So uh... Long time no see guys? Really don't know how to even begin to explain my near two year absence, let alone apologize. I always felt guilty when I got reviews and PMs for me to continue and complimenting me. I loved it, I truly did. They would cheer me up at the most random times where I didn't even know I needed it.

So good news is I'm not discontinuing anything, and might plan to release a yyh story thats been sitting on my computer for a while. The catch is, Im not sure when I'll be updating or exactly where both stories are going to end up. So if you kind souls who has stuck with me this far are willing to ride it out with me, then lets go! Also don't be afraid to point out anything weird, misinformation, typos (lord knows I have a lot), and stuff. Helps a lady grow ya know.

Well anyways, I wanted to say thank you to all of those who Favorited, followed, and reviewed. Really inspired me to come back and continue to try my arm in writing again. So please review and talk to me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, nor do I own any other professional works that may be mentioned within. I own only my characters.

Chapter 8

"Are you prepared, Lin-sama?"

Breathing a calming breath, Lin opens her eyes to observe herself in the mirror. Taking time to adjust her blazer to ensure there is no flaws in the business attire that she had prepared for the occasion. With a simple gesture of her hand, Saburo promptly placed a small handgun into her hand, and proceeded to turn to the flat knives laid out onto the table. A bit much considering that this was only a meeting with one of the Estraneo Don's illegitimate sons, thought Saburo and he said as much.

With a simple smile, Lin sheathed a knife, "Saburo-san, you seem to be underestimating the situation. This is the Estraneo, the one who seems to have a ghastly amount of their own children missing, as well as many missing people reports in their area."

Facing her trusted bodyguard, she continued, "Do not forget how we stumbled into this. If it wasn't for your friend's family suddenly falling off the planet, this would have never been put into question. Do not forget who you are messing with. The Estraneo may not be as great as they once were, but this does not mean that they have the inability to kill a person of our stature and have none the wiser."

Saburo's form stiffened and slight guilt appearing on his face which did not go unnoticed by Lin. Lin merely glanced at him, knowing words of empty comfort would be of no use with the man.

A knock at the door had brought the two out of their silent company. Saburo and Lin immediately shifted into their business personas.

Saburo approached the door and held it open for the matriarch, revealing another man in a suit who politely bowed upon their appearance.

"The meeting will be commencing shortly, if you would kindly follow me Hibari-sama."

With a gentle nod, Lin followed the man with Hachirou not too far behind.

With a resounding slam, the items on the desk slightly rattled. I grabbed it in order to reorient myself in panic.

"Mei!"

It wasn't long after that father had his hands on my shoulders in order to see my face, "Mei, look at me. Calm down, breathe slowly. Deep calming breaths, yes follow as I do. That's it Mei."

I didn't realize I was hyperventilating until my lungs filled with precious air and expelled loudly, my heart beating loudly and quickly into my ears.

"The fuck is wrong with her? Your kid sick, Ryusei?"

Truly Teshima is the kindest and clearly the only tactful man in the room. Father glared at him from the corner of his eye and resumed to examine me. Kenjiro was silent as he studied my father and I, examining every inch of my expression and seemingly indifferent to the small fiasco. But, clearly it seemed that Kenjiro doesn't do quiet concern.

"Oi. Mighty big reaction there Ojou-chan. What's the matter? Scared for mommy?"

I jerked my face from father's hands as I bared my teeth, "Silence ingrate! Okaa-san can do anything! I'm not scared!" Kenjiro just raised his hands in a mockingly placating gesture and smirked at me, but his eyes were cold and calculating.

I have to think of something quick.

Not entirely sure as to why that thought was blaring in my head I turned back to father with wide panicked eyes, "Where's Nii-san? If someone is coming because of Okaa-san, what about nii-san?!"

Teshima just snorted and crossed his arms, "You don't have to worry about that brat, your dad here made sure that his school was a fortress before he even enrolled. The brat got men on him 24/7. Safest kid in the whole damned city."

Father just nodded as he kept his hand on one of shoulders and turned to Kenjiro whose eyes still held the same gleam. "Continue Kenjiro, about the Estraneo."

Seemingly snapping out of his thoughts, Kenjiro just sighed and scratched his head, "Ah, right. You heard of the Estraneo, right? Used to be a big bad family, but not so much now. Still high and mighty, despite their grubby hands grasping at straws. Well, rumor has it that they're working extremely hard to get back on the radar and people are disappearing for it."

