Hey everyone! Infinite Vibrance here with a grand spanking new story for KHR. Holy crap this is my first fanfic ever for this fandom. If you have ever heard of marshmallowfluffbutt, the Byakuran roleplay account, I'm actually that account's mun. SMALL WORLD, EH? Yeah. This fluffybutt wanted to write her little muse growing and learning about the wonderful world of emotions and angst.

I WILL TORTURE HIM PROFUSELY.

Anyways, this will go in chronological order from past to present. We start in Ancient Rome and end in Venice Italy, present day. You could say they're loosely interconnected one shots of sorts because at times I may refer to something that happened in the past, thanks to Byakuran's lovely powers of dimension hopping, but other than that the only main prevalent connection between all the chapters will be whatever Byakuran learns from the prior chapter.

He'll meet one major character in each chapter and will, hopefully, put the pieces together to rebuild his humanity. Whether he likes it or not.

One term of Roman endearment will be used such as Carissime which basically translates to dear.

OKAY ONWARD TO WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME BABBLE.

Warning: This will feature MXM situations here and there, and this chapter has brief mentions of sex/rape.

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY BLOG AND THIS HALF-EMPTY JAR OF NUTELLA.

Enjoy HUMANITY!

H. U. M. A. N. I. T. Y

D.E. F. I. N. E: The quality of being humane.

Such a struggle it was to become the very thing he hated. Days ticked by, falling like sand down through the tiny neck of a hourglass. He could feel his sanity slipping, insanity creeping in with every intention of taking over, of consuming him whole and raw. His body convulsed. Chains snapped onto his hands and wrists and drug him under the murky waters of the damned.

Suffocating—

He simply wanted to become human.

He wanted humanity.

Chapter One

Roman Empire 300 B.C.

Purple eyes cracked open slowly. Horribly bright light seeped through his window. Purple, satin blankets covered his body from the waist down. Another day he suffered by being awake. Another day to craft a mask and become an entity born for higher ground that no normal human could ever obtain.

Good thing he wasn't human.

He sat up slowly, his muscles flexing and rippling as he stretched. A yawn left his lips. At the same time his white, double doors stained with marble and arched to perfection were opened. In wheeled in a breakfast fit for a king—no, correction. Wheeled in was a feast set for a god.

"Your Majesty," his maid bowed, her pink haired tied into a proper bun. Her skin was a rich caramel brought out richly against the pure white dress she wore. A black mask covered her eyes. "Breakfast today will be a collection of your favorites."

The majesty sat up, resting against his purple, fluffy pillows. No words of gratitude left his lips. He sat there until the tray was placed on his lap. The first thing he grabbed was the glass of wine.

He took a sip.

"Delicious," he purred. The wine slid down his throat, rejuvenating his system. He downed the mug in three seconds flat, now chomping away at his cheesecake. "Ah, nothing like a cup of muslum to start the day off. And this cheesecake!" he gazed at the slice admiringly before slipping it into his mouth. "Absolutely exquisite. Where did you get them?"

"The ingredients to make your meal came from the marketplace, Your Majesty."

"We must remember to not burn down this marketplace, then." he surmised. He finished off the rest of his breakfast, not leaving a crumb in place. He licked his fingers clean, one by one, glancing out of the corner of his eye to the woman who had not left her spot by the door. "I smell your fear from a mile away."

She stiffened. "I... It is only natural to fear someone powerful, is it not?"

Natural? He scoffed. Of course. What had he expected? Fear was natural. Fear was a part of being human. Yet what did he know about the nuances of human nature?

"I suppose." he mused. "How does it feel?"

"How does... what feel?"

"Oh, you're an intelligent young women. Pretty too. Think."

She bit her lip. "It's... icy, Your Majesty."

"And?"

"And... it grasps at my throat so much so that I cannot breathe. Cannot think except for one thought."

"To run," he finished. They always wanted to run. That's what they all said.

She nodded. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I do not wish to fear you, but I—"

He shook his head. "No need for apologies. It's understandable. After all, fear comes from the unknown. You can't read me. You cannot decipher whether or not I'll let you live or snap your neck and leave your rotting corpse by my bedside table." his voice was light, like he was reading a fairy tale to ease the thunderous thoughts of a child. "Who knows," he tilted his head to the side, "I'm thinking red would work wonders with my white floors, don't you agree?"

She didn't have a chance to speak up. A translucent hand popped up from the ground beneath her, crushing her frail body as the albino squeezed his hand into a fist. Her limp, lifeless body fell to the ground.

