His hand was steady, despite the guilt settling in his stomach. There wasn't a lot of guilt, of course. This was for the best. This would make things more interesting, that was for certain. It happened quickly and he sighed in relief when it was over. The amount was small. It was basically a test amount.

"What are you doing?" The monotone voice behind him made him jump a little.

"Fran-chan? I thought you were sleeping." Lussuria turned around, hiding it behind his back. The boy looked around him at the bottle of cinnamon coffee creamer and tilted his head. "I was just adding more sugar! You know Kaerin likes sweet things~"

"Sugar doesn't come in syringes."

"Ushishishi~ The prince hears an argument." Belphegor paused in the doorway, finding Fran examining the syringe. "What are you putting in Kaere-hime's creamer?"

"I don't know." Fran turned his gaze back to Lussuria, who looked increasingly nervous. "What did you put in it?"

"It was just sugar! I swear it was!"

"If it was sugar, drink it." The prince handed the bottle to him, grinning evilly.

Lussuria took it and, frowning, sipped the creamer. He winced at the overwhelming sweetness, but seemed otherwise fine. "See? It was just sugar!" On the inside, he was starting to panic about what might happen to him.

Shift P.O.V

"So what's that stupid Noriyama doing? I heard she got a mission from Reborn."

Tsuna frowned at the grudging tone in his friend's voice. "She had to assassinate a local yakuza."

"What the hell?! He sent her to do that alone?"

"She wasn't alone," Reborn stated. "She had Squalo with her."

"Why would you send him to help her?!"

"He didn't help her. She killed him on her own."

Tsuna winced. He started to worry about where Kaere's future might lie. She had changed so much from the girl he had met two years ago. What if she does join the Varia? We'll hardly ever see her. I know Gokudera acts like he doesn't care, but he keeps asking about her.

"Wow! Kaere-chan is becoming vicious!" Yamamoto laughed.

"Yeah…she is." Tsuna slouched and checked his phone. What he had failed to tell the others was what Reborn had said, shortly after Kaere had left the house. Xanxus was in town early and when he heard that she got a mission, he had demanded to know where she would be. The boy knew that he had been there to witness the man's death. There was no way he would have missed it. I don't like what she's becoming, he thought. I don't like what the mafia is doing to her. I feel responsible for this.

Shift P.O.V

Arriving at the house, Kaere was pleasantly surprised to find it empty. A note on the fridge stated that her other guests had gone for groceries, leaving her alone in the house with Squalo. Well…this is awkward. She glanced over her shoulder at Squalo, who was grimacing at the strong alcoholic smell that emanated from his hair. The girl smirked, still slightly intoxicated. "Hey…I'm using the bathroom upstairs."

"Voi! I'm using it first!"

"I need it more…I'm covered in blood…and the downstairs bathroom only has a bathtub. I-I'm not bathing in bloody water."

The man scowled. "I have stuff in my hair!" he argued. "I need the bathroom first!"

Recalling the incident, Kaere tried not to laugh. Xanxus had snapped at one point during the night and smashed an entire bottle of sake over the swordsman's head. I feel sort of bad though…he snapped because he thought you slept in my room last night. Well you did, but still. She stood there for a moment, waiting to see what he would do. Unfortunately, Squalo stood there simply glaring down at her. Kaere sprinted to the stairs without warning. She could hear him right behind her and tried to slam the bathroom door before he could get in, but in the struggle she found herself being knocked backwards into the shower. "D-damn it!"

"Voi! I said I was using it first!"

Kaere saw him start to undress and frowned. "G-get out! I'm using it first!"

"I have to wash this out of my hair!"

"I'm covered in some guy's blood! I-I've already killed one person tonight…don't make me hurt you, too!" She yelped quietly when he lifted her by the front of her bloody tank top, dragging her out of the shower. What is he doing?! He's not wearing anything!

"You think you can hurt me, woman?!" Squalo smirked down at her as Kaere began to tremble. Her jacket slid down her arms, falling to the floor.

