As the light from the Flame Ring Teleportation System started acting up at the Melone Base, everyone was frozen in their place. Everything around them became brighter, to the point that they had to shield their eyes with their hands as their surroundings were swallowed up by the increasing brightness.

"Oof!" Shoichi grunted as he tumbled and grabbed hold of the person in front of him. There was a loud ringing in his ears and he felt very dizzy and unsteady on his feet. He couldn't focus well, and closed his eyes in an attempt to ease the stabbing pain in his brain while his body attempted to right all that was wrong with him. The man stumbled again, trying to steady his footing, and the person he'd fallen into grabbed his hips to stabilize him as well.

"Ah, thanks" Shoichi said gratefully, his eyes still closed.

"You're welcome" a soft, familiar voice murmured. The sound of that voice rooted Shoichi to the ground and his heart started beating rapidly. He attempted to take deep, slow breaths to calm his increasing heartbeat, but the smell of a familiar violet perfume with a hint of vanilla marshmallow made his stomach turn. As his stomach roiled with nervousness, he unconsciously clung to the oh so familiar person.

"What's wrong, Sho-chan? Stomach pain?" Byakuran asked in mocked concern.

"Bya… kuran-san…" Shouchi breathed, his voice almost trembling as he opened his eyes slowly. Looking up, he was both disappointed and anxious to see dark purple eyes staring down at him rather than the usual beautiful light purple eyes that stared at him with affection and gentleness. The other man's eyes glinted with danger and veiled anger, causing fear to grip Shoichi's heart. He instantly understood that Byakuran was anything but happy – being betrayed by his best friend, his most trusted subordinate, and his lover would do that to a man. The smile that graced the white-haired man's lips was not one of affection or reunion, it was the smile of a psychopathic murderer, one who could kill a child without mercy and leered in joy at their horrified screams with no remorse.

"Hello Sho-chan, long time no see" Byakuran greeted, his smile widening to the point that it hid his dark purple tattoo in the crinkle under his eye. He wrapped his hands around Shoichi's waist and made sure that he had no escape, he was trapped in the worst possible position.

Shoichi's heart and mind were panicking – he couldn't comprehend what just happened, how it had happened – and he couldn't wrap his head around it. One minute he was with Tsuna and the others, then Byakuran suddenly showed up on the big screen of his room, revealing that he had already known everything all along – about his secret meeting with the future Vongola Decimo's, Sawada Tsunayoshi, and his planned betrayal. On top of all that, Byakuran had then countered his plans with his own by revealing the fact that the ring that he'd been wearing had always been fake, and that the real Funeral Wreaths had always been hidden, unbeknownst to him and the others, mostly Black Spell that's for sure.

"Not answering? Too shocked?" The other man's voice was light, but held an edge that sent a shiver down Shoichi's spine, like spiders were skittering down his back.

"Why don't we sit on the couch for now? We still have 20 to 30 minutes for a short visit anyway!" These words finally brought Shoichi back to reality and he took a good look at his surroundings. He was in a clean, white room with a desk that had a huge glass window behind it, overlooking a skyscraper. Shoichi's eyes widened and his heartbeat sped up a gear, knowing full well where he was and the dread that filled him up.

"Wha- how?! This place-?!" He stuttered in confusion, recognizing the place they were at Byakuran's office at their main headquarter in Italy, all the while letting Byakuran drag him to the familiar black couch as he looked around in shock. The white-haired man flopped gracefully onto the couch and patted his lap to indicate that Shoichi should sit there and nowhere else. When he didn't immediately comply, Byakuran yanked the other man down.

"Ugh!" Shoichi yelped as he was forced to sit on Byakuran's lap and scrambled to sit properly by putting his hands on the other mans' shoulder. He attempted to gain as much distance as he could between him and Byakuran, much like a cat pushing away a clingy owner, while Byakuran did the opposite and snaked his arms around Shoichi's waist possessively, pulling him closer.

"How long has it been since we've last held each other like this, Sho-chan~" Byakuran purred as he put his nose near Shoichi's neck to smell him. Shoichi blushed and tried to push himself away, to no avail – the white-haired man's hold on him was too strong.