"Darn..." the albino pouted. "I was hoping for more blood."

Another maid murdered. The twelfth one this week. They rarely lasted the morning.

In his throne room, the majesty of this world listened to the complaints and woes of his subjects. Boring. A tedious task he dealt with if only to garner a higher level of positive public opinion. Midday brought along lunch with the delegates. Humans on the lowest scale of reverence on the Majesty's scale of importance. Their thoughts did not matter to him. They were bugs he could squish and snuff out when he no longer found value in their presence. When the sun set over the valley of his kingdom, when night and shadows blanketed his city, that's when the curtain withdrew. The stage was presented to the whole world to gawk and whisper about the atrocities thrown into the limelight the city held.

The Majesty took his puppets, one by one. Tied them to nylon strings and held them over the rafters, letting them fall inch by inch. They would twist around the string, their wooden mouths left gaping—the shock at such a slow descent blowing their minds. Ah, how they were beautiful puppets. Puppets tied to his fingertips that moved at a twitch of his finger. The puppets played their part so well, following the script The Majesty painted in his head.

Byakuran Gesso: the supreme ruler of this world.

A man who broke off his humanity to grow wings of the damned that would soar him higher than any other human could ever wish to reach.

A god, he boasted.

Who needed pitiful nuances like emotions and reason when power and dominance were the building blocks to superiority?

Humanity was a trait Byakuran happily threw into the trash. There was no going back, now. Not when he was at the top with iron chains shackled to his ankles.

"My Lord, we have brought you the prisoner."

"Finally," Byakuran waved his hand. "Bring him forward."

Two arched doorways flew open, streaming in sunlight from the outside world. Two guards came in with one extra parcel, a boy about fourteen, dragged in by a collar. The boy was blindfolded, shadowed from the world—and his new fate. Byakuran grinned. Oh, a new toy. Byakuran loved getting new toys.

"State your name," Byakuran drawled.

The boy didn't say anything at first. So the guards mutually glanced at one another before acting. Simultaneously they pulled on their captive's chains, causing the brunet to fall onto the ground. A tiny squeak flew around the room. At this moment, Byakuran should be feeling the emotion sympathy. To define it was simple: sym·pa·thy / noun / feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune. To truly experience such an emotion, however, was not as simple. Difficult, convoluted, tortuous, those were much better words to explain how to feel sympathy. Byakuran's only thoughts as the boy was beaten, yanked, and bruised into speaking was an empty stomach covered with frost. A heart that barely skipped a beat to the sight before him. Boredom, it sat so heavily on his shoulders Byakuran had to hold back the urge to slump.

This was not sympathy. This was complete and utter indifference to the atrocity before him.

A splatter of blood tainted the floor now. The boy twitched and whimpered, begging for the pain to go away. Byakuran finally gave signal to the guards to stop their beatings. "Now then, can I hear your name? Blood is always a nice color to splash about but not for my stainless white marble floors." Byakuran clucked his tongue. "That's simply overbearing."

It took a while, but he finally managed to hear a "Tsunayoshi..." trail from out of the boy's throat. Ah, a Asian. They were such a rare yet fetching catch to stumble upon, especially here in the Roman Empire. Byakuran barely hid back his grin, so full of glee. It had been so long since he managed to grab a toy that didn't die overseas!

"Tsunayoshi, was it?" he barely got a head nod. Oh well, that's what he was going to call the boy from now on, or some other term of endearment that popped into the albino's head. "Cute name. Very fitting. Guards, leave us." the two guards bowed and left the boy alone to their emperor, but not before undoing the boy's blindfold.

Now Byakuran sat back and watched; observed. As a scientist watched the mouse find its way through the maze, so too did Byakuran examine how Tsunayoshi responded to his new environment. First there was fear. Oh there was always fear. Confusion and sadness that quickly dissolved to anger. Pure, unbridled anger that seemed to simmer and simmer as the furnace burned brighter and brighter.

"I-I want to go home," A fighter's spirit, huh?

Byakuran smirked. "You are home."

"That's not what I mean!" Tsunayoshi lashed out. Byakuran watched the boy gasp, and then shrink back into himself. Self-awareness, the acuity of the situation and just who was the alpha male was as clear as the mural of Byakuran sitting on the southern wall of the throne room. "I... I was kidnapped."

"Yes, obviously."

"But I don't want to be here!" Tsuna quickly continued.

