A/N: I am so sorry I haven't updated sooner! Please don't hurt me!
Okay, so I seriously just figured out it's almost the 1 year annivarsary of Marked so I just had to update. ( Only three chapters in a year? I am such a fail! ) For the last four days I have been working on the next couple chapters, and have thoroughly edited the first three. If you have been waiting for this chapter to be uploaded thank you so much for waiting so patiently! You will probably notice that things are a little different because I tweeked the last couple chapters, ( One of those is that Mukuro is now Charles. ) so I really recommend you re-read all of them. I know this chapter is half as long as the others, ( this chapter is only four thousand words instead of eight thousand... ) but I literally just wrote all this down today. Please don't hate me! Dx I couldn't think of anything else to write, and this benifits the plot. I promise.

Warning: There is rape in this chapter. While not exactly detailed or thoroughly involved the thought it still there. And no, it's not between the two you probably want. If you don't like what is going to happen next please, by all means, skip through it and just read after the next page break I have. Everything goes downhill from here. You have been warned.

Marked

By: x-LittleMissAlice-x

There it was - that familiar tense, aching feeling again. Why did it always persists to linger in the depths of his chest? Would it pass in time? What could he do to get rid of it?

Constantly, Fran felt like he was suffocating. The pain that gnawed at his heart only seemed to slowly devour him more day by day. Drifting in the back of Fran's mind was always the echoing question; how much more of this could he take? How much longer until he finally burned out from this charade?

Now, with recent events, there was a new question that screamed louder than ever to be answered. To Fran, it was also the most unsettling:

What was it about Belphegor that melted all of his negative thoughts and fears away?

Fran was lying out across the lower level of his bunk bed. The mattress was sheetless - due to Fran's earlier 'wet dream' – and his pajamas had been thrown in the washer by his trusty butler, Mukuro. Fran had been staring at the wooden planks bracing the upper bunk above him for the last thirty minutes. The only clothes he wore were a pair of fuzzy, frog boxers that stopped around mid-thigh, and the thin, white button up dress-shirt that was a part of his uniform. The rest of his uniform was downstairs hanging in the laundry room.

Fran had tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't find the will to. After that nightmare, he didn't want to be thrown back into that horrible place he once considered his 'dreams of sanctuary'. It was sad. Now, he couldn't even trust the depths of his own subconscious mind.

Lazily, he tossed his head to the side towards the clock and sighed heavily at the green digital numbers.

6:10 Am. Why was he such an early bird?

Fran decided to climb out of bed and take on the new day.

Making his way over to his door he slowly opened it with a small creak. Sticking his head out he cautiously looked side to side down the hallway.

No one was there. Perfect.

Fran carefully walked out into the hallway and shut the door silently behind him. Fran tip-toed on the wooden plants, every once in a while earning a small creak. Navigating through the maze of hallways he managed to find the grand, marble staircase. He placed his hand on the smooth railing, taking each step in front of him carefully as to not make too much noise.

He was almost to the bottom until he abruptly stopped. Glancing up he saw a large animal lying down in front of the door. It looked to be a cross between a tiger and a lion – a liger. The white liger stared at Fran with crystal blue eyes

The child held his breath and waited, making no movement to approach it. If he made any move to offend the liger it could lung at him without warning.

They stared at one another for several moments until the animal just yawned and looked away from Fran in disinterest, resting its head back on its paws. Fran smiled; the animal always was lazy.

With the main floor in sight he hopped down the second to the last step and landed gracefully to his feet. Fran sighed in relief.

Good. They're all still asleep, Fran thought. All he had to do now was sneak into the laundry room unnoticed, pull his clothes on, grab his shoes at the front door and the-

"Where do you think your going?"

Fran froze. His body tensed.

He knew that voice all too well. This was exactly what he feared, but he shouldn't have been surprised. He couldn't go anywhere undetected, especially from him.

Fran gulped and turned his head towards the doorway. It was only opened a crack, in yet he could still feel those eyes staring at his figure through the small opening. Fran didn't say a word, didn't move a muscle.

"Come."

Fran did as he was told without another thought.

Fran walked over and pushed open the wooden door. Inside sat a man on the edge of his bed, shirtless. A bottle of alcohol sat on the dresser, half empty. Two more bottles were next to it without a drop left.

Fran's eyes narrowed at the bottles. Already it was so early and he was drinking. That was not a good sign.

