Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn

Ryohei lay there in shock, curled into the wrinkled sheets now stained with his blood. Luss sat on the edge of the bed smoking a cigarette.

"Come on Ryo-chan you need to get dressed," Luss stood up and started pulling his clothes on.

Ryohei curled up tighter. "I don't want to go,"

"Don't be silly Ryo-chan." Luss started throwing clothes onto the bed beside him. "I need my arm candy."

Ryohei didn't move. Luss sighed. "Don't be like that Ryo-chan… you know I love you…" He kissed his shoulder tenderly. Ryohei shied away from him, biting into his lip to keep from making a noise, it hurt his lip was already split and bleeding from where Luss had hit him to keep him obedient. Luss trailed a long manicured nail down Ryohei's spine. "If you would prefer…. We could stay here instead…. There are still a few things I'd like to do to you…" Ryohei shuddered. Those words would have once sent a thrill of pleasure down his spine now clenched tightly around his heart.

"I…I'll go… I'll go… just… Give me a minute to get ready…" Ryohei whispered.

"You're so good Ryo-chan." Luss said petting his hair. "I'm so glad I have you."

Dino made small talk and did all that was expected of him as he play acted at being the perfect husband. He wished he were home tucking-in the kids or reading them their bedtime story, rather than participating in this farce. He glanced over at Victoria and watched as she attempted to do the same, but was less adroit at perpetuating the lie. Her smile was wooden and didn't quite reach her eyes, hardly masking her upset. As he looked around the room he couldn't help thinking back to the first time he went through this charade, back when his little performance wasn't so much a lie as a hope. He and Carmen had escaped their reception early and had spent their first night as husband and wife hiding out in the park under the stars while everyone else panicked searching for them. Carmen had truly understood him... The only other person since was Kyouya… and now he was gone. Dino cursed whatever bravado caused Hibari to come to Italy. He wished it could have worked out differently… but it had to end this way. His only hope now was that Hibari would find the letter and understand.

Dino spotted Ryohei standing in the corner unusually quiet and made his way over to him.

"Ryohei!" Ryohei flinched at the sound of his name, but recovering quickly turned towards him smiling.

"Dino! I'm extremely glad you found your wife!"

"Thanks… Are… you ok?"

Ryohei's smile wavered not at all. He implusively rubbed the back of his neck and laughed loudly.

"I'm extremely fine!" Ryohei tried to force everything he had into those three words, hoping that Cavallone wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Ever since walking into that room with Lussuria, he felt everyone's eyes watching him, judging him. He begged to any god that would listen that no one would ever find out what had happened.

Dino smiled. "At least someone is…" He sighed and leaned against the wall. "You and Kyouya are pretty close…."

"Extremely." Ryohei leaned against the wall next to him.

"How is he taking…" Dino waved a hand vaguely. "Everything?"

Ryohei's permanent smile turned into a thoughtful expression, one Dino hadn't seen before. "Oh…. He's….. Extremely…..Hopeful"

"Hopeful?"

"Yeah… he's extremely hopeful that none of this is real."

Hibari wasn't sure how long he sat there, alone clutching his knees to his chest. Finally, he got to his feet wiping his eyes on the back of his hand and hating himself. He turned to leave. He wanted to be anywhere else in the world. He moved towards the door and came face to face with Mukuro.

"Kufufufufufufu," Mukuro smiled down at him. "I would have said something but you looked so precious… If I had known that letter would get this reaction I wouldn't have kept you from seeing it these last few months."

Caught off guard only momentarily Hibari swung his fist around to punch him only for it to be caught deftly and twisted out of the way.

"Kufufufufufu… I would have never of thought it possible for you to cry for anyone..."

Hibari didn't answer he swung again with his other fist only for it to be caught and twisted behind him by something he couldn't see. He was trapped. He struggled and fought kicking out at Mukuro only to have his feet become tied to the floor.

"Kufufufu.."

Hibari hated that laugh. It echoed throughout his skull and pulled every lever of rage in his head. Mukuro walked forward and kissed him lightly on the mouth letting his tongue slip seductively over his lower lip. Hibari's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't move away. He pulled at his bonds reminding himself they were only illusions. He could fight illusions.

"Come now Kyouya, it wasn't that bad…" Mukuro reached out a hand and ran it through Hibari's hair.

"Don't touch me." Hibari spat trying to twist away from his touch. Mukuro laughed again and leaned in for another soft kiss. "Get away from me!" Hibari stopped struggling and tried to concentrate. He had to break out of this.

Mukuro smiled at him. "It's not like you never liked my kisses…" He ran a long thin finger down the curve of Hibari's face, caressing him softly. "Well… there was a time… under the cherry blossoms…"

Hibari's eyes flew open and he stared at Mukuro. No. Not again. Never again.

Mukuro laughed. "Don't look so worried Kyouya… I'm not even really here. This is just an illusion."

Hibari's only response was to glare.

"As it is Kyouya, you are alone, discarded, unloved… It's not as if you have many options…. I can make you feel better Kyouya… I can make the pain go away… That hatred you keep deep inside, just for me… That's simply the flip-side of love… "

Hibari actually scoffed at that. "I would never love you."

"Oh but you do… I can tell. You take such an interest in everything I do… You keep track of how well they are guarding me in my prison. You keep tabs on my jailors' habits, their preferences, how well they do their jobs…." Mukuro kissed him almost lovingly. "How could I let such devotion go unrewarded?"

Hibari kept his face blank, only his eyes reflecting his fury.

"Did you like what I did for you? I worked very hard to make sure you got an invitation to the Horse's wedding... and while you were away… I made sure that those records of my imprisonment were well taken care of." Mukuro laughed at Hibari's shocked expression. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close kissing him deeply, passionately enjoying the feel of Hibari's body against his own and how he struggled to get away. "Perhaps soon I will be able to finish what we've started here in person…" he ran his thumb lovingly over Hibari's lower lip. "as for now... I believe I have an appointment with Ken and Chikusa…. Goodbye."

Mukuro disappeared along with whatever illusion was holding Hibari in place. Hibari tried to lash out at him, but all his punches met thin air, causing him to drive his fist through the wall in his frustration. He whipped out his cell phone and turned it on. Ignoring a voicemail from Kusakabe, he called Vindcare. He relayed to them what Mukuro had said and was assured that everything was secure and nothing had happened.

He looked down at the crumpled letter and grabbed it. There had to be something else there… This couldn't be it… Why else would Mukuro want to keep it from him? He smoothed it out on the floor and looked down at the signature.

Sincerely,

ディノ

Dino Cavallone 10th

He stared. Dino never signed his name in katakana… He didn't like the way it looked… Hibari snatched up the letter and went to his desk he dug through his drawers until he found at the back of one, an old copy of the Namimori School Rulebook. He pulled out a piece of paper that listed the instructions for decoding Dino's message. It had been years since Cavallone had given it to him, and he had almost forgotten it, but the presence of Dino's odd Katakana signature brought the memory back. Mukuro could not have known the code but probably suspected that there was more to the letter.

It took Hibari a little over an hour to translate it. It was short and choppy, evidence of Dino's haste, and the inadequacies of the cipher. Finally finished he sat back and read:

Dear Kyouya,

I am being watched. Probably going to die soon. You are the only person outside of my family that I trust. Mr. Suzuki has the paperwork. Address in your book. Romario is first resort, but if I'm dead Romario probably is too.

Love,

Dino Cavallone 10th

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this installment of Mafia Games. Reviews and critiques are always welcome.

A/N2: YAY! I finally posted! I'm so sorry this took a month. Thank you for all your comments!