"And here I thought you were a timid little creature." Byakuran pulled himself out of his throne, his tunic pure embroidered with dazzling golds around his neckline. Step by step, he walked. Graceful with the air of an angel surrounding his entire being. He bent down to the boy's level, since Tsuna was at least three heads shorter than the Majesty, and grinned—the perfect mirror of the devil's grin. "Glad to know I was wrong. I love my toys with a spark of fight."

And there it was. That glimmer of fear. That spark of dread that would soon devour every inch and nook of the slave's body until he could barely move. Immobilized. Distraught. Swept by the emotions of being trapped and helpless. Byakuran could see the stage so clearly. The new puppet was getting caught and tangled in its own strings controlled by the puppet master. Suffocating—so suffocating...

Byakuran cupped the boy's face in a firm grip. His eyes were cold but his face was all smiles. "You are my pet. You are my toy. You are here to serve me in anyway I deem fit. When I say this is your home, I mean it. This. Is. Your. Home. Forget your new life. Embrace your new found world. And here," Byakuran picked up the shackles that still hung from Tsunayoshi's hands, "you can even keep these as a little housewarming gift."

Im·pris·on / verb / To put in a prison or a place like a prison.

+H. U. M. A. N. I. T. Y+

A whole month Byakuran took to the painstakingly long task of breaking his slave. A single strike by the hammer would be too much. All the pieces to his slave's soul would be scattered on the ground like ashes detailing the remnants of a burnt city. Too much of a hassle to clean. Too much of a burden to place on the Emperor's shoulders. So with a little pick axe he hacked and hacked and hacked, bit by bit, depth by depth until the boy was his and his alone.

Tsuna went nowhere without Byakuran by his side. In public, he obediently hid behind Byakuran until spoken to. And in bed—oh dear, the little slave had opened up so nicely...

A whole month later, Byakuran sat in his library pretending to do judicial things when really he was goofing off. Tsuna was off somewhere, probably in the garden or out wandering the hallway. The boy was rarely too far away from Byakuran's presence. Bore, bore, dread, dread. These papers seriously needed to sign themselves! Dear Zeus Almighty what a bore! Yet if Byakuran didn't at least attempt such trivial aspects that came with dominion over the most powerful empire in the Old World, his dearest advisor, Irie Shouichi—another of Asian descent—would surely give him what's what.

"Though as of right now I really don't have to finish these papers..." Easily convinced, Byakuran set loose to find his little slave. Lo and behold, his search didn't last long. Tsunayoshi was out in the little oasis Byakuran had stationed in the middle of his palace. A walkway made from the finest stone would lead a traveler to a giant, glistening, crystal blue pond that held the world's rarest and most exotic fish an Emperor could own. There, Tsuna was sitting on a rock being taught the Roman alphabet. He was progressing rather slowly in his studies, to be honest, though Byakuran really wasn't in any rush to call Tsuna a scholar in everything Roman.

If he was good in bed, that's all that mattered.

"Carissime, enjoying yourself?" Byakuran held a winner's smile. One that was warm and inviting and overall fake.

Tsuna instantly perked up hearing his master's name. A sound that used to send him shivering and huddling into a corner now made his soul flutter a bit. See? Breaking your toys can be a good thing. "Master!" Tsuna jumped up from his spot and ran over to hug Byakuran around the waist. "Did you sneak out of doing your paperwork already?"

Another lovely thing about his new toy, the boy had a wicked sense of insight. More so than most of Byakuran's advisors. The albino chuckled and ruffled Tsunayoshi's hair. "But of course. You know me too well, Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna blushed. "N-Not really. I mean... it's only natural that I know these things about you, Master... It's not weird, is it?"

"Not at all! In fact I'm so very flattered by your interest in me, Tsunayoshi." Byakuran leaned forward to peck Tsuna on the cheek. "In fact, I'm so delighted I think a trip out into the city would be a nice little treat for you! How does that sound?"

Tsuna's face was alight with joy. He looked like a boy on Christmas morning. "That sounds wonderful, Master!"

See? And you all thought Byakuran didn't know how to keep his toys happy.

Three hours later, with two of Byakuran's guards flanking either side of him and Tsuna, the duo were out into the city. Byakuran had the option of cloaking himself and Tsuna so no rebel or vagabond could try to attack them but Byakuran was feeling rather confident. A god cannot be harmed. A god cannot be touched. Nor would he let anything happen to his precious toy, so despite Shouichi's dire protests, Byakuran went outside without any concealment methods.

