said softly.

Haru was out the door at 5 PM her mind racing a million miles a minute as she hurried to the bus stop to catch a ride to her next destination. Thankfully it wasn't too far from where she was, but the bus ride would allow her to collect herself and sent out some messages without worrying about running into someone. She sent messages to Akai and Chrome to meet her at the apartment before they went to the meeting at Take Sushi tonight and that she would be coming there straight from her second client's house. She sent another message to her father to explain that she was being held over a little longer than she thought she would be and to request that he find something for his dinner tonight.

The second appointment thankfully wasn't anywhere in the disputed territories of the crime world of Namimori and Haru was able to help the boy through a chunk of his first weeks' worth of homework before their time ended. She double-checked the information for the next appointment with his parents and agreed that they'd play it by ear to see how he adjusted to his new school and teachers. After she finished, she exited the house and had barely turned a corner a street away when she was met by her friends.

"What's got you so worried, Haru?" Akai asked. "And why didn't you send Yamamoto a message as well?"

Haru jumped and glanced away. "He has baseball practice and I don't want to interfere with it…"

"Isn't that something for me to decide, Haru?"

Haru's eyes flashed to the tall young man who emerged from one of the alleyways. "But—"

Yamamoto frowned at her. "I'm your second, Haru, and you can't do this all on your own."

Haru sighed and dropped her gaze before looking over at Chrome. "Chiharu is still working on her homework apparently though she took a break to get more of her mask collection on the wall."

Haru shivered slightly remembering the wall of masks that Chiharu had in her room—Haru had never seen so many masks in one place in her entire life.

"So what is going on that you felt the need to meet before we actually go to the meeting?" Akai asked.

Haru hesitated for a moment and glanced at Yamamoto before turning her attention to the other two. "I was going to talk about something I found out today before we got to the meeting to see how much we wanted to put out in the open in front of the others…"

"You were going to leave us out of the loop on this?" Yamamoto scowled.

"I—" Haru began and then sighed. "I'm sorry, Yamamoto. I just don't want to interfere with everyone else's high school life if I don't have to."

"This is a team effort," Yamamoto said. "Your problems are Vongola problems and we're all Vongola—except Akai…"

"I'm connected to the Vongola through an alliance," Akai said. "Within reason that makes us the same."

"Maybe so," Haru agreed and then took a deep breath. "Have any of you ever heard the name 'Kagami'?"