"Cherry-blossoms?"

Watching from the corner of his eyes as M.M. bowed before taking her leaves, Ryota silently sat on the sofa. His golden hues swept over the abandoned room, taking in the small cracks in the wall, the spider webs and thin veil of dust which covered everything.

"Kufufu," golden snapped to look into heterochromatic eyes. "Glad to see you again so soon, Mika," the teen greeted with a Cheshire smile as he sat across from the green head.

Mikaël hummed, dipping his head in acknowledgment, he beamed. "Yes, a pleasure, Mukuro."

Mukuro's eyes lightly narrowed before he chuckled. "Right, right. Since both of us are now friends, let me introduce myself once more," his smile stretched. "I am Rokudo Mukuro, but you can call me Mukuro."

Ryota nodded, humming in approvement.

"And you? What should I call you?" He asked, making the green raise an inquiring eyebrow. "Fufu, come on," the blue drawled, frighteningly carefree. "You can tell me your real name now."

Mikaël frowned, his smile momentarily faltering before he went back to his beaming face. He tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowed, distinguishable indigo coursed through his pupils before disappearing.

Mukuro chuckled, his eyes flashed before his lips quirked up into a smirk. "So?"

"I am Mikaël Lamarre," Ryota cooly answered, unbothered by the slight frown on the younger's face— or was he older? Well, it didn't matter either way.

Mukuro's blue eyebrows arched before he chuckled. His heterochromatic eyes crinkled, "Kufufu, sure. Mikaël, then," he drawled, voice almost openly mocking.

Ryota smiled, ignoring the boy's contempt. His golden eyes rummaged the room, in search of anything to look at, something to distract himself. Walls, spiderwebs, cracks, dust, child—

Wait, his eyes widened, a child?

"Fufu," Mikaël's head snapped to face Mukuro's. The teen, who had miraculously appeared behind him, was leaning forward, an arm wrapped around the green's shoulder as he smiled deviously. "'seen anything interesting?"

Ryota's eyes narrowed in mild distaste, though his smile displayed nothing but a dizzying brightness. The blue smirked. "Oh? You haven't met Fuuta, have you?" He calmly inquired as he walked around the couch to sit next to the green-haired teen.

He chuckled, extending his hand in the boy's direction, he gently ushered him to come. "Here, Fuuta-kun, meet Mikaël," he asked— ordered eyes narrowed. "My friend."

Fuuta's dull brown eyes flickered upward at the call of his name. First, they settled on Mukuro's welcoming figure, unfeeling. Then, they moved, slowly, bored, silently they rested on the unknown man.

For an instant, his eyes lit up before dimming at once, as if nothing had happened. The boy, not even ten-year-old, apathetically tilted his head sideways. He slowly blinked his round eyes before walking forward to the couch the males sat on. His unhurried steps gently hit the concrete floor, his lackadaisical hues never leaving the green's form.

Mikaël's golden eyes trailed on the boy's figure, and his eyes filled themselves with a warmth he didn't think he could give to strangers. The bizarre pull he felt toward the younger boy was a strangely comforting feeling. It was as if the emptiness in his soul had filled itself a bit. Just a tiny bit.

Mismatched pupils focused on the green head. His lips curled up, he chuckled, his eyes glinted.

Mukuro leaned against the broken windowsill. His back to his guest, he happily overlooked his domain, Kokuyo Land. He simpered, his eyes narrowing before he chuckled excitedly. Ah, when would the Vongola come?

His head tilted backward, letting his blue bangs gently sway. In the broken greenhouse, only he and Mikaël were left. Fuuta was long gone, away, out to lure the young Vongola deeper into his lair. He laughed, amused.

Right, into his den. The Vongola were his preys, and he was the predator. Ah, he truly loved the analogy. This feeling of supremacy over those disgusting mafioso. He sneered those repulsive insects. The pleasure he would take in crushing them, it made him shiver in anticipation.

So, so, exhilarating!