Byakuran took a glance down at the boy holding his hand. Tsuna was looking at every little stand and shop with wonder and curiosity. It wasn't even the boy's first time in the city, though Byakuran had to admit he rarely ever took Tsuna outside. Terrible, really, but Byakuran didn't want the whole world to hog his toy. Tsuna was his toy. Ah, but a little sunlight never hurt anybody, and Tsunayoshi had gone through such a hard month of 'rehabilitation'. Byakuran was truly doing the boy a favor.

"You know, if you wish to go off and look; you can." Byakuran leaned forward to whisper into Tsuna's ear.

Tsuna's eyes widened. "Really? You mean it, Master?"

Byakuran smiled. "Would I ever lie to you?"

Lies washing right over Tsuna's head, the brunet beamed and gave Byakuran a kiss in gratification before running off to a nearby stall.

Kikyo, one of Byakuran's guardian of sorts, quickly fell into step beside Byakuran. "My Lord, if you will."

"Ne, Kikyo. Do you think I should get the white scarf or the purple scarf?" Byakuran, being himself, was already at a stall himself holding up two, almost identical scarves.

"Whatever suits you the best, My Lord. Now if I may—"

"Nonsense, Kikyo! If I knew which suited me best I would not be asking you for advice! Now seriously, which one should I pick?"

Kikyo held back the urge to sigh. His master could be so difficult sometimes... "They would both look fantastic on you, My Lord, but I think—"

"Oh you're absolutely right, Kikyo!" Byakuran took out a few gold coins and dropped them into the merchants hands. "I'll be taking both of these, thank you. Your store is very lovely by the way," Byakuran flashed the woman a charming smile, knowing fully well that his presence alone was probably sending the girl into a nervous breakdown.

"T-Thank you, Your Majesty!" the girl bowed repeatedly, so much so that Byakuran was highly tempted to let her keep going. Deciding on that, he turned around to face a less-than-happy Kikyo.

"What? Did you wish for me to buy you a scarf as well?"

"No, Your Majesty. I wanted to give you my opinion, if that is alright with you."

Byakuran pretended to ponder on this for a few seconds. "Speak."

"That boy, the slave you acquired last month..." Kikyo's eyes flickered to the boy who was currently trying on different beadworks around his neck over by a nearby shop.

"What about him?"

"Do you not think that it is time for you to... 'dump' him?"

Byakuran's eyes suddenly hardened. His normal, carefree smile was replaced with a frown. Byakuran rarely showed his anger. He hid his emotions behind a perfectly crafted mask. Unless, you of course, stepped on a landmine you were better off avoiding.

"And why, pray tell, do you think I would ever consider doing such a thing?"

"My Lord, hear me out!" Kikyo was digging a hole and trying to climb out fast. "You can have any pick of slaves from all over the country—no, the world! A slave owned by you lasts no longer than a week at most. Zeus knows your maids do not even last the day."

Kikyo had a very good point at that.

"So you're issue isn't stemming from the fact that it is Tsunayoshi I bed and not you?" Byakuran cocked an eyebrow, his face still a cool, undecipherable mask.

Kikyo sputtered, a reddish tint scarring his cheeks. "Y-Yes My Lord—I mean no! No, it does not stem from such a thing! Though it would be a great honor to be bedded by you, Your Majesty."

"Obviously." Byakuran's smile came back in place, though his eyes never regained that shimmer of mischief and amusement. "I am grasping your point, though, and see what concerns you. However there is no need for you to fret. Tsunayoshi is nothing but a toy. A fun one, at that, and if your fear is drawn from the idea of rebels using him to get to me then you are gaining worry lines for nothing." Byakuran rested his hand on Kikyo's shoulder. "Do you doubt me?"

Their gaze lasted long and hard before Kikyo finally swallowed, nodding. "No, My Lord."

"Excellent!" The glimmer came back and once again Byakuran was his happy, go-lucky self. Especially with the return of Tsunayoshi back to his side.

"Master! Master! Look what I bought!" Tsunayoshi held up his new ring that adorned his index finger. A bright gold with a sunny orange gemstone in the middle.

"It's beautiful," Byakuran remarked, inflecting his voice with that of pride and wonder. Though really he was a little miffed. He had bought Tsunayoshi his first gold earring just two weeks ago. Now he needed a ring too? "What else did you buy?"

"Uh, well, I bought some apples." Tsunayoshi held up a basket full of apples, all red and glistening in the Roman sun.

Both Kikyo and Byakuran exchanged glances.

"We have food back in the palace, Tsunayoshi."

"I-I'm sorry, Master. I know that but..." Tsuna bit his bottom lip. "I thought we could, um... peel apples together and... I could feed you the slices later on when we..." he cut off short, too embarrassed to even announce what they'd probably be getting into later on tonight.

