Months had passed, and Bel was finding himself hating Italy more and more. He wanted to go back to Japan, but he didn't know how to tell Dino that; the stronger blond was very busy in between his work and trying to help Squalo and didn't have much time for Bel these days. It hurt, but the younger knew there wasn't much he could do about it.

But today, unknown to Bel, a chain of events would begin that would change his life forever, more than it already had been.

Senpai, will you be mad at me if I told you something?

Bel frowned as the Facebook message notification popped up on the screen of his phone. He diverted all attention from the game he was playing and instead minimised it so that he could log into his Facebook instead. He typed back hesitantly, not sure he wanted to hear the answer; he had a bad feeling that what his friend was going to tell him would break his heart. I won't be mad with Froggy. What happened?

The reply came back quickly, and Bel almost vomited in despair as he read it. I walked out in front of a car on my way home from school. I wanted to die, but instead I just got out of the hospital.

The blond didn't know how he was supposed to reply. He got up from the computer and paced around for a few minutes before he sat back in his seat and pulled the keyboard closer to him. Is Froggy okay?

Fran sent back two words to this question, and it was then Bel understood; Fran might be okay physically – but if he were hit by a car, Bel had his doubts about this – but emotionally and mentally, he was a wreck. I'm sorry.

Bel paced again. He dived onto the mouse and keyboard when he heard a notification from his game, and he clicked the window back up to see that Yamamoto had logged in and was talking to him. He didn't know what else to do; responding to his friend's private message, he said, Froggy tried to kill himself and I don't know what to do.

Yamamoto was understanding as always. He reached out to Bel, allowed the older male to tell him what was happening and offering kind words and reassurance in return. He helped put things into perspective for Bel, and with a bit of comfort, helped the blond find a way to help their young friend.

Bel tabbed back to his Facebook page and messaged Fran again. He felt as if he were about to cry, but he had to be there for Fran – he had to. Takeshi said to take you out for lunch so we can talk about it somewhere quiet. Wanna come to the corner shop down my street?

Okay.

Bel didn't respond back; he clicked his game back onto the screen so that he could wait for Fran to text him and tell him he was at the shop. He messaged Yamamoto again. Froggy's going to come to the corner shop. I'm gonna wait here until he texts me.

That's good, Bel! :) How are you today?

I'm okay, Takeshi. Dino went to see Squalo but he said I have to stay home because Xanxus will be there, and he didn't want anything to happen to me. Can you help me level my new character?

Sure! :) I'll be right there, Bel! :D

Bel sent back a smiley face to his friend. He was glad Yamamoto's character was already close by, and so it didn't take long for him to begin levelling again at a faster pace with Yamamoto there to help him. Within half an hour, Fran had texted him saying he was at the corner shop, and so with a quick farewell to the Japanese male, he left to go and comfort Fran.

~~XX~~

"Senpai…"

Bel tensed as small arms wrapped around his middle, but he didn't pull away; he instead reached out to put his hand on Fran's shoulder in a comforting gesture. His gaze wandered over his friend's body, and he felt devastated to see the bruising and stitches on the younger's body that had no doubt come from being hit by a car. He got down on his knees so that he could hug Fran tightly and hold a teal-head against his chest. He nuzzled his cheek against the top of his friend's head, wishing he could do something to help the other's pain.

"Senpai, I… He won't leave me alone…" Fran sniffed back tears. "I just… He keeps… He keeps… My foster family thinks he's… m-my tutor… I'm too scared to tell them…"

Bel stood up straight and reached out to take Fran's hand. He tugged the teen over to the registers and pointed to the bain marie in silent question of what the younger wanted. He was patient as Fran made his mind up, and once he knew what to buy, he typed a list out on his phone and showed the owner of the store. He paid for it and waited for the food to be passed to him before he took Fran to the outdoor seating where they could talk in private.

Fran was silent for several moments before he whispered, "Why is he so good at making people believe he's harmless…? My foster parents… don't even realise… They think he's…"

Will your foster family listen to you if you tell them?

