{???, ???}

"Kufufufufu, if it makes you feel better, I don't like you too, Yucca-kun."

At the sound the illusionist's voice, a low growl escaped Yucca's lips. The cowardice he seemed to have displayed earlier shattering as if it never was there.

"Mukuro," he greeted lowly his usual -chan dropped. "What do you want?"

"Kufufufufu, me?" He rhetorically asked, enjoying the white head's reaction. "Nothing of course. I am only here to help my dear Koro-kun out," he stated, chuckling.

Yucca's purple eyes shifted to the silent Koro before shaking the older man's hold on him off. "What's that Koro-chan, why would we need him?" he fumed, unmistakably unhappy with the decision his counterpart had made. "Ran-chan is all we need!"

A laugh escaped Mukuro's lips at the male's affirmation, eliciting a glare from the said male.

Koro rubbed his temples tiredly, a sigh following the action. "That's enough Mukuro, don't rile him up," he demanded.

Hearing the raven head a pout made its way to Mukuro's lips. "You're no fun Koro-kun. Yucca-kun is so funny to tease, not taking advantage of it would be blasphemy" he whined.

"What did you say!"

Koro heaved another sigh. "Yucca, don't let him get to you."

Yucca huffed, crossing his arm childishly as he snapped his head in a different direction, starring into the mindscape's neverending horizon.

"I don't care what you do," he scoffed. "Don't call for me, I'm sleeping," he stated before walking away, sulking.

Koro didn't say anything as he watched the younger male go further into the mindscape, away from him and Mukuro.

"Kufufu, such a cute charge you have, Koro-kun."

Koro sent Mukuro a deadpan stare, eliciting another laugh from the illusionist. "Whatever," he sighed before walking closer to the Vindice's ex-captive.

The two males took place around a table, each one seating on a comfortable quilted chair. Furniture created by the illusionist.

"So, Koro-kun," Mukuro called out, taking a sip of the newly created tea. "How can I help you? How does it serve my cause? How do I know it won't bite me back?" he questioned successively, heterochromatic eyes half-lidded as he stared at the raven head.

Taking hold of his cup, Koro stared at the amber liquid for a few seconds before taking a sip and returning Mukuro's gaze. "I need you to seal Yucca, his consciousness for a while," he whispered.

Mukuro perked up, his eyes widening slightly as a low hum escaped his lips, urging Koro to develop.

"Yucca is too impulsive. If it concerns Ran or anything related to him he goes for the kill, nothing can stop him. Therefore, with the upcoming battle, I wouldn't be surprised if he summoned his box weapons and annihilated friends or foes without a second thought."

Putting his cup down, Mukuro leaned into his chair. "And? How does having you in control change anything? From where I stand, you work for Byakuran. How does it differ from having Yucca-kun in control?" He defied with a smile.

Koro sighed. "You know that already," he stated.

"Kufufufufu, of course, I know. I'm messing with you Koro-kun, nothing more, nothing less. So, this seal, when do you want to start it?"

Koro's expression morphed into a genuine one as he smiled at Mukuro. "Thank you, Mukuro."

"Fufu, don't mention it. But you owe me one, Koro-kun."

::

{Namimori's suburb, Japan}

-

Green sparks. A massive explosion and Ghost appeared in the middle of the battlefield.

Standing tall and proud, the unknown being walked through every attack, physical or metaphysical he met.

Koro didn't understand, what was this thing? Stealing a glance at the three remaining wreaths, Koro's uneasiness, increased. The fear the wreaths displayed at Ghost's presence only testified his previous theory on the being.

Around him, Koro felt the air shift, in both parties. Koro remained still for a minute, observing the unknown wreath. Trying to catch a hint on what it was, what it could do.

He observed as Ghost absorbed every attack thrown at him, how unfazed he seemed. And then, it began.

The lightning flames wavered, unstable. A dome-like shape enveloped the wreath before lose limbs shot out of it, attacking friends and foes.

Koro's eyes snapped open at the sight of one of these limbs charging his way. Barely evading it, he didn't see the other one coming his way.

The feeling of suffocation was like nothing he had felt before. It was as if the life got drained out of him as if he aged faster and faster until nothing but dust was left of him.

Koro didn't register what was happening to him. He was already doomed.

-

The vision made Koro's eyes snap open, he ignored the small throb in his head and refocused his gaze on the situation at hand. They were trying to stop Ghost by mindlessly charging at him with all they had.

"Aguri!" He shouted, earning a small boo from the violet animal. With a flicker of his wrist, Aguri went back to her box weapon.

