Okay, first things first: this is my first fanfic. Please don't kill me if it's bad! Okay now that that's out of the way, onto more important things.

Disclaimer: I did not, do not, and will NEVER own KHR. I don't want to either, because I'd probably destroy it pretty quickly, and no one wants that.

This is a shounen-ai/yaoi story. If you don't like it, don't read it. The back button's not that hard to find. Please, no flames. Any and all flames will be used to make delicious smores and roast marshmallows FOR ME. However, reviews are appreciated. (A.K.A.-PLEASE REVIEW!!!)

...And that's about it. Now, I'll shut up and let you read.

Love's Many Risks

Prologue

Love can be a scary thing. It makes us become something different from what we are. When you fall in love, it's like giving part of your heart away. It's offering that part of you to another, and hoping they don't break it. It gives someone power over you. Love makes people do crazy things. So, even knowing all this, why do humans still fall in love?

Simple: because despite all these things, love can also be the sweetest feeling in the world. It makes you feel euphoric, and light, and happy. It's about taking risks. Yes, that's what it is. Love is a risk.

* * *

"Mukuro," the girl whispered, her breath tickling his neck. She was shorter than him, so when they hugged, like they were doing now, her chin just reached his shoulder. Her hair smelled citrusy from her shampoo, but under it, she smelled like any other human: bittersweet. He detested that smell. "I love you."

That was something he'd never understand. What was love? He'd heard the same thing from all the others. That's how he knew it was time. Time to take their heart.

He bent down swiftly, and their lips met. The girl seemed surprised, but once the initial shock wore off, she closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the kiss. It wasn't their first, certainly not. They'd kissed many times before. Chaste little touches of the lips, not the kind you would expect from someone who looked and acted like Mukuro did. They were nice, and sweet. But they weren't like this. This one was warm and enveloping, the kind that made you want to melt. She was so wrapped up in the blissful feeling that she didn't even notice when things began to change. And why would she? She had nothing to fear from this man. The man who cared for her. The man she'd given everything to. The man she loved.

...Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to her, Mukuro was silently taking her heart away. Not literally, of course. When she woke up in the morning, she would be alive. She'd remember none of this. Nothing of him, nothing of their time together, nothing. He supposed that should have made him sad, but in all honesty, it relieved him. This girl had taken longer than he'd expected, but not because she was stubborn or anything. Quite the opposite, actually. She was just too boring. He'd needed frequent breaks from seeing her, just to ready himself for their next date. He didn't even remember her name, that's how boring she was. But it was over now. He felt her go limp in his arms; her heart was his. He pulled out his cellphone and flipped it open. Sure enough, there on the screen, pulsing gently, was a small pink heart. Girl's hearts were always pink. He absently wondered if a boy's heart would be a different color, but brushed the thought aside. Why should he care? It's not like he'd ever be assigned to 'steal' a boy's heart.

He hoisted the unconscious girl over his shoulder, then willed his wings to appear. Bat-like wings, as black as night, unfolded smoothly. He shook them out, sighing in content as they stretched. His wings were like arms or legs: leave them unused for too long, and they cramped up. He flapped them a few times experimentally, and, finding them ready for flight, kicked off. Mukuro flew above the city, enjoying the feel of the wind in his face. He hadn't flown in a long time, and, like all demon's who could fly, that unsettled him.

Yes, Rokudo Mukuro was a demon, and proud of it. He had been sent to Earth to collect human hearts. In Hell, love was a very rare thing. One demon out of many may fall in love once every hundred years, but that was about it. Still, demons enjoyed the foreign feelings that love gave. So they collected the hearts of humans in love and ate them. Some might call that barbaric, but it wasn't like they were really hurting the humans who's hearts they stole. Sure, said humans might never be able to actually fall in love again, but in all honesty, the demons didn't care. Why? Let's just say that compassion was another rare feeling for demons.

Mukuro worked for a store that sold these hearts, so every five years or so, when the need arose, he'd go to Earth and collect a few hundred hearts. He was good at his job, but he felt bored. He'd been doing the same job for a couple hundred years, and it got monotonous. People were always the same. He'd yet to meet a human who wouldn't fall for him sooner or later, and it was usually sooner rather than later. Mukuro would never admit it, but he felt empty inside. Hollowed out. Unfulfilled. Just once, he wished to meet someone who'd be a challenge.

The demon shook his head ruefully. He really was spending too much time around humans, to be having such odd thoughts. Demons were lazy by nature, so he must have been really bored to actually hope for a challenge. It was a false hope too. After all, humans were all the same. He'd never meet anyone like he was hoping for.

With that thought in mind, he soared off into the darkness, effortlessly disappearing among the stars.