A/N: To all reviewers: I'm trying to find a pairing for our poor Goku-chan, and so far I've been suggested Dino and Mukuro. So, I would like to see what you guys think, and then I'll decide! ^_^
EDIT: Beta'ed by 'AmbiguousThoughts.'
"So he's just gone, just like that? What the fuck is going on? I've been gone for only two days and this happens?" Squalo questioned loudly as he paced around the room, his long graceful silver hair flowing behind him with a shampoo-commercial-effect.
Lussuria, on the other hand, was sitting in between Gokudera and Bel, trying to stop the bomber and the knife-maniac from killing each other.
"It's your fault, Dynamite," Bel accused, pointing a knife at the other storm guardian.
"What the hell? You were the one who forced me into that bloody kiss. So don't blame me for it, you stupid prince," Gokudera spat the words, clearly annoyed.
"Ushishishi… Then Dynamite shouldn't have come to the prince in the first place." Bel smiled, unconcerned and unwilling to admit that he's wrong.
Gokudera made a face. "You're just oblivious to everything. No wonder your lover left you."
"The frog's not my lover," Bel replied, the smile disappearing from his face.
The bomber look disgusted. "Oh yeah? So you're saying you fucked him, but he isn't your lover?"
"Ushishishi… Just like you and that Japanese swordsman, right?" Bel smiled, chuckling.
Gokudera's anger flared at that - his voice went cold as his hands wrapped tightly around the dynamites in his coat. "Shut up, Bel. You don't know anything about that."
"Do not tell the prince what to do." Bel, noticing Gokudera's hands grabbing the bombs, pressed his knives close to the bomber's face.
Lussuria, sitting right in between the fight, sighed heavily and separated the two, pushing them away from each other as far as they would go.
"VOIIIII~! Will you two brats stop squabbling and listen to me?" Squalo shouted at the two, holding his sword out threateningly.
Gokudera looked away whilst Bel smiled up at Squalo, unaffected by the sword pointing directly at his face. The swordsman, seeing this, sighed before he sat down in front of them.
"Now, tell me what happened. That damn boss is going to kill me if we lost Fran after the all the effort it took to find a new illusionist of Varia quality," Squalo mumbled, not really wanting to think about Xanxus in this moment.
Bel chuckled, starting his story. "Ushishishi… The prince went off killing some people and-"
"Bel, shut up. I want to know from that bomber brat," Squalo cut the prince off, and Bel mumbled something under his breath which Squalo ignored. The swordsman then turned to look at Gokudera expectantly.
The storm guardian of Vongola glanced at the shark of Varia, sighed, before he reluctantly started telling them everything that happened, from the point where he found Bel killing people to the part where Fran disappeared.
Squalo and Lussuria nodded slowly when Gokudera finished off. Then, Lussuria turned to Bel. "Ne, Bel-chan, why did you randomly go out killing that many people? I thought you only did that when you're very bored or angry."
The prince considered this, before he replied. "The prince was angry."
Squalo raised his eyebrows – it wasn't often that Bel got 'angry'. Usually he just killed and fought for the sensation and the fun of it. "Angry, huh? Because of what?"
"That other illusionist who beat Mammon that time. The one who's pickled in a tube," Bel hissed through gritted teeth – it was so plainly obvious that he disliked the person.
"Ah, Rokudo Mukuro," Squalo concluded from Bel's description, and the prince did a little 'che' in disgust of the name. "Why, what did he do?"
"He took the un-cute kouhai away from the prince," Bel mumbled, looking at his feet.
Squalo frowned. Partly, he knew that Mukuro had some feelings for Fran, but he didn't think the mist illusionist would do anything that will make Bel snap. But again, who knew what Mukuro would do? He was the most dangerous and unpredictable out of all the guardians.
"So then you went out killing people because you were angry, then this storm brat found you, and suddenly you just kissed him?" Squalo wanted to know. "Were you jealous or something?"
Bel nodded, and Squalo nearly pulled his hair in desperation. He couldn't believe how stupid and reckless the prince could be, not to mention dragging the storm guardian into the issue.
Lussuria looked at Bel, who was still looking at the floor, before he started speaking. "Bel-chan, do you have any idea how Fran-chan would've felt if he saw that?"
The prince looked up at that, considered the question, before he shook his head. Lussuria and Gokudera sighed heavily, whilst Squalo felt like whacking his sword across that prince's head.
Lussuria tried again. "Bel-chan, imagine you saw Fran-chan doing the same thing with someone else… Take Mukuro-chan for example. How would you feel?"
