Their lessons began as his mother promised. She taught him the nuances of basic illusions and found, to her surprise, that Mukuro had a natural talent. It took only a few hours instruction for him to figure out how to create basic, inanimate objects.
"So what are you going to teach me now, Mother?" Mukuro asked, jumping excitedly before her. "Maybe how to alter my appearance? How to make breathing objects?"
She smiled. "Today, I'm going to teach you something that is more powerful than mere illusions – words."
He immediately deflated, his whole body sagging at the suggestion. "What?"
"Yes. Words can be the greatest weapon in a person's arsenal. Words have the power to form actions, influence thought, and even create a complete experience. A little flattery can go a long way!" Seeing his look of disappointment, she added, "You'll see what I mean soon enough. Why don't you be a dear and deliver something to Agathe for me?"
"Not fair! We're not practicing today?"
"You're still a little boy. You could use a day of rest. I know I'm tired." Seeing the pout on his face, she playfully ruffled his hair and handed him a package. "Now go on. I am making dinner, and I do not want you to be late."
With his pout intact, Mukuro sulkily complied and rushed off. She could be teaching him how to construct new worlds, people, even a freakin' dragon, but instead she gives a brief lesson on words? He never struck his mother as being so lazy…
"Ack!" At the sharp burst, he glanced up, his blue eyes coming into contact with a familiar boy. The boy stood tensely before him, his face draining of color.
"Oh. Buona pomeriggio. Good afternoon, Fernan-"
"Lontano da me, demonio! Get away from me, demon!"
The blue-haired boy only blinked in confusion, watching Fernando run off with a loud, girlish squeal.
"Oh, please don't pay any mind to the boy," he looked up to see Agathe the maid standing beside him, releasing a heavy sigh. "For some reason, he's completely terrified of you. You didn't do anything to frighten him, did you?"
His shoulders tensed, but Mukuro managed to smile "Me? Of course not! That's silly!" The maid seemed content with that white lie and did not press any further. "And I was looking for you, Agathe! Mother wanted me to give this to you!"
"Ophelia finally finished sewing my dress?" The woman smiled and gratefully took the package. "It's much too bad I cannot try it on yet… such a shame."
He looked at her in confusion, encouraging her to elaborate. She explained she was to take Estraneo's son, Fernando, out for a picnic.
"But I fear the food will get cold since I now have to find that cowardly boy…" She heaved a deep sigh, looking down at the basket in dismay.
Mukuro stepped closer and took a deep breath. Ah, the luxuries of the affluent! How he envied them. All his family ever ate was stale bread and any leftovers from the Estraneo Familigia meals, which were oftentimes meager at best.
"That's a shame indeed… They should appreciate you and all that time and effort you give them," he seriously said and forced himself to take a step back.
Agathe giggled. "Ah, sweetheart, you flatter me! You are much too kind for you own good."
"Well, it is the truth. I mean, if I we were that boy I would not waste anything you made. We are lucky to have any food on our table for dinner."
The thought made Agathe fall silent. "Say, what are you and your family having today?"
He stood there for a moment in pensive silence. "Hmm… I'm not sure. We may be having ourselves stew tonight. I think there were some leftover potatoes from the last meal… Speaking of which, I should go back. Mother does not like me being late to dinner."
"That is certainly not dinner! It's no wonder you are so thin!" she exclaimed in horror. She glanced down to the basket for a long moment and handed it off to him. "Here. Take this!"
The boy stood there shocked, staring at the basket and then back at the woman. "Agathe, I can't! What about Fernando?"
The woman scoffed. "I will just make the brat new food. He'll just complain that it's cold anyway. Just take it. Consider it my payment to your mother for making me such a wonderful dress!"
"B… but Agathe…"
"Here! I'm not taking no for an answer!"
Agathe shoved the basket into Mukuro's hands and waved him off with a wide smile. He stood there for a moment and stared at the basket in his hands. What had just happened?
'Words can be the greatest weapon in a person's arsenal.'
He gasped, gaping at the evidence of her teachings. His eye widened. Words are power!
In a matter of hours he discovered his gift of illusions. In the matter of moments, he discovered his second gift, perhaps the most potent one in his repertoire – words.
He never liked peeking through the doors of the Estraneo estate. He heard enough anguished screams and tortured cries to know the extent of their cruel experiments and held no desires to see the victims in the aftermath.
Still he found himself drawn to a single door.
It was open wide, forgotten, drowned in an eerie silence. He had enough sense to keep walking and not look back. He had dinner to take to his mother, and he was famished.
Still, his feet drifted closer towards that door, his childish curiosity getting the better of him.
What he saw inside was absolutely pitiful.
There were two boys, both appearing close to his age, possibly a little younger. One with glasses sat at the side, toying absently with a yo-yo. The other boy with blonde, spiky hair was curled into a tight ball, shaking and whimpering softly to himself.
Years later, he told himself that his next actions were not out of sympathy. Even in those early days, he claimed he already had vague plans of escape and found that these two had enough potential to be his pawns and assist in his schemes.
Whatever the reason was that possessed him, Mukuro quietly placed some food on the ground and disappeared.
A/N Notes: Thanks for reading~