"Bya-Byakuran-san!..." Shoichi barely managed to keep his voice at just a stutter and not a whimper. But once he felt those warm lips on his skin, he felt his body give up on pushing himself off of the man's lap. Even as his mind tried to rebel, Shoichi felt himself start to melt back into Byakuran's body, closing his eyes to better feel those lips. In spite of the sickening feeling in his stomach, his fingers twisted hard into the fabric of Byakuran's clothes at the whisper of his breath and lips against his skin. Wherever he was touched, Shoichi's skin tingled as the other man moved from one side of his neck, across his bobbing Adam's Apple, and kissed to the other side. As his head tipped back, Shoichi couldn't tell if he was pushing away as a means of defiance or if elongating his neck was only giving the white-haired man more room to kiss and touch. Shoichi didn't even know if he wanted less or more of what was being done to him – Byakuran was that enticing, even at his most dangerous.

"Bya…Byaku…Byaku-ran-san…" Shoichi panted, his breath coming in huffs that he didn't mean to let out. He was in a daze, ensnared in the heat of the moment, letting himself fall so low once again. He felt so much anger and disappointment in himself as he let Byakuran own him again, his downfall having only been a few kisses. Shoichi hated the fact that as much as his mind didn't want anything that was happening to his body – hating it even – his body quickly succumbed to the pleasure he felt and lost so long ago.

And then to make matters worse, Byakuran's tongue began to roam up and down his sensitive neck, licking and tasting the skin there before his lips moved down to a now-bare shoulder. The white-haired man's hands started roaming around his back, pressing into the muscles there and inching slowly lower. In a haze of pleasure, Shoichi unconsciously wrapped his arms around Byakuran's neck and pulled him closer as he felt heat forming in his stomach. He let the other man do as he pleased, even the smallest of ministrations giving pleasure to both of them, wanted and unwanted in Shoichi's case.

It was only when the flat of Byakuran's hand pressed into the small of his back, urging Shoichi closer to him, and when his teeth dug harshly into the place between Shoichi's neck and shoulder that Shoichi gasped and reality snapped back into place. His eyes flew open as he realized that Byakuran had bit him too hard and that he would definitely bruise later on. He struggled to push against the man, rampaging against Byakuran's unyielding hold. He wasn't successful, but the resistance was enough to stop Byakuran advancing any further.

"Bya-Byakuran-san enough!" Shoichi forced himself to speak up, his cheeks blushing furiously red with anger and embarrassment at what had just happened. He was unspeakably disappointed in himself, whatever spark of pleasure there had been soaring into a heavy ball in his stomach at the thought of what he'd just let Byakuran do to him. He'd almost given the other man whatever he'd wanted! And the shame he felt now was almost unbearable.

"What's wrong?" the white-haired man purred. His expression showed that he enjoyed watching Shoichi struggle and resist him as much as he enjoyed how quickly he gave in.

"We were already halfway there, Sho-chan, why did you suddenly stop? Surely you were enjoying it as much as I was." To prove his point, the man pinched Shoichi's ass, making him yelp and jump against him. Shoichi's blush deepened in shame as a bit of his traitorous pleasure came back.

"Enough already!" he snapped, furious at himself for how weak he was. He needed to step away from the tantalizing offer being presented to him and change the subject fast.

"What am I doing here, Byakuran-san?! I was in Japan but now I'm back in Italy?! You said the Flame Ring Teleportation System is for objects the size of the base"

"Oh, Sho-chan, you're so funny!" he chuckled – there was no warmth in it.

"If I can teleport objects as big as your Melone Base, don't you think I could do the reverse?" Byakuran retorted amusedly as Shoichi's eyes widened at the revelation. He wanted to smack himself for not thinking about that! Shoichi took several deep breaths in an attempt to gain his bearings, but as his eyes locked with Byakuran's now-unreadable gaze, he found it incredibly hard for Shoichi to know what Byakuran was thinking.

"So…are you going to kill me for betraying you?" Shoichi asked seriously, his anxiety and fear starting to bubble up despite his best efforts. This would be the perfect place to do it – Shoichi was alone and clearly could hardly defend himself against his more ruthless opponent. The opportunity would be too perfect to pass up. Byakuran's face was still unreadable, as if the passionate part of him had hardly existed.

