Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo or any of its affiliates and characters. I just play around with them from time to time.

AN: Good gosh! It has almost been two years! Wow, that sucks. I am getting old. Summer vacation just hit, so I am out of university for a few months and decided to catch up on some writing. Cannot for the life of me remember where this story was going, so work with me please!

00000

"Get the hell off of me Miura! What do you think you are doing? Take cover. Don't be a hero."

Ikki exclaimed as she wrenched her body trying to wiggle free from Haru's strong arms. The girl tried to shake Haru off, but Haru held strong. Her eyes clenched shut as she used her leverage to keep the woman underhand.

"No, Haru is not trying to be a hero...Haru is trying to be a friend. Now, shut up! Haru is not going to let you die alone, desu!"

Haru shouted out as she held on even tighter to the girl while her mind raced with thoughts, unnecessary thoughts because Haru was not moving.

Haru peeked out from the bottom of one of her eyelids as she looked up to see the circular bomb reach the crescendo of its height, and as she saw the bomb begin to descend towards her and Ikki, she clutched on to the woman even tighter as the girl struggled.

"M-Miura, please don't!"

Ikki screamed out with a cry in her voice that let Haru know she was close to tears, but Haru kept still and stilled her body as the bomb approached.

"Miura, get out of there!"

She heard her chief's voice over the ricocheting of bullets and the forewarnings of the bomb as it approached, but she was at peace with her decision and despite the fear pumping in her veins and the regrets turning her stomach her last thoughts were...

"I wonder what his name was?..."

Before she looked up to see a long lithe shadow encased body leap over her and Ikki, and in a clash, a man intercepted the bomb midair. His body aflame with color as he pushed up against the bomb as it detonated in a flash of bright light that lit up the night sky like the sun. A hot flash of light over took everyone and distorted their figures as everyone was forced to look away. Even Haru. But not before she saw the silhouette of a figure bathed in light and color while battling the sun.

The center of the light in the sky seemed to suck up the air in a swift gulp before it all came bursting out in a huge dispersion of air that sent policemen flying and cars rolling back. Even the Scompiglio were pushed slightly back by the force while the Vongola braced their bodies leaving only their clothes whipping in the wind as their figures stayed firm.

Haru molded her body against Ikki's as she felt her body be pushed and pulled by the wind while she tumbled with Ikki in her arms. She felt her body hit the hard ground at least ten times before it settled in a roll that forced her to let go of Ikki before landing on her back and knocking her head against the hard ground.

She could either not feel anything, or her body was numbed with pain. And, all she remembered before she blacked out was that there was no sound and the body of a man standing in the middle of the decimated field, glowing.

00000

Light flooded her vision as a hot flash of color pierced her pupils before she opened her eyes. For a few moments, she was blinded and she felt a small amount of anxiety rush her nerves before her vision began to trickle back to put together the pieces. She finally began to get a grasp on what she was looking at.

It was a white wall, plain and simple, and for a moment, she was confused as to where she was before her body began to feel sensations again. There was a distant ache. She was lying down on a bed, and to her right, there was a window and a machine that was beeping at a steady rate. To her left, there was a stand with a few vases of flowers and a...woman.

There was a woman at her side sleeping soundly. She sat her body up slowly with a grimace from the sharp jabs of pain in her head and at her ribs, and when she finally settled, she tilted her head slightly to the side, which caused her maroon hued brown hair to spill over her shoulder. That was not right. Where was her hair tie?

She studied the woman's face for a bit, and what she found was a pretty young woman with a button nose not unlike her own and long light sunflower colored brown hair. She only had to wonder for a second about the young woman's eye color when the young woman opened her eyes to reveal that they were a slightly more golden version of her hair.

The woman laid there for a moment before she lifted her head and looked straight into the eyes of the woman watching her. She looked dazed and lazy for a moment before her eyes began to fill with confusion, wonder, recognition, and appreciation, and then tears before the young woman latched on to her and spoke what she immediately recognized as her name.

"Haru-chan! Thank Kami, you are alright!? Oh Haru-chan, we were so worried."

Haru sat there with her eyes wide for a moment before she spoke the other woman's name.

"K-kyoko-chan?"

