Jychan: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn! I'm just an ordinary fan who loves doing fanfics for KHR.

Summary: She disappeared from their sight the day after they graduated High School. Five years later, she appeared at one of the Vongola Function Parties as the Boss of the Rose Noire Family. Was she still the Haru that they knew? TsunaxHaru

11

"Once you see her, please don't break down or anything." K said as he held the door knob before Kyoko who raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, K? We're just going to see Tsu-kun and your boss, right? If I'm not wrong, Onii-san, Yamamoto-kun, Mukuro-san, and two members of your famiglia are there, right?" Kyoko said as she flipped her shoulder-lenth hair.

"Kyoko..." He said as he looked at her eyes. He wasn't sure if he should let Kyoko see the Boss or not. He was afraid of the possible consequences. She might break down and lose her mind at such instance. He shook his head. She would find that out sooner or later. They would see each other sooner or later. Why prolong it when it was going to happen in the future, anyways? "Just promise me. At this moment, we are in work mode. Work mode, okay?"

Kyoko broke into laughter as she stood on her tiptoes and patted K's head, "You're really getting weird, you know." She said as she pinched his cheeks while K just raised an eyebrow and held her hands. He placed them down and cupped her face, getting her full attention.

"Work mode, okay?" He repeated as Kyoko sighed and nodded. "Yes, K. Work mode, indeed." He smiled inwardly and shook his head. Now that they have made a deal, surely, nothing would happen already, yes? He opened the door and proceeded inside while holding Kyoko's hand.

"Boss, we've already annihilated the Metal Guardian of the Martinio Famiglia." K said as Tsuna and the others turned to him. Tsuna nodded until he saw the entwined hands of K and Kyoko. He was surprised, of course, but he wasn't jealous or anything. His feelings for the Empress of Disguise had already subsided. Besides, if she was happy with him, who was he to stop them, right? But basically the point was that he had no feelings for the younger sister of his Sun Guardian.

"That's good." Haru commented as she was still looking at the monitor. At the moment, it was still impossible for Kyoko to see his boss' face. He was momentarily relieved. Take note, momentarily. He was sure that the boss would turn to them any minute now.

"Eh? What's this? Haru-chi! Antoinette is in a pinch!" Rico called Haru as she turned to another screen. "What do you mean by Antoinette being in a pinch?" She asked as her eyes widened. She knew it. She shouldn't have sent Antoinette alone! Rico should've accompanied her or someone else! She shook her head. This wasn't the time for her to break down or anything.

"Rico!" She called her Wood Guardian who went near his boss, "Yes, boss?", "Aid Antoinette in the back entrance. Now." She said as he nodded and smiled. Now this was the Haru-chi he had chosen to follow. He smiled. "Yes, boss." He said before leaving as Haru turned around and looked at Rico's retreating figure.

"Wait. He said 'boss' for the first time, right?" Sachiko said as Haru nodded and smiled. She remembered years ago when she was chosen to lead the Rose Noire Famiglia as the Dixième. The Compagnucci Family, despite having Italian roots, had served the Rose Noire Famiglia starting from the Première. The Rico from the past and the Rico of the present were two different people.

"H-H-Haru-ch-chan?" Kyoko called out to Haru as she saw the Rose Noire Famiglia's Boss' face. Now she knew the identity of the Rose Noire Famiglia Boss. No wonder, K was being wary earlier. She swallowed. "Haru-chan, is that really you?"

"K-Kyoko..." Haru said as she bit her lower lip. She knew what happened to Kyoko right after she disappeared. She knew what events transpired after she disappeared, and yet she did nothing to help. Instead, she made them suffer more by not communicating with them or anything. Did she even still have the right to call herself as Kyoko's best friend? What kind of a person was she?

Tsuna and his other Guardians looked at Kyoko's horrified expression. Of all the things they had forgotten, why did they have to forget the possibility that Kyoko and Haru would see each other? And most of all, why now when they were such at a crucial moment? Tsuna swallowed. Was he just going to watch what was going to happen between Kyoko and Haru? He knew how Kyoko had suffered and yet, he also knew deep inside that perhaps Haru had a reason to disappear so suddenly. He couldn't help Kyoko, but he couldn't also defend Haru.

"Kyoko, work mode." K said as Kyoko blinked her eyes and returned to her serious self. She nodded and maintained a calm demeanor. "Yes..." She managed to let out as she stood beside K and kept her gaze down. She couldn't afford to lose her head at the moment. If she did then it would mean the end for the Vongola and the Rose Noire. She would be losing her loved ones if she lost herself.

Besides, Haru-chan would have a reason right? Although Haru-chan was somehow gullible in the past, but she always had a reason for doing something. She held on to that truth for so long, so why couldn't she now when Haru-chan was already before her? She nodded and looked down.

Haru closed her mouth and looked down as well. Why did this have to happen all of a sudden? Why now when they were in a major crisis? She shook her head. She couldn't let this affect work. She had work to do. If she couldn't concentrate at the moment, what face can she show to them after all these? What face could she show to her Famiglia if she failed? She opened her mouth and looked at Kyoko. "Kyoko..."

Kyoko looked up and saw Haru's gaze upon her. She swallowed. She had to maintain her posture. She had to maintain her calm and serious demeanor. "Let's talk after all of these, okay? You, me and cake." Haru said as she gave a gentle smile. Kyoko smiled and nodded. Haru had not change at all. She might have more refined and mature features, but deep inside, Haru was still the same. "Let us." She confirmed.

It was taking all for Sasagawa Ryohei not to cry. After all, this was the first time he had seen Kyoko smile by herself, without having the need for some joke or foolishness. Yamamoto, on the other hand, had smiled. He was happy for Kyoko and Haru to reconcile once again. He knew how close the two were during their middle school and high school days. Meanwhile, Tsuna simply shook his head and smiled. He was just glad after everything that had happened. He was just happy and glad. Finally, a positive event after all the negative happenings.

The Rico Compagnucci of the past never expected though that he would become part of the Rose Noire Famiglia Guardians, which was why he had fooled around. And yet, there was something with the Dixième that had made him become loyal to her. She was different from Andrè who was aspiring to be the next boss of the Rose Noire. She always had this calm air before her, and yet when worst comes to worst, she would fight until the end.

And this was what happening in the present, Rico smiled as he ran towards the back door which was the entrance and exit from and towards the back entrance. Now, it was time for him to do the dirty job as the Wood Guardian.

jychan: I know. It's short, but you have got to admit that it was sweet. AWHHHH~ XDDD Kyoko and Haru have somehow reconciled! Antoinette in a pinch? What was happening, by the way? And a short passage on Rico's past! WOAH! XD By the way, Dixième is the French equivalent for Decimo (tenth); Première is obviously the French equivalent for Primo. :) Thank you to all those who placed this on their Favorite Stories and Story Alerts. :)))) By the way, reviews really make my day. ;) By the way, I made a three-shot fanfic for Vio and Gokudera: Past, Present and Future. Check it out please? :)

Spirit kagome: Here ya go! Now, what you might be waiting for would be the talk between Haru and Kyoko, neh? :))))))