"A lover's a liar,
To himself he lies,
The truthful are loveless,
Like oysters their eyes!"
― Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

.

.

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"Oh, Mukuro . . . I'll tell you my real name . . . I'll tell only you."

She had looked at Mukuro with those lovely purple eyes, her lilting voice quiet as if it was a haunting whisper from unseen ghosts. But the younger hadn't heard those dark undertones. At the time, Mukuro had just sat there in a daze, completely transfixed by the shimmering orbs of love personified.

"Listen carefully. My name is Beloved . . . it means 'adored one'."

. . .

"Don't forget, Mukuro."

Despite the light tone, despite the soft smile, there was still a hint of reproach in the older girl's words. It was rare and surprising to hear something other than complete love in Chrome's voice, and Mukuro immediately hated it.

"Forget?" The younger child breathed out slowly, eager to make the reproach go away. "Oya, how could I forget anything about my dear Chrome?"

And it was true. Mukuro wouldn't be able to forget this. The child had never heard something about this before, something unusual considering this was Chrome, the younger's older sister. And Mukuro knew Chrome.

"Hmm," The beautiful girl had hummed softly, unusually sharp eyes for once unreadable to Mukuro. "I suppose."

And that was that.

. . .

Except it wasn't. For, just one week after that exchange, Chrome was . . .

Was . . .

. . . killed.

Mukuro had always wondered what Chrome had meant by her 'real' name. 'Beloved' was a lovely name, sure, and Chrome had always been loved. But still . . .

Chrome had died.

Chrome had died in a way that was certainly not loving.

No.

Chrome . . . Chrome had been murdered.

And if Mukuro ever found out who had done the crime, the guilty would die by Mukuro's hands.

"Good morning," hollow pleasantries, oh how Mukuro hated them. But sometimes such things were unfortunately needed. "I am Rokudo Mukuro."

A young woman, still with her fluffy orange ears, looked up in surprise. "Oh! Good morning! You're Rokudo-kun? Where are your parents?"

"Parents? Ah. My guardians couldn't come," Mukuro replied with a sweet smile, quite saccharine in nature. "They're very busy, you see."

". . . ?" The woman bent down, eyebrows pulling together as she frowned in concern. "H-Huh? But it's your first day . . ."

"I've brought all the paperwork," Mukuro started, before hurrying when the woman looked like she was going to protest. This charade had been going on long enough. "A sixth grader doesn't need help getting to school, right, Sensei?"

"He's rather . . ."

"Confident."

"Records . . . Last school . . ."

"That was him?!"

For a few long seconds, the teacher, for the young woman with the orange hair could only be that, stared at Mukuro with wide brown eyes and a pale visage. But then a spell of thin professionalism came over her and she nodded with jerky movements, cheerful trembling voice talking loudly about Mukuro's new class.

It did not quite cover up the whispers that followed them to the door, but Mukuro had to give the teacher brownie points for trying.

.

.

.

"Hi, pleased to meet you," Mukuro said with a lazy smirk. The class, 3-A, exploded into excited whispers as the young teen scoured for a seat. Looking around, Mukuro spotted a tall blond intensely staring. In addition, the student had a flustered air around him.

Hmm. Potential lackey?

"Hello," Mukuro started again, coming to a stop beside the blond boy. Sitting down, Mukuro took a quick glance at Kyoko-sensei before slanting a look to the boy who was still staring. "Lend me your textbook―"

SLAM! "HERE YOU GO!"

". . ." Mukuro discarded the idea of turning the blondie into a lackey. He was obviously too stupid for that. After all, they could have just shared the textbook! And why was the boy so flustered anyway?

"A-Ah," Blondie started with a sheepish laugh, as if aware of his own awkward actions. "D-Do you own a cell-phone, Mukuro-kun?"

. . . What? Where had that came from?

"No," Mukuro answered honestly. "I don't."

"Oh!" The boy's blinding smile faltered briefly before mending once more. "Oh, well then, where do you go to cram school?"

Mukuro paused. Was this an interrogation? Was the ditzy-looking blondie actually smart enough for that? "I don't go to cram school."

