lounging on the couch, staring into space.

walks into the room. "H-Hello Mukuro-sama."

abandons his trail of thoughts, looking over his shoulder as she enters the room. "Chrome? I didn't think there was anyone else here."

A-Am I bothering you?

shakes his head, smiling. "Not at all."

smiles shyly back at him with a light blush prevalent on her cheeks. "I've missed you."

would not let it be known that he had also missed her whilst he was away. He chuckles. "I'm pleased."

blushes darker and fidgets where she's standing. "H-How have you been?"

leans away from the back of the couch, resting his elbows to his knees. "Awfully bored."

D-Do you w-want me to keep you company?

"If you could spare me some of your time."

would love to. "I-I can."

makes space for her on the couch.

sits next to him.

offers her a chocolate from the packet he'd been hiding.

blushes and takes it. "T-Thank you."

wasn't one for sharing, but he didn't seem to mind at all when it came to Chrome. "It's good to see you outside of your room."

smiles. "I'm not always in my room."

had assumed she spent most of her time in there as he rarely saw her when he was awake.

actually been out a lot lately. Sometimes out a bit too late...

wouldn't approve of that. What if something happens and he isn't aware of-- Well she's free to do as she pleases..

doesn't think he'd like some of the things she's been doing....but otherwise, she's been being a good girl.

might not, but who is he to intervene? "Hm. Chocolate surprisingly tastes a lot better if it's shared.."

still technically under his care. "Really?"

nods. "You don't think so?"

blushes. "I do..."

smiles. "Then help yourself to more. I'd feel like a glutton if I had the whole packet."

A-Are you s-sure?

places the packet on her lap.

takes another one. "Thank you, Mukuro-sama."

clicks his tongue, gazing around the almost empty room. "It appears everyone else has abandoned us."

nods, looking sad.

turns to face her suddenly, an idea in mind. "Let's do something. Just you and I."

looks up, liking the sound of that. "Like what?"

"A moonlit stroll?"

would like that.

takes her by the hand to pull her to her feet.

takes his hand and stands up from her place on the couch.

makes sure they take the chocolates with them, just in case either of them became peckish, and of course, his trident for safety.

follows behind him to the door.

steps out into the night, glad to have some fresh air and be away from the wet-dog smell inside. "Is there anywhere you'd like to visit?"

doesn't have anywhere in particular in mind.

lead the way, then. Though he's not quite where he's going either. He doesn't think it matters.

doesn't think it matters either. She's just glad to be with him.

walks ahead of her out of habit.

stays behind a few steps.

muses. "It's been...quite some time since you and I did something together. Just the two of us."

smiles. "Yeah. It has." Luckily it's a nice night.

slows down to fall back into line with her. "But you haven't missed out, as I'm the worst of all company, kufufu~"

shakes her head. "You're not."

"If only I could believe that."

offers him a smile. "Would I lie to you?"

pauses to examine that smile of hers. "Hn, I'd rather be lied to than have things hidden from me."

W-What do you mean?

sighs. "I wouldn't expect you to come to me with your problems. But if someone were to lay their hands on you.."

confused. "Mukuro-sama, what do you mean?"

had kept quiet about it, but he'd learned about the wounds on her shoulders from a while back. It bugged him.

taken care of and is fine.

frowns. She'd still been hurt.

looked after by Byakuran. "It's fine..."

hadn't been there for her.

okay in the end though.

"That's not the point!"

shrinks back at him raising his voice. "What is then?"

rubs at his temple, having startled himself by raising his voice, quite uncharacteristic of him. "It's nothing."

lowers her eyes to the ground. "I-I'm sorry...."

what came over him. "Don't apologise, Chrome.. I'm in the wrong here. I should...go."

reaches out to grab his hand. "....No."

shakes her hand off, turning away. "Whatever happens is of no concern to me, and the same applies to you."

pulls her hand back. "Please don't leave again...."

lets out a heavy sigh. "This isn't home. It never was.. Everything's just temporary. We'll all leave at some point."

tears accumulate in her good eye. "Please...."

doesn't want to see that. "This is reality."

bites her lip to keayep herself from crying. "I'm sorry...."

*keep

afraid she'll start crying. He doesn't want to hear that, either. "I...Tornerò." Before he changes his mind, he's gone.

starts to cry nearly as soon as he leaves. She hadn't learned enough Italian to know what he said, but he had left. That's all there was_

_to it.