If you have been following this story, I apologize for taking so long.

I'll offer my excuses at the end of the chapter, since you're likely eager to get on with reading.

Please note, this is a fanfic. Especially note the 'fan'. Thus, I do not own it. I am a fan.

Morning. THE Morning.

Groggily, Haru opened her eyes. A smiley face painted on the ceiling stared back at her, its lopsided eyes slightly creeping her out. "Ah, right..." she mumbled, rolling over. Lambo's afro hit her in the face.

"Mmph!"

She rolled back, licking her lips. "Why does his hair taste like strawberries? Never mind, Haru has to start getting ready!"

She sprang from bed, and turned to place a quick kiss on Lambo's forehead, smiling at his sleepy sigh. "Sweet dreams.. may the nightmares cease.. seriously. Three in the morning? Haru's getting married today, you little pest! Oh well... I barely slept anyway.. butterflies..."

Haru left the child's bedroom, and shambled down the hall a ways to her room. After dressing in clothes that she could remove without messing up her soon-to-be-styled hair, she decided to filch something to eat from the kitchens, since she'd likely not have time to eat kolatsio later. The cooks had gotten quite used to her face there by now. It was always a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of preparation.

/-/-/-/

"Oh, hello Haru!" smiled one of the cooks, flicking a black braid over her shoulder. "Sit down, I'll fetch a coffee and some loukamades, okay?" she half-asked, half-ordered, gesturing with her free hand at a open space behind a huge stack of cabbage at the long prep table.

"Okay, thanks as always!"

Moments later, Haru inhaled the strong scent emanating from the cup in front of her. It'd taken a little while to get used to the customs of the country- and certainly accommodations were made for anyone who didn't want to throw off their routines and personal habits-, but Haru'd quickly learned to love the quick simplicity of the morning meal.

As she sipped at the coffee, the hustle and bustle swelled again, enveloping her in comforting normalcy. "Right.. life goes on, and anything can turn normal...' she mumbled between sips. A sudden hubbub at the edge of the kitchen caught her attention.

"What is it?" she asked a young girl at the edge of the gathering crowd of cooks and servers.

"He's here again!" the girl exclaimed, bouncing on her toes to catch a glimpse over the sea of heads.

"Who?"

"I'm not sure of his name, since he came here on the first day of this job, when I was sick, but everyone says he's really quiet and mysterious! And handsome too... oh come on, people, let me see..."

The crowd began to shift, parting to let him through. The serving girl jumped back, staring in delight.

"Who is it?" asked Haru, peering over her shoulder. Haru blinked. "Oh..."

Hibari strode past the quivering servant, eyes sliding sideways quickly, before going on past.

"Do you know who he is?" asked the girl, turning around "He's so handsome! You must have seen him at least once this week, right?"

"Hm.. oh! Yes... Haru supposes she's seen him rather more than she'd like... His name's Hibari Kyoya.. er, rather Kyoya Hibari. Sorry, I'm Japanese-so it's in reverse."

"Ah, it's fine. Kyoya Hibari, huh... I'd love to have a boyfriend just like him!"

"Hm, I guess we skipped that step..." mused Haru.

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing! Haru..has to go finish her coffee..." She turned, and bolted for her nook behind a massive stack of cabbage, feeling incredibly awkward, and not knowing what to say to him.

Unfortunately, the older, less given to flights of fancy women (and almost all the male cooks) had decided in her absence that now was the time to make massive salads, and had quite demolished her wall of privacy. So, as she sipped her now-verging-on-cool coffee, it happened that Hibari ended up-ala the eager females- directly across from her.

They whisked about eagerly, plunking down rice, miso soup and local fish in front of him, as well as what looked to be tea, no doubt traditional Japanese. She smiled into her coffee cup. Some things never change.

Eventually, the bustle dissipated, leaving them alone.

