Hey, minna-san :3

FLUFF. For the first time in quite a few chapters. And, the Varia Arc is ending. I'll start the Future Arc in a few chapters. Also, I was thinking of ending after the Future Arc, following the anime. Should I end there or continue on?

TEN MILLION CHEERS for my amazing beta, Akai-chan! Without whom I would never have continued so far.

Thank you for all of your reviews! I'm serious, they make me so happy. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter! :3

Summer

-Chrome's POV-

Moments after Mukuro-sama's words of hope have been spoken in my heart alone, more people enter the scene. They're clearly from the Varia and their clothes look like they've been stolen from Belphegor's wardrobe.

"Nice timing." Bel smirks. "We've been waiting."

I can feel the people around me tense up, especially Bossu's other guardians, and I mirror their actions. The Varia hasn't attacked, though. Not yet.

"Reporting: The entire Varia squad, except us, has been defeated."

See? I told you, my cute Chrome-chan. There is absolutely…nothing to worry about. I'll protect you.

He was right. Of course he was right. How could I ever doubt him? I'm safe. I'm safe. I'm not going to die.

"He was too strong! A man with the strength of a demon is headed this way."

That must be the guard Mukuro-sama spoke of. A roar ten times louder than Xanxus' echoes in the ruined grounds of Namimori Middle as a huge shadow is cast on the ground. A wrecking ball crashes onto the ground and sends shivers up my spine.

I'm in a state of wonder. "This is…That man is the one Mukuro-sama was talking about." No wonder. He sent him to…to protect me. I mean, to protect everybody.

A new voice rings out. "Don't get me wrong, Vongola. I didn't come to save you…I came to thank you."

"Lancia-san!" Bossu yells.

"Why is he…?"

"Known as the strongest man in northern Italy: Lancia, of the Family Murder Incident."

"Is he that strong?!"

"He is." Chikusa pushes his glasses further up his nose.

The baby- Reborn speaks. "He has no hesitation. He fights of his own will and won't be controlled by another."

This amuses Mukuro-sama greatly. Kufufu…Has the Sun Arcobaleno forgotten? Lancia-kun was controlled by me for the longest time…

I keep staring at Lancia but then I hesitate. Something…Something's off.

Belphegor sends five knives spinning toward Bossu, and I spin in response to that. I try to call out a warning but suddenly my throat is as dry as a desert. But then I see…Yamamoto beat me to it.

"Hold on. It's not going to work like that."

"Yamamoto!" Bossu yells.

"I didn't think it'd turn out like this." Mammon snarls. My head snaps in response. He's going to try something. He floats towards Bossu. I may not be as strong as Yamamoto, but I can still protect Bossu. I slam the hilt of my trident into the dirt and I imagine pillars of fire rising into the air. When I look up and see that I was successful, I'm amazed in the same way I always am every time I see an illusion.

Mammon was directly caught in one of the flaming pillars, smoke blasting out from the point of contact. I run out from behind one, clutching my trident tightly.

"I won't let you escape." I feel different. I feel that it's not even me talking. Just this past week has made me so much stronger to the point where I don't even recognize myself anymore.


Everybody else gets into their fighting positions and I feel so proud that I can be a part of their group.

"Juudaime!" Gokudera yells. "Are you injured?"

"I'm okay." A smile full of warmth lights up Bossu's face.

Gokudera pulls out his dynamite, facing the Varia.

I hear metal clatter onto the ground but I'm not willing to look. Is it a trick?

"This is no good."

"Boss, looks like this is it."

"Useless trash…I'm going to send you all to hell!" Xanxus weakly stirs from the ground but it's clear he has no strength to fight back.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Good job, my dear Chrome. I'm so proud.

"Now, we will end the Ring Conflict and announce the results. Due to Xanxus-sama's disqualification, the winner of the Sky Match is Sawada Tsunayoshi. Thus, the ones that will become the eventual successors of Vongola will be Sawada Tsunayoshi and his six Guardians."

We did it. I'm a...I'm a true member of the Vongola now.

Bossu collapses on the floor. After Gokudera confirms his safety, I allow my muscles to relax from their tensed position.

Hibari leaves first, but I don't really think that anybody noticed but me. Yamamoto, Sasagawa and Gokudera start loudly complimenting each other and laughing, and the observation area is opened up.

I start walking over to the observation area in the hopes of finding Ken and Chikusa.

"Chrome!" It's Yamamoto.

"Hm?" I glance up.

"You did great too!" He grins.

"CORRECT! Chrome-chan did great to the EXTREME!" Sasagawa roars. Gokudera inclines his head at me.

For some reason, I feel like I'm frozen. I don't know how to respond to compliments. I didn't know what it felt like to be accepted and loved for who I am, and now that people are treating me like an equal, I don't know what to do. Part of me feels like they're all lying, caught up in some elaborate scam created by somebody for the sole purpose of hurting me. Though I know that can't be true, I still can't trust them. I can't trust anyone who's nice to me like that.

