A/N I'm bringing this ficinto the ArcobalenoTrials arc now, so there may be spoilers ahead if you haven't gotten this far into the manga. The up-coming chapters also may not keep true to the mangachapters as there will be some things I'll have to change for this plot's sake, but it should still run linear with canon.

Also, M.M doesn't exist in my mind. I'm sorry, but I just can't stand her, so she won't have any part to play in this fic, either.

When Bel returned to the Varia after completing his mission, he had headed straight upstairs and into his bedroom. He tread through the mess on his floor in order to throw himself down on his king-size bed and curl up in the blood-red silk comforter, trying to stop the confusing jumble of thoughts from bringing him down.

The truth was, he remembered exactly what had happened between he and Fran in the future, but he didn't want to face the fact that he was bisexual - he had only ever had an interest in girls before, and being pummelled with memories of the future in which he had been in a relationship with another male was like having a stranger come up to you on the street and tell you your family had died - you didn't expect it, and the weight of the burden hit you like a steam roller, crushing you.

Bel wasn't sure if he was comfortable or not being bisexual - his future self apparently was, but he was only sixteen and trying to deal with his already-overwhelming hormones made it so much harder.

How does Lussdeal with this? Bel sighed as he rolled onto his back, looking up at the roof. He gets so much shit from the others but he never lets it bother him. Even the pineapple... The pineapple thought it was stupid to care about what people think... In fact, the pineapple was more help than Xanxusor Squalo- all they did was tease the prince...

Bel sat up and slipped his legs off the bed. He stood, moving to the doorway he had just come through not even five minutes before. His mind didn't know where he was going, but his feet did - they took him all the way to Mammon's room.

"Mammy?" Bel knocked on the door, entering when he heard the Arcobaleno telling him to enter. He pushed against the door, finding Mammon sitting on the rug, counting money. "Mammy, the prince has a question."

"Fifteen euros." The baby held his hand out expectantly, but when no money was handed to him, he frowned. "Pay up, or leave."

"Well, the prince only has credit cards - Mammy knows this." Bel sat next to the baby, looking at the stacks of money placed in various amounts. "The prince will get money for Mammy later."

As much as Mammon wanted to disagree, he nodded. "Have it to me before seven tonight."

"Okay." Bel took a deep breath before he spoke, voicing the questions that had been bothering him lately. "...Does Mammy think it's stupid to care about what people think about the prince?"

"Of course." The Arcobaleno placed a few more notes down in one of the piles. "Is this about you being gay?"

The blond huffed. "The prince is not gay! ...He... He's bi..." Bel looked away, frowning.

"You finally admit it."

"No, I'm not!" The teenager argued. "I'm just stating I'm not gay!"

"And now you're getting defensive." Mamamon shrugged his tiny shoulders, turning to look up at Bel. "What does it matter what your orientation is? It doesn't change who you are as a person, so stop being so stupid and accept it."

"The others won't accept it!" Behind blond bangs, Bel's eyes widened as he thought about how the other Varia members would treat him if he were to finally accept things as they were - he'd be treated as badly as Lussuria, or maybe even worse. "They'll..."

"What's the worst they'd do? Kick you out? They're not your parents, and Lussuria has been here for years. If they've put up with your bratty attitude, childish pranks and the fact that you're either always horny or wanting to kill someone, they're not going to treat you differently now, Bel."

Bel glanced at his lap, fumbling with his hands. He bit his lip, thinking over Mammon's words. He knew the baby was right, and... Well, to be honest, Lussuria had been in the Varia long before he had joined - maybe the other members didn't treat Lussuria differently due to his orientation; perhaps they'd always been that way towards him, accepting the fact that he was gay and using it in jest.

And now, as the blond thought about it, his interactions with the others really hadn't changed, apart from Squalo referring to him as a faggot. But, despite Squalo's homophobic attitude, he had never pushed either Lussuria or Bel away from him - could it all just be his odd way of showing his affection for them?

"That comes to two-hundred-and-fifteen euros. My help doesn't come cheap."

Bel's mouth just dropped open at the baby's attitude - he had been on the verge of an epiphany, and the Mist Guardian had ruined it.

KokuyoLand~~

Fran had been sleeping soundly by the time Mukuro came back. Ken and Chikusa weren't anywhere to be found, and Chrome was in Namimori Town, probably with the Vongola Decimo.

It was dark within the abandoned school, the moon's rays doing little to guide Mukuro through the hallways he had come to know well, but that didn't matter; he had already reached his destination.

The office Mukuro had claimed as his own was still the same as it was when he had left the mission; there was dust everywhere, tiny pieces of broken plaster and shattered floorboards here and there. The filthy window blocked out most of the moon's light, but Mukuro didn't care; he was at peace here.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

Mukuro knew he had felt another presence in the room with him, but he had ignored it, curious as to what someone was doing here. He glanced towards the dark corner of the room, seeing a tiny figure step further towards the desk the blue-haired teenager had moved to.

Heterochromatic eyes made out green hair and a white lab-coat, but the green pacifier Mukuro could just make out gave everything away.

"Kufufu~" Mukuro laughed as he kicked his feet up onto the desk, smirking. "What would an Arcobaleno want with me?"

"I want you to be my representative."

Mukuro just laughed again, amusement running high.