What to do? I can't exactly say nothing at all... I have to get along with him- if it's possible. She set down her cup slowly. I know little about him, except that he likes traditional Japanese things, small animals... and biting people to death. Perhaps he won't mind a little bit of questioning about his family? It's not exactly about him, and I'm far enough away not to be crowding him...

"Um... Morning... Have you invited your parents? Even though neither of us wanted this.. well.."

He barely looked at her, as he lifted his handle-less cup to his lips. She followed the motion with her eyes, and noted how surprisingly nice and soft his lips looked. Funny, she'd never noticed before. Maybe she'd been too scared. After a good few minutes of trying NOT to look as though she was examining his lips and chalking them up as a 'charm point', he finally finished his tea, and set the cup down. "Are you quite done, herbivore?"

"Hahi! Ah, er y..yes!"

He closed his eyes in approval, and split the chopsticks by his bowl precisely. Hibari dipped the chopsticks into the rice, then paused, and returned them to the table. He stared (not quite glaring) at Haru. She nervously nibbled one of the loukamades under his scrutiny.

Of course he's not going to answer, why should he? I pried too much...

"They can't come."

She froze. "Hahi?"

"They're dead. Therefore, they can't come. Unless you would have me fetch their ashes?" he said flatly, reaching for the chopsticks again.

"Haru... is so sorry! Haru didn't mean to.." she babbled, dipping her head in a makeshift bow.

"To open old wounds? Don't babble. Besides, it did not wound me. It only cemented my hate for the weak...Their deaths were so pitiable...They were struck down so easily by my hand... it was laughable. Even their burning corpses smelt like herbivores. And their manipulator... I hate illusionists. Now leave. You're crowding." he commanded, eyes shifting to deep, thick unfathomable black.

Haru gulped, the sweet pastry tumbling from shaking fingers. She shoved her chair back quickly, it's wooden legs careening back across the uneven floor with a scream that rivaled her own, silent one echoing inside her head.

As she clumsily fled, the coffee welled up in her in her throat, tasting of bile and caffeine. She shuddered. The man could make her admire his lips one minute, and have her running like a frightened gazelle away from the lion the next.

And in a few hours, I'll being saying my VOWS to him! I'm doing NOTHING to change his opinion of me, even though I said I would!

The faces of the multitude of staff blended into a blur of color, noise and voices.

Calm down. Okay, failing that...just stop running like a soft-stomached rabbit. 3, 2, 1, stop!

She sucked in a breath, and gathered all the courage and audacity she had in her. The sort of courage and audacity that she used when cosplaying.

Just pretend that you're wearing the corncob costume and it's that day when the director of that fashion school you wanted to get into saw you wearing it. You turned everything around, even though your graduating grades were too low to get in... Actually, that's really depressing in retrospect...

She spun herself around, and locked eyes with Hibari from across the room as she headed back to the table- brisk enough not to think about what she was doing.

The brunette slammed her hands down on the table, and stared Hibari in the eye.

"Haru thanks you for telling her what a messed up person you are! A pleasure to get married to you! Haru wants to say this: Haru is not looking for any sort of love or affection- since she'd never get it from you-, but.. but.." She was starting to fumble. Apparently visions of corncobs were not enough against her fiance.

"..But, Haru would just like to say..to ask um... What will it take for me not to be a herbivore? Because from now on, we're stuck for a bit... and I'm going to try to be something that won't annoy you to be around, okay?"

Hibari raised one eyebrow, and she felt her insides clench.

"Interesting."

He set down the chopsticks, yet again.

"You're the first person who's come back on the same day. Kusakabe took two. To become a.. shall we say, omnivore? Carnivore is too lofty. ... Draw blood."

"E-excuse Haru?"

"Like this."

He reached out, and yanked her hand across the table. The rest of her body followed suit, stretching and lifting off the floor.

So fast!

