Thank you for your feedback last chapter; I will try my best to keep this in Dino's point of view whenever practical.

It was hard for Kyouya to walk past the staircase leading to his favourite relaxation spot, but he wanted to fight the blond teacher more than anything; he would have to pass on his naps for hopefully just a few days, and then once he had gotten what he wanted, he could go back to spending his time on the roof. It would irritate him to no end complying like this, but if it would give him a fight…

Opening the door to his English class, Kyouya didn't care that he had come to school late; the blond herbivore had better be happy he had even showed up at school in the first place.

"Oh, Kyouya." Dino looked over his shoulder from where he had been writing on the board, glad to see that, for now at least, his student was listening to him. "Open your textbook to page fifty-two, please."

Kyouya took his usual seat in the far corner of the room, hating how there were too many students in this one class for him to sit somewhere by himself. Taking out his textbook, the skylark opened it to the designated page, finding that they were studying essays today.

With a sigh, Kyouya closed his eyes, wishing he had skipped class after all; what was the point of learning to write essays in English when he would never use said skills again once he finished school?

"Has everybody got the introduction down pat?" Dino turned around to survey his students, sighing when he found the usual two pupils fast asleep with Kyouya seemingly not far behind them. "Oi, Ryohei. Bel. Don't sleep in class."

While the grey-haired teenager whom Kyouya knew was another of Tsunayoshi's band of herbivores woke up, Belphegor didn't move in the slightest, still fast asleep. Dino gave an exasperated look before he turned his attention back to the rest of his class, knowing he could get them on the right track and then deal with the single student once everyone's attention was on their work.

"Okay, so using the topic example in your textbooks, our first paragraph will be set up similar to what I've put on the board. If we look at this, we'll see that…"

Kyouya wasn't interested in the least, already knowing how to write English essays; he had been taught this last year, so what was the point in coming to class to learn about something he already knew? Turning to look out of the window, the skylark focused on the drops of rain that rolled down the window.

Deciding that he may be allowed to leave class if he were to show Dino he could do his work, Kyouya blocked out his teacher's voice as he jotted down his ideas and general planning for the structure of his essay. Choosing his own topic to write about, he made points about what he wanted to talk about and the conclusion he wished to come to. Focusing entirely on his work, the skylark ignored when his teacher started walking around, handing out sheets to everyone.

"Kyouya."

The Prefect looked up at his name, finding Dino standing before his desk. He glared at the other, irritated by the happy-go-lucky look on the blond's face. "What?"

"Making your own topic?" Dino looked down at the notes his student had spread about, appreciating just how organised the younger could be when he put his mind to something. "Can I have a look?"

"You can look when it's done," Kyouya muttered. "I don't need your help; I know what I'm doing."

"That's fine," the teacher promised. "I'll make an exception for you seeing as you've already started your essay; please stick to the criteria next time, Kyouya."

Kyouya waved a dismissive hand, not wanting to continue on with the conversation. Dino nodded in understanding, finishing his task of handing out sheets before he went to his sleeping student's side in order to try and rouse him without the younger throwing another fit.

Putting together his essay relatively fast and with little trouble, Kyouya was quick to put the finishing touches on it and take it up to Dino. Standing by his teacher's desk, the skylark watched as hazel eyes scanned his work; he knew there shouldn't be anything in there that would disappoint the blond as he was confident in his skills, and seeing the smile that continued to brighten on the Italian's face only proved his point further.

Looking up at his student, Dino smiled, unable to stop thinking that Kyouya looked absolutely adorable when he was trying not to pout – he knew it was ill of him to think like that, but he couldn't help it; something about the younger truly attracted him. "This is good, Kyouya; I'm happy with it."

"I've done what is required of me; I'm leaving." Turning around, the teenager started leaving, only to stop when Dino called his name once more. "What, herbivore?"

"You don't think you could stay for the rest of the class?" The teacher held a hopeful look on his face at this, his head cocked slightly to the side. "You could catch up on the other lessons you've missed if you do."

