"Ushishishi~ Mammy, we look like orphans, wandering the streets so late~ Shishishi~" Bel giggled as he tread through the darkness with Mammon in his arms. "At least if someone sees us, they won't suspect the prince~ They'll blame orphans! Oprhans, Mammy! Ushishishi~!"

Beneath his hood, Mammon rolled his eyes. "Just hurry up and find somewhere with steak before Boss blows the hotel up."

Bel giggled as he nodded. He hummed as he walked the streets of Japan, having came back with the rest of the Varia for something called 'Arcobaleno Trials'. The second trial had just taken place, as far as he was aware - he was only out on steak-duty due to the fact that, in the first fight, the other Varia members had been badly injured and he, being the masochist that he was, had been sent out to keep the boss happy.

The Storm Guardian's obscured eyes wandered around his surroundings; they were walking down one of the main streets but, it being so late at night, there was no one else around. The shops were closed for the night, and the street lamps were the only thing illuminating the darkness.

Bel had almost thought they were alone - that was, until he caught sight of a familiar pineapple-headed teenager cutting through a back alley and turning to run ahead of the Varia members.

"Mukuro Rokudo~" Bel grinned, letting Mammon go as he stopped walking. The baby dropped to his feet safely, looking up at Bel. "Mammy, go find some steaks~ The prince has something he has to do~"

"I'd better get paid for this when you get back."

"Oh, Mammy will be~"

Bel followed the younger male at a distance, wondering if the strong illusionist was even aware that he was being followed. He could see that the Vongola Mist was carrying something, but it was too dark and too far away to make out what it was.

What made Bel most curious was the fact that the renowned Illusionist had patches of blood on his green jacket, soaking through his mist-patterned shirt - had something happened during the Arcobaleno Trials?

And if something had, why did it make Bel's stomach hurt to think that Fran might have been hurt as well?

~~XX~~

By the time Mukuro returned to Kokuyo with Fran in his arms, he was well aware of the fact that someone was trailing him. He hadn't sensed a threat so he had let it be, but it bothered him to know that whoever it was had followed him into the building.

Summoning his trident, Mukuro went out to investigate aftering lying Fran down on the couch.

"Ushishishi~"

The blue-haired teenager narrowed his eyes as Belphegor stepped out of the shadows, his usual grin on his face. Heterochromatic eyes took in the bandages around his head, neck and arms, but despite however severe those injuries were, he was still grinning like the lunatic he is.

"What are you doing here, Belphegor?" Mukuro was wary, not trusting the other to keep out of trouble.

"The prince had to get steak for the boss and he found a certain pineapple covered in blood, running~" The blond moved closer, his grin widening. "Is the little Froggy still hopping around?"

"You certainly seem much more cheerful than the last time I saw you."

Mukuro nodded. "Fran is resting. He was hurt."

"Can the prince see him?" The blond's grin disappeared at these words, replaced instead by a concerned tone.

Mukuro lead the way back to Fran, noticing that the Varia Storm seemed more genuine now than he had out of all their interactions together. The older teenager was quiet as he sat on the couch beside Fran, reaching out to put his hand on the younger's forehead. He frowned as he felt the teal-haired boy burning up with a fever, knowing that for such a young kid, it would take a lot out of him.

"The pineapple should make the frog some soup." Bel took off his jacket and laid it over Fran, tucking him in. "Squ-Squ and Luss always make the prince soup when he is sick."

"I would, but we don't have the means to cook here. If you haven't noticed, we live in an abandoned -" A loud bang cut Mukuro off.

Three sets of eyes wandered over to the wall of the office that had been smashed in, three cloaked and bandaged figures with chains standing before them.

Mukuro, who had spent enough time in Vindice Prison, knew exactly who they were looking at.

"Is this an illusion?" Bel turned to Mukuro, wondering if Fran had unwillingly conjured an illusion in his weak state - it had happened with Mammon before, so Fran - a boy with a heap of potential but not enough skill to control it - should surely lose control every now and then, right?

"Get down, you idiot!" Mukuro lunged at Bel, knocking him to the ground as a chain was hurled towards them. The blond hissed in protest as the younger teenager fell on top of him, losing his breath from the unexpected assault.

Bel ducked his head as another chain was tossed towards them, landing just inches from their heads. He could hear Fran in the background, crying, but there was nothing he could do until Mukuro got off him.

However, before the blue-haired male could even consider moving, the well-known surroundings shifted slightly as what he knew to be an unintentional - however strong - illusion surrounded them.

Bel seemed to have been caught in it, suddenly still as he laid on the floor, his mind taking in the full brunt of what appeared to be themselves being attacked by figures the blond didn't seem to have seen before.

Mukuro, knowing they were hidden behind layers of illusion, dragged Bel across the floor and over to the bed. He scooped Fran into his arms before he took the two to the hidden trapdoor not far from them, knowing they had to hide before the boy's illusion inevitably faltered and disappeared.

Mukuro focused on soothing the distressed boy, knowing that, once Bel snapped out of the illusion, he could take care of himself. Bel was a core Varia member, after all.