Ratings changed from T to M. I think this speaks for itself what I'm planning for this fic + risky, spicy content I'm sure you guys are gonna yell at me for (with an accurate term of 'flaming me to hell'). And updates will be bi-weekly; two chapters per month. I also changed the title from Unconditionally, LOVE to Apocryphal Beloved.

Happy New Year everyone! Let's hope this new decade will be kinder to us compared to the previous years.

(Chapter unedited.)

Practice, DIO

Dio looked in disbelief at his sister. "What?"

Sky sighed almost dejectedly as she snatched his hand and put something in his palm. "I told you. Since my white hair was apparently very appealing to the barbers at barber's shop, I thought I should sell it to them and cut my hair to exchange for money. After all, if you still haven't used that money stashed under our bed, you still wanted more, right? So here it is! My contribution… for our better future."

He looked at the paper money in his hand, rolled and tied by a rubber band. He looked up and observed at his sister's new hairstyle. Before it was a straight long white hair reaching to her hips since she haven't cut it off four years ago after their mother's death, now her hair was short and she's currently wearing a bob cut with curled ends tucked in behind her ears. He watched her kept running her hands through it as if longing and trying to get used to her new short hair and scratching her neck in nervousness and tension. He hummed in approval at her new appearance. That's good. Since her previous long hair always gets everywhere in their pillows, prickling his face than he would've liked, there should be less hindrances when both of them goes to sleep tonight.

"Thank you, Sky… you've always like helping out, aren't you?"

She shrugged with a smile. "You're welcome. I like helping out because I liked the feeling of it and the smiles I received. That's why, Dio, you should smile sometimes, okay?"

People may say this side of her as charming and appealing but to him, he always found it infuriating. Doing something without receiving in exchange? Showing kindness who doesn't deserve it? Being good at someone who obviously treated you badly? That's just an unnecessary pity; a pointless act, a meaningless deed of illusionary selflessness who you just wanted to look down on someone below you. Moreover, it's an exploited act that can be abused if you carelessly throw it to nobodies who doesn't earned that respect—a respect that his sister showed of her innocuous generosity to him who wanted the same wish as him; to have a better life without their shitty father. And he would never allow someone to receive this act of hers when he knows she would get used because of this certain type of deed.

"Sky. Do not thoughtlessly give this compassion to nobodies who is not worthy of your mercy. Not everyone deserves it. You should be mindful who you are going to befriend from now on."

"I know, Dio. You always tell me that since… I can't really remember." She laughed nervously, running her hands to her hair. "But don't worry. I can't really talk to the strangers since I don't have a nerve or courage to approach someone I don't know. I'm not actually carelessly giving it away since I only showed kindness to you. Didn't I told you to always smile sometimes? It's fine if you don't do it to others, I just miss the Dio who always smiles to me and Mother. I just want… to be happy... us to be happy… you know?"

He closed his eyes. So that was the case of her kindness, huh…? "Move on, Sky. I can smile when I want or cry if I feel like it. I can't fake nor trick myself to be happy if it's nothing what I'm feeling right now. Listen, Sky, you have accept reality what is happening right now. You can't just ignore it. We have been living miserably as long as we can remember, and I can't just be glad in our current situation."

Sky didn't say anything at first before she replied silently, "But we can't just wallow in the negative side in our circumstances. After all, if we want a better life, we have to be positive—"

"Sky!" He exploded after hearing her idiotic, naïve words. "Face reality, you idiot! Since when you and I are actually content in our lives? Because of Mother? Because we were taught to be together? Snap out of it, we don't even get along with each other! Ridiculous! Happiness is ridiculous, I dare say! A smile is not enough for us to be content!"

"Reality? Are you asking me to face reality? Happiness is part of reality, you stupid Dio! I'm not asking you to ignore one side to another, all I want for you is to see both sides!" His sister shouted in return. "We don't have to drown ourselves in this shitty situation we got, I'm not blind enough to look away from this. That's not the reason why asking you to smile, I just want you to see the positive side because it's not all that lost and we still have hope!"

Dio felt his anger rise when he heard the last word. Hope? Expectation for better lives? It is true he still got some hope within him but not in the way Sky expected from him. Yes, he is optimistic. Yes, he is anticipating but his hope doesn't dwell in the optimistic side than she would've liked. It is the prospect of hope about their shitty father experience a slow death is what he was hopeful for. He doesn't care if their goddamned father was keeling over in his sickness he hoped he would get soon and just stay dead to become his stepping stone—their stepping stone as they leave their home behind, never looking back at their home full of wretched memories and burn it to the ground.