Byakuran quickly put two and two together, grinning his head off. He scooped Tsuna's face into his hands and peppered the boy with kisses. "Oh you are the most adorable slave in the world, Carissime!"

"G-Gah! M-Master, stop it! Stop!" despite all of his protests, Tsuna was reduced to a giggling mess from all the affection. And Kikyo, poor, poor Kikyo was forced to stand off to the side trying very hard not to puke from all the endearment.

"U-Um... excuse me." a tiny voice called out, so soft Byakuran nearly had to strain his ears to hear it. And his hearing was perfect, mind you. Glancing down, Byakuran noticed a little girl around the age of six if he had to put his finger on it. She had dirt on her everywhere. On her face, on her knees, under her fingernails, and in her hair. Her eyes were red and she was missing four teeth.

Tsuna instantly took a small step behind Byakuran.

"Where's your mother, little girl?" Byakuran could put on a caring facade. He could pretend to care and lie through his teeth about how much he wanted you safe and sound.

The little girl with her ashen hair and knobbly knees shook her head. "Don't know. I'm really, really hungry..." she eyed the basket of apples without any shame. Her stomach growled and she gripped her stomach, a frown marring her delicate face.

In this moment, Byakuran should be feeling sympathy. He should be whisking this girl off to the nearest food cart and buying her a gold mine of food. If not because of the human design to help one another, but simply to promote his public image to the crowd. Yet his heart didn't skip a bit. It did not sink or float seeing her reaction to the food. His mind did not come to the conclusion to help her. If anything, Byakuran was getting hungry himself.

Tsuna was the one to step in. To show Byakuran a true life example of what sympathy truly was. "Here," he held out the basket of apples, a shy yet warm smile on his face. "Take as many as you'd like."

The girl's eyes lit up. "R-Really?" Tsuna nodded and the little girl squealed, taking as many as her little arms could carry. "T-Thank you!" she nodded to both Tsuna and Byakuran before darting off into the crowd.

"Tsuna... half the basket is gone," Byakuran spoke after a few seconds.

"I know but there's enough left for tonight. Don't worry." Tsuna flashed Byakuran the most dazzling the albino had ever seen. "She needed those apples and if I can help her from not starving tonight, than I can go to sleep without a guilty conscience."

Tsuna's smile literally hurt. Byakuran absentmindedly clutched at his chest as the group of four headed back to the palace.

'A guilty conscience, huh...?' What in the world did that even feel like?

+H. U. M. A. N. I. T. Y+

"Say, 'Ahhh'!"

Tsuna opened his mouth wide as Byakuran fed him another apple slice. The two had retreated back to Byakuran's bed chambers right as they returned from their shopping trip. Tsuna was laying on top of Byakuran, his hands splaying across the albino's chest . He was fed another apple, a look of pure bliss on his face.

"These apples are really good, huh?" Tsuna asked.

"Rather delicious, really. Would you like another?"

Tsuna shook his head. "No, Master. I actually want something sweeter..." Tsuna bit his lips and stared at Byakuran's lips with a very clear intention on what he wanted next. Byakuran barely hid back his smirk as he pulled Tsuna in for a kiss, their lips melding and their tongues touching as hands grappled everywhere. Only recently had he pulled Tsunayoshi out of the shell labeled 'self-consciousness'. Now Tsuna held no qualms, though it was a bit hesitant, to ask for something of the sexual nature.

There were nights, however, when Byakuran had to remind himself why he obtained Tsuna in the first place. Despite all the endearing touches and growing confidence Tsuna had every time their bodies and hearts connected, Byakuran had to steel himself. He was not enamored by the boy. He was not passionate, romantic, nor infatuated with the brunet. Tsuna was bought for sexual fulfillment. For a void to be filled that no lowly beggar off the street could ever engender.

Yet Byakuran, staring down at the naked form of his slave, a boy who was begging and yearning and grasping for his touch at every second, felt his heart do something stupid. It lurched and jumped and scratched at its bony confines, begging to be released. Begging to... to feel... to...

Byakuran pulled out, his orgasm coating Tsuna's thighs and stomach. The boy cried out from the sensation, his screams quickly transforming to moans of pleasure as Byakuran pumped Tsuna to completion. The world was white. Everything was fuzzy and discordant. Byakuran felt himself snapping from the seams. Despondent to Tsuna's coos and whimpers of pleasure as the boy nuzzled against his chest, Byakuran chewed on the inner lining of his cheek.