The woman pulled back from her and smiled a golden smile that lit up the room brighter than the sun before she nodded. All the while, tears streaming heavily down her face.

The young woman cried for a little while before she went and got a nurse to check on Haru since her doctor had apparently already left for the day, and all the time during this process, Haru was gathering her scattered memories to piece together what had happened and why she was there, in the hospital.

So far, she could remember most of it. She could remember being called to go confront the Scompiglio and Vongola during a shootout despite the fact that she was due to clock out and that she had only been stationed in Namimori for a month and that it was only her first week out of Namimori issued classes and training. She was not even officially on active duty yet when she arrived on the scene to see cars overturned and bullets flying.

She remembered being scared, and she remembered being unable to come up with anything to save her hide or the hides of people around her. She had thought about running, and she almost did until...until one of her friends cried out in pain. Then, like an idiot, she ran out to save the girl only to have a bomb chucked in the direction of the both of them.

However, she was not dead. Why wasn't she dead?

Haru could not understand why she was still in one piece and not scattered all around that field for her parents to find then bury when Kyoko finished speaking with the nurse. The young woman who Haru recognized as a friend came to sit down beside her before smiling, and despite herself, Haru felt herself smiling back.

"Haru-chan, I am so glad that you are awake. The nurse said she was going to go call your parents. They were here originally, but your father asked me to watch over you since he and your mother had been here awhile and he figured they needed some rest and refresh. I hope you don't mind." Kyoko said as she grabbed Haru's hand and gave it a slight squeeze before Haru gave a reassuring smile before returning the jester.

"Don't be silly Kyoko-chan! Of course Haru doesn't mind! You have been such a good friend to me since I got back to Namimori, and I am so glad that you were here for me when I woke up."

Haru replied honestly to Kyoko, but she was surprised to see the smile slightly falter on Kyoko's face as her eyes shined with a slight sadness, but it was only for a moment before Kyoko got up unexpectantly.

"Let me get you some water, Haru-chan. I am sure you must be feeling thirsty. I am sorry to make you speak so much."

Kyoko smiled a sad smile as she went to a shelf that had a pitcher of water and some plastic cups setting upon it.

That actually reminded Haru that she was not feeling too well at all actually. Her head was pounding, and her body was sore all over yet there were still specific places that would ache from time to time. She had a hard time sitting up, and she felt a constriction around her head, her ribs, and her arm was wrapped up. It was broken, maybe? It did hurt like a stinker.

All in all, she was worse for wear, but all considering, she should be dead. Especially since she had a bomb thrown at her. It would be awhile before she would be able to return to the force.

Haru had not been particularly listening to anything the nurse had said while she had been sitting there, so despite being scared at what she would hear. She decided to ask Kyoko just how much damage she had taken.

"How long was Haru...how long was I...you know?"

She could not fully form the question, but it did not stop Kyoko from pausing for a moment before she finished pouring Haru a cup of water. She returned to give Haru her water before sitting down next to her.

"You were out for two days. The doctors weren't really sure if they should classify it as a coma or not, but you were pretty hurt when you got here so they were not sure how long you would be unconscious."

It seemed to come hard for Kyoko to tell her that, and the young woman seemed to swallow hard in an effort to swallow her tears. It wasn't working.

"How much...how much damage did Haru take?"

"Three fractured ribs and a mild concussion..."

"Oh..."

Kyoko felt a sting in her throat as she let a tear roll down her cheek. She did not feel right being there. Sitting right next to her. Comforting her. What right did she have? None.

"Hahi, well that's not so bad..."

Kyoko looked up with a start to see Haru sitting with a peaceful smile and a calm disposition, and Kyoko felt her breath be taken away.

"Haru thought it was going to be much worse! I thought that I had some kind of neurological damage or a shattered bone or something! Haru will be healed in no time! Healed and ready to deliver justice, desu!"

Haru said as she held a peace sign with her unharmed arm while a smile covered her face. She guessed her arm probably was actually not broken. Good thing she had not become a doctor.

Kyoko just stared at her in awe and astonishment before she smiled and began giggling at Haru and her antics. Maybe she had been worried about Haru too much. The girl would be just fine it appeared. Maybe everything would be fine now. Maybe everything could go back to being as it was before, right? Right?

