When Bel returned back to Kokuyo later that day, Mammon was in tow. Mukuro had been reluctant in stopping his training with Fran so that the boy could play with the two Varia members (by playing, he meant pinching Mammon's cheeks and hiding Bel's tiara), but when he noticed how happy Fran was, he didn't mind.

"Bel-senpai?" Fran had gone into town with Bel and Mammon, following the two around the streets like a puppy attached to someone who had just fed it. "Bel-senpai, I'm hungry."

Bel didn't like the idea of spending his money on someone else, but the second he opened his mouth to voice that fact, Mammon stepped in.

"You can spend a couple of dollars on a kid, Bel." The Arcobaleno rolled his eyes beneath his hood.

"Oi! Like you can talk!" Bel sighed before he looked down at the boy holding tightly to his Varia jacket. Well... He is kind of cute... Just a little... "What do you eat?"

Teal eyes blinked innocently up at the blond as if they didn't understand the question. "Food...?"

"I know that!" Bel threw his arms up in the air dramatically, never having dealt with another kid before. "I mean what kinds of food!"

Fran just blinked again. "I don't know?"

Bel's first instinct to deal with the frustration Fran was causing him was to pull out his knives and stab the boy but, despite having grabbed three blades and thrusting them towards the younger, he couldn't bring himself to stab Fran - not when the boy started whimpering and flinching from the knives directed at him.

Bel frowned as he pulled the knives back to his body, not sure what to think - why was this kid so different from the one in the future? The future Fran had been a snarky, unfeeling little shit, but this one... This one was more... more human.

"Put them away, Bel." Mammon, who was perched on the blond's shoulder, tapped his tiny foot against Bel's body. "People are starting to stare."

Bel was reluctant to do as he was told, but he put the knives back in his pocket anyway. He grabbed Fran's tiny hand, pulling the boy along the street and to his favorite sushi restaurant.

"Do you like sushi?" Bel questioned.

"What's that?"

Bel was sure he wouldn't be able to stop himself from stabbing Fran if this kept up any longer - sushi was his favorite food, and he'd be damned if he let anyone insult it by not even knowing what it was.

~~XX~~

"Senpai, this tastes funny." Fran held out his chop sticks with a single grain of rice impaled on the end. "It tastes like wood."

"That's because you're not using your chopsticks right, and all you're putting in your mouth is wood." Bel rolled obscured eyes before he grabbed Fran's hand and helped him form the correct posture required for chopstick mastery. "Now try and pick food up."

Fran nodded, doing as he was told. He was happy that this time he got enough rice to eat without tasting the wood, and he smiled up at Bel in appreciation.

Bel didn't know why the younger smiling at him made his heart race, but he didn't want to think too much on it - he just wanted to eat his food and then have a nap.

"Bel-senpai?" Fran's teal eyes searched for Bel's, his smile only widening. "Bel-senpai, thank you for bringing me here."

The blond's mouth went dry, and all he could do was look away, mumbling something inaudible to even himself. Fran hummed to himself as he ate his food while Mammon just watched with a knowing look.

"You're starting to care about the brat, aren't you?" Mammon was eating quietly, turning his head to observe the Storm Guardian.

Bel made a choking noise before he shook his head. "I am not! I don't care about anyone!"

Mammon knew Fran was focusing on his food, the young illusionist paying them no mind. "Do you remember how it happened? In the future, I mean."

"If you're talking about what the prince thinks you are, he doesn't want to talk about it." Bel huffed, stabbing at his onigiri. "I don't want a relationship - especially with a stupid brat!"

"I heard you calling his name before we left for Japan." The Arcobaleno shrugged. "I think you're lying to yourself."

"I am not!" By this point, Bel was becoming upset - he didn't want to feel more confused than he already did when it came to Fran. "I... I'm sixteen, Mammy! I don't want a relationship!"

"You don't want a relationship, or you're not ready for a relationship? Either way, you still can't deny you were together with him in the future."

Bel mumbled again before he crossed his arms against his chest, unable to comprehend why everyone treated him like this when it came to Fran. He just wanted them to leave him alone so he could work out his feelings by himself - but no; everyone had to interfere when it was hard enough.

"One-twenty dollars. Pay up." Mammon held his hand out expectantly.

Bel just sighed as he handed over a credit card to his friend.

The next chapter will take place after the fight with the Vindice as I don't really need to change anything and I can safely assume most of you guys already know what happens. It also may or may not be the last chapter, depending on what I can put in there or if I want to expand on anything else.