Koro began to march back, his eyes never leaving Ghost figure. The continuous attack stopped, Koro could feel the wreath's lightning flame waver.

"Careful!" He cried before diving and evading the loose limbs aimed at him.

Chaos, Bluebell some of the box weapons nothing, no one was spared.

Koro's mind went a mile a minute, trying to think of a counterattack, he could feel the seal on Yucca's mind getting weaker too. He needed to hurry, Yucca's will to protect Ghost was as strong as the one to spoil Byakuran. If Yucca became conscious of his surroundings again, Koro's movement and decisions would be restricted.

But didn't he create Yucca anyway?

His eyes flickered in Mukuro's direction. Perhaps the illusionist would have some leads on the matter. His hope wilted as fast as it bloomed, the look on the ex-convict's face was enough to tell him everything.

His eyes scanned the surrounding environment, did all the wreaths get absorbed? Realization dawned over him, this Ghost, he needed to eliminate it.

Readying himself to charge at the being in a last attempt to stop it, Koro's demarche came to a halt at the sight of Sawada Tsunayoshi.

Koro didn't fully grasp it. But in a bit more than a blink Ghost disappeared. The attack he once saw ten years ago on Xanxus had annihilated Ghost in a seemingly effortless effort.

A pang went through their heart, Koro stumbled, having trouble standing, he leaned against a tree. His head ached, he could feel Yucca's consciousness fighting for dominance, a way to escape the seal. A way to prove his existence.

The impact of losing Ghost seemed to have amplified the sealed male's resolve. Koro could feel within him, the will to destroy Sawada Tsunayoshi and annihilate the Vongola increased. Why did he envision Yucca this way, to begin with?

His eyes flashed between an orange and purple light succinctly, before the two glints blended, violet overpowering the orange tint before both faded, letting Koro's purple eyes settle on their natural color.

Regulating his ragged breathing, Koro sat on the ground, whatever was happening right now, he couldn't care less. His constitution wouldn't allow him to anyway.

Fatigue overwhelmed him. He didn't think to have Yucca sealed inside of him, would be so tiring, the constant fight of the younger's consciousness with his and the seal to get out was straining. So straining, he felt compelled to take a nap. Since when did ignoring someone's existence become so tiring?

Just one nap, a short one. It wouldn't hurt, right?

Nobody would notice.

Koro closed his eyes.

Yucca snapped them open.

An orange glint traversed them as he panted, breathing ragged from the fight he was having within the mindscape all this time. "How dare you," he gritted his teeth, his gaze hardening as he stared at the fake cloud Mare ring on his left hand.

"You'll regret betraying me, Koro," he muttered before standing, legs wobbly.

His purple eyes scanned the environment. They settled on the dome. Eyes narrowed, Yucca could decipher his dearest's silhouette. He didn't like it, his brother, within this thing. He didn't like it. It made him uneasy, his head was throbbing, nagging him about the dome, in front of him. It unsettled him.

Taking a step forward, his left hand, reached for his sky box weapon. He had to help Ran-chan, he needed to. If he didn't, wouldn't Ran-chan deem him useless?

A spark emanated from his sky ring before completely dimming. Yucca stared at his right hand in denial. No. No, liting his flame was a cup of tea, he could do it, he had to do it.

Steeling his resolve, he tried, once more.

Why? Why wouldn't it work?

Feeling the air shift around him, Yucca tentatively lifted his head to stare at his brother's current battle. Wait, since when did his Ran-chan's wing become black? Weren't they white?

Since when did his Ran-chan begin bleeding? Since when did the pest manage to touch him? Since when did his Ran-chan start to lose?

Yucca's eyes zeroed on Sawada Tsunayoshi's figure, his hatred for the teen increasing each passing seconds. How dare he? How dare he hurts his dearest?

As Yucca's flame slowly rekindled, he felt the adrenaline pumping into his veins. Readying himself, he ran.

-

Sawada Tsunayoshi readied himself for his final attack. Yucca could feel it. The wheel had turned, the Millefiore- no, his brother wouldn't make it out alive if he remained motionless. 

Liting his sky ring with a flame he didn't know he owned, Yucca broke- charged at the dome. 

Breaching it just enough for him to enter it, he engulfed Byakuran in his arms. Flames engulfed them.

-

Yucca didn't take note of the vision, of his throbbing head, of the sirens blaring in his mind, he lit his fake Mare sky ring and breached the dome.

The watching parties didn't have the time to react, Yucca's flames as if protecting its master pushed them all away. 

Flying to Byakuran, Yucca took the younger male in his arm.

