I'm going to end this fic here as there's really not much else I can do with it instead of keeping it running in circles, and I didn't want it dragging on. I hope this chapter's to your liking.

"Senpai... They're a big too aggressive, don't you think?" Teal eyes searched for obscured ones, turning his head away from the fight in front of them. He and Bel were sitting on the back porch of Squalo and Xanxus' house, watching as the silver-haired male and Lussuria went hand-to-hand so violently, it could almost be mistaken for a real fight.

"Shishi~" Bel sucked away at his juice box, shifting his position so that his back leant against the guard rail. "Wait until Squ-Squ brings out his sword; then he'll get 'too aggressive'. Or when he and Xanxus fight – I swear they try to kill each other for real."

"Why do both of them have such an interest in weapons? They've rubbed off on you, senpai – you and your knives."

Bel giggled again, patting his lap so that Fran would sit on it. He wrapped his arms around the younger when his request was obliged, smiling in a docile manner as he rested his chin on teal hair.

It had been a few weeks since Mukuro had pulled Fran out of school, and as Kyouya had pointed out to his lover, the boy was getting better; Fran's guardian had talked him into going for just one more week, but when it became clear that nothing was going to change and it was just making the youngest worse, Mukuro had let him leave school.

Now, without the added stress on top of him, Fran was doing well; he didn't cry as much, and though he could still be temperamental at times, he wasn't nearly as bad as he had been previously.

"Fran-kun~"

Fran looked up from where he had been grabbing his own juice box, finding the two men approaching them. He nodded in acknowledgement, making himself more comfortable on his boyfriend's lap.

"Your turn, Fran-kun~" The flamboyant man laughed as he sat down next to the two youngest males, grabbing his bottle of water he had left on the porch. "Squalo-chan says he's warmed up enough now~"

"Why would he use you to warm up with and then fight me?" Fran blinked as he stood up. "Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

"Oh, he was just getting his excitement out of the way so he didn't hurt you, dear~ Both Xanxus and Squalo love to fight~ It's what they live for."

"Senpai, I don't have my will written down yet, but if you end up having to mop me up from the ground, you can have my gaming consoles." Fran handed his boyfriend his juice box before he approached Squalo, finding an eager look in dark eyes. He heard Lussuria and Bel laughing from behind him, and he vaguely wondered how he was expected to hold up against someone like Squalo – the man would probably kill him with just one hit.

"Alright, brat." Squalo was trembling in anticipation, very similar to the way Bel got excited at the prospect of fighting as well. "Did you go over your stances with Belphegor?"

Fran nodded, having been taught the basics by Bel. Mukuro and Kyouya had helped as well once the boy told them he was going to learn how to fight. His guardian had seemed a bit wary of him being taught, but he didn't say anything and instead taught his charge what he knew.

"Well, then, show me what you've got, brat." Squalo prepared himself, knowing not to be too rough until Fran had developed his skills better. He could see that the younger was fast, but Fran was uncoordinated and unconfident; not a good mixture. He let it go and instead blocked the tiny fist that was being thrown t him, retaliating with his own.

Fran grunted as he felt Squalo hit him in the shoulder, and he couldn't help but stumble slightly; the man hit hard, and he could only imagine how it felt to be hit by the long-haired male in a real fight – it certainly wouldn't tickle.

"C'mon, brat; you can do better than that." Squalo waited for Fran to compose himself before he moved again, lifting his leg this time. He swept the boy's feet out from under him, sending Fran sprawling to a heap on the ground. He snorted. "Belphegor fell down like that the first time I swept him. He cried."

"Oi!" Bel shouted, pointing accusingly at his adoptive parent. "I didn't cry! I just... had something in my eye!"

"Yeah – tears." Squalo smirked at the blond as he reached down, pulling Fran to his feet. "Your movements are fast, but you're hesitant."

"I've never really been much of a fighter." Fran resumed his pose, waiting for the older male to do the same. He kicked out once he knew the other was ready, but the silver-haired male dodged it with ease.

"I can see that." Squalo wasn't one to give up in training someone he saw had potential; fighting was his most favourite thing in the world, and he indulged in it as much as he could. "You've got it in you; you're just not accessing it correctly. Keep trying."

Fran nodded, trying to block the punch that was being sent his way. He succeeded in stopping it before it hit him in the stomach, but the force knocked him to his feet once again. "That one hurt."

"You'll get used to it."

Over on the porch, Lussuria and Bel turned around as they heard the back door open. Xanxus was coming out, a packaged steak in his hand. His fluffy white cat, Bester, was following him, a surprisingly very well-cared for animal considering who his owner was – Fran was convinced Xanxus cared more for the feline than he did Squalo.

"You finally woke up from your nap, dear." Lussuria smiled at the oldest male, careful not to agitate him more than he probably already was; he was naturally a bad-tempered person, and it always worsened for a while after his naps.

