Currently in inspiration mode...

...in regards to reading books that relate me to the topic, that is. ;) For now, I want to focus on the upbringing and growth and character development of Tsuna and company (this includes Haru, because she is going to have to change a lot in ways to keep up with everyone else in the team--she absolutely cannot stay  silly and cute and childish in a world like this).

Anyways, the following books are going to be inspiration for the setting in Italy and other parts of the world:

Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia by John Dickie

Gomorrah: A Personal Journey into the Violent International Empire of Naples' Organized Crime System by Robert Saviano

Shanghai Tan (yes, people, THAT Shanghai Tan. The Triads of China before WWII) from the 1920s-1930s

And a few others based on the records from the worldwide governments on each country's criminal organizations. So far, I can't find all of them in English, thus I might have to read a few in Chinese. ^^;

Though, all this is going to play in Part III. Damn it all...I won't be able to add that much into Part I, though Part II might hint at it a bit in ways.

As it turns out, I asked a few people on how Tsuna and Haru's character development should be, and the results turned out quite disappointing. No one that I know has even thought of making Haru a mature, different individual from who she was in her early teens (which is now why I understand that so many fans in KHR don't like her), and no one even thinks about why Tsuna has to become a "cool, mysterious" mafia boss who can do everything. =A= He can be that, but if that does happen he will also end up with serious, serious issues and many complex problems in his mind. In other words, he will be quite weak anyways.

Especially if Haru remains silly and "cute" (read: useless. Cute is NOT useful in times of war or crisis, people) and without knowledge as she is. And if anyone keeps saying how she is supposed to be much more "feminine" and never fight and always be happy and "cute", I will scream.

I know that this may sound frustrating, but I want both of them to develop more, as well as the others. Haru will not be a child when she reaches the age of 19-20ish, and she won't be like how she is right now (if anything, she would probably end up colder and more restrained and less certain of her future) This IS the mafia we're talking about, after all. What's more, Haru is not the kind of person I can imagine being incapable of fighting (if anyone says that "feminine" means never fighting and being cute, I will yell at them). She would push herself to learn how to fight like hell if she ever finds out that others are killing her friends. Remember that the mafia is not a world where you can be protected all the time, even if you are Tsuna's wife. Nothing can protect you like that, because you are targeted, and the enemy will ALWAYS find a way to kill you sooner or later.

It is natural that a mafia wife will learn how to fight like hell. She doesn't have to specialize in it, though, but considering that Haru is also a consigliere and military advisor, she will HAVE TO learn how to specialize in combat anyways as well as out-maneuver the enemy in mindset. It is already decided that the mafia woman is a lady who can protect herself without anyone's help, to the point where she won't need to depend on others that much.

That being said, I will explain this more later when I have the time. But, long story short: If Haru doesn't change at all, she will end up like Kyoko in Flames and Family and die a horrible, tortured death. Her silliness HAS TO come to an end and her "cute" attributes will not stay for long. She will retain her personality, but it will be more controlled, and much darker and sadder in ways.