"Oh, w-well then . . . Who do you like in Katekyo Hitman R.? Dino really likes the cute babies!"

"I can't tell them apart," Mukuro replied in boredom before inwardly scoffing. This boy, Dino, referred to himself in third person while talking? How childish was he?

"Ehh?" Blondie, er, Dino screeched, kind brown eyes wide open. "They're all colour-coded like a rainbow though!"

". . . Hmph," Finally fed up, Mukuro turned over to face the boy. "Why are you asking me that in the first place?"

"Ah! Because you look so cool!" Dino immediately answered, a sweet and goofy smile pasted on his face. "Everyone wants to know more about Mukuro-kun!"

. . .

"Oh?" Mukuro purred. "So I'm cool?"

The temperature in the room dropped as Mukuro barely managed to rein in a sneer. "I hate it when people judge a person by their appearances. Those people are stupid."

". . . Are you saying Dino is stupid?" The blondie finally dropped his bright smile, looking a bit upset. Finally. Mukuro gave him a patronizing smile.

"I hate stupid people. But thanks for the textbook."

A moment of blissful silence as tears welled up in pools of light chocolate, and, then . . .

"How horrible!"

"I don't believe it!"

"Poor Dino!"

"How dare some newbie insult our crybaby idol!?"

Mukuro raised an eyebrow in the chaos. Wow, who knew Blondie was so beloved by the class?

. . . Beloved . . .

Immediately Mukuro's mood soured and even the angry shrieks of the offended fangirls didn't seem as amusing as it had before. In fact, the high-pitched screaming was beginning to become irritating. Thankfully, Mukuro's new teacher seemed to share the sentiment as she reached the end of her wits.

"CLASS!" Kyoko-sensei snapped, orange hair whipping around as her chalk broke in her grip. "Be quiet! I'm trying to teach a lesson!"

"Mukuro-kun! Mukuro-kun!"

Waking up with an inaudible sigh, Mukuro blinked slowly. Dino plopped down his lunchbox on the desk, red-rimmed eyes crinkling in happiness and slight confusion.

"Hey, Mukuro-kun! It's lunchtime!"

. . . Why was the boy talking to Mukuro again? Didn't Mukuro make the blond guy cry?

"Hey, Dino!" Obviously the class idol's fangirls thought the same as they started to whine. "Leave him alone! He's just a punk. Eat with us!"

To Mukuro's surprise, Dino completely ignored them. "Mukuro-kun? Let's eat together?"

". . . Your friends wouldn't like it if you hang around with me," Mukuro deflected, feeling a bit confused. Why was Dino so persistent?

Immediately, the blond boy brightened at the non-answer and without further ado, he plopped down into a seat beside Mukuro. "That's not true!"

. . . Maybe Mukuro's deflection skills were getting rusty.

"Dino really loves deep-fried bread," the boy chirped. "Why does Mukuro-kun like to eat for lunch?"

Gesturing to the soup on the desk, Mukuro replied in a tone that just veered on the side of slight mocking. "Anything soft. I don't like to chew."

"Whaaaat?" And obviously Mukuro overestimated Dino's ability to read the tone of a person's voice. "You eat like an old man!"

Wow. For the class idol, Dino sure wasn't that bright. Twitching slightly in irritation, Mukuro beamed, an edge hidden carefully within the sugary smile. "You shouldn't keep talking to me. It's quite a pain to answer such questions, Dino-san."

Despite the harsh words, Dino still smiled sweetly as he tugged his fluffy ears. "Don't you mean I'm infuriating, Mukuro-kun?"

". . . Yes, and very unbearable."

This time Dino took time before he looked up from his lunch. And wow, was it a surprise. Mukuro felt almost apprehensive when the sight of sharp brown eyes, so different from its usual soft chocolate, peaked out from beneath a golden fringe.

"How funny," Dino remarked casually. "You really don't care at all, Mukuro."

Despite the slight unease at the sudden change in personality, Mukuro smiled again. If nothing else, Mukuro was honest.