Fran's pale eyes looked at the man's face. A deep scar was on the left side, a dark color compared to the man's tan skin. He was built; muscles strong and define. He was older than Fran, a lot older; perhaps in his late twenties. He had dark crimson eyes that bore into Fran's. His very gaze was icy, strict. It was obvious he was always in control and never took "no" for an answer. Fran couldn't think of a time he chose to defy him.

The male motioned Fran to come closer, patting his lap. Wordlessly, Fran made his way over to him and sat on his knee like a perfect little doll. Fran stared off into space, his gaze blank and lifeless. The man's fingers rubbed against Fran's slender arm, pulling the boy closer into his ripped torso. Fran didn't rebel and leaned against.

Fran was silent a moment before quietly asking, "Where is Mother?"

"Out. She won't be back for a while," came the deep voice.

Fran's eyes narrowed and stared at the wall. He shouldn't be surprised. His parents were never home; especially his mother. Fran didn't care much for her though – or anyone really for that matter. Fran and his mother always had a rocky relationship. It was something that would never change, something he didn't want to change.

"Why have you been ditching school?" The man suddenly asked. His tone was to the point, ruthless.

Fran flinched, refusing to meet his all-too-knowing eyes. One slip up, one body language out of characters and he would surely know. Know about Fran's single distraction. Know about the only thing that made Fran feel alive when he was suppose to be dead inside; Belphegor. If this man found out he wouldn't hesitate to kill him. And that probably scared Fran the most.

The man's hands moved up Fran's arms, slipping his large fingers through the boy's mint tresses. Fran forced himself to keep still, unfazed.

"I have not been ditching school," Fran stated, monotone. Their was no indication that Fran was lying, and he really wasn't. He hadn't "ditched" a day of school, or spontaneously decided he wasn't going to show up to class. It was only afterward with Bel did he finally decide to go home. The other days Fran had either arrived late or his butler had driven him elsewhere for the day – but he couldn't possibly have known that, it was a secret only between him and Mukuro.

"Then you've been goofing off, distracted." His words were not a question, but simply a statement.

"I have not been goofing off. That involves having 'fun'. I cannot feel such emotions, you told me that yourself," Fran replied.

"So you have been distracted then."

Busted.

Fran's eyes narrowed. He didn't have anything in mind he could say to downgrade that response. Something was distracting him and he couldn't lie about it, couldn't dismiss it.

Because Fran couldn't lie he decided not to say a thing at all. He sealed his lips tight, a silence hanging in the air between them. The man's hands continued to run their fingers through Fran's hair, until they moved to his neck. The next thing Fran knew the man yanked down the white collar of his thin shirt, the gashes, hickeys, and love bites all too visible on his pale skin.

Fran silently panicked.

He wanted to run. He wanted to jump off the man's lap, pull his collar up again and tell him he saw nothing before bolting out the door. If it had been anyone else, any other human being that didn't have such a hold on him, Fran wouldn't have hesitated to bolt the hell out of there. But life just wasn't that simple.

"I never realized you liked shaggy-headed blondes."

Fran's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened slightly, feeling fear start to creep in the pit of his stomach.

He knew. Of course he knew. Why hadn't he been more careful? How much did he already know?

"What are you talking about?"

" You really think I didn't know? Even the school's roof has cameras."

"...What else do you know?"

"Something about strange, 'wet dreams'. Does that ring a bell?" Fran could hear the smirk in his voice. Fran's eyes narrowed, silent anger flowing in his veins.

That little snitch! Mukuro really did tell him, even after Fran made him promise he wouldn't. But then again, Fran should have seen this coming. Mukuro's words echoed in Fran's mind:

"As much as I'd love to help you out, your father is a scary man. I don't want to piss him off again."

What a coward.

"Who's the blonde? What's his full name?"

Fran mentally sighed in relief. If he was asking, that meant he didn't know who Belphegor was. Maybe he still had a chance.

"I don't know." Fran's voice didn't falter. He honestly didn't know Belphegor's full name, so their was nothing to say.

The man gripped the collar of Fran's shirt and tossed him to the side effortlessly. As Fran fell into the mattress the man shifted his body on top of the boy, his large torso looming over him. Piercing red eyes drilled into his, studying Fran closely.

"Your lying, aren't you?"

