AUTHOR'S NOTE: Made it (barely)!
KHR doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Akira Amano. The OCs, storylines, and all that jazz are mine.
Next update should be around February 14th.
Target 05-04: Behind the Facade
Frustration was a mild term for what Haru Miura was feeling today.
Two days ago, she'd risked life and limb to try and get Kyoya Hibari to see reason and boasted that her methods would be more effective than his. And for the last thirty-six, she'd barely been able to use the bathroom without Chiharu on her heels, much less trace any of the updates her network fed her or put together a follow-up to her original report to Judaime about the goings-on in Namimori. On the bright side, the report had let her talk to Gokudera again for the first time in a while as the silver-haired demolitionist touched base with her in lieu of Tsuna since Vongola Decimo was off on a mission with Reborn.
She wanted to drive her head into the table until she had an excuse to go to the hospital so she could find a way away from Chiharu. The only reason Chiharu wasn't at her door right now was that it was her turn to make dinner, but Haru knew any attempt to escape through the front door or even out the window would be intercepted. Chrome was settled across from her going over the latest homework assignment with her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she worked her way through one of the math problems.
"I can't keep doing this," Haru growled throwing her pencil down on the notebook.
Chrome glanced up in surprise at her outburst.
"I need to be able to get out of here to do my job, but I can't do my job with her attached to my side and she doesn't take a hint!"
"I could try and make an illusion to cover your escape," the purple-haired girl suggested.
"She saw through your illusion yesterday when we tried it," Haru sighed.
"I did not expect her senses to be as keen as they are," Chrome admitted, "I didn't put nearly as much strength into it as I could. I'll construct a better illusion this time."
"I'm still not entirely sure it will work," Haru said picking up her pen from where she'd thrown it.
Because of the enforced closeness with the other girl over the past couple days; Haru had started picking up a particular rhythm to the other girl's movements that echoed others of her acquaintance. "What do you mean?" Chrome asked.
"Her surname is Ishida, she's from Kyoto. Her father is a successful restaurateur..." Haru said and the pen began to tap the way it did when Haru was trying to think of something.
"You've known that since the beginning that she's Masao Ishida-san's daughter though she's never once referred to her father or mother by name," Chrome said. "Her position has never been confirmed or denied by Lady Tomi. Why is it suddenly bothering you?"
"It's not 'suddenly bothering me', but I'm starting to wonder what exactly her purpose here is," Haru said. "As far as I know we're on good terms with the Ishidas, but it feels like Chiharu is purposely being a road-block to keep me from doing what I need to do."
"You could just tell her you have to take care of Vongola business..." Chrome suggested.
Haru shook her head. "We don't know if she can be trusted. I don't even tell Akai everything and she's saved my life at least twice."
"You have to figure out something, Haru," Chrome said. "You can't get boxed up like this. There are too many things going on. Has it occurred to you that perhaps Chiharu is here to be another test from Lady Tomi and you're failing right now?"
Haru's pencil stopped tapping at Chrome's words. "That doesn't seem like it would be something Lady Tomi would do..."
"Are you sure?" Chrome asked.
"Fairly."
Later that evening after dinner, the three girls were at the table downstairs working on their homework while Hiroshi Miura read through his academic journal. He rose from his chair and went into the kitchen and then emerged moments later. "Haru-san..." he began.
Haru glanced up from her English paper. "Yes?" she queried.
"Do you think you can go to the convenience store and pick up some snacks?" he asked. "I'm feeling a bit peckish."
Haru put her pencil down and rose. "If you'd like," she said. "Chrome..."
"Can just you and Chiharu-san go?" Hiroshi asked. "Chrome-san asked if I could help her with some of the math work due tomorrow."
Chiharu also put her pen down and rose. "Let me get my jacket."
Haru gave her father a dark look, but gave a resigned shrug and went to gather her jacket as well. Hiroshi handed her money for the snacks and Haru exited the house with Chiharu. Even dressed in jeans and a t-shirt like Haru, Chiharu still seemed to ooze the same Japanese Lady air that Haru couldn't help but envy at times. There was a point not too long ago that she would have practically idolized Chiharu for that air and would have spent every moment trying to imitate it. "Why don't you like me?"