Blue and red mindlessly traveled before resting on an indigo gem. The silver lining didn't escape his sight, nor did the engraved words: бриз, мгла. He didn't understand them. He didn't know what language it was, he couldn't even read them accurately, but he had an inkling on their origins. A gut feeling that made him want to scoff and turn away.

He refrained himself, nothing was sure. And, from what he saw of the teenager, he didn't seem to know of his possible link to them. That and the fact that they belonged to the same species made it hard for Mukuro to dislike the green. At least for now.

A bit bored, as his guests had yet to step into his territory, he walked up to the other boy who was absentmindedly playing with his phone, scrolling through social media and going over some sport related news. Basketball news.

"Kufufu," Mikaël turned his phone off, lifting his head to look at the teen who smiled at him. "Tell me, Mika-kun," he drawled. "You're a Mist. Aren't you?" He questioned, voice dripping with anticipation at the newfound activity to relieve his boredom.

Ryota stared at the boy, his beam never fading, though his eyes showed his confusion at the word. Mist, мгла. His golden eyes glinted, Mukuro smirked. "What do you—"

"Fufu, I knew you were!" The boy exclaimed laughing. His hand reached out, and in a cloud of indigo, a trident appeared. He casually twirled the weapon around his fingers, showing off his deftness as his eyes calmly looked into Mikaël's mesmerizing pools of gold.

Ryota frowned, letting his perfect mask slip. Sure he was used to wearing it, but in the face of someone like Mukuro, he was an amateur. His skills, despite his past life, was negligible when compared to the blue who had gone through so much more.

Mikaël was flawed, he knew it. But he thought his smile wasn't, that it was his greatest weapon. But perhaps, he hadn't seen just how crafty the world was. Maybe, he had yet to meet someone stronger than him. Not as an athlete but as a person.

Facing Mukuro, that boy who he had met only a few days ago, Mikaël had to admit the blue was worth being respected. What for? He wasn't sure yet. But Ryota's instinct screamed at how powerful the man was. It was clear to his soul how much the male could bring him. Now he only needed to grasp the opportunity to learn, to copy.

"There," Mukuro resumed as he stopped twirling his sharp weapon. "Since I'm in a good mood I'll show you," he said, earning a dubious stare from the golden-eyed teen. "Kufufu, now, don't look at me like that Mika-kun," he purred, leaning into the older looking man's face.

A hand under his chin, he gently lifted it so that their eyes were at the same level. "Didn't I say we were friends? You should trust me a bit more," he admonished, voice whiny. "No?" He teased beaming.

Ryota smiled, his left-hand unconsciously reached for his left earlobe, his fingers lightly grazed against the cold indigo gem of his earing, easing his nerves. "Sure, of course, we are," he answered, half lying. After all, Mukuro was the closest person to his condition he had met. He wanted to be close to him.

The blue's grin deepened. "Kufu, great, then I'll show you," he announced before turning around with a twirl. His trident in hand, he casually tapped the floor. A light thump, cherry blossoms erupted from the ground. "So, what do you think?"

Mikaël stared baffled at the scene before him. His mask, entirely gone, leaving only pure disbelief and confusion.

Mukuro laughed.

::

Walking down Kokuyo Land's abandoned alley, Mikaël stared at his fingers, his golden eyes trailed over the strange misty light which he kept twirling around his fingers. A trick he picked up from Mukuro, more like a tip to get his control over his ability in check.

He didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the simple exercise the blue-haired teen had given him to enhance his control over his illusions. At least that's what he called them. Something related to Mist bearers. Maybe...

His hand went to his earing, and his eyes narrowed. Perhaps the inscription wasn't so much of a coincidence. He shook his head, a wave of his hand and the haze disappeared, letting his golden hues dim back to their original color, leaving only specks of indigo behind.

Ryota stretched, observing the timid girl before him, his guide out of the amusement park. Her features were oddly similar to Six's— Mukuro's. Her haircut, for instance, was ridiculously identical, the pineapple allure to it was troubling.

The girl, who seemed about Takeshi's age, was named Chrome and throughout his journey back to Namimori's crowded streets, had yet to utter a single word. Maybe she was socially awkward?

