"Right, thanks again, Jun," Ryota said, somehow bashful as he took a sip of his drink, his left hand gently rubbing his earlobe.

Currently sitting in his friend's living room, Mikaël felt his action had gone to a whole new level of shamelessness. He noticed Junichiro rolling his dark brown, almost pitch black eyes behind his glasses at his words and couldn't refrain from nervously chuckling.

"Whatever," the raven sighed as he pulled a chair for him to sit next to the green head. The small, round table was almost full leaving only one free spot, as a boy, probably in his early teens Jun guessed, sat opposite Mika.

The second-year silently observed the brown-haired boy, a foreigner without a doubt and felt himself smiling. The boy with a bowl cut was quite cute, his oversized scarf accentuated his round face, making seem all the more childish. Though he had an aura of maturity one his age shouldn't have, Jun didn't question it. It wasn't something he could meddle into anyway.

"Though, why did you not go to your apartment, Mika?" He asked, turning to face the green head. "I mean, wouldn't it have been easier?"

Mikaël smiled, not answering his friend. "You haven't met Futtacchi, have you?" He rhetorically asked, forcefully changing the subject.

Jun pursed his lips but didn't comment on it, though the appellation made him slightly frown. Fuutacchi? Why was this boy called by such nickname, while his, was only a slip of the tongue? He mentally lamented. Trying to smile, though it seemed crooked, he shook his head in denial. "Nah."

Ryota ignored his friend's gloomy mood. The boy was trying to hide it, though he did a poor job at it as his acting skills were almost nonexistent, Mikaël decided not to tease him. It worked better that way for him.

"Well," he cleared his throat. "Futacchi, Hirose Junichiro," he began, talking to the younger boy who nodded with a grin at the black-haired teen, flashing him his pearly whites and showing off his cute dimples.

Ryota felt somewhat gratified, seeing him smile so purely, his eyes softened. He turned to face his glasses-wearing friend whose previous stiff expression hadn't faded. "Jun, Fuuta..." his voice trailed off, and he paused.

First, Junichiro grimaced, right, his nickname was a slip of the tongue. But then, he stared at the green quizzically. Why had he stopped his introduction midway?

Perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, Fuuta put down the cup he was holding. He beamed at the green, "De la Stella," he said. "Fuuta De la Stella," he introduced himself. "Please take care of me in the future," he asked with a small bow in the raven's direction.

Junichiro almost felt like choking. So this kid who Mikaël didn't even know that much, was closer to Mika's heart than him who he had known for two years already? What kind of joke was that?

Forcing a cheerful grin, though his attempt was a total failure, Junichiro calmly returned the boy's greeting. "Yeah, I'll be counting on you," he said dazedly, not too sure of what was going on anymore.

Fuuta, as if not noticing how uncomfortable the older boy was, beamed.

::

"You don't have to send me back, Mika-nii," the boy repeated as he walked next to the green head. "I can go back by myself," he said with a smile.

Ryota smiled, liking the appellation. It reminded him of his small cousin, turned younger brother, back in France, and he wondered whether the boy would come to call him that too.

"Don't worry, I want to," he said while shaking his head a gently ruffling the younger's locks of brown. "Also it isn't far from where I leave," he added, omitting the fact that, sure it wasn't far, but it was in the opposite direction nonetheless.

Fuuta pursed his lips in a pout before huffing, acting extremely childish. He didn't bother stopping such actions, feeling that it was only right to behave so in front of the teen.

Ryota didn't mind it either and quietly smiled at the childish antics. Silence settled between the two men, one short and one tall. At last, Fuuta broke the quietness of the night as he saw his house— well, more accurately the Sawada household from afar.

"About the ring, you received from Reborn-san," he said, unsure of how he should deal with the subject. After all, it had nothing to do with him. He was a neutral entity in this wild game which formed the underworld.

Mikaël hummed, letting his golden eyes slightly narrow as he gazed at the boy with a reassuring smile.

"I—" He cut himself off, shaking his head and letting his bangs and long scarf sway around his pale face. "You should train a lot, this week," he suddenly declared.

Ryota raised an eyebrow, not truly understanding what type of training it was. Fuuta wryly smiled. "Right," he muttered to himself, remembering the teen next to him wasn't part of the mafia. How could he understand?