Her ribs scraped across the edge of the table, then the sharp-edged, onion scented wood dug into her stomach. She hissed in pain, but had no time to dwell on the prevalent problem of bruises. Hibari...no, the carnivore. That's what he was right now, an animal in man's trappings, almost SNIFFING her hand, eyes glinting calculatingly under the harsh kitchen light.

Is this how they look in battle, like animals? Is this why Tsuna shys from violence? Because... he's afraid of not being... human? But his flames... they're not... How long has it been since I thought about Tsuna? When did thoughts of Hibari replace my constant thoughts of him?

Hibari smiled.

Then he bared his teeth, and sliced open her finger. Tiny globules of blood pattered into his soup as Haru gasped, and tried to yank away. In that brief moment, she realized that he could go on holding her in place as long as he pleased, and sheer panic glazed her eyes. Every instinct in her was screaming FLEE, FLEE FROM THE THREAT!

Then he let go, and she slid to the floor in a pile of shaky, bruised, and now onion-scented limbs.

"H-how? Why...it..mmphrgl..."

"Your weak mind seems to have scrambled itself in fear." he informed her, sipping the soup broth.

"Simply put, draw blood. You don't even need to fight."

"D-do you sharpen your teeth?"

Oh, what an idiotic thing to let slip...

"My incisors have always been remarkably sharp. Nature seems to have thought it fit to grace me with the implements of a predator as well as the instincts of one. Now, what will you do?"

Haru considered, then pulled herself slowly to her feet.

"Haru.. Haru has an appointment with a hairdresser!" she burbled, like a fountain of panic and strange, -surely uncalled for- calm blending together into a strange mixture...

"But... thank you." She paused a moment to bow, then left.

Walking this time.

/-/-/-/

"What do you think of this?" asked Hana, letting a few strands of hair down from the tight knot.

"Hmmm.." hummed the hairdresser, leaning in for a better look, wrinkling her freckled nose in concentration.

"..yes. You have good taste, young lady. Perhaps you could let me do my job though? I was hired for this, you know. Honestly, all these men and their high-maintenance hair. That white-haired freak is the worst!"

"OW! That was Haru's scalp!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I twisted the curling iron too fast! It's just every time I go there, it takes forever to make it all fluffy, the way he likes it and... sorry! I'll be quiet now!" "Thanky-"

Then the door slammed open, and a whisk of black and white swept in, immediately closing the door behind it. Haru blinked, yet again. It seemed this was becoming a regular habit. Perhaps it was because she was constantly in slight disbelief that the man kept meeting and communicating with her?

Regardless of her reasons for supplying water to her eyes, there was Hibari yet again, this time with a hand pressed against the bedroom door while he locked it.

Hana voiced the common thought. "...What? Why are y-"

Hibari sliced his hand sideways, in a clear "Shut up, herbivore" gesture. Outside, a great sound suddenly came past the door. Like several dozen feet, heavily running. Haru was pretty sure she caught a yell of "Decimoooooo!" and Tsuna's distinct "Hieeeeee" going by. When the stampede faded into the distance, Haru stood up.

"What, exactly, was that?" "A stampede of herbivores, punctuated by the occasional carnivore."

It would have been nice to get a human-like explantion...

"What was the... herbivores' objective?"

"Tuxedo."

"...what?"

"Tuxedos are traditional western wedding wear. I saw no need."

That was actually helpful. Progress!

"...so they wanted you in a tuxedo." A stare of implied idiocy ensued.

"Right... then.."

Haru thought rapidly. Obviously he planned to go in his usual pants and dress shirt.

All I know is that he like tradtional Japanese things and... wait...

"Would you consider wearing formal hakama and montsuki? Haru can probably get it, even though there isn't much time..."

Hibari considered a brief second, eyes closed.

"It is permissible." he said, then turned and left.

"Holy shite, Haru! You actually talk to him?" burst out Hana as soon as the man had left.

"It's surprising, you have to admit" smiled Kyoko, while tying gladiolus's together tightly.

