The art of negotiation

Part: 3/?

Disclaimer: Not mine, no money-making… and here I could earn so much money with the yummy boys by turning all my fantasies into yaoi-anime~ *_* wouldn't that be awesome?

Dedications: For dear ~Naru~ *_* … again. Because it's all her fault… |DDDD

Notes: Set somewhere in the future~

Songs I listened to when writing the story:

Combichrist – The Kill V2

Lady Gaga – Alejandro

Timbaland – Morning after Dark

The cool breeze was ruffling his hair and made some of the fallen leaves twirl up into the air, dragging them with it on its currents for a while before letting go and leaving them at the mercy of gravitation. The grass of the meadow was rustling and the trees were giving in to the wind's force, gently swaying back and forth.

Slowly turning on the spot he was taking in his surroundings, not recognizing the place as he had never been here before. But he wasn't worried at all… due to his hyper intuition he was rather certain about what was going on, knowing the general feeling that he was always experiencing when it happened. Looking back over his shoulder up into the tops of the trees he smiled a little, following his instinct as his eyes swept over the branches.

"Where are you, Mukuro?"

This wasn't the first time it was happening and as always he wasn't afraid, he had just no reason to be. He knew the nature of the illusions that were being almost artfully crafted into his dreams and while he still hadn't managed to succeed in making himself wake up when he wanted to he was aware that it all WAS just an illusion in a dream – far from being able to harm him.

It didn't take him long to appear, Tsuna caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and turned a little, watching the blue-haired illusionist appear before his eyes. He was sitting on one of the low branches of the broad-leaved tree, one of his legs dangling in the air while the other was propped up onto the branch. He was wearing one of his typical outfits, short coat and shirt and white pants and black over-knee boots. His hair was as particular as ever, Tsuna just had the impression it was a little longer than the last time he had seen it. This was only natural; as he was wasting away in his water tank his hair just grew longer and longer. Tsuna had to admit that it suited him somehow.

The heterochromic eyes were focused on him and the slightly derisive smile that was so very typical of him was curling his pale lips. He didn't carry his weapon with him but Tsuna was certain that he just didn't need to; this was all his creation and he was controlling it perfectly, he didn't need to use any physical force to dominate here.

"You improve steadily, Sawada Tsunayoshi."

Tsuna wasn't being under the impression that his mist-guardian was mocking him, his voice was as velvety smooth as it always was when talking at a normal volume. He usually seemed dangerously calm with a rather distinctive arrogant touch no matter what he was saying but Tsuna didn't see why he should go through the trouble of visiting him in his dreams without a real intention – Rokudo Mukuro never did anything without a particular reason, whatever he may have been thinking. The illusionist was one of the very few people he couldn't really read… even less than Hibari Kyouya. He understood him in his way of thinking – but was never able to predict him. His being a rather opaque creature was one of the things that fascinated Tsuna to a great extent.

He turned around to face the older man, smiling at the pale face. His eyes were sweeping up and down the other's body, noticing the two unusual rings on his gloved right hand. He crossed his arms in front of his chest in a comfortable gesture, looking up at the blue-haired illusionist.

"You give me quite a few occasions where I can prove myself, Mukuro."

The older man did show up in his dreams on a rather regular basis… with differing intentions. Occasionally they fought, sometimes they talked and sometimes Mukuro only showed him quite impressively via his illusions whatever he wanted to share. Sometimes it was very confusing but Tsuna always learned a little something which was exactly what Mukuro was alluding to. Due to his hyper intuition his senses were rather sensitive anyway and he adapted quickly.

The illusionist cocked his head a little to the side and chuckled, the sound as typical for him as his smile.

"Not as many as I wish I could in order to give you the attention you deserve, Vongola Decimo."

His voice was still very smooth and nothing in his face expressed that he was being angry; it was just his usual sarcasm that was resonating. Still Tsuna's smile faltered a little when hearing those words and he lowered his head, pressing his arms tighter against his chest.

"I'm sorry, Mukuro… I'm trying to get you out, I really am, but it proves to be rather difficult."