"Hmmm…and why would you ever think like that?"

"I don't know, you tell me" was the only response Shoichi could come up with. No matter how long he spent in the man's presence, Byakuran would always remain a mystery, a lethal mystery if one was not careful. The other man sighed.

"Geez, Sho-chan, isn't it obvious? I dated you even though you didn't have any memories of the future, and although that was not as exciting and rejuvenating as it was when you gained your memory, it was fun nonetheless. I continued to date you even after you got your memories back and even introduced you to my famiglia as my lover" He paused for a moment.

"I do have to say though, I did miss your lovely, innocent smile after that. You never really looked at me the same way anymore. Pity" Byakuran continued.

"And as we graduated university, I let you become my right-hand man and even let you come into contact with Tsunayoshi-kun…" Byakuran's eyes lit up, suddenly very readable again with an emotion that Shoichi was very familiar with.

"I did all of that just because…I love you" Byakuran whispered huskily into Shoichi's ear, a hint of possessiveness was very clear. Under normal circumstances, the very same words would have made Shoichi feel nothing but giddy warmth and love, but now, after everything that had happened between them, it only horrified him. The shivers were back yet again, crawling up his spine as he realized that Byakuran knew everything from the start and just went along with it, toying with him as if it were just a fun diversion.

'Like a god controlling lives, puppeteering me and everyone else around him for his own amusement' Shoichi thought as he felt nothing but utter disgust as he glared at Byakuran.

All those years of planning and acting against this man were now wasted, made meaningless by a few seconds of smug revelation. Shoichi felt his heart clench in despair. And on top of that, everything with the Flame Teleportation System just added insult to injury, along with the revelation that the Six Funeral Wreaths hadn't been real at all. Everything around him was compounding into a colossal failure, threatening to overwhelm him and drown him. It was like the whole Earth had been pulled out from under his feet and he was falling into the vacuum of space, never to emerge again.

In his place, anyone would've given up all hope, but Shoichi couldn't let himself do that, no matter how much he wanted to. If he let hopelessness overwhelm him and give up now, then everything that he, Tsuna, and Kyoya had done really would be all for nothing.

'I can't! I can't give up! Or else what kind of face would I be able to show to him if he found out that our last resort failed!' Shoichi scrunched his face in utter anguish as he remembered the last time he saw Tsuna face-to-face before dying. He remembers it as if it were yesterday, tears forming in his eyes but never falling.

Bang! He could see the gun being aimed at Tsuna's chest, still hearing the crack of a gun as it went off. Time always slowed down, in the moment and in his memories, as he watched Tsuna's body slowly fall down on the black leather chair in his office at Vongola's Main Headquarters in Japan. His eyes that were once full of vigor slowly dimmed, the life seeping out of them as they drooped closed, blood dripping down his chest. The blood was clear proof of his death, along with the ruin that used to be his chest, as the Millifiore soldiers entered the room and ransacked the former Vongola Decimo's room. Shoichi was pulled from his horrific memories when Byuakura started talking again.

"Sadly, the games are over now, and as much as I wanted things to always go my way, this time it didn't, unfortunately. But no worries this issue will be resolved soon. How it's going to be resolved is up to you though, Sho-chan" Byakuran touched his cheek, gently smiling at him. It would have been a sweet smile, if not for the sharpness lurking underneath and the implied threat on his lips. Shoichi stared at him in confusion, wary of Byakuran's words as he tried to understand the meaning of them. However, he was getting so tired now, exhausted from dancing around the other man's whims and emotions – he'd forgotten how draining Byakuran could be now that they'd been separated for so long.

"What do you mean by that, Byakuran-san?" Shoichi asked slowly, taking even breaths to quell his growing unease. He looked anywhere but at Byakuran's cheerful face, deciding to look down instead as his head and body started feeling heavy.

