Chapter 7

Here's our favorite KHR blondie who is as bloody as he is charming!

Enjoy! R&R.

ooOoo

A silver-haired man turned to the entrance hall when a set of footsteps echoed through the living room. Superbi Squalo, second-in-command and strategy captain of the Varia let out an annoyed grunt at the sight of their youngest member who strode royally towards them.

"You're back, shitty prince."

Belphegor grinned his usual way at the long-haired commander.

"Ushishi. Did the captain miss me?"

Squalo gave him a disgusted look. "Heh, here I was hoping the Sawada brat killed you for good. One less trash to look after."

Lussuria appeared and sashayed towards Bel. The flamboyant man making a quick head-to-toe check-up of their youngest.

"Ooohhh~ Bel-chan. We missed having you around." Lussuria looked behind Bel. "Where's Mammon-chan?"

"The baby went to the Vongola Mansion for some financial matters."

"Then Bel-chan, I prepared some food for you~"

Both Squalo and Bel followed Lussuria to the dining room. Squalo insisted he hasn't eaten anything yet as he had to do some paperworks in Xanxus' place. After all, the Varia boss hates paperworks as much as he hates Sawada Tsunayoshi.

Platters of food were laid on the dining table and Bel helped himself to some pasta and steak. Meanwhile Lussuria, as the ever-doting mother, proceeded to make small conversations.

"How was Japan Bel-chan?"

Bel gave an uninterested shrug. "Sawada and his Guardians are as pathetic as ever. The frog keeps getting under my nerves. I will surely kill him next time. The prince did manage to get some sushi though." He paused when a certain memory crossed his mind. "And I met someone really interesting." He finished, grinning.

Lussuria brightened at this. "Who is this Bel-chan?"

Bel pursed his lips for a moment. "One of Sawada's friends. She is called Haru."

Lussuria giggled girlishly and swayed his hips back and forth. "Oohhh~ Bel-chan made friends with a girl. What a surprise~"

Squalo snorted. "What are you planning, Bel? You know quite well not to mess with any of Sawada's friends if you don't want to get in trouble. Vooiii! Don't make more work for me to do!"

Bel smirked. "I'll just play with her a little bit."

ooOoo

It was past seven o'clock when Mammon arrived from the Vongola mansion to the Varia. The ex-Mist Arcobaleno, who now grew a couple of inches tall, stepped his chubby little legs on the Varia doorsteps. He was about to push open the entrance door when someone opened it from the inside. Mammon looked up to see Belphegor grinning down at him.

"Ushishi, you're back."

Mammon ignored him and proceeded to his room. Belphegor quietly followed him from behind. Upon reaching his bedroom, Mammon hopped on his bed, Belphegor took a seat across from Mammon.

"What?"

Bel grinned back at him.

"Did we get more funds?"

Mammon stared at the blonde Varia. "No, we didn't. On the contrary, they warned us to be more careful about our spending."

"Ushishi. They can't be expecting the prince to cut down on my expenses. I'm of high maintenance after all."

The ex-Arcobaleno stared disbelievingly at Bel from his hood. "What are you doing here really, Bel? I'm telling you I'm tired from the travel and finance matters so I won't be playing with you tonight. Go to sleep already."

Bel dropped the grin off his face. "Hmph, stingy baby."

"I'm no longer a baby, Bel."

The Varia prince cross his arms over his chest. "That's right, you're no longer puffy."

Mammon did an eyeroll under his hood. "Get out. I want to sleep."

Suddenly, a thoughtful expression crossed Bel's face. "When are we returning back to Japan?"

Mammon was surprised at this. "Why? Weren't you the one complaining about getting dispatched to Japan to take care of matters with Fran?"

"I was."

Mammon eyed him curiously. "Was? Bel, have you come to like Fran?"

Bel felt offended at this. "The prince will never like the froggy. But I like someone else." He grinned afterwards.

"Miura Haru?"

If anything, Bel's grin grew wider.

"Bel, what do you mean when you say you 'like' someone?"

"The prince means it. Liking someone is like getting invited to a ball. Because the prince only invites people he likes into his kingdom." He then proceeded to slowly count with his fingers.