This feeling. The warm yet chilly grasp around his heart that squeezed him so tightly made it so hard to breathe. This feeling was so... unfamiliar. How it came to be, where it came from, why it was here in the first place, the emperor couldn't put his finger on it. And... that honestly scared him.

He had to stop it.

'This feeling is unfitting of a god.' The sooner it was squashed out the better. Maybe some distance would provide the solution. A remedy to... whatever ailment Byakuran was catching.

+H. U. M. A. N. I. T. Y+

Utter boredom settled its roots into Byakuran's bones. Couldn't he have adopted the role of ruler without all the nitty gritty diplomatic work in-between? He could be intimidating and obtrusive, sure, but appeasing and mollifying? Ha! Byakuran enjoyed fueling a fire and watching every hay doll burn around him than actually helping to diffuse the situation.

"And with that I would like to bring up the idea of using our army to invade East Africa!" one of his diplomats, a rather plump man with a name Byakuran never bothered to remember.

"Don't be daft!" another diplomat roared. "Our troops have just come back from a very bloody war and you expect to ship them off to uncharted territory? At least wait a month for feasting and resting before they are deployed!"

"Time is of the essence! The Roman Empire is strong and at the crux of international power. If we do not take the time to siege and acquire more territory we will surely suffer serious repercussions!"

The debate went like this back and forth. Do we take over Africa or do we leave it off to the side until we find better uses for the untouched continent. Honestly Byakuran was neither here nor there with the decision. More land was good but if there was no true economic value to acquiring the territory then what was the point? The only good thing from this debate was that it gave Byakuran something to entertain himself with until the meeting was over. Other than that, after this was all said and done, he'd be nursing a headache for the rest of the night.

"Master, I've brought some drinks." Oh look, it was his nice little slave. Tsuna entered the throne room with a platter of the most delicious wine in all of Rome.

All eyes were on the boy and Byakuran was certainly not blind to all the lustful, amused stares the brunet got as he set individual drinks for each person.

"Thank you, Carissime." Byakuran ruffled Tsuna's hair as the boy came to stand beside him. Byakuran narrowed his eyes at anyone and everyone who decided to give a second glance Tsunayoshi's way. Sure, he wanted distance from the brunet but Tsuna was still his and only he was allowed to give him lustful glares.

Tsuna bowed in response. Byakuran watched as the boy fidgeted from side to side under the stares. He vaguely wondered if he should say something. 'Something along the lines of 'I did not know I allowed rabid animals in my presence'? No. That doesn't sound mocking enough...'

"That's a cute slave you've got there." Byakuran perked up from the comment. Who was the idiot trying to make a pass at his slave?

"Isn't he?" Byakuran replied nonchalantly, his eyes upturned like crescent moods. He had a pleasant smile on his face but anyone who was the wiser could tell it was all fake. "I got him a few months ago from Asia."

"Interesting..." No. Shut that inflecting voice full of wonder this instant! Byakuran clenched his jaw. Who was this man again? So scruffy and unkempt and a huge eyesore in the presence of the emperor. Byakuran truly tried to place his finger on who this man was and why he was even regarded for the council but was coming up empty.

Tsuna flinched, moving closer to Byakuran. For the rest of the meeting Byakuran made sure that his hand remained clasped with Tsuna's. The meeting dragged on for another hour before everyone was dismissed.

Byakuran slouched back in his throne, completely drained. "Those council meetings will be the death of me..." he muttered.

"You look really tired, Master." Tsuna placed a timid hand over Byakuran's forehead. "Perhaps you should rest. You've had a very long day, catch some rest."

"I think I'll have to take you up on that offer." Dammit. There he was again. Showing interest. Showing enthusiasm and becoming involved with Tsunayoshi. No. This had to stop. He couldn't... He was smiling and it hurt his face from the utter realism it depicted simply having Tsunayoshi by his side, beaming up at him like sleeping beside his master was the most pleasant thing in the world.

His heart was stammering, on the verge of death. Plummeting, plunging, planning to commit suicide on the spot. That's how it felt for Byakuran. His mind was in a tizzy and this state of confusion was grating on his fried nerves.

Byakuran slowly let go of Tsuna's hand.

Before the boy could question what Byakuran was doing, the delegate from earlier waddled in. Heavy set and reeking of wine, the man wasn't privy on hiding his infatuation of Tsuna.

"My Lord, if you would." the delegate began.

Byakuran cocked an eyebrow. "I'm debating to walk away right now but that would be rude. Speak."