"Yes," the young teen agreed. "I don't."

When the bell that signaled the end of the school day finally ran, Mukuro breathed a sigh of relief. Finally.

"Mukuro-kun? Are you going home?"

And here came the golden puppy. Except Mukuro couldn't call the blond boy a puppy anymore, not after seeing that display during lunch. Perhaps a golden guard dog?

"No," Mukuro replied almost indulgently. Dino was quite amusing, in any case. "I have some time, so I'm going to the library."

Immediately the blond's face scrunched up in dismay. "Eh? But we passed the library already."

"Not the school's library," Mukuro snorted, with a tone of hidden disgust. Chrome would have been disappointed if Mukuro settled for something so low. "Elementary schools don't have good books, so I'm going to the public library. You know, for adults."

"What?! Such a thing exists?" Dino brightened and pumped a fist into the air. "I want to go too!"

The girls that had been stalking them immediately began yelling.

"What? No, Dino-sama, walk me home instead!"

"I'm much better company than that loser!"

"Dinooooooo―"

Mukuro threw the whining and crying girls a look of irritation. Dino immediately turned around, blinding smile in place as he gave his fangirls a cheery wink.

"Sorry, not today ladies!" The blond chuckled. "I was already invited to a date with Mukuro-kun~"

Mukuro twitched. And there went Dino, shooting off his big mouth once more. Who invited who, exactly?

"Rokudo-kun!"

Blinking in surprise, Mukuro turned around just in time to see Kyoko-sensei rush over. "Sensei?"

"How was your first day? If you have any problems, be sure to tell me, okay?"

Gone was the almost skittish look in the morning. No, here was Kyoko in her full sensei-glory, evident as she aimed a stern look at the baffled Mukuro.

. . .

Wait a minute. Was it because . . . ?

Fighting to keep the smile on, Mukuro immediately turned to Dino. "Oya, oya, it's been a nice day, Sensei! Dino-san has been really nice to me today."

Ignoring Dino's small noise of confusion, Mukuro made sure to keep beaming as Kyoko studied both of them carefully.

"Really?" Kyoko asked, sounding almost dubious. Well, she had been there when Mukuro made Dino cry, so it wasn't something too surprising. "In that case, please continue to be friends with Rokudo-kun, Chiavarone-kun."

"Of course," Mukuro promised without Dino's input, tone smooth. "In fact, we were just about to go to the library right now. See you tomorrow, Sensei!"

Rushing away, Mukuro dragged Dino along as they hurried down the halls. Once they had quite literally left Kyoko-sensei behind in the dust, Mukuro released Dino's hand as if it had been on fire.

"Hmm," Dino said thoughtfully, looking unfairly relaxed despite their sprint. His brown eyes had sharpened once more. "You are quite the faker, Mukuro."

Mukuro stilled before turning around. Both eyes, one red and one blue, burned with hate. "I don't want to be pitied, and I am not fake."

Dino startled. "Mukuro-kun . . . ?"

"Goodbye Chiavarone-san," Mukuro bit out tartly before spinning around once more. "I don't have time for you right now, so stop following me."

Rushing away for the second time day, Mukuro didn't get very far this time. No, it hadn't been long before the young teen ran head-first into what felt like a wall of steel.

Feeling the urge to curse, Mukuro looked up with every intention of sprouting filthy things at whoever had blocked the way. And again, it didn't happen. After all . . .

Hard silver eyes of the strangest shade stared down at the younger teen as thin and pale lips curled up. But most importantly . . .

The man who held Mukuro did not have ears.

He was a grown-up.

"Let me go!" Mukuro hissed, ears puffing up in a show of dominance. "Stop touching me!"

"Hnn," the man grunted, looking amused as he closed his eyes. "Little herbivores shouldn't tell me what to do."

"Herbivore! Herbivore!" A fluffy and yellow bird flew around them. "Mukuro! Herbivore!"

Immediately, the blood in Mukuro's body froze. ". . . How do you know my name?"