"You're no longer a puffy baby but I still like you. I like the boss of course, he's scary but he's strong. No, the prince absolutely dislikes the commander and Levi. I don't like the frog too."

Mammon sighed. "And you like Miura Haru."

Belphegor smirked. "I do."

The Mist Varia let out a breath. "For a second, I thought you meant… But it's impossible, someone like you just can't-"

"What?"

"Nothing. Bel, go to sleep."

The blonde prince grumbled and protested but went to leave anyway.

"And Bel,"

Bel paused in his tracks and look over his shoulder to see Mammon.

"Be sure you would only 'like' her that much. Don't get into trouble."

Belphegor gave a Cheshire smile before closing the door behind him.

ooOoo

Two weeks have passed ever since Belphegor and Mammon went back to Italy. It was an order from Xanxus – who received a mission from the Nono for the Varia – who called for his subordinates to assemble back in Italy. Xanxus deemed that recruiting the young Fran into the Varia could still wait, Mukuro can train the child with him anyway and that saves them the trouble of rearing the young illusionist. For now, there were more important things for the Vongola assassins to handle, hence the six-man team would be needed for it.

They were just back from their mission, which was successful of course. Lussuria offered to cook a huge helping of special cuisine to celebrate their success. Xanxus smirked smugly, never did the Varia failed on anything before. Well maybe except to matters concerning inheriting the Vongola Decimo throne but beyond that, the Varia is a feared name in the underworld who des their mission swith absolute certainty and style.

They were now gathered at the dining room, Lussuria flitted back and forth from the kitchen to bring platters of newly-cooked and steaming hot food on the dining table. The flamboyant man's hips shake in that unmanly way of his which made Levi scowl in disapproval.

When all the food was laid on the table, Lussuria led a cheers of wine glass (Bel has milk for he is still underage. Mammon, who looks like a kid, has wine. He is older than he looks after all.)

Every one of the Varia, albeit quite unfashionably and unsightly, dove to get servings of the food. Xanxus has his own steaming hot portion of steak to himself and some wine to keep his mood in check.

Meanwhile…

"VOOIIII! THAT MEATBALLS ARE MINE!"

"Ushishi. Get off the prince's pasta."

"Squ-chan, Bel-chan, we will get you a serving each, okay? Leave this to Luss-nee~"

Xanxus glared at them. "Noisy pieces of trash." He growled, sending a chill to their spine and effectively silencing them out. The meal resumed rather a little more orderly after that.

After some minutes, Mammon opened his mouth to speak.

"Boss, since this mission is all well and done already, when will you be sending us back to Japan?"

Squalo glared at the ex-Arcobaleno. "Vooiii! So, you enjoy looking after the brat after all."

Mammon glared back at him. "Nonsense. It's just that we have training sessions to do."

"Can't Rokudo do that himself?"

"Are you implying that Rokudo is a better illusionist than I am?"

Bel grinned. "The little baby is pissed."

Mammon shot Bel a look. "I'm no longer a baby. I've grown up."

Bel ignored Mammon. "Boss, the prince would like to go back to Japan too."

This made all the remaining Varia's eyebrows raised in suspicion. Except Lussuria, he cooed at Bel.

"Oohh~ Bel-chan wants to see his little friend."

Levi snorted, disgusted. "Friend?"

Lussuria gave an affectionate nod. "Yes! The Miura Haru girl~"

Levi scowled. "Isn't that-"

"Shut the hell up Levi!"

"Sawada's friend?"

Too late. Xanxus heard the Vongola Decimo's name and the scars on his face darken slowly, crimson red eyes burning in anger.

"Trash. You dare be friendly with one of Sawada's?" he directed his gaze at Bel who gulped uncertainly.

"No, boss. The girl is more like the prince's playmate, that's all."

Xanxus wasn't convinced. He shifted his gaze to Squalo.

"Shark, you go there in Japan."

Squalo roared. "VOOIII! WHY?"

Xanxus sent him a deathly stare. "Because I said so. You're too noisy and I'm sick of seeing you around." Squalo let out another round of 'Vois'.

"And you," Xanxus flitted back to Belphegor.