"Oh thank you." Was that a hint of sardonicism in his words? "I must say that your slave from Asia has captured my interest. If it would please you I would like to take your slave on a little trip. A tour of my city and all that it has to value. It would be such a shame to keep such a slave brimming with potential locked in your palace, would it not?"

Potential talent...? 'In what? Catering?' Byakuran kept his smile in place, however, choosing to keep his witty comments to himself. Tsuna, after all, was in the room. And although he wanted to create a schism between himself and the boy, insulting his intelligence would not be apart of Byakuran's methodology.

Besides, it didn't take a genius to figure out what sort of 'potential' the delegate was talking about.

"Interesting," Byakuran pretended to muse. "What makes you think I cannot take my slave out by himself? I obviously have enough assets and resources to fund a trip of any scale if I wished for him to travel."

"My Lord, you are no fool. Your snap assessment and stellar analytic skills are why you're the emperor of the mightiest empire in the world." Yes, yes, Byakuran knew. Could you get on with it, already? "But you know, as well as I know, that if you step outside this palace you are not only putting yourself in danger, but your little slave as well."

Tsuna stiffened and Byakuran didn't know if that was from a human's natural instinct to protect itself, or because he heard Byakuran was in trouble as well.

"Excellent deduction. Something I never would have thought of on my own." Alright, this conversation was dragging longer than Byakuran would like. It was time to dismiss this fool and go back to his palace so he can drink the night away. Then it hit him like a bullet train. An epiphany of sorts.

Why was he driving away this man that clearly wanted to take Tsuna away for a decent amount of time. Time given so Byakuran could evaluate himself and get his nonexistent morals in check. He wanted distance and here was his solution presented as bright as day. Why was he trying so hard to deny that?

The delegate opened his mouth to speak his case again but Byakuran quickly silenced him with a raise of the hand. "Do not even bother, I was joking. Tell me, how long do you plan on taking my slave with you?"

Another stiffen from the brunet. Another shaky glance his way. Byakuran ignored it all.

"A few months, My Lord."

"A numeral, please."

"Five months."

"Five months of touring your wonderful country?"

"That, My Lord, and I was hoping I could..." he licked his lips, eyes of a predator breaking through. They showed blatant interest in what he wanted to do with Tsuna.

The brunet ultimately stepped behind Byakuran, cowering and shivering. He shook his head repeatedly, whimpering 'No, no, no'. No—a crack. No—another crack. No, no, no—so many cracks. So many chasms. His heart was collapsing with each protest and whimper Tsuna made. They made Byakuran bleed and made him want to do things he never would have fathomed before. To take this brunet into his arms and whisk him away to higher ground where no one else could ever even look at him again. Oh, how Byakuran wanted to. His fingers curled and tingled. His eyes narrowed slightly. His stomach did flops and flips all over the place.

And then, all at once, those fires of emotions that were sparking like volcanic eruptions were smothered. Smitted. Extinguished.

Byakuran bent down and placed his hands on Tsuna's shoulders. "Look at me, slave." when Tsuna refused to do such a thing, Byakuran squeezed a little tighter. "Tsuna," Byakuran whispered. "Look at me. Good boy. Now stop crying. This is an excellent opportunity for you to spread your wings and see more of this world. I, for obvious reasons, cannot accompany you so you'll be going with this man instead."

"But I—I don't want to! Master, please! I wish to stay with you!" Tsuna wailed.

So many tears. Byakuran had never seen so many tears before in his life. Each tear was another stab. Another crack. Byakuran never really gazed upon the face of a crying human being and felt such... movement in his soul.

It hurt.

So much that Byakuran needed to create the ultimate mask. A mask of complete indifference and utter despondency nature to rip the shreds of mortality that were breaking through the mold. He pulled on a smile. He upturned his eyes. He broke all contact.

He lied. He lied. He lied.

"Very endearing of you, Tsunayoshi. Though to put it bluntly I do not wish to see you. So, begone. It will only be five months. No need to be so devastated. The distance will be good for you. You've become so... attached. Honestly, it's sickening."

Words were powerful, powerful tools that Byakuran abused on a daily basis. To manipulate. To bend. To weave lies and tales into great myths of legend and envy for others to behold his immense power. Words were how he got to the top in the first place. A bright smile, a promise of a benevolent future if you allow Byakuran to rule. Words were the knife that inevitable cut the relationship, the oh-so-fragile relationship, Byakuran had mended over the past six months.

Half a year.

That's the longest a slave ever stayed in Byakuran's palace.