". . ." One silver eye opened to stare at the younger with distaste. The bandages around his neck crinkled as Mukuro all but stopped breathing. And then . . .

"Chrome."

Mukuro's world stopped.

Chrome.

This was someone who knew dear and deceased, murdered Chrome. Someone who could give Mukuro information.

Chrome.

A bright smile grew on Mukuro's face and the teen immediately latched on the older man's arm.

"You knew Chrome?" Mukuro sing-songed. "I don't remember seeing you visiting before. But kufufufufu, do tell me more!"

They had been at the park when everything went downhill. Or uphill, depending on how you viewed things. After all, Mukuro certainly got some new information, or at least an inkling about what Chrome had been doing before she had died.

"My ears?" The man, Hibari Kyouya, repeated thoughtfully. Giving Mukuro a smirk, Hibari reached down to tug gently on Mukuro's ears, the rings he wore feeling cool against them. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't do anything to a herbivore."

And then Hibari stilled. Before grimacing, and leaning down to . . .

Kiss Mukuro?

Kicking Hibari's stomach to get the man away, Mukuro glowered while feeling slightly amused. What a terrible liar. "Oya, oya, what happened to not doing anything?"

Surprisingly, Hibari only looked irritated. Reaching over, the older grabbed Mukuro's hand roughly before closing his eyes.

"Be quiet. They're already here."

. . . And if that didn't sound worrying, Mukuro wasn't sure what would.

"What?" The young teen asked, tone sharp. "Who―"

"Rokudo Mukuro," Hibari began as he cut Mukuro off, voice as chilly as winter. ". . . I love you."

. . .

?

"Oya, oya. . ." Mukuro started slowly. "I know I'm quite amazing, but forgive me when I say that I'm not too convinced, ice-pop princess."

On the other hand, Hibari didn't even look surprised at the younger's confession. Actually, Mukuro could safely say that Hibari didn't show anything on his face.

"I will do anything for you," Hibari continued, a wry smirk surfacing on his otherwise blank face. "I will fight for you, herbivore."

"Fight, herbivores! Fight!" The little bird chirped as the sky darkened.

". . . What? Stop it!" Mukuro snarled, feeling extremely confused. "What are you even saying―?"

.

.

.

Mukuro froze.

Because time had seemingly stopped as the air stilled to an uncomfortable degree. Just what was happening . . . ?

"Ah, this isn't what we were told. Kikyou, Byakuran owes me more lollipops."

"Please, you're the head hacker, Spanner."

"Yes, and I found out that Loveless did not have a fighter unit yet," a boy holding a wrench stepped out, looking quite intrigued. "So, who are you?"

"Tch," Hibari clucked his tongue, looking quite annoyed. He reached out to roughly shove Mukuro behind him. "Millefiore. Why are you here."

"Wait . . ." Another boy with long green hair started in surprise, green eyes widening as they tracked the bright rings Hibari wore. "You . . . Hibari Kyouya?! You're supposed to be dead! How . . . ?"

"Impressive," The boy with the wrench said as he twirled his wrench. "Byakuran would be find this interesting."

"Hmph," Hibari replied as a bloodthirsty smile pulled back his lips. "You know who I am. But you're not running away yet?"

". . . Shouldn't we be saying that to you?" Wrench asked in boredom, even as his sharp eyes betrayed his agitation. "After all, you took all that trouble to hide yourself. Your leader still thinks you're dead, y'know. They say that the Decimo's eyes are permanently red-rimmed."

Had Mukuro not been watching Hibari so carefully, the silver of guilt on the man's face would have probably been missed. But then it was gone, leaving Mukuro to wonder who exactly was this leader, this Decimo.

". . . Tsunayoshi has reverted back to a herbivore," Hibari said dismissively even as he cocked his head, eyes a few shades colder. "But do you still refuse to leave, herbivores?"

The green-haired boy smiled grimly even as the one with the wrench shrugged. "We can't."

"Hn," Hibari agreed, and then ripped off the bandages wrapped around his throat.

Mukuro inhaled sharply.

BELOVED

The words were carved into Hibari's neck, neat despite the thorny vine that accompanied it.