"Remember, what I said to you before? That we only have 20 to 30 minutes? What do you think will happen after time runs out?" Byakuran asked quizzically. Shoichi forced his brain into overdrive, pushing through his exhaustion just like when he has multiple projects to finish and upcoming deadlines. He started forming theories in his head, searching for the right answer. Flame Ring Teleportation System. Flames. Rings. Teleport. As if hit by a lightning strike, Shoichi jolted from his position in alarm trying to get away even though he knew Byakuran wouldn't let him – he had a firm gripped on his waist, not letting him move even a centimeter away from him.

"The Flame Rings…" Shoichi breathed out, remembering the fake ring that he wore, although it was a fake Mare Ring, it was still a real ring nonetheless.

"But my ring was destroyed…but the stone?" Shoichi said, piecing everything together as he put his hand under his chin, frowning in confusion even as Byakuran was entertained by his efforts.

"Amazing! That's my Sho-chan alright! Clever as a fox!" the white-haired man exclaimed in delight.

"The Flame Ring Teleportation System uses flames from all types in large quantities, and it caught your stone's ring in the teleportation. After that it's all just calculation on where I wanted you to land" Byakuran hugged Shoichi tightly for the job well done despite Shoichi resisting his every move to place distance between them.

"Bya-Byakuran-san! Enough already!" He waved his hand frantically while he separated himself from the overly-happy man-child. As his brain latched on to the problem he was in, Shoichi lost all of his anxiety and worry, losing himself in the equation, thinking deeper. His research-oriented, genius mind switched on as there were still missing pieces of the puzzle that needed to be solved. He jumped from point to point until full understanding dawned, dread filling him up. Without meaning to, a pleading expression slid onto his face as he looked up at Byakuran, praying that he was wrong.

"If everyone at the Melone Base got teleported…then Tsuna and the others…." Shoichi couldn't finish that sentence. He couldn't imagine the horrible truth that was almost certainly true. He couldn't believe it, it had to be wrong!

'No! No! No! No! This is wrong! This shouldn't have happened! After all of the hard work and planning that we did, it can't end like this!' Shoichi started hyperventilating as he worried over Tsuna and the other young guardians. Guilt consumed him for their untimely deaths; Byakuran almost certainly didn't spare them.

"Calm down, don't cry" Byakuran cooed in fake comfort.

"As much as it would've been easier if they did get transferred here along with the Melone Base, they're still in Japan. They didn't get transported like you" The man calmed an anxious Shoichi, kissing the corners of his eyes before the unbidden tears could form and fall. His once tightly possessive hug became warm and gentle, like the old Byakuran used to give him. And for a second, Shoichi almost fell for it. Almost.

He could never forget that he was just one of Byakuran's pawns, one that could be tormented and then thrown away, replaced once he became uninteresting. Even in the last few minutes, the man had made him feel that he'd lost all of his hard work and all of his friends, only to dangle hope in front of him again. He was a monster.

A huge TV screen on the far side of the wall behind Shoichi flipped on, the one Byakuran used to communicate with Shoichi on the Melone Base. Shoichi turned around and finally forced his way out of the other man's lap, standing up. Byakuran had clearly let him go, as his grip had been iron-clad only moments before. They both walked closer to the TV screen as Shoichi watched Tsuna and the others still inside the Melone Base, or what was left from it, actually. Tsuna was clearly panicking, and Hayato looked like he was telling him not to worry, despite still not fully trusting Shoichi. Yamamoto was also trying to calm the young boss down, trying to rationalize that if Shoichi really wasn't an ally then they all should've been dead already. Spanner was also doing his best to comfort and calm the scared Tsuna, while Reborn was downright threatening to stop his whining, unfitting for the future Vongola boss as Tsuna kept looking around frantically for any sign of Shoichi's presence. While watching all of this, Shoichi unconsciously smiled at their chaotic group. Even after recently facing off one of their greatest enemies in the future, they could still act like the children they're supposed to be, had the world not been placed on their shoulders so young. Shoichi felt relieved, as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest.

"I never knew you could still smile like that" Shoichi tensed as Byakuran spoke again.

"You stopped looking at me with those endearing eyes full of warmth ever since you regained your memories. If you don't stop looking at them like that I might start to get jealous" Byakuran whispered in a heavy and jealous tone that had cold fingers of fear walking up Shoichi's spine. The white-haired man had him in an embrace again, his arms wrapped around Shoichi's waist.