"Tell the shark trash to make me my steak." Xanxus growled, leaning against the door as he glared at everyone around him. "There had better be some fucking wine with it."

"Squalo-chan~" Lussuria and Bel stayed where they were, gathering the others' attention. Fran didn't come back to them, instead sitting where he was, watching as Squalo moved back to everyone else. "Squalo-chan, Xanxus would like his lunch, hon~"

"Why can't he cook it himself for a fucking change?" Squalo spat, glaring at his lover. "I'm fucking busy!"

"Ah, but Squ-Squ, you know Xanxus won't eat anyone else's cooking unless he has no choice~ Shishi~" Bel's grin made a return. "He won't even eat his own cooking~"

"Damn fucking straight I won't." Xanxus shoved the package into the younger's arms, grabbing long strands of hair so that he could tug the smaller male towards the house. "Make me my fucking food, you slut. Don't forget the wine."

Squalo growled. "Fucking fine! But only because you'd starve to death if I weren't here to make you your stupid fucking steak!"

While Squalo stormed back into the house, muttering angrily to himself, Xanxus regarded the younger three with cold eyes. "The fuck are you even doing out here?"

"We're teaching Fran-kun how to fight~" Lussuria clapped his hands together in his excitement.

"Hn." A hint of amusement crossed dark eyes before Xanxus sneered. "Think I can shoot at him and see how well he can dodge my bullets?"

"No!" Both Lussuria and Bel cried in succession.

Xanxus shrugged as he turned around to head back inside, most likely to piss Squalo off some more. "It's not like I haven't shot at the three of you before."

Lussuria flinched at the older male's words while Bel just laughed. "But, Xanxus; the prince has had plenty of experience dodging bullets~!"

Xanxus grunted before he went back into the house, Squalo's screams and shouts audible from outside just seconds later.

Lussuria ignored his friends' arguing and instead bounded to his feet, making his way over to the forgotten Fran. "My turn to play with Fran-kun~!"

"Oi, he's the prince's!" Bel reminded, a tad possessive at the moment; if anyone was going to be playing with Fran, it was him.

"I know, Bel-chan~"

Bel stayed where he was, watching as Lussuria gushed in excitement to the boy. He had almost finished his juice box, so he'd have to go back inside and try not to get caught up in the fight taking place in the kitchen just to get another one.

The blond probably wouldn't have worried about it, but Fran's box was just about empty, too, and he knew the younger was going to be thirsty after this; he'd have to brave the older males' fight in order to quench Fran's thirst.

If that wasn't dedication to his boyfriend, he didn't know what was.

~~XX~~

"I think I like your old house better, Froggy~" Bel had just followed the boy into Kyouya's home, his pet wrapped around his shoulders like usual. Neither Mukuro nor Kyouya were home, leaving them to have the run of the house. "It felt more familiar."

"That's because neither of us are Japanese, senpai." Fran headed to the kitchen first, his boyfriend tailing him. "We haven't lived in a traditional Japanese home before."

"Well, the back garden has a nice view," Bel admitted, sending the younger a lopsided grin. "I like the little stream in the middle of it~ Mink would have so much fun playing there."

"Do you want to take him out for a bit?" Fran had grabbed some of the leftover sushi from breakfast out of the fridge, putting it onto the counter so that he could put it onto two separate plates. "He wouldn't run off, would he?"

"Nope~ Mink's really good~" Bel scratched his pet beneath the chin, as if to emphasise his point.

"Just don't let him eat Kyouya's bird, or we'll both be dead."

Bel sniggered, waiting eagerly by Fran's side for his plate of food. He grinned once it was handed to him, and he couldn't help but get his chopsticks into position as they walked to Fran's bedroom, taking a few bites.

Fran stepped into his new bedroom, waiting by the rice paper door for Bel to cross the threshold. He closed it behind them, having always valued his privacy when he was in his room. He crossed the large space to the other door opposite them, sliding it open and letting the light filter in.

"Froggy has a nice view~" Bel walked out into the garden, feeling Mink jump from his shoulders. "It'd be a good thinking spot~"

Fran sat down on the deck, crossing his legs. He rested his plate on them as he ate slowly, watching the furry animal curiously investigate its new surroundings. Bel sat next to him, making short work of his food.

"Froggy is lucky to have such a good family~" Bel turned to look at the younger, chopsticks resting against his lips. "They've given him such a good life~"

"You sound jealous, senpai." Fran reached out, patting the older male's knee. "Don't be jealous; Squalo and Xanxus love you as much as Master does me."

"Yeah..." Bel sighed, pushing his plate away. He looked up into the sky, focusing on the grey rain clouds that slowly approached. "Sometimes it doesn't feel that way..."