"Oh, Mukuro . . . I'll tell you my real name . . . I'll tell only you."

"Listen carefully . . . My name is Beloved . . . it means . . ."

"Hibari Kyouya," Mukuro murmured softly, mind whirling madly. "You . . . what were you to my sister?"

"Tch," Hibari huffed as Mukuro's cold hands ghosted over the word on his neck. "I was Beloved's fighter unit . . . and now I am yours, herbivore."

Mukuro glared. That explained exactly nothing.

"I'll explain later," Hibari continued, looking quite annoyed himself. On the other hand, Greenie bristled even as Wrench blinked cynically.

"Would Vongola even let you take another?" Wrench asked, stepping back.

Hibari snorted. "Tsunayoshi does not control me."

"A classic Cloud indeed," Greenie replied wryly.

"Hmph," Hibari clearly dismissed the boy's words as he raised his hand, the one adorned by many rings. Suddenly, his voice began to echo. "I declare . . . a battle by Wordspell."

"I accept," Greenie responded coolly as he stepped in front of Wrench. Wrench straightened his back as he stuffed his wrench into his pocket.

"Begin automatic mode."

"What?" Greenie snarled, a glint in his eyes. "Are you mocking me?"

Hibari smirked. "I don't need a herbivore to help me take down two other herbivores."

". . ." Greenie emitted a wordless snarl as he yanked Wrench's hand to him. "You're arrogance will be your downfall, Vongola's Cloud! Spanner, are you ready?"

Wrench, uh, Spanner, nodded as he stuffed his other hand into his free pocket. "I guess."

"Then . . . We are the same soul. We share the same name, Faithless."

Mukuro tried not to hyperventilate. Or burst out laughing. What was even happening anymore? A magical girl transformation?

. . . Was Hibari going to do something like that too, complete with his magical girl familiar (golden fluff of a bird) and a short skirt?

"Faithless. Our faith is not yours. Fighter systems, engage."

Greenie snarled as his hair whipped through the sudden wind. "Bellflowers, HIT! TEAR APART!"

Oh man. Mukuro's eyes widened as pretty flowers with a gleaming edge appeared, hurtling to them with startling velocity. Maybe they were really in a magical girl anime? Because, really. Flowers?

"Full Defense Mode. None of your attacks can touch me," Hibari certainly didn't seem fazed. In fact, he probably could have sounded more bored even if he had tried.

Spanner whistled, looking just as bored if one had disregarded his tense shoulders. "Kikyou, he's at four syllables already. A simple spell won't get through."

"I know that!" Greenie, Kikyou, said in agitation. "Bellflowers, REND! DESTROY!"

"Pathetic. Your Herbivore spells won't work against me," Hibari smiled. It was not a nice smile. Mukuro found it almost alluring. "Shall I attack now? Carnivorous birds―"

And then the wind died down, the stillness in the air all but evaporating. Except this time, Mukuro's hair stood on its ends as light footsteps made their way closer to them.

Something was wrong.

Kikyou looked as green as his hair, and even Hibari paled a few shades . . . Probably. Hibari really was an ice-pop and to be honest, Mukuro didn't have an eye for distinguishing the different shades of white.

"Retreat," surprise, surprise, the word was not said by Hibari, nor by the opposing team. Mukuro's head jerked up to see a lithe brunet with an almost feminine air, standing with all the presence of a king. "You want to leave this place, off to a place where you can sleep. Retreat, Faithless, and let my Flames accompany your journey to Hell."

"Vongola Decimo," Kikyou said, eyes wide, even as he grabbed Spanner's arm. Wind gathered around their feet, obscuring them from view. "Your response time is fantastic as always."

Decimo, and boy, Mukuro was just so curious, smiled sweetly as his cute and over-sized ears twitched. He looked quite young, perhaps even as young as Mukuro as he stood there, arms casually at his side and his fluffy hair windswept. Decimo, whoever he was, looked almost like an angel. "Give my greetings to Byakuran, Faithless. And also tell him to kindly stay away from what is mine."