"And when I'm jealous, bad things always happen to your surroundings…Neh, Sho-chan? We wouldn't want your friends to have an unfortunate accident…" Byakuran softly kissed Shoichi's cheek with mocking affection and rested his head on the shorter man's shoulder. If there was anything Shoichi learned through his long years of being with Byakuran, it was that the man dislikes the feelings of jealousy – jealousy meant that he was being ignored and he didn't like that, not at all.

It took years before Shoichi found out the truth about the mysterious events happening around him. It truly started with the sudden transfer of his roommate to another university when they were in their final year, or rather, the sudden disappearance of his former roommate. All because they were in the same department. He'd been foolish. Even though he already had his memories back then, he wasn't able to put the pieces together until a few years later, when he found out that his former roommate had died the same year he'd "transferred" – he'd been stabbed multiple times in the chest by a thief, and if that wasn't enough, he'd been strangled and his wallet and phone had been stolen to make it seen legit. Shoichi knew that what had been reported about the incident was far from the truth when he saw pictures of the deceased body. It was gruesome, it looked like a psychopath's work who never had the intention of stealing, but instead had a fun time killing. He'd probably enjoyed stabbing the poor guy and revealed in the screams of his victim and any pleadings that he wrenched from him. When the killer had gotten bored of stabbing, he'd finished off his victim by strangling him. Shoichi had imagined the psychopath killing him with a smile on his face, he pictured Byakuran's face while he did it now, bile creeping up his throat. He felt like throwing up, disgusted at the horrific memories that Byakuran dredged up.

But that wasn't the only thing. When Shoichi wanted to hang out with his friends at university they suddenly became busy but would look at him with guilt, fear obvious in their eyes. But when Byakuran put forth his ideas and demands, they'd always agree to it no matter the circumstance, even when Shoichi was certain they would rather watch a movie and just hang out at someone else's apartment. Shoichi knew his friends liked the back of his hand; it was the main reason why he wanted to interact and befriend them in the first place – they all thought alike and had the same hobbies as he did. And parties and bars were not on their comfort list, but that's what Byakuran wanted to do so they went along with it. Even as they hung out, Shoichi could see that they were bored out of their minds or just sitting on the couch and playing with their phones, obviously not having fun. On the other hand, Byakuran had always had his hand around Shoichi's waist and a glass of beer in the other as he talked to popular jocks or famous girls on campus. He'd even flirt openly with Shoichi, putting his boyfriend on a pedestal and deeming all others beneath their combined presence, even when Shoichi felt that he just sullied Byakuran's popularity because of his plain looks and nerdy aura. He'd mostly let Byakuran take the lead in all conversations and became his accessory, unless of course, Byakuran prompted him to do or say something, squeezing his hip hard enough to cause pain and bruises.

Eventually, and far too late, Shoichi finally put all the pieces together. He truly didn't know, doesn't know now, how many people Byakuran manipulated, threatened, or killed, just to satisfy his own deranged possessiveness. It was frightening to see just how far the man was willing to go to have anything that interested him, including Shoichi. Killing one of Shoichi's subordinates, his famiglia, out of pure jealousy, was mere child's play for the man. Shoichi had seen it time and again, but it was always too late.

His eyes finally were fully opened to the truth during a night where Shoichi had been intimate with Byakuran, having fallen asleep in the man's room. He was woken by a foul smell that had been seeping into the room, the usual white orchid and vanilla scent no longer masking it. It was a rotten smell, like a decaying dead body. He'd looked around the room, his eyes still blurry with sleep, and saw nothing. Following his nose, he was led to the bathroom door, and when he looked down to the gap between the door and the floor, he was horrified to see fresh blood peeking out on the clean, white tiles. Terror had filled his mind and body, his brain already doing the morbid math of what was lurking on the other side of the door. He wanted to turn away, but couldn't. He wanted Byakuran to stay the same, controlling man that he'd built up in his mind. He didn't want to go any further, to close his mind off to the terrifying possibilities and just live in ignorant bliss, brushing off the oddness and the flaws he saw. But before he knew it, Shoichi had opened the door and was met with a gruesome sight. The body, what was left of it, had been decapitated and dismembered. His stomach roiled, threatening to empty itself on the floor the longer he looked at Byakuran's poor victim. But then he'd seen the head, a familiar black-haired head on the far side of the clean white sterile room. Even without eyes, mutilated, and separated from its body, Shoichi knew who it was.