There were so many tears afterwards, not from Byakuran. So much screaming and thrashing that Byakuran himself had to knock out the slave in order for the delegate to even pack his things and leave. That night the palace was extremely empty, barren, desolate. Like the life had been sucked dry from its immense grandeur.

Byakuran didn't sleep in his room that night, either. He chose to stay in his guest quarters on the other side of the palace. Sleep came in doses. Nightmares came in droves and waves that crushed him under their entirety.

No, he needed to do this. His immorality was coming back and ripping his damnation by the seams and it needed to stop. He could not feel. He would not allow himself to ever experience the burden and weakness of emotions ever again. Not this time, not in this world, not in this universe the next time over.

With that in mind, Byakuran woke up and drank himself to a drunken sleep, ineffectively washing away the terrible burn that lined his stomach and effectively wiping out the horrible ache in his heart.

+H. U. M. A. N. I. T. Y+

Five months later, Tsuna returned. Smaller than normal. Detached from the world around him. The minute their eyes locked, Byakuran knew it was over. There was no light, no glimmer of happiness and joy that usually radiated whenever Tsuna gazed upon him. Their relationship was over. Destroyed. Reduced to a pile of rubble that could make Persia's fall seem tame. At that moment, Byakuran knew he had to send Tsuna away. Anywhere. Somewhere.

Because the freaking ache that burned his soul was back, and it was ten times stronger knowing that he was the one that aided in the demise of their relationship.

He called Kikyo about a week later in order to get preparations for Tsuna's departure in order. Only to receive terrible news.

"He is dying, Your Majesty."

"Run that by me again."

Kikyo swallowed. Byakuran was holding him under such a terrifying scalding gaze. "I... Your slave, he is dying. The healer gives him three more days, if the gods are even that lenient."

There it was again.

The burn that rattled his bones and made his soul cry in anguish. It was diminutive at first, but sparked to greater and more powerful outbursts of despair.

Before Byakuran knew what he was doing, he had already bolted from his library and ran the entire length of the palace to get to Tsuna's room. He found the boy wrapped under bundles of satin blankets, flushed in the face and looking like a ghost. A wilted papyrus withering in the Roman earth.

Byakuran swallowed.

"Tsunayoshi..." no response. "Tsuna. Carissime..." each attempt carried a footstep, and another footstep and another footstep until Byakuran all but collapsed by the foot of the bed.

His hands were shaking. They never did that before.

Slowly, oh so anguishly slowly, did those chocolate brown eyes open. They were weary and muggy and lost and Byakuran almost cried—in desperation. Not with tears.

"M-Master...? Is that you?" the boy struggled to breathe. "Or is this another dream...?"

"No, Tsuna. It is not a dream. I'm here. Right by your side." he did something so out of character. He reached out his hand and placed it onto Tsunayoshi's. It was cold to the touch.

"I... can't believe it. T-That you're here..." silence. "I thought you... hated me."

"No never!" Byakuran shot out quickly before biting his tongue. Dammit. "I was simply busy with diplomatic work. You know how swamped I get..."

"Yeah... So, you don't hate me?"

"No..." Byakuran swallowed again. "Not at all."

"Then... why did you send me away?"

A catalyst in its own rights, Tsuna's words sparked a wave of emotions Byakuran thought he never had to experience again. Compassion and sympathy for another human being. Desperation to keep a life in tact. Guilt that rattled his soul and iced his blood and made it so hard to breathe.

Dammit.

"It's okay..." Tsuna's weak voice broke through the devastating revelation. The boy, although very weak, managed to smile. "I think... I think I understood why you did it. And that's... okay. Because I really... really love you, Master."

Love.

Love.

Byakuran stopped responding. He didn't even reflect the same response. Instead he sat their, hand overtop of Tsuna's with his heart hammering so loud against his chest he thought it was going to explode. He sat there until he felt Tsuna's breathing go out. He sat there listening to the heavy labored breathing Tsuna made each time he tried to grasp for breath, for life, for another chance.

He sat there as he wrapped his fingers around Tsuna's tiny, fragile neck.

He sat there as he suffocated the boy.

He sat there as he thought: 'This boy doesn't need to love a man damned for Hell.'

Hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. I'm normally more upbeat and shit but I'm tired and have to go to work soon. UUUUUUUUUUUUGH. Anyways, reviews are highly appreciated as I'd like to hear your thoughts on this first chapter. Um. Shit. Something funny to close this out on a good note-

/PELVIC THRUSTING.

Okay I tried.

I shall see you all next Saturday when I update again!