Thanks for all the reviews, minna! I'll do my best to make it more interesting! But seriously though, I'm really having a trouble with dividing the time for this story and my novel. Nevertheless , I'll keep trying to post this as soon as possible, but forgive me if the story turn out boring or such, since I'm also working and busy with my novel.

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR and never will

The heavy rain turned bigger into a storm. Not even a single person in Namimori dared to come out and be submerged within the raging storm. As the result, Tsuna couldn't go back to the hospital or back to his house. In the early morning, he woke up and walked down the stairs while yawning. Haru was making a breakfast and as she heard footsteps at the doorstep, she looked back.

"Good morning. I'm almost done here, so wait at the dining room. Just make yourself at home" she put smiling face, which he sensed the falsity there. Just like she said, he sat and waited there, but one thing couldn't escape from his mind, that kept running on his mind, was Haru's words.

…

"'What is it'? Don't give me that look, Tsuna-san! You obviously shouldn't move from your bed! Geez, you're hurt, can't you even see that? Everyone's worried about you and now you make them more worried than they're supposed to. Your mother's waiting for you to open your eyes, she should be the one who deserve to see that her son is very much okay! What were you thinking?"

…

It was the first time she spoke with that tone to him. But her other words bugged him more.

…

"Sawada Tsunayoshi, you have friends who are worried about you, a caring mother who's waiting for her son to open his eyes and tell her that he's okay, a baby tutor who's deeply concerned about you, and... your sunshine, Kyoko-chan who is very worried about you too. Why is it the only one who can't see that… is you?"

…

The looks on her face which he could never forget. The time when she spoke his full name, it sent chills through his spines. Tsuna always thought of her as a hyper girl, but truthfully, what did he know about her? Did he think he knew everything about her? Those questions, he kept asking it to himself. There were also words that proved he didn't know anything about her, that set the compassion side of him.

…

"I live here alone with Lal now"

"My parents moved to another country"

…

"Enjoy your breakfast!" Haru snapped him out of his thought as she handed over his breakfast, an omelet. Then, she sat across him.

"Where's your breakfast?" Tsuna asked.

"Don't mind me. I already have one"

At the time, their atmosphere was heavy and cold. Tsuna didn't feel like touching his food at that moment. There were questions he wanted to ask of her.

"Haru"

"Hm?"

"Has she come back? I mean Lal"

"No"

"I see…"

Another heavy silence struck the air.

"Haru"

"What?"

"What do you mean when you said your parents moved to another country? Why didn't you go with them?"

That question bothered her so much, but she used her mask to hide it. Either way, there's no point to keep hiding it from him, knowing he would probably guess it with his intuition, she thought. She maintained calm as if she didn't mind or care.

"It's funny, actually. There I was just coming home from outside and found that letter on the coffee table, saying they moved away, but didn't tell where exactly"

"Haru… if you're hurt by it, just say so"

"My relationship between my parents had gone worst since a year ago. We're like a stranger now. Why should I feel hurt about it?"

"Because they're your parents. How did that happen? What happened a year ago?"

"Let's just say this is one of the prices for a big change. There's a lot to sacrifice for that change, but it's worth it"

"What kind of change that's even worth to sacrifice your relationship with the one who gave birth to you?" having heard that sensitive question, she rose up and whispered to his face.

"One that related to only I would never reconsider about" after saying so, she gave her bright smile.

Haru headed towards anywhere outside the dining room and Tsuna, having heard her, jerked up and rushed to her.

"Haru, what's gotten into you? If there's anything wrong, just say it"

"There's nothing to talk about" she replied without looking back to him.

"Stop lying! You—"

"It's rude to neglect your breakfast like that. I made it for you" Haru walked towards the stairs. "If you need me, just come to my room" she kept hiding her face from him and walked upstairs.

Just like she said, he was eating his breakfast, but Haru's cold words were bugging him that he couldn't even enjoy the tasty omelet. Those words coming from her lips weren't like her at all. His tingling intuition said that she was really hiding something from him. After finishing his meal, he washed the plate and went straight to her room, and as he arrived, Haru was sitting on the floor while her hands were placed on the small table while her back faced him.

"You're right" she voiced.

"Eh?"

"There's no point for me to hide it from you" she said and he just stood in front of the doorstep.