"I am not," Fran didn't break eye contact. His blank gaze was unwavering. "I told you, I really don't know."

"So your just a slut then? Doing things like that with a complete stranger." The man said this harshly. Fran didn't know how to respond.

It wasn't like he was sleeping around or anything. Besides, it was against his will, wasn't it? He shouldn't have been the one in question. If anything, Fran was the victim.

"I haven't had any physical anal relation with him." Belphegor and Fran had not had sex – in reality, at least.

The man's eyes narrowed dangerously. He leaned closer to the boy's face, unpredictable red eyes taking in his angelic features.

"Good," he breathed, the stench of alcohol in his breath. "If I ever see you hanging around him or he touches you like that again I'll kill him."

Fran's heart squeezed at the thought. He managed to nod firmly once, registering the threat. "I understand."

"Now tell me who you belong to, who owns you."

Fran didn't hesitated, as if the response was drilled into his mind. " I belong to Xanxus. No one else owns me, no one else can have me. I am only a doll for his purpose and use. I belong solely to you."

Xanxus smirked to himself in satisfaction. His large hand slid down Fran's neck to the button of the boy's shirt. Easily he undid it, exposing the white, untouched flesh underneath it. "Excellent. Now stretch your legs out nice and wide for me and just relax."

Fran gulped, trying to stop himself from squirming under the icy touch. If he struggled it would only make him more angry. "B-but I'm going to be late for school," Fran sputtered out, trying to come up with an excuse.

He needed to leave this room. He needed to run.

Xanxus' hands gripped Fran's shoulder to stop him from moving. He nipped the boy's left ear and simply whispered, "Then I guess you'll just have to make me cum quickly and then be on your way, now won't you?"

"...Yes, Father."

Fran limped on the gravel path before him. His eyes were lifeless. His body ached. His thoughts were scattered. He felt broken. No, he was broken.

Shutting his emotions off was the best thing he could do; it was the only thing he could do. Their was no other way to cope with the pain, both emotionally and physically. Half of the time Fran didn't even know what he was doing anymore. He was lost.

I have to get to school. I have to get to school. If I'm late again he'll punish me. Not again. Never again.

Fran kept pushing himself onward, trying to ignore the ache in his backside as he walked awkwardly. His legs started to feel weak under him, and his knees were wobbling. Fran finally came across a park in the middle of the forest.

Their were several slides, all going in different directions. Some of them twisted, others went straight down, and a few did a little bit of both. Forts were all over the playground, connected to different objects to play on. Their were a set of yellow monkey bars and several sets of swings, as well as other objects. The park looked abandoned, like it had barely been used in years.

Fran walked over to one of the forts and climbed up the latter. He crawled across the upper level and squeezed himself into a red tunnel. Fran hugged his knees, staring at the rounded wall in front of him.

He needed to rest. He needed to think. This, Fran decided, would be his new sanctuary.

Fran sighed heavily and learned his head back against the red wall. He closed his eyes, reevaluating his thoughts.

In the end he didn't get to ask about his sister.

What was he suppose to say? He heard he once had one in a dream? Fran didn't even know if this person existed. Now matter how hard he tried he couldn't remember any traces of her, anything about her. What did she look like? Where was she now? Was she really dead like his dream claimed for her to be? Why hadn't his parents mentioned a thing about her?

This wasn't the only thing on Fran's mind. Mukuro had betrayed him and Fran refused to forgive him for that. How long had he been leaking information to his father? Fran didn't quite trust Mukuro per say, but he did think highly of him. Well, at least he did. Now he didn't want a thing to do with him. Maybe that was why Fran selfishly insisted on walking to school today instead of going most of the way by car. He couldn't stand to look at Mukuro, let along be in the same car as him. Despite the pain it caused him walking was well worth it. He would have to avoid Mukuro for a while, at least until his father wasn't so suspicious of Fran to ask him for information.

The hat on Fran's head slipped into his lap. Fran picked it up, staring into its googly eyes that looked back at him. Fran frowned in thought.

And then there was Belphegor. What was Belphegor exactly to him? His bully, his classmate, but what else? What made him feel like that blonde was important enough to cover for? Why did Fran's heart squeeze whenever he thought about Xanxus hurting him? Fran couldn't wrap his head around it. He had never felt the need to care about anyone before. What made Belphegor so different from any any other person?

Fran smiled weakly, shaking his head to himself.