"I don't know…" Fran rubbed at his eyes. "I just… I don't know… What if they don't believe me…?"

Froggy is in danger. He should tell them. If they don't listen, I'll make sure Froggy can come back and live with me again.

"Senpai…" Fran tried to think about how to reply, but before he could, Bel's phone started ringing. He accepted the device when it was handed to him, and he answered it when he saw it was Dino calling. "Stupid horse…"

"Fran, where's Bel?" Dino sounded stressed, and Fran knew that something must have happened if the blond was ringing Bel instead of texting him.

"We're at the corner shop. What's –"

"-Don't let Bel go home, Fran! Keep him at the shop until I get there! Xanxus… I'm leaving the hospital; Xanxus tried to kill Squalo, and he got away before the cops found him. Don't let Bel leave; I'm coming to get him now!"

Fran blinked. He ended the call and passed the phone back to Bel before he said, "The horse says he's coming to get you and you're not allowed to go home until he's here."

Bel was a little disconcerted by these words; while he rarely left the house by himself, whenever he did, he was allowed to go where he wanted without something like this happening. Why?

"…He just said so, senpai…"

Bel sighed. Hopefully Dino would tell him what was going on…

~~XX~~

"Bel! Thank god!" Dino was eager to get to Bel's side, so once he had pulled up alongside the kerb of the corner shop in front of Bel and Fran, he simply threw the gear into neutral without pulling the handbrake up or turning the car off and then exited the car in a hurry. As soon as he was by Bel's side, he reached out and pulled his charge into a tight hug. "I was so worried…"

Bel pulled away from the man so that he could question what was going on. What's happening?

Dino put his hands on Bel's shoulders. "Bel, I don't want to scare you, but… Bel, Xanxus tried to kill Squalo, but he got away from the police. They're out there looking for him, but they haven't found him yet, and I was scared he was going to find you. I don't want you going anywhere by yourself now."

The younger blond could feel the fear welling up inside of him at the mention of Xanxus, and he wanted to go home where he could lock all of the doors and hide; he didn't want Xanxus to find him and hurt him again – he just wanted to stay in his room forever.

"Bel, when Squalo gets out of the hospital, he's coming to live with us. He's finally going to get away from Xanxus, but he's been through a lot and is very stressed. He isn't the same Squalo who gave you a home when you were little."

Bel could feel his eyes fill with tears; why hadn't anyone gotten Squalo away from it all sooner like how he had been rescued…?

It was then Bel knew that he wasn't the only one upset; while Dino was someone who never cried, here the man was, unable to hold back his own despair at the knowledge that he would never have his best friend back. Bel didn't usually seek the man's comfort, but he was already stressed, and seeing his guardian cry heavily was enough for him to press himself against the stronger blond's chest and seek out arms he had mostly shied away from to hold him.

"I'm sorry, Bel…" Dino knew he was stressing the other, but he couldn't stop crying; knowing what Squalo was going through was just too much for him to handle. "I'm sorry…"

Fran, who didn't have the emotional attachment the two blonds had with Squalo because he had never met the long-haired man, sat awkwardly at the table, not knowing what he was supposed to say or do. He shifted uncomfortably. "…"

Dino rubbed at his eyes as he looked at Fran, ashamed of letting the younger two see him like this; they needed someone strong in their lives, and they didn't have anyone but him to fulfil that role. "I'm sorry, Fran; I don't usually cry…"

Fran shook his head. "…"

"I'm going to take Bel home and make sure he's safe, Fran… Do you want a lift home…?"

"Okay…"

Dino helped Bel to his feet and into the car. He waited until Fran was seated in the backseat before he turned the car around and drove the way he had come. He tried his hardest to be strong again for the younger two, but he wasn't finding it very easy – not after having tried so hard to protect his best friend, only to watch as Squalo's hand was cut off and then a gun was pressed between the silver-haired male's eyes. Today would forever haunt him, and he briefly wondered if how he was feeling right now was how Bel and Squalo felt on a daily basis.

If it was, he couldn't understand how they had been able to handle it for so long.