Bel did that, and as the image of Mukuro kissing Fran ever so intimately came to his mind, five knives were held ready in his hands, almost by instinct.
Gokudera saw this, and tapped on one of the knives, with a little tinge of satisfaction in making Bel realize something. "Feel that? That's how it felt."
And indeed, Bel did feel it. That feeling of anger, disappointment, jealousy, hurt, sadness – it all washed over him in one huge tidal wave, only with the mental image of Fran kissing someone else. "The prince doesn't understand…"
Gokudera sighed heavily at that. "Bel, seriously. You heard Fran cry didn't you? Fran never cries, he's too lifeless, even I know that. Don't tell me you don't feel anything."
"What, Fran cried?" Squalo and Lussuria asked in unison with unbelievable expressions on their faces.
Bel looked back down to his knives. The prince knew his kouhai cried. He heard it, he saw the teardrops – and it hurt him. The thought of Fran crying was too much to bear – that pang of guilt hit him again, and it felt so uncomfortable Bel shuffled in his seat. Guilt. It was caging him, weighing him down like a lead. But the prince didn't feel only that, there was something else along with it, something that pulled at his heart…
"Don't you understand, even now, Bel?" Gokudera stood up and looked at Bel with those brilliant green eyes.
The prince looked up at those pools of emerald eyes which reminded him so much of his kouhai. And almost at the same time that the feeling surged in him again, Gokudera spoke.
"You're in love with him, Bel."
Nightmares.
Falling, falling, falling…
It's dark. So dark.
Images. Pictures. Flashbacks.
Pain. Hurt.
Burning. Bleeding.
Grasping for air.
None. Nothing.
Cold.
Can't. Breathe.
Falling, falling still…
Nightmares.
They never stopped coming.
Fran woke up gasping, his green eyes wide with shock, pain and fear. Then, as he saw the dark room around him, with the damaged furniture and broken windows, he relaxed and exhaled. He scanned the room and looked out of the window. Outside, the sky was starting to light up, but the sun couldn't be seen just yet.
A candle was lit up from somewhere in the dark corners of the room.
"Another one, Fran-sama?" That soft, sweet voice echoed like a water drop as the owner slowly and ever so politely approached him.
Fran nodded solemnly as he sat up. He wasn't going to go to sleep again. It was nearly morning, and he didn't want to risk another dream. The illusionist looked up at the girl who sat down quietly in the chair next to him and almost felt glad that it was her and not Mukuro who was here right now.
Chrome Dokuro. That was her name, or at least the name Mukuro had given her. Fran had met her when Mukuro brought him to this place – Kokuyo land. He told him that Chrome was his very special person, and he didn't understand until Mukuro merged himself right into the girl's body, like a spirit returning to a body. Then, Fran knew. The girl was the person Mukuro used so that he could come out to the outside world more often and allow him to take a physical form from time to time.
In Fran's opinion, Chrome was like a shadow for Mukuro. She was silent and quiet, polite, and never showed any sign of violent or strong emotions - just a drift of ongoing faith, respect and devotion to Mukuro. The girl had hair which was a perfect imitation of Mukuro's, and the place where Mukuro's red, demonic eye should be was covered with a black skull eye-patch. Her skin was pale, just like Fran's, and her body was so petite she looked frail and fragile. Her eyes were large and round, with that glint of innocence in that single purple pool.
From since the moment Fran came to this place, Chrome treated him with the same kind of politeness and respect to Mukuro, but not as much. It seems to be that Mukuro had already informed her about his existence, about who he was, and she took care of Fran whenever Mukuro needed to rest - which was, almost all the time. Mukuro rarely appeared in the night nowadays, it seemed. But that was good for Fran. To others, he could wear that mask of emotionless-ness and hide away everything. But Mukuro, he saw right through all of it, and the older illusionist could see the weakness which lies within him. Fran didn't like that – he didn't like knowing he was weak inside. At least when he 'pretended' he was okay, he could almost believe it.
"Mukuro-sama is worried about you," Chrome whispered, her voice so faint it went with the wind.
Fran nodded again, and he knew it was true. Mukuro had been using the last of his energy to come out and see him at every chance he got, and since he used it up, he needed time to restore his power. However, he still communicated with him through Chrome and sometimes through his dreams.
"Where's Ken and Chikusa?" Fran asked, his voice and face expressionless.
Chrome's face dropped a bit. "I don't know, Fran-sama… But they'll come back eventually."