"Every day since that day, every time I go back home, deep down, I always wish that they would come back to me. But I know that's not possible. I'm a horrible daughter, Tsuna-san"

"…Why?"

"I can't cry over their loss. I know they wouldn't come back to me, I know I wouldn't be able to see them again, but no matter how hard I try, I can't shed my tears for them. They say crying would ease one's mind and a step towards freedom, freedom from any problems"

Then she looked back to him with a cracking mask that almost showed her sadness and pain. "But the thing is… for them, I… I can't"

"I missed talking to them. I really... missed their warm hug... the time we spent together as a family"

"Haru…"

What can I do for you?

Seeing you all messed up like this, I wanted to ease you so much.

To hug you in my arms and help you cry.

I wanted to say those words to you…

As much as I wanted to say how much I fell in love with you, yearning for you…

I can't.

I can't get you involve with mafia business.

I have no place in your heart and never will be.

Even if…

This feeling is unbearable…

Seeing him putting complex expression, she smiled and said "Thank you for being here, Tsuna-san"

She couldn't let him be too worried about her. She wouldn't let him. All she could do was smiling. She never told anyone, even Lal herself about what she did every night before went to bed. Every day she wished for Tsuna to be happy with friends on his side, smiling as bright as the sky itself, for him to become a great and kind boss, and for him to be happy with Kyoko. Ironically, she didn't know Tsuna returned her feelings nor did Tsuna also know Haru had always loved him.

Their love for each other was so much pure, but sadly, each of them knew they couldn't be together as in 'lover'. At that moment, Haru kept smiling at him, it was very sweet that it could even hid her sorrow.

All of the sudden, they heard doorbell from the door outside.

"It seems the storm has ended" Haru spoke.

Both walked to the front door and kind of surprised as they saw Nana and Reborn.

"M-Mom? Reborn? How did you know I'm here?"

"I'm your mother, Tsu-kun. Of course I would know" Nana beamed. "Thank you for taking care of him, Haru-chan"

"We've come to bring you home" Reborn spoke.

"Eh? But…" Tsuna turned his stare to Haru. "Don't worry about me, Tsuna-san" she smiled. "Where are your parents? I want to thank them" Nana asked.

"They're—"

"They're still sleeping" Tsuna interrupted.

"Is that so? Then, give my regards to them, okay?"

"Okay"

"Thanks, Tsuna-san"

With that, they went home and Haru waved goodbye. Suddenly, Haru's phone rang and she picked it up.

"Hello, this is Miura household"

"Ah, Haru-chan, would you like to accompany me shopping today?"

"Sorry, Kyoko-chan. I'm busy"

"What? Again? When are you available?"

"I'm afraid I don't know, but you could ask Chrome-chan until I'm available for you. I have to go, bye" she immediately hung up.

"Here's your schedule" Reborn gave him a piece of paper.

"What is this?" Tsuna read it thoroughly.

"Today, you will do your homework, train, and inspect the Mare rings"

"Inspect the rings? Why me?"

"You're the boss"

"Then, why do I need to train for?"

"For the upcoming battle with the new owner, if whoever it is found the ring"

Tsuna just sighed. Sometimes, he cursed himself for accepting the role as boss. Moreover, he was still in recovery state. Reborn always made him pushed his limits, but he knew Tsuna's limit. He believed Tsuna would do those things without worsening his condition.

Thus, he worked on his homework. He had done it within less than an hour and then went straight to train at the forest with Reborn accompanied him, or trained him to be exact. Regardless as the world's best hitman, he was just a human. This was the time when he got wrong about Tsuna. No one, not even him knew that Tsuna's wound was fatal, but it was his own fault that he went out from the hospital immediately.

Throughout his training, his wound became more painful, but hid it very well that even Reborn couldn't see something's wrong with him. His movement became more limited and he sweated more than he supposed to. Having seen that, Reborn finally realized that his condition turned worst, so he told him to clean himself and rest. Regarding the inspection, he could do it when he felt better, so as Reborn said.

After the bath, Nana changed his bandage. He was supposed to be hospitalized, but he refused to go back. Nana respected his wish, but only if he would be able to take care of himself and not doing something reckless, which he clearly broke that promise. But she didn't question what he did to open up the injury, because she always believed in her son that he had a good reason behind his actions.