He didn't know, and bluntly speaking, he didn't care either.

It was as if this sense of care for strangers he had had upon laying eyes on Fuuta had entirely vanished. As if it never existed, a trick of the mind. Well, it didn't matter to Mikaël anyway.

The people he cared for were scarce. First was his former life's friends and relatives, and even then he had some doubts on the laters. Then there were his current life's relatives, his beloved grandma, and little brother, and his closest friends, Shuzo obviously and Junichiro, though he would never admit it. Of course, Claude was part of this select group.

The most recent addition was Mukuro, it wasn't anything close to friendship from Ryota's point of view. It was more of a sense of camaraderie. They both shared similar experiences, which drew them closer. Six was the perfect confidant, he could understand everything the green spoke about.

But the latest member to join, Fuuta, Ryota didn't know why he cared for him. Unlike Francis who he loved instantly upon laying his eyes on his small figure, Fuuta wasn't his brother, nor was he in any sort part of his family. He was a total stranger, but the pull Mikaël felt was there. Urging him to get closer. Whispering words of temptation.

In the end, Ryota was glad he hadn't had to stay with the lackadaisical looking boy any longer. He feared that perhaps had they been together for too long he would have acted impulsively. He sighed in relief, not knowing what kind of fate he had let the boy embrace upon leaving.

"—U-um, we are here, Mikaël-sama," Chrome muttered, voice soft, unsure of how she should address or act with the male.

Ryota blinked his golden hues, looking at the girl before flickering his gaze behind her. They had gone to another entrance of the park, one different from the one he took when he arrived.

He nodded, sending the girl his kind-guy smile. "Thank you, Chrome-chan!" He chirped, making the already shy girl even more flustered. "Tell Mukurocchi I said thanks. Will you?" He beamed, tilting his head to the side.

The girl mutely nodded, her eye never leaving the floor as she silently bit her lower lip. Mikaël's smile didn't fade, ignoring the display of shyness and apprehension of the girl, after all in his eyes she was nothing, he waited for a vocal answer.

Compared to M.M. who knew what she wanted, Chrome who didn't dare speak up for herself was a bit of a disappointment in Ryota's eyes. She seemed frail and unable to stand for herself or her ideas. In short, she looked boring and uninteresting. But Mikaël didn't voice it, after all, she was one of Mukuro's followers. It wouldn't be polite to insult one of his underlings.

Chrome's blush darkened, turning a deeper shade of red. "I-yes, I will tell Mukuro-sama," she stuttered in a whisper as she lowered her head even more, almost trying to hide from those dazzling golden hues.

Ryota smiled. "Great! I'll leave it to you then, Chrome-chan!"

The girl silently nodded, her violet eye following the green's figure as he confidently walked away, unbothered. Not seeing him anymore, she released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her hand went to her chest, feeling the rhythmic sound of her heartbeat before she turned around, aimlessly fiddling with her fingers.

She wasn't sure what exactly was going on, but she had an idea. A blurry one, but a guess nonetheless. She shook her head, chasing this bubbling feeling in her guts, the voice in her head telling her to hurry to her beloved Mukuro-sama's side.

Silently inhaling and exhaling, she readjusted her eyepatch. Careful not to break the thin threads which held it in place, her fingers combed through her violet strands in the process, smoothing her fringe.

She smiled a weak smile. Her mission was done, now she only had to wait for Mukuro-sama to finish his business. She sat down, leaning against a tree and closing her eyes. Hands to her chest, she listened to her heartbeat, her steady breathing.

She tilted her head, leaning it against the tree trunk in a more comfortable way. Ah, she could almost hear the explosions and sounds of fighting if she listened carefully.

A ghost of a smile graced her lips. She felt comfort in hearing them.

It made it seem as if she was right by her family's side.

бриз /briz/: Breeze

мгла /mgla/: haze, mist, fog, brume

As I said, Kokuyo Arc is a short one. Next chapter should be the last of it.

Thank you for reading, until next time^^