Joshima Ken and Kakimoto Chikusa were the other two people Fran had met in this wrecked place. They were both Mukuro's underlings and they respected Mukuro so much it was as if the mist illusionist was like their god, their savior. Ken was a half-man half-animal person who Fran tended to avoid with all that rambling and wild animalistic behaviors, whilst Chikusa, who Ken called 'Kakipi', was almost just as quiet and emotionless as Fran was – only with a bar-code printed on his cheek and no deadpan insults. Chikusa also wore a beanie which Fran thought looked kind of weird.
The two of them didn't think much of Fran, just as they didn't think much of Chrome. To Ken and Chikusa, they were just a connection to Mukuro - just illusionists who couldn't compare to their Mukuro-sama. But that was fine by Fran – he didn't want people to be concerned about him. In fact, having them around almost helped – Ken's loud and wild energy along with Chikusa's coldness kept Fran busy insulting them and it distracted him from thinking about his senpai.
Bel-senpai.
Fran looked down to his feet and bit his lips at that. The tears had already dried out since the first time – he wasn't going to cry for his senpai like a helpless weakling again. But that didn't mean that it hurt any less. It hurt just as much – time didn't heal the cut in his heart. Images of the prince still kept on coming to his mind, kept on squeezing him, kept on eating away his feelings from the inside. Even though Fran appeared to be better every day, every night, it got worse. It kept on getting colder, getting lonelier, and having Mukuro so far away didn't help. Even if his master could see through him like a piece of glass, at least his presence and comfort made the pain bearable. But this… It kept on tearing at him, it was like there was a huge cut and Fran was bleeding – losing so much blood he would be gone altogether. The nightmares – they were scary. Fran hardly slept the whole way through the night anymore. Depression and stress – Fran was experiencing both and not sleeping worsened it.
Chrome observed Fran, and she knew that loneliness all too well. Her past before she met Mukuro wasn't all that bright, either. She crept up closer to Fran before held the candle closer to him. "It's okay, Fran-sama. You're with us, you're not alone." And even though Chrome didn't really believe it herself, what she said helped, even just a little.
Fran eyed the flame, looked at that orange flickering source of light and heat which melted the wax of the candle. The image was somehow peaceful.
Eventually, light touched the room as the sun gradually rose to the sky. Fran turned to look at it before he turned back to the candle light.
"It's morning," Fran murmured mono-tonally as he blew away the fire. Chrome watched the flame die.
Morning. A beginning of a new day.
Another day without Bel.
On the other side of Japan, a certain prince was sitting dangerously on the balcony of his suite, leaning against the wall with one leg hanging, also watching the sunrise.
The prince was confused with himself. He didn't understand what he really felt.
"You're in love with him, Bel."
That sentence of Gokudera's still echoed in his mind. Bel didn't understand it. The prince didn't know what it was like to 'love' or to 'be loved'.
The way he wanted to touch his kouhai, make him his own. The way he didn't want to give up his kouhai to anyone else. The way he felt like tearing people apart when he saw Fran's state when those bastards played with him. The way he hurt when he knew Fran cried. The pang of guilt that weighed him down. How he went out killing people, angry at Mukuro for taking Fran away. The way he hated how Fran neglected him. The way he liked how Fran reacted to his every touch, his every kiss. The way he didn't Fran to disappear. How he didn't want Fran to look at him with a look of disappointment and hurt shining in those emerald eyes…
All of those feelings for his kouhai… Was that 'love'?
Bel looked at the knives in his hands. How many times were they stabbed into his kouhai and returned un-bloodied? How many of them got damaged because of his kouhai? How many of them actually drew blood from that pale, thin flesh?
The prince looked back up to the sun, now bright and shining in the clear sky, and he wondered if Fran was looking at the same sun from another place. Those long fingers rubbed at the knives in his hands before he suddenly gripped at one and threw it against the wall.
CLANG.
The knives bounced off the cement and fell onto the floor. The prince had decided.
It didn't matter if he loved the kouhai or not – the prince was going to find his froggy, no matter what. The case of love could come later once the kouhai is back in his hands.
Yes, that's right. Bel thought as threw another knife. Froggy's mine, and mine only.
CLANG.