"You never talked to him before... and then you go away on a trip for a few days, and not only are you engaged, accident though it may be, but you're also exchanging words? I thought you were scared of him! What happened!" demanded Hana, leaning in close to Haru, eyes shifting up and down curiously, examining the bride-to-be critically.

"Did they replace you with a brainwashed clone?" Haru leaned back, trying to preserve her personal bubble unsuccessfully.

"Um, Haru doesn't THINK so... Though that would make a good cosplay!"

"Hah, it's you! No-one else would say that!"

"O..okay?"

"Um, ladies? I kind of have to finish your hair..." pleaded the hairdresser, holding out a hairbrush for no apparent reason.

"Ah, right!"

/-/-/-/

"Hakama and montsuki?" queried Aella, leaning back in her rather imposing chair thoughtfully.

"Yes! If it's possible! Because he should be at least a little comfortable..."

The woman smiled. "As a matter of fact, I have several on hand!"

"Oh, really?"

"Really. Prepare for every eventuality in life, and you will succeed! Even if it's pickling livers... Long story. We should get together for drinks sometime after the wedding, and discuss the trouble our husbands have put us through.." the older woman smiled.

"Thank you! Though Haru's not good at drinking..even sweet sake... Haru has to go now, and get dressed!"

"See you soon. And your hair looks lovely, dear."

/-/-/-/

"Mother?" called Haru.

"Yes?" asked Ayame, looking up from pinning her corsage to her dress.

"Could you come here and zip up the dress? Haru can't bend her arms backward enough!"

"Certainly!" she called back, stepping into the pink-curtained dressing area.

"There! Now, spin around... You look lovely! And whoever did your hair knew exactly what they were doing.. it's better than what I can do."

"Hahi? But Haru always liked the braids you put in Haru's hair for elementary school!"

"Even though I couldn't do fishbone braids properly?"

"You couldn't? Haru never noticed!"

"You're too kind... much too polite. They were so sloppy..." said Ayame, blushing.

"No, you were a nice mother, and when the braids fell apart at recess, it was a charm point! Haru really didn't mind at all! No matter what!" she declared exuberantly, flinging her arms wide, her shawl slipping off her shoulders with the sudden motion.

"My little, perky girl all grown up... Knock 'em dead!" Ayame suddenly yelled, clenching her fists and striking a pose. Faintly, the sound of waves crashed in the background. Haru giggled.

"So Mother is like Haru too, a bit?" "Ah, maybe!" Ayame sheepishly lowered her arms, and patted Haru on the head.

"Do your best."

"Yes!"

/-/-/-/

"Hi Father! How does the dress look?" asked Haru, twirling about. Her father gulped nervously.

"It looks good.. but are you my daughter? Haru, you look so different..grown-up." Haru gasped with delight, and grasped his callused hands excitedly.

"Thank you, Father! Really, thank you...It's the best compliment ever!"

"Is that so? To think that's all it took to please you..."

Hana cleared her throat. "Um, I hate to ruin your touching moment, but you do have to walk down the aisle in about oh.. thirty seconds! Speaking of which, which side is it I have to stand on again? I missed rehearsal, since you pulled me out of my company trip the day before your wedding! Speaking of which, why was my trip even in Greece? Seems a little too handy. In fact-"

"Left side, Hana! Oh look, it's about time!" Kyoko quickly cut in, sending Haru the thumbs-up. Operation Don't Let Hana Notice That Ryohei Is Escorting Her Until The Last Minute (And Also Don't Let Her Acerbic Side Out) was a go!

"So, where's my escort?" asked Hana just in time for the cue for the first pair to enter.

"I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED!" came a roar from the end of the hall.

"Yes, yes, just don't accidentally punch her in the head, turf brain!" snapped back Gokudera, shoving him along.

Hana's face was a splendid mix of surprise, disgust and outrage.

