Author's Note: Things might seem a little centered around Squalo for a while. I sort of became obsessed. However! Things are going to change soon and get even crazier! I want to thank you for reading and staying with me this far! If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask! You're all amazing!
"Chrome…I don't mind you visiting, but I'm not doing that." Kaere dug in her snack drawer and produced a bag of licorice, which she offered to the girl.
She hesitantly accepted a piece and frowned. "B-but you have to make a new one! Noriyama-san…I'm sorry about what happened to Mizuki-san. I tried to stop her, but…sh-she took her own life! I didn't know it would hurt you that way!"
Kaere sat back in her desk chair, sighing. She tugged down the neck of her tank top, exposing the scar just above her heart. It was jagged and deep. "This…is what I had to feel. If someone hadn't come along when they did, I would have bled to death."
"I-I thought you couldn't die that way. He said you could only die if your heart or brain were destroyed," Chrome pointed out. She chewed the candy thoughtfully, still frowning.
"Yeah, well…I can't let people know…I'm even weaker than I seem."
"So there's no way I can convince you to make another?"
"Mukuro-san still owes me for the last one. A late fee and extra expenses for causing the body to commit suicide. He's lucky I don't charge him for emotional and physical distress." Kaere saw Chrome's eye fill with tears. "Look…if he wants to negotiate something…he knows where to find me…" Kaere glanced at her phone and grimaced. "I have to meet someone for lunch. Sorry, Chrome."
"N-no, it's okay. You're probably busy, right?" She smiled, but it was a sad sort of smile.
When they parted way outside, it began to rain. Kaere ran the whole way to the sushi bar and was glad to spend time with Tsuna and Yamamoto. Gokudera avoided her gaze, refusing to speak to her. She was fine with it. There were bigger things to worry about. I just don't know how I'm going to survive a second night with those people in my house. I'm lucky I didn't get killed in my sleep last night. Fran probably had something to do with that.
Tsuna saw the worry in her eyes and tried to smile reassuringly. "I'm trying to talk Reborn into moving them," he remarked.
"That would be nice, but…I know he likes to mess with me." She tugged down her goggles and chewed a sushi roll, trying to remain calm. "As long as he doesn't show up."
"He won't! I promise he won't!" Tsuna glanced over at the others.
"You'll be fine, Kaere-chan. You're tough," Yamamoto joined in. "You seem tougher since that incident though. It's kind of cool."
"Shut up." All eyes went to Gokudera, who was still looking away. "I don't know why you're trying to make her feel better. She got herself into this!"
Well aren't you pleasant as always? Kaere's phone started to ring and she glared briefly at the screen before shoving it into her pocket. I've been here for an hour and a half. I think that's enough social time. Maybe I'll just go back to the lab and hang out there. It's better than dealing with this. Or my houseguests. She turned to Tsuna, about to excuse herself, when a figure entered the building.
It was like something out of a movie. Lighting lit up the sky behind the figure, silhouetting them for a moment before the restaurant's lights revealed them. His hair was dripping, hanging in his face, and his eyes narrowed on Kaere and her friends. He trudged across the sushi bar to their table and scowled down at them. "Voi! What the hell are you doing here?! Do you know how long that sissy was waiting for you? He made me look for you! We're leaving now!" the man roared at her.
Kaere stood without protest and started for the exit. "Tsuna…thanks for lunch. I'll call you later," she called over her shoulder. She heard her escort following her and sighed. Of course he would show up right when I'm about to leave so I can be alone. Why should I be able to escape? The girl walked briskly, silent, while he seethed. She wanted to think about something else and scowled when her thoughts shifted to her old friend. Gokudera. That idiot. If he hadn't said that, it would have been a nice lunch. He ruined everything. Not that he hasn't done that before. She led the way into the house and went up to her room, flopping onto her bed.
Sounds drifted to her up the stairs. Fran was with Belphegor in the living room, seemingly arguing over the dogs' names. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smelling rain from her slightly open window. Kaere loved the smell of rain almost as much as cinnamon brown sugar cookies. The sound of Lussuria scolding one of the dogs for stealing food could be heard for a moment before Kaere heard Squalo stomping up the stairs to the bathroom. The door slammed behind him. They're going to break my house, she thought. Would Reborn reimburse me if they did? Would I get a new house? Could I get a house not in this town, where no one knows me? Sleep began to settle in and she sighed in contentment.
Kaere was rudely awoken by the bathroom door slamming open and footsteps loudly approaching her room. She opened her eyes and blushed bright red. Squalo was standing in her doorway, his hair still wet and just wearing a towel. Her favorite towel in fact; it was black with purple flowers on it. Blood ran from her nose and she turned away, putting her back to him. "Wh-what are you doing?!" she demanded, pressing a corner of her blanket to her nose.
"Where the hell is your conditioner?! All you have is shampoo!"
"I'm…out of conditioner…Can you please put some clothes on?"
"You have a problem with how I look?!"
It's kind of the opposite! Kaere closed her eyes tightly when she felt a hand grip her shoulder and turn her onto her back. "S-Squalo, just-!"