"Let's use that genius head of yours for something else."

A smirk curved up Xanxus' lips as beads of sweat trail down Bel's face.

"Paperworks."

ooOoo

Three days later, Mammon and Squalo bid good bye to the Varia mansion as they head off for Japan. At first, Squalo was really irritated and angry at the idea of going to Japan. Hell! Does the shitty boss does not comprehend what will happen to the Varia with his absence? There was just too much paperworks to do which Xanxus does not bother to lift a finger to. Granted, he is an effective leader in times of battle but he is practically useless (Squalo so thought) when it comes to day to day Varia business. His anger dissipated however, when Xanxus made Belphegor shoulder his loads of paperwork crap.

Squalo let out a smug smirk as he stood leaning by the doorway of his office which Belphegor currently occupies. The blonde prince looked up at him in annoyance, irritation flaring up inside of him as he threw a set of silver knives at the long-haired commander.

"You're looking good there, Bel." Squalo stifled a chuckle as he dodged the flying knives.

"Shut up. I'll get you for this."

Squalo merely grinned. "What? I didn't put you behind that desk." It amused Squalo that no matter how hardheaded and lazy the blonde prince is, he is not one to talk of when confronted by Xanxus' rage. The Storm Varia couldn't do anything but glare at Squalo.

Squalo took one last smug look at Bel before leaving the room. The long-haired swordsman and Mammon set off for Japan 5 minutes after.

Three hours after that, Bel knocked outside Xanxus' door. The Varia boss growled a 'come in' and Bel entered with a heap of paper in his arms.

"I finished this, boss. It only needs your signature."

Xanxus raised one eyebrow. "You finished faster than the shark."

Bel allowed a smile on his lips. "Ushishi. I'm a prince after all, and a genius." He laid the heaps of paper down on Xanxus' table.

"Why did you punish me, boss? Me. The prince." Bel asked out of the blue.

"You're asking that, trash. You're being too friendly with the trash boss' underlings. No one gets friendly with the trash's family in my midst."

Bel put both arms behind his head. "Okay. But Captain Squalo and the Rain Guardian are quite friendly too." He prompted.

Xanxus didn't so much as flinched, he just stared at Bel. "Che. The shark will kill the rain trash anytime soon. Besides, it's really a different case."

"Why is that?"

Xanxus looked at the Storm Varia with scrutinizing eyes. "For someone as socially maladjusted as you, it's something you better not know." Bel gave him a confused stare and Xanxus roared. "Get out of my office now, trash!"

Xanxus watched the blonde prince leave the room. He has no Hyper Intuition but Xanxus knows his men too well to recognize a change or something different in them. And the Varia boss had sensed it the moment Belphegor came back from Japan. He couldn't quite put a finger to it, for it takes a man of Xanxus' caliber to notice anything strange about their already strange Storm. Perhaps, it has something to do with Lussuria's gazes and remarks.

It was then during dinner three nights ago when Xanxus finally solved the puzzles. When Belphegor voiced out his willingness to go back to Japan when he normally won't so voluntarily and a certain Miura Haru girl was mentioned. Sawada Tsunayoshi's friend at that.

So Xanxus had to put his foot down. He called for Mammon later that night to supply him of his needed information and that was then that Xanxus confirmed the seemingly impossible thing before this happened. The trash Belphegor, has one way or another, developed feelings for the Miura girl.

Belphegor, being the socially-warped individual that he is, is clueless at this of course. Xanxus is not surprised. The blonde prince has zero concept of proper social interaction that doesn't involve knife throwing and killing spree after all.

Still, it makes Xanxus wonder why he bothers with the trash. He could go chase after the girl for all he cares but Xanxus knows, and he knows damn well despite being a temperamental and violent sort of a boss, that nothing will come out of the blonde prince's latest interest. Who in their right mind would like a warped, twisted, and sadistic teenage boy after all? No, Xanxus definitely does not give a damn to the blonde trash's supposed heart break. Xanxus smirked, he just doesn't want to see his men distracted, that's all.

Or maybe, he's trying to prevent Belphegor from skinning the bitch alive when she finally rejects him.

ooOoo