Her back connected with the wall and she flinched when the front of her shirt was torn down the middle. "Wh-what do you…think you're doing?" She tilted her head back when she felt his mouth latch onto her neck. I hate that you know my weakness! I hate that you…make me feel like this! "S-Squalo…"

"Say it again," he growled against her skin. His right hand went to the front of her jeans, working to unbutton them. She said his name again, in a whisper, and leaned up to kiss him. The man pulled away with a smirk and saw her blushing red. "You still love me, woman."

"S-so what if I do…? It's not like…we can actually…be together…because Xanxus…"

"Don't say his name right now!" Anger ignited in his eyes. "What? You wish you were with him right now instead?"

"O-of course not!" Kaere looked away and reached down, finishing the buttons for him. The jeans slid to the floor and she grimaced down at the blood now smeared on his chest. "Um…w-we should probably…shower." She pulled away and heard the door close as she started the water. With her back to him, Kaere finished undressing and glanced over her shoulder at him. I just hope the others don't get back soon.

He approached quickly once she was in the shower, pressing her back against the tiled wall and locking his mouth onto hers. The girl's fingers trailed through his long, pale hair and felt his hips press against hers. Kaere's face went red again and she carefully wrapped her arms around his neck. Most of the blood had been washed away by the water already, much to her relief. She closed her eyes and let him lift her legs around his waist. This is happening…I'm not as nervous this time though…but…what if the others come back early? Or if Xanxus shows up? What would happen? Kaere opened her eyes as he slipped into her and bit her lower lip, muffling a moan. Squalo looked back at her, the corner of his mouth lifted in a satisfied smirk. "I…love you…"

"I love you too, woman." He pulled back a little and thrust deeper into her. The girl's nails dug into his back, her hips grinding forward against his. Squalo leaned down, his teeth nipping at her neck as he continued to thrust into her warm core, listening to the quiet moans that escaped the girl. He heard his own name and it urged him to go faster.

Kaere felt a ball of pleasure building in her lower half and leaned up to kiss along his neck. We shouldn't be doing this. It's dangerous. But I can't…I wanted to hate him after what he did. But I just can't. Her climax hit and her muscles tightened around him, her nails digging in deep. They dragged upward, making him tense for a moment. To her embarrassment, a low moan left her pale lips.

He grinned and quickened his pace until he finally joined her, spilling into the girl. "You finally stopped fighting me," he taunted.

"Sh-shut up…I just…" She trailed off and waited for him to lower her legs so she was standing again. What are we going to do though? We can't really…be together. Kaere turned away and began to wash herself, frowning. We can't walk around together like we did before. We can't spend time together like before. If Lussuria saw us, I'm not confident that he would keep it a secret. And if Xanxus saw us…he might…Her golden eyes widened when she felt arms wrap around her from behind. Feeling the heat of his body against hers made her blush pink and she turned her head to kiss him.

"Voi! Hurry up! We're not done yet!"

"Wh-what? We can't…I mean…they might come back and…" She felt a hand trail down from her waist and bit her lip when she felt a finger tease her entrance. "S-Squalo…" Teeth grazed her ear and soon they were out of the bathroom. Kaere fell onto her back on her bed as the door closed and locked. He approached quickly and she turned her head away in embarrassment when he lifted her legs over his shoulders. In one quick move, he thrust into her. They both moaned and she threw her head back against the pillow. "I-it's…too deep…"

He pulled out a little and thrust back in, reaching down to grip her chin. Squalo dragged her face forward and leaned down to crush his lips against hers, his mouth moving passionately in the kiss. "Don't look away again, Kaere!"

"Ngh! It's…too deep…" she repeated, wincing slightly.

"Voi! Stop saying that!" The man thrust harder and watched her eyes widen. It brought a spark of amusement to his expression and he did it again and again. He watched her unravel beneath him, her hips thrusting up to meet his after a while and her hands trailing through his long, pale hair. His eyes half-closed and his name escaped Kaere in a loud moan as she climaxed again, her core gripping him tightly. The combination of her moaning his name and the sensation of her wet warmth around him sent him over the edge. He spilled into her again before letting her legs go. They wrapped around his waist and he leaned against her, reveling in the feeling of her fingers through his hair. The scratches on his back stung a little, but they were barely noticeable through the pleasure.