Father's hand tightened on my shoulder before he reached for the folder and flipped through them, careful so that I wouldn't see the contents.

"Is this why my wife is investigating them?"

Kenjiro just hummed with amusement, "Why would I know why that harpy would snoop around these losers for? I ain't married to the thing."

Teshima grabbed the back of Kenjiro's head and slammed it on the desk and kept it there, the items once again rattling. With a simmering anger, he leaned onto the hand currently pressing Kenjiro's face into the wood. "I've had about enough. Speak about the lady properly in front of the kid, or find out just how dirty a cop can get. We clear?"

Kenjiro sneered as he glanced at me and I glanced away in nervousness or fear, I don't know. While extremely kind of Teshima to protect my mother's honor, it wasn't helping. It was making it worse, judging by the slight tensing of father's hand on my shoulder.

With a pointed glare at the two, "How is it that my daughter has a more semblance of control compared to two grown men? Now stop your bickering and let us end this unfortunate meeting. Kenjiro, you are to follow up on this and prepare for anything that results from this. Eizo, you know what to do."

Teshima grumbled as he roughly let go of the teen, and walked out of the room shouting at recruits for a check on the Hibari household. The door slammed, resounding in the silent room despite Kenjiro's silent curses as he rubs his reddened cheek.

"Though I don't know what that… woman plans, I do know that her bodyguard is involved. Apparently, the guy is pulling a favor from your wife and you don't know about it." Kenjiro grinned as he straightened his clothes, "That's a little concerning isn't it, Oji-san."

Father simply scoffed at Kenjiro's implied meaning and sent a sharp look at the folder. "It isn't like Saburo to pull favors from Lin like this. He must have pulled at least two for my wife not to inform me of her actions. It appears to be something personal." It was just a slight clench of his jaw, but the atmosphere from his body turned ten times cooler as he finished his thought, "Whatever this personal favor is, it is at the expense of my family. It seems that Saburo will be spending his last favor quite soon."

It was nearly impossible to move my eyes from father as he dictates the room, but the guilt of casual knowledge compelled me to. In passing I had heard of Hachirou-san speaking to mother about a friend who seemed to have gone missing. I assumed it was just work stuff and it felt too far from me to really put any importance to it. Could it be that Hachirou's missing friend is to be one of the many side characters whose blood will be spilled? Will my mother and Hachirou have the same fate? Staring at the cursed label of Estraneo, it really hit me how quick the fleeting concern of a couple of days ago has turned into sinister dread.

The meeting room was a luxurious chamber with a heavy fine wood desk, a decorative table, heavily cushioned chairs, paintings of undescribed origins, and items that have been gaudily placed around the room. Once Lin and Saburo entered, their eyes locked in on the out of place man standing by the window behind the heavy desk. He seemed too plain, unassuming in his traits. Dark brown hair and eyes, small stature for a man to be claiming to be 20 years old. The beige suit looked ridiculous on him, making him seem harmless. Foolish even.

"How dangerous assumptions are my Lin. Our women have weaponized assumptions for generations." Grandmother spoke as she set down her cup to lock eyes with a younger, naive Lin. "A person can naturally look as fresh as the rising sun, yet their soul can be as dark as the ink that stains those fingers of yours."

Lin remembers vividly how her ink stained fingers ruined her pink sleeves and smudged the white paper she had written on.

"Those are the ones that must be watched with a careful eye, never turn your back to them. They are unconstrained, spoiled in their natural disposition while we are created, trained, and considered tame." Wrinkles on the old woman's face grew grave as she imparted her knowledge to her only granddaughter.

"Remember this always, my Lin."

The man smiled a plain, boyish smile that revealed dimples on each cheek as he turned to them.

"Welcome Hibari-sama. The name's Ignazio de Estraneo, I'm so very humbled to meet the fabled Hibari mistress and her guard dog."

Little short, but its been sitting in my documents for a while and felt it necessary to publish it. I'll be working on the next one as soon as I can, but no real idea when I'll be publishing it. Might be a real long chapter in honor of all those who waited for me. But remember guys, this is just the beginning, no explosions(maybe?) will be happening anytime soon.

Thank you all who stayed with me and welcome new readers! Please review and any feedback is welcome!