4 days later
Fran was walking down the stairs of the Kokuyo's building. He was bored and he needed a distraction to stop himself from thinking of the prince. However, Chrome was nowhere to be seen, and Fran didn't want to interrupt Chikusa and Ken in the other room. The illusionist had just walked in on the scene where the two of them were making out on that old couch, and he wasn't really sure how he was supposed to react. Apparently, the two of them were lovers – obviously enough - and Fran didn't think they would want him to interfere with their moment. So, Fran just silently closed the door and walked away wishing he never walked in on them. He could go through life without needing to see Ken sticking his tongue down Chikusa's throat.
The green-haired illusionist kept on slowly pacing around the building, observing every detail and every corner. He had been here for nearly a week now, and he had to admit he had come to like the place. It was old and wrecked, on the verge of breaking down, but there was running water and electricity. It has many hidden rooms and the essence of the building was both relaxed yet tensed. At night time, it had a nice cool breeze blowing through it, and from time to time, wild animals would randomly walk in, meaning no harm. When looking on the outside, it looked like nobody could be living in the building, but Ken, Chikusa, and Chrome had been using it as a home for ages. It was a place which was perfect for illusions, since the place was a natural illusion itself. From the inside, you could see the entire Kokuyo land – a truly great hiding place. Fran did not wonder why Mukuro picked such a place to stay in.
…shhh…
Suddenly, a breeze blew past the open space in the wall of the building, and it blew Fran's hair over his face. Fran turned towards the wind before he walked towards the shadow forming in the middle of the light. The shadow reached out before it brushed Fran's hair from his face.
"Kufufufu… You missed me, Fran?" Mukuro's mysterious yet comforting voice wrapped around Fran like a blanket, and Fran allowed that gloved hand to trace over his face, so softly and tenderly it was like that hand was handling a flower petal. "You've become thinner and paler… Haven't Ken, Chikusa and my cute Chrome been taking proper care of you?"
"They were fine," Fran replied, before he added in a soft mono-tone. "I miss you, Master." And it was true. He did miss Mukuro. Having the older illusionist looking after him and being overly protective of him was becoming a habit. Mukuro felt like an older brother – it was the same essence Mammon used to hold as an older sister.
Those mismatched eyes widened before he smiled as he ran his fingers through Fran's pale hair. "You really shouldn't have said that," The dark-haired illusionist whispered before he gently took Fran into his arms. The younger illusionist allowed himself to be embraced – just this moment, having someone comfort the pain felt good. Fran knew it was selfish, using Mukuro's feelings towards him to help him feel less pain from his senpai, but he couldn't help it.
"Is it getting any better? The nightmares?" Mukuro whispered into the younger illusionist's ears as he smoothed Fran's hair. Fran shook his head slowly, and Mukuro sighed and embraced him tighter. "Do you still miss him?" Mukuro whispered ever so softly this time, and Fran took a moment before he nodded.
That hurt Mukuro, and Fran knew it. Mukuro cared so much for him, but yet he still missed Bel and wished that they never became like this. Mukuro loved him, and yet…he still loved his senpai. Even when he didn't see his senpai, his feelings still remained. The more he missed the prince, the more that love became clear.
Mukuro's breathing could be heard in Fran's ears, and that warm breath blew on his skin. The dark-haired illusionist inhaled, before he whispered again, this time, so softly Fran nearly could hear it. "Do I have no chance at all?"
Fran bit his lips at that as he considered his choices. Mukuro was his illusionist master, they specialized in the same element – mist, and they could learn a lot from each other. Apart from that, Mukuro felt like an older brother to Fran, and he had gotten used to all that care and concern – Fran knew Mukuro loved him. Fran also knew that whenever he was with Mukuro, the pain eased – even though very little – it became more endurable. Maybe, just maybe, he could…
"I- I could love you, Master," Fran whispered, and Mukuro froze at that. "But I- I can't until I forget about Bel-senpai, and I don't know how long that'll take."
"I'll wait." Mukuro smiled and brushed another strand of hair away from Fran's face. "Thank you, Fran." Mukuro pressed his lips on Fran's head after that before he released Fran from his embrace.
Fran didn't know if he had made the right choice in giving his master hope, but he couldn't stand it if Mukuro was to leave him alone. Fran still loved his senpai, that was true, but it might be better to love someone who actually would take good care of him - someone who actually loved him.
Mukuro's mismatched eyes shone with happiness, but at the same time, it held a dark glint inside. He had found out that the Varia squad at Japan was now on the search for their illusionist, and that meant Bel was looking for his kouhai. Mukuro wouldn't allow that – he didn't want Fran to be hurt anymore. The prince would be out of Fran's mind as time passed by, and he'd be the one beside him. Mukuro would never let Bel find his kouhai. The illusionist allowed a dark smile to creep up his face as he thought of a plan.