"Besides, I still have to pay the Scompiglio and the Vongola back for what they did. For what they did to Ikki and my comrades."

Kyoko's giggles hitched slightly in her throat, giving her a small cough as she looked at Haru's face filled with determination and motivation, and she felt herself look away. Haru seemed not to notice as a look of realization etched over her features. Her emotions moving a mile a minute as always.

"Oh, that reminds Haru! How is everyone else? How is Ikki-chan? Is she alright? Did anyone...did anyone di..."

"No!"

Kyoko cut off before Haru could finish the word, and she clenched her eyes closed as she fisted the cloth of her floral skirt in her hands. Her face scrunched up painfully as she began to shake her head to shake off what felt like...accusations.

"No one died! No one was permenantly hurt! And Itsuki-chan...Itsuki-chan is just fine. She is just a floor or two under you, and they said that the bullet barely got her. It did not hit anything too vital, and she did not lose very much blood...she's just fine."

Kyoko said with a quiver in her voice, and Haru felt she saw the other girl shaking. Haru felt bad for bringing up bad memories for Kyoko, and the only thing she could do was smile a confused smile and hold the girl as best she could with one of her arms bandaged up.

"Alright, Kyoko-chan...it is alright. We don't have to talk about it anymore okay...it's okay."

Haru put on her most soothing voice as she held the girl, and she felt Kyoko slightly relax in her arms. Kyoko felt badly about making the injured woman comfort her, but she was so overcome with emotion that she just felt happy being in Haru's arms. Knowing that Haru was awake and going to be fine. Knowing that one mistake and act of stupidity was not going to cost the girl, her new best friend, her life.

It would not be long after that Haru's parents would rush in on the scene to see Haru holding Kyoko...with a frown on her face. The same frown many would see for a long time any time the name Vongola was mentioned in the presence of one Miura Haru.

00000

There was a light knock on his door that came and interrupted his thoughts. It was a knock he had been expecting for a while now, and the obedient silence that came afterward left him with a large lump in his throat. When had things become this way? Where they supposed to be like this?

He considered ignoring the knock to continue on with his thoughts of peaceful times and snow cones in summer, but he knew that he had stopped ignoring things a long time ago. He had to. He was forced to now that things were the way that they were, but he still could not help himself as a shiver took over him. A shiver that came whenever he became his other self. A self he was starting to recognize as his true self.

"Come in."

Golden eyes were met with crystal green as the man seemed non-too-surprised to see him in his current form. It was a sad thing that this was becoming normal. That this was the person people were referring to when they said his name...his alias. He felt out of his own skin, and his face remained neutral even as he studied the shock of silver hair, the transparent green eyes, and the designer suit. When had the man stopped wearing jeans and designer hoodies?

"Juudaime, I am here to report to you...about the incident."

The silver haired man slightly held his head hung. Not willing to look his boss in the eyes after what had happened two days ago. He felt like it was his fault. Despite the fact, that for once, he had not been the one to throw the bombs and cause all the damage...it had happened under his watch. He was a failure if there ever was one.

"Continue."

The man said in a tone deeper than the one he was used to as he ignored the man's self-deprecating stance. This was something he was used to. People finding failure in themselves that he never found in them.

"According to our inside sources, you were right. The damage was quite extensive, and the police are not taking this offense lightly. The Vongola are officially on their most wanted list along with the Scompiglio, and apparently, the chief of Namimori police is currently building a task force dedicated strictly to the Vongola and their annihilation."

The silver haired man scoffed a little after his announcement as he clenched his fists at the thought of anyone trying to challenge his boss. The day he let any man near his boss was the day that hell would freeze over. He may have failed today, but there was no failing tomorrow. He would be sure of that.

Damn the police and everyone associated with them...except for maybe a few people.

"Hmmm, well, we knew this was coming eventually. Especially after we decided to move the base of our operations back to Namimori. It was already decided that eventually we would become more than just a speck on the police radar. Intentional or not, this was a part of the plan."

The boss said as he sat his hands on top of his desk before he laid his chin across them. His eyes piercing into those of his subordinate as the other man began to reaffirm the very reason why he would follow this man to the ends of the Earth.