"I'm not interested." Continuing on with his journey, Kyouya left the classroom, making his way back to the roof; it had been a while since rain had fallen, so it would be nice to listen to the soft drops as he lost himself in thought.

~~XX~~

Stepping into the staff lounge at the end of the day, Dino wasn't surprised to find it was already populated; in one corner Reborn was relaxed on the couch as he spoke to the two gym teachers Colonello and Lal Mirch. Looking over to the back of the room where the school's accountant was sitting with Belphegor, Dino watched as the woman helped the youngest pack up his belongings so that they could approach.

"Do you know where Mukuro is?" Dino frowned at Reborn, a little disappointed in his student for skipping out on detention. "He never showed up to my office."

"He probably went home; he's looking after a kid from what Tsuna told me." Reborn couldn't help but play with his sideburns, his eyes shadowed by the fedora he was never seen without.

The English teacher sighed. "That's fair enough, but I still wish he had at least given me some warning that he wouldn't be coming." Reaching out to put his hand on Belphegor's head now that the boy was close enough for touch, Dino smiled down at him, trying to ignore the upset frown his charge was wearing. "Hey, Bel. Sorry to be stuffing you around so much today; I couldn't do anything about this."

Belphegor's frown deepened, shifting in agitation. He clenched his jaw in stress, not knowing how to convey his feelings; it was hard for him to express himself, and the best he could do was act out.

"Squalo said to call him later." The accountant, an indigo-haired woman who called herself Mammon, spoke from Belphegor's side. "He said it's about Kyouya."

"I got him to come to class for a little bit, and he did his work before leaving." Dragging his fingers through his hair, Dino shook his head. "Mammon, will you please tell Fon I need to talk to him?"

Holding her hand out expectantly, Mammon waited until some coins had been placed in her palm before she replied. "I will tell him tonight."

"Thank you, Mammon." Smiling appreciatively at the woman, Dino turned back to the other teachers. "Has Kyouya come to your classes today?"

"Not mine, kora." Colonello crossed his arms against his chest, his eyes taking on an annoyed look. "I don't think he's so much as stepped close to my classes since he's been here."

"He came to mine," Reborn said in an absentminded tone. "Took his work and left again. He did it because he had left it on my desk at break."

"At least he's somewhat listening..." Dino looked down as he felt Belphegor tugging at his sleeve. "What's wrong, Bel?"

"You like Kyouya." The boy spoke in a confident tone, stating what he saw as fact; he had observed their interactions long enough to see that his fellow blond seemed to like Kyouya more than the other students, even if Dino wasn't exactly aware of it; Dino didn't give off any signs of intentionally favouring Kyouya, but that was what the man did, even if unconsciously.

"Of course I like Kyouya; he's my student and I like all my students, Bel."

"No; like how I like Hayato-kun." A lopsided smile crossed the youngest's face at this, his head tilting. "You do everything Squalo told me I would do if I found someone I liked; I can tell."

While Colonello and Lal simply laughed, not taking the student seriously, Reborn hummed as he continued playing with his sideburns, his expression unreadable; so someone else had noticed, too...

"What would you know about romantics, kid?" Lal couldn't keep the teasing out of her voice, egged on by Belphegor's lips twisting in confusion. "You haven't even had sex yet, virgin boy."

"Enough to know that you suck Colonello's dick like I suck Hayato-kun's." Belphegor didn't understand why Dino was suddenly slapping a hand around his mouth to silence him; Squalo always let him talk about those things when they were together, and his tiny circle of friends didn't seem to mind either; they never told him to stop; they just changed the subject.

"Belphegor!" Dino took a few steps back, only to stumble and almost fall. Shaking it off, he laughed nervously as he regarded the others. "Don't mind him, he's just upset because Squalo's still at court and his routine keeps getting changed on him."

Reborn was silent as he let the two leave, knowing that he hadn't been the only one in suspecting something between Kyouya and Dino; as childish and immature as Belphegor could be, he was certainly a genius so it was only natural for him to notice this as well.

