The Pairing/Characters: Fran-Mukuro Plot: Sequel to 'Want a Pineapple, Sensei?'. Fran and Mukuro must face challenges when two figures from Mukuro's past come back to haunt him.
Rating: T Genre: Romance, Humor Style: Ten-Chapters, AU, Third Person Limited- Mukuro Title: Spades vs. Hearts Word Limit: 20,000

Spades vs. Hearts

Chapter One

One year later- December 25th

Mukuro sighed as he watched his lover sleep, wondering how much longer it would be before he could gaze into those sparkling, teal eyes and celebrate Christmas with the younger man. After all, Fran often had the weekend habit of oversleeping. As he watched, the older man brought his hand forth, and carefully brushed the back of his hand over the other's cheek. It was enough to wake him up.

"Damn it, Mukuro, three point five hours of sleep is not suffiscient for a growing boy," Fran mumbled, batting the other's hand away. Mukuro chuckled and placed something over the boy's shoulders, and Fran couldn't resist opening his eyes to look at it. "What...? A scarf? Is this from Grandma?" he asked. Mukuro smiled.

"No, silly boy, it's from me. I made that for you."

"Mm... thanks, but isn't that more of a Christmas thing?"

"It IS Christmas," Mukuro laughed quietly. Fran put on the scarf, hugged Mukuro, and opened his sock drawer, pulling a box out of it.

"I got you something too," he said with a blank expression. Mukuro would've facepalmed if he didn't have to hold the box with both hands, for Fran had a cake stuffed in his sock drawer for who knows how long! "Made it myself," the teal-haired boy announced proudly. "Aren't you happy you've got a professional chef cooking for you?"

"Yes, Fran, I simply adore that aspect of you," Mukuro replied. "Now, let's head into the kitchen... I'm sure your grandmother has something planned."

"Sure," Fran replied, before giving his former teacher a hug. "I love being on winter break."

"Me too," Mukuro laughed. "The students this year can't compare to you, Fran."

"Of course they can't," Fran replied.

Mukuro smiled and returned Fran's hug. "It's hard," he murmured, "to be separated from you every day..."

"Savor the moment," Fran told himself, "Savor having these arms around you, Fran..."

"Don't worry, Fran," said Mukuro, backing out of the embrace. "Let's go now; I'm sure your grandmother has something planned."

"Right," Fran agreed, "okay."

The two headed out, and were greeted by Fran's grandmother. "Oh, Mukuro, when did you get here? I certainly did not let you in!"

"I have my ways," Mukuro replied. "What are we doing this fine Christmas morning?"

"Well, I was planning to go to the river with Fran, but if you're here..."

The teacher chuckled deep in his throat, an arm around the younger boy's shoulders, and said, "Well, I wouldn't want to ruin any of your plans."

"Oh, you've never ruined any of our plans, Mukuro-kun, but really now, you don't want to go out to the river, do you?"

"I'm fine either way," said Mukuro, flashing his million dollar smile at the woman. She laughed quietly, and shrugged.

"All right, now, that look is enough to convince me to let you boys go."

"Thank you very much," the teacher said, giving a slight bow. "We'll be off, then. Come, Fran, how about we go out to eat?"

"Or we could just eat that cake-"

Fran silenced himself as his teacher took his arm and began to drag him out of the house, and Mukuro said, "Really... we need to get out of that place for a while. You know... spend some 'us' time together? You're still a bit of an ameteur at romantics, so please, allow me."

The younger boy sighed and let Mukuro lead him, and soon, they settled into a leisurely pace. Mukuro slowed, and released Fran's arm as they walked, saying, "It IS quite the fine Christmas evening, isn't it, Fran?"

"I guess," Fran muttered, "aside from the fact that there's no snow..."

"Snow? Frankly, my dear, I believe the sunshine is much more-"

"Call me 'dear' again, and I'll turn your head into a pineapple upside-down cake," Fran cut in.

"... Well, all right then," the other said awkwardly.

"Hey, you guys!"