"Now, the only questions that remain, are what are they planning, and what are we going to do about it?"

The silver haired man nodded affirmatively as the other man looked at him expectantly.

"I suggest we wait and gather more information about this task force before we take any action while also at least being more discreet about our business. If we can try to possibly stop this or at least get ahead of it, we might be able to minimize the damage on both sides."

The man finished speaking, and his boss wore a smirk as their eyes met. Spoken like his true right hand. It was almost exactly on the lines of what he had been thinking. What were the odds that the same man who would have suggested blowing up the police station five years ago was the same one suggesting that they wait it out instead. Maybe patience and wisdom did grow in time.

"I suppose that would be the best course of action. Anything other than that could lead to something bigger than what we might want, and we cannot risk that with our plans just beginning to be initiated. I want you to inform every one of the current course of action, and report back to me with their confirmations and anymore information you may gather. Thank you very much for your service."

"You're welcome, Juudaime, I am honored to serve you always… However, I do have one question."

He boss gave him permission to speak.

"What are we going to do about him?"

The silver haired man said with a slight scowl on his face as he tucked his hands in his pocket. Not even willing to say the bastard's names. He might hate most people, but he hated no one more than someone who was willing to defy his boss...constantly almost as if it was game.

On his boss's part, only an eyebrow was raised.

"Him?...Him who?"

"You know, that bastard. He said that if he ever heard about the Vongola causing trouble in Namimori, he would bite them to death, or some shit he always says. He is going to come eventually, and I am actually surprised he has not been here yet. "

With that, his boss only laid down his folded hands.

"Let him come. He was always a part of the plan, and if this issue with the police gets too far out of hand, there is going to be a meeting of the guardians anyway. I'd rather he came of his own free will than me having to go hunt him down."

The guardian did not like the sound of that. That left him on edge. That was a place that he should never be.

"Juudaime, if you need me to stay the night at your place to keep a lookout, I would be more than welcome to."

His boss smiled this time as he stared down his anxious guardian.

"That won't be necessary. He was never very subtle."

"Hai Juudaime, understood."

The silver haired man wanted to make it up to his boss, but he guessed tonight would not be the night to do that. The man turned to exit, understanding that his boss wanted to be alone when the other man spoke.

"Oh, and Gokudera-kun…"

Gokudera paused and looked back.

"Keep your head up…that is more befitting of my right hand."

Gokudera looked back to see brown shining slightly through the gold as a smile broke across his face and he exclaimed with a little too much excitement.

"Hai, Juudaime! You can always count on me!"

The man's boss smiled tenderly in a way that Gokudera had not seen in a long time as he left. Closing the door. Leaving the other man with his thoughts and a phone call to make.

00000

Kyoko walked through the door of the apartment that she shared with her brother as she removed her shoes at the entry way before sliding on her slippers and setting down her things as she headed to the kitchen to make herself some relaxing hot tea.

She felt exhausted from visiting Haru before heading to her job at the police station. She was also drained from all the crying she did at the hospital and fending off questions about Haru and her own well-being. She was the chief's administrative assistant, so everyone always assumed that she knew everything that was going on.

Plus, the past few nights, she could not get any sleep due to the fact that Haru still had not awoken and the fact that her brother had been gone for almost a week doing Kami knows what. She was stressed, and she was tired of smiling, worrying, stressing, and most of all crying.

Right now, she just wanted to make herself a nice cup of tea before going to bed for the night. She was not going to even try and catch up on her drama. Just tea and bed. That's it.

However, somebody in the universe must have had another idea because as soon as she set foot in the kitchen. Her cell phone went off.

She gave a sigh of exhaustion before she put on a genuinely happy smile as she headed towards her purse on the living room couch to receive her cell phone. She was tired, but Kyoko could never be upset with someone who thought enough of her to call her. If they had her number, it must be someone she cared about, and she would never want to turn away a call from someone who she cared for. Who knows? It might be her brother.

But, it was not.

Kyoko picked up her phone, and the name she read across the screen made her blood run cold as she sat down as she paused. A lump forming in her throat. Her hand began to shake as her breath came in slow and hard. She forced herself to calm down as she reminded herself that this was her friend, and no matter what happened or what she felt, he would always be her friend and a special person to her and her family.