The other man hadn't said anything about this, hadn't accused him of anything – and still he couldn't stop himself from apologizing.

The blue-haired man was silent for a few moments and then Tsuna perceived a tsk-ing sound swiftly followed by the rustling of clothing and leafs as the illusionist jumped from his branch. He looked up in time to see Mukuro stop his falling in midair and then proceed his descending at a much slower pace, never taking his eyes off Tsuna.

"You're pathetic and pitiful, Sawada Tsunayoshi. I'm there because I chose to be."

His feet touched ground with a soft sound and he took a moment to look at Tsuna before walking a couple of steps, his eyes wandering over the horizon that seemed so near and was yet so far away. Tsuna turned on his spot and let his arms fall to the side, sad, brown eyes looking at the blue-haired man. He hesitantly went over to him, stretching out one of his hands to touch the other's shoulder.

"I know you never wanted that for yourself, Mukuro… it's cruel and contrary to everything you are. It's just… not right."

His hand never reached his guardian's shoulder as Mukuro turned around at his words, making him stop his movement in midair. Heterochromic eyes were staring at Tsuna, the red one was gleaming a little and he resisted the urge to take a step back. Mukuro could be quite intimidating at times, even if Tsuna had known him for quite a while… he felt there was no danger radiating off his mist-guardian and he trusted the older man to not make the mistake of taking things out on him.

"Don't pity me, Vongola. That's really the last thing I need, sympathy coming from you."

Mukuro sneered and walked past him again, leaving Tsuna with his back turned to the younger man. His outstretched hand fell to his side again and he raised his arms, went back to crossing them in front of his chest.

He knew what the man was referring to – Tsuna was the boss of a mafia-family, just those institutions that Mukuro hated with a passion. He didn't want his pity because, in Mukuro's way of seeing things, Tsuna was at least partly responsible for the state he was currently in. He didn't directly say so but Tsuna just knew.

He turned around once more but didn't approach Mukuro again – instead a small smile was tugging on his lips.

"But didn't you say I was pitiful? Then it suits me right, doesn't it?"

He bit back a chuckle when Mukuro turned around to face him, his expression more than a little surprised. He arched one of his slender eyebrows and cocked his back to the side, taking a few moments to just stare at Tsuna in a rather incredulous way. Then a small, condescendant smile was curving his pale lips and he shook his head slightly, closing his eyes for a few moments.

"You're still incredibly dumb, dame-Tsuna."

This time he didn't fight the chuckle that was making his chest vibrate, looking at Mukuro with a soft smile. He knew… he trusted far too easily and always believed in the good side of people, no matter who it was. He was also very forgiving and couldn't keep up his anger towards people for long, he didn't know anyone that he really utterly disliked. Mukuro thought of this as stupid – or of an 'innocent childishness' that made him pity Tsuna very much. He claimed to be oblivious to such feelings – which Tsuna just didn't believe. Mukuro was not a creature of utter evilness, as much as he liked to make himself be seen that way.

"I know."

He stayed where he was, completely relaxed even though he had just been insulted by one of his guardians. He had his arms still crossed comfortably in front of his chest, not feeling alarmed in the slightest.

His eyes still fixed on Mukuro and his long ponytail waving softly in the cool breeze he got serious once more, watching the other intently when trying to put into words what he was feeling.

"And you're family, Mukuro. I won't accept your condition for much longer."

The smile faded from the other's face and was replaced by something that Tsuna would consider a scowl, the heterochromic eyes flashing dangerously.

"Don't count me among yours, Vongola Decimo. I never sided with you and never will - it's still my yearning to destroy everything related to the mafia. What do you think I will do if you really succeed in getting me out? Never expect me to become one of your dogs, Sawada Tsunayoshi. I'd still take over your body to get a little closer to my goal, never hesitating in getting rid of you."

He didn't so much as blink at the harsh words Mukuro had just dished out, holding the other man's intense gaze levelly.

