Bel hadn't liked the idea of being taken away from Squalo to live in a country he was very unfamiliar with, but he hadn't voiced his wishes – in fact, even two months after having awoken from his coma, he hadn't said anything; he had just sat there, staring whenever people spoke to him and crying if others came too close. It had broken Squalo's heart to help Dino organise their move to Japan, but he had learnt his lesson; never again would he ever do the right thing by someone else and take them into his home.

Bel had been okay on the flight to Japan; he had slept for most of the trip, the heavy prescription drugs he was now taking always making him very drowsy and knocking him out for a while. He had woken up with just a few hours of the flight left, and had spent the time playing with his toys and reading the Japanese dictionary Dino had bought for him at the airport; Dino had high hopes that Bel would learn the Japanese language quickly; he had clicked onto Italian much faster than he had expected when Squalo sat down with him and taught it to him – hopefully the same results would be seen here.

Bel had been fine until the plane had landed at the airport and everyone stood up to file out. When Dino had stood as well, Bel whimpered loudly and reached out, grabbing the teenager's shirt and trying to pull him back. Tears rolled down the boy's cheeks as he shook his head and hid behind his new guardian as people stared.

"It's okay, Bel," Dino promised. He reached out so that he could pat golden locks affectionately. "We just have to get off the plane now. Okay?"

Bel started crying harder at this, knowing that he was expected to join the large queue of people trying to get off the plane; it had been hard enough for him to board it at the back of the line, so why was the older male trying to make him do this…? "…"

The teenager was quick to understand now; Bel was afraid of being crowded. Ever since the attack, it had been extremely difficult for him to cope when a stranger came near him, much less a whole horde of them; the boy must be scared of someone hurting him again.

Dino sat back down with Bel. He reached out and wrapped his arms around the boy to hold him close; he didn't mind waiting for other people as long as it helped make his charge feel a little better. "We'll wait for everyone else to get off. It's okay."

Bel nodded. He returned the hug as tears continued to roll down his cheeks. He was afraid of being so close to Dino and letting the other hold him like this, but in the here and now, he would take the blond's comforting arms over any of those strangers in a heartbeat; he knew and trusted the stronger male, and Dino was so kind to him…

Dino wasn't like Xanxus, and Bel knew that.

When most of the other passengers had cleared off the plane, Dino got back to his feet. He grabbed his bag from beneath the chair in front before he looked down at Bel. He smiled when he found the younger grabbing his own belongings. "Alright, let's go. Have you got everything?"

Bel nodded. He held his backpack tight against his chest as he stood up, and he made sure to hide behind his guardian as his little legs struggled to keep up with Dino's big strides. He shifted his bag beneath one arm so that he could reach out to wrap tiny fingers around his fellow blond's own digits; he trusted Dino to lead him to safety.

Bel didn't look up until Dino stopped them both by a bench situated near the entrance of the terminal. He frowned when he felt hands pushing on his shoulders to get him to sit, and his anxiety spiked as he wondered what was Dino doing; was the teen about to leave him alone…?

The child let out a loud whimper as he jumped back up so that he could wrap his arms around Dino's neck. He quivered at the fear that was consuming him, scared that the blond was about to leave him just like his family had; not a day went by when he didn't think about the way his mother had told him to stay in the alley way and they would be back for him soon – he couldn't go through that again, especially not now.

"It's okay," Dino promised as he rubbed Bel's back. "I'm just getting the rest of our bags from the collection area. I'll only be a few minutes, and you can see what I'm doing. I just don't want you to feel scared with so many people around us."

Bel sniffed as he reluctantly sat back down on the bench. He wiped at his eyes as he watched Dino leave, and he couldn't help but rock slightly as worry consumed him; why was the world so stressful now?

Bel was thankful that Dino wasn't gone for too long; he liked how their bags had been some of the first to come out on the conveyer belt because it meant less time having to be around so much crowding.