"Oh, Lancia!" Fran exclaimed, seeing the other who had walked out in front of them. Mukuro shielded his face instantly, making sure he couldn't see the other as he walked toward them.

Once he was positive of that, he said, "Hello, Lancia."

"Hello, Fran, Rokudo-sensei," Lancia said, and Fran was clearly glad to see that the wild timidness that used to occupy the child's eyes was now gone. "How've you been?"

"Good," Fran said as he glanced at his teacher. "It would seem sensei still doesn't like you though, sorry."

"That's okay, I understand," the other sighed, smiling. He walked over to the older man, and held out his hand. "Thanks for everything you taught me, Rokudo-sensei."

Mukuro shut his eyes tightly, and accepted the handshake, though he felt like he was shaking hands with some giant tarantula, and his face showed it. "Y-you're welcome...," he said. Lancia laughed- actually laughed- and Mukuro found that he was put in a better mood to see that all the shyness had left Lancia after the class change. It was amazing what a nice teacher could accomplish.

But then...

"Lancia? Ah, there you are, man, you keep running around to greet class...mates..." Before them stood a tall man with jet-black hair that had been cut back, and sharp gray eyes that looked as welcoming as those of a hungry hawk. Not to mention that the frown on his face looked creepily fitting for the rest of his expression. "Who is this?" he asked Lancia, looking down at the young man who had just retreated from his handshake.

"Oh, my teacher from last year... Rokudo-sensei. And this is my good friend, Fran."

"Rokudo? Mukuro Rokudo, by chance?"

Mukuro stood still, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he looked at the other man, before he let slip, "Kyou...-kun?"

"It IS you," the older man said, "Well, you definitely seem to have grown up, is that your son?"

"I'm his boyfr-"

"Boy, keep quiet, can't you see I'm having a decent conversation?" Mukuro said, slapping a hand over Fran's mouth. "I'm sorry, yes, and he's quite the foulmouthed child, to my disappointment."

"Pity," Hibari said, folding his arms. "Well, how old are you now?"

"Thirty-three," the teacher answered. "Yourself?"

"A solid fourty-six, I hate to report. But the years have been treating me well."

"I can see that," Mukuro said, raking his eyes over the older man's body. "Yeah... very well..."

"Now, Mukuro, you know better than to go checking me out like that- I'm sure you have a wife who gifted you that beautiful boy there."

Fran started French kissing Mukuro's hand, but the teacher tried to ignore it, and, instead of lightening up, he pressed harder. "No, actually, uh... well, I'm a single working father," Mukuro said, "and uh... little Fran Rokudo here is just the sweetest boy- its a pity he can't live with a woman in the house, ne, Fran?"

Fran had had quite enough of that, and he tore Mukuro's hand off of his mouth, glaring. "I don't really care, father, because I have you."

Mukuro, relieved that Fran was going along with the story, looked back at Hibari. "So there you have it," he said.

"Ah, I know how that goes," Hibari chuckled. "Lancia and I were in the same situation until we met Spa-"

Lancia had reached up and covered his father's mouth, looking nervous right away. "That doesn't really matter, now, let's go home, okay? Home. Come on!"

With that, the young man pulled his father out of the scrap, leaving Mukuro confused, and Fran relieved. Fran happened to know the situation, but, unfortunately, Mukuro didn't know anything about what had been going on in Hibari's life.

-End Chapter

RECAP TIME:

When Mukuro was younger, he had a crush on the principal of his school, but Mr. Hibari didn't want anything to do with him. He said that Mukuro should stop wasting his time and focus on school. A while later, unbeknownst to Mukuro, Daemon Spade- his father- hooked up with Hibari. The only ones who currently know that Hibari's lover is Mukuro's father are Fran and Lancia. It's all very complicated.

By the way, if your English teacher ever asks, this is what's known as dramatic irony! I think...

Well, here we are! Welcome back to those of you who read 'Want a Pineapple, Sensei?', I'm glad to see you- and hopefully your reviews, too!

Hehehe. Do me a favor and REVIEW THIS STORY!