Kaere turned them so she was on top and rested her head against his chest. His heart was beating faster than hers and it made her half-smile. "Squalo…I love you."

His gloved hand trailed down her back. "I love you too, woman."

She snorted. "Just…call me by my name."

"Kaere."

Hearing her name growled sent an odd pleasure through her. "You do realize…we can't do this again."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" His eyes narrowed in irritation.

"I mean…it was dangerous before…but with him in town…and everyone staying here…it's too risky for us to do this again." Her smile twitched into a smirk and a sadistic gleam entered her eyes. She lifted herself a little and lowered her hips, sliding along his length. "Maybe…just one more time?"

"Voi! Woman, don't tease me!" He gripped her hips tightly and thrust up into her, but it was clear that neither of them had the strength to continue. The man pulled her down to rest her head on his chest again, smirking. "We're doing this more, Kaere. I'm not letting you get away from me again!"

She closed her eyes and felt his fingers comb through her short brown hair. "Squalo…you know you're betraying him…right? Not just by us doing this…but just by loving me, you're betraying Xanxus."

"Shut up! I said not to mention his name right now!"

Downstairs, the front door opened and admitted her other houseguests. They were greeted loudly by the four hounds and noisily made their way to the kitchen. Kaere froze on top of Squalo, staring wide-eyed at the bedroom door. Footsteps came up the stairs and moved to the bathroom. The girl silently cursed herself for having left all of their clothes in there. The footsteps approached her door and a rustle was heard as their clothes were dropped in front of the bedroom door.

"You two lovebirds better be careful~" Lussuria teased. "I won't tell, but I can't promise that someone else won't!"

"Voi! If you say anything-!"

"I just said that I won't though! No one wants to see Kaerin get hurt, after all~"

Kaere heard him go downstairs and rushed to her door. Once their clothes were brought in, she frowned and sat beside Squalo on the bed. What did he mean? Would Belphegor or Fran tell Xanxus about this? But neither of them know…right? And Fran said before that he would never betray me…right? Can I still trust that? She leaned against Squalo's side and closed her eyes. "Um…we really should…be more careful…"

"So you do want to do this again?" he taunted.

"Sh-shut up."

They were both silent for a moment, seeming to be lost in their own thoughts. "Voi! We should just tell them so we don't have to be careful!"

She snorted. "Yeah…like Xanxus won't kill us for doing that. Telling him would just make it worse." Kaere ran fingers through her long bangs. If we told him that we're together, he would probably only kill me. I'm expendable; Squalo isn't. He's stronger than I am. He's a way better assassin than I am.

"Bullshit! I can't protect you if I can't stay close to you, woman!"

"Shut up…" Kaere moved across the room to her dresser, rummaging for some clean clothes. Dressed in black skull-printed sweatpants and a plain black tank top, she gave him a curious look. "I-I'm going downstairs for some tea. You want some?"

Recalling the previous night's tea drugging incident, he smirked. "Get me some food."

Entering the kitchen, she found Lussuria and the others enjoying some cake. Just don't say anything. It's awkward enough as it is. She set about making her tea, keeping her back to them. Only Lussuria knows…right? He didn't tell the others, right?

"Kaerin? Don't you want some cream with your tea?"

She winced. Is that supposed to be a joke? Who drinks tea with cream in it? The girl shook her head and moved to the fridge, scavenging for something her guest upstairs might like.

"Ushishishi~ Kaere-hime has bite marks on her neck."

"Kaere, what happened?" a monotone voice asked.

"Oh! That's right! Didn't Bossu arrive early? You must have had a romantic rendezvous after your mission, right, Kaerin~? So? How was it?"

Her face turned bright red and she grabbed some random food from the fridge. Her teacup in hand, she frowned at her guests. "I'm…going to bed early. Alone. No one bother me."