Dino was surprised that someone was knocking on his hotel door at three in the morning. He had woken up and was about to get a drink when he heard the small, uncertain taps on the wood, almost as if whoever was on the other side was unsure of what they were even doing here.

The man was wary as he approached the door with a glass of water in one hand and his bullwhip in the other; he could never be too careful when it came to things like this as there were plenty of rivalling families who would love to take him out.

The Chiavarone don set the glass down on the corner table by the door before he hesitantly wrapped his hand around the doorknob and opened it, preparing himself for an ambush; he didn't know of anyone here in Japan who would seek his help so early in the morning, and the only conclusion he could come to was someone was trying to have him lower his guard.

However, when the blond saw Kyouya standing emotionlessly in the hallway with his hand poised to knock once more, Dino nearly fainted on the spot; if there was one person he would never, in a million years, have expected to be on his doorstep at this time, it was the raven.

"Kyouya, did something happen?" Dino stepped to the side so that he could allow the skylark room to enter if he wanted. He was surprised when the younger did so without reluctance, having expected at least some sort of unwillingness – not for him to enter as if it were exactly what he had come here for in the first place.

Kyouya was silent as he walked further into the hotel room until he was standing by the couch. He stared down at the black material for a few seconds before he sat himself down on the end and rested against the raised arm as he stared blankly ahead of him. He had felt numb many times before, but not like this; he almost could barely even register anything around him, let alone process his own thoughts properly.

Dino shut the door behind him before he walked to Kyouya's side with hopes that he could get something out of his guest; something must have seriously happened, and he was worried. "Kyouya…? Something happened for you to have come here, didn't it…?" The blond didn't ask how the raven knew where he was staying – it was irrelevant and all that mattered was helping the teenager.

When Kyouya spoke, it was in a tone far too emotionless for the context of his words. "They're dead. Both of them. …Dead…"

Dino felt his stomach clench at these words; surely Kyouya didn't mean… "Who…?" he whispered, reaching out to put his hand on Kyouya's shoulder in a comforting manner. He didn't speak when he was shrugged off, knowing it was more important for his student to tell him what had happened.

"My parents. They're dead. My father… He killed my mother, and then shot himself. I was sleeping when I heard the gunshot. I woke up. The blood… There was blood everywhere…"

Despite the monotone voice Kyouya was using, Cavallone could see the trauma in those onyx orbs. Maybe the skylark was used to blood from his peers, maybe even his own, but the blood that signified the end of his parents' lives…?

How could anyone be okay with seeing that…?

"Kyouya…" Dino was horrified, and he didn't know how he could help. He glanced behind him to see Romario was standing in the doorway of his bedroom and he nodded, knowing the black-haired man would understand his orders and go down to Kyouya's home to sort things out.

"I…" The cracking of Kyouya's voice gave Dino insight into the torment the boy must be going through. "…I don't…"

Dino knew he probably shouldn't, but he couldn't stop himself from engulfing the younger in a gentle hug. He knew what it was like to lose a parent, but he couldn't imagine how he would have felt if his father had died in such a manner; he was sure he would have felt more devastated than he already did, and he didn't even know if he would have been able to cope or not.

"Kyouya, please stay the night here," Dino whispered. He noticed Kyouya didn't move in his hold, much less pull away, so he could only imagine Takeshi had been right in guessing maybe all Kyouya wanted was for someone to notice his pain.

"…" Kyouya just closed his eyes, not knowing how to convey the fact that he did want to stay. Surely it was obvious if he had come all the way here…?

Dino understood. He carefully removed his arms from the boy before he stood up. "I'll get you a blanket, Kyouya."

Kyouya just stayed where he was, the memories of seeing his parents' bodies lying on the floor of the living room playing through his mind, the blood that had splattered all over the walls, the floor and even the furniture making him feel sick to his stomach. His head ached as he tried to understand how he felt about the situation - his father; he was glad to have him gone, but his mother… He remembered a time when the woman would actually try and protect him from his father's rage. He didn't know when it had all changed – all he knew was that the woman who had once showered him with love and affection had slowly started resenting him, and no matter how hard he had thought about it, he couldn't remember what he could have possibly done to make her hate him so much.

Even so, if Kyouya were to cry over either of his parents, it would be for the mother who had once loved him.

When Dino came back out and wrapped a heavy blanket around the boy, he was surprised when a hand reached up and grabbed at the sleeve of his nightshirt, pulling him down next to him.

"K-kyouya…?"

"Tired…" Kyouya mumbled. He didn't know what on Earth had possessed him to do so, but he soon found himself lying on his side with his head situated on the blond's lap. It was different from the times his father had forced his crotch to his face; there was no pain, no disgusting smell or foul taste left to linger on his senses – instead, there was a mutual trust, a reassurance that things would be okay and, for the first time in a long time, Kyouya found himself enjoying the proximity of another body.

Dino ran his hand through raven locks as he felt the other relax against his touch. Smiling, his eyes softened as he opened his mouth so that he could sing the same song his mother would sing to him when he was young and couldn't sleep from nightmares.

Fai la nanna principino,
Fai la nanna cuoricino,
Dormi bene nel lettino,
Che la mamma e' qui vicino.

Chiudi gli occhi dormi tanto
E vedrai tutto e' un incanto.

Rosso, verde, azzurro e oro
Son piu' belli, mio tesoro.
Viola, arpa e mandolino:
Tutto e' suono per il mio bambino

Fai la nanna rosellina,
Fai la nanna bambolina,
Dormi bene nel lettino,
Che la mamma e' qui vicino.

Chiudi gli occhi dormi tanto
E vedrai tutto e' un incanto.

Rosso, verde, azzurro e oro
Son piu' belli, mio tesoro.
Viola, arpa e mandolino:
Tutto e' suono per il mio bambino

When Dino looked down at his lap, he felt his heart warm at the sight of a sleeping Kyouya. For the first time since he had met the boy, the usually stoic face had a peaceful expression, the slightest curl of his lips indicating a smile as his chest rose and fell slowly with each breath. A hand was clutching the hem of Dino's nightshirt tightly, and the boy's knees were drawn to his chest.

Dino closed his eyes, too, not wanting to risk waking the boy by leaving for his own bed. When sleep came for him and his dreams started, he dreamt of the boy in his lap, of seeing that relaxed smile more and more.

Did this mean… Kyouya was starting to trust Dino…? Cavallone could only hope so.