The words came out of nowhere and Haru's eyes snapped to the shorter girl. "What?"
The word escaped her before she could hold it back.
"Why don't you like me?" Chiharu repeated. "It seems like since the day I came, you've been avoiding me."
Haru turned the words over in her head and tried to figure out what the best answer for that inquiry would be. "Put yourself in my shoes," Haru said.
"Your feet are bigger than mine," Chiharu mumbled.
Haru couldn't help the laugh that came to her lips. "Not literally. Think back on our first meeting..."
"Well you were the one who was running off and leaving me by myself in an unfamiliar area," Chiharu snapped.
"You also chose to arrive earlier than expected and then proceeded to find everything wrong that you possibly could," Haru stated.
"Well, I..." Chiharu began.
"It's not the best way to make a first impression," Haru said quietly.
"Well neither is running off and leaving a guest to fend for themselves within minutes of their arrival," Chiharu stated.
"Had you arrived at the time you were slated to arrive, I wouldn't have had to," Haru retorted and then took a deep breath. "Look, I don't know why you came to Namimori and I don't know why your father chose to have you stay at my house in particular, but coming into a place and insulting the people living there is not how anyone should start their acquaintance."
"I hate new situations," Chiharu mumbled.
"Then why did you put yourself in one?" Haru asked.
"Because I was being stifled in Kyoto," Chiharu burst out.
"Stifled?" Haru asked.
Chiharu shook her head. "Forget a I said that," she said. "I—"
"Well, well, what have we here?" a voice drawled.
Haru and Chiharu froze as a guy stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of them.
"Looks like a couple lost lambs, boss," another voice said.
"And what shall we do with the lost lambs, boys?"
The two girls found themselves surrounded on all sides by leering men who looked like they needed a shave and shower.
"Well, we should help them find their way home..."
"We are far from lost," Chiharu said flatly, her hand dipping into the pocket of her jeans.
"I suggest you back off...now," Haru stated easing into a defensive stance.
"Hey, Boss, I think they want to play..."
The 'Boss' stepped further into the light and Haru's eyes narrowed. "You're far from home Andretti," she stated softly. "This isn't your territory."
"I see my reputation precedes me," the 'Boss' smirked.
"Who are they, Haru?" Chiharu questioned.
"A minor Famiglia who's primary territory is on the other side of town," Haru answered without thinking.
"Mafioso?" Chiharu asked.
"They like to think so," Haru said.
"This is No Man's Land now, bitch," the 'boss' snarled, his fist lashing out. "The Vongola pup is gone..."
Haru ducked under his fist and drove her shoulder into his midsection as she blocked his other fist from making contact and threw him into one of his companions making them both crash into the sidewalk. "Do you think Judaime would leave it unprotected in his absence?" Haru snarled.
"He's just an idiot kid who got lucky," the 'Boss' sneered as he was helped back to his feet by his companion who'd gotten up faster.
White-hot rage flared through Haru and she barely kept herself from throwing herself recklessly at the two men. "Tsunayoshi Sawada is not an idiot," Haru gritted out.
"Why else would he be called 'No-Good Tsuna'?" Andretti taunted her. "He couldn't even pass the Namimori High School exam."
"You know nothing of Judaime," Haru hissed, her hand delved into her bag and withdrew several of the conductive pins she favored and the ring she wore flared green.
"They're two bit thugs, Haru-san, do we really need that?"
Chiharu's icy voice broke through Haru's anger. "Probably not," Haru admitted.
"You can handle your two?" Chiharu queried.
"Yes," Haru replied.
"Then please allow me to handle these two," the other girl requested.
"What can two pipsqueak girls do against us?" one of the men snorted. "Get 'em boys."
The fight was over in less than three minutes and all four men were on the ground in a heap between the girls. Haru's eyes met Chiharu's as she hit a button that made the bo staff in her hand retract down to pocket size. "Can we start again, Miura-san?" Chiharu asked looking at her over the pile of groaning bodies.