"Let's get a taxi and they'll take us straight to our new home." Dino smiled down at his charge, hoping Bel would be okay; it was going to take a lot of love and reassurance to help him heal from what Xanxus had put him through, but hopefully this fresh start would be enough for him.

After all, Dino was sure that if it were he in Bel's shoes, he would appreciate moving away to somewhere he wouldn't have to be constantly reminded of something so cruel.

~~XX~~

The apartment Dino was renting was nothing extravagant; it was very small, with the biggest room in the building being the bedroom that took up more than half of the apartment by itself. It was situated on the third floor of the apartment complex with a balcony attached to the bedroom, and it took Dino seconds to realise that it was already Bel's favourite area; the little boy had wandered through the apartment for several minutes looking very lost until he had finally taken notice of the balcony and gone out to it, immediately leaning over the railings and looking down at the busy streets beneath him.

Dino hadn't taken long to come out and join his charge on the balcony; it had been too long a journey to not relax for a while. He stood next to Bel and surveyed the streets below them as he said, "You like it out here, huh?"

Bel nodded. He picked at the white paint on the railing, but even though his mouth moved, he remained silent as he looked up at the grey sky, hearing the soft rumble of thunder off in the distance. He frowned as he felt the first rain drops fall onto his face, knowing he would have to come back inside – but all he wanted was to sit out here forever, somewhere he could just let thoughts flow through his mind and not have to feel as if he were in danger.

"Let's go back inside now, Bel. You can help me unpack." Dino slid the glass door open once more so that they could step through it. He opened his mouth to speak again, only to stop as he watched Bel leave the door wide open so that he could lay down next to it and stare up into the sky. "Bel, it's dangerous to be so close to doors and windows when it's storming. Come back in."

Bel didn't seem to hear these words; he simply laid where he was, hardly moving an inch. Dino sighed, deciding the boy would be okay; if the storm became any worse, he would move his charge then.

While Dino moved further into the apartment to unpack all of their belongings, Bel remained where he was. His obscured eyes were glazed over as he recalled that day, remembering everything Xanxus did to him. The boy liked Dino – he really did! – but just like everyone else, he was afraid of talking to his guardian, terrified of somehow making the other mad and provoking another attack, just like how he had made Xanxus hurt him. That day had been his fault, and if never talking again would prevent it from happening, then he would do so.

Bel never wanted to have to suffer the way Xanxus had made him suffer again.

~~XX~~

Night had long-since fallen, and Dino had already rolled out the futons side-by-side and declared it bedtime. Dino hadn't had a problem falling asleep, but Bel had laid there for what felt like an eternity, tossing and turning as even the slightest feeling of tiredness evaded him. He was wide awake, and his head was a mess.

Finally giving up on sleep, Bel sat up and left his futon so that he could creep over to the balcony. He slid the door open and moved into the fresh air, looking down at the street beneath him. It was dark, with street lights illuminating the paths as one or two people walked under them every now and then. There weren't as many cars travelling past as there had been during the day, leaving a much more serene feeling about the balcony.

It took a few minutes of watching the world go past, but soon enough, Bel forgot all about the chaotic mess in his head as his eyelids started to droop and a yawn escaped his lips. He walked back into the apartment, but he made sure to leave the door wide open so that the light of the moon could wash over him.

"Belphegor…?" Dino lifted his head from the pillow as the sound of Bel's footsteps woke him. He was sleepy as he reached out, but he didn't touch just yet; he instead watched as the boy got back beneath the sheets on his futon. "Are you okay…?"

Bel nodded. He whimpered when strong arms grabbed him and pulled him closer to his guardian. He was tense for a few seconds, but when he heard Dino start to snore, he relaxed; the teenager was simply holding him close.

Bel decided that he liked being held by Dino like this; it wasn't a frightening embrace, and instead it made him feel safe and secure in the other's arms. He moved closer and snuggled in against his fellow blond before he closed his eyes and he, too, finally drifted off into sleep. The nightmares never ceased, but they weren't as bad as they usually were – and maybe that was because he had Dino there to soothe him back into rest when the nightmares made him wake up screaming.