Tsuna decided to rest, but when he was about to lie down on bed, he heard a doorbell. His mother just went outside with the kids and Bianchi and Reborn wasn't at home either, so he was left alone and the only one to open the door.

"Tsuna-kun, I have a favor to ask of you" Kyoko asked uncomfortably. "Can you accompany me? It won't be too long, I promise you"

Tsuna was thinking. He should rest, but he couldn't say no. "Where to?" he asked. "Shopping"

"Please, Tsuna-kun. I beg you" Kyoko kept pleading to the injured young man. "Okay" he answered. "Thank you!" she chirped joyously.

He couldn't tell anything about his condition to her, so he just went off with her.

After the storm, the sky became bright and warm, it was a perfect day to go outside, even though the school was closed due to the storm this morning. When Kyoko said they wouldn't be too long shopping, they would be long, since she was quite a shopaholic, even more so with Haru. She dragged him to a clothing store and it was so long for her to decide. Tsuna started to feel the pain again, it was clearly seen all over his pale face, but she didn't realize.

Then, she took him to eat at her favorite café. While she put happy face as she ate a cake, Tsuna was trying his best to withstand the pain. To hide his pain, he covered it with a smile and acted as if nothing was wrong. Unknown to them, Haru spotted the two eating there, but she didn't greet them. She just stood outside across the café while eyeing on Tsuna.

"You really do love her, don't you, Tsuna-san? For you to spend your time with her even though you are in pain right now… I promise I'll protect you and your love one with my life" Haru then walked away from the café.

As the day turned evening, with cake as gift on Kyoko's hand, he walked her to her home.

"Thank you for accompanying me. Do you mind if we go to one more place?"

Tsuna didn't know how to respond to that. His mother must be worried that her son wasn't at home. "S-Sorry, I can't. I have to go home"

"Oh… okay" she stopped, putting sad and gloomy face.

"Wait. I change my mind"

"Eh? Really?" her face started to turn bright and he nodded.

"Kyoko! Sawada!" a familiar voice came to them.

"What are you two doing here?" a fedora hat arcobaleno asked. "Tsuna, didn't I tell you to rest?" he asked firmly.

"He was just accompanying me shopping, Reborn-kun"

"Is that true? Then, go home now"

"I can't. I promised Kyoko-chan to take her somewhere"

"Sawada…" Ryohei called and Tsuna looked at him. But Ryohei went at silent, staring at Tsuna thoughtfully. "Kyoko, why don't you visit Haru?" Ryohei suggested.

"Eh, why?" she asked innocently.

"What do you mean why? Don't you want to give that cake to her?" Ryohei set his eyes on the cake. "Oh, that's right. Okay then, I'll be going" she waved at them.

"Be careful to the extreme, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Now then..." Ryohei turned to Tsuna. "Sawada, why can't you say no? You're extremely in pain" he looked at him seriously yet worried at the same time.

"Do you know what I want to do now?" Leon transformed to a 10 ton hammer. "I will force you to stay in bed with this handy tool" he bluffed.

"Wh-What? That's just—"

"But…"

"Eh?"

"You have sense of tolerance bigger than anyone and a kinder heart. That's what makes you a boss and Vongola primo's true successor. But there's a time when you must say no, Tsuna. So, I'll let you go for now" Leon reverted back to chameleon.

"Excuse me" a man came to them. "Do you happen to know where Sawada household is?"

"I'm Sawada. Do you have business with my mom?"

"Sawada as in… Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

"Yes. How did you know me?"

"Good. Then I won't trouble myself finding you" the man smirked.

All of them immediately set their fighting stance as they felt a hostile aura on the man.

Kyoko pressed the doorbell of Haru's house, but no one answered. She placed her grip on the doorknob and entered the quiet house.

"It's so quiet here" Kyoko looked around and put the cake on the living room. She went to the kitchen and no one was there. "Maybe she's upstairs" she thought. Just as she was about to leave the kitchen, she spotted a letter inside the trash bin as it said 'To Haru'. Her curiosity let her read the letter, but her action led her to uncovering the sad truth about Haru.

Therefore, Kyoko rushed to Haru's room with the letter on her hand.

"Haru-chan!" she abruptly opened the door. Haru was meditating at the moment, closing her two eyes and went in tranquil state, so she didn't respond to her. She was very focused.