He screamed. Screamed and screamed. He screamed so loud that surely he'd woken up the world. His hands clutched his head, nails biting into his skin, trying to dig out the horrible images, the horrible tragedy that his friend had become.

That's when he'd vomited, his stomach no longer able to contain his disgust, his horror, his heartbreak. His body had felt heavy, his head groggy, and the smell had only gotten stronger and stronger the longer he'd stayed in the room. His whole body had been shaking, falling apart, when he heard soft footsteps coming up behind him. He'd felt familiar, warm hands wrapping around him; hands that had performed the most horrendous acts on an innocent man. Those same hands caressed him not too long ago, but now they trapped him, holding him to the person he wanted to hate the most. Shoichi was like a bird trapped in their glittery cage, his wings clipped beyond recovery, his life chained and locked away for one man's amusement.

"How many times do I have to tell you Sho-chan, that you're not allowed to cheat on me… or else someone's life would be lost? And since your life is so precious to me…it definitely won't be yours that gets lost..." Byakuran's voice whispered sweet and so darkly deadly, that the very memory of those words would haunt Shoichi for years to come. It had been a blessed relief when he'd lost consciousness, finally escaping into a voice of blackness.

Back in the present, Shoichi was determined not to be the helpless person he'd been back then; he had more to protect now than just himself, and he had to at least try his best to keep Tsuna and the others safe, as Shoichi forced himself to concentrate, to find just the right words, banishing the gruesome memories of his past.

"Now where's the fun in that? Kill them now and we won't be able to play our Choice Game, in real life, Byakuran-san~" he suggested, playing to the other man's desires. He turned around and wrapped his arms around Byakuran's neck, pouting like a child as he killed all other emotions besides his simmering anger and bringing out his guile. He had to step carefully if he wanted all of them to get out of this situation alive.

"Do you know how many people would love to be able to do something like this? Play out an online game in reality? I for one wouldn't miss it for the world" Shoichi hated how he was cajoling the other man, loathed how he tightened his arms around his neck, leaning his head closer to Byakuran.

"Hmmmmmm…I don't know Sho-chan" the man hummed, his violet eyes apathetic.

"My Funeral Wreaths have been getting bored lately. After killing the head of the Vongola Family, most of the other mafia families bowed down to our power very quickly, lessening the body count. Oh, but I still let them kill the weaker Mafia families…can't let them get rusty now, can we?" Byakuran said cheerily, as if taking lives was nothing but a game for him, Shoichi repressed any disgust he was feeling, refusing to let them who were in his eyes and give him away.

"And that is why we should do the Game of Choice" he pressed.

"As they say, good things come to those who wait, isn't that right, Byakuran-san?" Shoichi persuaded as he cupped Byakuran's jaw and brushed his thumb against his cheek softly, lovingly. Byakuran leaned his head into the touch, happy at the shift in Shoichi's behavior. The other man was acting more like what Byakuran wanted him too and it was satisfying, though he did have some reservations on whether or not it was genuine.

"I don't know about that…Maybe…" The white-haired man paused for a moment, thinking.

"On one condition then" he finally relented. Shoichi was inwardly delighted that his little ploy was working, but his stomach clenched queasily at the mention of a condition.

"And what's that?" he asked as Byakuran leaned closer. He leaned forward to the point that their lips were barely touching, making Shoichi shamefully excited.

"Become mine" Shoichi jolted and unwrapped his arms from around Byakuran's neck and looked at him incredulously.

"Excuse me?"

"If you agree to come back to my side right here and right now, then I'll spare the Vongola's until the day of the battle comes" The longer Byakuran spoke the worse it got, his words weaving a trap around Shoichi instead of it being the other way around. And then the trap was sprung.