He turned around, facing his back to his sister, not wanting to argue anymore since he knows he would never win—both of them will never win in this squabble. "Do whatever you want, just don't drag me into it. I can do whatever I want. Remember my words and never to show your compassion to nobodies who doesn't deserve it, got that?"

She scoffed. "Telling me to do what I want then asking me to never show kindness to others… you're so weird."

"Sky." He hissed.

"All right, okay, okay! Geez…" She threw her hands in the air before walking away to do their chores. "Though, I wonder how he's going to react with my new hair…"

Hearing her muttering and wondering about Dario's soon-to-be reaction about her hair, he scowled deeply and sauntered towards their room and pull the stashed money under the bed. Dio counted it once again along with Sky's newly donation to it. Seeing it was more than enough to buy a certain type of medicine, he grinned to himself in maddening delight.

Today will be beginning of the end of Dario Brando and the start of their progress to the future.

"Here, Sky. Make sure that damn father of ours take this medicine I put in the tray after he's done eating his dinner."

Sky promptly took the tray from his hands before she paused and stared at the medicine at the tray. Looking up to him as if for a good measure, she lowered her head at the tray and started sniffing the medicine. Seeing this, Dio immediately pinched her nose and forced her to look up at the ceiling which she instantly reacted in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow! What was that for, Dio?!" She shook her head causing him to let go of her as Dio can see it already swollen under his touch. He silently wondered if he had pressed her nose together probably too hard.

"Stop sniffing the food and go start feeding him. We got no time to waste." And see what kind of reaction this medicine is going to have. He mutely added.

Sky sighed and started walking towards their father's room before she stopped in front of it. "So. The money is gone."

Dio only glanced in her way as he saw her enter the room and closing it behind her. Despite himself, he smirked at her comment, finding it amusing before he started walking towards their room.

Yes, very good. Thanks for noticing, Sky.

Practice, SKY

As expected. Ever since Dio got that 'medicine' a few days ago, Dario had been coughing nonstop and can't even get up from his bed—which he already is bedridden but much, much worse than before—and most of all, he seemed to be quick to anger, his actions are now mostly driven by his temper to the point that she can't fight back nor avoid herself from it. It was the worst days of her life. She thought it was supposed to be make her—their lives better according to Dio and that 'medicine' was supposed to help them but instead, she got the most beatings from their father just because she was the closest target in his vicinity and she can't run away from it.

She sighed, resting her head against the window, looking outside in her leisure since Dario was fast asleep in his room. Just where the hell is Dio? She can't help but noticed the constant lack of his presence in the house, as if he would just vanished without a word and then appearing himself behind her out of nowhere. She can't even count how many times she got startled because of him, it's not good for her health if he continues it.

She glanced up to the sky, seeing the blinding light of sun rising up to high noon. She sighed again. Seriously, where the hell is he? Sky can't cook on her own—not because she can't cook but because she developed some sort type of fear of it ever since that day when Dio tried to teach her to cook as small drops of hot oil was splashed to her accidentally which hurt a lot when it landed at her neck. It caused a three dotted scar—which both she and Dio found ironically since he had three dotted moles in his left ear and now she got one in the right side of her neck but only horizontally and felt as if they are now connected together despite everything.

"Sky."

She perked up when she heard her name. She looked left and right, wondering where it came from.

"Sky. Outside."

She turned her head at the window, seeing Dio looking up to her from the window. He curled his fingers, gesturing her come outside. She pointed to herself. Me?

He gave her a look. Who else?

Shrugging nonchalantly, she walked towards the door and went to Dio's side, wondering what he wanted from her, running her hands to her short hair which she is still not used to. For four years of nurturing, she had been taking care it as long as she can remember and now it was all but gone. It's like something was taken from her but she supposed it was just her since her hair would eventually grow to its former glory.

"What do you want? Where were you? Why did you call me outside? You know I can't cook and only you can do it? Why are you always gone—"

"Sky, remember what I told you?"

She stopped, blinking in thought before she understood. "Right. Uh… Why are we outside?"

"Here."

She took the piece of paper along with a rolled money from him, scanning the handwritten contents before she looked up to him. "…why?"

"I'm busy. And also, consider this as practice in your self-confidence. Make sure to buy the listed ingredients there and don't buy any rotten vegetables if you wanted an upset stomach. This would be our dinner tonight. Don't mess up."

"Wait!" Sky cried when she saw her brother walking away. "Busy? Why are you busy? Are you doing something? Why are asking me to buy this? I can't cook!"