"Haru-chan!" she yelled and then Haru opened her eyes in calm manner. "Haru-chan, what's this about? Why didn't you tell me about this?" Kyoko showed the letter.

"Calm down, Kyoko-chan. It's okay"

"Don't you feel hurt? You shouldn't hide this! You were abandoned by your parents and you didn't even tell how you feel to make yourself better. Can't you see that it's painful?"

"It's true it does painful to be left like that"

"See? That's why—"

"But, it's nothing compared to what Tsuna-san is suffering"

Haru's remark snapped Kyoko. She didn't know what she meant at first, but when she remembered the previous event, she remembered that Tsuna was injured and she just realized it now after what she had done to him, making him go anywhere she wanted despite holding such pain. She was surprised that Haru could see that. She was mad at herself for her incapability to see what Tsuna was bearing.

Haru got up and went to the living room. Then, she saw a cake on the coffee table. "I'll get a plate for you" Kyoko said as she hit the road to the kitchen.

Haru kept staring at the cake and approached it. At the moment, a shadow casted over her face and what she did with the cake was inconceivable, that was she just smashed the cake dismissively with her hand. Her brown eyes turned void and sinister as she licked her hand with those cold eyes. Then, 'Haru' walked to the kitchen as Kyoko was finding a plate.

"Kyoko-chan… are you crying?" Kyoko flinched as she heard her. It was true that Kyoko's eyes were tearful. "…I did something horrible to Tsuna-kun. I… I can never forgive myself for it"

"You don't have to" she slowly walked to Kyoko's back and picked up a knife near her. "Weak people like you will only hinder people" she whispered. She aimed the knife to Kyoko's back and Kyoko herself didn't see that.

"Kyoko!"

An abrupt scream snapped Haru as she reverted back to her normal self. "Onii-chan?" Kyoko immediately ran towards the front door without seeing that her best friend was about to stab her to death.

Haru dropped the knife with shock and pale face. She couldn't believe what she almost did. Haru's hands were trembling helplessly and her eyes were quivering over what happened to her.

"Oh, I'm glad you're safe, Kyoko" Ryohei sighed in relief. "Eh? Onii-chan, are you okay? What happened to you? You look tattered. Where's Reborn-kun?" she approached her brother. "He's on his way to inform the others. You and Haru have to stay here until the area is extremely safe" he held onto his shoulder and Kyoko helped him to sit.

"What do you mean?"

"Sawada… he's been kidnapped"

Haru heard the conversation and widened her eyes as she heard the bad news. At the moment, she didn't care whether she would be found out, as long as her loved one was safe and that's all that matters to her. Reborn had called all arcobaleno to protect the rings while as for the rest of Vongola members were assigned to search their boss, well assigned or not, they would still prefer to search their beloved boss, their trusted friend.

Elsewhere at the forest, group of armed Mafioso were inside a dark old mines. And at one spacious room, the authority of the group and his big partner stood in front of a tied and injured Vongola boss.

"You know, we've been doing this for quite long, so for your own good, tell me where the Mare rings are"

"I don't know"

Hearing that, the foe punched Tsuna's face and then gripped his collar. "Do I look like an idiot?"

"Yeah" Tsuna grinned mockingly, giving him another punch.

"You've got guts, kid"

Tsuna glared at him with sharp eyes that had no fear whatsoever. "What's with the eyes for? You can't do anything as long as you're tied up. However, I do respect your territory and I don't want to kill you either. My boss would kill me if I got back empty-handed. So, for our own sake, just tell me"

"You have nothing to make me say a word. Everyone would find this place and you'll be captured soon"

"Aha, take those words back if I were you" Hiro reached to his pocket and let out a photo of Kyoko. "I heard this is your most precious person. She's a cutie, you know. It's a shame if she died because of you. Do you want to live with that mistake forever?"

Despite his threat, Tsuna maintained calm and that puzzled the enemy. "Hm? What's this? You seem calm. She's your loved one, isn't she?"

Having heard that, Tsuna chuckled and said "I guess I'm a pretty good actor"

"What did you say?"