"But if you don't…" The threat went unsaid, but it was perfectly clear.

"I'm not a patient man" Byakuran continued.

"Which you already know, Sho-chan…" Byakuran stated coldly. Shoichi's blood was freezing in his veins the longer Byakuran spoke. The room suddenly felt as if all the air had been sucked out of it, freezing like a vacuum had suddenly opened up in those four walls. Byakuran stared at him apathetically, even as Shoichi's whole world shifted and he felt hopeless and grasping for a way out of this situation. The last thing Shoichi wanted was to go back to Byakuran's side, no matter what, but how else could he save his friends without doing so?

'No. No, I can't agree. No more…Shoichi thought fearfully. After all those years of being with him, the mental torture and anguish, the menacing undercurrent in their relationship he felt whenever he was near Byakuran, the terror of what he could do – he had had enough of it, he didn't know how long he'd be able to endure any of that this time.

Shoichi had no more reason to stay beside the other man, and he was certain that Byakuran would treat him as anything but a caring and loving partner. After all, in Byakuran's eyes, Shoichi had committed the biggest sin in this world: betrayed him, trading their relationship for the Vongola. That was something the other man would never be able to forgive his Shoichi for, no matter how much he claims to love him.

"I can't do that. I'm not a prize to be won or owned" The words pained him – putting both his life and Tsuna and the other's lives into the hands of a psychopath who wouldn't hesitate to harm them. But even as he said the words that would damn them all, Shoichi took strength from the fact that if he agrees now then he'll just worsen their situation than it already is.

"I'm a human being – not a thing or toy you can get your hands on" He was proud that his voice hadn't shaken and he stared resolutely into Byakuran's unreadable, violet eyes once again.

"You're right" The man's answer startled him, and Shoichi was sure that his face showed every bit of shock.

"You were supposed to be by my side after your whole reveal, just so I could add more despair to the Vongola famiglia's already hopeless situation. But due to several unfortunate and unforeseen events, those damned Vongola Rings decided that you are also part of their family now, something that they shouldn't have done. Clearly, Tsuna's acknowledgement of you made the Sky Ring, along with the other Vongola Rings, accept you as part of their family" Shoichi looked at him in confusion.

"Vongola Rings?" he repeated, making sure that he'd heard right.

Byakuran was speaking as if the rings were, no are….alive. The other man snorted in annoyance, as if he were talking about a nuisance, instead of ancient artifacts that shaped the course of the world.

"Of course, why do you think that the Vongola's weren't transported here along with you and the Melone Base? It's because they protected their wearers and allies from the Teleportation System. Remember, Sho-chan, the Mare Rings, Vongola Rings, and Arcobaleno Pacifiers are the pillars of this world. Whoever holds even just a single one of them can create miracles" he explained in a voice that somehow walked the edge between boredom and annoyance.

"So, it's no wonder that they're, per say, alive. Just like the Mare Rings chooses their own user, the Vongola Rings created a barrier for the Vongola and their allies"

"The only reason you're here with me now is because of the fake Mare Ring I gave to you, it would've acted as a gateway to transport you here with me. Sadly, it didn't work, and now you'll be transferred back into their side"

Shoichi gasped in realization as he finally put all the pieces of the bigger picture into place. Byakuran had always planned to use the Flames Teleportation System from the start, if not to teleport Tsuna and the others into the main base of the Milifiore Family as an easy way to kill all of them, then at least to take Shoichi away. Letting him go to Japan, the time travel with Tsuna and the other guardians was a means to gain the Vongola Rings, and letting him train Tsuna and the others through the Melone Base was just another step in Byakuran's grand plan. Once Shoichi had revealed the truth to Tsuna and the others, it would've been Byakuran's time to take the spotlight and reveal the existence of the 6 Real Funeral Wreaths along with the Flame Teleportation System, just to terrorize them more with their ever more hopeless situation. But clearly, things had not gone to plan and he was improvising now, determined to have every advantage, including Shoichi.

"This is your last chance, Sho-chan. Give yourself up now and I won't go after those Vongolas" Byuakuran's voice was menacing and low, glaring darkly at Shoichi's face, but Shoichi was having none of it this time. If he didn't take this opportunity now to throw a wrench into the other man's plans, then he'd regret it until the day he died.