3 days later, 10.30pm
"VOIII~! What the hell is going on? How did Fran appear in six different places in just three days?" Squalo cried out in irritation as he threw the photos up in the air.
The situation is very confusing for the Varia. Fran had been seen in six completely different places in three days, and it was impossible to even guess the area Fran was in, since the places were so far away from each other.
RRRRRR-RRRRR-RRRRR-
Squalo's cell phone rang and he frowned at the name before he picked up the line.
"Yes, Boss. / No, we haven't found him. / VOIII~! Don't blame me for it, I wasn't the one who decided to run away! / What? / I don't care about your fucking steak! / No, I'm not going back any time soon. / What? / Just let Levi find it for you then. / VOIII~! How am I supposed to know? I'm not the fucking cook! / No. / VOIIII~! I said no! / Damn it, you stupid boss!" and with that Squalo cut off the line and switched off his phone before he threw it across the room, not caring where it landed.
Lussuria, sitting on the sofa examining each photo, looked up at Squalo. "Ne, calm down Squa-chan, the boss won't like it if you cut off his call like that."
"VOIII~! Like I even care! We're an assassination group that has to find a missing person who happens to be our illusionist and all he cares about is his bloody steak!" Squalo shouted in desperation before he kicked at a bag of chips lying on the floor and went to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Lussuria mumbled something about 'love's many problems and issues' before he went back to examining the photos.
Across the room, Prince the Ripper was slicing the sofa open in various places, but strangely, he wasn't laughing or smiling his signature Cheshire-cat grin. It had been more than a week now that his kouhai had been missing, and he was becoming increasingly frustrated. He wanted his froggy back and he wasn't happy at all about the fact that the Varia is almost clueless in finding the kouhai. They were so many evidences of the kouhai, so many photos, so many witnesses, but it all didn't make sense. Fran was appearing in random places all over Japan, and it was merely not possible to try and even guess where he was. It was as if Fran was trying to confuse them on purpose. Whenever a Varia underling saw him somewhere, he would run away, and then would mysteriously disappear before reappearing in a totally different place altogether.
Bel picked up the photos of Fran and felt his heart throb at the glance of that pale sea-foam green hair. This past week, the prince had become very out of character. He only occasionally snickered and rarely smiled like the ignorant prince that he used to be. Bel just sat and thought about things, cleaning his knives or using a piece of furniture as its target. The prince had also come to missing his kouhai. He missed that expressionless face, that mono-tonal voice, that pale, petite body, those emerald green eyes… He missed every bit of Fran, and he wanted his froggy back.
Every night, as Bel slept, it was as if Fran was lying there with him. But every time Bel opened his eyes, all that was there was was a pillow. Even the essence of Fran was gone by now - that fresh scent which hung around Fran especially after showering, that scent which the prince had gotten used to sleeping with and smelling from that skin and hair.
The prince observed each photo carefully, and didn't understand. Fran was appearing and disappearing as if he was an illusion. It was as if he was-
Bel froze.
An illusion?
The prince quickly looked through all those photos again, and indeed, the only way that Fran must've appeared in so many places at the same time must be because of a mist illusion. But Bel knew that illusionists couldn't just disappear into thin air like that. There are only two ways an illusionist can disappear. One, they use invisibility – the technique Mammon had used so many times Bel knew it. And Two – they don't have a physical form. They're just a spirit coming out of their bodies – Mammon once told him that illusionist who were captured or in captive would use this method to escape from their captured position from time to time.
An illusionist who's captured…
It clicked. Bel had found it out.
The prince abruptly stood up before he collected his knives. Lussuria looked up when he heard the noise. "Eh? Bel, where are you-"
SLAM.
It was too late. The door slammed in Lussuria's face, and the prince was off.
At Kokuyo Land
"Mukuro-sama, we brought you some stuff," Ken and Chikusa walked into the candle-lit room, holding bags of chips and sweets along with other foods.
Mukuro, sitting on a chair beside the bed, turned around and smiled at the two, "Thank you, Ken, Chikusa."
The two smiled back, glad that their Mukuro-sama was back, before they put the stuff down on the floor against the wall. They would probably have stayed longer to talk to Mukuro, but then, Chikusa noticed the pale hand the dark-haired illusionist was holding, and decided to pull a complaining Ken out of the room and left Mukuro alone with that person.
Mukuro smiled, grateful that at least Chikusa knew what to do, before he turned back to the person sitting on the bed. "Are you hungry, Fran?"