"I'm not asking you to cook. You are only buying the ingredients. If you're worried about lunch, there's still leftover from breakfast, I'm sure you can heat it up by yourself. But if you're wondering why I'm asking you this, let's talk tonight when there's only two of us."

"Wai…" She trailed off when Dio was already earshot. Looking at the piece of paper and the money, she pouted and huffed in exasperation as she walked to the destination of the market.

How is she supposed to see if the vegetable is fresh or rotten? Does it relate to the outer appearance of it?

She pretended to look at the array of vegetables while she contemplated silently in her head. Seriously, what is Dio thinking for sending her to buy vegetables? He should have known the whole time she doesn't frequently go out from the house because she doesn't like seen by others of her…'different' hair. They would certainly think her hair was bleached—according to the barbers when they first saw her—and give her a lecture for being so young while subtly insulting her parents for allowing her hair to be bleached. They would never listen at her words that her hair was natural the whole time while saying it was a lie made up by her parents to allow her hair to be whitened. This was all evident in her first experience going out with Dio to accompany him until she no longer went with him because she was getting tired hearing other people giving her a word about her hair.

But… since her hair was now short, perhaps people would be a lot more merciful at their words if they saw her…?

Wait, no. That's not the actual problem here. The problem is how is Sky supposed to see if the vegetable is fresh or not? Dio gave her a word to not buy rotten but how is she gonna that if she doesn't know what rotten is supposed to look like? She hanged her head dejectedly. Dio is gonna scold her if she's going to buy the wrong ones and all of them would get an upset stomach tonight. She scratched her head in distress.

"What's wrong, young lady? Are you struggling at something?"

She stood startled at the unknown voice before she looked up and realized it was the merchant in front of her. She laughed nervously. "No… I'm buying vegetables…"

"Really? You've staring at my goods for an hour now, are you sure you wanted to buy one?"

Her heart skipped a beat at those words, afraid that the merchant would send her away. "N-n-no! I will buy! I will buy one! I'm just… d-deciding, yes, I'm deciding!" She focused her gaze at the array of vegetables while pretending to look at the price before she pretended again to look and pick up one to inspect it.

"Young lady, do you have a list with you? You don't have to pretend with me, I know you don't know a single thing what you're attempting to buy. Let me help you."

Sky felt her face heat in embarrassment as she gave the merchant the list and looked down to the ground while fidgeting. She can't believe this person saw through her…

"Hmm? Wait, this handwriting… This is Dio's handwriting! My, my dear girl, you know Dio?"

She blinked in surprise when she saw the merchant exclaimed in recognition as they looked at the paper. "He's my… brother."

They gasped. "Dio's… sister?! Oh my god! I can't believe the rumors are true! Dio does have a sister who is charming as him!"

She was taken back and blushed even harder at their words. "N-no! There's no way I'm—"

"Dio?! Did I just hear 'Dio' just now?!"

A door behind the merchant suddenly opened, revealing a girl who is the same age as Sky, wavy brown hair and brilliant green eyes and looked around as if searching for someone. She pouted. "What… he's not here. That's disappointing." With a frown, she closed the door behind her. Sky can only blinked in response, wondering what just happened.

"See? I told you your brother is charmer. My daughter, Charlotte, was quite smitten at him."

"I… I see…" She muttered in understanding before she frowned in confusion. Dio? Charming? She never found her brother that charming but perhaps she was already immune to it.

"F…fairy…"

Sky felt someone touched her thigh as she looked down and saw a kid gazing their wide innocent eyes at her before she realized what he said. She pointed to herself. "Me? Fairy?"

"Ah, that's my son clingin' at you, John. Looks like my family is quite attached to you siblings. Why don't you try and lift him up… umm…"

She granted the merchants' wish and the raised the little boy up her arms. "Sky. My name is Sky."

"I see. The name's Charles. Charles Fagerstorm. Nice to meet ya, Sky."

She nodded at the merchant and smiled. "Yes. Nice to meet you."

"So… are ya gonna take that vegetable of yours or…"

"I will but…" She looked at the little boy in her arms who is tugging her hair with his little hands. "I think I'll stay here for a bit."

"A'ight. Make yourself at home then, Sky."

"Thank you."

"Fairy!"

"Dio, as promised, you said you were gonna talk with me, right?"

Both Sky and Dio are under the soft comforts of their bed, snuggling beneath their blanket as she faced the back of her brother and talked to him in low voice. Instead of facing of her, Dio shifted his body to face the ceiling.

"Oh, right. I nearby forgot. I still have to talk to you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you that so busy you forgot about our talk tonight?"