My dearest Chrome… It's okay. Everything's okay now.

My breath catches like it always does when I hear his voice. I can't trust anyone who's nice to me…except for Mukuro-sama. I can't explain it, but he's just…different. He's always been different.

I run away from Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Sasagawa and almost collide into Chikusa.

Sasagawa says, "What's with her?" in that too-loud voice he has.

Chikusa glances at me, a flicker of emotion in his unreadable, dark eyes. "Chrome, is he talking about you?"

"I bet he is!" Ken growls.

"N-no…Let's go."

"Finally! You've kept us waiting here for too long, anyways." Ken laughs like a hyena, before eagerly bounding off.

I smile and nod, following Ken with Chikusa bringing up the rear. We're not approached by anyone else as we start walking. The three of us converse in the way we normally do- Ken tries to start a conversation, and after he gets tired of Chikusa's one-word answers and my lack of responses, he starts insulting us.

I open the door to my room and almost trip on a bag of chocolate when I walk in. "What…is this?" I ask softly. There's a pile taller than I am of food, chocolate making up the bulk of it.
"Hmph! I thought you would wear your little weak useless body out with your equally weak fighting. So I got some food." He sticks his nose in the air and walks out, Chikusa remaining leaning in the doorway.

"I wish he could see how transparent he was." Chikusa says to me. I don't get it. What?

"I heard that!" Ken's shout echoes around and around Kokuyo as Chikusa leaves with a soft goodnight and I lie down, surrounding myself with a dusty blanket that somehow comforts me in the way almost nothing else can.

Goodnight, my dear Chrome.

Goodnight, Mukuro-sama. I smile as his familiar laugh resounds through our mental bond, never doubting for a second his genuine joy.

Staring at the Vongola Mist Ring on my finger, I close my violet eye and concentrate, imagining a perfect world – a world where there were no wars, no fights…and where Mukuro-sama was by my side.


Almost immediately, stalks of vibrant green grass spring up, with the gentle scent of ambrosia floating on the breeze. Liles waved their rich indigo petals in the air, as I stood there stunned by the beauty that surrounded me, not noticing the Vongola Mist Ring that glowed faintly on my finger.

"Oya oya?"

That voice…so rich, so compelling…

"Quite a magnificent illusion indeed, kufufu~"

"Mukuro…sama?"

A warm smile tugs at his lips, heterochromatic eyes staring into my violet one. "You've done well, my dearest Chrome…I'm proud of you."

Tearing up, I rush towards him, hugging him as tightly as I can. He embraces me as well, running a hand through my purple hair.


-Mukuro's POV-

I gently embrace her petite figure as I run a hand through her purple hair – in particular, the purple spikes on top.

She made it through the Ring Battles, and was even able to produce such a strong illusion that enabled me to take on a solid form, even though my real body was still in the Vendicare.

I'm so proud of her.

A smile tugs at my lips as she looks up at me, before smiling as well.

She lies down on the soft grass, clearly exhausted. I conjure up some food- healthy food, a real meal, unlike what she normally has. She's emitting an aura of joy to the point where her skin seems to be glowing and radiant. She's clearly so, so happy to live in a perfect world of peace, even if it is just for a little while.

"Chrome," I say glancing over at her as I place a rice ball in her hand.

"Mukuro-sama?" That clear voice, sounding of flutes or wind chimes never ceases to amaze me.

"I know how happy you are being here. I wish that I could make the real world as safe and as beautiful for you, but I can't yet. My sweet Chrome...as much as I want to tell you differently, the fighting isn't over."

"The Varia battles? But...I'm the mist Guardian now." She asks, confused. She walks over to a tree and picks a brightly colored mango. She heads back over to where I am, and slices the mango into many pieces, placing it into a bowl between us.

"No, my cute Chrome. Not the Varia battles. A different battle will come. But after we win...After the Vongola wins...I know that we can be together in the real world."

Her eye shines. "We...we can?"

I lean over to embrace her as a tear runs down her cheek, leaving a pearly trail that glistens in the warm, misty light. "We will be. There will be a day when we will be together in the real world. I promise."


-Chrome's POV-

His words linger in the air as he embraces me. I can't believe it. We're going to be together; if not now, then later. I'll wait for him…forever, if need be.

I know I've run out of energy as I pull away from him. Already, the colors are less bright, the food less delicious, the sounds less loud. But it's still perfect and I wish that I could stay here forever.

"Goodnight, my dear Chrome." He leans forward, kissing me softly.

"Goodnight, Mukuro-sama." I try to hide the shock I feel but he just laughs that familiar, comforting 'Kufufufu~' as the illusion fades away.

As I lie down on my musty bed, a piece of illusionary mango still in my hand, I smile at the ceiling. I have the memory of his lips on mine, even though he's so far away.


My beloved Chrome…you'll never be hurt again. This I swear, on my pride; I'll protect you, no matter what the cost.