"You think I'm pathetic, don't you?"

"Sure do."

Fran jumped at the sudden voice coming from above him.

Suddenly, a blonde head poked out from the other side of the tunnel, hanging upside down and staring at Fran. A wicked grin was plastered on his face, cocking his head to the side like a deranged serial killer.

"Nice to see ya again, Froggie."

Immediately the dream came to Fran's mind. The edge of his cheeks involuntarily heated as he swiftly turned his head away.

What was he doing here of all places? Fran couldn't be seen with him. If Xanxus found out...

"Wish I could say the same," Fran droned.

Belphegor smirked."Isn't someone in a bad mood today?" he teased.

The blonde flipped his body over and slid inside the tunnel next to Fran. Fran scooted over, trying to get further away from him. Maybe if he didn't make contact with Belphegor he would be safe. Maybe his emotions wouldn't come to surface or overflow.

Fran didn't say a word. He stared straight ahead, trying to ignore Bel's presence. Belphegor blinked at the cold demeanor. There was something different about Fran today. No sarcastic comeback? No insult? What was wrong with him?

"Hey Froggie, you okay?"

"..."

"H-hey, don't just ignore me like that. What happened? You look terrible."

"Thanks," Fran deadpanned, his eyes void of any emotion. He didn't offer Belphegor a glance. "I really don't want to talk about it," Fran stated dully.

Fran was still shaken by what happened earlier. He didn't want Belphegor to find out what had happened to him. Fran silently wished he could forget about it himself.

Belphegor stared at Fran, confused. "Froggie..." his voice trailed before falling silent. What happened to that will of his? He looked nothing more than a lifeless puppet now.

Fran placed the hat between him and Belphegor, hoping to use it as a barrier between them. Fran hugged himself, fragile hands holding his elbows tight like it was the only think linking him to reality. His mind was still in Xanxus' room, their conversation still fresh in his mind.

"If I ever see you hanging around him or he touches you like that again, I'll kill him."

"What happened to your arm?"

Fran snapped out of his thoughts as a hand reached forward quickly and grabbed Fran. The boy winced, feeling where he touched ache and tingle at the same time. A bruise could be seen all the way around Fran's arm. They looked to be the bruising of strong fingers that had been gripping Fran to hard.

Fran quickly snatched his arm away from Belphegor, shooting him a warning glare.

"Nothing," he replied icily.

Belphegor's own eyes narrowed behind his hair. "Tell me."

"I won't."

Belphegor growled. He hurled his body forward and placed both of his hands on either side of Fran's head in an instant. He clashed his lips onto Fran's without mercy, not giving the boy a chance to react.

Fran stiffened but couldn't find the will to push him away. The spark went through his lips to the pit of his stomach. Fran could feel his soul start to shift inside of him, coming back to life. The lids of his eyes felt heavy, his head light and hazy. The pain melted and was replaced with a numbing, tingling sensation. He could feel his emotions clawing their way to the surface, itching for their voices to be heard.

As their lips parted Fran let out a shaky exhale. The surfaces of Fran's eyes looked fragile, as if they could shatter at any given moment. What did Belphegor do to him? When did he become to weak? Fran couldn't understand it.

"Who hurt you?" Belphegor asked fiercely.

Fran's gaze lingered elsewhere, trying to avoid looking at him, but Belphegor just moved his head back to have no where else to look but at his face. "Who did this?"

Fran swallowed. "M-my father did," Fran murmured.

Belphegor's eyes hardened. "What did the bastard do to you? Tell me," Belphegor demanded.

"I don't thin-"

"-Tell me," Belphegor repeated, stronger this time.

Fran whimpered. "Bel-senpai. You don't..." Fran stopped when he felt the intensity of his eyes. He wasn't going to give up until Fran told him what he wanted to know. He was persistent, that was for sure.

Fran sighed heavily. "He beat me," he whispered weakly. "He did that after he raped me."

Fran told himself it was nothing. It meant nothing. Fran was used to it by now.

When Xanxus was angry or he hadn't seen Fran in a while he would always call him to that room, especially when his mother wasn't around. The more Xanxus was aggravated from either his day or anything Fran had said or done, the rougher he was on Fran's frail body.

Fran may have seemed like an innocent little boy on the outside but he wasn't anything of the sort. Fran had lost his innocence a long time a go.