Another smile was tugging on his lips and he wasn't afraid to show it once more, still no signs of nervousness to be perceived. There was no reason to be –

"I know you wouldn't."

Even though Mukuro denied it again and again, in a way he was part of their little group. He fought at their side when they needed him (even though he would rather refer to it as convenient for himself as in bringing him a little closer to some kind of goal) and didn't do them any harm, a strong enemy had always united them – and Mukuro had grown more cooperative when time passed. Tsuna knew his words were rather straight forward… but Mukuro had been the same and so ne didn't see any reason to watch his mouth.

The blue-haired man stared him, a rather stunned expression had replaced his scowl in an instant. He blinked at Tsuna a couple of times before regaining his composure. But instead of giving him more sneering and a fit of harsh words to oppose Tsuna the illusionist only smiled. The chuckle that was so typical of him curved his lips and he closed his eyes for a second, putting one of his gloved hands into the pocket of his white pants. Looking back up into Tsuna's eyes he walked over to him, for the first time in that meeting closing the distance between them instead of creating it, Tsuna noticed.

Mukuro didn't really stop when he reached Tsuna, just slowing down when he passed him.

Tsuna's smile intensified and he turned a little with the man that was passing him, gently reaching out to touch the other's wrist. Feeling content as Mukuro had neither denied his words nor agreed with Tsuna he still didn't dare to just grab for him, he just didn't want the other to leave just like that.

The older man did stop his steps and turned to face him, arching an eyebrow at him as heterochromic eyes were locking onto Tsuna's own. His smile was fading into a soft expression when he stepped a little closer to Mukuro and cocked his head a little to the side, leaning forward to capture the other's lips in a gentle kiss.

It took Mukuro only a few seconds to react to this, his free hand came up to cup Tsuna's cheek and with skilled ease he parted his lips, deepening the kiss. He closed his eyes and entwined his fingers with Mukuro's, greeting the intruding tongue with his own as he moaned softly against the other's lips. The cupping hand fell from his cheek and the gloved fingers were threading through his hair instead, down to his neck where they pulled his head back a little, giving Mukuro better access to his mouth.

When Mukuro eventually broke the kiss none of them was out of breath, it hadn't been its purpose to make them crave for so much more. It had been evident from the beginning that it hadn't been Mukuro's cause for coming; usually he let Tsuna know rather clearly what he was after.

The blue-haired man's lips curved into one of his mysterious smiles as he turned to continue the movement Tsuna had interrupted a few minutes ago, gently detangling his fingers from Tsuna's.

"Goodnight, Vongola Decimo."

Tsuna just watched him go with a small smile still present on his lips and as the other slowly disappeared he closed his eyes, knowing what would happen next.

"Goodnight…"

His voice was echoing in the space that wasn't limited and for a few moments he felt like floating, then falling…

He slowly opened his eyes and sleepily pulled his blankets tighter around himself, not wanting to give up the comfortable warmth he was being in. Sighing softly he closed his eyes again, snuggling deeper into his pillow. Just a little longer… he was sure that his impertinent alarm clock would be bothering him shortly, so he was just going to sleep a little longer. The small smile was back on his face as he went back to sleep, content on having seen his mist-guardian as it had been a while since his last visit. It hadn't been long and it hadn't been much, but it was better than nothing… and even though their meetings weren't harmonic all the time, sometimes they just argued and fought, he would miss them a lot if Mukuro stopped coming to him. Tsuna never really knew what to expect but was mostly happy anyway – because he knew that he did his part in keeping Mukuro sane and healthy. He assumed that this was a great reason why Mukuro spend a big part of his precious energy on spending time with Tsuna, however that time's character may be. It kept him same, being away from his prison and the feeling of being completely helpless and bound to the point of complete surrender - the worst thing to feel for a creature of the unbound and rebellious mist.

His breathing becoming deep and calm again Tsuna just went back to sleep, letting sleep just pull him into its warm, strong arms. He looked forward to meeting Mukuro again… no matter how long it would be until the next time.

A/N: I promise more action in the next chapter, again~ DDD