"Why, EXACTLY couldn't I have had Yamamoto? At least he doesn't act like a disgusting child!"

"Now, now, calm down. It's only for today- and you wouldn't want to ruin the wedding and bring down the wrath of a certain Grecian, would you?" soothed Kyoko yet again.

Hana sucked in an indignant breath, and stuck out her arm woodenly for Ryohei, who hooked his through hers 'extremely gently', and they thus proceeded through the dark wooden door of the sanctuary, as Canon in D slowly played.

"Okay, Tsuna! You and Kyoko are next!" directed Haru.

Tsuna blushed slightly as he slipped Kyoko's arm through his. She gave him a brief, warm smile, and walked forward sedately through the double doors.

The blond kept her head forward as they walked down the sloped, carpeted aisle to the front of the church. But her eyes roamed hopefully, though she wasn't quite exactly sure what or who she hoped to see. Whatever- or whoever- it was, she felt just a little sad when she passed the front row of pews without any sighting of...golden hair? Why look for butter-yellow hair, when a nice chocolate-colored head of hair was bobbing close to hers? But a little trickle of disappointment settled in the back of her mind as Tsuna gently steered her to stand next to her best friend and her brother.

"Okay, Lambo! Let's go!" urged I-pin, tugging Lambo along eagerly.

"Careful you two! Don't trip over each other!" chastened Haru, shaking her head as Lambo nearly tumbled head-over heels at the sudden jerk to his arm. I-pin shot back a quick, reassuring smile as she and her childhood friend departed in a flurry of orange chiffon and a blur of black. Haru giggled as they nearly flew down the aisle. The fastest entrance of a junior bridesmaid and groomsman ever, no doubt. But they were having fun.

She turned her attention to the last pair. Chrome was wilting in her dress, a perpetual blush staining her cheeks.

No matter, orange and red was the height of fashion right now...

"Don't worry, you'll be fine" assured Haru, brushing a purple hair off of Chrome's bodice. "Just don't let the spaghetti strap fall, and pull up the bodice a little- UNLESS, of course, you MEANT to do that, hmm?" she whispered conspiratorially. "How did that pineapple tie look?"

Chrome flushed ever brighter. "I..I.."

"Haru thought so. Don't worry, you look lovely. And I'm sure a certain person won't mind Gokudera escorting you- since they know he hasn't a chance in a million, hmm?"

"I...I.."

"Come on, let's go already!" called Gokudera, from his position by the entrance.

"C..oming!" the red-faced girl called back, picking up her skirts and fleeing the mischievous bride.

/-/-/-/

Haru sucked in a slightly shaky breath as the last pair departed down the aisle.

"Haru is ready."

"You sure about this, Haru?"

"Of course! Haru does what she says!"

"That's my daughter!" grinned her father, hooking arms with her as the tremendous church organ swelled to life, grandly blaring forth the 'Here Comes The Bride'.

"Shall we go then?"

She tentatively set one foot, then the next onto the cranberry-colored carpet of the aisle. Hundreds of faces stared at her as she slowly, carefully drifted down the aisle. Old, young, middle-aged: they were all looking at her. Her stomach twisted slightly, then she straighted up proudly.

Think of it as the runway. You're modelling your favorite wedding dress. Display it to the best it can be. Be serene, calm, soft, like the flods of the skirt.. And enjoy it.

A smile worked it self onto her face, a genuine, albiet nervous smile.

She was halfway there now, and could see the beckoning, encouraging smiles of the girls and Tsuna. Gokudera seemed a bit more occupied with the fact that he wasn't standing next to his precious boss, and Lambo was trying his best to conceal a sudden fit of stage fright. Haru's gaze drifted to Ryohei. He was... what was he doing? It looked like a cross between a thumbs-up and a hand cramp... painful, at that.