"I mean, practical training?" He stated, questioning his wording before shaking his head negatively. "No, you should learn how to fight, fend for yourself!" He declared, grabbing the teen's hands and forcing him to look down at him as he fiercely gazed up to stare into his golden irises.

Ryota stared at the teen in surprise, his eyes wide from the unexpected outburst and emotions which swirled into the boy's brown eyes. "Sure, I'll train hard then," he whispered back, petting the boy on the head after taking his hands from his hold.

Fuuta's lips thinned as he smiled at the man's answer. Though, in the deepest part of his heart, he felt it was somehow wrong for the green to enter this fight.

::

"You have a new ring, Mika?" Jun rhetorically asked as he grabbed the others hand, casually molesting it before slipping the ring off to observe it.

He held it above his head, allowing the artificial lighting to go through the gem. "Pretty," he whistled. "Where did you get it? 'Must have cost a fortune," he said, gently rolling it between his fingers. "Though it looks broken," he mumbled.

Ryota hummed, not minding the raven's investigation he lifted his head from his desk to look at his friend's figure. "It's a gift," he corrected, opening his palm for the glasses-wearing teen to hand him the ring back.

"Oh, cool gift," he admitted, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the indigo gem a few more seconds. "Here," he put it into the other's extended hand. "Though I don't know how to feel about a broken gift," he stated with a laugh.

"Yeah, me neither," Mika answered with a wry smile and a chuckle. He rubbed his earing, feeling somewhat uncomfortable at the cold sensation against his fingertips. He mentally frowned as he slipped the ring on his left hand's middle finger. When did the gem turn so cold?

Wrong, when did the coldness of it ever bother him?

His heart somehow restless, Mikaël slumped on his desk, closing his golden eyes in the process. "Tell me when Teach arrives," he yawned. "'Nedd to catch up on so sleep."

Jun hummed, playing with some of the other teen's green strands of hair. "Sure."

::

Mikaël quietly leaned against the wall as he observed the kendo club's practice, a haze of indigo gently swirling around his fingers. Tangling and untangling itself as his golden eyes narrowed, analyzing every move before making them his.

The process wasn't long, after all, compared to the unknown silver head's swordsmanship, the students weren't all that impressive. Ryota observed them for a bit more than half an hour before he stood up. Dipping his head in acknowledgment at some of his classmates, he walked out of the dojo.

Club activities usually lasted between two and three hours, less depending on the day, or more. Making his way to another club room, he took a block note from his school bag, swung over his shoulder. He silently flipped through it, before reaching a checklist, he crossed the kendo club's name out and closed it, stuffing it back in his bag.

He had approximately an hour and a half left before most club activities came to an end, visiting another two or three fighting clubs seemed feasible.

With these thoughts, he first went to the boxing club. His white-haired underclassman seemed extremely fond of the sport, as much as he and the GOM were of basketball, and it made him curious.

Right, then he had archery, perhaps going to see the gymnastic club was also a good idea? Pondering on which club to visit next, he made his way to the boxing clubroom.

::

Chrome silently tossed in her bed, keeping her cover close to her chest as she turned under the blanket, unable to fall asleep.

It wasn't the first time she found herself unable to fall asleep. In fact, since the Kokuyo Land incident— Since Mukuro had been taken into custody by the Vindice, she remained a bit tense, restless.

Incapable of being purely calm. Part of her was preoccupied with her benefactor's unknown state, while the other part couldn't help being on guard against anything. It was second nature, instinct.

From the moment Mukuro took her out of the hospital and gave her new organs, she had always been a bit more careful. But since her savior's disappearance, she had turned even more conscious of everything.

She knew from experience and from what the Kokuyo Junior High gang members had told her that the world was dangerous, that she shouldn't trust easily, remain guarded, somehow. But the difference between knowing, and realizing was too grand.

Like a slap, she hadn't seen it coming. What she believed she understood, she didn't. She was helpless as she faced the cruel reality.

Rolling herself in her sheets, she paused her movements. Her eyes were half-lidded, and the one which usually hid under her eyepatch was covered by unruly strands of purple.

She squinted at the electronic alarm clock on the bedside table, 12:23 am. She sighed, gently rubbing her eyes as she let go of the soft blanket. Her legs swung over the bed as she sat up, searching for her slippers. They weren't anything fancy, only something you could acquire while going to the hotel.