Fran would always crawl out of that bed afterward and try to scrub away the evidence, the filth that could not be undone. Fran would rub until his flesh burned and became raw. He would lie to himself, convince himself this was only a way of survival. Xanxus owned him, so Fran couldn't deny him.

Each day was a fight to keep going, keep pushing forward. And Fran was convinced that would never change.

"The fuck? How long has this been going on?"

"For as long as I can remember..." Fran confessed. "What did you expect? For me to be some blushing virgin? Sorry to burst your bubble, Senpai," Fran mumbled, his expression grim. He tried to smile but it was painful. Too disturbing.

Belphegor let out a growled. Fran could feel his hands holding his face start to shake in anger.

Belphegor released Fran's head and was already out of the tunnel in a matter of seconds. As the touch disappeared Fran slouched where he was sitting, his facials slipping down. He could feel his heart start hardening, feelings being buried once again at the lack of contact. Belphegor was pacing back and forth on the forth, his fists clenching on his sides.

"I'll murder him! I'll break every single bone in his body and slice that asshole to ribbons, then I'll-"

"Bel-senpai."

"-No, that's not painful enough. Instead I'll smash his face into a bloody pump and then I coul-"

"Bel-senpai!" Fran brought both of his hands to Belphegor's wrist, trying to stop him.

Belphegor quickly snapped out of his diabolical thoughts and looked down at him. Fran's eyes were pleading as he shook his head back and forth in disapproval.

"You will not lay a finger on him."

"And why the fuck not? Your mine, not his. No one is allowed to do that to you, ever, and I don't care who the hell it is."

Fran flinched. Is that all he ever was? A piece of property?

"Look, Bel-senpai. You. Don't. Own. Me." Fran said this slowly, as if he was speaking to an ignorant child. "Don't you get it? I belong solely to him, and it will always be that way. I cannot escape his grasp. I can't leave him. He would kill me if he had the chance, and anyone else in his way. If he found me again he would..." The depths of Fran's eyes looked frightened as his voice trailed, unable to voice the rest of his sentence.

...He would torture me like he did before.

"Then let's run away together," Bel said suddenly.

Fran blinked. "What?"

"You heard me. You said only if you were ever caught. If you ran off with me no one would be able to find us, and you would finally get to be mine and mine only. Isn't that what you want? You want freedom, don't you?"

Fran stared at him. That didn't sound like a wise plan. And why the hell would he run off with his bully anyway? This guy was absolutely insane! Fran would probably be murdered before he could even run away - by either his father, or by his antagonist.

Fran sighed heavily. "It would never work. Even if I did try to run away he would find me. He always knows where I am. Always."

"Even right now?"

Fear crept into Fran's heart. He didn't even think about that. Did Xanxus know where he was right now? This very instant? He probably did, and that thought scared Fran.

"If you won't run way with me then I'll just have to kill him," Belphegor grinned, his snicker as wide as the Cheshire cat's.

Fran's grip on his arm tightened, his eyes narrowing. "You can't kill him."

"And why the fuck not?"

Fran paused, as his eyes trailed to the ground.

"...Because Xanxus is my father," Fran muttered ever so quietly.

Belphegor blinked behind his hair. His stomach tightened in recognition. Belphegor took an instinctive step back, slipping out of Fran's touch. His eyes were bewildered under the wall of blonde bangs, visibly shaken by the name.

"Y-your dad is Xanxus? You mean..."

"The man who owns Varia Academy and the leader of the Varia Mafia? Yes, that would be my father," Fran muttered, all hope lost in his tone.

The world really was a cruel, cold place.

Cliff-hanger!
I was going to make this chapter longer, but decided I'll just cut it off here. I'll continue how this goes in the next chapter.
I know you hate me! I can't believe I did that to poor Frannie! He's traumatized! D': Damn Xanxus.
Love it? Hate it? Yea, I know you hate it. Please tell me what you thought in a review. Reviews inspire me and make me upload faster. c: Yay for new chapters!

The "hug system" is still in affect - Fran needs some lovin'. So does Bel. D:
I'll add the "slap system" too. Just for Xanxus. And probably because a lot of you probably want to hurt me right now. . .

Please forgive me!

Next Time: How does Belphegor respond to the news that Xanxus is Fran's father? Does Bel have a connection to him from the past? How will this affect their relationship?

I am looking for at least 40 reviews before I upload the next chapter.

To be continued. . .