'No! I can't. This isn't just about me; Tsuna and the others are counting on me!' Shoichi resolved himself as he looked defiantly at Byakuran.

"My answer is still the same. I'm not going…with you…" Shoichi denied the offer with all his heart. Even if he was full of anxiety and fear, he would not let it conquer him or overtake him. He'll put all of his trust and faith of humanity in Tsuna and his guardians, relying on them to save everyone from its pending doom.

"Well then, I guess we have no choice then, huh? I suggest you warn Tsuna once you're back because within five days, the Millifiore army along with my Funeral Wreaths will attack in full force" Byakuran sighed, disappointed, narrowing his eyes on his former lover.

"Believe me when I say this, those Vongolas will have the most inhumane deaths out of everyone! And I'm going to let you watch their execution from a front row seat!" Byakuran gripped Shoichi's wrist tightly, tight enough that he could feel the bones beneath his skin grinding together. Shoichi's eyes widened in pain and he recalled the time when Byakuran almost broke his wrist after he failed to answer just one phone call. It was a lesson that he'd never forget, and he always made a point to answer every call in order to avoid similar punishment.

"Wa-wait, Byakuran-san!" Shoichi gasped, wincing in pain. He grabbed Byakuran's wrist, attempting to break the bruising grip. Clearly, Byakuran was displeased at not getting what he'd wanted, still determined to have some kind of hold on his prize.

'Come on Shoichi, think! There has to be a way to turn this around! The Choice Game…Tsuna and the others…Vongola Rings…Byakuran…' Not wanting to go back to Byakuran, and not wanting to let the Vongola guardians die, Shoichi's mind frantically searched for an answer that solved all of his problems. Mere moments later, still wracked with pain, Shoichi was struck by the solution.

"Okay, I agree" Shoichi's answer granted him relief in the form of Byakuran loosening his grip, but it wasn't enough to let him go.

"What was that?" Byakuran asked, his eyes glinting dangerously. Shoichi swallowed nervously, but continued on.

"I agree to become yours, but only if you win the Choice Game" At this Byakuran perked up, looking at him interestedly, he'd always liked intriguing games.

"Along with the Vongola Rings, you would also have me as …as a… a bonus prize, if you win" he offered, praying the man would take the bait.

"You'll have me, like a trophy, wouldn't you like that? Byakuran-san?" Shoichi prayed that his persuasion was enough as Byakuran went silent, contemplating if the offer was worth it. Shoichi was relieved when the other man smiled, even if the smile was more terrifying than cheerful.

"Ok then, Sho-chan, I'll agree to your terms" Byakuran agreed, gripping Shoichi's arms tightly as he grimaced in pain. Byakuran lifted him up to the point that Shoichi was on his tiptoes and he grabbed the brunet hard by the chin as he stared into his eyes.

"You better make sure to have fun during these last few days of freedom, because once I have you, I'll make sure you're never going anywhere, ever again" Shoichi shivered, but held the gaze, knowing what was coming next.

"I'll chain you up if I have to. I've let you gain too much freedom already and I'm not going to make that mistake ever again. The day you become mine will be the last day of your freedom, and I don't care if I had to cut your legs or blind your eyes for it. Do you understand?" Byakuran then smiled brightly as if he hadn't just condemned a man to live out a horrible life. His eyes were narrowed with unparalleled chaos and madness, but Shoichi gathered up his courage to speak again.

'This is one game that you are going to lose, Byakuran. I'm sure of it!' Shoichi thought determinedly.

"I accept your deal" he replied, putting everything on the line. Byakuran kissed him, forcing his way into Shoichi's mouth. The grip on Shoichi's chin was too hard, the kiss was too harsh, but the spark of desire that burned between them was still there, however small. Shoichi resisted, but he couldn't deny that some part of him still wanted Byakuran, no matter how destructive he was. The heat of their lips and tongues moving together was fierce as one pursued and the other resisted. When the kiss broke, Byakuran smiled and licked his bottom lip.

"Our little deal…. is sealed"