"If you're thinking about what Mammon told you, don't." The boy stood up and stretched, leaving his lunch resting beside him. "Mammon had no idea what he was talking about – there's no way they don't love you, senpai. They give you hundreds of dollars each week, pay your rent, cover your grocery costs, but most of all, they've raised you for all these years; they wouldn't have let you be with them for this long if they didn't want you to be with them, Bel-senpai."

Bel was silent for a few seconds before he nodded, a soft smile crossing his face. "Yeah... I guess Froggy's right. Yeah, Froggy is right~"

"See?" Fran gave back the plate of sushi to his boyfriend. "I know what I'm talking about, senpai."

"Did the prince ever tell Froggy about that time when he was little, and he walked in on Squ-Squ and Xanxus having sex?"

"No, senpai." The boy ate slowly as he listened, always happy to hear Bel's stories.

"Well, it was storming and the prince was scared, so he went to see Squ-Squ~ They didn't even notice him standing by the door, so the prince ran forward and jumped onto Squ-Squ's back because the thunder was so loud~ Squ-Squ nearly had a heart attack, shishi~"

Fran smiled. "I bet he wasn't happy."

"Nope~ He yelled and both he and Xanxus lost interest after a while. Squ-Squ called the prince a cockblock, but let him sleep with them anyway~"

Fran laughed lightly. "See? They love you, senpai."

"Yup~ But not as much as the prince loves his Froggy~" Bel leant forward, wrapping his arms around the younger. He knocked Fran to the ground, giggling as he lay on top of Fran. "Does Froggy love his prince, too~?"

"Yes, senpai." Fran lifted his head, kissing the older male. "I love you very much."

"Shishi~ The prince wants to stay like this for longer~ Can he~?"

"Okay, senpai." Fran was sprawled out on the deck, but he didn't mind; he never minded as long as he had Bel there with him.

Bel smiled peacefully as he tightened his hold on Fran. He closed his eyes, relaxed so much, he could almost fall asleep. He knew Fran felt the same way when tiny fingers curled into his striped shirt, and the younger's breathing eventually evened itself out.

It didn't take long at all before the two were fast asleep, their fingers entwined with each other's.

~~XX~~

"Fran... Fran. Wake up."

Teal eyes cracked open at Mukuro's voice, finding the blue-haired male kneeling beside them. Kyouya was by the threshold, his bird nestled in his onyx locks.

"Master..." Fran rubbed at his eyes before he started shaking Bel awake. "Master, what's wrong...?"

"It's dinnertime, little one." Mukuro helped Bel off the boy before he reached out, taking Fran's hand in his. "C'mon; it's ready."

Fran nodded, not sure how long they had slept for, but the sky had already darkened as night approached. "Can Bel-senpai eat with us?"

Mukuro glanced back to Kyouya at this question, knowing it was up to the skylark as this was his home. He smiled when the older male nodded, knowing Kyouya was being respectful of the teal-haired male's relationship.

"Yes, he can, Fran. Can you – what's that?"

Bel and Fran glanced down as something white stepped into their peripheral vision. Mink had returned from whatever he had been doing, climbing easily up his owner's body to rest on strong shoulders.

"This is Mink~" Bel grinned happily as he regarded his pet, wondering if the other two adults would like the animal; it always seemed to take others a while to warm up to his beloved pet.

Mukuro was surprised when his boyfriend stepped forward and ran a finger through silky white fur; while the skylark did like small animals, the blue-haired man hadn't thought Kyouya would appreciate someone else bringing their pet into his home.

The raven-haired male just nodded at Bel, a silent gesture that the mink was welcome back, before he moved back into the house, going to sit by the kotatsu as he waited for everyone else.

"I'll meet you two in the house, alright? Don't be too long or dinner will get cold."

"Okay, Master." Fran yawned as his guardian went back inside, turning to Bel. "I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight; I napped for too long."

"Well, you know what else we can do tonight?" Bel grinned as he reached out, picking Fran up and into the air. He spun around a few times before he hugged the younger to him, planting a sloppy kiss on a pale cheek. "Video games~!"

Fran nodded, wrapping his arms around the blond's neck as he felt himself being carried into the house. "Sounds good, senpai."

Bel giggled to himself before he started humming, content in this moment; he loved his frog more than anything, and there was nothing he wouldn't do for him.

Fran, likewise, felt the same. He knew that he owed his sanity – hell, even his life – to Belphegor, knowing he'd have been unable to cope if he didn't have the older male by his side. He would have gone insane, and he was certain that somewhere down the line, he'd have at least tried to take his own life – with everything he had been put through, he was just glad he was strong enough to leave his body intact, no matter how often the thoughts of self-harm had come to his mind.

Deep inside, Fran was sure Belphegor felt exactly the same way.