Chiharu put the staff back in her pocket and stepped gingerly around the men and bowed. "I am Ishida Chiharu, youngest daughter of Ishida Masao of Kyoto," she said. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Haru was startled when she used the word for meeting for the first time, but she decided give this new beginning a try. "I'm Miura Haru, welcome to Namimori," Haru said returning the bow.
"Of the Vongola Famiglia?" Chiharu prompted, the streetlight caught a flash of a white smile.
"Of the Vongola Famiglia," Haru agreed. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"What do we do with these guys?" Chiharu queried nudging the pile with the toe of her black flats.
Haru spotted a movement out of the corner of her eye. "I think it will be taken care of shortly," she said recognizing one of the Vongola agents that tended to wander around her neighborhood.
"Then shall we get those snacks, Miura-sensei is probably wondering what's taking so long," Chiharu murmured.
"Let's go," Haru said. "How did you take them down so quickly? You had yours down before I finished mine..."
"Practice," Chiharu said. "I didn't have much else to do between lessons."
"What do you specialize in?" Haru inquired as they moved down the sidewalk.
"Technically long range weapons, but close up I tend to prefer the bo staff because I can hide it in the sleeve of my kimono or fans."
"Fans? How do you use fans?"
"I will show you my battle fans when we return to the house," Chiharu said. "Do you have a sparring partner?"
"One or two, but finding a new sparring partner whom I haven't worked with for so long could be interesting," Haru murmured.
The two girls chatted quietly as they made their way to the convenience store and by the time they were retracing their route back to the house, the sidewalk was clear again.
When they arrived back at the house Haru's father didn't seem to realize how much time passed, simply thanked the girls for the snacks and they settled back in to work on their homework.
#
"How did you escape Chiharu?" Akai asked when they met at the Vongola HQ the following day.
"Told her that I needed to take care of Famiglia Business today after school," Haru answered.
Akai looked at her in shock. "Just like that?"
"More or less," Haru shrugged. "We've decided to give each other another chance and see where we wind up. I won't let her into my personal files anymore than I'll let you into them though."
Akai chuckled. "Well, no, we're not Vongola and even if we are friends it's always best to err on the side of caution. Especially right now…"
Haru nodded. "Right now we have some more pressing matters to deal with aside from tracing down our leads on Kagami..."
"Oh?" Akai asked. "Is Kagami dropping in priority?"
Haru shook her head. "They're both of equal importance though one may be feeding the other."
"What's the other issue?" Akai asked.
"Apparently the other organizations seem to think that Vongola Territory is now No Man's Land with Judaime out of the country," Haru said.
"You knew that was coming," Akai observed. "It would also explain why Victoria Hermosillo seems to think she can threaten Take Sushi..."
"Then we need to disabuse them of that notion," Haru said. "I won't let our part of the city become unsettled because they don't think that anyone is watching it."
"What do you want to do?" Akai asked.
"I've asked Yamamoto and Sasagawa-san to come by HQ and we can discuss ideas," Haru said. "Judaime never needed to show his power to keep our area safe, but apparently we need to find a way to reinforce our boundaries."
"And how do you plan to do that?" Akai asked. "Not protection money..."
Haru shook her head furiously. "No. We are not the same as the other families, but we must figure out a way to defend those within our area so they don't give in to the extortionists."
"How do you think this has anything to do with Kagami?" Akai asked.
"It is entirely possible that Kagami is the root of this determination that this part of town is free for the taking," Haru said. "The men that attacked us last night claim to be moving on their own volition, but I'm not sure I believe that. Even before Tsuna, this area of town was one of the safest."
"Because the Vongola were already here protecting Tsuna," Akai pointed out.
"Maybe," Haru said. "At any rate, we need to counter this or we're going to be so busy fighting off encroaching families we won't be able to figure out how to deal with Kagami."
"That could be the point as well."
Yamamoto joined them and Haru glanced up at him. "One of the best ways to distract an opponent is to threaten home plate. If you think they're getting ready to steal home, you won't notice the runner on first advancing to second while the runner on second moves to take third base when your star player is about to step up to the plate. Sacrifice one run to get two or three runs depending on how far the batter hits the pitch and you could put the game in the bag."