It was stupid perhaps, but she didn't want to look Hibari in the face quite yet- seeing as she was barely able to ask him how to become a 'omnivore'. Looking at him right now might scramble her mind yet again right now, with all the pressure of the audience evaluating her every move. And so she kept her eyes turned demurely to the floor, focusing on the swish of plain cream chiffon, making a tiny, quick game of blinking every time her sequined bodice caught the warm noon sun trickling through the giant stained glass windows.

And there were the steps, the platform... and now the minister, and Hibari... Her father ushered her into her place, facing Hibari. Or rather, facing his chest.

She stared at the dull black fabric as the minister's words droned on.

And then there it was, Hibari's voice saying the words no-one ever expected to hear from him.

"I, Kyoya Hibari, take you, Haru Miura, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and-" His voice faded away from her as she ran over what she was expected to say, over and over: a mantra to calm herself down. "-until death do us part." Hibari finished blandly.

"I..I, Haru Miura, take you, Kyoya Hibari, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."

There, it's done. It's... done. It's all over... Now what?

"- You may kiss the bride."

Haru blinked, and almost felt like giggling. In all the hustle, bustle and emotional turmoil, she'd forgotten about that little detail. They'd certainly not talked about it, keeping on such cool terms all week, until today's outburst...

Well, whatever.

Haru looked up. Hibari was regarding her impassively. She let her real, saucy smile out for the first time, and stood on tiptoe, leaning in.

"Sorry to crowd.." she breathed softly, and closed the gap.

His lips really were as soft as they looked. Definitely a charm point.

Slowly, she breathed in his scent as she pulled away softly.

He smells a bit like copper... and cologne, surprisingly.

/-/-/-/

And then the minster's head flew overhead, along with something glinting silver, plunging into the third pew, as the unmistakable thump of a body hitting the ground echoed out through the sanctuary.

The massive spray of blood spattered across Haru's dress and hair messily, sticking her curled hair to her cheeks and staining the bodice and skirt shades of scarlet.

"Wha... what.." she asked dazedly, lifting shaking hands to her face to wipe the fluid away. Subtle clicks of weapons being drawn and cocked came from the congregation.

Hibari spun, tonfas sliding out of the sleeves of his kimono easily. A fine spray of blood hurtling off his hair flew into Haru's eyes with the motion, effectively blinding her.

She heard the sound of Tsuna's flame flaring into being, and the air fair tore as he flew away from the platform, a slight squeal-no doubt Kyoko- close to him.

Probably getting her to safety, that's good.

Furiously, she scrubbed the blood out of her eyes with her shawl, just in time to see Ryohei whisk Hana into his arms, and take an extreme flying leap away, to the sounds of her protests at being handled so roughly.

I-pin and Lambo had immediately retreated into the aisle, Lambo already summoning Gyudon, and I-pin shifting into Gyoza kempo position. Gokudera was casting about calmly, dynamite at the ready, while beside him Chrome was extending her trident hurriedly.

Hibari leapt forward, over the de-headed corpse, to clash tonfa against the boomerang of the sudden attacker.

Haru gasped.

"Basil?"

The slight boy stared blankly past Hibari, to Haru and nodded.

"Verily, that is my name. I have not met thou before, though methinks you are Haru?"

"But, you've met Haru!"

"The strange speech... forsooth, it is you for whom I search."

"Me? But why would you search for Haru?"

"...Herbivore. Do not ignore one who is going to bite you to death." Basil returned his empty gaze to Hibari.

"Thou art so much weaker than thine original. 'Tis no trouble to block all thine attacks whilst conversing with the lady."

"Oho?" grinned Hibari, pressing forward against Basil's weapon.

Then came an almost jovial voice from above: "Come now, my dear Basil, there is no need to taunt the weak, hmm?"

Hibari leapt back - landing in front of Haru- as a tall man landed precisely where he had been standing a moment before.

"Now then... oh dear, seems as though I've crashed the wedding. What a pity. I was aiming for earlier, perhaps the boudoir? No matter. I'll still steal the bride, regardless of the audience."