Stretching her neck, she didn't bother retrieving her eyepatch. It was night, the house was asleep and whether she wore it or not wouldn't change a thing. Though, she unconsciously arranged her bangs to cover it better.

Yawning sleepily she turned her room's doorknob, careful not to make any sound she walked down the corridor. She could hear Ken and Chikusa's snoring as she passed their door, both males shared a room, while she as a girl got one for herself.

The rooms were standards, similar to guest rooms, there was almost nothing that could say they were the ones using them. Mikaël had arranged them to be universally fitting, too busy to ask their opinion on the matter.

The girl didn't hold it against the man. She supposed it already was kind enough to take them in, giving them a roof, a place to eat and sleep. Sure, it wasn't close to the middle school she attended, but she supposed it made her walk and for her health, it was better.

Her feet calmly led her to the kitchen, and she noticed the door to the living room was left ajar. She paused before the door, confused as her muddled mind began to register the fact that someone else was awake.

Hesitantly, she pushed the door open. It gave a low scraping sound, and she grimaced hurriedly looking behind to see if hadn't woken up the others. Sighing in relief, she stepped into the occupied room.

She could hear the sound of the television getting louder as she got closer, first it seemed like a low buzzing sound before it turned into a clear whisper. It seemed they didn't want to wake the others either.

She noticed the green of the male's hair and deduced Mikaël was the one awake, cocking her head to the side, she noted the male hadn't heard her come in.

Curious, she walked closer, her lack of sleep forgotten, much like the idea to pour herself a glass of water. The boy sat on the ground, in a seemingly fetal position as he stared at the screen in pure silence. He bit his thumb lightly, his hand sometimes reaching for chips on the side or his water bottle.

It was clear he didn't intend to sleep just yet. Chrome silently sat on the couch right behind the male who was on one of the cushions, a blanket over his knees.

She didn't know the teen liked martial arts, from the way he so intently gazed at it, almost glaring at the screen, she deduced he must be quite passionate. She mentally nodded, she supposed he was fit enough to practice it, his silhouette wasn't that of someone who remained on the couch 24/7.

Looking at the screen in silence, she closed her eyes, her mind drifted to Mukuro. To their exchange a few nights ago. At first, she hadn't understood what he meant, what he wanted her to do.

But now, as she stared at Mikaël's state and remembered the ring they had received, she could guess. Her eyes fluttered open, falling on the television screen, now it was fencing. She yawned, rubbing her eye, her gaze went lower until she noticed light specks of indigo.

A beautiful haze swirled and twirled, encompassing all and nothing at the same time as the green head absentmindedly played with his hands. Her eyes narrowed.

"Mika-kun? Kufufu, isn't he cute?" He grinned chuckling. 

Chrome's eyebrows creased, she had troubles understanding the cuteness Mukuro saw. Nevertheless—

"A ring? Oh," uninterested. "It should be the Vongola Mist ring," he smirked.

—She didn't know how to feel about getting involved with the group who had, indirectly, sent her savior to prison. It wasn't the best of feelings, but for Mukuro-sama—

"Sure, it could be interesting," he drawled, an unknown glint to his heterochromatic eyes.

—For him, she wouldn't mind getting involved.

She inhaled, her hands gently reaching to hold Mikaël's hands which were covered in indigo. The man tensed at the contact before relaxing and flickering his golden eyes to the girl.

Chrome shyly smiled, not letting go of his hands. "I-I can help you with that if you want?"

::

Fuuta leaned against the windowsill, his eyes trailing on the green's figure as he slowly made his way back home. He bit his lower lip, clenching his fists before silently exhaling, calming his nerves.

"Once, only once should be fine," he mumbled, unconsciously grabbing his shirt, next to his heart, and twisting the fabric.

He blinked, the male still in his peripheral vision. "It's okay," he reassured. His hand went beneath his jacket, taking out a gigantic book.

He needed to hurry, the green would soon be out of his sight.

His book momentarily coated itself in red before floating, his eyes filled themselves with stars. Even if he once swore the Vow of Silence, he was Ranking Fuuta.

Consequences were superfluous.

For those wondering, The Vow of Silence is part of KHR's Canon storyline. It's something Fuuta made in the Kokuyo Land Arc. It basically sealed his ability for the arc, and since he didn't use it later on it is unknown whether he lost it or not.

Thanks for reading, until next time^^