Fran nodded, his face expressionless, before he stood up and picked up the bags of food. The young illusionist then sat back down on the bed and looked inside of one.
"Ken and Chikusa really don't have any idea about 'real' food don't they?" Fran spoke mono-tonally as he picked up yet another bag of potato chips and another back of gummy sweets.
Mukuro chuckled before he picked up one of the bags. "It's just the way they got used to living. Since before, just this pack of unhealthy chips would have been like heaven to them."
Fran looked at Mukuro and looked back down at the chips. Three days ago, when Mukuro visited him, he told him about their past – Ken, Chikusa and himself. How they used to be kept in a laboratory until the time that Mukuro met Chrome. When Fran heard of the lab, he couldn't help but feel disgusted at the Mafia himself, for doing such investigations on children. It explained Ken's animalistic behavior, it explained the bar-code on Chikusa's cheek, and it also explained Mukuro's mismatched eyes. Those people – they were nothing but monsters.
"That's why I hate the Mafia," Mukuro had said, and Fran understood why. If it was himself, he would've hated the Mafia as well – ironic, since he was the illusionist of one of the best Mafia assassination squad and Mukuro was the mist guardian of one of the strongest Families in the Mafia world.
After that conversation that day, Mukuro disappeared again, leaving Fran with Chrome, Ken and Chikusa. For three days, there had been no sign of him, until suddenly, tonight, he reappeared in the evening and ordered Ken and Chikusa to go out and buy some food.
Fran pulled open a pack of chips before he started eating them, one by one. Mukuro observed his every move. After a moment, Fran looked up at his master.
"You've been staring at me. Do you want my chips, master?" Fran asked, "Here, have some." The younger illusionist handed Mukuro a chip before he continued eating.
The dark-haired illusionist chuckled. "Kufufu… No, Fran, I didn't want one. But thank you." Mukuro smiled before he ate the chip.
Fran looked up once again. "Oh. I thought you wanted one, since you were staring."
"No, Fran." Mukuro shook his head before he gently touched Fran's cheek. "I just find it entertaining to observe you."
"You're weird, Master," Fran commented with his face completely still. However, that blush on his face did show that his master's words had affected him to some extent. The illusionist picked up another chip in order to distract himself.
Mukuro moved in to bite that chip before Fran could put it into his mouth. Fran let out a little surprised 'ah' before Mukuro chuckled. "Kufufu… You are so very cute, Fran."
"Che. I'm not Chrome, Master," Fran spoke with his tone indifferent, but he couldn't suppress the blush from returning to his cheeks once again.
"…and yet your cheeks glow in that pink shade. Are you going to deny that you don't feel anything from that compliment?" Mukuro smiled teasingly, and Fran felt like slamming his head on the bed in embarrassment. Instead, Fran turned away, hiding his face. Mukuro chuckled at that action before he moved to sit on the same bed in front of Fran.
"Ah- Master-" Fran turned to say something, but when he saw the proximity between him and his master's face, he froze. Mukuro was so close Fran could feel that warm breath blowing on his face - a lips' distance.
The two of them stayed there for a long moment, mismatched eyes looking into green. It was silent, with the exception of the sound of insects calling from the outside. The room's orange lighting flickered along with the candle light's flame.
Then, Mukuro slowly moved in, gradually, almost as if he was asking for permission. Fran moved back along with Mukuro moving forward, keeping the same distance between them until finally, Fran's back was pressed against the wall.
Mukuro looked into Fran's eyes yet again, and those emerald pools showed neither acceptance nor rejection. The older illusionist's gloved hand then ever so gently tilted Fran's head by the chin before the dark-haired illusionist moved in, so slowly it was as if he was giving time for Fran to escape. Fran didn't.
Their lips met.
It was warm, so warm and yet so cool at the same time Fran felt all light inside. Mukuro started moving, Fran followed, and when that warm tongue licked at the younger illusionist's lips, asking for entrance, Fran allowed it. Mukuro's tongue was soft and slick, and, differently to Bel, it explored Fran's mouth instead of plundering it. The clear contrast was that Bel had wanted pleasure for himself whereas Mukuro wanted to make Fran feel good.
The younger illusionist trembled as Mukuro slid his hand down Fran's back. Then, those warm lips moved down to the curve of Fran's neck where it lingered, biting and sucking, causing Fran to whimper, moan and shudder.