Hibari grinned, with that special grin reserved for only the best opponents.

"You are that THING, aren't you? And it seems that without that form, you cannot absorb my flames. A ghost in the flesh. I will bite you to death."

Ghost chuckled.

"Oh dear, what gave it away? The hair perhaps? No matter. Really, it does not matter to me whether you live or die, or if anyone here dies. However, the most sensible solution would be to hand over your bride, and then I and my little servant here shall leave, sparing everyone's lives. If not, then I shall merely bring down the ceiling and my wrath upon every single creature here. Your move, Sir Hibari. "

"Unfortunately, you must not have met me before. I hate crowds."

"Well, then. It's their funeral." smiled Ghost genially, raising one hand towards the ceiling.

"No. Yours." breathed Tsuna, ever so close behind Ghost, as he released flames point-blank into the living phantom's back.

"Oh? White Applause."

Tsuna pulled back as the attack fizzled out, just as Hibari leapt forward, swinging heavily at Ghost, only to be knocked back by a blast of energy.

"Be careful, both of you!" shouted Haru while backing towards Gokudera and Chrome.

"Much as I want to help Decimo, we should evacuate the building" ordered Gokudera, summoning Uri. "I-pin, Lambo, escort Haru out- since she seems to be their target... Turf-head, Yamamoto, usher everyone out now! Chrome, put up a barrier on the ceiling and seal off the congregation from the fight. OI, VARIA! GET YOUR ASSES OVER HERE! Hey, Dino. Get the girls out, and where's Reborn?"

"Ushishi... the boss says no." laughed Belphegor, dropping in suddenly.

"He's part of Vongola too!" snapped Gokudera. I-pin and Lambo rushed up at that moment.

"Haru, let's go!" urged the pair, snatching at her arms.

"Hahi! Wait a second, you two! Just let Haru pull some strings, hmm? Then you can take Haru away!" Lambo and I-pin nodded, and let go of her.

"Thanks, dears. Now then.." She turned to Belphegor.

"Look at Haru's hand. See this thumb? And now Haru's going to tap it against this knuckle. If your boss cares at all for his word, he'll follow on his promise. So go tell him!"

Belphegor took a long look at her (or maybe not- his bangs are rather long), then left as quickly as he came.

"So you're actually useful to the boss?" commented Gokudera, looking slightly jealous.

"Haru is always-" "Nevermind that, get out of here!" he snapped, turning back to the fight.

"Come on, Haru!" urged the young pair, pulling on her arms again.

"Coming..." she mumbled, casting a last glance at the fierce fight going on beyond Chromes' barrier as the trio dashed up the aisle that the duo had run down so eagerly just minutes ago...

/-/-/-/

They burst outside the church as rice rained down from the heavens.

Motion-sensor rice.

A clever little thing made by Verde.

But here, now, it took on a sinister tone- the white so reminiscent of the battle with Byakuran.

Little reminders of sadness floating down from the heavens.

How long until they're stained red?

And then walls of shimmering, glinting blue rose around them, and the world slowed, calmed. The trio slowed, swayed and collapsed.

Basil sighed. "Why dost all people ignore me?"

Now then.

I have taken an exorbitant amount of time writing this, for which I apologize.

I did take a summer break- seeing as I simply had too much work to do.

But when fall came, I had excellent intentions, I sat down... and could not write. My previously planned plot seemed much too mundane, not to mention I didn't want to research french schools etc...

So I've taken the liberty of inserting an exploration of a certain world that I planned to do in the future, and worked it into this instead.

Needless to say, this is a massive genre shift... probably.

I understand if you wish to stop reading- this is going from romance to meta universe so quickly that I'm still trying to figure out how this logically works.

But it will work, somehow.

So, if you choose to continue, thank you!

Finally, it seems my writing style has changed a little- I hope it's not too jarring.

Feedback on this turn of events would be immensely appreciated.