"Like I said, you have nothing against me. Besides, you won't be able to hurt that girl. She's protected 24/7 because of my act"

"Then, how about this?" Hiro let out a photo of Haru this time. And Tsuna's reaction pleased him as he twitched and expression changed to ire. "I see she's the one that's really precious to you. I admit she's more beautiful that the other one. And no one seem to guard her" he grinned.

"This is not a negotiation anymore. If you resist one more time, I assure you won't be seeing this woman again. Well, probably just her head"

"You…" Tsuna furrowed in personification of anger.

All of the sudden, they heard a gunshot and Hiro instantly looked back to the entrance of the room.

"What was that?"

...

"This is post no. 1, post no. 1! We required backup immediately! There's— ugh!"

"This is post no. 3 responding. What is happening? I need response!" one man talked though earpiece.

"AAHH!" suddenly, he heard a scream in front of him, but it was too dark to see.

"Who's there?" he turned on the light switch that was beside him.

"Peek-a-boo" a young woman who donned a black boots, black skirt, black long-sleeve blouse with black coat appeared in front of him and smacked his head with her gun, with eyes full of focus and resolve, one that contained hope and humanity.

Thankfully at this time, Haru was fully conscious. After knocking out the enemy, she shot the switch along with the generator while walking casually and then the lights were flickering.

"Stop!" one Mafioso appeared in front of her, but she instantly shot him.

One Mafioso after another she shot and hit without putting much effort. As she was about to walk past an intersection, an enemy ambushed her from her left, but knowing she also learnt aikido, she grabbed his arm, twisted it, and smacked him to the ground and shot his leg. The enemy screamed in pain and the victims began to increase. Hiro and Tsuna heard that out loud and Hiro started to point a gun to his forehead.

"How did they manage to find us?"

Hiro kept pointing his gun to him, but to his surprise, Haru who appeared on the entrance chained his hand, but accidentally made him shot upwards, causing the ceiling crumbled as if was about to collapse.

"Ha-Haru?" Tsuna stammered.

"You have made a huge mistake" she glared behind Hiro's back and pulled him, pinning him on the ground while pointing the gun to his forehead. Behind her, a big guy was about to attack her.

"Haru, watch out!"

Haru hastily rolled aside and instantly changed her weapon to a chained sword. She quickly used the sharp chain to cut Tsuna's rope and then slashed the big one.

"Aww… look at all the fun. You won't let me play?"

The voice bothered her so much, but she decided to ignore it.

The big one was still fine to kick her to the rock wall and dashed towards her for a punch, but hyper mode Tsuna hastily appeared in front of her and punched him away before he could deliver a blow. Tsuna kept looking at Haru for which she knew he was questioning about her. He looked like he was about to say something, but the situation didn't support him.

She stood up and said "Let's make it fast", knowing that the mine was about to collapse as rocks were crumbling and fell to the ground. And so, she strangled them with multiple chains she summoned.

"Now!" she signaled and Tsuna casted Zero Point Breakthrough: First edition, freezing them. After that and suddenly, he felt the stabbing pain from his wound and kneeled over the pain.

"Are you okay? Can you stand up?" Haru helped him stood up and then they ran towards the exit.

But, the crumbling was worse than they anticipated. The exit was closed and worst; he couldn't use his X burner for his stamina couldn't help him to do so.

"Tch. There's no other way" Tsuna painfully held his stomach. They stayed in their spot while in few seconds, they would be buried under the shattered rocks.

Haru had to use her method: the long chain formed a circle and hovered in the air with flame surrounded the circular chain. She stood on top of the chain and pulled Tsuna up. "Tsuna-san, hang onto me!" she shouted and Tsuna with his remaining stamina wrapped his arms around her waist and his heavy breath touched her ear, which gave her a tingling sensation, but she withstood it with difficulty.

That wasn't the kind of 'hang onto me' she thought of, but there was no time left to argue.

"…Hang on tight" she said while maintaining her calm and Tsuna tightened it.

With their position were set, Haru summoned two swords, one other she held and the other she gripped with her mouth. Then, she coated the swords with orange flame. She went on her stance and ready to break through the thick barricade of rocks.

With a quick dash towards the rocks and swords she equipped, and as the ceiling began to fall completely, Haru for the first time saved her loved one, even though it would lead her to his anger and demand.

Note: I'll put a quote I made in each future chapters, just for fun.

Please, review! It'll make me the happiest person on the planet and it's for my improvement too :)