"Nn-nnh… Master-" Fran's breath hitched when Mukuro's hands slid up the front of his shirt, before he gasped when they brushed over that sensitive spot. Suddenly, the face of his senpai flashed in his mind and he abruptly pushed Mukuro away. Fran then lay there, panting, his face burning. "No… I can't…," Fran murmured between breaths and Mukuro nodded, moving off to Fran's side.
"It's okay, Fran," Mukuro whispered, brushing Fran's hair softly from his face before he moved his hands to the curve of Fran's neck where his lips were just a moment ago. "Thank you."
Fran didn't need to look but he knew there was a kiss mark there and all of a sudden he felt guilt rush all over him. The face of his senpai came back to his mind and he regretted what he had just done. He had only been away for his senpai for little more than a week and he kissed somebody else?
Then he thought about how Bel kissed Gokudera and he nearly felt satisfied. He didn't need to feel guilty when Bel had done the same thing to him. He was just getting his payback. But then, he did feel the guilt - and the pain. He couldn't feel good about it because he knew that would make him no better than his senpai…and in fact, maybe worse.
Mukuro watched as all these emotions surged through Fran and he knew the younger illusionist was regretting. That pained him, because it only meant that Fran still loved that prince. But what could he expect? It had only been a little more than a week. Mukuro took hold of Fran's hand before he whispered. "Fran, I'm sorry."
Fran turned at that, and another rush of guilt went through him. He knew he had hurt Mukuro with his feelings. "No, it's not your fault, Master. I allowed it when I know that I still-" Fran paused at that. He couldn't say it. How could he hurt his master with those words?
But then, Mukuro completed his sentence. "You know that you still love him." Mukuro smiled, but Fran knew too well that it was a mask. "Is that right?"
Fran looked at Mukuro before he looked away - and nodded.
"I understand," Mukuro whispered, his voice still, and moved in to press his lips against Fran's cheeks before he stood up and started walking away. Fran didn't turn to see him leave.
When the younger illusionist was certain that Mukuro has left, he turned around and looked at the direction Mukuro had gone. He lifted his hands to the love mark on his neck.
"I'm sorry, Master," he whispered to the air, hoping the wind will carry his apology to Mukuro. Fran then packed up the food, losing his appetite, before he lay down on the bed and blew out the candles. As the light went out, he finally chose to decide on something – a choice, a decision.
I'm going to forget Bel-senpai.
Kokuyo Land, 3.17am
Prince the Ripper walked through the forest, carelessly cutting any branches which blocked his way. From here, he could the see the wrecked building of Kokuyo, and he was certain his kouhai was there.
Bel had been out from since last night, and he hadn't had any sleep. He tracked down Mukuro with all the information he could gather from the Vongola Japanese Base and from Gokudera, who was reluctant, but gave him the information anyway. When the prince had enough information, he didn't wait, and he didn't plan. He just set out to Kokuyo land, with the only thought in his mind: get his froggy back.
Every minute now, Bel was going to see his kouhai, and the prince couldn't stop smiling. He had finally found it - the place where his kouhai was. And moreover, Bel knew that Fran didn't run away himself. Mukuro took his kouhai away from him. Bel snickered, imagining how he would come to save his froggy.
The prince will take back his property.
Soon enough, the prince made his way out of the forest, and was standing in front of the wrecked building of Kokuyo. Bel's face split into a wide, shining smile. Now, he was going to take back his kouhai, his froggy.
The prince will take back his property.
"Ken, are you sure you don't want to go out to that weird stranger?" Chikusa questioned sleepily, peeking from the inside of the building at the figure standing outside.
"No." Ken simply replied, stuffing chips into his mouth. "Mukuro-sama's gone. There's only that girl and that other illusionist. We don't need to care."
"But Mukuro-sama told us to take care of him," Chikusa reasoned, but at the same time, he was yawning.
Ken opened another bag of sweets, unconcerned. "Yeah. But he'll survive."
"Ken, he's one of those people we met in that ring conflict Mukuro-sama went to. Remember? Prince the Ripper or someone," Chikusa said, suddenly realizing why the person seemed familiar.
"Ah, you mean the one who has that freaky laugh and smile? The one with knives?" Ken recalled, shoving gummy bears into his mouth.
"Nmm." Chikusa nodded.
"More the better. Maybe he'll take that green-haired one away. They wear the same uniform ne?" Ken noticed.
"Yeah, the same uniform." Chikusa nodded once again, still not all that big on leaving the person Mukuro told them to 'take care of' at risk.