At least now Reborn knew he wasn't imagining things.

"I swear that kid's retarded, kora." Colonello looked down at Lal, rubbing his cheek. "I wouldn't believe he's a genius if I haven't seen his school marks for myself."

"He's autistic…" Reborn spoke robotically as he got to his feet, his mind focused on only one thing. "Where'd Viper go?"

"She left; she leaves so quietly, it's as if she teleports or something." Lal didn't think much about Reborn's unusual behaviour; she was too busy with Colonello to really care.

Reborn hummed again, knowing he should talk to Mammon; like himself, the woman was observant, had most likely noticed Dino's behaviour as well, and Belphegor had probably gushed her ears off countless times about his own discovery.

The man was curious by nature, and he wanted to know what was going on; his suspicions weren't enough; they needed to be proved once and for all.

~~XX~~

"You shouldn't have said that in front of them, Bel." Closing the door behind him, Dino frowned at the boy. "You got yourself teased, and I could have gotten into trouble if they had believed you."

"Why are you admitting it to me when I already know and denying it to everyone else?" Unable to read facial expressions and not quite understanding what tone of voice meant what, Belphegor didn't have much to go on except for what was being said to him – from his point of view, Dino was agreeing with him. "Go admit it to them; they're the ones who need to hear it. Except Reborn; Mammon told me he knows, too."

Shaking his head, Dino's frown grew. Leading the boy into the living room and sitting him on the couch, the young man turned the TV on for his guest, letting him wind down from his day of school. "I'm not admitting anything, Bel; I don't like Kyouya like that. He's my student and – have you said anything to Squalo?"

"Said what to him?" Letting his schoolbag fall to its side, Belphegor curled up on the couch as anime played in the background.

"About you thinking I like Kyouya."

"Oh. Yeah, I said you like him." Belphegor blinked, startled when his host made a strangled noise and threw his arms out in front of him. Continuing on, he said, "Squa laughed and called you a pedophile."

"Don't tell him anything like that, even if it isn't true! I could lose my job!"

Belphegor shrugged, turning back to his anime. He rolled on to his side, tightening his jacket around him as he made himself more comfortable. "Squa doesn't care about stuff like that."

"Yes, he does, Bel!"

"Nu-uh. He gets hard when he's with me."

"Yeah; because there's girls around. Bel. I know Squalo, alright? You're going to start trouble if you tell him things like that."

Making an agitated noise, Belphegor thumped his fists against the couch. "Stop yelling at me! I didn't do anything wrong! I hate you! I hate you, and I'm gonna tell Squa you touched me in a bad place when I said no!"

"If you tell him things like that, he won't believe you if someone really does touch you inappropriately, Bel; you can't make things up like that."

"Shut up! I hate you, and I want to go home!"

Dino sighed, leaving the room; he knew he shouldn't have tried to parent such a difficult, ill-mannered boy, but what could he do? His job was on the line, and he needed to make sure Belphegor understood that.

But could there be some truth to what the younger was saying? Belphegor wouldn't have run his mouth off to Squalo about things like that unless he was talking about his day; there would be nothing for him to gain telling his guardian directly if he were simply trying to get something.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Dino started to text his best friend about Belphegor's behaviour; it would result in the boy getting his ass kicked, the man knew, but he really didn't have a choice; Belphegor desperately needed to learn that he couldn't keep using those kinds of threats just because he wasn't getting his own way.

As much as Dino loved the boy, sometimes it was hard work looking after him, and the blond was amazed that Squalo had been able to do it for so many years he really had little patience for others – even he wasn't sure he would be capable of caring full-time for someone like Belphegor because it was truly an exhausting job.

"Kyouya..." Unaware of the name that left his lips, Dino frowned at his phone as he typed away, hoping Squalo would be here soon; he knew Belphegor would inevitably have another tantrum any minute now, and he hated dealing with them; he felt he didn't have the right to discipline Belphegor without Squalo's presence, and would much rather leave it to the man who knew what he was doing; he would never forgive himself if he did something that hurt Belphegor in any way.