"No. To be honest, I simply see it as a pointless and forgot about it."

She scowled at him. "You're the one who suggested to talk and now you're seeing it as pointless?"

She saw his eyebrow twitched. "Don't you dare push my buttons, Sky, I just forgot about it. It's natural for a normal human being to make a mistake and forget some things.

Excuses, excuses… She inwardly shook her head. "Oh, well. I'm more interested what you want to talk with me. So? What was the purpose of you sending me out to the market?"

Dio made a smirk as he side-glanced her from his position. "Very good, Sky. You're learning. I'm glad you didn't went to your usual barrages of questions but instead, you went straight to the heart of conversation."

"Huh? Yeah…" Why did he suddenly compliment her…?

"Well… since it would be a drag to tell the whole story but let me ask you a question first. Did you met a merchant named Charles Fagerstorm?"

"What…? How did you know that?" Dio gave her a look. She immediately shut her mouth for another question before she responded. "Y-yes, I did…"

"And I assumed he recognized you with my handwriting?"

With those words, she immediately understood. "Dio… did you plan all this?"

"Answer the question first."

She reeled back a bit when her brother used his no-nonsense tone out of nowhere. "H-he did. I didn't know I was only a rumor and no one actually knew me."

"That's your fault, you idiot. You're always coped up in the house no one knew you actually existed other than me, Mother and Dario… and perhaps those so-called friends of yours in the neighborhood. Though, I'm sure they already forgot about you."

Hearing about those friends of hers, she can't help but feel down at the truth of her brother's words.

"…that's right. You're right, Sky. All of it was part of my plan. When Dario finally kicked the bucket and lost his hold to us, I've finally chosen a home suited for us. With his death, I'll make sure we'll live in prosperity under that family."

"What…? What are you talking about, Dio?" She blinked in confusion, the meaning of his words lost to her.

"Have you gone deaf, you stupid Sky. Read between the lines, idiot, there's a reason why I sent you out in the market. I told you it would serve as practice in your confidence and for you to meet the Fagerstorm family."

Huh…? Then that means… "When that 'medicine' finally fulfilled its purpose… we'll be living with… them?" That much, she can understand but…

"That's right. I still don't know foster home works but the moment I will marry that merchant's daughter, I'll make sure to make prosper their business under my hands."

"Wait! Wait just a minute…!" She was caught off her at his last few words. "Marry? We're tying ourselves in their family through marriage…?! Dio, I know you like planning but I didn't know to this extent…!"

"What, are you against it? It's fine if you don't agree with me. After all, when we become adults, we'll eventually get separated and settle down in our own family, right?"

No, that's not… that's not I meant, Dio… Sky can't believe Dio had already thought this much and very, very ahead, even to the point of his adulthood. But, if he had already planned this much and imagined himself having a family, Dio must've been eager to walk away from this house and never look back to his past. Though, she was a bit disheartened she wasn't included in his plan, even just a minor one.

"But… to be quite honest, this plan of mine is still full of faults. We still don't know what the future had in store for us and you can consider this some kind of failsafe plan, a Plan B. It was desperate tactic I thought while looking around for pawns I could use for our future…"

She stayed silent, not knowing whether she should be relieved or angry. But, at least, Dio managed to answer one of her question. And now for the other one… "Then, Dio, what have you've been into these days? You always vanish and appear like some sort of vampire trying to suck me dry behind my back, always startling me."

"Hmm? Ah… I was making money obviously. I got myself a job during the day."

"What kind of job?"

"You don't need to know."

She sighed, realizing Dio would no longer give her straight answer. "I see. That's good. With that money you will collect, it's gonna be enough when we leave the house, right?"

"…"

Seeing her brother didn't respond, she draped her arms and snuggled closer to him. She guessed it was already enough for now. And also, she's getting sleepy…

"Sky, what is your prayer?"

She forced herself to pay attention, despite half-awake. "Prayer…?"

"You pray what you want, right? What is it that you want?"

She sleepily huffed. "That's obvious. Better life, of course. And I want grow taller like you since you always help me when I want to reach something. And also…"

"Also?"

"…strong. Strong like you. I always look up to you, that's why, I want to be like you."

"…I see. Good night, Sky."

"Yeah… good…"

She wasn't even able to finish her words, registering a soft warmth enveloping her body before she fell into a deep sleep.

Several days later, Sky found out Dario Brando had finally met his end.

And I thought that this is the triumph
that I needed to move on
I've blamed everything on you
It's easy to just pretend
—Mushrooms by Mili