Ken looked at Chikusa before he wrapped his arms around the megane boy's neck, pulling him back down to lie on the bed. "Stop worrying too much. If they wear the same uniform they probably won't kill each other. Let's just sleep, Kakipii~. We'll deal with him if he comes to us."
Chikusa looked at Ken, before he sighed. "Alright then. If you say so."
3.21am
"Bel-senpai… Bel-senpai… No… Don't go…," Fran murmured desperately in his sleep, his forehead beading with sweat, his body moving around uncomfortably.
"No… Don't leave… No…" Fran's hands reached out to grab at something, biting his lips and looking lost. Then suddenly, Fran's body shot up. "NO!"
Those emerald green eyes flew open as Fran gasped, before he sighed and relaxed, allowing his body to fall back down on the bed. He looked at the old clock at the end of the bed, and sat up again when he saw the time. It was already nearly morning – not worth it to risk another nightmare.
With that thought, Fran stood up before he walked out of the room. On the side of the door, he saw the frail body of Chrome, lying silently asleep, and felt guilty once again. Mukuro must have run out of energy when he left the room, and Chrome must have been left here all night. Fran walked back into the room, picked up his blanket before he threw it on Chrome's body, watching the girl curl up more comfortably with the blanket. The young illusionist then continued walking, on his daily schedule to just walk around the entire building. Fran thought about his dream last night – that nightmare. In his dream, he was with his senpai, when suddenly, everything grew dark, and the prince was walking away, hand in hand with somebody else – ignoring and forgetting him completely. Then, the dark took him, making him fall into it, consuming him, drowning him until he couldn't breathe. He didn't like it.
It was another nightmare which came to him ever since he left his senpai - another horrible nightmare. Fran wondered when it would stop. If he forgot the prince, would it go away? Or what if he got back with the prince… Would it go away?
Fran shook his head. No. He couldn't go back to the prince, he already had decided last night.
He was going to forget the prince.
3.28am
Bel was walking, slowly searching the Kokuyo building, using all of his senses to detect any murderous intentions. But more than anything, he was trying to sense the kouhai's presence.
The prince held his knives in his hands, prepared for any attack. This place held a strange feeling to it, like nothing was to be trusted, and Bel didn't like it.
He came to a path where there were two ways. One was to take the stairs and two was another dark hallway. Bel didn't even think it through twice, he just followed his instincts and went with what felt right.
The prince took the stairs.
3.29am
Fran walked to the end of the hallway, before he started walking down the stairs when suddenly, he heard footsteps. The illusionist froze before he quickly retreated back up the stairs, holding his hell ring, ready to light the ring up with flame any moment at all. Mukuro, by now, had taught him enough to be able to use the hell ring whilst being able to return his consciousness directly after its use.
Fran was ready for any attack.
3.29am
Bel sensed the murderous intent on the top of the stairs and he froze midway. But the prince wasn't about to go back. He wanted his kouhai back, and if there was someone in the way – they would be nothing more than a simple obstacle. Bel gripped his knives tight, before he focused, preparing himself to face any kind of opponent.
Then, he ran up the stairs the whole way.
3.30am
Silence.
Fran was staring at the person in front of him, and that person was staring back through the blonde bangs covering half of his face.
The prince was here. Fran couldn't believe it. His chest felt all hollow inside from since the very first moment he saw his senpai's face. He didn't want to admit that he was glad to see this face again, but he did. He missed the senpai, and he longed to do nothing more but fall back into those arms. But, he knew he can't do that. The prince had betrayed him, broke his promise when Fran had believed in him. And he had already decided. He was going to forget his senpai.
But why… Why did he have to suddenly appear now that the decision had been made?
As for the prince, he nearly dropped his knives when he saw that face. His heart did a flip when he saw his kouhai, and those green eyes which looked right into his own were melting him. Fran looked paler, thinner, and didn't look like he had much sleep, but the froggy was still breathtaking. That seafoam-green hair, that flawless, emotionless face, that pale skin, that petite body… Bel almost couldn't restrain himself from pulling the kouhai into an embrace.
Bel's signature smile came to his face, showing just how happy the prince was to see him, and Fran couldn't help but feel himself weaken. However, he wasn't going to give in – he had already made a decision.
I'm going to forget Bel-senpai.
The prince, on the other hand, was determined.
The prince will take back his property.
"Bel-senpai… /Froggy…"
A/N: You are going to hate me for this… but that's it for this week people ._.
Please review~ And see you in the next week's update~! ^_^
Ps. Please help me decide on who to pair Gokudera with~! XP