Okay. Never-mind. Obviously Mukuro had just seen the devil.

"Will do," Spanner smiled as his wrench reappeared in his hand. He seemed strangely unafraid when his partner was all but twitching in fright. "Byakuran would love to hear from you, Vongola."

And then the wind exploded into orange flames, the two boys disappearing without a trace. Mukuro reigned in the urge to perform a jaw drop.

"Omnivore!" Hibari's golden bird from before suddenly reappeared, chirping happily as the golden fluff ball settled in between the brunet's ears. "Omnivore! Omnivore!"

. . .

Decimo turned to face them, and then the kingly presence he had exuded before disappeared as if had never been there before. Tears welled up in his caramel eyes and Mukuro was amused to see Hibari taking a quick step back.

Razor-sharp flowers didn't faze Hibari, but tears did? Mukuro should keep that in mind.

". . . Kyouyaaaaaaa," Decimo wailed. "I thought you were dead, hieeeeeee."

The brunet sniffled miserably even as Hibari all but froze, and that was when Mukuro decided to stop hiding from behind the taller man's back. Of course, that was also when Decimo froze mid-sob.

Because he was. Staring. At Mukuro.

The already pained, red-rimmed eyes widened in more pain and longing as the Decimo, Hibari's leader, brokenly whispered one name.

"Chrome?"

. . . It was a name Mukuro knew quite well. On the other hand . . . another one? Another person who knew Chrome? Perhaps Mukuro didn't know Chrome as well as the teen had once believed.

But first . . .

"Explanations. Now. You promised me, Ice-Pop Magical Girl."

END

Legend

Ritsuka = Mukuro

Seimei = Chrome

Soubi = Hibari

Yuiko = Dino

Shinonome-sensei = Kyoko

Midori = Spanner

Al = Kikyou

AN: For Aki (agamenoncrying) on tumblr for the khr secret santa. Forgot to post this, aha. I think this is the most romance I have ever written though, which is really kind of sad...

OMAKE

(aka, what this fic would have been had I not wanted to write more Mukuro)

"Don't touch me, herbivore," Hibari growled as he wrenched his arm away from the offending pineapple. He had finally gotten away from the pesky blonde horse, and now someone new was obstructing his path once more? Hibari was going to bite this person to death.

"Oya, oya," the pineapple tutted softly, weird eyes of two distinct and different colours glinting in the dim light. "Such harsh language. Was there a pea under your mattress yesterday night, little princess?"

"I will bite you to death―mmrph!"

The kiss was chaste, just a pair of lips on another. The grown-up pulled back as he licked his lips, the smirk on his face almost soft.

"Hibari Kyouya," the pineapple started as Hibari attempted to reboot his brain. "I love you. I will do anything for you. I am your fighter, Loveless."

With another smirk, this one more mischievous, Mukuro gave the glaring boy a wink.

"I am your dear Knight, little princess."

OMAKE II

(I entertained this idea as well tbh)

They had been at the park when everything went downhill. Or uphill, depending on how you viewed things. After all, Mukuro certainly got some new information, or at least an inkling about what Chrome had been doing before she had died.

"My ears?" The man, Dino, had repeated thoughtfully. Giving Mukuro a charming smile, Dino reached down to tug gently on Mukuro's ears, eyes soft. "Don't worry about it. It wouldn't be gentlemanly of me to do something to a child, now would it?"

And then Dino stilled. The smile he wore faltered before the blond grimaced and leaned down to . . .

Kiss Mukuro?

Kicking Dino's stomach to get the man away, Mukuro glowered while feeling slightly amused. What a terrible liar. "Oya, oya, what happened to not doing anything?"

Dino winced as he gingerly held his stomach. He looked very chastised, and Mukuro stamped down the spark of fondness.

"Sorry. But we're out of time . . ."

. . . And if that didn't sound worrying, Mukuro wasn't sure what would.

"What?" The young teen asked, tone sharp. "Who―"

"Rokudo Mukuro," Dino began as he cut Mukuro off, voice earnest and sad and sweet. "I love you."