"I don't what the hell your problem is, but stop ignoring me and stop treating me like a fucking enemy! Don't act like you don't still love me!" he growled.
Kaere felt a weight on her waist and opened her eyes slightly. He was straddling her hips, still only wearing a towel, and smirked down at her when he saw that her nose was bleeding. "G-get off!" She hesitantly put her hands on his chest and tried to push him away. Her face turned an even brighter shade of red when he grabbed both of her wrists in one hand and pinned them over her head. "D-damn it…get…out of my room…"
Squalo leaned down, his damp hair brushing against her cheek. "Voi! Why is your nose bleeding?" he taunted. "You see something you like?" She refused to answer and turned her face away. He leaned down even further and nipped at the side of her neck. "Why are you acting so nervous, woman? Are you turned on by this?" Kaere shivered beneath him and felt his lips latch onto her neck, biting briefly before sucking at her pale skin.
She shifted anxiously, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip to keep from making noises. What is he thinking?! He left the door open! And…we're not even together anymore! Kaere felt his mouth move lower, teeth nipping at the flesh above her neckline. "S-Squalo, wait! Don't..."
"Don't act like you don't like this," he growled against her skin.
"Kaerin~ I hope you're decent!" a voice called up the stairs. It was accompanied by footsteps, which sent the girl into a panic. Squalo didn't move fast enough and soon Lussuria was gaping at them. "Kaerin! What's going on here? You're not cheating on Xanxus with Squalo, are you?!"
She wanted to die right there. Instead, she twisted to face away. It forced Squalo to move and as he did so, he released her wrists. "I-I'm not…dating Xanxus!" Kaere managed to protest. "A-and even if I was…I wouldn't ch-cheat on him with Squalo! I hate him!"
Gloved fingers threaded into her hair, forcefully turning her face toward his. "Voi! What did you just say?! Don't lie to me, woman!"
"Oh my~ Squalo, put some clothes on! You wouldn't want him to hear about this, would you? I can't imagine what he might do if he knew I saw you half-naked on top of his lovely Kaerin!" Lussuria stood there, a hand on his hip, until the swordsman stormed out of the room. He closed the door and grinned mischievously. "So? What on earth was that about?"
"I…I don't know what that was about," she admitted. "He…saw my nosebleed and…just…sort of…" Kaere wrapped her arms around herself. "Why did you send him to find me? I would have been home soon."
Lussuria tilted his head. "I didn't send Squalo to find you. Did he say that?" He saw her nod. "He kept pacing around the house and finally just ran off!" The man absently ran fingers through her short brown hair, humming for a moment. "Don't worry. I won't tell Xanxus. I wouldn't want you to get hurt, Kaerin~"
You keep saying things like that. Exactly how much danger am I in? She curled up in a ball, frowning. "Does…Xanxus think I'm dating him?"
"Of course~ He always talks about his plans for his cute girlfriend Kaerin! It's why we came before he did! He's still getting everything ready!"
I don't want to know what you're talking about. I'm sure it's something horrific. Kaere sat up and ruffled her hair. "So…what are Fran and Belphegor doing?"
"Oh! I gave the dogs baths earlier and they're arguing over which one looks the best!" Lussuria smiled. "They'll argue about anything, really."
"Fantastic." She followed him downstairs and found that Squalo had joined the others in the living room. When their eyes met, she blushed and looked away. This didn't go unnoticed by the other two, who exchanged a glance. The girl walked past all three of them to the armchair in the corner and lounged there, one leg draped over an arm of the chair. She reached for the manga on the coffee table. Just don't look at them. Just read this…Her golden eyes went wide. This is hentai?! Why did I have hentai sitting out in the open? Damn it! I can't react; they'll notice!
"Ushishishi~ What is Kaere-hime reading?" the prince asked, approaching her chair.
"Don't bother my girlfriend, Bel-sempai." Fran followed him.
Don't look at them. Just keep reading. Kaere felt her book being pulled away and blushed pink when Belphegor looked at the pages. What the hell is your problem?!
"Kaere-hime was reading hentai? What a perverted princess~"
"Give it back." Fran's monotone command went ignored.
"Voi! You're still reading hentai?! Who are you planning to seduce this time?"
Kaere gritted her teeth as they all continued to talk at once, two of them taunting her and the other quietly arguing with them. Finally, she snapped. Sanity was slipping again. "E-everyone just shut the hell up! Give me back my book or I'll tear you apart limb from limb!"
Everyone went silent, stunned by how incredibly loud she had managed to shout. Belphegor grinned and handed it back to her, but did not walk away. Lussuria stared at her in disbelief. "Kaerin, you sound so much like Bossu when you yell~"
"N-no, I don't."
"You're like a cute, girly, tsundere Xanxus!"
She threw her manga across the room, smashing him in the face. "I-I'm not like him!" The girl left her guests behind, moving into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She frowned as the water boiled, her golden eyes narrowed on the tea selection. I'm not like Xanxus at all. Am I? I don't…know. I don't know him well enough to know if I'm like him. But I hope I'm not.