She let her breath settle, and she let the phone ring one more time before she answered in a tender voice reserved only for him and the others.

"Hello..."

She felt herself wait on baited breath as she held the phone to her ear. Wondering which voice she would hear, and what it would say?

"Ano, hello, Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko felt her breath release from her in relief as she heard the voice she had been hearing for the past eight or so years. The same voice that she occasionally used to dream about.

"Tsu-kun, it's you! How are you?"

Kyoko asked this as she let herself get comfortable on the couch. She did not know where this conversation was going, but if it was Tsu-kun talking, it could not be too bad.

"I...I am fine Kyoko-chan...how are you?"

Tsuna asked Kyoko in a cautionary way that had Kyoko slightly on edge, but she ignored that as she answered.

"I...am good Tsu-kun."

And it was the truth. Haru was awake and as lively as ever, and everyone was heading in the right direction...give or take a few things. Now, if only her brother would come home, she would be great!

"That...that's good to hear Kyoko-chan. I am happy to hear that you are fine, honestly."

And honestly, he was glad she was feeling better. If she weren't, he really was not sure what he would do with himself. He already felt sick over...what happened. But to find out that Kyoko not only knew the woman, but was friends with her...he felt weak. He genuinely felt weak...in heart and in spirit.

"Kyoko-chan..."

"Yeah, Tsu-kun?"

"How...ummm...how is your friend...how is she doing...?"

Kyoko fell silent. She heard the struggle in Tsuna's voice as he asked, and she fully intended on answering. However, the words got stuck in her throat as a sigh came out in its place. Tsuna must have taken it as bad news since he released a ragged breath, and Kyoko found herself needing to answer.

"She's awake, Tsu-kun!...She's awake, and...she seems capable and coherent. I think...I think she is going to be alright."

Even as the words left her mouth, Kyoko felt a release from just saying them. As if the acknowledgment of the fact had taken a loaded weight from her shoulders. She felt lighter. Lighter from what, she did not know...or maybe she just did not want to know.

"Hiiiiiiiie...Thank Kami. I am really happy that your friend is fine. Honestly, I am. Will you...umm... keep me updated?"

Kyoko let out a small laugh as she heard how Tsuna's breathing lightened. Seems as if he was feeling the same as her. And so, she began nodding despite the fact he probably could not see it.

"H-hai! I will Tsu-kun! I will."

"Thank you, Kyoko-chan."

"Hehehe, you're welcome, Tsu-kun."

Kyoko said as she smiled with the phone next to her ear. Her whole demeanor different after talking to Tsuna. But, then again, it usually was. Her feeling of exhaustion was steaming off and away from her in waves as she listened to his voice, and she was grateful to have a friend and family member like him.

"Oh, and Kyoko-chan, someone wanted me to tell you that in two days...they will be headed home. They just thought you should know...have a good night Kyoko-chan. Bye."

That was the last thing Kyoko heard as she barely got out a reply before the phone went dead. Just like a nervous Tsuna to rush off of the phone. Kyoko sat there for a moment or two before she laid down her phone. Her body felt stiff and relaxed at the same time as she stared into space.

Her breathing came out even as she sat there. A smile of unrepentant joy overtaking her face as she looked ahead. A small giggle escaping her throat as she sat, and the only thing she could say was...

"Thank goodness."

She looked at the time on her cable box. She still had time to catch an episode or two of her drama.

She grabbed the remote, turned on the television, and headed to the kitchen to make herself some tea as planned. All the while forgetting any thoughts about sleep, stress, or worrying. All the while not thinking about tomorrow. Just reveling in the joy of now.

00000

AN: Okay, ew, that kind of sucked. Might rewrite that last scene. I knew I was rusty, but it read like I took two steps back in my writing quality. That is bad man…really bad. But, my writing is not up to par for me to fix it substantially yet, so I leave it to you reviewers to massacre it because I spent hours on this and I am not deleting it. It felt…I want to say my criticism on it. But, I'd rather you guys ripped it to shreds instead. You, know, just to confirm what I know already. Well, anyway, enough self-deprecation.

Review please. Flame or not.