"See, Ran, I'll never leave you," he whispered before engulfing the white head in a hug, entirely dismissing the growing heat behind him. His purple eyes, an original blend of orange and violet as his voice came out lower, more mature than usual.

Byakuran didn't answer, his crazed expression morphing into a resigned smile as he accepted his defeat, nuzzling his head into his brother's- into his torso he closed his eyes. 

Orange flames engulfed both males.

As the flame died, three rings fell to the ground, two fake Mare rings and one real one.

::

{Varia headquarter, Italy}

Koro's eyes squinted open, his violet eyes blinking slowly, as he let the light enter his eyes.

What happened?

Slowly sitting up, Koro's purple eyes scanned his surrounding. He was in his room, in the Varia headquarter, it wasn't ten years later, in the middle of Namimori's suburb with scorch trace everywhere.

Relief flooded Koro's mind as he felt his eyes closing once more.

The clicking sound of his door being open accompanied by some of his comrades' voices being the only thing he heard before passing out again. He felt strangely tired.

"Ah, and here I thought Yucca-chan would be awake," Lussuria sighed, a hand to his cheek as he shook his head from left to right.

Walking closer to the sleeping male, Lussuria leaned a bit, observing the cloud guardian's feature in case he was pretending to be asleep. Casually reaching to pinch the younger man's cheek, Lussuria watched as Yucca's face morphed into a frown before relaxing and going back to its slumber state.

"Tss, tss, tss, you're to defenseless Yucca-chan," he sermoned. "Imagine if I came to kill you!" he exclaimed, eyes flickering to Yucca's face to see if his ruckus had awoken him. Except for a small twitch of the younger's nose, nothing. Lussuria heaved another sigh.

"Ushishishi, that's not the right way to do it Luss," Bel called out from the door frame he was leaning on, his right hand playing with one of his daggers.

"Do you have a better idea then?" Lussuria retorted with a fake pout, his shaded eyes staring at the fallen prince.

"Shishi, but of course. After all, I am a prince!" He stated, straightening a bit before sending his knife flying Yucca's way. "If he can't evade then he's not Varia quality."

Yucca's face contorted into a frown before his right-hand shot up, as if on instinct, he caught the knife between his pointer and middle finger. His member stayed in this position for a few seconds before it laid by his side once more, the dagger still in his hand.

Lussuria and Belphegor observed, waiting for the other to wake up. Peaceful snoring greeted them.

"Ushishishi, I am so going to kill him," Belphegor growled taking a few more knives out of his Varia coat.

"Now now, Bel. Don't okay? Boss won't be happy," Lussuria tried to reason.

"Shishi, he won't remark it if a finger or two are missing. Don't worry."

As Belphegor crept closer to the sleeping man, Yucca's right hand twitched slightly. A groan escaped his lips, making the two males freeze momentarily.

"What do you want," Koro cracked his purple eyes opened, his right hand which still held a dagger parrying against Bel's knife. "Bel?" he finished, having recognized the blond.

"Ushishi, me? Nothing Yu," Belphegor cackled, applying more pressure on the knife. "But the Boss wants to see you."

Koro hummed, his arm not budging as he kept the blade away from his face. He yawned before gently pushing Bel's knife away. "What does he want?"

Belphegor didn't answer, playing with his knife he let Lussuria explain.

"Well, Boss wanted to see everyone. It was to talk about those memories," he paused, looking at Yucca's dazes face before tilting his head. "You received them, right?"

Koro returned Lussuria's tilt before nodding in agreement and stretching. "Yeah, how long was I out if he already talked to you guys?" he questioned, pushing the cover off of him.

"Two days. Boss was getting impatient, so we came to fetch you," Lussuria explained with a smile as he took a clean shirt and pair of black jeans out of Yucca's dresser.

"I'm surprised I'm not dead yet," Koro mused, extending his hand to Lussuria who held his clean clothes. "Thanks."

Lussuria hummed, "Don't worry about it, darling," he chirped. Pushing Belphegor out of the room as he made his way out, he added. "Don't let the Boss wait. He's been in a sour mood lately."

Nodding Koro started to change.

Darling, he mused. Didn't Luss call him that in the vision?

And the future arc ends! Since the very beginning, I wanted Koro/Yucca to die at the end of it. Don't know why but I felt like it would be for the best.

Next chapter is the alternative ending, kinda like for the Varia arc but with the Future arc this time.

New cover by the amazing @FoxcatAI if you don't know her you should, her graphics and stories are amazing!!!!

Thanks for reading, until next time^^